4-Star Book Review

I love to read. But I always hesitate to recommend books to other people because there is such a wide variety of tastes.

I passed this book at the library several times before I decided to give it a try. And even after checking it out, I was still leery. The story intrigued me, because there are so many stories written from the perspective of a victim. But what about the point of view of someone who loves the person committing the crime?

I am willing to admit this book surprised me on so many levels. It is a story of faith. Of hope. Of examining choices that people make and recognizing that each of us are responsible for our own decisions, regardless of circumstances.

Hmmm...it is harder than it seems to not give it away. So stop reading now if you don't want a spoiler.

In the middle of these horrific circumstances, she learns to listen to this voice in her head that keeps her safe. On one occasion, after her parents have split up, she is home sick from school. She is laying on the couch and she gets this awful feeling like she is in danger. She can't explain it, but she gets up and locks all the doors in the windows. As she gets back to the couch she hears a car pull into the drive. She hides under her blanket and hears someone trying to open the front door. As he starts to knock she begins to wonder if she should look to see who is at the door. She hears this voice say, "BE STILL. DON'T MOVE!" After a few minutes of trying to get in the house, the person walks down the drive and she hears the car start again. She sneaks to the window, and sees her dad behind the wheel of the car. And she feels like it is strange that she doesn't even think it is weird that this feeling of danger comes in relation to her dad.

Bottom line - read this book.

TP Wars

WARNING: This blog post takes place in the bathroom. Stop now if you are worried. I know I am.

Ok. I am the first to admit that I have my quirks. And I am downright crazy at times. But every now and then I get to witness eccentricity on a whole new level.

Enter the women's bathroom at work.

I have pondered before how one manages to tear off a usable amount of toilet paper from the industrial-sized holders and get "debris." What exactly is the method of removal that creates a two inch square - or several - that fall to the floor like snowflakes? I am baffled. Anywhoo...someone uses this method in the women's bathroom at work. A lot. On a regular basis. And the floor can be clean in the morning and by afternoon there will be 4 or 5 little fluffs of toilet paper hanging out in the stalls. Sometimes only one stall is tagged. Sometimes several.

Background info - there are really only 10 or 12 women who work on my floor, and about 200 guys. So their facilities get a lot more use than ours. Plus sweaty people come down to shower in theirs. I am grateful we have no showers. But we do have a couch. And sometimes people eat lunch there. I'm not judging. Ok, I am. It's a weird place to hang out. And eat. Bottom line - not as much traffic as the men's bathroom, but still people in and out. Not related to the rest of this post. Oh well. It makes sense to get all of my ranting out at the same time.

Back to the false snow. Apparently I'm not the only one who noticed these little flakes of toilet paper. Or how frequently they showed up. So a concerned citizen posted signs on the back of every door...

...and I laughed. Because I thought it was funny that someone was so bugged by this they took the time to create a sign. Then print out 4 copies. And laminate them. And post them. And the bathroom was spotless! Not a speck anywhere. Amazing.

Insert a weekend. Monday afternoon, I was again surprised that my trip to the bathroom got me laughing. That is not my normal experience. Maybe it is for some people. They can post that on their blog.

On this trip I started laughing because there is not a speck of toilet paper on the floor. Instead it is on the back of the toilet. And the top of the toilet paper holder. And tucked into the seat cover dispenser. Serious? Way to follow the letter of the law, and so not the spirit of it.

Where will this battle go next???!!! Any day I expect to hear about a work order to have bidets installed. It is the next logical step. No toilet paper needed.

Funny.

California - Part 1 of ?

This latest trip to California was about family. I did not realize it had been so long, but my last trip out to visit my grandparents was 5 years ago. My sister's youngest was just a baby and we all ended up meeting out there to spend some time together. Most of my vacations revolve around getting to see some member of my family who doesn't live close to me, and throwing the fun on top of that. It is just sort of the way things go.

I learned a ton.

This is my grandpa, my uncle Eddie, and my grandma. Eddie was my grandma's last surviving brother, and he passed away a few weeks ago. Now it is just my grandma and her sister Norma.

This is Norma. My grandma always thought she was the "looker" of the two sisters.

But I think my grandma held her own! She is quite a looker herself.

This is their uncle, their mother's brother. He was a bombardier in World War 2. He spoke like 7 different languages.

This was his plane.

Earl and his wife came together because of the war. She was down to visit a relative on summer holiday, and he said that our country was at war and she was going to contribute. He took her down to the local manufacturing yard and she was put to work as a welder. Earl was a yard foreman and came over one day to inspect her work. He started hollering at her for something he thought she was doing wrong. She turned to him and flipped up her welding mask to start hollering back. He stopped in his tracks - he didn't expect a cute little blonde girl to be under there! I guess that was it and he was hooked from then on.

Arnold and his wife were married at city hall.

