Visions of Sugarplums Danced in Her Head

Photo from www.surlatable.com

We put up our two Christmas trees (the "family" one and the "fancy" one) over the Thanksgiving break, and I had been toying with the idea of buying a smaller third tree to put my baking/cake themed ornaments on it. I've amassed quite a collection in the 10 years since I started my cake business, although until the last few years, it used to be much more difficult to find these kinds of ornaments.

So we were at Lowe's today buying more Christmas lights (so cheap), and they had these little table-top Christmas trees in urns. They were charming and not tacky/cheap looking like usual. $15 for a third tree. I was almost ready to buy it and had it in my cart, but at the last minute I put it back on the shelf. I suprised myself. It just wasn't something I needed, merely something I wanted. We do have two other trees after all. Sometimes it sucks to be a grown-up, because the kid in me would have bought that tree and had it decorated and on display in no time flat!

But I'll still be thinking about a cupcake/cake/candy/baking tree for future years. And maybe it will look something like this:

Photo from www.brentwood.thefuntimesguide.com

In Hiding

It's that time of the year for me--time for all the wonderful holiday things I've packed away to come out of hiding. The problem is, when you only use something once a year, it's really, really difficult to remember where you put it!

I bought an Advent wreath for the first time last year. I really wanted to start that tradition with the girls, to make the meaning of Christmas the most important part of the season. Today I found the pink and purple candles but not the wreath! Aaack! And this weekend is the start of Advent! (Deep calming breath) I have one more box of decorations to open; I will pray it's in there!

Now for the other 99 things that I did find but had forgotten all about:

• The gifts I bought for Thalia's teachers after Christmas last year. In the meantime, Thalia and I had bought other stuff to give them--oh well!
• Christmas craft kits so the girls could make gifts for our relatives. I was so happy to find these!
• Ornaments for our tree and for our friends' too. A welcome surprise.

Maybe this year, on December 26th when I start my Christmas 2009 shopping, I'll also start writing down what I buy and where I hide them for the next 11 months.

Getting To Know You: The Holiday Edition 2008

I love receiving the 'Getting to Know You' emails! I always answer the questions and forward to my friends, hoping they'll all respond, because I always learn something new about people I've known forever. This year, I am posting the Holiday Edition I'll be sending out to my friends and family (might as well get the ball rolling):

Getting to Know You: Holiday Edition

Fill out the questionnaire, replacing my answers with yours (of course!).

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? I like to do both. I have too much of both thanks to several years of selling both for school fundraisers at two schools!

2. Real or artificial tree? Artificial all the way. I find it sad watching a real tree slowly fall apart over several weeks.

3. When do you put up the tree? Either the day of Thanksgiving or day after. No later than 2 days after Thanksgiving.

4. When do you take the tree down? Usually no later than the 2nd weekend in Jan.

5. Do you like eggnog? No way! I can't stand the smell of it; I think it's the nutmeg I can't stand. But amazingly, I bake tons of stuff with it and everyone just loves it, except for me!

6. Favorite gift received as a child? I loved alot of my toys, and I love the memories of them even more, so I don't have any one favorite.

7. Hardest person to buy for? My Dad. He has everything and wants nothing expensive.

8. Easiest person to buy for? My kids.

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, we have 2. One is made up of dolls and the other is Fisher-Price. Very kid friendly.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail. I have to send cards--I sell them!

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Pretty much anything given to me by my mother-in-law, especially the year she gave me the gift I had given her for her bday!

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Miracle on 34th Street, 1994 version. I just love that little girl!

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I shop almost all through the year. My shopping for the following Xmas starts on Dec 26 and usually ends in Sept. I like to have everything wrapped by Veterans Day in Nov.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Spritz cookies, Honey-baked ham, anything sinfully chocolate.

16. Multicolor or White lights on the tree? White.

17. Favorite Christmas song? Angels We Have Heard on High' to sing. 'Carol of the Bells' and 'Breath of Heaven (Mary's Song)' to listen to.

18. Travel or stay home at Christmas? Travel.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeers? Yes.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? We had an angel for 11 years and just bought a star last year!

21. Open presents Christmas Eve or Morning? Grew up opening Xmas Eve but now make my kids wait until morning!

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Just about everything. Is that sad?

23. Favorite ornament, theme or color? My favorite ornaments are the ones we've bought during our travels.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Prime Rib.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Good health.

Black Friday

It's been generally understood that the day after Thanksgiving is the official start of the Christmas shopping season. This is probably still true, despite the fact that Christmas merchandise appears in stores as early as August and decorations go up just weeks after Halloween. When I was younger, Thanksgiving was my favorite holiday because it meant getting together with loved ones, great food, and shopping!

Shopping at a reasonable hour, that is. When I was yonger, we didn't get up at 3 a.m. in order to be at the store by 4 a.m. for doorbusters. We left as early as possible to get a good parking space, but that was when the mall opened at say 9 a.m., not 5 a.m. But then, a few stores at a time, shopping became a marathon event starting with Thanksgiving day. Stores would stay open for days at a time (ie. Garden Ridge) or open practically in the middle of the night (ie. Walmart) to get an edge on sales.

I almost hate the whole day-after shopping thing now. What's fun about rising before dawn?

Thankful

Photo from countryaccentspa.com

Tonight is Thanksgiving eve, and I've already baked and frosted my pumpkin cupcakes (and licked the frosting bowl!), made Dallas's 'Company Sweet Potatoes' (messed up and had to start over), and whipped through my homemade Mac & Cheese recipe. I also picked up our favorite Pumpkin Cheesecake from Costco. I'm ready for tomorrow's marathon of eating!

As I'm taking a break from cleaning up after all of that, I am pausing to say thanks to God for all of my blessings: the gift of life, my husband, my girls, my parents, my brother and his new wife, many relatives near and far, old friends, new friends, new acquaintances who may become friends, good health, youth, shelter, nourishing food, clean water, education, employment, freedom, the future and good luck.

Thanksgiving isn't about the turkey, it's about giving thanks, and this year in particular, I have much to be thankful for.

In Mourning

Tonight Thalia, Carys and I had another "girls night" at Nordstrom Cafe Bistro at La Cantera. I was so disappointed with the food. My Rosemary Chicken Ciabatta Sandwich, which I order all the time, was a good 3 inches shorter than usual. I was actually still hungry when I left, which is not usually the case. The fries on the kids' meals were kind of over-fried-- over-crispy to almost burnt. Pathetic little strawberries instead of the lovely fat ones. The order taker forgot to place one of the girls' orders, and our waiter forgot to our silverware and requested condiments.

I hate when a favorite restaurant disappoints. It's like a broken friendship. Even the kids noticed it. Sad, sad, sad. I had actually noticed the slide in quality a few visits back but was in denial. What are we to do? We live not very close to any good restaurants, especially ones that are not part of a huge international chain. Nordstrom Cafe Bistro was a rare gem-- five minutes from my house, cloth napkins, friendly waitstaff who indulge my children. And it's at the mall, which is my natural habitat.

I'll be mourning the loss of a good place to eat that was also quite healthy. Maybe I'll give them another chance, but it probably won't ever be the same.

On the Cusp

I just discovered a new store/website that I love the other day: CUSP. As in "on the cusp of fashion." It's owned by Neiman Marcus, which I think is how I found out about it (I was browsing Horchow's site, I believe). It's like NM for the younger crowd. I'm actually not the target demographic for these stores, I'm probably too old, but I love the stuff on the website. It's like they weeded out the ridiculously expensive and the "stuffy" stuff that I would never buy and trimmed it down to just the cool stuff. I also like that there's not a huge, cumbersome selection online. Who needs to choose from dozens and dozens of jeans?

