Book Tag

I was encouraged to get caught up on my summer reading by a recent tag (okay, not that recent) where you list 10 good books you have read. It sent me on a reading frenzy, so here they are in order. I tag the two Melanies, Ariana and whoever else reads who hasn't already done this. I need some more recommendations.

1. Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen - Okay, so this one is a re-read. Whatever. Who doesn't like multiple doses of Mr. Darcy.
2. Atonement, Ian McEwan - I loved this book. Needless to say I wasn't a big fan of the movie in comparison. Regardless, I thought that the author did a superb job of painting believable characters. What intrigued me most was how I sympathized with all of the characters even though they all are at odds with each other at one point or another. Touching and depressing, but worth my time.
3. Light on Snow, Anita Shreve - This book was an easy to read, easy to understand, but not particularly enthralling, exhilarating or entertaining novel about a young girl who, when hiking in the woods with her father, stumbles across a newborn left in the snow. For as heavy as the subject matter should have been, I didn't find any of the characters or story line convincing enough to draw me in.
4. The Other Boleyn Girl, Phillipa Gregory - My mom lent me this one, and I was pleasantly surprised. Although it is a historical novel based on King Henry VII and the Boleyn sisters. It's pretty juicy and I'm sure that the author has taken more than a few liberties to create a very compelling story. Writing is so-so, but I would recommend this book as great airplane reading (which just happens to be where I read it).
5. Waiting for the Light to Change, Annette Haws - This was the weirdest book I have ever read. Not because the book itself is weird but more due to the subject matter. It was written by my debate coach in high school and is a supposedly fictional novel about a debate coach's experience, with the conflict centering around a mischievous policy debate team. It seems loosely factual rather than fictional to me, and I therefore remove myself from critiquing the actual contents of the book. Probably a particularly interesting read for anyone who graduated from my high school or who was ever involved in debate.
6. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas, Frederick Douglas - This book blew me away. I had no idea that he was such an absolutely incredible individual. If I had to recommend just one of these 10 books, this would be it. He wrote this narrative himself when just in his late 20s as an escaped and later emancipated slave. It is just a testament to my belief that there are just some people who are truly unstoppable and that putting your mind to something is a very powerful thing. Seriously, check it out.
7. Kim, Rudyard Kipling - This one was not an easy read, but I am now a big fan of Kipling's writing style and will probably check out some others by him. The book is set in colonial India and as I am not an avid history buff, have a terrible memory, and am an imbecile when it comes to the details of Hinduism and Buddhism, I kept having to look things up. It took me a while to get through, but the language is so rich that I really felt like I was there and was also well worth my time.
8. The Stranger, Albert Camus - This was a VERY bleak book with a main character who IS the stranger. It's a short read, and very interesting. I won't get into all the literary analysis about this book, but it is out there. So bizarre is the main character that I couldn't help but like him even though he is pretty detestable. Anyway. Bizarre.
9. A Thousand Splendid Suns, Khaled Hosseini - I became a huge fan of Hosseini's after reading the Kite Runner. I know so little about the middle east generally, and Afghanistan specifically that both of these books have been fascinating. This book, however, struck a number of powerful chords with me, probably because I am a woman. I thought it was a realistic portrayal of unbelievable conditions that the women in Afghanistan must live through, and made me so grateful that I live in a much different world. Since the beginning of time, ladies, since the beginning of time. And to think that the world I enjoy really only began changing a few decades ago in just some parts of the world is a very eye-opening reminder of how lucky I am.
10. Katharine Graham Autobiography - I actually just recently started this book, but can hardly put it down. Graham is the woman who ran the Washington Post after her husband committed suicide. I feel like I am reading the story that Atlas Shrugged was based on. She was right in the middle of high-society and the political goings on in Washington from such an early age that the people she is connected to, things she saw and was involved in are truly inspiring. It also helped put me on planet earth about how much I, as someone who can't currently afford maids, and nannies, and butlers, can honestly expect to accomplish in a day or even a lifetime. It reminded me that even having the time to read 10 books is a luxury for people who spend their whole day trying to put food on the table. Also a must read recommendation.

Phew.

San Francisco

So I have been pretty lazy lately, and have lots of things in my head to blog about, but I should probably start off with something that will benefit my posterity. We took a trip the first week of September to San Francisco. As the whole fam (okay the LG only in utero) has been there before, we went to relax, no sightseeing involved. It was amazing, except for the drive which took about 12 hours instead of the 9 we had planned on. Not to mention that we didn't account properly for the scorching temps in the high desert in CA when we opted out of fixing our AC prior to the trip. Sweaty, sticky, crabby, cranky, poopy, and sleepy sum up those 12 hours. However, we arrived in time to grab some good Chinese food and get a good night's rest.

