At the bookstore

So I'm at a bookstore on Thanksgiving night and there is a lady looking for The Scorch Trials.  But she can't find her list and the store is closing soon so the employees are doing other things.  I hear her say "The Scorch Trials" to her husband and as I'm just standing there waiting for my husband and sister to finish up, I say "James Dashner. That's the author."  Then her husband just smiles at me and they continue to wait on the saleclerk who when he finally gets to them, saying "James Dashner."  I really wanted to say "HA! I'm a librarian.  A professional at this."  But I didn't. 

Feeding myself

I'm not good at feeding myself or my child for that matter.  And by that I mean that when it comes to cooking for us, I do a poor job.  For a long time, my husband feed us every night.  He likes to cook and is great at it.  But he has a new job and isn't there to feed us half the time.  So it's up to me.  We eat a lot of ready-made food.  Not great but then not as bad as fast food.  Frozen dinners and mac and cheese and we go to my mom's at least once during the week (not for the food but she will give us things to eat).  Today I've been trying to figure out what's for supper.  This is hard though and I am starving right now.  I'm always hungry these days so going to the store is not pretty.   Anyway, I will persevere and we will eat something by the end of the day.  I just don't know what.

Sunday morning church

Lately we've been going to church.  I haven't been a regular church goer for a very long time but it is important to me that my child go to church and get to know God, etc.  That was the upbringing I had and I wanted him to have the same.  But he just started going at the age of 4 and he doesn't want to go with the other children so he stays with me in "big church" instead.  I'm not sure how much about Jesus he is picking up this way, but eventually he will have to go to Sunday School with the other kids.  He is pretty funny in church, mostly playing with colors and sometimes playing "Angry Birds" on his aunt's phone.  And occasionally yelling out "Is it over?" after the singing or the invitation.  He is actually pretty good considering the fact that he can't sit still.

Real quick...

Just so I can say I posted something today.  We went to Bub's soccer game and then he and BT went to a birthday party for one of his friends from school.  Then we went to my parent's house and watched the LSU game and now we are home and about to go to bed.  Full day today.

Stress

I'm not good at handling stress, not that many people are.  I tend to bitch and moan about whatever is stressing me out instead of being more proactive.  Right now I have a lot of stress.  Work has been piling on me wherever I go because I am suddenly the default person for every committee and project that needs to get done.  I don't know why after 3 years they have decided this, but there it is.  And then home has been a lot of Bub and me alone since BT is working.  So I have all this stuff to do at work and then I get to go home to take care of our 4 year old alone and I get to have all the fun pregnancy stuff on top of that.  See whining.  I know others have it much much harder than me and I wouldn't give up any of my personal life (many some work stuff).  I just wish everything would slow down for a minute.

Worries everywhere

Pregnancy has been the main reason that I've been quieter on the social networking/blogging side of my life.  It's really all consuming when you are pregnant but not ready to talk about it to the world at large.   I would have like to write down the first three months, but mostly it would have been me complaining about how bad I felt.  I can't guarantee there won't be blogs about that now, but I'll try to focus on other things too.  Being pregnant is such a good time in my life, but there is a lot of worry and stress associated with it.  How is the baby developing?  How are we going to handle a 5 year old and a newborn?  What on earth is going on with my body anyway?  I thought that having done this before it would be easier the second time.  But it's really not.  It's the same worries I had before, but a little more because I am older.  But I've done as much as I can to ensure a healthy environment for the growing little one and I try to be a good mom to my sweet boy.  And that's really all I can do right now.

It's a new dawn, it's a new day, it's a new life ...

And I'm feeling good.

Guess what I'm having? If you guessed a baby, then you are correct sir or madam.  I'm due for a new little one at the beginning of April.  The first 3 months were rough on me, but I'm feeling good now and I am super excited for the new one.  Bub was not happy when we first told him, but he has warmed up considerably though he is requesting only a brother.  No guarantees on that.  I think he will be a great big brother and I can't wait to have them both together. 

Working out

I am not an exercise person.  But for close to 2 years I've been dragging my butt out of bed at 5:30 most mornings and working out.  I can't leave my house since my son is sleeping and I'm not waking him up.  So I mostly do exercise videos.  I've been doing the Walk Away the Pounds DVDs for about 6 months or so and I like them.  At first I scoffed because I'm mean, a video of walking.  I've been walking for over 30 years just fine.  But it turns out there is more than walking with some light aerobics moves thrown in and very some very easy strength training.  Lately I've been tired so this is perfect for me.  I wouldn't say there were for hardcore exercisers.  Not at all.  But they are great for people like me.  I like to alternate WATP with either pilates or yoga for some stretching.  It's working out okay.  Better when my alarm goes off in time unlike this morning.  But I'm doing what I can and I feel better for it and I guess that's all I can ask right now.

2cellos

The other day at Barnes and Noble I was checking out the children's toys  and found myself singing "Annie, are you okay?" along to cello music.  Huh?  It turns out there is a cello duo, 2cellos, that plays pop music and they are pretty awesome (and pretty hot).  I downloaded the CD when I got home and have been listening to it all day.  I love their "Smooth Criminal" and "Use Somebody" along with most of the CD.  Check it out:

Typical weekend

So my plan to blog everyday in October did not get off to a good start, but yesterday was busy. Bub had a soccer game in the morning and then we came home and watched the LSU game and then went to my parent's house for dinner and to watch Transformers 3 (which was ok but clearly not necessary).  And then we came home and went to bed.  So I guess I could have blogged at some point, but I have fallen out of the practice.  Now we are watching "The World of Quest" which is an okay cartoon and soon I plan on cleaning bedrooms.  The spare room is ok for right now, but my room and the boy's room are in desperate need of cleaning.  Especially his room which is covered in toys from end to end.  And after that, well, I'm not entirely sure.  It is a nice weekend so we might go outside.  The Saints play later so I'll put that on.  Not really exciting this weekend.

Blog Everyday in October?