I'm currently looking at some Tory Burch bags on their site; good sales right now on some cute designs. I read that she is a "working Mom" which makes me like her more!

I rarely, rarely shop at Neiman Marcus, the actual store. I do buy frequently from their website, which does not have snooty hourly-wage employees. However, if a Cusp ever does open in Texas, I'd be very interested in shopping there. Somehow, I think it would have a completely different vibe from the posh, grandma-ish feel of NM.

Cusp has apparently been open for a couple of years now, but as I don't live in any of the cities they're located in AND I'm too old to be really hip, it's a nice new discovery for me!

Funny Weddings

I can't exactly post this on my 'business blog' but I really have to share this somewhere . . . The Return of the Funny Wedding Photos. I stumbled on this website while doing a Google search for something else, of course. These pics are SO funny and strange. It's really interesting what some people consider to be their dream wedding idea.

I particularly loved the faux wedding invitation at the end; OMG that could have been sent out by my own mother-in-law, only she wouldn't have been half that clever.

In the Pink

Yes, Breast Cancer Awareness Month has come and gone, but my all-time favorite tie-in product will still always be this pink colander that my friend Amy gave me. It is probably used at least once a day, and I never tire of looking at it. That is the sign of a perfect gift at my house!

The Turn Of The Tide

In 1987 the book Free to Be A . . . Family by Marlo Thomas came out and a corresponding TV special aired as well; it was a sequel to the 1970s Free to Be . . . You and Me which I've never read. I was 16 years old when the second book was released and I saw the TV special one night. I must have wanted to watch it because I even video taped it. I absolutely loved this song, "The Turn of the Tide", that was written and performed by Carly Simon. I watched it over and over again just to hear the song. The sheet music is included in the book, which I also have. It's a hard song to sing unless you have Ms. Simon's fabulous voice.

To me, the song was an anthem for the youth of the 80s--that it was OUR world and OUR responsibility to help "turn the tide."

We cannot go on
sounding alarms
And rattling swords
and building bombs
And fouling the air
and the streams underground.
We've got to begin
to turn it around!
It's our right to be heard,
Our right to decide--
Here comes the turn of the tide.

Maybe our generation hasn't done everything it should or could have so far to turn it around, but we still have a responsibility to change what we can, however we can. This song is just over 20 years old, and while I may not have quite the positive outlook that I had about the world and the future when I was teenager, I have a duty now as a parent to bring about some meaningful change.

Meanwhile, I'm enjoying this video again after so many years. It really brings back the 80s for me! Note the kids who sing between verses are singing in Russian! (This was the world in the mid 80s when the USSR was our enemy.) And Carly Simon looks great!

Prayers Please

Please pray for our friend, Steve Damm, who has had a really tough week. Steve is fighting brain cancer, and is truly the bravest, most patient, most uncomplaining person in the face of all of this. The Damm family needs everyone's prayers and positive thoughts right now. You can read their story on their blog, Check on Steve, and leave some encouragement and good wishes there too. Thank you for taking the time to read this and for your prayers and thoughts.

Heel Wedgies

Image from kixbykatie.com

Heel Wedgie. Any woman who has worn slacks or jeans with mules, sling-backs, wedges and other backless shoes will surely be familiar with this very annoying clothing malfunction: it's when the hem of your pants gets caught between your heel and your shoe. Until this week, I didn't know that this fashion pet peeve had a name, nor did I know there was a solution. Thank God for fashion magazines clueing me in!

I saw an ad for Out-Ease Struts by Daryn in either InStyle or Lucky (can't remember now) earlier this week. That sent me searching for more information online, and I found a couple more companies who've similarly solved this fashion problem, most notably Kix by Katie. In fact, "heel wedgie" is a trademark of Kix by Katie so the other companies can't use it in their advertising. Too bad because it's a very clever description for stepping on your hem over and over and over again.

So the solution is basically these rigid yet somewhat flexible strips that attach to the inside back hemline of your slacks. Each company's looks a bit different, but they all profess to do the same thing. I absolutely cannot wait to get my hands on these strips!

I was originally going to order the Struts because I saw their ad first, but now I think I'll try the Kix. I have a coupon code, and if you're reading this thinking you would like to try them too, feel free to contact me and I can share my code with you. Fashionistas unite against further fashion annoyances!

Odds & Ends

It shocks me that I've blogged for over two week straight, after previously blogging about an average of once every three months or so! There's nothing like a good challenge to force you to do something!

The problem with daily blogging, for me at least, is that I don't really have enough to say every single day. Thus the random stuff I've posted this month. But then again, my blog has been pretty random from the get-go anyway.

Art to Wear

sold by LoveYourSoles on Etsy

I heart these shoes. Dr. Scholl's Exercise Sandals take me back to the 1970s when my Mom and I had matching pairs! But ours were strictly the boring kind, not like these gorgeous ones.

I found these today on Etsy when I was looking for some examples of painted clothing and shoes to show my Girl Scouts. We are working on our 'Art to Wear' patch, and these shoes are definitely art! I love how clever and creative people can be.

Heavens to Etsy

Many months ago I discovered a site called Etsy (like 'Betsy' without the B) while on someone else's blog. If you're female and an artsy-craftsy type, you're probably already familiar with Etsy. If you grew up with a Mom who sold her wares or shopped at craft fairs or church bazaars, like I did, you will appreciate what a kick it is to see these all-handmade items sold in a very slick, high-tech way. Gone are the folding tables covered with crocheted potholders, ceramic soup tureens, and beaded ornaments-- Etsy vendors list their stuff using tags on a site with Flash interface and "widgets" (whatever that is). I LOVE IT!

Anytime I'm feeling decidedly uncreative, I wander over to Etsy, and then I feel EVEN MORE UNCREATIVE! ha! Seriously, the women (and they are almost all female artists and crafters) who create and sell on Etsy are amazing.

And the best thing about anything you buy through Etsy is that it is guaranteed to be handmade. Never any questions about whether it was mass-produced in a factory somewhere in China. Many of Etsy's items come from the US, and you can do a regional search and buy from someone in your own state.

These are not your granny's crafts. Yes, there's knitting and crochet and ceramics and needlework, but many of the artists have taken them to another level, either through the materials they use or the unique design.

Growing up, I'd seen my share of not-so-creative wares sold at fairs and bazaars, and have even bought my share of them to support a cause or just to be nice. But the stuff on Etsy is good stuff, and I heart alot of it! I like mass-produced stuff too, don't get me wrong, but there is something really special about buying something that no one else will ever have. How cool is that?

Ugh

Today I took my Girl Scout troop on a hike to the top of a mountain with an observation lookout tower. We walked almost two miles round-trip. About halfway up the mountain, I felt a sudden twinge in my mid-back. Uh-oh. It was a twinge that was similar to the one I had last week when unloading some Costco-size purchases from the back of my car. When that happened, I spent the rest of the afternoon lying flat on my back. Unfortunately, this morning our Girl Scout hike wasn't even halfway over.

I said nothing to my husband or the other parents. I said nothing to the girls. I realized that I could move my back in certain ways and the pain wasn't excruciating, but if I moved a particular way, it nearly made me double over again. So I carefully made my way up to the top, a little slower than I had been walking but pretty much the same. I was dying to just stop and lie flat, but that was just impossible.

On the way back down, I whispered to Dylan what had happened with my back and that I could hardly stand it. This was after having played a quick game on the trail, climbed up the observation tower, the trip to the primitive bathrooms, and a snack activity where we made our own "Walking Salads" (trail mix). There is also a playscape with a rock climbing wall at the base of the trail, so I couldn't even escape after the hike--the girls would not be denied the chance to play!

