Hello everyone!
I haven't blogged in over a week! That's bad......I will try to keep up a little better from now on. Because i do like to keep you posted on what is going on. So, I'm done with The Sun Farmer and it actually was a pretty good read.....sad in places but I also learned quite a bit about farming and farm machinery which sounds kind of odd but it was rather interesting. The farmer in this story had a very challenging life after his accident but he kept an amazing attitude and counted his blessings...when he didn't have that many to count. Anyway, a different story than what I'm used to reading but I'm glad I did.
This week I'm reading a book called "Ten Eternal Questions- Wisdom, Insight and Reflection For Life's Journey" by Zoe Sallis. It's really a neat book and has different questions answered by a variety of people such as Nelson Mandela, Bono, Gore Vidal, Bob Geldof, Jack Nicholson, as well as other artists, scientists, and religious figures. Some of the questions the author asks are "Do you think this life is all there is?" and "What is your concept of God?" It's really interesting to read what others think and believe....and makes you think yourself...I would recommend it to anyone who just wants a different insight. On deck is a book my mom gave Hannah called "Hannah's Dream" by Diane Hammond and it is about an aging elephant that is living at a zoo and her longtime zookeeper is trying to move her into an elephant sanctuary to make her last years more peaceful and happier. I am excited about this book as I like to read about animals and their relationships to humans. After that I will most probably start the book club book for February which is "Belong to Me" by Marissa de los Santos. Stay tuned and I will do my best to blog more. Enjoy the last days of January!!!!
Monday, January 26, 2009
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Ha Ha Ha.......
Happy Saturday!
I'm almost done with "The Ha-Ha" and have about 50 pages to go. It's really an interesting book and the more I've read, the more I've enjoyed it. Really shows how people with limitations can make their lives so much fuller and richer when one thing changes or shifts. It's been a great story to read. Check it out!
Next up for me is "The Sun Farmer" by Michael McCarthy and this is the story of a corn farmer in Illinois who suffered a horrific farm accident where 93% of his body was burned. One of the doctors that I work for at UW, Mike Schurr is mentioned alot in this book as he is the Burn Chief and this accident happens at a time when they started using a new "artificial skin" product that had just come on the market. I'm only about 3 chapters into this book but I can tell it's going to be very interesting.
I'm looking forward to reading a fair amount this weekend so will keep you all posted on both books and what I'll be reading in the future. Hopefully I'll see alot of you this Wed nite at Book Group! Stay warm.....
I'm almost done with "The Ha-Ha" and have about 50 pages to go. It's really an interesting book and the more I've read, the more I've enjoyed it. Really shows how people with limitations can make their lives so much fuller and richer when one thing changes or shifts. It's been a great story to read. Check it out!
Next up for me is "The Sun Farmer" by Michael McCarthy and this is the story of a corn farmer in Illinois who suffered a horrific farm accident where 93% of his body was burned. One of the doctors that I work for at UW, Mike Schurr is mentioned alot in this book as he is the Burn Chief and this accident happens at a time when they started using a new "artificial skin" product that had just come on the market. I'm only about 3 chapters into this book but I can tell it's going to be very interesting.
I'm looking forward to reading a fair amount this weekend so will keep you all posted on both books and what I'll be reading in the future. Hopefully I'll see alot of you this Wed nite at Book Group! Stay warm.....
Friday, January 16, 2009
Defining a "Ha-Ha"
Happy Friday and hope everyone stays warm.....how do the little outside critters survive this sort of weather? I found bunny prints all over my front steps this morning and that made me wonder. Maybe tonite I'll put out some carrots for them.
So, I'm still reading "The Ha-Ha" and continue to enjoy it. I think alot of you would like this book as well. There is a part in the beginning of the book that describes a "ha-ha" as follows:
"A ha-ha is a boundary wall concealed in a ditch so that it does not intrude upon the view. Much employed by the great nineteenth-century English landscape gardner "Capability" Brown, its original purpose was to make possible uninterrupted views from the lawns and other more nealty cared-for areas surrounding the mansions, of more distant trees, copses, lakes and meadows grazed by cattle and sheep....The name ha-ha derives from the explanation that a stranger might make upon coming upon such a ditch unexpectedly from the top of the wall. An experience of this kind could, of course, be highly dangerous to the unwary."
So, I'm still reading "The Ha-Ha" and continue to enjoy it. I think alot of you would like this book as well. There is a part in the beginning of the book that describes a "ha-ha" as follows:
"A ha-ha is a boundary wall concealed in a ditch so that it does not intrude upon the view. Much employed by the great nineteenth-century English landscape gardner "Capability" Brown, its original purpose was to make possible uninterrupted views from the lawns and other more nealty cared-for areas surrounding the mansions, of more distant trees, copses, lakes and meadows grazed by cattle and sheep....The name ha-ha derives from the explanation that a stranger might make upon coming upon such a ditch unexpectedly from the top of the wall. An experience of this kind could, of course, be highly dangerous to the unwary."