Norma married Joe. I remember that Uncle Joe always had a mouse who lived in his pocket. If we were very careful, the mouse would come out to visit. I never did learn how he managed to manipulate a handkerchief to make us believe it was a mouse. But I was excited to learn that his son David has kept the tradition alive. So there is still a mouse in the house!

My grandma wore the same dress as her sister when she married my grandpa. She opted for a shorter veil.

My grandpa is a pretty handsome man, I think. He told me stories about the war. He wanted to be a pilot. He was drafted into the Army, but put in a request to transfer to the Air Force. He was training and flying as often as he got a chance while on base. He got his transfer and had taken a job as a clerk. That job came with an advancement to the rank of Corporal (I think). At that time, it was decided that all men who were below the rank of corporal would be sent over to join the invading forces of the operation that would become known as D-Day. All of grandpa's buddies became part of one of the first invading waves of troops. Many of his friends lost their lives that day, and I think for him that still feels like it was yesterday.

This is my great-grandmother with all of her children. Left to right - Eddie, Harold (I need to confirm this one), Norma, Earl, Great-grandma, Arnold, and Mildred (aka. Millie or Grandma).

The four boys used to get dressed up to go out dancing on Saturday nights. The way the story goes, their mother would line them up to inspect each of them. She would go down the line and straighten the tie of each one of them and say, "Now son, I love you. Have a good time." When she got to Eddie, she would say, "Now son, I love you. Have a good time. And be careful!"

With blue eyes and a smile like that, is it any wonder she worried about her youngest boy? I think not!

How To Eat A Popsicle

Eating a frozen treat has to be one of the best parts of warm summer evenings. But there is an art to it. You can't just rush into it or else the experience will be ruined.

First you have to work up an appetite. This is done best if water is involved. Your sister may get the power gun, but life is good as long as you hold the hose. Dump trucks are a bonus.

Most of the time, things go very well during this prep phase.

Sometimes they do not.

It always takes time to cleanse the palate to really be able to savor the full flavor of a popsicle, so you start by eating something neutral. Like the sour cherries from your Grandma's tree. Just make sure you check them for worms first.

And the wait is worth it. That first creamy chocolaty bite is a little piece of heaven. Even if you don't get the first bite because your aunt steals it right out of your hand. And the second. And maybe the third one too.

Grandparents are equal opportunity spoilers. So your sister will have her own stick of frozen goodness.

With a face like this, your mom won't even put up a fight when you steal her chair in the shade.

Because it is serious business. Eating this frozen chocolate goodness.

Ok, maybe not so serious that you can't stop to smile for the camera. Well not exactly smile. But you do say "cheese." Because that is what your aunt asked you to do.

The hardest part is knowing that while you are eating, there is still stuff going on all around you. All the time. And you might be missing it!

"Deyw is an aiwpwane! Yookit!"

At this point the local wildlife joins the scene. Grandma finds a snail! And a slug. And another slug.

Even though your mom teaches you that bugs are icky, you still kind of want to touch it. Because it's slimy. And crawling on Grandma's hand.

It is sort of funny when your mom freaks out about that.

It looks like a big booger, but it moves so weird and carries its house on its back. This is where you have to stay focused, though, and remember the bigger picture. There is a chocolate popsicle in your hand!

When Grandma starts teasing and threatens to put the snail on your toes, it is best to take preventative measures and move out of arms length. Because she really just might put it on your toes.

Luckily your uncle is around to show you how HE takes care of snails. 

You have to walk to an open space, because this could get a little messy. You take a lick of ice cream, then hold the snail in your hand...

...throw it REALLY high in the air...

...and listen to it SPLAT when it comes down! 

It makes an awesome sound, and an even cooler pile of goo where it lands. Seriously, is anyone cooler than an uncle?

But wait! There is a slug! 

It doesn't take much to persuade your uncle to come along. Because squishing slugs is almost as much fun as tossing snails.

So you head off in search of slugs.

And that is how you eat a popsicle.

A Tough Month

This evening I went to a viewing. A friend of mine lost her mother. The same friend lost her sister-in-law about a month ago to the day. Last week was my great-uncle's funeral.

There is nothing easy about memorial services. It is hard to lose someone close. It is hard to go and try to find something to say or do for those who feel that loss.

But one thing gives me comfort. I know this life is not the end. I know that when we lose someone, we will be able to see them again.

And because of what goes on here, families can continue after this life. Mothers and fathers, husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, grandparents - these sweet and precious people can be with us and associate in those same roles not just for a little while, but forever.

So yes, it has been a tough month. And I know life will hold difficult months to come. But this perspective on life here and hereafter gives me a measure of peace and comfort. For that I am grateful.

Just A Taste

I am going to turn into a pumpkin soon. So here is a taste of the last 8 days for me.

Captions coming soon.