I finally did make it home, took a really hot shower, and lay down for about 40 minutes . . . until it was time for a friend's baby shower which I could not miss. I even put on my high heel sandals that I can barely walk in--why not really be miserable and yet fashionable all at once?!

I got through the afternoon and evening with very much Motrin and will power. We went out for dinner and even some shopping. And I gradually forgot about my back, except when I felt the twinge again. Busy Moms just don't have time for bad backs! Needless to say, I am looking forward to some down time tomorrow. I've got too much planned next week to make room for a uncooperative back.

Jezebel

Some of the YA books reviewed recently by Fine Lines on Jezebel (photo from Jezebel.com)

The name Jezebel usually conjures up images of wicked women. It's a provocative name. It's also the name of a website that I absolutely love and can't get enough of. An old friend, Sarah, got me hooked on this site when she recommended it in September.

Jezebel's tagline is: Celebrity, Sex, Fashion for Women. Without Airbrushing. It's a bit like People Magazine for the feminist/liberal/thinking gal. And once I start browsing on their website, I can't stop! Because there's so much to read and catch up on, even if I visit daily. In the past 24 hours, for example, there have been 62 posts on Jezebel's site.

My favorite feature on Jezebel is Fine Lines. Each week, they review classic Young Adult books (circa 1970s and 1980s) from an adult female feminist perspective, and since I must be pretty close in age to the author (probably a bit older), these are the same books I grew up with and adored.

I hope everyone I know visits Jezebel, particularly if you were a hopeless library geek like I was in the 80s and want to revisit some favorite reads from back then. Like its name, its content is provocative, strong, assertive. Hussy!

Good Hair Day

Well I am back from my haircut, and I love the way it looks. Of course, I always love it right after it's been properly blow-dried and styled! It will never look this good again. haha

The 'senior stylist' I requested turned out to be a lovely woman who graduated from my high school the same year I did! It was fun reliving the 80s with her. I will definitely go back.

If someone were home right now to snap a photo, I would show you all my gorgeous new hair!

Hair Drama

I recently vowed to reduce the number of haircuts and color jobs I usually have in a year's time as part of our family's "recession bail out plan." I wrote this in earnest, of course, but my hair is seriously out of control and I will need to at least have it trimmed.

The reason why I haven't done so already in 4 months has less to do with saving money, although I have, and more to do with the fact that my beloved hair stylist with whom I had an on-again, off-again relationship moved away in August! Boo-hoo! Four months ago I had decided to go to him exclusively for my haircuts after a humorous hair incident involving an associate of his at the same salon.

Earlier this spring, Emily (not her real name) at Salon FooFaLa (also not the real name) cut my hair, just a little trim as I was still growing it out for my brother's wedding. I'd actually been to her a couple of times already and she'd cut my hair in late summer/early fall. however, when I went back to her in April, this is the conversation we had:
Emily said:Your hair is uneven. Whoever cut your hair last didn't cut it evenly.
I said: Are you sure?
I thought to myself: YOU cut my hair last!
Emily said: Oh, yeah, it's definitely uneven.
I thought to myself: OMG! YOU cut my hair crooked!
I said: Oh. Ok.

So when I decided to cut off 6 inches this summer, I requested Roger (not his real name) again. I told him, on the sly, the story about Emily and my crooked hair. (Her station was next to his.) He laughed and said that would never happen again while he cut my hair. Roger is the most precise hair stylist I have ever met. He cuts and measures and cuts and measures and then checks it all again. All was well with the world again.

But when I returned later in the summer for another cut, he had moved away rather suddenly! Boo-hoo again!

So tomorrow I'm trying a new gal at the same salon, NOT Emily of course, and I specifically requested the most senior stylist. This probably means I will pay the highest price ever for my cut, but it may be worth my peace of mind. So much for our savings plan!

Appliance Love

And doesn't this look just like me?!
From The Apron Queen's Flickr photostream

I do 100% of the cooking, but luckily only half of the clean-up. However, the half that I do in the kitchen always involves loading and unloading the dishwasher. Our house came with a standard builder-grade GE dishwasher; in other words, it was a piece of crap. After exactly 5 years and 1 week of life with this dishwasher, which did a sorrier and sorrier job of cleaning as time went by, I announced to Dylan that we would have a new dishwasher installed in our kitchen before Thanksgiving.

I am very rarely that decisive when it comes to large purchases. But really, what is the point of hand washing all your dishes after they've come out of the dishwasher? Well, Dylan picked up the ball and moved even quicker than I would have thought--two days later, he suggested we pick out a dishwasher at Lowe's. I thought we would just go take a look at what was out there, but Dylan had already researched the different models online at Consumer Reports and picked out one that was highly rated and a good buy: a Bosch.

Bosches are known for being so quiet when in use that you don't even realize they're on. But beyond that, they are just a treasure chest of cool features you never knew you needed. Adjustable top rack, fold-down dividers, cutlery basket that can be "reconfigured" in a bunch of different ways . . . it's too much, it's too much!

Here is a pic of our newly installed (today!) Bosch 500 Series Evolution Dishwasher which is like the Mercedes-Benz of dishwashers compared to our former pathetic GE model:


It holds up to 12 place settings of dishes and stuff, more than our old one would hold, so it will likely take longer to fill up. Even so, I can't wait to wash something! Wait--it has a Half-Load Option! How cool is that? Saves on energy and water consumption that way. It's so easy being "green." haha

So indulge me in my excitement about our new kitchen appliance! Is it sad to be so excited about a dishwasher? A sign of maturity? Or just tired of doing the dishes after doing the dishes? Life is looking brighter and squeaky clean at our house.

Girl Scout Cookie Overload

Photo from Google Images

This year, from January to March, was Thalia's first ever Girl Scout Cookie Sale. Because I am her Girl Scout leader, and because we were all so excited about the cookies, we bought quite a few boxes for ourselves. My business also ordered a case to donate to charity, and all I can say is thank God those cookies didn't end up in our house too!

Needless to say, we still have quite a few boxes left, and at the same time, this week are gearing up for Cookie Sale 2009. Uh-oh. We need to get rid of these cookies. I served several flavors at our recent Girl Scout Pot-Luck at our house, but we still have so many left.

I remembered tonight that I have this awesome recipe to use up Girl Scout Thin Mint cookies, and I am posting it just in case someone else out there ordered a few too many cookies too:

Thin Mints Pizza Supreme

From Every Day with Rachael Ray, April 2007 (but I got the recipe originally from my friend Casey's friend Kathryn who is a great cook!)

1 18-oz pkg refrigerated choc chip cookie dough
1/2 box Girl Scout Thin Mints (about 20 cookies)
1/2 cup white chocolate chips (6 oz)
2 Tbsp. heavy cream or half-and-half

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 12" pizza or 9x13" baking dish with parchment paper. Using fingers, press cookie dough to fit pan. Break Thin Mints into quarters and gently press into dough. Bake until golden brown, 15-20 min. Let cool.

2. Meanwhile, in a double boiler, whisk together the white choc chips and cream until chocolate melts. Remove from heat. Using a fork, drizzle the topping over the cooled pizza. Cut into slices.

So easy! I am going to be making this one several times during the Thanksgiving-to-New Years rush. Cookie Sale starts January 1, 2009, so I'll just have enough time!

My Space

Out of roughly 37 posts in the past three years, I've posted about my kids/family four times; the rest have been about me or stuff I was thinking about. I had no idea what this blog would really be about, what direction I would take it in, when I started it. Clearly, it would seem that I forgot I even had a blog at times! A few months ago I decided that my family should have its own blog, and this one would be my "me-blog", my space all for myself.