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Thursday Means it's Almost Friday
Hello everyone,
I wanted to comment on the book that I'm reading this week. It's called "The Ha-Ha" by Dave King and this is his first book. I am really liking it and recommend it to everyone even though I'm only about a third of the way into it....he's a great writer that kind of pulls you in right away and the chapters are short....which is a bonus. It's about Howie, who had a traumatic brain injury in Viet Nam when he was 18 and the book takes place 30 years later when his girlfriend from high school asks him to watch her 9 year old son while she's in Rehab for cocaine addiction. Howie can't speak and actually can't read or write but thinks in the same way that everyone else does....so you can imagine the challenges that he faces. I'll give you more information as I get into the book a bit more but I really like it. My mom read this book last year and suggested it to me. I'll tell you what a "Ha-Ha" is the next time I blog. Happy Thursday to you all!
I wanted to comment on the book that I'm reading this week. It's called "The Ha-Ha" by Dave King and this is his first book. I am really liking it and recommend it to everyone even though I'm only about a third of the way into it....he's a great writer that kind of pulls you in right away and the chapters are short....which is a bonus. It's about Howie, who had a traumatic brain injury in Viet Nam when he was 18 and the book takes place 30 years later when his girlfriend from high school asks him to watch her 9 year old son while she's in Rehab for cocaine addiction. Howie can't speak and actually can't read or write but thinks in the same way that everyone else does....so you can imagine the challenges that he faces. I'll give you more information as I get into the book a bit more but I really like it. My mom read this book last year and suggested it to me. I'll tell you what a "Ha-Ha" is the next time I blog. Happy Thursday to you all!
Monday, January 5, 2009
Monday Monday............
Hello to all........and Happy Monday! I'm not so keen on Mondays as it is a very early day for me ....but with coffee anything is possible!
I finished Tara Road! So book one is done! I did like it (soap opera story and all) and I think it will make for good conversation.......we can talk about all the crazy decisions some of the people in the book made! Does anyone want to slap Danny like I did? And I have a specific question about the ending....but I won't say it now because I don't want to spoil it for anyone that hasn't started or is currently reading it.
I have to think of a theme though....it takes place in Ireland and Ria sure was one heck of a cook so if anyone has any ideas on a fun way to do the food/drink, that would be great. I'll think about it as well.
Other than that, hope you are all doing well. TJ and Caitlin got back to Denver ok with no car issues and TJ is loving his new house. They both start school today....you guys with college kids are lucky to still have them home with you....our time seemed to go really fast. Anyway, on to a new year! Here's wishing everyone good health and happiness!
I finished Tara Road! So book one is done! I did like it (soap opera story and all) and I think it will make for good conversation.......we can talk about all the crazy decisions some of the people in the book made! Does anyone want to slap Danny like I did? And I have a specific question about the ending....but I won't say it now because I don't want to spoil it for anyone that hasn't started or is currently reading it.
I have to think of a theme though....it takes place in Ireland and Ria sure was one heck of a cook so if anyone has any ideas on a fun way to do the food/drink, that would be great. I'll think about it as well.
Other than that, hope you are all doing well. TJ and Caitlin got back to Denver ok with no car issues and TJ is loving his new house. They both start school today....you guys with college kids are lucky to still have them home with you....our time seemed to go really fast. Anyway, on to a new year! Here's wishing everyone good health and happiness!
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Slippery Sunday
Wow, it is brutal outside with the freezing rain we got last nite. Everyone needs to be careful. As for me, I'm staying inside and not even trying to go out. A good day to take down Christmas decorations and of course read.....Tara Road is coming along nicely. In fact, I've only got about 100 pages to go. It's rather addicting once you get started....I like Ria's character. She started out kind of wimpy but I think she's going to finish out rather strong. It's still reading like a soap opera in parts but I admit there have been a couple things that have happened that I didn't see coming. She's in the US now and I'm wondering what is going to happen to the house on Tara Road.
I'm going to try and see how I can make this blog better so people can write things or comment. I know Kelly has tried and not been able. It may be that I have to "invite" readers to be able to write or comment or blog themselves. I'm not very computer savvy so will spend some time this afternoon trying to figure that out.
I'm going to try and see how I can make this blog better so people can write things or comment. I know Kelly has tried and not been able. It may be that I have to "invite" readers to be able to write or comment or blog themselves. I'm not very computer savvy so will spend some time this afternoon trying to figure that out.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
2009 Begins!
For those of you who are in my book group, "Read 'em and Eat" you will know that I made a very public statement at our December book group nite of having a goal for 2009 of reading a book a week.....which translates into 52 books a year! I've been thinking of the craziness of this whole thing and just thought "oh gosh, can't do that, it's impossible, it's insane, it's nuts!" and then realized, "well maybe I can, I will, I must!" haha.....well not exactly like that but still thought it was kind of a fun challenge as 1) I love to read, 2)I have more than enough books in my library to sustain me and 3, 4, &5) it will give me alot of pleasure and relaxation and focus....so onward! My first book of 2009 is "Tara Road" by Maeve Binchy which is our book club's pick of the month. It's ok so far, although a little on the soap opera'ish side.....( when you blog, you get to make up your own words) but I'm already a little bit past the halfway mark so I don't think I'll have a problem finishing this one. On deck is "The Ha-Ha" by Dave King. If there's something you've read and you think I'd like it, please feel free to suggest. I have promised my oldest daughter I will read the Harry Potter series this year so watch for that too. Have a great day and watch for more posts.
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