Sunday, October 16, 2011

Sunday Salon: Flour on my iPod

 Good morning, and praise the Lord it is the end of the week!  What a crazy week.  Well, I got my sick kid back to school, so that was a bonus!  I got my 8th grade tribute page done, so that was a double bonus.  And I spent most of the week focused on the Chili Cookoff competition that happened last night.  All 8th grade parents have to be involved in running it (getting auction items, decorating, setting up credit card machines, setting up tables, etc.) plus we all have to bring a pot of chili.  As I told you last Sunday, we decided to make a Polish version that started with a recipe from the Neely's, added kielbasa, deleted the beans (I hate beans), and served with a small potato-filled pierogie.  So for three days, I made pierogies.  At last count I had about 170 or 180 of them.  I made it through this exercise with a sound mind thanks to my audio books.  I had flour and dough everywhere...in my hair, in my fingernails, on my clothes, on my iPod, in my ears.  What a mess.  As you can see, I also humiliated my daughter by wearing some Polish garb including a flower tiara.  (And that look on my face? That is the smile of the weary and deranged.)  But the event was a success - we raised over $6,000 and the Polska Pierogie Chili was very popular.  If I can pull my act together, I will do a post next Saturday for Weekend Cooking and tell you exactly how I made it!

I also attended the first of many meetings as a member of the planning committee for our Adult Literacy League event next spring.  We are excited to have Lisa See as a guest author this time around, and are hoping we will have our best year ever!

Another dominant theme in our house this week was football.  My son's team has clinched the first seed in their division and will get a bye on the first round of playoffs.  They won their last game of the regular season yesterday, which means they enter the playoffs undefeated.  We kick into high gear for the last two weeks of October, and seeing how far we can take it.  I get so competitive and wound up, I embarrass my family I think.

Like I said, because I was making pierogies all week, I got to spend quality time with my earbuds, and I finished "Ready Player One" by Ernest Cline.  Guys, can I just tell you that I loved this audio with all my heart?  I loved Wil Wheaton as the narrator, I loved the creativity and the nod to the '80's culture, and no doubt will be one of the top audios for the year.  I'm now about halfway through "Model Home" by Eric Puchner, and I'm half entertained, half horrified by this American family in a total state of demise.

My frustration builds with the fact that I've been able to do very little actual reading this week, but I was able to almost finish "The Night Strangers" by Chris Bohjalian, a totally atmospheric and very freaky read.  This is exactly the type of book you need to be reading at this time of year.

I also wanted to bring an event to your attention, the brainchild of my friend Molly Bumble.  Molly recently had a baby and is finding it next to impossible to get through her reader these days, so she has organized "Reclaim Your Reader" week.  Mark your calendars for November 14th through the 18th, where we will unilaterally halt all posting and review-writing and make our way through our poor neglected readers.  (Ahem, there are prizes involved...) And check out her cute little ninjas, ready to do your bidding.  Sign up and join the fun!   

 


Today we are churching, horseback riding, and birthday partying.  And being relieved that one major event is behind me. 

27 comments:

bermudaonion said...

I think you look adorable in that picture - embarrassing your kids is so much fun! Just think you get to do the chili thing all over again in a few years!

Yay for your son's football team!!!

Ana S. said...

You sure have been busy! I love that picture, btw.

Good to know you enjoyed Ready Player One so much. I've been hearing great things about it. I was a very young child in the 80's, but as I had an older brother I do remember some of those early games.

Unknown said...

Over $6000? Wow! I really need to pick your brains about how to do that. The events for our school make £1000 on a VERY good day. How is most of that momeny made? Is it from the donated auction goods or the chilli? I hope you get the time to share your recipe - I'd love to know the difference between it and my normal recipe.

have a lovely week!

rhapsodyinbooks said...

I love you in Polish costume! I have to get Ready Player One - I actually still see it on my list of Books I Have To Get.

Julie P. said...

I must be a good Polish girl -- I love pierogies.

JoAnn said...