The family blog has really flourished! My kids have known about it from the start, and they love to see themselves online(!), so they keep me blogging. The blog is family-friendly and mainly written and updated so our friends and family scattered everywhere can see pics of the girls as they grow and read funny little tidbits about our daily life.

My personal blog, as I now think of it in my head, is a little harder to define. I often have no idea what I should write about, especially now that the family and my kids have their own showcase elsewhere on the web. And perhaps that says alot right there about how I see myself. What am I besides a Mom and Wife, my "official" roles in life right now? Well, I also run a business on the side-- but wait, my company has its own blog too, in addition to a bonafide website run entirely by me, the very amateur webmaster!

About two years ago, I got a Facebook account due entirely to my teenage cousins who seemed to exist solely on Facebook. I knew no one else for a very long while on Facebook who wasn't in college, high school or just young! Now, everyone I know or have known is on Facebook. It's hit critical mass with the 35+ age group! And it's alot more fun now. I use to check my facebook account every few months, and then it became every week, and then a couple of times per week, and then daily, and now it's all day long. Facebook is great because it ties together all the different people I've known through all the different phases of my life--childhood friends, relatives, long-lost high school and college pals, ex-work colleagues and now Mom-friends.

My blog is kind of the opposite of my Facebook page, because there is no immediate social interaction going on. This is all about me, just me, and I have no idea if anyone reads this stuff or if I'm writing into the void. I know within seconds sometimes if someone has read my Facebook comment. I admit, I like the immediate gratification aspect of that! I can blog about anything, everything, often nothing, but there's no feedback. Now, I know there are bloggers out there who get dozens or hundreds of comments per post, to let them know how they're doing. I am not one of them! So sometimes, I feel like I'm just writing aimlessly, like a little tiny dinghy out in the big sea.

Even so, it's nice to have your own spaces in the world.

Stuff I'm Reading

Ever since my not-so-recent blog about my Romance D.I.K. list, I've been thinking about a D.I.K.-Part 2, a list of contemporary fiction that I'd like to have with me on my desert island. Can't do it! Too many great books to list! And "fiction" is too broad to have to narrow down to a dozen or so titles. So I'm borrowing an idea from a British writer who I like and respect very much but I fear is not well-known enough here in the States--Nick Hornby. I love all of his books, and I love the way he fleshes out his characters in his fiction, whether it's a young boy or middle-aged mom. They're so real. But it's one of his non-fiction books that gave me the idea for "Stuff I'm Reading."

In The Polysyllabic Spree: A Hilarious and True Account of One Man’s Struggle With the Monthly Tide of the Books He’s Bought and the Books He’s Been Meaning to Read, Hornby took about a year's worth of columns he wrote for Believer magazine and turned into a cool book. The idea is simple--he writes about stuff he's been reading and books that he's bought in the past month. Brilliant.

So at the end of November, and hopefully each month to come, I'll be sharing my Books Bought (or Borrowed) and Books Read!

I Heart Blogs

Today I added a blog roll (see side bar), a self-updating list to help me keep track of some favorite blogs out there. I don't know very many people personally who blog, but I am a fan of very many others in the virtual world who spin a good yarn. I've listed all my personal friends and their blogs, including my friend Janine whose blog got the ball rolling for me 2 years ago.

It's interesting how many blogs I can't live without these days. I get antsy when I don't get my daily fix of other people's lives. Is that weird?

I'm sure I'll be adding to the list as I find more blogs that I love!

Mrs. O

Photo from Mrs. O blog

Another fashion-forward blog I'm enjoying--Mrs. O. Yes, Mrs. O spends lots of money (sometimes) on her clothes, just like Mrs. P supposedly did. But Mrs. O paid for them herself! No wealthy donors footing the bill or unsuspecting aides surreptitiously using their own credit cards to throw off the trail. (Mrs. O is a Harvard-education lawyer who worked for a living, for God's sake--she probably has some money in her bank account, unlike the used-to-be Miss Alaska.)

Photo from Google Images

And according to the Mrs. O blog, sometimes Mrs. O just likes to buy off the rack like everyone else, even online in the middle of the night like I do! J Crew on sale! (I can relate to that. I can't relate to $150,000+ spending sprees at Neiman's for my entire family paid for by someone else. Not that it wouldn't be nice. But nice doesn't make it right or ethical, does it?)

Then there's Mrs. Obama's "dress" from Tuesday night's victory speech. It was the kind of dress that made you cock your head to the side and say "huh?" It's also an expensive dress--Narciso Rodriguez. The next day I saw the dress on a runway model; it looked awesome on her. On Mrs. O's very tall frame, not so awesome.

But this is America! She can wear whatever she wants! And I'm hooked on her clothes blog anyway. I think Mrs. O's style will be a nice change from Mrs. B, who for the past 8 years has pretty much looked like a very sweet, slightly boring librarian.

Photo from Google Images

Lieberman

Photo from Google Images

At our house, the name 'Joe Lieberman' is greeted in the same exact manner by Dylan and me in which Jerry Seinfeld greets Newman, the overweight mail carrier on his eponymous show. Lieberman. Often followed by the words loser, jerk, shmuck, traitor.

I stumbled upon this piece about Lieberman's "fear" if the Dems win 60 Senate seats. It was amusing. So basically, it's not the survival of America that's in doubt--it's Lieberman's political career. Even more amusing were the random comments after the article. This was one of my favorites:

Lieberman is such a sad figure, maybe even sadder than Bush.

Lieberman is like a guy who was on the debate team when they sucked, and he quit and joined the chess club just as the debate team started winning. And no one on the chess club likes him, they just pretend to like him because he makes fun of the debate team with them at the lunch table.

I still get nauseated when I think about the fact that I VOTED for this creep in 2000. Ick, ick, ick. This is also the guy who was McCain's #1 choice for VP nominee this year; Sarah Palin was apparently an afterthought compared to Joe. And I still think he looks like Alf's Dad.

Photo from Google Images

Photo from Google Images

Election Day

I missed my chance to vote in 1988 presidential election by only 4 months--I turned 18 in March 1989. It was a real disappointment to me, especially as I was taking the state-required senior Government class at the time. The teacher was young and irreverent, and she made government and politics interesting. I couldn't wait to vote in an election, any election. The first election I was eligible to vote in was a school board election a few months after my birthday. I was so excited to cast my ballot at the mall.

Although I haven't been as diligent about voting in every minor election since then, I haven't missed a presidential or governor's race since 1992. I love to vote. I love receiving my voter registration card in the mail. When I was within a certain age group (ie. younger), I used to tuck blank voter registration cards into '18th birthday' cards or 'congratulations on your new address' cards, trying to encourage my friends to do their civic duty too. I love receiving the sticker at the end of the quick voting process and will proudly wear it all day. (In fact, my 'I Voted' sticker from the 2004 election is still stuck to my bathroom mirror.)

Talking about government and elections was not something we really did as a family when I was growing up. As immigrants, my parents were not eligible to vote, and although they paid taxes and contributed to their community in various ways, were a bit removed from the democratic process. The first time I voted in 1989, I was proud to be the first person in my family to do so. And I grew up with stories from parents about how elections were done in their homeland, the Philippines--the buying of votes, fraudulent ballots, election-related violence-- made me realize how different the process was here in this country. How we take the peaceful transition of power for granted. And as I got older, studying elections in history and democracy around the world also made me realize that there are people who crave the freedoms and rights we so carelessly disregard, such as our right to vote.

I voted on the second day of early voting, eager to avoid he predicted long lines. I took one of my two kids with me; she complained the whole time. I felt, as I always do, proud to cast my vote again. I also wished that I had done more research on certain down-ballot races; in my pre-parenting days, I would have!

