I can read.

I thought I would be busily writing the taiko newsletter this week, but it has been scheduled later this time, so I am not.  I should be getting ready to rush to the grocery store today, but...it's cold.  I would like to pretend that I'm waiting for the ice on the streets of my neighborhood and presumably the Wal-mart parking lot to thaw.  Really, though, I'm just cold, and it's winter out there. 

Books I have read this week:  (Week, in this case, meaning since last Wednesday, not the most recent Monday, which would be yesterday.)

-The Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Attwood  (Library)
-Fallen, by...um....Lauren Kate (Present from Josh)
-The Eyre Affair, Jasper Fforde (Re-read from personal stash)

I was not expecting to enjoy The Handmaid's Tale.  And I didn't.  It's not that kind of book, which I understood going in.  It reminded me a little of 1984.  Like 1984, I can't deny that it was well done.  Unlike 1984, the uncertain end is given an uplifting epilogue, which implies that there was a happy end (at least temporarily) for the protagonist.

Fallen.  What can I say about that book?  Josh bought it for me because he was amused that the cover said something about fallen angels being The Next Big Thing in fantasy lit.  Well, I can see a certain amount of aesthetic in that.  I was very open to the idea, despite the fact that it was obviously juvenile lit.  That cover secret being out, however, the attempted suspense didn't really work.  Also, it was hauntingly familiar...in a bad way.  Let's see if you catch it:

Beginning.  17year old girl at new school, separated from her formerly familiar and reasonably happy surroundings sees boy of unearthly beauty and feels herself powerfully drawn to him, despite his obvious distaste for her, which sometimes borders on hostility.  (Sounding familiar yet?)

Boy saves girl from strange accident. (Now, where have I heard that before...?)

Low on dialogue, but high on internalized obsession, Girl tries to figure out Boy.  (Yes, really.)

Girl, who claims to be super smart and on the honor roll (Deja-vu?) still shows us her total ignorance by putting herself in a completely dangerous position, forcing Boy to come and save her.  Please note that we are supposed to be cheering for this girl even though she shows little regard for rules or advice that is meant to keep her away from harm.

Boy confesses that he has secretly had an unnatural interest in Girl all along, and they decide they are in love.....based on an acquaintance of less than a week (or all eternity, depending on how you look at it).

Girl finds out that Boy is immortal....and supernatural....and that there is some bigger, scarier, superhuman battle going on that somehow....yes, it's true....involves her.

They must escape.

Umyeah.  Well, her writing does not resonate, penetrate or even gleam slightly, but it's still better than the total ineptitude of Stephanie Meyer.  However, Meyer might have the upper hand in dialog writing.  Also, there were occasionally sentences whose subject or object were unclear.  Editing oversight? 

I feel no love for the main character, and not more than a little curiosity for the male lead.  However, there is so much that was brought forward but not addressed that I am tempted to read the rest of the series just to get a few questions answered.  Not immediately, though.  Yikes.

No, I do not recommend this book.  Not even if you are 15.

However, Jasper Fforde always makes me feel better.  I like The Eyre Affair, because it presumes that I am a literature nerd.  Correctly, I need not add.

Today, Grant goes to the orthodontist.  He was home sick yesterday, which threw off my productive plans.  No big deal, really.  Sometimes you have to snuggle a little boy instead.

Today I am needing ingredients to make a new and exciting dinner in the crock pot, since I don't know what time we will get home from the orthodontist, who's office is located in Troy.

This weekend we will go to the dog show in Columbia.  YAY!  Wanna come?

I really should do something productive....

Please and Thank You

First, I would like to rant a little about someone else's children. There are four children that live up the street: an older boy, a younger boy, and twin girls in the middle. They are identical, and very friendly. But here's the thing: they are amazingly rude guests. They came to play in the yard with us today, after I came back from practice. Josh went to mow the lawn and we were all cheerfully talking about dogs and twirling Abbie's purple umbrella. Then the younger boy showed up. We wandered the front yard. We almost took the kids out in the wagon, but Josh has put some things in it, and it will have to be cleaned before it can convey humans, so that was out. It was then that it started. "Can we take Jake to the other side of the yard?" No. "Why not?" "Can we go inside and play with toys?" No. "Why not?" "Can I just go in and get some toys to bring outside?" No. "Why not?" I took them to the backyard at that point. "Can we go in your basement?" NO! "Why not?" Then I look up, and the boy walks into my house.

"I'm sorry, but it's time for my kids to go in now. You'll have to go home. We'll play some other time." Boy does not go. I HATE it when people force me to be rude. "Out. Time to go home." And only then does he recognize that he has imposed.

Am I the only one in the world who has been taught that you don't get to boss other people around in their own houses? Isn't the thing to have the child who lives there go and ask for things? We were taught that the host provides what he thinks necessary, and the guest either accepts or declines with excruciating politeness - even at the neighbor's house.

Growl.

So, I went to practice today. I am pretty nearly able to do most things. Ha. The stretching was very good, and I can carry light things if I carry them well above my hip area, and I can play. Well, as well as I ever could. Yay! I played Omiyage. Fun. I still don't know a few parts, but I wasn't as awful as I thought I would be. The rest of the practice I wasn't doing much, but that's probably for the best, this time.

Everyone is so excited about Japan! It's a happy environment. Love it. I bet I know a few people who will be doing lots of laundry this week. I know they are all going to have a fantastic time. I hope they also do a great job performing. Such a neat opportunity. Helena is going to be in charge of practice while they are gone. Hmm. Might be a few late starts...

Maybe I need to tell her that I won't be at practice on Grant's actual birthday.

We made...what would you call them...nachos? Non-nachos? How about Munchos? Anyway, they were salsa chips topped with Mexican blend cheese, leftover taco meat, tomatoes, black olives and sour cream. Pretty yummy. Kinda like a taco salad without the lettuce. Well, that was our super early dinner.

We're trying to keep the kids awake so they will go to bed at a reasonable time tonight. Sometimes we lose this battle, and sometimes we win, but aren't certain it was worth the unpleasantness. I'm hoping for the other, and most rare option, which is that the children play happily and then go to sleep quickly. It's the stuff Mommy dreams are made of.

Ever meet one of those people who is wrapped up in philosophy? I mean, asking questions is a healthy thing. And so is trying to think of answers to said questions. But you really have to navigate in the reality you were born into, so sitting around and wondering whether you are real or whether God exists or is evil or good or oblivious or whatever gets filed into the "Spare Time" pigeonhole in my mental filing system. Not the base of my pyramid, if you get me. I could never be a philosopher. I could never live in the same house with a philosopher. But I would so much rather that than sit here and listen to Josh doing math problems. Ick. Math.

Do you think we really exist?

Just kidding.

Although, I could get interested in a philosophy based on Judith Martin. By the way, let's take a poll:

Do you know who Judith Martin is? Don't cheat, now. I will be expecting honest answers from all zero of you who regularly write me.

I've eaten nearly all of the fancy tea cookies my grandmother bought for me, and all without the benefit of tea. I should have made a cup when it was raining.

What is tomorrow? I hope it will involve a trip to Wal-mart. I'm almost out of soap.

Happy Sunday evening, All. I recommend sitting on your porch or closest equivalent and drinking iced tea. It's just about right for that, this evening.