Sunday, January 16, 2011

Sunday Salon: When did we get old?


Happy Sunday morning friends! Are we warmer yet? I missed another week of golfing because of the darned cold, but it has taken a turn for the better, and I do believe hubby and I will celebrate his birthday and MLK Day with a leisurely round tomorrow. And speaking of celebrating, we did a bit of that last night, raising a glass with a group of friends to toast the 50 years my husband has graced this planet. But seriously...FIFTY YEARS? I remember having a blow-out when he turned 30. Sheesh. I'M not fifty yet, but still, I don't feel old enough to be married to someone this age!

Most of my week was spent nursing my sick child, home for 3 1/2 days with a fever and an ugly cough. Poor baby. I also patiently hosted the delivery of round one of furniture, and the taking away of all old stuff by Salvation Army. But here is the deal. Their logistics people can't do better than "we'll be there between 8 and 5"???? They can't call me an hour before they arrive???? I was stuck home all day Friday waiting on them. Irritated me.

We had a great Heathrow Literary Society meeting, discussing the disappointment of Ape House. We also selected the next four months of books: Appointment in Samarra by John O' Hara (March), Crooked Letter Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin (April), The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova (May), and Lit by Mary Karr (June). Next month we are discussing Freedom. Which, by the way, took me like three hours to review.

I continued to be distracted this week, so I didn't get a whole lot read. I did finish Pray for Silence by Linda Castillo on audio, and despite my lukewarm opinion on the previous book in the series, I think I am warming up. I really liked this one. The question is...how many serial murders can a little Amish community host until it becomes unrealistic? Now I am four discs into Angelology. No opinion yet, but I'm intrigued by the legend the author is building.

I said last week I would finish The Lake of Dreams if it killed me, and I did finish it, and I was glad I persevered. A good read. Now I am engrossed in The Cypress House by Michael Koryta, which releases next week. I enjoyed So Cold the River, and this one has a similar mysterious feel with something evil afoot, set in 1935 Florida! (I think this guy is following me around, first French Lick IN and now in my home state.)

Hope you all have a wonderful rest of the weekend...do you have Monday off? And please pray for healthy kids, warm weather and productive reading!







27 comments:

gautami tripathy said...

I have this philosophy about aging. I don't grow older. I grow younger and also learning, adding to my knowledge, attaining maturity. Why should a number make any kind of difference in my life?

I like Linda Castillo.

And don't worry. Monday is gonna turn out great for you.

As I had mentioned last week, I have started a weekly feature on Sunday, Sharing Poetry With You, where I would be sharing any poem that has made an impact on me. It could be a classic one or a contemporary one, and anything in between. Do check out what poem I share today by clicking on Sunday Salon: Sharing Poetry With You. You are invited to convey your thoughts on the poem posted. In one word or many words..your choice!

Melody said...

I love Gautami's comment on birthdays! Very true!!

Hope you have a great week ahead!

Susan said...

Well, your hubs looks pretty danged good for 50! Hey, 50 is the new 40! Happy birthday to him.

I hate waiting around for delivery men. I finally got my new dishwasher last week and they gave me a time frame between 1 and 5, and they were here at 2 with a 15 minute warning. Thank goodness I remembered to clean under the sink before they got here. That would have been very embarrassing. GROSS!

Kaye said...

You think 50 is old??? ROFLMAO!!!
Just wait, Toots, someday you'll be married for 50 years and wonder where the years went.

I hear you about the cold - we're sick of listening to the heat pump go non-stop.

delivery people between 8 - 5. Not acceptable. TBG tells them it's between 8 and 11 or it's a no go and they comply. You gotta put your foot down.
Happy golfing tomorrow.

Julie P. said...

Let's just put it this way -- 50 isn't as old as I once thought it was! :)

I read CROOKED LETTER and loved it!

rhapsodyinbooks said...

Great picture! Neither one of you looks anywhere near fifty - did you use a picture from his 40th birthday?
:--)

bermudaonion said...

Oh, you're such a youngster! I left 50 behind a few years ago. I don't mind 50 so much, but I do mind the fact that I'm approaching 60. I loved seeing the photo of your cute husband.

I despise waiting on delivery/service people and just can't get anything done while I do it.

I've been feeling restless and unsettled too - is there something in the air?

Let me know if you want Why? Because We Still Like YOu - I can send it to you when my friend returns it.

caite said...

since I just had a birthday and am 5 years older than your hubbie, I totally understand.
when the hell did I GET SO OLD!

oh well, at least it is better than the alternative.

As to the Castillo books, I am happy you are warming up to her. But I think I made the same observation in my review of the last one. How many murder can you get set in a small, rural town. NY or Chicago..ok, but 'Podunk' Ohio..it is an issue.

Teacher/Learner said...