Yesterday, the day before the election, a caller on the Diane Rehm Show on NPR stated she was still undecided and didn't know what she should do. She was young, probably college-aged, and lived in Missouri. I was annoyed listening to her. Here she was, at the end of the longest campaign ever, still undecided?! All the information was out there, accessible in every possible media. All the opinions of each candidate's character and trustworthiness were out there, from everyone and anyone you could ask. Lazy. I hope she made it to the polls, but I suspect she might not have.

I guess I don't understand when people don't vote. Some people in other countries, who don't have that privilege, would fight for that right, maybe even die for it. A record number of eligible voters did cast their votes today, and in the weeks leading up to the election. It makes me very happy to have that one thing in common with so many other Americans. So many young people voted and enthusiastically took part in the process, maybe just not the caller from Missouri.

We turned on CNN to watch the election returns at 6pm this evening. Thalia, who had heard and learned much about the presidential race at school, was keenly interested in watching it. She stared at the pie-charts with the red, blue and orange (other) slices. "Who is Other?" she wanted to know. She noted the rising number of electoral votes on the bottom of the screen for Obama. It was really cool to watch the early returns with my 7 year old child, who had voted online at a kids' website about the election process earlier today. She voted for Obama, but could have gone either way really, and that was her choice to make. Someday, too soon, she will be old enough to cast her own vote for president. I want her to reach that decision using her brain as well as her heart, to utilize all the available information and resources out there. I don't want her to be a clueless, undecided voter on the eve of election day, but an informed, confident one who proudly casts her ballot. And even if her vote isn't the same as mine, I hope she'll get the same thrill I do when I vote.

Photo from Google Images

Things I've Bought That I Love

Photo from Google Images

I love the show 'The Office.' I didn't always, but it grew on me very quickly. I think the reason I didn't just love it instantly was because the setting and the characters were a little too real--dingy, boring office with not-beautiful, very ordinary-looking people. Just like EVERY OFFICE I'VE EVER WORKED IN. And Pam . . . I was "Pam" at several places of employment . . . I felt her pain. I indignantly noted to Dylan, the first time we watched the show, how unattractive the characters were. This is TV for pete's sake! He replied that it was just like a real office, and over time, the people you work with start to look nicer, prettier, better-looking, etc. because you just get used to them. hahaha

Anyway, one of the funniest characters, although not a main one, is the Indian-American, Kelly. I see her as an Asian-American airhead, and have known several like her. So funny! Her story line with Ryan-the-temp-turned-executive cracks me up. It turns out that the actress who plays her, Mindy Kaling, is also a comedy writer and was originally hired as a writer for the show. (That explains why she does not look like your typical "actress" and hooray for that). Mindy also, coincidentally, loves to shop, and writes a blog as Mindy Ephron called Things I've Bought That I Love. Although the blog hasn't been updated in a while, there are some great posts. Lots of shoe love going on for sure. The funny thing is that she writes just as you might expect 'Kelly' to!

I hope Mindy/Kelly/Vera (her real name is apparently Vera) finds time to post something new soon. I have enjoyed back-reading her posts! I love to shop too.

NaBloPoMo

November is National Blog Posting Month! I only found this out yesterday! So I am going to attempt to post a blog at all of our sites (this one, The Sweet Spot and With Four You Get Eggroll) each day. I may not be able to keep up with all of them, but I'll give it a shot! I probably needed to try this a while ago to develop the daily habit of posting something!

Trying Something New

I've Been Tagged!

I've Been Tagged!
via Resistance is Futile by Tracy Kosofsky on 10/30/08

Tracy tagged me (thanks to Tyra who pointed this out), so I'll play along!

The Rules:
1. Link to the person who tagged you (Tracy)
2. Post the rules on your blog (this is what you are now reading).
3. List 6 random things about yourself.
4. Tag 6 people at the end of your post.
5. Let each person know they have been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.

Random things about me:
1. I love the color pink but rarely wear it
2. I am a cake designer and instructor
3. Texas Longhorn, Classes of '93, '93 and '96!
4. Love to travel
5. Romance novel reader
6. I am getting braces soon

I am tagging Janine, Eileen, Julie, Carisa, Archana and Tyra
hoping any of them will read this and post to their own blogs! I hardly know 6 people personally who have a blog! Now I have to remember to tell them I tagged them!

Why I Love HEB

An item I found on CNN's website today:

Araceli Garcia's quarter-mile trip to the grocery store Tuesday morning took 2 ½ hours. She came away with $72 worth of food from the H-E-B supermarket and considers herself blessed.
"I got my eggs," the 32-year-old Humble, Texas, resident said. "I don't know how they're doing it."
In the aftermath of Hurricane Ike, the supermarket was letting in just 20 people at a time, she said, and the long wait didn't annoy customers just happy to have a place to buy basic needs. Of Kroger, Target and Wal-Mart near her home, Garcia said, only H-E-B was fully functional.
"H-E-B is going to be the hero of the day," Garcia said.
The company said on its Web site it had brought in 500 employees from across Texas to get its Houston area stores up and running.

H-E-B stands for "Here Everything's Better." It's true! I'm so proud to be a an HEB shopper!

Thank God for companies like HEB that go that extra mile (or more) to serve our communities. During a crisis like this, we are all so vulnerable in so many ways. Just being able to buy something to feed your family becomes an ordeal. Very humbling. I feel so lucky to live away from the hurricane's path.

"Tell me where to go to be heard"

Listen. Think. Do something. This is too important.

I received this today from Astrid Heger and thought that she said it better than I ever could, and so, I am sharing her words with you:
Maria had driven to Tijuana with her mom, sister and little brother to buy a special dress for her aunts wedding. This was the most beautiful dress she had ever owned---no the most beautiful thing she had ever seen----and she hung it on a nail pounded into the wall of a garage in Bell Gardens that they called home. Every Sunday she tried on the dress---anxious for the time to pass when she could wear it to be in the wedding. But this past Sunday the dress had become too small, her mother could not fasten the small white buttons. Her mother rushed her to the emergency room fearing the worst----cancer. I was summoned to the Emergency room to evaluate Maria----She was sitting in the corner of the windowless exam room with tears running down her face. Her mother had fled the room leaving her to fend for herself. A tiny 10 year old she looked much younger than her age, and now dressed in a too-big dress handed down to her and wearing black Mary-Jane shoes and bright white socks she looked translucent---a shadow of the girl that might have been.
At age 10 she had just been told that she was pregnant. Pregnant by her father who had been raping her for over two years. We spoke and I comforted her---on examination we found her to be 16 weeks pregnant, and because she was so small her womb was now pushing down her vagina making intercourse impossible so her father had been raping her anally. Her sister when asked about whether the little brother had been sexually abused----said “No, he still laughs.”
So last night when the Republicans welcomed with thundering applause, a woman who believes that all abortions must be outlawed----my heart stopped in my chest at the very idea that we as a Nation would ever considered taking away the rights of women and children---my patients---raped, abused and violated in the most horrific ways. How careless we are with the lives and souls of those who are less fortunate.
I am moved to tears at the thought of the precipice that we are approaching. I could spend hours on poverty, loss of the medical class, no health care etc etc etc.----but sitting there that day in that stark, cold clinic room with a little girl whose only hope for survival was an abortion----I was glad to have that option. Of course I would love to see a time come when everyone knew to practice abstinence, or even birth control, or a time when rape and incest were words we did not understand and women had the right to say no and have someone hear her--but apparently none of these words---abstinence, birth control, rape or incest has penetrated the isolated, cold world of Gov. Palin.
Tell me where to go to be heard---I cannot believe that women across this country who understand what violence against women and children really means---will not stand up to be counted.
Astrid Heppenstall Heger, M.D. Executive Director Violence Intervention Program 1721 Griffin Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90031

I've never read a blog post that made me stand there frozen, unable to breathe, move, speak or even cry. I cut and pasted this exactly as it is from Meg Tilly's blog. I hope everyone reads this. My heart breaks for this girl. What can I do about it? Exercise my right to vote to make sure that the next little Maria, whose parents have failed her, has an option that may save her life? And even that may not be enough.

