An easy read.

I started my new "book" on Tuesday's snow day and am over half-way; I recommend it if you at all like Amy Poehler.

And the weekend is just about here on a breath of FRIGID air. It's seriously cold and dry here, but beautiful and sunny and the days are getting a bit lighter each day now.

Here's to Thursday.

Done!

So I wrapped up "The Goldfinch" - a good read, in my opinion. I enjoyed the story line and character development; I became attached to the people and can even picture them, which is something I actually love doing with books - picturing the actors and actresses I think would best portray them.

And I got through the first part of Peter Pan last night, until the kids made it to Never Neverland but then I was off to dreamland on the couch so I can't say much more about the show.

Do you have a decent weekend shaping up ahead of you Reader? Time for Christmas decorations and shopping? Or lots of grading like I have? Whatever it is, have a good one!!
xoxo, natty ♥

Almost finished!

I started reading "The Goldfinch" a few weeks ago, almost.

 

It's really good and riveting and I've been staying up late getting further and further into the book {& I'm definitely feeling it at work during the day} because I have a time limit on this thing since I have it checked out from the library as an ebook - which is my recent favorite way to read books. Except for the whole time limit thing. I don't have another good book lined up which is a positive thing since I have a ton of grading coming up in the next two weeks although I'm number 2,334,353 on the library ebook waiting list for Amy Poehler's book and I'm looking forward to that one. 

Also, are you watching Peter Pan tonight? I watched the first part of The Sound of Music last year but never finished it and since we don't have a DVR right now it's tonight or nothing so we'll see if we can make it up that late...even though I've been staying up the same amount reading but reading is a better excuse.

Walks and books.

The weather today was beautiful and I also took our not-yet-parents status to run a couple of errands...which was great! As are the following things:

1. Tomorrow Mikey's parents arrive here to meet their first grandchild. 

2. Said grandchild isn't here yet but hopefully this week we'll get to meet her!

3. I strolled over to our local library today to check out a baby book I had been interested in reading {but not buying} as well as some other novels to keep me entertained {if I have time}.

4. I also snagged some books at a real book store for our impending arrival; we had some gift cards and I had a blast choosing out a handful of board books to add to our little library.

5. We've had two light bulbs out in our apartment. Today I finally got the replacements and I'm hopeful {that's the positive part here} that Mikey will go down to the shared storage in our building's basement, retrieve a step stool, and change out those suckers. It's not such an easy task, if you're wondering why it's taken so long/is such a feat - our ceilings are kind of high and the lights are recessed.

6. The days are longer! The days are longer!

What's new in your neck of the woods Reader? Enjoying the longer days?
xoxo, natty ♥

Book review; Devil in the White City.

I finished the book I showed in yesterday's post, Devil in the White City by Erik Larson, last month. I had heard about this book from Becs a while back and my brother-in-law lent it to me when he finished.

DitWC Is historical fiction, which I adore, and kept me very engaged, intrigued, and satisfied the whole way through. The book juxtaposes the two stories of the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago and of a serial killer taking advantage of the influx of young women into Chicago at that time, as well as a bit more relevant history and a few other story lines woven in.

The two main story lines, however, never make direct contact, though they play around each other quite nicely and in a way that just almost makes you think the killer and the fair planners might end up meeting each other in some quirky story line. But they don't.

The book was published 10 years ago so it's by no means a newbie but in a completely unscientific manner I feel as though I've recently heard about it/seen it mentioned so perhaps it's enjoying a bit of a renaissance. 

With long days ahead of me as well as some air travel time I look forward to getting in a few more novels this summer; any suggestions??
xoxo, natty ♥

"Who pooped on my head?"