So I have been contemplating blogging every day in October.  I am so unhappy that I've neglected blogging.  Even my book blog is suffering from some inattention.  I just can't seem to focus on anything internet related right now.  But I don't want to let this blog fall into disuse as is the case right now.  Blogging everyday seems to give me focus and makes me write and is actually fairly helpful to me.  Blogging everyday though is a big undertaking but I have done it before many times.  So, yes, I think I'll give it another shot in October.  I'll try to start writing up things this month though, just to get started.

I am a terrible blog owner

It's been a bit busy and I haven't been feeling up to blogging lately and I can't think of any topics and I guess I could look for one.  But nah.  I changed the look of the blog and I like it though I doubt it will stay this way for a long long time.  I just wanted to change it up a little.  I really want to get a new custom look but the one who designed my last header is no longer doing custom work and so I'd have to find a new one and it's not worth it to me right now anyway.  Anyway, it is what it is.  And that's about it.

Vintage Nancy Drews!

My friend got me these early 1950's Nancy Drews at a library booksale.  How awesome is that! They are pretty neat and in good condition.   They all have the blue tweed board covers and some pretty illustrations.  The end papers are nice too, most are the blue "Digger" endpapers, except for one which is the blue silhouette endpaper.  I'm going to have to read them soon! Aren't they pretty?

Top left: The Mystery at the Ski Jump

Top right: The Mystery at Lilac Inn

Bottom left: Nancy's Mysterious Letter

Bottom right: The Secret at Shadow Ranch

Blue Digger end paper for Nancy's Mysterious Letter

Frontispiece for Nancy's Mysterious Letter

Blue Silhouette endpaper for The Mystery at the Ski Jump

Frontispiece for The Mystery at the Ski Jump

Traffic complaints

It's the first day back for the university today.  Which means I start working the reference desk daily again and also means that traffic is completely eff'd up.  Regular school started last week and the traffic was heavier than the summer but manageable (except for the school buses) but now that the uni is back too, it's all gone to hell.  I know this and planned to leave early today but, of course,  I failed to do that, leaving only 5 minutes early as opposed to the 10 or 15 minutes I had planned on.  And I went the wrong way, catching most of the traffic on the street Bub's daycare is on.  And there was a cop directing traffic for some reason this year on a road right before Bub's daycare so that was backing everything up.  I'm hoping that doesn't continue.  And then the kids on campus seem to believe that simple traffic laws do not apply to them.  Like don't cross in the crosswalk on red.  I have very little time to turn on a green arrow and they ruin it by walking across the street and getting in my way.  And they just cross without looking.  I can't understand it.  It was just a frustrating morning.  Hopefully we can get up and out earlier tomorrow.

Thinking

I have a book blog and for almost 3 years have considered myself a book blogger.  But my enthusiasm has run out.  I still like reading and reviewing.  I'm just tired of all the challenges and the obligation to comment on others' blogs and all the things that go along with trying to have a successful blog that gets comments.  I'm thinking of just finishing out this year and all the books I have for review and then shutting it down.  But I really do still like reviewing.  The blog was originally intended as just a place for me to write down my thoughts about book I'm reading and then I got into the whole blog blogger community and all the challenges and I enjoyed making friends but I'm just in a different place personally now.  The reason I'm posting about this here is that I don't want to get all dramatic over there when I don't know if that is really what I'm going to be doing.  I think for now I'll just drop all my challenges that require me to read certain books and see how I go from there.  I also need to get through my review copy books.  I just don't want to come off like a former book blogger friend who went through about 10 ways of quitting before she finally did.  Her way just left a bad taste in my mouth.  I just want do reviews without it being a chore.

Hey

Sorry for neglecting this blog.  I haven't been putting any time into thinking up topics.  Even though I swore after BEDA that I would continue to blog on a regular basis.  We've been having some up and downs lately but now everything is working out.  Other than that, everything is going ok but nothing has been happening hence my lack of blogging.  I'm going to try harder to maintain this blog though.

Happy 4th of July!

Happy Independence Day!  I'll BBQing and swimming today and generally having a relaxing day.

Birthday Noms

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

Today it is my birthday!

Don't Panic

It's the 10th anniversary of Dougla Adams' death today.  I am a huge fan of his work as you can see my the cover of my Nook and its name, Deep Thought.

I started reading the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy in high school around junior year, if I remember correctly.  Then I read the Dirk Gently series, one of which has my favorite title of all time, The Long Dark Tea Time of the Soul.  I'm not sure how many times I've read them, just a handful.  But they are always worth a read and a laugh.  I got my husband to read the Hitchhikers series when we started dating and made a fan out of him.  We've seen the British sitcom and the newer movie and liked them both. I can credit Douglas Adams with many of the jokes that go around my house and partly with my love of random British things.  Because of him, I have tried other authors like him like Terry Prachett and Neil Gaiman.  His books are genuinely different and funny and I'm pretty sure that everyone should try them at least once.

Adori Graphics Blog Makeover Giveaway!

Adori Graphics is giving away one custom blog makeover including design fees and installation, use of any Adorible Digital Designs digital scrapbooking kits or premade illustrations. .  Click on over to see how to enter!

Weddings and the Average 4 year old

In a little over a month, we are going to be in a wedding.  And by "we" I mean all 3 of us.  I am the Matron of Honor, BT is a groomsman, and Bub is one of the ring bearers is BT's sister's wedding.  We are all happy to be in it and are looking forward to it. 

My job is, apparently, to walk the ring bearers (the other one is our nephew, BT's brother's son) down the aisle.  I have been talking to Bub about weddings and being a ring bearer.  He does not seem enthusiastic about dressing up and having all the people look at him.  I told him that he was going to walk down an aisle with Mommy and his cousin and all the people are going to look and say "Look at the cute boys"  and he replied with "Uh, yuck!"  But I think he will be fine.  I think we might start practicing.  I can get the processional music and we can walk slowly around and maybe that will help.  I have visions of him speeding down the aisle with me hissing at him to stop.  But I think having an audience will slow him down a bit and make him more self-conscious.  Although he does love an audience.  I was wondering if I was going to have a bouquet and if not then I could hold their hands, but they are carrying pillows and I'm certain I will have a bouquet so that's out.  I'm sure I am worrying too much.  But I am trying to impress on Bub that we need to be good and give his aunt a nice wedding and not spoil it by being silly.  We can be silly all we want at the reception. 