Decisions

Excerpt from the New York Observer, 9/1/08:

Palin and her husband, Todd, said their daughter plans to marry the child's father - who sources said is Levi Johnston - and that both "are going to realize very quickly the difficulties of raising a child, which is why they will have the love and support of our entire family." Johnston, 17, who is entering his senior year at Wasilla HS, plays on the school hockey team and was once teammates on a youth squad with Palin's older brother, Track, 19, who is now in the Army. Despite suffering a cracked bone in his shin last season, Johnston scored 24 goals in 24 games. "We don't want to talk about this," said a woman who answered the phone at the Johnston home. On his MySpace page, Johnston boasts, "I'm a f - - -in' redneck" who likes to snowboard and ride dirt bikes. "But I live to play hockey. I like to go camping and hang out with the boys, do some fishing, shoot some s- - - and just f - - -in' chillin' I guess." "Ya f - - - with me I'll kick [your] ass," he added. He also claims to be "in a relationship," but states, "I don't want kids."

I'm happy for Bristol Palin that she has made the very grown-up decision to keep her baby. I just hope she isn't being pressured into marrying the father, instead of someone she really loves and wants to spend her life with. Choosing to have a baby doesn't ruin your life. But marrying the wrong person can. Her intended hasn't said anything on his MySpace page that would be considered unusual for an 18 year old boy, and he's probably a nice enough guy, but still . . .

I wish them well.

MOM: a PALINdrome

An actual letter from an actual conservative Republican. And I absolutely agree with the writer. Who says liberals and conservatives can't see things the same way? Text is word-for-word from the Dr. Laura (Schlesinger) website:

2008-09-03

Dr. Laura,
I am aghast with the McCain VP selection. As a voting Conservative Republican, the proud mother of children that include a soldier and an airman (my soldier is deployed), and who is raising 3 additional children 13 and 6 year-old twins who have various disabilities, HOW IN THE WORLD DO YOU LEAVE A DISABLED INFANT TO GO BACK TO WORK THE THIRD DAY, when you do NOT absolutely have to????? What kind of serious mother does that? She said her family came first. SHE LIED. I am so totally outraged with this I could scream. Did we want to win so badly that we would absolutely destroy the values of HOME, motherhood, family values? I am sickened by it all. Soccer mom? Unbelievable. Even the dad wasn't holding the baby. The child was carrying the baby. I'm sorry, was I foolish enough to have accepted such a nomination, I would have been carrying my baby. I think she is emotionally detached from the baby, personally. God Save America from itself and the craziness we do.ABTW, I gave up a career in corporate America to stay at home and raise these other little ones. A REAL MOM would have given up governorship, too. But that's my not-so-humble opinion.

The Palin nomination has made me feel many emotions and think many different thoughts in the space of just a few days. But ultimately, I think it just makes me feel sad. Sad for a 17 yr old girl whose entire life is now an open book for the hungry press. Sad for a special-needs infant who has already been toted around on various stages in the public eye in his own short life.

I absolutely believe that any woman should have the opportunity to have a career outside of the home AND have a family if she so chooses, and to create and maintain a balance that is liveable for all. But I also believe that you can't have 'everything' all at the same time. Because sometimes, or should I say often, what is 'liveable' isn't exactly perfect or easy for everyone involved. Does this woman from Alaska want too much for herself and her family all at once? Yes, I know that only she has the right to answer that question. And I realize that offers of the vice-presidency don't exactly land in your lap on a regular basis. But also this: To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. (Ecclesiastes 3:1) All evidence of political inexperience aside, is this a good time for the self-proclaimed hockey mom to take on the job of being a heartbeat away from "leader of the free world"? Just my Mom's-eye view on it.

Blog Anyway

I have blogged so rarely that any readers I may have had here have probably decamped to better blogs! (I know I have!) And I have tried to explain to myself and others why I post so few entries: too busy, too tired, mediocre writer, etc. But one reason I've known deep down but haven't been able to articulate to myself or anyone else very well is that my daily life is pretty good and normal, and given the high drama of other blogs, "normal" is kind of boring to read about. Rather than a hip mommy-blog where someone's letting it all hang out about themselves and their families (photos included), I've self-edited myself over and over again and convinced myself that I've nothing interesting to say. And not only that, I was brought up with the "if you can't say anything nice, then don't say anything at all" rule--so I'm not going to bash anyone else I know (or don't know) just to have something to write about. I've just had this feeling that if I posted something every day, it would be something really prosaic and dull-ish. Proposed solution: get over it, embrace the "normal" and the "boring," and write about it anyway. And feel blessed that I have so little to complain about! Maybe there'll be too much sunshine and happiness in my blog, but so be it.

I started out thinking I would just blog about whatever came into my head on a given day, like the notebook journals I used to keep. But then I also realized quickly that I had to decide if I wanted this blog to be about ME, or if I wanted it to include my family members. (I've done a little bit of both kinds of blogging here.) My whole life is my family--leading, organizing, soothing, loving and also going insane at times. So I decided that because I spent my entire day being there for my family that I could have a space online that was just for and about me. But that's still hard to do when there are only 24 hours in a day and so much going on around me!

Perhaps ironically, I just launched, with my family's permission, a new family blog to chronicle our daily joys. With Four You Get Eggroll is about the 4 of us, not just me. I recently decided that I might be a better blogger if I wrote about my life with my spouse and kids, instead of it being just all about me! And I wanted someplace to post our favorite photos and favorite things (at the moment). The girls are thrilled about it--they love to see themselves online!

I had just taken the plunge and posted twice at our new family blogsite when I checked on one of favorite blogs yesterday. Mrs. G (which must stand for Mrs. Genius!) at Derwad Manor writes about herself and her loved ones with great honesty and humor and integrity. Her post responds to an earlier one a few days ago, but really speaks to something I'm going to have to think about alot more now that we have a family blog: how to maintain the fine line between sharing the good and funny about family life and sharing waaay too much. She writes from the heart and her blog backs her up in that she never belittles or reveals too much of her family. Her particular post from yesterday, simply entitled "Tired" is a great reminder to all of us who seek to blog about our kids, marriage and families to also seek balance.

So once again, I'm renewing my dedication to filling up my blogs (all of them) with posts about me and us as we "get through this thing called life." Stay tuned!

American Idol Ramiele Malubay Sings Filipino National Anthem

I have not liked Ramiele's funky hair on the show (yes, I am that shallow) and find it distracting despite her lovely voice, so I was pleasantly surprised to see this video, supposedly posted by her cousin, with her 'old' hair! After watching her sing the entire Filipino National Anthem, my respect and admiration for her has really grown! This is difficult song to sing, way too many high notes. Not unlike our own national anthem, which doesn't exactly roll off the tongue smoothly, but maybe that's just me!
Originally posted 3/14/08; reposting because original video no longer available.

If It Weren't So Funny, It Would Be Sad . . .

My best friend sent me this photo in an email this morning. Because I am a cake designer, she thought I "would be the perfect person to get it"! I couldn't stop laughing for a good 5 minutes when I saw this:

When sad cakes happen to Suzannes in the world

OMG, I am laughing all over again just typing this! I found, after not very much research because this photo has been blogged about a thousand times in the last few days, this cake was originally created in October 2007 (note the "Fall" colored flowers and trim) for Suzanne's going away party at her work. Depending on whose blog you read, "Suzanne" either lives in Arkansas or Florida (my bet is on AK). The photo and story made the rounds in October and then resurfaced again in the past week, and I'm so glad, because I missed it the first time!

