Sunday Salon: Meetings about meetings

You know how I was saying last week that I hoped I would be more productive this week?  Nope, didn't happen.  I'll tell you all about this week, but I do also realize that I sound kinda whiny, and that isn't what you want to listen to on a lovely Sunday morning, so I'll try to keep it light!

So, the meetings about meetings.  That is what I had going on this week.  Out of the five weekdays, four of them required meetings that lasted at least two hours.  I've been constructing spreadsheets and building budgets for the school year, preparing for our parent meeting Wednesday night, presenting the numbers to our Home & School board, blah blah blah, so that was the primary focus of the week.  My husband left for a business trip on Wednesday though, so at least I didn't have to worry about a clean house or the evening meal (kids are great that way, aren't they?). 

Lots of football practice this week, and our first game (exhibition) yesterday.  My daughter wants to take horse riding lessons, so I've been trying to find a place that isn't an hour drive away.  She has decided NOT to play basketball this season because she has newly pierced ears and can't keep in the earrings and play.  I'll make no comment, except that she is 13, when fashion is more important than team sports.  We topped off our Saturday with a complicated transferring of children to various places and parties, and my attendance to a "toast to a new school year" event with my Home & School board members. 

On a very sad note, a dear blogger friend of mine Susan (Bear Swamp Reflections) lost her five year old granddaughter in a car accident this week.  Susan has the most heart-warming blog where she talks about her chickens, her family, music, movies, books, and most of all her grandkids.  Her loss has broken my heart into a million pieces.  It has been hard for me to focus on much else frankly.  Please say a prayer for Susan and her family.

I did get some reading done this week.  I read "The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating", a small precious little book about a very ill, bed-bound woman who finds a reason to live in a pet snail.  I also finished Alma Katsu's "The Taker" which, uh, like, wow.  What the hell?  I didn't see any of that coming.  I can't wait to meet Alma at SIBA.  I also read another little collection of personal thoughts on 9/11 by Artie Van Why called "That Day in September", in honor of the tenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks.  I've now started "Second Nature" by Jaquelyn Mitchard (who wrote "Deep End of the Ocean").  I don't normally accept many review copies, but was compelled.

On audio, I did finish "East of Eden", then proceeded to slip into a bit of a funk.  What an amazing book, but so much darkness and anger!  I have no idea how to review such a thing.  To cure the malaise, I enjoyed a quick listen to David Sedaris' "Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk".  Nothing like hearing about leeches that live in a hippo's butt to bring you up out of the doldrums!
 
Onward, I started listening to "The Emerald Atlas" by John Stephens, and this was where I hit a wall.  It was narrated by the masterful Jim Dale (narrator of the Harry Potter series).  But it seemed so unoriginal, with kids destined for greatness, wizards, magical books, screeching creatures, and alot of running around avoiding bad guys, that I just lost patience.  Perhaps Dale will only be good for one series for me.  I don't know.  It just didn't work.  I know many of you loved this novel, so I feel that I have missed the boat.  I declared it a DNF after finishing about 40% of it.  Then I started listening to Steven Tyler's biography "Does the Noise in my Head Bother You?".  I should get some originality there for sure.

Next week, my parents fly in and my husband and I are off to Chicago for three days.  This is an annual trip that we take with some colleagues (and good friends) of ours, and is always an action-packed whirlwind of shopping and eating and socializing in one of the most amazing cities on earth. 

But for today?  Church, then some relaxation.  I'm reading, hitting the pool, and maybe doing some grilling.  What is up with you today?