Books

My name is Kim and I bought three books this week, four if you want to count the one I bought for youngest. I'm waiting for my amazon delivery. I returned my books to the library and picked up more. I've been on a reading binge lately - more so than normal. It's summer and summer is vacation, relaxing and reading at the beach.

After reading Angela's Ashes I enjoyed it so much I picked up Frank McCourt's next book, 'Tis. I love his writing and his stories but now that he is older I want to slap him. I have little patience with such low self esteem. I purchased his Teacher Man and one by his brother Malachy. His brother Alphie has a book as well. I'm interested in the different perspectives. My brother and I are 20 months apart and did a lot together growing up. But, to listen to his stories you would think we had different parents and grew up in different houses.

I read Not Becoming my Mother borrowed from the library. Such a true commentary on mother's of a certain era. They were smart and talented and forced to stay home bored out of their minds. Now I'm reading Kitchen Wars - more about her family than food - I'll let you know when I finish.

I'm also waiting for the newest book by Sarah Addison Allan to arrive. I've read her first two books; Garden Spells and Sugar Queen. I really enjoyed both of them. A little magic in both.

Check out my bookshelf for more info.

Youngest update and more

Youngest woke up Sunday with clear eyes and feeling good. Last night she was up with an earache. I think allergies are playing havoc with her.

So, this doesn't seem to phase hubby but it kinda pisses me off. We went to nephew's Eagle Scout award ceremony. BIL and family came from VT so the whole family was there. Oldest would love to get together with her cousin and though I have offered many times she has yet been able to make it to our house. I had asked if she could come home with us after the ceremony and stay a few days. Monday she had plans to go to 6 flags amusement park so that was out.

SIL and her family planned to go with BIL and his family to the park on Monday. This is the second year in a row we were not invited. Hubby could care less about going so he doesn't mind. I probably wouldn't mind so much but when we got together Sunday all both families talked about in front of my kids were their plans for Monday. When youngest pulled this kind of behavior with her friends regarding her birthday she was grounded. I find it rude to discuss a party, trip etc. in front of people you have not invited.

It just reinforces that Thanksgiving will be just my family.

A night with Youngest

Youngest woke up Thursday night with a headache that kept her awake. When I tucked her back in she seemed warm. She throws a lot of heat when she sleeps so I couldn't decide if she had a fever. Friday her temp was up over a 100. She slept most of the day and couldn't keep food down. I made her noodle soup for supper while the rest of us enjoyed chicken fajitas. That stayed down. I put her back to bed after dinner.

Soup for breakfast and she was ready to go. Her eyes look red and puffy though.

So after her ideas of go cart riding and bowling - both of which I find expensive and take up very little time. I suggested a movie instead. So we went to see Toy Story 3. And with just the two of us I splurged on popcorn and a soda. Both small (really small) - $9.50. WTF Now I remember why I don't buy food at the movies. Anyway, she was thrilled. Afterwards we went to Bob's shopping. She found a shirt she liked and with my coupon it was free. Now, that is in my price range. We then headed to Chili's for dinner.

After dinner she wanted to wander the book store. I could live in a bookstore. She of course wanted me to buy books. This one is only $17.00 plus tax. How about this one. I just paid for dinner and a movie and you haven't finished reading the last pile of books I bought. Then she pouts. I imitate her pouting. The more she gets, the more she wants.

You don't appreciate anything I complain. I do, I do it's just I really wanted those books. Well, I'm not paying full price for books especially when you have books at home (more like a mini library). Plus we just went to the library as well. In the car and off we go - and the books are forgotten.

A mini spa treatment when we get home, a cup of tea and she's off to bed.

And I'm worried about her red puffy eyes. She says her throat hurts as well. When I looked to see if it was red and inflamed I could see the thick white coating on her tongue. I don't remember exactly what that means but I know she's still sick.

Bits of my life

Oldest and boyfriend are celebrating their two month anniversary. Son and hubby are off to paintball wars with a group of hubby's co-workers. Son is very excited - he gets to shoot cops. I said he should be careful - the police can shoot him and take out their work frustration. Youngest and I are home alone. I'm going to take her out for dinner - maybe a movie.

MIL came with my niece and nephew Thursday. We had lunch and went to the beach. The cousins had a great time.

We all chuckle over bio having more kids. I think Leroy doesn't know about the tubal ligation 12 years ago. And why would you ask your kids if they mind you having more kids when you can't? It's some sick game to her. How much do my kids love me? Little does she realize they just play lip service to her. What is she going to do from AZ?

Cousin asked MIL what she thought about the up coming wedding. MIL asked if oldest mentioned how she feels. Indifferent seemed to be the word. I'm happy she's getting married - she'll have a new last name.

Tomorrow hubby's whole family converges at his nephew's Eagle scout award ceremony. It will be nice to see everyone.

Monday my family gathers for a picnic to see my cousins who are visiting from Colorado.

Tuesday I went to New Jersey to meet with a client. The meeting went well. I hit very little traffic. Now, I have a lot of work to catch up on. It's amazing how far behind one day out of the office puts you.