End of B3DA

Well, I did it.  Once again I blogged everyday in April.  Did I half-ass it some of the time? Yeah, but that is alright.  I made it a point to come and blog everyday and now I'm done.  I'll try and blog more the rest of the year but I cannot make any promises.  I do know that today I am going to go swimming and just hang around and enjoy the lovely sunshine.  I hope you all have a great day too and thanks for reading my blog this month (if you did. Well, even if you didn't).

Kate's Wedding Dress and what I hope it means

I did not stay up or get up to watch Prince William's wedding to Kate Middleton.  But looked up the dress and watched a couple of videos when I got up.  I loved her dress.  It was exactly right for someone marrying a prince and it was modern enough for someone her age. I liked Pippa's maid of honor dress too.  It was very simple and lovely.  I hope it means that strapless is out and sleeves of some sort will be back in.  I've never been a huge fan of strapless.  I think very few people can pull that look off and that most people don't, but whatever. To each his own. I had a boatneck dress with cap sleeves for mine.  Anyway, I love her train and the detailing on the dress.  The lace was lovely and the necklace was great.  It was exactly right for a royal wedding.

Favorite audio book series

I love to listen to audio books.  I usually listen to them on my commute to work and when I clean the house and occasionally in my office.  A good audio book narrator can do wonders for a book and bring it to life.  Sometimes I can listen to a book and know that I never would have made it through it reading it, but because a great narrator, I can finish it on audio.

1. The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling- read by Jim Dale. 
Jim Dale is an amazing narrator and I could listen to him all day. 

2. The Charlie Bone series by Jenny Nimmo - first five read by Simon Russell Beale, subsequent books read by Simon Jones. 
At first I wasn't happy about the narrator change.  I hate that.  But Simon Jones is a great reader and so I didn't mind.

3. A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket - read by Timy Curry.
This is another series that had a narrator change.  Books 3-5 are read by the author Daniel Handler took over narrator duties.  While he is just alright, Tim Curry is the better narrator.  He has the perfect voice for this gothic, dark-humored series.  And that leads to ...

4. The Old Kingdom series by Garth Nix - read by Tim Curry. 
Garth Nix is one of my favorite authors and so far I have had good luck with his books.  Tim Curry is once again the perfect narrator for this dark series filled with zombies, magic, and supernatural creatures.  His voice for the cat Mogget is dead on.

5. The Key to the Kingdom series by Garth Nix - read by Allan Corduner. 
I really love this whole series even if it gets a bit formulaic in the middle.  Allan Corduner does a great job of bringing Arthur and the denizens of the House to life.

6. The Bartimaeus series by Jonathan Stroud - read by Simon Jones. 
Jones is the absolute best voice for Bartimaeus.  I could not imagine a better voice.  In much the same way that Jim Dale is cemented in my mind as the voice of Harry Potter, Simon Jones is Bartimaeus.  He does a great job with the djinni's sarcastic voice and footnotes.

7. The Bloody Jack series by L.A. Meyer - read by Katherine Kellgren.
Admittedly I have not gotten very far in this series (I'm only on book 2) but I am loving Kellgren's voice for Mary "Bloody" Jack Faber.  Kellgren also does a fine job on The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place series.

8. The Nancy Drew series by Carolyn Keene - read by Laura Linney (the first 7) and various other narrators  . 
I spent all of last reading all 56 original Nancy Drew books and I tried to listen to all the audios.  All the narrators do a great job.  My favorite is Laura Linney.  She does a very nice job of brining Nancy to life and striking the right tone.  The music is great and really adds to the overly dramatic tone of the story.

9. The Wolves of Mercy Falls series by Maggie Shiefvator - read by Jenna Lamia, David Ledoux (Shiver); Jenna Lamia, Dan Bittner, Pierce Cravens, Emma Glavin (Linger)  . 
With the increase of POVs in the book, the amount of narrators increases.  I find that (Grace) has the slowest voice and sometimes it can be grating but overall they are beautiful books and the narrators do a great job.  This is one series that I can honestly say that I don't know if I would have made it reading it, but the audio is just that great.

10.  The Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich - read by Lorelei King.
Stephanie Plum is one of the best book characters and I love all the books.  King does a great voice for her.  This is another series that changed narrators and I liked C.J. Critt (she narrated the first set of books) too.  I've notice lately that most of Janet Evanovich books are read by one or the other of these narrators.  I guess they just fit her books.

Favorite songs right now

My taste is music leads toward dance music with catchy lyrics.  So don't expect this list to be anywhere near urbane or cutting edge.  I have terrible taste in music.  I just like to dance and so my music often reflects that. Don't judge me.

1. Till the World Ends - Britney Spears
2. On the Floor - Jennifer Lopez
3. Bottoms Up - Trey Songz
4. Girls on the Dance Floor - Far East Movement
5. Freak the Freak Out - Victoria Justice
6. What the Hell - Avril Lavigne
7. DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love - Usher
8. Blow - Ke$ha

I never..

I could fill up a book with the things I have never done.  I've never gone skydiving, I've never played a drinking game, I've never written a book.  But most of the time I am ok with the things I've never done.  There are a few things I regret in life that I am too old or too chicken to do now.  But mostly that's fine.  Because there is plenty that I have done with my life.  I've gotten my masters, I've gotten married, I've had a child.  These are things that I am proud of and that I feel good about.  So for all the "I've nevers" that I have, I have an equal "I have" and it all comes out to about even.

Easter Weekend

It was a fun long weekend.  I was off work Thursday through Sunday and we went to my in-laws for the holiday on Friday.  Saturday I hosted a bridal shower for my sister-in-law.  It was really nice and everyone seemed to have a good time.  I made stuffed strawberries and bacon-wrapped little smokies, both of which were really good.