We stayed with my hip pushin-80-or-so-ish Aunt who lives in a sweet townhouse in "The Richmond" neighborhood - equipped with a guest suite which amply accommodated our little fam. I am really astounded at how cool my dad's sisters are. I also can't believe that all 11 of my dad's clan are still kickin'. Good genes and healthy lifestyles go a long way. Anyway, my Aunt was thrilled to let the LG drag her around in her own house by the hand and accept orders like sit, play, down, read, and walk. I thought that a lengthy explanation on the differences between dogs and people might be lost at his young age.

Here we are walking around Half Moon Bay with our friends who recently moved to SF from DC. It was a beautiful day and we were all a bit fascinated by a group of horses running along the coast. There was also tree climbing and other random horsing around.

It is also hard to pass up Muir Woods. It reminded us of the last time we were there with my nephew who was throwing tantrums disturbingly similar to those of the LG. My favorite part of the day was that it was a designated "quiet day" in the forest, so my parenting methods for handling these tantrums (i.e. strapping him in his stroller and letting him "work through" it on his own) were met with some nasty looks from passersby. I almost offered to let them take a whack at it. Go ahead, I dare you.

Another highlight was stumbling across a Steve and Barry's store near Fisherman's Wharf. There wasn't a great selection, but I did snag a couple of good finds for $8.95 a piece. The Bitten line by Sarah Jessica Parker is pretty basic but stylish. They even had some cute clothes for kids and the LG got a new pair of overalls.

Otherwise, it was a successful, relaxing getaway. I even finished a couple of books, making it possible to finally respond to a tag related to 10 good books I have read recently. Stay tuned. P.S. - please forgive my Photoshop gone awry

3 Long Years Ago........

Today is the BK and my 3 year Anniversary. I know most of you out there have a few more years to brag about, and the BK and I are still waiting to break our own longest relationship records, but it is still a milestone and I wanted to share a couple of my favorite memories and qualities of the BK with y'all.

1 - The Wedding

Universal karma and all of that kind of stuff would probably say that a great beginning is the sign of a great journey. Nothing like riding a ski lift in a wedding dress to the top of a mountain where prince charming awaits in a meadow. Awwwww. It really was amazing, and I don't think it could have been more perfect.

2 - Humble Pie

My favorite BK quality is his willingness to say he is sorry. It is really hard to stay mad for too long at someone who genuinely acknowledges his mistakes and shows an interest in improving. I have learned a lot from him, although I still have a much longer way to go than he does.

3 - My Kind of Man

I remember telling one of my girlfriends that I would know I had found the right person when I found someone who would follow through. I found him and married him. The BK is reliable and a man of action. As a perpetual procrastinator I really appreciate how hard he works and his insistence that things get taken care of quickly. His reliability also extends into other aspects of his life, like his diet. He doesn't like to try new things - just pizza. Since there wasn't pizza in China, he chose noodles as a safe and tasty substitute.

4 - Daddy - O

Who doesn't love a man who loves his children, provides for them, changes diapers, and is willing to roll around and get dirty when mom won't. The BKs love affair with the LG started almost at first sight - those of you who have witnessed a birth will likely understand why a few minutes of shock and horror preceded the awe, wonder and adoration.

5 - Mattresses
I love that the BK always acts like he is right, even when he couldn't possibly say he KNEW something to be true. He likes to form "educated guesses" that he will then back up and defend at all costs. It can be quite amusing when he does it with people who don't know him that well and assume that because he says something with such conviction that it must really be true. For example, I might ask if he knows what makes the sunset a particular color. With a straight face he would be willing to say that it is from bird droppings and the color depends on what the birds ate that day. I guess you could say that the BK is VERY good at BS. Every assertion he makes, he is willing to go to the mattresses to defend. So am I. The difference is that I only assert when I really believe I am right - which is often, so we spend a lot of time in bed.

6 - Me Factor

My favorite thing though is that he is willing to put up with me, and seems to enjoy the challenge most of the time. The picture below is a fairly accurate representation of my mood on more occasions than I would like to admit: anytime before 8am, when it's too hot or too cold, when there's too much noise, when I'm tired, when I'm hungry, etc. The BK is pretty much a saint - not that he doesn't have his own pouty face that gets plenty of wear, but I love him for putting up with mine.

Choosing to love, and be loved by the BK has been a the ultimate adventure so far, and the qualities above are why 3 years in, and many to go, I love you BK. Thanks for getting us tickets to see Jack Johnson in concert tomorrow. Woohoo - Portland, you better do me right and keep the rain away for the evening.

Olympic Fever

I'm sick. I'm very, very sick. There aren't many things that make me teary, but honestly, there is just something I absolutely love about the Olympics. I can't get enough - for the most part, but there are a few gripes I have that I need to get out.

