Week In Review

Reading-

Plan B Further Thoughts on Faith by Anne Lamott

I just started reading this and so far I LOVE it. I took it with me to my Dr. appt. last week and it made me so happy in the waiting room that I'm saving some of it to finish at my appointment next week. This woman definitely speaks my language when it comes to both writing and religion. I read Grace Eventually last summer, so I am apparently reading these out of order, but this one is so far my favorite of the two.

The Duggar Family: 20 and Counting

No, I don't have any plans to take after them. However, I'm about to have more children in my own home than I ever envisioned and I wondered if there was anything in this book to help me. Most of it, I'm already familiar with; but I did like finding out about how the family started out, how they have no debt, and learned that Michelle is a Weight Watchers devotee just like me. It wasn't a very long read, and it turns out I have more in common with the family than I thought I did. It was worth the time I spent reading it.

Listening

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Thanks to a quick trip to Dallas, we are almost through with this one quickly. Obviously, we are going to miss my goal of being through with Book 5 before we see the movie for Book 6, but since it will likely only be Natalie who sees it with me; that's OK. She just finished reading all seven books (again) recently. Still it's nice when Caroline or Tristan start asking for Harry Potter as soon we get into the car. I knew Natalie loved it, and I'm glad the others do too. Listening to this one did bring up on question that I don't believe Ms. Rowling ever addressed in subsequent books or her other supplemental interviews: Exactly what house did Professor Gilderoy Lockhart come from, anyway? I Twittered this and asked it on Facebook and the consensus was Slytherin. There were compelling reasons for that, but I'm still unsure. All I know is that is wasn't Gryffindor.

Watching

Michael Jackson's Memorial-

My kids are so sick of Michael Jackson music and media coverage that it almost amuses me. Needless to say, they weren't pleased about me tuning into this show at all. But, his career span pretty much matches my lifespan, and I felt compelled. However, I did not expect to get emotional about it. But I did. No more so than when his daughter (who is Natalie's age) talked about her "Daddy." Think what you may of him, but I think he did right by those kids and I feel for them in this situation more than anyone else. If fans truly wanted to do "what Michael would have wanted" they would leave them alone to lead as normal a life as they can, but I doubt it will happen. Poor babies. All in all, it was a very touching tribute and I'm glad I bothered with it if for nothing else than the last ten minutes of it when the family spoke.

What Not to Wear-

I like this show WAY more than I should. Will it improve the way I dress after baby? Probably not, but I do enjoy watching anyway.

Out and About

The Big D-

Before I knew we were broke, I told Dave he could take the kids to Medieval Times one weekend this summer. When I found out we were broke, I also discovered he had already purchased tickets. So, I Pricelined an acceptable room (I know that's not a verb, but for those of us who use the service; it should be.) and decided to let them have their fun anyway. I'm glad that I did. We did a lot of window shopping, I got some alone time while Dave and the kids were at the show, we listened to a lot of Harry Potter; and we made it home in time for a birthday party Natalie wanted to attend AND my shower. Which was also good timing because apparently my grandmother was rushed to the hospital last night while I was enjoying that alone time and is stablized in the CCU today. I saw her as soon as the shower was over this evening and she seems to be doing well. My sister works there, so my infomation is very good right now and her outlook is also very good. Apparently, her bad heart and this bad heat aren't very compatible. It makes sense to me.

Baby Shower

In theory, I get why no one would expect a shower for her 5th child, and I didn't. But one of my close friends opted to throw me one anyway. Let me just say that when you don't do anything to celebrate the anticipated arrival of one of your children, it does make the pregnancy feel pretty unremarkable. I was insistent that I wanted NOTHING done when expecting Caroline, and I regret it. My grandmother insisted that we do something when I was pregnant with Elisa, and it made me a lot happier than I thought it would. This time, I kinda sorta needed a shower because I got rid of everything as Elisa outgrew it-toys and clothes-and I was grateful someone offered to do one for me. I didn't pick the date, I didn't send the invites, I was just told when and where to show up and that's what I did today. And again, it was worth it. Unfortunately, because my life can't be without drama of the most annoying sort, there was another shower for someone else where I attend church today. Well, she doesn't attend there, her relatives do. She generally views us churchgoers with an attitude just beneath scornful. (She was one of the youth I worked with, and she was pretty much rude to us when she bothered to show up at all.) But, based on the fact that absolutely no one from that congregation showed up today, I guess I was deemed the "less deserving" of the two of us. Frankly, it hurts. But you know who did show up? People from the congregation we left when we moved four years ago. It was a diaper/wipes/baby needs themed shower, and everyone was very generous. I had a great time visiting with all of them again, and really enjoyed the little impromptu talent show all our kids put on for us at the end of the party. And while I know moving here was the right thing, it's days like this that sometimes make me second guess that just a little. (In church terms, I have been visit taught exactly three times in the four years since we moved here.) BUT, as they say in Italy "si tira avanti" ("one moves forward") and I will.