Then Sunday we woke up early and hid Easter eggs for Bub and then helped him hunt for them when he woke up.  Most of the family went to Mass (I am the only non-Catholic but I went anyway) and then we went back to the house and swam.  My father-in-law boiled crawfish and they were delicious.  We swam some more after eating and then my family and my sister-in-law and her fiancé all packed up and went to our respective homes.  It was a very busy weekend and tiring but super fun.

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter to everyone who celebrates Easter!  We are at my in-law's house for the weekend, probably going to mass in the morning.  Then an Easter egg hunt for the boy and later crawfish for everyone!

Four Things

I saw this meme the other day and thought it would be fun.

Four jobs I’ve had in my life:

1. Bookseller
2. Member Services Representative for Louisiana's PBS station
3. Sales person at Godiva Chocolatier
4. Librarian

Four books I would read over and over:

1. Harry Potter
2. Pride and Prejudice
3. Someplace to be Flying
4. Bellwether

Four places I have lived:

1. Houma, LA
2. New Iberia, LA
3. Lafayette, LA
4. Baton Rouge, LA

Four books I would recommend:

1. Harry Potter
2. Someplace to Be Flying
3. The Kid Table
4. The Dust of 100 Dogs

Four places I have been (outside the U.S.):

1. Florence
2. Rome
3. London
4. Paris

Four of my favorite foods:

1. Crawfish
2. My husband's spaghetti sauce
3. King Cake
4. Cinnamon rolls

Four of my favorite drinks:

1. Water
2. Coke Zero
3. Sweet tea
4. Iced mocha

Four places I would rather be right now:

1. Florida at my in-laws' place
2. on a cruise
3. hanging out with my family
4. In my bed

Four things that are very special in my life:

1. my family
2. my dogs
3. my Nook
4. my friends

Follow Friday: Twitter

It's no secret that I freaking love Twitter.  I'd rather be there than Facebook any day.  So some of my favorite people to follow on Twitter are:

@Cleolinda: one of my favorite bloggers ever!
@The Bloggess: another blogger and funny person
@Girl Detective: Mostly on Tumblr, but updates are funny
@ActuallyNPH: Neil Patrick Harris = awesome
@fuggirls: The Fug Girls from one of my favorite sites, Go Fug Yourself

and, of course, @MaureenJohnson because she pretty much wins at Twitter everyday.

Things I Love Thursday

I thought I'd try my hand at Things I Love Thursday for a change.
This week I love
* having a three day work week and being off on Thursday and Friday
* having no reference shifts this week and hanging out in my office all day
* watching my son play tee ball.  4 years olds playing baseball is ridiculously cute.
* going to my in-laws for my sister-in-law's wedding shower and just hanging out for Easter

On writing book reviews

I am a book blogger, but I am not a professional review. It's just a hobby. One that I put a lot of time and effort into, but it doesn't put food on the table, it's just something that I like to do. I started a book blog mainly just to keep track of the books I read and do reading challenges. It's fun and I enjoy and I rarely, if ever, get negative comments on any of my reviews. I am rarely outright mean about a book and I try hard not to bash books that I don't like. There are a few exceptions where my reviews can be construed as mean, but that sometimes happens when you review a book that you hate. I like to think that it shows my honesty, but I know that some might disagree. I know that there are a plethora of articles and blog posts about book blogger and authors and the love/hate relationship that goes on between them. I try to stay out of it. In general I try to stay under the radar of most authors because my reviews are not for them. I am not reviewing them. I am reviewing their book. And, even if it is their "baby" or life's ambition or their most heartfelt work, I still have the right to review it as honestly as I can. People who say that book bloggers should be nice because this is someone's work seem to have a vague about what that actually means.  Like people don't get performance reviews or have their work criticize at a desk job. Books are just like everything else. Once it is out there, then it no longer belongs solely to you. It's like having a kid. Once that kid exists in the everyday world with other people, then there is no way for that child to escape criticisms.

Recently I wrote a fairly neutral review on a book that is otherwise getting glowing reviews.  I didn't dislike but I wasn't entirely wow'd by it either.  It was just good.  It was fine.  I'll read the sequel but I couldn't, in all honesty, say that was the best book ever.  Because I read a lot of books and this didn't give me that feeling that I get when I read a really great book.  It was just fine.  And that is fine.  This book will do well.  Other people loved it and felt free to tell me that in the comments.  Which I welcome.  I really do not mind people disagreeing with me in the comments.  I am going to emphasis that.  The thing that struck me reading through them is that the real fans were trying to convince me that this book was awesome.  It's like they needed me to agree with me.  I get that.  I do.  I've defended some (in my opinion) awesome books on other blogs.  But it's not going to make me change my opinion.  Especially when some of the comments seem to point out in a round-about way that I don't understand the book and precisely why it is so awesome.  Yeah, that's not going to make me change my mind.  Is it possible that I will change my mind later?  Yes, that has happened.  I've written reviews that were neutral or negative and later realized just how much I hated the book.  I've written reviews where later I realized how much I loved the book.  It's a matter of perspective.  Just because I don't like your favorite book doesn't mean that you don't like it.  It doesn't mean it is not worth reading.  We all don't have to like the same book.  It's better if we don't, in fact.

Dream Vacation

I have a lot of dream vacations for my family.  I have a few that just involve me alone with no one needing anything from me.  But that might be a whole other topic.  But the one vacation I really want to go on is not my dream, but my mom's.  She has always wanted to go to Italy, specifically Florence.  I have been before when I was 17, but she never has and it is a dream of hers.  I would like to take her one day.  That is my part of the dream.  I would like to be there with her when she finally sees this place that she has been dying to see forever.  It is so beautiful there and it definitely would not disappoint her.  Sadly, I don't know when or if this will ever happen.  But I hope that even if I can't bring her she gets to go anyway.

