Rough Waters

The last couple weeks have been crazy 'round these parts. It started with the return of the flu in my oldest son, Timothy, and continued with the return of the flu in my youngest daughter, Audrey, and myself. Thankfully, the rest of my family has remained untouched by this flu, because it was NOT FUN. We have regained strength little by little, and Audrey's lungs were checked out by a doctor and declared "crystal clear". Thank God for his mercies!

Just as we are finally mending however, another problem arose. We had decided to delay our moving date until our house sells, and therefore needed to delay the date that our phone, tv, and Internet were transferred. Being sick and busy delayed that phone conversation until 2 days before the scheduled transfer. The phone call was made because we noticed that our Internet access had evaporated, soon followed by our phone and tv. 3 days later, and HOURS of phone conversation later, it looks like Internet may finally be restored to us today.

Having no Internet, for us, feels almost like having no electricity. The resounding comment in our house right now is "how do people live without it?" As parents, though, we see a positive side to this thing that is so tortuous...we see our kids building forts and playing together, we see them making popcorn and watching a movie together, we see less fighting and more creativity. Timothy says, "playing together?? It's more like killing time!" At least they are "killing time" together! We are now seriously considering implementing an "Internet Moratorium" on a routine basis to encourage a similar outcome. I even got pictures as evidence.

You Are Cordially Invited

You are Cordially Invited

to join me at my new blog,

The 1960's House

to celebrate the new ownership

of a mid-century house

and its journey into the modern era.

New information
will be posted on an irregular basis,

documenting through pictures

and [brief] commentary

this new exciting chapter
in our homeowning adventures.

No R.S.V.P. required.

Number and duration of visits are

solely up to the discretion of

each individual and shall not be coerced.

For enjoyment purposes only.

100 Books

Somehow I've managed to reach 100 book read so far this year!  I don't really know how I've done it, except that I've been so busy that I've absolutely needed some down time, and most of my quilting stuff is 500 miles away from me right now.  These are the books that I read in October:

The Stranger, Albert Camus I picked this up at the book store without knowing anything about it (except that it was a lovely cloth bound book, a classic of some sort, and a very slim volume) and read it quickly. It is more modern in style than I usually read, but it was very interesting and thought provoking. Takes place in Algiers, written post WWII.

The Magician's Nephew C.S. Lewis
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe C.S. Lewis I think I actually enjoyed The Magician's Nephew more, but that may be because I was less familiar with it. It's been so long since I've read these that it doesn't even really count.

How to Read Novels Like a Professor Thomas C. Foster. I wish I hadn't spent money on this book, but even more than that I am glad I didn't have this guy as a literature professor. Severe bias and arrogance in a teacher is one of my pet peeves, and as this book went on I felt that more and more. Ugh.

Riddle of the Rosetta Stone James Cross Giblin. A great insight to hieroglyphics, easy to read.

A Separate Peace John Knowles. I actually had a hard time getting through this book, simply because I was completely uninterested in the characters. Perhaps I just wasn't ready for a coming-of-age story, I don't know. Well written though.

Adara Beatrice Gormley. I preread this for our history, but won't be using it. The writing was okay, the theme a little confused/confusing.

Earthquake at Dawn Kristiana Gregory. I bought this from SL, and wasn't disappointed. It's a great little book to learn about the SF earthquake and fires. It's fact mixed with fiction, based on true characters even. Good reading.

So Long, See You Tomorrow William Maxwell. This seemed to be a continuation of the family's story in They Came Like Swallows, and since much of Maxwell's work is autobiographical, it shouldn't be so surprising. I loved both books. Simple yet deep and real.

Peter Pan J.M. Barrie. Weird and dark. Much like all the movies out there about it, yet at the same time stranger and darker. I'm not much of a fantasy reader, so I'm sure my score is reflective of that.

On Fortune's Wheel Cynthia Voigt. YA fiction, somewhat coming-of-age/historical/fantasy. I really enjoyed it, thought it was well written and engaging.