Congrats! As Lincoln said, it's not the years of your life but the life in your years :) I have Monday off (woo hoo) & am staying up for the Golden Globes tonight. Hope you'll post your Freedom review soon (or did I miss it?). Enjoy your new books!

Frances said...

Always think the same thing! My husband turns fifty next year and the whole thought seems so weird. Like when you think of someone as middle age and then you realize they are the same age as you. Eeeek! Hope the festivities are grand and the weather cooperates!

Think you will enjoy Lit a lot. It really surprised me when I read it last year. Unflinching. A page turner. Reads like fiction. Which parts of it might be. :)

Wishing you healthy kids (or at least one that sleep through illness)!

Trisha said...

It's so funny how age doesn't really correlate to how one feels. My mother jokes that I have finally caught up to her; she feels like we are the same age or at least close. :)

JoAnn said...

What Julie said - 50 isn't as old as I once thought! ;-)
You guys both look great!

Ana S. said...

I love Guatami's comment! I never think of other people as old until they're in their 80's, but I do see a Eek-I'm-30! meltdown coming for me in a few years :P

ds said...

I'm with Julie and JoAnn...but I also wonder where the time went (dwelling on that is unhealthy, however).
Happy Birthday to your husband! Neither one of you looks anywhere near middle age! I hope you enjoy a warm day of golf, and a week of healthy children and being able to get out of the house!

Think I may borrow Gautami's philosophy...

Alyce said...

That is ridiculous about the time you had to wait for the Salvation Army. I think the only time I've had to wait all day like that was for a new mattress delivery.

I hope your kiddo is feeling better!

I loved your comment about the serial murders in Amish country - I think it would get unrealistic after a while. :)

Marg said...

I have a birthday that ends with an 0 this year and I am really not looking forward to it. I am hoping to just sleep through it, but I don't think the people around me are going to allow that to happen!

Zibilee said...

Happy 50th to your husband! I love that photo of you guys as well. I really loved Lit and thought it was a really skillful and beautiful examination of life, and I hope that you guys really enjoy it. My reading has been in a bit of slump too. I am in the middle of an audio book, but my paper reading is almost at a standstill. Blame the crazy week I've had. I hope that you do get to enjoy some good golfing soon, and that your reading starts to pick up. I will be praying for you over there!

Molly said...

Well, as someone who just turned 51 I can honestly say....I have NO IDEA when I became so old. If the saying is true that we are only as old as we feel, then I am about 38 :)

Hope you are able to get a round of golf in tomorrow. We are supposed to have more snow and ice :(

Jenners said...

But he hasn't gotten his AARP card yet, right? He's still a young one!

And yeah ... 8 to 5 is a pretty darn big window of time! Jeesh!

And I've been reading Freedom for what feels like FOREVER. I'm not hating it but I'm not LOVING it yet either. I can't imagine it on audio ... it would be hard to read. The writing is very dense and stop and start in many ways that I think would be hard to convey via audio.

Hope your book club reads are better than Ape House.

Unknown said...

Your husband doesn't look 50 - he looks so much younger :-) I hope he had a great birthday.

I've been trapped in the house by delivery people so many times - so annoying.

I look forward to seeing your review for Freedom. I haven't been convinced to read it yet, so I'm interested to read your thoughts. Have a wonderful week!

Meg @ write meg! said...

Happy belated birthday to your husband! My parents both turned fifty last year and it was quite the to-do around my house. Surprisingly, my mom took the whole aging thing much better than my dad did! :)

Iliana said...

Happy Bday to your hubby! That's a great pic of you guys.

Too funny about the Linda Castillo book. I think some of the mystery books set in small towns really don't prepare for that eventuality of too many murders! haha...

Looking forward to your reviews, especially Freedom. I really want to read that book but everyone seems a bit meh on it.

Anyway, warm weather wishes for your day off and hope the kids are all in good health!

Ti said...

Happy Bday to the Hub!

I don't feel old, but my body sort of reminds me sometimes that I am not in the body of my youth. Like yesterday when my back went out while reaching for shampoo.

I hate those delivery people. They know when they are going to be in town but they refuse to give you the heads-up. I mean, come on, they have to pack the truck so they know which houses they will be hitting first.

Beth F said...

50? I kinda remember 50! Age is a state of mind.

Melissa said...

I hope your kiddos are feeling better soon. Claire has been battling the crap too and for that reason alone I'm ready to be done with winter.

You have some interesting books coming up in your book club. None of which I've read, but many of them are on my shelves...

I thought I would have an issue turning 30 a couple of years ago, but it really didn't faze me. 50 does seem old though... :p

Kathleen said...

Well I'm almost 48 and my sweetie is going to be 55 in March so you can't shock me! I can't believe I'm this older either! Hope your sick one is feeling better by now!

Alice said...

I need to go through another 16 years to reach 50. Your husband looks very good for his age. Love that photo of both of you! I hope your child is feeling better now.