Feets of Fancy

Just an advertisement for my friend in Minnesota who is doing some fundraising for multiple sclerosis. Check it out. These gals sure do love their shoes.

http://feetsoffancy.blogspot.com/

That flower on the corner

Just over a year ago (June 7, 2007), I blogged about a random act of decorating. There is a street corner on the way to the daughter's daycare that someone is decorating with fake flowers. Well, this person is still at it and has changed the flowers yet again.

In other news, I can't sleep. I recorded "Cold Mountain" off the tv and watched that when I got home from work tonight, but the house is empty and too quiet. The family is having a sleepover. Something they often do on the weekends that I work. As for the movie, the book and movie ending were almost exactly the same. The movie changed a few elements, but stayed true to the overall story line. The problem with the movie is that the book was actually more rich in detail than any movie could ever really be. The movie was ok and Renee Zelweigger (how the heck do you spell that anyway) was brilliant. She brought the character of Ruby to life for me. She was spot on. I did not like Jude Law as Inman. He was too pretty for the role. I pictured someone a little more squinty eyed and rugged, none of which would be used to describe Jude Law, ever.

Well, maybe I'll read some work magazines. That should put me to sleep. It is getting late and I have to work tomorrow as well. This is the end of day 1 of my 3-day work week.

I finished "Cold Mountain"

From the first page of this novel, I thought, "Whoa. This is like fine literature and stuff." I re-read the first page a couple times. It wasn't a typical page turner, but each page was loaded with imagery and thought provoking observations. I felt like I was there at times and could feel the weather the author was describing. It also reminded me a bit of 'The Odyssey.' It is the story of people caught in the dark side of the American Civil War. It also included insights about farming, birding and life during that time frame. At times, I thought it would be cool to be working a self-sufficient farm where you traded for what you needed and didn't really use money, to be so intuned with nature and your surrounding environment, so tied to the land. I enjoyed the book a lot and I think it is one I will re-read, but throughout the book, there was this undercurrent that something bad was going to happen in the end of the book. And, it did kind of have a tragic ending. I now kind of want to see the movie. I know it had a few Oscar nominations, which makes me think they may have followed the book well. Oscar loves a saga with a tragic ending.

Anywho, some sad things have beening going on work. I almost cried a couple times and the book didn't help. So, I am taking a little break before starting my next book, 'The Mermaid Chair.' As for work, all day Tuesday I just kept saying, " This isn't happening to me. It is happening to them and my job is to do this . . ." This mantra was followed by a couple of deep breaths.

A trip to the gym is in order and some time enjoying the family . . . and maybe a beer . . . or two. Got to savor life while you got a healthy one.

Plum season

Yep, our prolific plum tree is bursting with plummy goodness. We had it trimmed last fall and some of the plums are huge this year. They are falling on the ground faster than we can pick them from the tree. I've taken some to work and they are very popular there. I had one co-worker offer to pay me to bring her more. I told her to come on by and get all the plums she wants for free before they go to waste. For your enjoyment, some plum-alicious pictures.

WHEEEEE!!!! A new swing

I am so proud of myself that I am bragging about what I did last week. I hung a tree swing for the daughter from our huge tree in the front yard. I climbed on the ladder. I tied the knots. And, I didn't fall of the ladder and the knots held. Now, I might be lucky (that could be about 90% the case) or just a awesome. I want to go with " cool mom" for now. The daughter is happier than a monkey in a banana tree and loves being out in the front yard on her new swing. She wants to show anyone who walks by her new swing. She makes all kind of silly noises to draw attention to her new swing. I wish I had done it sooner. Now, I am thinking of getting an old tire and chain and hanging it from another branch. It is an amazing tree in our front yard. I am so thankful to whoever planted that tree smack in the middle of the yard. I'll stop now before my true tree-hugger nature really comes out. However, it has to be one of the best ways I have ever spent $20.

A knight's tale. . . no longer funny??

Oh no. It hit me. "A knight's tale" was on tv tonight and I switched to it and thought how much I loved that movie and how it made me smile and laugh. We even own on it on DVD. The first scene was a joust with Heath Ledger and I felt overwhelmed with sadness and I almost wanted to cry. No happy-good feelings. I realized it was the first Ledger movie I had seen since he had died. Ugh. I had to change the channel. I am sure this will pass, but I sure wish I had been able to enjoy the movie tonight.

In other news, I have read even more books. Yes, I finished "Outlander"by Gabaldon. Quite the page turner, even if at times I but unbelievable. I really found myself fancying the large Scottish redhead Jaime Fraser. I also finished my other book, "Critical Care: The making of an ICU Nurse." It was great to read a book at times where it felt like the author had read my mind. It was just so validating and made me feel less crazy. The ending was a bit abrupt and hurried, but I think I may re-read it someday. Oh, and yes the book worm frenzy is alive as I even finished "The Golden Compass." I had seen the movie first and found the movie ok with some occasional fantastic moments, but the book was sooooooo much better. I thought the scene in the movie where the polar bears have a huge fight was epic. In the book, it was even more epic. Also, I was constantly amazed at how the author was able to remember or to get inside the head of a 10 year old child. I actually want to see the movie again now and I can't wait for my daughter to be able to read the story.

The other day I browsed the sales piles at the book store and picked up 2 new books to read. "The Mermaid Chair" and "Cold Mountain." They look like two completely different styles of fiction, but they looked interesting.

So, I flipped back to a "A Knight's Tale" and it was a funny scene and I still couldn't laugh. Ugh. I miss Heath.

All grown up now

I am in a bit a of a dilemma. My 4 yr old daughter will be turning 5 soon and she thinks that makes her all grown up and that she doesn't need any toys anymore. Several times over the past couple weeks, she keeps telling me she wants to get rid of all her toys because when she is 5 she won't need toys anymore. She wants to give them to someone else to play with. She doesn't even want her dress-up clothes anymore.

We have asked her many times, "Are you sure?" "What about when your friends come over, what are you going to play if you have no toys?" "Do you want anything for your birthday?"

She says, "No, I don't want anything. I just don't want my toys anymore." She did say she wants to keep all her books because when she learns how to read in Kindergarten, she wants to read her books all by herself.

So, I am thinking if this continues one for another week, I will enter her room with bags and boxes and help her get rid of toys. Any thoughts on that? I am thinking I may store a couple of special toys for when she is older, but I can't believe she doesn't want any toys?!?