Wodehouse

Late last year I read a long short story (or a short novella, your pick) called "The Crime Wave at Blandings" by P.G. Wodehouse.  I'd never read any Wodehouse but he was an author I always meant to read.  I really enjoyed the story and in a fit of interest I decided I would read the entire Blandings Castle Saga, short stories and novels, in 2011.  And here it is, mid-April, and I've read 2 novels and I'm halfway through a 3rd.  I have a lot of books to read, including some review books for the book blog, and I'm now wondering if I am going to make my goal.  I'm going to continue to go through with my personal challenge, but I am going to try not to be too disappointed with myself if I don't make it.  It's honestly not that big a deal if I don't finish and if I can't get the whole thing done by the end of the year, I can continue it onto the next year.  That being said, I am enjoying the Wodehouse books.  It's like reading a British sitcom and I love those things!  I love that these books are still funny 80+ years later.

Easter Egg Hunting

Today was...

Today was a really nice day.  My son had his first tee ball game which was adorable and ridiculously cute.  Then we came home and had a bit of a rest.  And then we went to Easter Fun Day in a nearby neighborhood where Bub played in a fun jump and hunted Easter eggs and had a his picture taken with live bunnies.  It was really fun and something we try to do every year.  Then we went to my parents' house for hamburgers and just to play.  Sadly, the pool is still too cold to swim in, but one day soon I'm hoping it will be good.  Maybe next weekend? Anyway, it was a fun day and I enjoyed it.

Cupcakes are the perfect dessert

I'm not a big fan of cooking.  My husband is much better than I could ever be so he does most of the cooking.  I do like to bake though.  My favorite things to make are cupcakes.  There is something perfect about a cupcake.  It's the perfect amount of cake and frosting and cupcakes are so cute anyway.  I usually make out of the box cupcakes and rainbow cupcakes are my favorite.  They are so bright and cheerful and very cute! 

 

I have also used the same idea to make a Christmas cake with red and green food coloring and Candy Corn cupcakes which came out alright.

Reading classics

I've never been a huge fan of reading "classic" books.  I've read them to be sure, but they are not my favorite and I don't like it when people make a big deal about it.  It always comes off as pretentious whether they mean it to or not.  I have some favorites among the classics, a few Dickens and
Austen and so on.  Mostly I prefer reading young adult books.  That is my preferred genre and I hate it when people give me a hard time about it.  Rarely do I get a lot of flak for it, but there are some who can't understand why I don't read more adult books.  To them I say this, I am an adult all of the time.  Why do I have to read about it too?  YA books just appeal to me more.  I find most classics boring and I hate wading through the language in half of them.  And I am old enough now to make the choice of rather I want to read them or not.  And that is all there is to that.

What I look like today

My head is pounding and I do not feel good.

is getting sick.

This is just a short post.  I think I'm getting sick.  I'm so very tired despite having slept from 8 pm to 6 am this morning.  My throat hurts and my ear does a little too.  I'm the worst sick person so I'm a little whiny now.  Now I'm sitting here already in my pajamas watching some weird show with my son.  It is a beautiful day and normally I would take him outside but I don't have the energy right now.  Oh well, tomorrow is tee ball practice so we will be outside then.

Workout routines

We all have routines.  I live almost solely on a routine and most of the time it makes me happy.  Last year, around August, I decided to change my routine and incorporate some exercise.  Back before I was a mom I used to workout when I got home from work, but that fell to the wayside once I had my son.  One day I realized that I hated how much weight I had put on and I needed to do something about it. Put up or shut up.  But given the fact that exercising in the evening was no longer an option, I decided I need to drag my butt out of bed in the morning.  So I started getting up at 5:30 a.m. and working out.  Mostly using videos because I can't really leave the house and my sleeping son.  I have actually stuck with it for the most part except for a few weeks here and there and I am proud of that.

I've finally reached the point where I know what kind of workouts I want to do after much trial and error.  I really like the "Walk Away the Pounds" series and the Self fitness videos with the strength training.  My plan is to alternate a walking video on Mondays and Thursdays with a strength training video on Tuesdays and Fridays and save Wednesdays for Pilates.  However I am having a tough time getting into that routine.  I somehow always manage to skip Wednesdays and then sometimes I get to Thursdays and don't get up.  This morning I didn't wake up in time so I didn't do anything.  I plan on making that up at some point.  Most of the time I am getting in 3-4 days which is good but not quite to the level I want.  Oh well, try and try again, I suppose.

Almost forgot...

I almost forgot to blog.  We went to church this morning and then came home to have a lazy day together.  BT made pretzels and cookies and I watched "Ramona and Beezus" which was cute.  The little girl who played Ramona looks like Rory Gilmore (I can't think of her name and I'm too lazy to look it up right now).  It's a little eerie how much that little girl could be her sister.  But they did a great job casting that movie with people who look like they could be related.  I wasn't fond of making Beezus 15 years old but it was fine.  It was a cute movie.  So that is about it for today.

Crushes

For me there are two types of crushes: romantic and platonic.  Romantic crushes are hard.  I guess that is why they are called that.  Because chances are your feelings are going to get crushed by the object of your affection at some point or another.  Generally, for me, my crush never knows that I am crushing on them and so they have no real care for the small slights to my emotions. But that is how it goes.  I have had many romantic crushes so far in my lifetime, none of which resulted in a relationship of any kind.  Thinking back to high school I can say with a fair amount of certainty that there were several guys who probably had crushes on me.  But I was one of those unaware teenagers and so I never realized it.  There was a very cute football player who asked me to tutor him in physics but I stupidity admitted to being mediocre in physics and said no.  I think back to my high school self and want to slap her.  Oh well.  Nothing to be done about it now.

Platonic crushes usually come with new friendships.  For me, when I make a new friend, I get a little wrapped up in that person.  Because it is exciting.  Here's a new person to get to know and find out all the things about it and it is fun.  But eventually the newness wears off and then you are old friends and it is comfortable.  This is much like any new relationship now that I think about it.  Once again, in high school and college especially, I tended to have a lot of platonic crushes.  Usually on people that I wanted to be friends with but never made the extra step to have an actual friendship.  I was usually the "pet" of the older students because I was shy and nice and quiet and they found that adorable.

