So Many Books So Little Time

This could be our motto!

Actually most of us show up and have read the book but I thought this was cute. Last month we discussed The Roundhouse by Louise Erdrich and this month (to be discussed Feb. 12) we're reading Behind The Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo. I just finished the latter and thought it was very well written. Both books won the National Book Award for 2012, Roundhouse in fiction and Beautiful Forevers for non-fiction. Last year my book club read a couple of stinkers but both of these were excellent.

A friend and coworker lent me The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling. I've started it but worry about finishing it in time to read our March book, Native Speaker by Chang-rae Lee. I've seen a T-shirt that says "Life is Too Short - Read Fast." Too true.

Pics & Video From August 2011 Visit

There's a little round-headed baby in this post - I forgot how peach-fuzzy Kai used to be!

This tent used to belong to Anahita and Shirin. Although it still could be blown up...

... it lost air over time. Of course the kids enjoyed it collapsed as well.

I tried supporting it with the cat scratching post, but eventually...

... the tent collapsed and I removed it. Obi, Cyrus and Kai, was perfectly happy to lie on top.

Kai was (and is) such a mama's boy.

Mommy + avocado = Love

Saeed told Gabriel about the old "can't pick up the chair if your head is on the wall" trick and he swore he could do it.

Arg! Even twisting on tip toes didn't help.

So Shirin tried it.

The agony of defeat!

But they were consoled by two very cute little boys.

And Shirin forgave her father for setting her up.

These pictures were taken by Cyrus.

She would never make that face at me.

Nor this one. And that's my hand on Chappu.

Cyrus takes great pics!

He was rewarded with a pancake and some grapes.

I remember taking this pic. Look at the little toothies!

The rest of these were taken by Cyrus.

You know how I can tell? When a child takes your picture, especially a child you love, your face is naturally happy and the smiles and expressions are totally genuine.

Irresistible soft cheek.

Kai was still learning how to be gentle with cats.

He was also learning that he could make fun things happen.

The company could advertise this as a cat AND child's toy.

Lucky boy.

More Laughter

I loved my workout outfit today, though I'm not sure what decade people thought I was from. Everyone looked like this (but fatter):

But I looked something more like this (but with a shirt on, and fatter):

C'mon people! Don't be so BORING! Black? Only black? I looked at many sites and actually patterned leggings are very in, but not in the step class I took tonight. As I was hopping around I had to laugh. I looked like the only male bird amongst a bunch of boring females. I will definitely wear them again and see if I can't wake these peeps up a bit!

Laughter Is The Best Medicine

My first story has to do with living in the South. There are times it can be really challenging living in a culture for which you don't feel a kinship. In many ways the South is the antithesis of everything I believe in. As a group Southerners are a gun totin', meat eatin', narrow-minded "you're with us or you're against us" type of folk. I have to admit that on the flip side they are generally a good bunch of people ready to help out any way they can.

Yesterday I called a patient and reached her voicemail greeting: 

 "Blah, blah, blah, blah, and I want you to know that Jesus is coming, coming, coming, soon, soon, soon, and you’d better be ready."

It wasn't just the words that surprised me it was the tone of voice she used for that last part 'and you'd better be ready.' It sounded downright threatening like she was Satan herself! I had a hard time keeping my voice steady as I left my message. Giggling is not professional.

My next story has to do with our YMCA. It is old. It hasn't changed since we moved here and it wasn't new then. No doubt they've done some renovating but I promise you it isn't in the women's locker room. First of all, people must have been smaller in the olden days. The women's lockers are big enough to put your street clothes and that's about it. I laugh as I wonder what I look like as I'm shoving my gym bag into the locker with all my might. Then, the water coming out of the showers changes from nice to hot to cold all depending on who else is using water. I can be rinsing my hair when suddenly someone flushes the toilet and the water gets so hot it's hard not to cry out, but it makes me laugh. If they ever fix those showers I'll be disappointed.

Beautiful Icy Swirls

Yesterday we woke up to a little bit of ice but no snow. You know how much I love snow but it really complicates getting to work, so I was OK with it. Below is the pattern I found on my car. It was everywhere - the windows and the body were coated with these beautiful patterns made, I guess, from the wind pushing the water along as it froze. I hated to do it but few minutes later my heater/defroster melted the lovely ice art and I was on my way. I hope we get a good weekend snow before spring.

Morning Routine With Tippy

Every morning after I feed the kitties, make my lunch, and cook breakfast, I sit at the table while eating my oatmeal and check my email. Tippy knows this routine and waits for me to come sit down. I'm supposed to schmoozle her first for a while and then she climbs down to my lap and purrs for as long as it takes me to finish. This little routine brings me so much joy.

Tippy is so light she can sit on my laptop without it beeping.

Speaking The Truth

 I try not to offend when I find myself in a position to speak out on behalf of a group of people or for animals. Finding the balance between remaining silent and speaking out because it's wrong not to defend that which needs defending ("Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.) can be precarious sometimes. I do understand that just because I have a point of view that doesn't mean it's right or that others share it. Still, there are some positions that are consistently sound and compelling regardless of time or place. Could these then be considered "truth"?

I am listening to a book right now in which the main characters are motivated by the search for truth. The main character at one point says, "The truth is the truth. Don't be mad at me for saying it." I love that. So many times people get mad at the messenger (more often defensive and combative) instead of feeling outrage at the issue. So I will continue to speak the truth as I see it. Don't be mad at me for saying it.

Happy New Year!

In less than five hours it will be a new year, always a good time to begin new patterns of behavior that we intend to continue. Sometimes it takes a few false starts before the change sticks, but a renewed effort cannot be faulted. Bad habits are hard to break and good habits are hard to keep. My point is that we need to reflect on choices we've made and see if we can make better ones.

This sweet little video is a gentle reminder of what I feel is important to emphasize in my life. All I ask is that you sit back comfortably with a cup of tea and reflect on its message. Happy New Year. :-) 


A Life Connected: VEGAN from NonviolenceUnited.org on Vimeo.

One Of My Favorite Organizations

Can you see why I love what they do?
(the word she says when talking about Mabel is "debeaked)

Quiet Christmas

Since we've already celebrated our family Christmas it's going to be quiet around here, but that's OK with me. I worked half a day today, it being Christmas Eve, and the office is closed tomorrow. I have to put all our decorations away and start reading in earnest my book for book club which meets in another two weeks. My job for today, though, is to do Christmas cards. Late, yes, but Santa finally bought me that color printer I needed. That's my excuse anyway. :-)

Little stripey Christmas elf sitting under our tree.

Napping in front of the fire while waiting for Santa Claus.

Samuel Clement Moore got it right: Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring not even a mouse. Merry Christmas everyone!