And here is someone's clever imagining of the cake order being place:

Okay, so this is how I imagine this conversation went:

Employee: "Hello 'dis XXXX-marts, how can I help you?"
Customer: "Yes, I would like to order a cake for a going away party this week."
Employee: "Whatchu want on da cake?"
Customer: "Best Wishes Suzanne." And underneath that "We will miss you".

Actually, it's even funnier if you read the imaginary conversation first and then look at the pic! Pretty much everyone in blog-world agrees that this cake came from a Walmart bakery somewhere, but I'm also guessing that a warehouse bakery like Sam's could have produced the same "masterpiece." For what it's worth, the flowers and shell border on the cake were lovely, considering that it very likely was made by someone who is required to turn out 7 other similar cakes in the same hour.

I guess this cake is a commentary on places like Walmart, where people who may not be native English speakers are required to communicate (in frosting!) in English every day. And I guess you really do get what you pay for, and I say this a wee bit smugly to all those who have ever called me for a price quote for a cake and then complained that they can get it "so much cheaper at Walmart!" Rest assured, my clients will NEVER get THIS cake from me!

I probably won't post this on my business's blog, but I thought it would be funny on my personal one!

1984 Kids Incorporated Theme Song

This blog entry is dedicated to my little brother, Richard, who quite worshipped this show and everyone on it when it first aired 23 years ago. Who knew that Stacy would become the fabulous Fergie we know today?! I still remember my brother taping the shows when they aired each week so we (yes, I kind of liked the show too despite its very bad acting) could watch it all week! Ahh, memories . . . !

(originally posted 1/7/08; reposting due to 'technical difficulties'!)

I Found a Guy

. . . whose blog is deemed worthy of mention! In writing my previous post, I realized that I gravitate towards the blogs of other women. I couldn't remember ever reading a blog by a guy. But I discovered a male-written blog yesterday! I had actually visited his website before, but had not taken the time to read his blog.

Rick Riordan is an author that I've glommed recently. He is a native San Antonian, so I already feel a certain affinity toward him, and until recently was a middle school teacher, so I definitely admire him! He writes the wonderful Percy Jackson and the Olympians series of books for children. I love these books, and like so many thirteen year olds, I can't wait until his next one comes out! So I was perusing his blog, Myth & Mystery, which has many entries about school visits, book tours and interactions with his fans, but also some really thoughtful entries about writing, teaching, education, children, success and censorship. I especially liked his views on censorship.

I was lucky enough to hear him speak at the Texas Book Festival in Austin last November, and he was so lovely with the kids, who were the majority of the standing room only audience in a gymnasium-sized room. And these kids really knew their stuff-- they knew his books backwards and forwards and were just so excited about reading them. How many kids get excited about reading anything? Especially books about Greek mythology?!

So I am proud to add Mr. Riordan's blog (another one by a writer!) to my growing list of favorites, and pleased to read about a guy's take on the world as well.

Blog Envy

When I first started this blog in 2005 (and yet I only have a handful of entries!), I'd only ever visited a couple of other blogs. Recently, I noticed that all of my recent 'Favorites' on my browser are blogs. Because *everyone* has a blog. It certainly seems like every stay-at-home-Mom has a blog! Every business (mine included) has a blog. There are fake blogs too. It's like everyone has a diary online and is begging the world to read it! I will say that I am impressed by the quality of writing on so many of these blogs, particularly the Mommy-written ones. Might English teachers throughout the country be breathing a collective sigh of relief that all is not yet lost?!

Today, while doing research for an upcoming Girl Scout meeeting with a music theme, I stumbled on this lovely site called Mama Lisa's World. In addition to free lyrics and MP3s of world music and stories for children, which was too hard to find online by the way, she has a great blog with great information about songs, books and other things for kids. Loved the discussion about American Girl dolls. Made me feel a little bad about having just bought one for my daughter!

There are blogs that I must visit regularly, even daily. Some are written by people I actually know. Check on Steve has been such a gift to all the friends and family of Steve and Tyra Damm, who are going through the toughest challenge anyone could ever imagine with such bravery. Steve was recently diagnosed with a lesion on the right side of his brain stem, and has handled it all so far with such grace. I am humbled by his courage.

I also read blogs by people I don't know. In fact, I read more blogs by total strangers than actual friends. I am particularly drawn to blogs by writers. I am loving former-actress-and-now-writer Meg Tilly's blog for its honesty, homeyness and awesome recipes. I have laughed out loud and also cried at her posts. Now how I came upon her blog in the first place is an entirely different and also interesting story! I will have to post that sometime.

I also love reading about the writerly life through the eyes of some kick-ass romance writers on Word Wenches. I found out about this blog because one of its writers is my all-time favorite romance writer, Mary Jo Putney. I actually know little of the other six writers, but I enjoy their blog posts.

I just discovered the funniest blog site last week, by a teacher and home-schooler who is also an awesome writer. I found out about this one from another blog, so it's a discovery-by-association kind of thing. Love that about the Internet, that free association of clicking from page to page, kind of like reading the World Book Encyclopedia as a child (yes, I was a total geek and I really did that) and going from volume to volume looking up the SEE ALSO: topics. But I digress, and Derfwad Manor is just too entertaining! And others agree because she gets in the neighborhood of at least 50 comments per post.

I just now realized that I only read blogs by women! Is that a crime?! hahaha I never thought about it before, but that's what I like to read right now-- the world according to other women. By the same token, my own hubby has never read my blog, so maybe it's a Mars/Venus thing.

So after discovering so many talented writers online, I know now that I will probably never be a writer, at least one who publishes anything that someone else would read! I envy those who write with such wit and candor and humor and honesty online, and I thank them for making my spare moments during the day (and middle of the night) richer.

So Enchanted

Carys is ENCHANTED! Thanks to magical Disney.com software, she has been transformed into Princess Giselle and Evil-Almost-Mother-in-Law Narissa. The image is supposed to move back and forth and wink and smile, but it wouldn't upload properly.

My girls and I have a favorite new movie! We finally saw Disney's Enchanted during our mini-vacation in the Dallas-Ft Worth area, and our entire family loved it! It's so appropriate for kids, families, anyone! It's a clever homage to every Disney Princess movie ever made, and at the same time, full of twists and turns and enough adult-ish humor to keep it from being saccharine.

Last night, we three piled on my bed and went online to the Enchanted website. We watched all the trailers, TV spots, behind-the-scenes videos, clips from the film and music videos. Then we played all the online games, including one where you can "enchant yourself." You upload your head shot and the email you some cool software where you can turn yourself into any one of they Enchanted characters or some of Disney's classic heroes, heroines or villains. It was great fun!

Finally, we did the Enchanted sing-along, where we watched the music videos again but this time the words appear for you. Thalia and Carys LOVE the Ever Ever After song by Carrie Underwood, and Carys said she was so beautiful in the video!

It was fun to cuddle with my daughters and do something really "girly" while Dylan watched basketball in the next room . . . !

D.I.K.

Edmund Cody Library, where I have been a patron since 2003! It was close to our rental apartment (aka The Roach Motel) and now very close to Carys's school at the JCC.

Ever since I discovered the "hold" option on the San Antonio Public Library's website, I have been reading like a fiend for the past 2+ years! My enthusiasm for the resources of the public library has resulted in my buying fewer books than I used to, although I still buy *LOTS* of books! There was a time when I didn't even step foot in a public library for at least 6 years; why would I, when there was Barnes & Noble just opening up around town with their Starbucks coffee plus my crack-like addiction to Amazon.com? Then came the "layoff of 2002", and suddenly the library was a treasure of riches! (Plus we had to cancel the cable TV too, so I had more time to read.) It was fun again to browse the shelves of my branch of the public library, small as it was.

