The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night Time

The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night Time by Mark Haddon was my second vacation book in Europe. It was a really easy read and only took me about two days to finish it. Easy does not imply that the book wasn’t interesting – it was very interesting. Written from the perspective of a 15 year old autistic boy, he starts writing a book for school about the mysterious murder of the neighbor’s dog and uncovers an intricate storyline that had been surrounding his life. He overcomes many of his limitations and though his courage teaches his parents the value of communication.

This is the kind of book that I want to pass around to friends just so I have someone to talk about it with. I’m not going to say much more because the book is so short but packed with so much plotline action. If you’ve read this let me know what your thoughts were. If you haven’t read it I have a copy you can borrow.

 

NaBloPoMo

It is November again! But it feels like only yesterday that I participated in National Blog Posting Month..but alas it was a year ago. Posting every day for a month is really challenging but I’m going to attempt it again.

My life isn’t that interesting lately so most of the month will probably be posts about my recent vacation so get ready!

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So last night was Halloween. It is one of my favorite holidays of the year even though inevitable I never have plans until the last-minute and I’m more concerned with what Tim’s costume will be than mine. But being the incredibly talented procrastinator that I am of course I ended up with plans and a costume in a matter of hours before Halloween arrived.

 OU decided to pack homecoming and Halloween all into one weekend which made the crowd on campus corner even more colorful and exhuberant. Sara and I went to the game then met Mo later for a costume change and headed out to the bars. Two cereal killers with their Oompa Loompa escort.

 

Shockingly no one else had our costumes. Good thing too because we were the cutest deadly duo there.

We were also the two women in costume with the least amount of skin showing. I still don’t understand the idea of wearing your underwear, a pair of angel wings and a halo then calling it a costume. You know what I call that – Daddy issues. What are you for Halloween girl in a slutty that dress should be a shirt with some kind of animal ears? A cat? No you are dressed as Daddy issues. Go put some clothes on and get thee to a therapist.

 

 

The Age of Innocence

When ever I travel I challenge myself to read at least a novel a week depending on the length of the trip. My first week in Europe I consumed The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton in about 7 days. This novel first published in 1920 has many themes that remind me of the modern soap operas or prime time sitcoms. Unrequited love, the forced acceptance of changes in technology, the social advancement and change of priorities of the next generation, appreciation of history while looking into the future.

The book is quite dense as many classics are but once I got past the roster of characters in the high society of New York City the reader must keep up with I was able to dive into the eloquently written story line.

I don’t know if this book is required reading for high schoolers or college courses but I don’t know if I would have read it other than on my own accord. When I was in high school and was told to read a classic it never seemed to interest me. I couldn’t have anything distract me from my current boyfriend, self esteem issues, and music. Geez…reading no way.

I’m not going to write you a book review here because I’m not in school and think book reviews are stupid. I will say that I recommend this book and if it hasn’t already been made into a movie it should and even though I find the way she holds her lips while talking totally annoying Kiera Knightley should play Countess Olenska and Chris Pine (because he is hot and I recently watched Star Trek again) should play Archer Newland.

 

Sono su una barca! (I’m on a boat!)

Today we board this boat:

the MSC Poesia

 
to embark on this adventure:

 

 
I might sing this song:

http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/clips/digital-short-im-on-a-boat/1037221/

(wordpress was being gay and wouldn’t let me embed the video. grrr)

 

Benvenuti a Venezia

Today we (me, Tim, and his parents) arrive in Venice, Italy after what I’m sure was a long flight from Dallas through London. We are spending one night here and tomorrow we will board the MSC Poesia cruise ship to embark on the Turkish Treasures & Croatian Coasts tour.

I know there are sites to see in Venice and I will have an opportunity to see them when we get off the boat for the second leg of our trip.

I hope my very limited knowledge of Italian will serve me well.

 

Ciao internet!

I’ve been contemplating going “unplugged” for a while now. What would it be like to not check my email, twitter, blog, facebook, google reader for an entire week? Two weeks? Is that even possible!? Would people miss me? Would I want to plug back in?

After getting my iPhone in February I feel like I’m always plugged in. Like the Matrix only I don’t look good in the full body black leather. Mmmm Neo.

So I’ve made the decision to totally unplug while on vacation the next two weeks. I’ll be in Europe with Tim (#45) so my lack of international data coverage will help this out, but no email, texting, tweeting, facebooking, blogging – un-plugged. I might even read a book. or two.