1 - For all you complainers out there (BK - are you listening?), these are the GREATEST athletes on the planet. The BK was upset the other night that the news media was blowing Michael Phelps achievements out of proportion and that he isn't really all that. Okay, I get it, he can swim, and I agree that it isn't like he is swimming, running, biking, playing basketball, soccer, etc. for each of those gold medals, but seriously, this is one of those situations where I think if you can't find anything nice to say, don't say anything at all, or at least bring home one gold medal of your own before you say one unkind word. (PS - I love this pic because he totally looks like a frog).

2 - China has done a phenomenal job with these games. Sure there have been some minor mishaps, like pulling the original singer, planting a cuter body double and playing it off in front of the whole world. Not condoning, just commenting that the only difference here is that we just don't let people sing at all if they are unattractive. I don't want to post of pic of the girls involved, so I am posting a pic that I like.

3 - The US women's gymnastics team blew it. I'm not saying they would have won the gold if Sacramone would have performed well, but at least they wouldn't have lost by a landslide. That said, I find it really annoying that the press seems to be trying to overshadow this loss by raising suspicion about the actual age of the Chinese gymnasts. Lame. Sure they look like they are small enough to be mingling with the Pre-K crowd, but even so, shouldn't that make it more embarrassing that the US team with international experience couldn't pull it together?4 - As for women's volleyball (I REALLY wish NBC would do at least some replays of soccer - men's or women's, I am not that picky), could these women put some clothes on? Seriously. Yup, we get it, you have great bodies, but this is the Olympics, could we set the sex aside just once? In the pic below, can you honestly justify the bikini as practical sportswear? These guys need a shower after every play more than the divers if you ask me.5 - NBC's coverage is terrible. I have never seen so many commercials, and I feel very strongly that the winner of the bid to air them should be required to show the Olympics 24-7. Are Oprah reruns and soaps really more important? It's 2 weeks, and I am sure that they pull in plenty of money from sponsors who would still pay top dollar for commercial slots.

Mosaic

I've chosen to be tagged (I am still trying to get in enough good books to do another one). The above mosaic is the result of me answering a few questions. For those of you interested in doing the same, a full explanation of how to create your own is at the bottom, and leave a comment letting me know if you plan to do one.

1. What is your first name? (Jenn)

2. What is your favorite food? (oatmeal cookies)

3. What high school did you attend? (Logan)

4. What is your favorite color? (blue)

5. Who is your celebrity crush? (Ashton Kutcher - in What Happens in Vegas)
6. Favorite drink? (sparkling lemonade)
7. Dream vacation? (Africa)
8. Favorite dessert? (oatmeal cookies)

9. What do you want to be when you grow up? (wise)
10. What do you love most in life? (love)
11. One word to describe you. (chameleon)
12. Your Flickr name. (email****)

If you want to play too, type your answer to each of the questions into a Flickr search. Using only the first page, choose your favorite image, then copy and paste each of the URL’s into the mosaic maker (3 columns, 4 rows).

Girls Camp

So I just returned from spending the night at girls camp as an adult. Gaggling girls and lots of drama seem to be a consistent element of girls camp throughout the years, but it was nice to bring all the repressed memories from my youth to the surface. Lots of bugs, substandard sleeping facilities, giggling, singing, crafts, and substandard restrooms were par for the course. Luckily it was just one night. I was quite impressed with the creativity of some of the YW in our ward, and thought this Fresh Prince reprisal was rather amusing. Brought to you by the creative minds of the Diva and Ducky.

Keeping Portland Weird: Bow Staffs & Rodeos

I realize there are weird people in Portland, most of whom are proud to be called such, but sometimes, you just have to wonder. The LG and I were walking on somewhat secluded trail at Mt. Tabor park the other day, when out of nowhere a man in a robe with a bow staff suddenly appears on the trail. Yoda he wasn't, weird and scary he was. As he slithers toward us I have images of him weilding his bowstaff to fling us off the ravine and into the woods. I pick up the pace a bit, put on my "I'm not as nice as I look" face and pass him as he slowly leans against a nearby tree and folds his arms over the bowstaff. I would have taken a picture, but I thought that would have only gotten me closer to flying through the air.

Speaking of flying through the air, we decided to go to the Clark County Fair to see the rodeo. The BK has never been to a rodeo and was quite skeptical, but oh how I love me some rodeo so he conceded and we took a little jaunt north for some good cowboy fun. Tight jeans, muffin tops, wife beater tees, popcorn, funnel cake, horses, cowboy hats, shiny things that go on peoples pants, carnival rides, skinny long-legged teenagers with fake tans. These are some of my favorite things. Truly, however, one of my favorite things is mutton-busting. If you don't know what this is, you should google it and watch some videos - with some Depends nearby. Even the BK, who can be a tough audience sometimes, was laughing like he did before we got married and had a baby. He couldn't get enough, and we all had a great time watching grown men place their manhood on the back of a 2 ton animal that is irritable and bred to have bad manners. Good times.