Really

So, bio tells the kids that she's just waiting to hear back from a lawyer. She plans to have them for at least two weeks this August. The girls should plan not go to New Hampshire with me. That she's not coming out here but she will give her lawyer power of attorney. It's already the 18th of July and she has not made contact with a lawyer yet - does she really think they will set a court date in time?

So, when they come out that is when her and Leroy will get married. And you kids don't mind - I would never do anything to hurt you (who are you kidding) - Leroy wants to have kids with me so, I'm going to have another baby. She'll be 45 in February and she would have to have the surgery reversed. Not that it can't be done but.....

The kids didn't sound like they were planning on any of this really happening. Wonder why?

What's Cooking

I got the basic idea from my girlfriend. She used to have her son cook once a week when he was growing up. With my family I took the idea and tweaked it a bit. The kids rotate cooking a meal. At first it was one a week but now it works out that one child cooks sometime in a two week period. They must pick a recipe, make sure we have all of the ingredients or put them on the grocery list, cook the meal and clean up. And no repeats ( I have a spreadsheet - go figure). Once they make a recipe they can not count that as one of their meals a second time. The keepers I do throw into our regular mix. I have a cookbook collection that is out of control and I do help and suggest as needed. They have learned cooking skills, math skills, planning and that not everyone likes the same thing. They have also learned that preparing meals every night is not as easy as I make it look. They have picked recipes that I would have never tried. It has expanded all of our horizons. They appreciate good food. My youngest has made comments about processed cheese and cheap hot dogs of late. Not what she gets at home. On vacation she ordered alligator - everyone tried it and liked it. Son has admitted that my homemade cookies are way better than store bought (for him this is huge).

When on vacation we try and eat at the local restaurants and try the food in that area. We had some really good BBQ and lots of sweet tea while in Tennessee, seafood in Maine, Portuguese food in Fall River, MA, crab in the Chesapeake Bay area, and fried okra and hush puppies in the South.

Son is cooking next. He is making a chili pasta dish. It's not a soup - more of a casserole with pasta and chili ingredients. Today I am making spaghetti sauce. I need it for pizza on the grill tonight and son needs some for his recipe.

What's your specialty?

Out of the mouth of babes

As youngest and I were headed to the beach for an after dinner swim this is what she says. In school today they were talking about Iraqi's that strap bombs to themselves and blow up children. This war needs to end. We should try and stop polluting and global warming and forget about war.

Blessed Be!!!!

Bad, Bad Leroy

OK, so his name is not Brown but it is Leroy. Bio is getting married. That's right the man bashing, marriage bashing psycho is getting married again. Leroy is a friend of her brothers - the same brother sleeping with his niece. They went on their first date 6 weeks ago maybe 8. The next week end she was shacking up on the week ends and now.... The last beau she claimed she would never marry even though they were living together. Men suck, etc. I think the real thing was that he wouldn't ask her. Of course a man with 6 kids by 6 women I wouldn't expect a marriage proposal. And if she gets married she gets to move out of mama's trailer. She'll only have to share the bed with one person instead of three.

All I can say is congratulations to the happy couple!

Vacation

So, the mystery destination was Gatlinburg, TN. We were right in the heart of the Smoky Mountains. We had a great time. A day in Virginia to see the NRA museum and then on to our final destination. The museum was mostly for hubby and son but it was really interesting. The history and development and all. And did you know that all of the gun manufacturers were in the North during the time of the civil war.

We spent a day and a half at Dollywood. The kids were more interested in the rides than the shows. Youngest rode her first wooden roller coaster. I did make them see the raptor show. The eagle rehabilitation center is linked to Dollywood. So far they have released 101 eagles back into the wild.

The day of record breaking temperatures we spent touring the Smoky Mountains. We drove the Newfound Gap road and stopped at all the pull offs to look and take pictures. We hiked one short trail and the paved trail to the observation tower at Clingmans Dome. It is a half mile trail practically straight up. This is the highest point in the Smokies at 6,643 feet. Being in the mountains we were much cooler than staying in town and the views and scents were amazing.

We did some shopping, took the kids to a wax museum, a car museum and for lots of great food. We went to the Dixie stampede one night. The kids wanted to sit on the side of the South. We won. The horse show was really good, the comic routines funny and the food delicious.

And I read. Before we left I hit the book store. I bought a hubby a few books as an anniversary present and I bought myself a couple of books. I read Annie's review of The Elegance of a Hedgehog and decided to try it out. I'll let you read her review because she can say it so much better than I ever could. While looking for the book I discovered that the author wrote another book Gourmet Rhapsody. It was about a dying food critic going back over his life - the stories and the food. How could I resist. I thoroughly enjoyed them both. I started Angela's Ashes while I was away as well. And when I hit my favorite clothing shop at the outlets (Coldwater Creek) they had two books of poetry by Mary Oliver. I just had to buy them. I love her poetry and already own a few of her books. If you love poetry and nature you really need to check out her work.