My #22 50 in 5 says no electronics for a week. I’ll be on a cruise for one of the weeks so I’m pretty sure the only electronics I’ll have access to will be a t.v. which will probably have no programming in English so I think I’ll be ok on that one – unless they show Gossip Girl with dubbed over Italian”Sai che me ami, XOXO, Gossip Girl.” The second part of the trip is mostly sight seeing and train/plane travel so there won’t be many electronics to interact with.

I will however be using my iPod on the airplanes. 20 hour flights without some Regina Spektor to drown out the masses would be pure torture! Oh and we just bought a Flip Video Camcorder so I’ll be interacting with that. Hmmm…so many exceptions. Maybe I’ll change my goal to no online social networking for a week. That is sounding more realistic…

ANYWAYZ – I’ll still have some posts coming while I’m gone so it will be like I’m here. If you get bored by the canned posts make sure to check out the Peeps I Creeps on the sidebar. That’s how I pass my days.

 

 

 

Marlowe Monday ~ week 12

Every week day Marlowe gets dropped off at my sister’s house for doggie daycare. She runs around with my sister’s MinPin, Cayman, and has a grand old time barking at the neighbor dogs and terrorizing Elise’s cat. She has been doing this every work day since we brought her home. Marlowe + Cayman = BFFE!! Cayman loves having Marlowe around and when I show up to their house on the weekends without Marlowe, Cayman goes running to the garage looking for her. When he realizes that she’s not there he kind of mopes around and wants nothing to do with me. I hope Cayman isn’t too miserable while Marlowe goes on vacation.

 This week we will be driving Marlowe to Duncan USA to stay with my BFFE, Mrs. Wopsle, and Hemi, her 7 month old Miniature Schnauzer, while we are in Europe. Marlowe is quite a hand full and I’m not quite sure Amy knows what she’s getting her and her husband into with two Schnauzer puppies running around their house. But Tim and I are extremely grateful to the Wopsles for taking her in. Hemi even got fixed for the occasion.

 I’m sure Marlowe won’t miss us much, but we will certainly miss her.

 

Meditation

There is no fire like greed, No crime like hatred, No sorrow like separation, No sickness like hunger of heart, And no joy like the joy of freedom. Health, contentment and trust Are your greatest possessions, And freedom your greatest joy. Look within. Be still. Free from fear and attachment, Know the sweet joy of living in the way.

- from the Dhammapada

 

“what doing mom?”

Lately I’ve been noticing and been told that I resemble my mother by not only my looks but also my mannerisms. We were shopping last weekend and I look over to her as we are walking into Dillard’s and not only were we walking in perfect sync, my hand placement, the way I was holding my purse and drink and our facial expressions were identical. I lost count of the number of times that we blurted out the exact same thing when commenting on things as we shopped. Or when I would call her over to a sales rack to show her something and she already has it in her hand for me to try on. We are just twinkies.  I. LOVE. IT! I’m so proud to be so similar to my mother in so many ways and I’m also proud that she encourages me to be my crazy weirdo individual self in relation to the rest of the world. I’m so blessed to have that kind of relationship with my mom.

Although I say I want all boys when the time comes for me to become a mother, I secretly (not so secretly) wish for a little girl so that I can hopefully experience this kind of friendship from her point of view.

I love you mom.

now…where did this all come from you’re asking?

This is where…Postcards From Yo Momma. After reading most of the site I suddenly felt grateful and enamored with my own YoMomma and her often wonderfully quirky and alway right ways of giving advice. Whether it is serious medical advice where I know her eyebrows are raised and she is probably pointing her finger as she talks to me on the phone or it is an opinion on what color shoes to buy as she anxiously waits for the texted picture to go through to share my excitement in the amazing sale price. I love it all.

I’m sure you will find your own momma in many of the postcards. Happy reading and call your mother and tell her you love her!

 

MIA

Sorry I’ve been a bit MIA lately. Life has been hectic and overwhelming lately. Lots of anticipation, excitement, and hurry up and wait.

I’m currently getting over a nasty cold (hopefully not the flu) for the past 5 days. I alway seem to have an ailment like this when I have a full schedule and house guests.

Tim and I are preparing to go to Europe in 9 days. I feel like all I’m doing to prepare is spend money so I can go over to Europe and spend money. I know that money should not be my focus when prepping for a trip of a lifetime but it has been a point of stress for me in the last couple of months. Living on the edge isn’t as fun as it sounds when you’re dealing with finances.

That’s a little update for you. I’ll try to post a couple of more times before the trip. I’ll be keeping a travel journal and photo log of the trip so I’ll have plenty of material when I return.

Happy Oktober by the way!