Too Much Furniture

Upcoming Phase-Out of Analog TV + Economic Stimulus Check = 

• New TV and
  
• New entertainment center 
  

But doesn't that just sound too good to be true?  So add to the total...

• 10-store, 6-hour furniture hunt (with kids in tow) to appease our...
  
• Criteria of 8 factors we deem necessary for our new entertainment center (ranging from kid-friendly to well-built to aesthetic)
  
• Rearrangement of furniture throughout house, while conducting...
  
• Assembly of wooden furniture
  
• Random tantrums by babe and toddler (well-deserved and understandable)
  
• Many words of frustration voiced
  
• House strewn about with hammers, TV cables, 2 loads of laundry, toys, dozens of books

(Visualize: 

"Where'd Mari go?  I left her rolling around on the floor right here." 

Quick scan of chaotic room.  

"Oh wait, isn't that her chewing on the lamp cord, half-way laying on the hammer, and rolling dangerously close to the teetering pile of 9 books?  Oh, and did she just spit up on that load of laundry I just washed?")

Ah, what we do so Grace can view Curious George in clear detail, rather than watch the monkey through a snow storm.  Oh, and to enhance Janson's news-viewing pleasure.

At some point I will enjoy the infamous electronic device and wooden piece of art it rests on, but for now I cringe at a mere glance.  I will admit that it made for a nice viewing of The Bucket List last night; some humor was definitely in order.

Next time we will forego our patriotism and simply pay bills.

I Love the Midwest Sky

I have no photography skills, so these pictures obviously don't do it justice.

Book Review: The Memory Keeper's Daughter

I'm desperate for good new titles, so I'm reading ahead for our book club. I read The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards within 24 hours. Yup, I couldn't put it down for very long.

One sentence summary: In the 1960's a doctor is forced to deliver his own twins, and makes the detrimental decision to send one away rather than raise it.


Since it's been a week, my initial observations are fading into the back crevices of my brain (yes, I'm sure that's anatomically incorrect, oh well). So I wouldn't even bother with this review... except that parts of this book keep coming back to me.

Specifically: I think Kim Edwards did an amazing job with the portrayal of postpartum depression, or depression in general. If you've read the book, or will be, I'm referring to the doctor's wife, Norah. That wasn't the main issue of the book, so I'm surprised that it hit me so hard. Edwards does a fairly good job describing the thoughts and motivations of the main characters, and Norah really blew me away. Maybe others can't relate, but I could almost understand and justify why Norah did some of the stupid things she did. I'm not going to add any more details concerning her portrayal of depression because it's just too complex, you have to check it out for yourself.

From reading this it would be easy to assume that the book is an overall depressing book. I wouldn't agree with that; I thought it was inspiring, thought-provoking, and had a fairly happily-ever-after ending. Edwards just had a talented way of writing about depression. In case you were wondering, she does find a way out of her depressing moods.

I briefly read up on the new movie based on this book. I hear it didn't do justice to the Norah-depression issue. So if you're interested, don't just watch the movie... try out the book!

I also gained a better understanding of the progressive views towards Down Syndrome. This was an excellent companion to my recent viewing of the highly educational and powerful movie, Music Within.

For those of you haven't read the book, you're probably lost. Maybe these thoughts will entice you to pick it up, or make you want to steer clear. Either way, that's what I have to say.

p.s. If you have much interest in photography you'd also probably appreciate this book.

Book Review: Princess Academy

This review deserves some little background info first.  

I'm a huge fan of Newbery Award and Honor Books.  They're well-written young adult books, so you get the great literature without some of the more heavy-duty adult topics and content.  I like almost every book with the silver Newbery sticker on the cover.  I picked up this Newbery book by Shannon Hale last year, read the first paragraph, and decided against it.  It's a fantasy book about a princess... at the time not exactly my cup of tea.  I think I was going through a historical fiction phase.

Fast forward to last week's Book Club and someone's mention of Shannon Hale as an author of "girl-power" books.  This peaked my interest, and luckily I have matured to an acceptance of fantasy.  (Ever since last summer, when I finally read the entire Harry Potter series a week before the last book came out, I have become a fantasy fan.)  So I read Princess Academy in a couple days time.  

Miri, the main character, was a little too "girl power" perfect for me.  You know those girls that have an unlimited amount of courage, and are constantly breaking the image and expectation of girls, without any negative repercussions?  

Holmfeet Going Private

Yup, Holmfeet is going to be a private blog within the week. Leave a comment or email lynnoba@hotmail.com if you want access to Holmfeet (our family blog). I need your email address to send you a Holmfeet invite.

This blog will stay public... fully accessible to all the crazy strangers. :)

Movie Review: Lars and the Real Girl

[For you theater-goers this may be "so last year" for you.  Oh well.]

I have to write up a quick review of this movie because Ryan Gosling blew me away as the main character.  He plays a delusional 27-year old man who truly believes a life-size plastic doll is his girlfriend.  In the small rural town, his doctor convinces the town to play along with his delusion.  That part of it seems a bit unrealistic, but the compassion portrayed is beautiful.  Patricia Clarkson, who plays his doctor, is my second favorite actor in this show.  For some reason I couldn't get enough of the clothing styles.  There's one area that didn't seem to have a conclusion: what is up with Lars' brother Gus?  Why isn't he working?

Speaking of Gus, there's a conversation between the two brothers that I loved.  Like so many of us, Lars seems to be resisting the reality of adulthood and growing up.  Lars asked Gus, "How did you know when you were a man?"  And Gus replied:

Gus: Well, it's not like you're all one thing or the other, okay?  There's still a kid inside, but you grow up when you decide to do right.  And not what's right for you, what's right for everybody, even when it hurts.

Lars: Like what?

Gus: You know, like you don't jerk people around, you know.  And you don't cheat on your woman.  And you take care of your family, you know.  You admit when you're wrong, or you try to, anyways [...] It sounds like it's easy and for some reason it's not.

Etsy's

I have a mad crush on this new site: Etsy. It's just one of those "oo, you're new and different" crushes, and Etsy's is still completely unaware of my feelings. I may have to reveal my crush after I hit publish on this post and go back to checking out these sweet baby leg covers: (Definite easy access diaper changes!) Hopefully my self-control will stay strong and I won't hit that Add to Cart button, but I have a long day ahead of me.

For you crafters out there, this site is definitely worth a 2-minute browse (I dare you to keep it under 5!). Word is that it's easier to sell your handmade goods on Etsy's than on eBay. In my book handmade equals one -of-a-kind. I think there's a good deal of SAHM's* and WAHM's* selling their makings, and I'm all about supporting my fellow girls. They even have a Father's Day Showcase where your gift is bound to be like no other. Well, time for me to go back to browsing the baby leg covers...

*SAHM= stay at home mom; WAHM= work at home mom