When I moved to San Antonio, I discovered soon after trying to find certain books at my branch library and coming up empty-handed each time that you can actually put them on hold online! Why I did not know this before, I have no idea. Probably because I never knew the library was online! The entire catalog of the entire library system is on the city's website, and even better, it's "open for business" 24 hours a day! Yippee! This is a huge boon for night owls such as myself who do all substantive work after the midnight hour.

Another great thing I can do is hold and pick-up books for Thalia that are on the recommended reading lists for her age/reading level. Otherwise, my nutty kid will go to the library and only select books she has already read! Some people resist change, what can I say?! Thank God for technology, especially the kind paid for with my tax dollars!

Anyway, now that I can read whatever I want almost whenever I want without having to buy the book every time, I have been developing my own Desert Island Keeper List of Books (an idea borrowed from the All About Romance website). A D.I.K. book is one you'd like to have with you if you were stranded on a desert island! Certainly, I already had quite a few romance novels on the list in my head for years, but now I'm ready to round it out with some other kinds of books as well. Here is my unfinished list, still in development and also available on Amazon,with the romances I adore:

MY DESERT ISLAND KEEPERS: ROMANCE
1. Silk and Secrets by Mary Jo Putney
Melissa says:
"I've lost track of how many times I've read this book! Lord Ross Carlisle is the hero I judge all others against!"

2. One Perfect Rose (Fallen Angels) by Mary Jo Putney
Melissa says:
"Was the 1st 'Fallen Angels' book I read, and I was clamoring for more! I believe it was also the 4th historical romance novel I ever read, thanks to my friend Nancy. My favorite in the series."

3. In Our Dreams by Linda Lael Miller and Friends

Melissa says:
"A little something for everyone here! I love Susan Wiggs' Bridge of Dreams and Mary Jo Putney's Avalon. I never get tired of this short story collection and was absolutely bereft when I lost my original copy! Thank goodness for used book stores!"

4. Brazen Angel by Elizabeth Boyle
Melissa says:
"The best 'first book' by an author! Unfortunately, none of her subsequent books has really impressed me in comparison."

5. Thunder and Roses (Fallen Angels) by Mary Jo Putney
Melissa says:
"Really love the 'Fallen Angels' series! Clare and Nicholas really complement one another."

6. Dancing on the Wind (Fallen Angels) by Mary Jo Putney
Melissa says:
"Unusual plot-- really liked the' twin' aspect of it, especially the bond between sisters."

7. Going Home by Danielle Steel
Melissa says:
"I gave up on Danielle Steel long, long ago, but I really admire her 1st book for its honesty and enjoy a good cry. I am embarrassed to tell you how old I was when I first read it."

8. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Melissa says:
"Ok, not really a "romance novel," but the grandmother of all of them (Georgette Heyer being the mother!). Ironically, I never enjoyed this book the 1st and 2nd time, which just goes to show that sometimes, you have to give it a few tries! I think part of the disconnect was the time period in which the book was set, which was completely unfamiliar to me as a teenage girl and even as a twenty-something adult."

9. The Nonesuch by Georgette Heyer
Melissa says:
"GH really helped establish the "Regency" romance novel, with it's quaint phrases, stock characters and sweetly innocent plots. She was NOT responsible for the "bodice-ripping" aspect of the genre! I love this book because it's different-- the heroine is an "older" woman with a little more wisdom therefore than the rest."

10. Slightly Dangerous by Mary Balogh
Melissa says:
"Actually, I enjoyed pretty much the entire 'Slightly' series, of which this is the final book. But I ADORED this one! It's such a sweet and clever homage to 'Pride and Prejudice' but with it's own unique twists. I read this often, when I feel like a happy ending! The hero is even more Darcy-ish than Mr. Darcy himself, and the heroine is an all-too-human, earthy version of Elizabeth."

(blog originally started on 5/15/07)

In Remembrance: Paul Epner

It is with the greatest sadness that I resume blogging: I want to write about a lovely, funny, creative person who died suddenly last month. Paul Epner was the father of Thalia's best friend from pre-school, and our friend too. I don't know the details of his death, only that it was sudden and that he left our world far too soon. My heart breaks for his family--his wonderful, gracious wife and his adorable daughter, and his extended family. Especially for his daughter, who is fatherless at the tender age of 6.

Paul was a middle school math teacher for many years, and for that he should have received a medal! I can only imagine how his students must feel, suddenly teacher-less in the middle of the school year. You got the sense that he really connected with the kids, because he wasn't going to talk down to them and they "got" his humor. He also wrote several books for children, which we are proud to own and will always treasure. He was always self-deprecating about his writing, but the books are real gems. Thalia adores them. I am rather partial to Paul's Herbert Hilligan series of books myself. Several of his books taught math to kids in a "fun" way.

Paul was great fun to talk to. You really couldn't have even the shortest conversation with him without laughing. He had a dry humor and an unusual take on the world around him. I'll miss talking to him!

I looked him up on the Internet today, and found his teacher bio on his school's website. It was uniquely "Paul-esque" and made me laugh out loud, of course. Here it is:

Epner, Paul
Mr. Epner's Story
Math Guru for team 6.3

Paul Epner was spawned from loving parents Marcia and Martin Epner on December 21, 1963. Hatched in a hospital in Yonkers, New York, Paul was the cutest and youngest of his 4 siblings. Even as a small child, Paul's proud parents realized he was a "gifted" child. His mom was over protective, while his father felt that the "gifted" label meant that he could put Paul in a box, wrap him up, seal with a bow, and "gift" to someone else. Growing up in a family of "overachievers" it soon become apparent to Paul's family that he had "super powers". He soon began flying at the speed of light, could leap tall buildings and was able to solve math problems in his head. As Paul grew up and became a more "portly" child, he lost his power to fly and leap tall buildings, though he once did leap over a bush and broke his arm, Paul retained his ability to solve math problems in his head. Realizing Paul had superhuman mathematical abilities, he enrolled in an elementary education program at UTSA, and in 1988 received his Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education. It did take two years extra for Paul to earn his degree, because Paul had a hard time understanding that a Bachelor's Degree referred to something other than his ability to remain single. However, Paul's insistence on carrying a lunchbox to all his college classes did not help Paul to become more attractive to the opposite gender. Only because of his father's large dowery to his future wife, was Paul able to marry and allow his father to get the empty nest he longed for since Paul graduated from college.
If anyone is interested in becoming a member of the Paul Epner fan club, operators are standing by. Due to the high volume of calls and e-mails from Paul's fans, it is sometimes up to 24 hours before he can respond to his adoring fans.
As for how Paul ranks the interest level of his fans, he assesses that 60%of their interest stems from the tests they put Paul through, and 40% of their interest is figured by how they treat him on a daily basis.
At this time Mr. Epner is tied up in a tour of talk shows and appearances throughout the United States, but he does try to make himself available for discussions and conferences from around 10:30-11:30 each day.
Your support is always appreciated and Mr. Epner loves to hear from his fans!

If you feel like getting help from your math textbook..... Check out this website and take a good look Tutorials, videos and other cool stuff..... Make math easier and not so tough. Don't be afraid, do it, I say...[website] will make your school day! Mr. Epner is here, he's the coolest of cool...... He will help all his students be successful in school. But you must always remember, put yourself to the test... I will always expect you, to do your absolute best!!!!!
Mr. Epner is here!

Paul once said in an interview: "In this world you've gotta find a passion in life. I love working with kids and I love to write, so I've found a special place." I hope he's found peace and another special place in Heaven.