Book-Geek

Due to my firstborn's shoulder surgery halfway across the country, I had the rare opportunity to have a week of downtime. In between sleepless nights and ice packs and pain meds, I read, spent an obnoxious amount of time on social media, and ate a ton of fast food.  I brought three books with me: The last graduate by Naomi Novik , Screwtape letters by C.S. Lewis , and Creating change through Humanism by Roy Speckhardt . I chose the first because it is a library book and I am DYING to finish it as it is the sequel to Deadly education, which left on a wicked cliffhanger. I chose the Screwtape letters because I read it as a kid and remember it being weirdly entertaining and I grabbed the Humanism book because a friend lent it to me. I made quite a bit of progress with Deadly education. It is one of quite a few sequels that I have read lately that is better than the first. I never picked up Screwtape letters but I did poke around at the Humanist book and spoiler alert, I think I am a H...

Since my firstborn is off to college, I thought I would resurrect a post from my old Badmamma blog circa 2011.  He is such an amazing kid and has always done things his own way.  We may butt heads but I have so much respect for him and I love watching him work hard and accomplish so much.  Enjoy! For as long as I can remember, I have been a doormat.  I don't know why and I don't want to know why.  All I know is that I don't want my children to be doormats.  So what do I do when we are faced with any kind of confrontation?  I tell my kids to give in and walk away.  It is just easier. My husband, on the other hand, is confident and strong-willed. I like to believe we complement each other and bring the sort of balance needed to this well-oiled machine that is our relationship. One day, a little friend was visiting our house and asked my son, 7 years old at the time, to dismantle some sled/plow machine he had created so that she could use the sled,...

Did you ever have a day that was scheduled to the max but then plans change and you find yourself with all kinds of time?  Me either, until today. I went to a friend's house last night for a girls' night and had tons of good food, satisfying discussions, and a margarita to boot.  Thinking today was going to be a little busy and rough after such a fun night, I started my day by snuggling with number one's kitty, Reggie.  I then went for a walk with one of my besties and Toby, (who was such a good boy on the leash...not really but he did try).  When I got home, I tried to hurry up and empty the dishwasher, pick up the house, do some laundry, and drink lots of coffee while squeezing in a little bit of the Magicians on Netflix , (I am obsessed with this show)! Time ticks by and the reason for my packed day, (number two) is still asleep.  She finally emerges from her room around 11am, having retired at midnight from what I hear, and shows no signs of rushing off to t...

 It has been raining for the better part of two weeks.  The sun came out yesterday so Number 2 and I slept on the deck and decided to bring the dog out with us.  He did well until about 2 am, which is when he aggressively vomited at the foot of my bed.  All I could do was pat his back like a little baby.  Being 2 am, I was not about to get up and clean it up, (we were outside after all).  Not surprisingly, there is no evidence of said puke this morning but I will still wash all the bedding, (which cuts into our Friday Fun Day).  Even if it was all a dream, the linens have a slight moldy aroma from all the rain.  The damp cotton smell mixed with pollen, sweat, and dirt reminds me of summers up north at my grandparents' house when it got so hot and humid, we had to sleep outside.  Although, it seems like there were more lightning bugs back then.   I am writing today because I stopped reading a book that I have wanted to read for a whi...

Open the windows and wash the winter gear.  It doesn't matter that it snowed a few days ago and it is currently hailing.  I don't care.  It is Spring, the flowers are blooming, and I am loving it!  I made it through another New England Winter. #1 got accepted to college and got an amazing scholarship that I am still wrapping my brain around.  He has a serious case of senioritis but it is ok.  We are so proud of him and cannot believe he is leaving for Colorado in three months. #2 is riding and riding and riding.   I am still working and cleaning and driving and driving.  Toby now has a few friends to play rough with.  phew.  I was thinking I might have to tie him to my car bumper and drive him around a neighborhood.  There is literally nothing I can do to wear this dog out!  He just got neutered and I am not ashamed to admit that I like the calming pills they gave us for him.  I have already asked for a refill.  ...

Today was the first day we all started our pandemic staycation.  I sat on the couch drinking coffee for way too long this morning because I stayed up late watching Firefly Lane like a twit.  I hated every second of it but couldn't look away.  I am so glad it is over but I cannot wait to find out if there will be a second season to see how far they go off the rails with the storyline, (which is already quite a bit different than the book s).   I am not sure what this week has in store for us.  We will ski, maybe snowmobile, do a whole lot of resting our brains if not our bodies, and try to reconnect as a family.  It is hard to vacation connect when you are home and the kids can retreat to their rooms.  Maybe we will have a bonfire or go to the beach. A friend of mine, (who recently moved closer but I can't visit because of frigging covid) and I try to chat on the phone once in a while in the wee hours of the morning while we are walking our dogs b...

This morning's post is brought to you by Harry Connick Jr.'s 1990 album, Red Light Blue Light .   My latest project is ripping all my cd's so I can listen to them in the car or wherever I can plug my USB in. I thought I had done this already but when I cleaned out the crawlspace, I found a ton of music that I haven't listened to in YEARS!  I have four Harry cd's, ok seven if you count the Christmas and the children's cds.  I LOVE his music! The family went skiing this morning and I am resisting the urge to gloat that I am home and warm because it is my turn tomorrow.  Today is just me, the puppy, the cats, and my book, Perestroika in Paris by Jane Smiley .  I can't remember when I was all by myself in this house.  It feels weird.  As I sit here in virtual solitude, I have a chance to reflect on the last few weeks.  My elation at the results of the election followed by the horror I felt at the Capitol riots, and now I realize I was actually af...

New Year's Eve is just another day.  It came and went like any other evening, (me going to bed early hoping the puppy would sleep through the night). I didn't make my reading goal but I came damn close!  I gained some weight this past year but I also gained some insight.  I have slowed down so much and I feel like I now focus on things that make me really and truly happy.  I have the Yale course on the Science of Well Being to thank for it.  I think I might take it again at some point.   I listen to the podcast right now and it is just enough of a boost to keep me going.  If you haven't checked it out yet, I highly recommend it! I'm not into New Year's resolutions mostly because I set goals for myself throughout the year that I don't end up attaining.  There is one thing I have been doing every New Year for the past five years and that is the Bowl Full of Lemons home organization challenge .  To know me is to know I love the minimalist...