But now that I'm older and married, I don't usually think of things in that way.  Do I still get crushes?  I would say yes, but I'm less likely to admit to it.  Because there is that thing in society that says no, I shouldn't because I am married and betrayal, blah blah blah.  But crushes are not necessarily about sex.  It's about finding someone else interesting.  And, like all relationship, it's about establishing the boundaries that are okay for your stage of life.

I'm not even coherent enough for a conversation

People keep trying to talk to me, thinking that I can engage in a conversation.  I cannot today because I went to bed too late and then my child was too scared to sleep in his own room so BT got him and put him into bed with us.  This lead to my being kicked and hit and it is ridiculously uncomfortable to sleep with the child.  So I was tyring to figure out what was wrong with me and then I remembered what happened last night.  I need a nap now.

Diana Wynne Jones: Some of my favorites

Diana Wynne Jones died in late March and I was saddened to learn of her passing.  I grew up reading and re-reading her books and I can count her as truly one of my favorite authors of all time.  Her books meant a lot to me growing up and I hope that they will mean as much to my son as he grows up.  I went to public library catalog thinking I'd check out a few of my favorites and then do some reviews on them.  But then I saw how many there were and I didn't know what I would choose. Instead, I've decided to list some of my all-time favorites, the ones that I wore out my paperback copies and will always be counted among my favorite books.  It's not a short list or even a complete list of her books that I love.

Howl's Moving Castle 
(sequel: Castle in the Air and the House of Many Ways)
Full confession: I have not read the House of Many Way and have read Castle in the Air only about two times
But Howl's Moving Castle, that I have read many many times, in addition to owning the movie which is very different from the book, but is still brilliant.  I digress.  I was always drawn to stories of magic and magicians which might explain a lot of Wynne Jones' book and I love the story of the magician Howl and his demon and poor Sophia who is under a curse by the Witch of the Waste that has turned her old.

A Tale of Time City
A science fiction tale of Time City, a city which exists outside of history and whose purpose is to keep history on course.  Vivian is kidnapped by two boys from Time City thinking she is the source of problems that history has been having.  I liked how the technology is described and the image of the clothes the denizens of Time City has stuck with me.  It's amazing because the computer pads the children use are actually quite a bit like an iPad.  There is also a quest aspect in the story and I credit this story with my love of quest/puzzle stories.

The Chrestomanci Series
Charmed Life
The Lives of Christopher Chant
Witch Week
The Magicians of Caprona
There are other books in the Chrestomanci series, but the ones listed above are the only ones I have actually read.  These are fun books dealing with orphans, multi-dimensions, magic, and love.  I could not get enough of Charmed Life and The Lives of Christopher Chant and I loved figuring out the mythology of the stories.  I actually read them out of order the first time I read them, but it was amazing to me when I figured out that this Chrestomanci was actually Christopher or Cat.

Dogsbody
The tale of the Dog Star who is sent to Earth in the incarnation of a dog after being convicted of murdering a fellow celestial body.  This book always touch me, partly because I am a dog lover and I love the idea of something being bigger than it really is. 

cross posted with The Little Bookworm

Before I was a librarian...

Before I was a librarian, I worked in retail.  When I was in college, I worked the Christmas season at a bookstore which also had kiosks for different things.  The first year was calendars and Successories and the second year was calendars and pet products, like a mini-PetSmart.  So I either worked at the book store or one of the kiosks.  Mostly the second year I was in charge of the calendar store and that was fun because it was actually in a store and not in the middle of the mall so it was like I had my own little store and calendars are easy to sell and to keep straight.  Then, my last summer of college, I got a job working at Godiva in the mall and I loved that job.  My co-workers were all really cool and it was a fun job and, hey, Godiva chocolate.

Then I graduated with my undergrad in Psychology and had a hard time finding a job where I could use my degree.  I had moved to Baton Rouge where my boyfriend was finishing his degree at LSU and ended up at the mall there working at Godiva again.  But it turned out only to be a Christmas seasonal job because I had waited too long to get  back in and the last full time job she had was given to someone else.  So, on one of my last days, I ran down to Gymboree and filled out an application there and was hired.  And there I learned to fold tiny little clothes and sell to distracted moms.

But I needed to make more money and I was only part time.  A shoe store opened next door to Gymboree and I applied there and was hired.  I worked at both for a while but began to dislike the manager at Gymboree where I wasn't getting enough hours anyway.  So I quit that one after getting a job at the San Fransisco Music Box Co. for another seasonal job.  I liked that job well enough and the manager was my age and very nice and they had some pretty things in there.  But, eventually, I was offered a full time position at the shoe store but only if I quit my other job to be available all the time.  Of course I did.  But within about 3 or 4 months, we found out that the company was closing all of its stores so I would be losing that job.

I then applied for a job at Louisiana Public Broadcasting (the PBS station of Louisiana), in the Friends of LPB section, the fundraisers, as Member Services Representation.  That was my first office job with an office of my own and it was awesome.  It was an entry level job but we did a lot with the telethons and I made friends with my supervisor.  It was a very nice job.

All through this I had been trying to get into grad school for Psychology but I wasn't having any luck.  My research background was shaky at best and that is a big deal in psychology.  So I went back to an old idea of mine to become a librarian.  LSU happened to have a library school and I could walk to the campus from our apartment.  I applied and was accepted and had to quit LPB because they wouldn't make my job part-time (they later did, grrrr).  But that was fine because I got an graduate assistantship in the circulation department at LSU and that was the best thing for my career. 

If I won the lottery...

If I won the lottery I'd pay off my house and get us both new cars.  I'd pay off all our debts and get us to the point where we didn't have anything to worry about, just in case.  I'd make sure our parents were set up and that our brothers and sisters were good too.  I'd donate a portion to 2 charities, one for animals and one for children though I don't know which ones.  I don't think I would get too crazy though a new wardrobe for both me and my husband would be in order.  And we'd probably get a bigger house and Bub would go to a really great school.  But I wouldn't want to get too crazy because you never know and I'm all about being cautious with money especially right now.  This might be a boring answer to a fantasy question, but I am more practical than anything.

