Sunday Salon: Perspective

 I'm sure all of us this morning are thinking about those families in Newtown, CT, and praying for their strength during this awful, awful tragedy.  As I was picking up my children from their schools on Friday, my heart was struck with terror at the idea that THIS COULD HAPPEN ANYWHERE.  There is no school security tight enough.  No law is going to keep a mentally ill person from getting a gun and accomplishing their mission.  So we should pause and be thankful for what we have.  Hug our kids.  Say a prayer.  Just when I'm ready to strangle my son for forgetting to do his homework for the umpteenth time, or my daughter for leaving a big schmear of peanut butter on the refrigerator, I need to remember that at least I have them.  

Then yesterday I was driving to go get a pedicure, and I passed a Toys For Tots distribution location, and there were hundreds of families lined up to get gifts for their children.  I was ashamed that I was going to pay someone to paint my toenails and massage my tired feet when these folks are just trying to make a Christmas for their little ones.  It certainly puts one's life into perspective, doesn't it?  

So no whining today!  Aren't you happy???  I had a fairly busy but productive week, despite my lack of initiative.  I got three good workouts with Andre and three good runs with my running partner, including a very rewarding 10-miler yesterday morning.  I finished my shopping and got everything in the mail.  I did all my normal chores.  I actually attended a book club meeting!  (We discussed Gillian Flynn's "Sharp Objects", which left everyone impressed but slightly disturbed.)  My husband, the kids and I had a dinner out Friday night at a new local Italian restaurant...a rarity with busy and moody teenagers.  We attended a dinner party last night.  It was busy, but a good busy.

Next week will be all crazy, as my daughter has midterms and gets out early from school each day.  And then we all leave our 6 cats and house in the hands of my trusty house-sitter and fly to Indiana and beyond.  So next Saturday I will be officially on vacation for a couple of weeks, so I may be scarce.  

Also next week I will be doing my "Best Of" lists for 2012, then going dark until February.  I will most likely check in on Sundays because I will miss you :)  In the meantime, I will be working on catching up.

I haven't been making much progress with print reading.  I did finish the very short "Blood Beneath My Feet" by Joseph Scott Morgan, and started "Bad Karma" by David Safier, a gift from Jackie at Farm Lane Books.  (See book title link for her review.)  IT IS SOOO FREAKING FUNNY!  

I also blasted through the audio of Steve Jobs' biography.  If I weren't done with my reviews for 2012, I would have this one as a top read for the year.  It was incredible.  Well-written and compelling, just from the perspective of what this man did to change our lives.  I was gripped from beginning to end.  I am now listening to "Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend" by Matthew Dicks, and it is very clear to me early on that this is a very creative, clever book.  It was an Editor Pick at SIBA and is our book club selection for February of next year.

We'll see what life has in store for us today.  Early church for sure.  Past that, I'm not making plans because it never works out.  I'd love to see The Hobbit, but not sure if I'll be able to pry the daughter away from midterm studying.  That may have to wait for Christmas break.  I am very anxiously awaiting the opening of "Zero Dark Thirty" next weekend.  

Hope you all have a blessed Sunday!