What a crazy week - thank God for your iPod! Not much actual reading here either, unfortunately. Hope you get a chance to write a Weekend Cooking post... love the picture :-)

Trisha said...

Knowing that Wil Wheaton is the narrator of Ready Player One kind of makes me want to listen to the audio....

Unknown said...

So this little "challenge" means no one posts anything for a week!!! So it isn't so!!! Are you all just going to post the little button on Monday and they disappear for seven days?!?!

I don't use a reader, so this isn't an issue for me. But maybe I could stay off-line for a week and see how much actual 'reading' I get done.

I think I may buy this "Ready Player One" thing for my morning commute.

Anonymous said...

I am glad you are enjoying The Night Stranger! I definitely want to read Ready Player One.

Plus, I just need to say you are the best mom ever. That is quite the effort to put into a chili cook off!

Beth(bookaholicmom) said...

I am looking forward to your recipe! I think you look wonderful! I hope you get a chance to sit down and say "whew" today!

caite said...

waiting for that pierogie recipe...still waiting...

Alyce said...

Congrats on getting so much done last week - and to your son's football team! :)

I loved Ready Player One but I had no idea that Wil Wheaton was the narrator for the audiobook - that is too funny!

Zibilee said...

Yay! So glad to hear that the Chili Cookoff went so well, and kudos to you for spending your weekend making all those little pierogies! You look so cute with your little flowered headwear! I have to tell you that although I bought a print version of Ready Player One, your excitement over the audio version got me all bothered about it and I downloaded it from Audible as well. My kids are reading the print version, and my husband and I will be listening to it. I also just finished Henrietta Lacks, and can I just say, Oh my. That was quite a story, and left me with more questions than answers, I think! I hope that your son continues to do well with the football, and that you have a wonderful week, my friend!

Heidenkind said...

I just mark all as read. =/

Unknown said...

So happy to hear the Chili Cookoff was so successful. Those fundraisers are so much work, but it sounds like you had fun in the exhausting end!
Congrats to your son and his football time.
Wishing you a slower paced week.

Melody said...

Honestly, I think you look great in that pic, Sandy!

Sounds like you all had a wonderful week; and Yay on your son's football team!

Jenners said...

You look adorable!! Love it! And that sounds like chili I would eat!! I'm a huge huge pierogie fan!

And I'm so glad you loved Ready Player One as much as I did! I bet it was great on audio. Such a kick to read!

Darlene said...

I think it's a great pic too and how awesome raising all that money. I for one really want to know how that chili gets put together!

Kathleen said...

Sounds like another busy week for you. Your outfit you wore for the chili kick off is fabulous!

Ti said...

You look amazingly sane, considering what you've been through.

Sounds like the boy's team is doing well. I don't know much about the game but from what you said, it sounded good.

I am about 275 pages in with Ready Player One and I almost gave up on it. The book version is BORING but it's getting better now.

Natalie~Coffee and a Book Chick said...

I cannot tell you how much I love pierogies, so I saw another post with a recipe? Yes!

Literary Feline said...

Oh wow! What an event! I am glad it was such a success. :-) How exciting that Lisa See is going to be one of the guest authors for the Adult Literacy League!

I am looking forward to Night Strangers--I've heard mostly good things about it and I do love the author's writing style. I'm not familiar with Ready Player One but the 80's refence has me curious.

I hope you have a great week, Sandy!

ds said...

PIerogies! YUM! Love your costume--aggravating the eighth grader is just a perk ; )

Marybeth Whalen said...

Sandy, I have to say this is one of my fave posts you've done lately-- love the books you review but also love these glimpses into the rest of your life. You look lovely in your Polish garb, btw. :)

Melissa said...

I love the reclaim your reader challenge! But it's funny, I can't get posts written on my own blog because I'm always reading others blogs. And I still can't keep up!

Alice said...

Love that picture and yay for your son's football team! You're looking good!

The Bumbles said...

I just wanted to say I am VERY impressed and extremely jealous that Lisa See will be involved. I may have to move to FL in time to take part!!!