Sunday, December 16, 2012

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!   

  

14 comments:

rhapsodyinbooks said...

Good thoughts for this terrible thing about which I would have been TOTALLY OBLIVIOUS if you hadn't told me! After you did, I turned on the television just as Obama was giving his live speech.

Jenny said...

Have fun in Indiana and a safe trip!

Unknown said...

The fact that those poor children were the same age as my son has somehow made it have more impact on me. It is all so sad. You are right to focus on the positives we have. We are so lucky.

I'm really pleased you are enjoying Bad Karma. I did worry that the humor might just be my own weird way of thinking, but glad it does the job for you too. Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend is brilliant too. Enjoy!

Peppermint Ph.D. said...

Sandy, I still can't believe you're going dark...I will miss you!!!!!
However, I completely understand. I've had a hard time leaving my house since Friday. And, tomorrow, I somehow have to drop my 8 year old off at school. How exactly am I supposed to do that?
Please enjoy your holidays...I think we all need to slow down and be very thankful for what we have...and re-evaluate our priorities. Thanks for the reminders :)

ds said...

Enjoy your trip. And yes, re-evaluation is in order.
Happy happy holidays to you!

Natalie~Coffee and a Book Chick said...

I have been devastated by the news since Friday. I cannot handle it when children are hurt, and this has wrecked me since the news first started unrolling. I have tried to stay far away from the news over the weekend and social media, and this has been my first few check-ins to everyone's blogs since Friday. It's a tragedy that haunts many.

I will look forward to your Best of lists; I am putting mine together as well. Take your break from the blogging world and get rejuvenated for the new year with family and friends; thanks for being such a great friend throughout the year, Sandy. My holiday wishes to you and yours.

Jenners said...

The events in CT does put things in perspective … I got my son home from the bus on Friday and gave him a big long hug. Just difficult to fully comprehend what happened. And it is easy to see that this could happen anywhere. It makes me wish that all guns just disappeared from the face of the earth.

Steve Jobs was good, wasn't it? I was so into it -- so much more than I expected to be. I think the fact that his life mirrors the technological achievements that so many of us rely on today and understanding WHY Apple products are so much better than others was so compelling.

Sheila (Bookjourney) said...

I listened to Steve Jobs on audio too and loved it, I agree- in my top of 2012.

Sharp Objects is one I want to read as well, I have it just have not got to it yet.

As for the shooting - so heartbreaking, I can not even imagine...

Anonymous said...

I was so relieved to hear that you were only going "dark" for January and would be back in Feb. I do so enjoy your reviews and have read TONS of books I would never have heard of without you. I appreciate your snippets of your life as well. I have kids and do some running (not like you) and my kids are involved in sports etc. so I feel relieved to hear someone else having a crazy week. Thanks for sharing and putting the time in on everything.

Ti said...

When I arrived at the school on Friday to pick up my daughter, I stood there for a full three minutes gaping at the gates which were unlocked and wide open. Seriously, I almost lost it right then and there.

I took a good look at the school and there are far too many ways for someone to get in if they wanted to. I know that they have active shooter drills, but I wanted to take my daughter and tell her to run like hell if something like that ever happened or to play dead like that one survivor did, but how in the world do you bring something like that up?

Literary Feline said...

I was in the hair salon getting my hair done when I heard the news about the shooting in Connecticut. I wanted to rush right out and hug my daughter. Everyone in the salon was in tears. We all felt so helpless. I still had a bit of Christmas shopping to do that afternoon and just wanted to go home, but my husband encouraged me to go on with my plans--for our daughter's sake.

I hope you have a wonderful trip, Sandy! You'll be missed.

Alyce said...

I wish I had everything mailed out for Christmas. It's one of the areas I'm behind in this year.

I hope that you have a refreshing and relaxing time away - both on your vacation and your time away from the blog.

Unknown said...

Sandy, hello! How I've missed your TSS posts! The tragedy in Newton CT certainly put life in perspective and probably made us all thankful for what we have.

I didn't realize you have 6 cats! Bless you and how awesome!

Happy New Year to you and your family! I am sure you're having (or had) a wonderful Christmas in Indiana...I hope you had a white christmas!
I'm looking forward to your February posts about the books you read & listened to while off-line and the movies you watched.
In the meantime, I have your fantastic "2012 Best of lists"...I know I'll add some reads to my book lists.
Will miss you and look forward to your return! Enjoy!

Melissa said...

While I totally understand the need for a blogging break I'm going to miss you!!