I work with wonderful people. Many of those wonderful people happen to be wonderful mommies so I hear quite a bit of talk regarding things that involve little ones. One topic of which I am very fond is literature. I had a few favorites myself growing up {"If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" and the entire Little House series to name just a few} and love to hear what's circulating around with the youngins. 
A certain coworker with a Norwegian husband {and two bilingual adorables at home} told us about a funny story that their family first read in Dutch {it's a long story} and she brought in the Norwegian version that their little girls KNOW. I fell in LOVE. 
As many a reader knows, I am fond of four-legged creatures I don't discriminating against those two-leggers out there either {Kanga and Roo, I'm talking to YOU!}. It should come as no big surprise, then, that this little tome charmed my pants off {figuratively} and made my day - it boasts a mole as he who suffers the fate mentioned in my title today. Since moles can't see so well the protagonist goes on to ask the other animals if it was their defecation. It's so not as gross as I'm making it sound.
Alas, Mikey and I don't speak Norwegian and probably won't learn by the time our own little two-legged love-bugs come along. However...the book comes in English!!!!!
I searched it and found the book on Amazon, which is great. Buy your own HERE. I also stumbled upon a video of it being read.
Yea!
It's your lucky day my faithful few one readers.
For your enjoyment...

Here's to it almost being the weekend!

xoxo, natty ♥

My how she gets ahead of herself...

This is what I'm reading right now...but really, you should take note of the stack behind the book. I ventured over to the library today. It was the most productive part of my day. Running close to 15 miles in the past two days and over an hour of yoga last night apparently took a toll on me so I was pretty pooped today. I enjoyed the crosswords and chatted with Mr. M's dad (Hi!) and decided it was time to break out the bike for the first time this year. The tires were still nicely inflated and after a winter in the garage ms ruby (my bike from M ☺) needed only a quick wipe down from a towel.  The sun was out and it was warm and beautiful out, so the bike ride was very pleasant.

What I mean by getting ahead of myself (see: Post Title) is that when I get to the library I get so excited about what there is. Even though this is just spring break for me, since it's so late in the season it's feeling a bit too much like summer. Consequently, I checked out more than I could possibly get in this week, but it just felt soooo good. I usually check out a nice stack to kick off summer for me and I just couldn't help myself today.

The main book, the one that I'm starting with, is a book I saw a coworker reading about Mary Winchester. If you grew up in the bay area then you know about the Winchester Mystery House. If not, then just clock on the linked name of the house in the last sentence. My good friend and I growing up were terrified by it but fascinated at the same time (at least I was!). Anyway, once I saw the book I decided that I must che andck it out and so far it's pretty interesting and informative, though please don't worry, I won't give a blow-by-blow account, I'll leave it to you.

I also checked out this book:

which is all about "one pot" meals for two to six that you can make in a Dutch oven in about an hour; how cool is that? You layer your veggies and grains and proteins in a certain way and cooking them in a Dutch oven does the magic that cooks it all up perfectly...recipe fun! You can read more about it HERE. Confession: I'd already checkout out this book several months back but never took note of any recipes and ended up turning it in late; fail there, but this time will be different!

Anyway, another relaxing day of break has passed and I think that tomorrow might have to bring some actual work doing (cringe!)...nighty night =)

xoxo, natty ♥


Post Script: YUM!

wowzas!

Oh my, have I been remiss. I apparently decided to take off of blogging for about a month, unbeknownst to me. The school year hit me like a tidal wave that is still cresting, but it’s been great. My classes are good and I felt as though I was able to go into the school year with a good handle on planning, etc. I started some part time coaching soon into the school year which promptly zapped any free time that I had enjoyed, but that’s been good too.

We ended up having a great time in Chicago/Milwaukee. It was great to have time with my good friend and then M and I had an amazing time with our college friends.

I spent the last week or so of summer vacation buying pretty things for my classroom (pretty fabric to cover my corkboard, bright marker colors, etc.) and attending back to school meetings. My beginning of the year field trips went well (¡Gracias a Diós!) as was Back to School Night. The team and I and some faithful parents trekked up to Tahoe two weeks ago for an invitational meet and even though I was “working”, it was super nice to in Tahoe, if even for about a day.

I JUST saw a movie ad for “Secretariat” (I’m watching a USA marathon of Law & Order SVU since M s visiting his folks this weekend) and have decided that I MUST see it. I also want to see “The Social Network”. M and I have been subsisting on “Mad Men” (we’re on season three) and “Weeds” (Season two…old, I know, get over it) since we decided not to get cable whilst cohabitating with the Memaw so I’ve seen hardly any commercials so I have ni idea on what movies are out there. Have you seen any movies recently? Are there any that you want to see?