I don't know what to write about so I'll tell you about my weekend

This weekend I had planned to go swimming as evidenced by my Saturday haiku.  But it had rained earlier in the week and the water was a bit too cold.  Maybe next weekend?  We'll see.  Instead I went along with my mom and my sister while they did some shopping and then they took my son home with them while I stayed home and cleaned the window blinds with my husband, BT.  Exciting, I know.  Then we went over to my parent's and played bocce and hung out outside since the weather was nice.  After dinner, my sister, BT, and I played Rock Band and I think I'm starting to do alright on bass.

Sunday Bub and I missed church and the three of us went to a birthday party for one of his preschool friends at a place that is nothing but inflatable bouncy things and slides.  This is our 5th party there and so we are very familiar with the whole thing.  His two best friends showed up late but he was so happy when they got there.  In the party room, the mom had the whole thing themed out in Wizard of Oz with blue/white gingham table clothes and the matching cake and balloons and wall decorations.  She had the plates and the cups but I'm not sure why she had cups because they had juice boxes but whatever.  She was one of those moms who wants everything to be just so and so was trying to get the 4 year olds to do things a certain way and that is never going to happen.  The boys got mini-picnic baskets filled with blue and brown M&Ms and the girls got ruby slipper treat boxes with red and white M&Ms.  It was really cute.

Then after the party we went to my aunt's house for burgers and hot dogs and we played some horseshoes.  My family used to be big into horseshoes and then my uncle got sick and we should of went away from it.  This is the first time we have gotten together to play since he died and I wished he was there.  I think we all did.  But it was fun and I lost because I am not that good but I scored a couple of points and one ringer so that is something.  And I played with Bub and my 5 year old cousin.  We all had a good time and it was a nice weekend.  Just really busy.  Maybe next weekend we can have a day at home.

What my day will look like today

Playing bocce with my family. I am yellow.

Day in Haiku

Lovely day today
Yes, think I might go swimming
And enjoy the sun

BEDA 2011 - An Introduction

I figured I'd start out with an introduction for today.  My name is Andrea and I'm a librarian.  Specifically I am an academic librarian in southern Louisiana.  I have been married for 6 years and I have one four year old son whose Internet name is Bub which is also my nickname for him in real life.  I also have two dogs.  Java is a "tweenie" dachshund and Kona is a mixed breed stray who found his way to my mom's front porch and ending up staying for good.

I am also a book blogger at The Little Bookworm and that is where I do most of my blogging on an everyday basis and where I review books and do other fun book related things.  You can find me on Twitter and on Tumblr but my Tumblr is currently mostly about whatever book I am reading.

This is my third BEDA.  I did the first big year with Maureen Johnson and then did August last year when she did it again.  But I decided to join Becky when she started saying on Twitter that they were starting in April.  I'm hoping to make it all the way through this month and blog everyday.

Something Stupid

You know how sometimes you think of something to tell someone, but it's a little stupid and so, even though you REALLY want to tell them, you don't.  I get that a lot with Twitter.  With Twitter, it would be so easy to just say all kinds of things but I really don't want a whole bunch of highly personal things just hanging out on the Internet.  I learned the value of keeping my mouth shut in my last job and I'm trying to carry that lesson around with me at this job and in life in general. And, sometimes with friends, I want to just blurt out these random thoughts, but I'm trying to control that part of my brain now.  It's hard sometimes to control all these thoughts that are dying to get out of my brain and into my mouth.

Just a few things...

I realized that I haven't posted lately.  My brain is not offering up any topics and mostly I'm just coasting over here.  I have a wedding shower to plan and am trying to get all our stuff coordinated for that same wedding in June.  I know it is early but I'm trying to spread the cost over many months instead of all at once.  I still need to get Bub an outfit to change into for the reception since I am reasonably sure he will not stay in the tux and he also needs an outfit for the rehearsal dinner.  I'm not sure what though.  Shorts should be ok for both honestly.  And as I'm typing this I realize I need to get my parent's and sister's room reserved.  I will do that tonight. 

Sorry I went a little stream of conscious there.

I went to a bridal shower for my sister-in-law (her first one) last weekend and it was fun and I'm glad I made the trip over there for it.  Now I am giving one for her at my in-laws' house in April so I'm thinking about menu and games right now. 

Last night I watched Easy A with Emma Stone and it was really cute and very funny.  I kept having to pause it though every time Bub would come into my room.  Not really appropriate for the 4 year old.  And I had fallen behind on Glee but I got caught up recently and now I'm only the two new episodes behind.  I was going to give it up because it had gotten so uneven and weird lately but it seems to have fallen back into a regular groove.  I love the Lauren/Puck relationship and Blaine and Kurt are so cute.  I am completely addicted to the music.

And that is about it. 

BEDA 2011?

I was thinking about doing BEDA (Blog Everyday in April).  I don't think Maureen Johnson is doing it this year or at least she hasn't said and last year I did August with her, but it lost its energy after that first year.  But still I like trying to blog more and BEDA is always good to spur me on so I'm thinking I will do it again in April rather than waiting for August.

Happy Mardi Gras!

No parades for me today since it looks like rain, but I've been to 2 this season so that's plenty for me.

Bullying and the preschooler

I dropped Bub off at preschool today and his teacher told me something that made me deeply unhappy.  He is being picked on by some of the other kids and yesterday someone was pinching him while the others stood around.  It sounds really ominous but they are four.  According to her, Bub was crying and "terrified."  Now I don't know about that because he didn't mention it.  But it would explain why he has been more reluctant to go to school and stopped talking about his friends so much.  He made a point of saying last night that JP was his friend and JA was his friend, even though JA is only in aftercare and goes to preschool somewhere else.  So I don't know what to do.  His teacher is a bit prone to over-dramatics so it might not be as dire as she made it sound.  And I can't protect him all of the time and can only teach him how to stand up for himself in a (hopefully nonviolent) way.  But it worries me that this is going on.  And it infuriates me that she didn't tell my husband yesterday when BT picked him up from school.  We could have done something, had a talk with him when it was fresh.  Instead she waits for me to get him.  Preschools and Dads.  So far, both the daycares he has attended have a hard time telling BT information we need to know.  They wait for me.  DON'T wait for the mom, tell the DAD.  It is ok.  He is a parent too.