Speaking of things to see, I’ve been on a nasty book hiatus and I want it to STOP. I re-read “She’s Come Undone” by Wally Lamb as my last book. It is such a disturbing novel but has a beautiful story of redemption and I have read it several times. I keep meaning to start “Dead Until Dark” by Charlane Harris (it’s what “True Blood” is based on) so hopefully soon ☺

The weather has been crazy-dazy recently and we had a major heat wave this week. It’s since cooled down a bit and the days are beautiful and autumnal. Our street is lined with giant sycamore trees and the only downfall is the obscene amount of leaves that rain upon us every day. Amongst this picturesque backdrop my cousin J and my friend C ran the San Jose Rock and Roll Half Marathon this morning. It was a total blast. This was the second time that I’ve done it (last year with M and his fam = so much fun ♥) I love this race and there’s so much energy with bands at every mile and tons of people cheering. I wasn’t going to do it but my friend asked me and I figured that it would be a good tune-up before my big day!

Anyway, this was a great day and I’m really looking forward to M coming home tomorrow. I still have some grading left to do tonight (pooh-pooh) as well as major laundry, but I’m full and happy from my yummy dinner (home-made Greek quiche and copycats of two salads thanks to my friend C!) and the days have been beautiful so I guess I’ll be “ok”.

Hopefully I’ll be back sooner than last time! Happy beginning to your week ☺

 

PS

A good family friend died last week unexpectedly and we’re attending his memorial service tomorrow; please think positive thoughts.

Photographic Friday

Some images to end the work-week (though I'm not technically working...shhh...) and a Natty-style book review at the end:

The sadness at Trace, the burnt-down school. 

Today when I was running by they were bull-dozing the remains and in the past few days these signs have come up. They're pretty poignant to me. I kind of think that many children would, despite maybe liking school, choose a fun day with friends/at home/doing whatever instead of school, but the childrens' messages on these signs showing their sadness at the blow their school has taken was truly touching. I love seeing the support and love that the children/parents/teachers/random people have put up for all to see. There was also a nice "thank you" poster to the SJ Fire Department (individuals who always deserve great thanks). I have a fear of fire (Thanksgiving 2008, for those of you in the know) and really admire those who fight it...thanks all! As a teacher (or just a person), it is very sad to see destroyed what I know was so much love and work, not to mention the actual supplies and effort put into making classrooms classrooms with personality and emotion rather than just rooms. Once again, it is such a good thing that no one was injured and that the children will be able to return to the same location when the school year begins, though the landscape will be a bit different...

Last night I stayed up late to finish "Body Surfing" by Anita Shreve. I'm quietly hung up on Shreve's books. They mostly take place on the East Coast and revolve around the life style of WASPy folks from that area, so, in other words, they have nothing in common with my life, but I'm hooked. My favorite of hers is actually "Fortunes Rocks", though I'll save that for a later post ("Books I MUST read at least once annually", no joke). This one was a fairly quick read and once I was within an hour of finishing, it just had to be done (please tell me that other people have those sorts of nights- when you don't plan on staying up too late when you get into bed to read but end up getting too involved!?) It revolves around a house on the coast in New Hampshire that is actually in several of Shreve's other novels and is somewhat about a love triangle and the sticky mess that families can make. The book was actually pretty disturbing to me, but knowing me, I'll probably revisit it in a year or so.

I did a bad thing and accidentally read a real author's review of this novel and can't seem to shake what this writer says, namely that Shreve does a fantastic job of description and reader entrapment, but that her story lines are always a bit ideal...however, it is fiction and we (I) read fiction for a reason. Anyway, my next read is probably "Fortunes Rocks" (once again, I = compulsive re-reader...are there any more of you out there???!!! BTW, K.L., my dear friend, I have yet to read "Dead Before Dark", and I REALLY REALLY plan on it this summer!) for my yearly/6 monthly/whatever fix, hopefully followed by Alice Hoffman's (my one true literary love, no shame about it!) "Practical Magic" (also a favorite movie) which I oddly don't own but just keep checking out from the library.

Tomorrow's our sale, wish us luck =) Here are some pics of our preparations as well as some of tonight's activities...

Cookies to sell tomorrow...Funfetti cookies, can you imagine?!

Gouge-your-eyes-out-colored signs to lure in customers...

The tools of the trade...

What's on TV tonight...Miss Marple = my girl!

What some one's reading tonight...

What I'm reading tonight...for now tonight...

What some one's gnawing on tonight...