But beyond that, bullying at the age of 4 is worrisome.  Four year olds are not known for the good impulse control and empathy.  I don't want Bub to be *that* kid, the one who is picked on.  I don't want him to be the bully.  I don't want this to happen or have happened.  And I cannot stand the idea of him standing around being hurt.  His teacher said she sent notes home to the offenders and, having meet most of the parents, I'm sure they will talk to their kids.  But it's just depressing that we are going to deal with this so soon.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Have a wonderful day!

Name worry

It seems like everyone is pregnant right now but that's not true.  I mean a whole lot of celebrities are pregnant but I don't know them.  But there are some pregnant people that I do know who will have babies this year.  Now we are not planning on trying until at least July.  But I had a sudden and paranoid thought just now.  What if one or more of those ladies uses one of the names we like?  And it's not that I don't want them to use any of them for fear of losing them but what if they use my favorite name and then I use that name too?  I don't want them to think I am copying anyone, but most of them are people I never see and I am really only friends with on Facebook.  So unless you are related to me then I really don't care if our children have the same name.  But I know how people can be about baby names.

We currently have one favorite boy name and then one boy name that I liked and BT doesn't care for.  And three girl names, one more favored than the others.  So there is some variety.  I think there is only one name that I would be sad to lose for a girl.  But then I think, given my relationship to these ladies, I would still choose that same name.  I know this is a weird worry.  It's just people get weird about baby names and uniqueness and all.  I already told co-worker I don't care what she and another lady who is trying for a baby name their children.  My names are chosen and if they are the same as theirs then oh well.  It's not like I will work with them forever.  And, of course, everything is subject to change when I actually get pregnant again.

So tired

I am so very tired right now.  And I can't breath because my sinuses are acting up and so I'm keep sniffling.  I hope that I'm not getting a cold.  This weekend we had a birthday party and I hope that I didn't catch something.  But I think it is just allergies because the temperature dropped this weekend and the change in weather will often do that.  I don't think these dusty books are helping though.

Introspection on love

I read a book about three teenaged sisters the other day and in it one of the sisters says about their parents that they love each other more than they love their children.  I've been thinking about that.  I remember a few years ago a big deal being made about a journalist who said she loved her husband more than her children and then everyone freaked the hell out.  I think, in the end, no one wants to think that their own parents love someone else more than them.  Because then what does that really mean?  How can you birth someone and not love them best? But children are always expected to go out and find someone else to love and who they will no doubt love more than their parents and it is not only acceptable but encouraged.   Spouses are meant to be with you for the rest of your life.  I can see how someone would feel the way the journalist felt.

But down this line of though lay this: can I really say I love one more than the other?  No.  I can't say I love them equally, my husband and my child.  I can't really quantify the amount of love I have for them.  I love them differently and I love them hugely.  But one I expect to spend almost everyday of the rest of my life with, the other is eventually going to leave me and who I will only see for visits.  It is just that way.  At some point long ago I heard an expression: you're either a mother who is a wife or a wife who is a mother.  The idea of "wife who is a mother" horrified me and I decided to never be one.  But the truth is I am always both at the same time.  I cannot express how it is to love someone that you helped create, that is truly part of you.  But I have also chosen someone to love and that is something else altogether.

Walking along

A picture that I took at our birthday visit to the zoo in December.

All the dogs

My son began to worry in the car the other night about the dogcatcher.  He was worried that he was going to come in the house and take the two dogs.  "I don't want the man to come and take Java and Kona," he said repeatedly.  After finally figuring out he meant the dogcatcher, I explained that the man doesn't come into houses to take dogs and so ours are safe.  "I want to go and get all the dogs in the cages and bring them home."  Aw, I wish we could too.  Bub has a good heart.  Sweet boy.

 

is becoming one of *those* people

Since August I have been doing really well with getting my lazy ass out of bed and working out before starting the rest of my day.  And I am beyond proud of myself because two of my least favorite things are working out and getting out of bed.  But it has to be done and so I am doing it.  Fine. 

But for Christmas we have a two week break at work and I had a plan.  I was going to go outside and walk the big dog every day thus insuring exercise and fresh air and good will for us both.  Alas, it didn't work out (no pun intended, maybe a little).  I only walked that poor dog once.  I feel bad.  I mean I didn't promise him or anything so he didn't know (yes, I know he is a dog).  But I really wanted to do this.  But I had a lot to do the week before Christmas and the week after come to think of it.  So I didn't walk the dog and I didn't exercise either unless you count shopping and cleaning the house (I do).  But I was feeling really sore and achy.  So this morning I did some aerobic Pilates and I feel really good today.  So that was what I was missing.  I think I am becoming one of those work-out people.  That's just great.  I promise I'll try to keep it to myself.

Resolutions

I realized that I didn't make any resolutions.  Last year I resolved to lose weight which I did though I didn't start trying in earnest until the middle of the year.  But still I did alright.  This year I resolve to continue with my fitness routine and to continue to lose weight.  I know how much I need to lose and it is possible to do it by the end of 2011, but I don't know if I really want to do that, especially if we decide to have another baby this year.  I'm just going to continue what I was doing and make a few improvements here and there.

The other thing I resolve to do is to have more patience in life and with my child.  Because this stage of his life is driving me crazy and I need to learn to breath and not yell so much.

So that's it.  Very attainable goals = happy me. 

Happy New Year!

BT and I managed to stay just past midnight and then we went to bed.  We didn't go anywhere for New Year's Eve, just stayed in and played video games and I read a little bit.  Nothing exciting.  But that's ok.  Today we are going to my parent's for New Years dinner which BT is cooking and hanging out.  But right now I'm enjoying a wonderful mimosa.