Sunday, January 26, 2014

Sunday Salon: Check

 Good morning!  I feel like I'm dragging my sluggish body to the table this morning, having had what feels like a busier week than average.  I know, they are all busy, but it's just something I have to say.

The kids had Monday off from school.  Normally, we would all be traipsing off to Andre's in the morning followed by a movie, but my son had weird things going on with his stomach all week, so that didn't happen.  After I got back from Andre's myself, my mom was coming down our lane (they are our neighbors in the winter), she fell, bloodied her head and broke her arm.  OMG!  You know head wounds.  They are shocking, but it is the arm that ultimately laid her up and caused her to be leveled for the week.  I feel terrible.

Stomach issues persisted with the boy, so we had some shortened days, but he did a pretty good job of getting to all the classes that mattered.  I've been going at it pretty hard with working out, walking and running, so I found myself falling in a heap every night.

This week was the (almost) final round of Confirmation classes for the boy.  This has been going on since late November on a weekly basis.  I know this is supposed to be a spiritual journey and all, but what 14 year old really sees it that way?  I know mine did not, but he stoically endured the church ladies and their lessons on purity and chastity and such.  It all culminated with the actual Confirmation yesterday morning.  I was proud.  He cleaned up nice.  (Yes, in the picture we appear to be the same height, but I have four inch heels on.  When did this happen?)  He does have a follow up class next week, which we may or may not make because of a conflicting schedule.  We celebrated with a nice Saturday night dinner, where ALL OF US attended, even my persnickety daughter and injured mother.  So there is another box that I have checked off for his 8th grade year.

















Tonight, we will be celebrating my husband's birthday (which was a couple weeks ago) at a Disney restaurant...for the record, California Grill.  Good thing I got all that walking in earlier in the week!

On a literary note, my daughter came to me early in the week and said she had to analyze eight chapters of "Great Expectations", including the identification of literary devices, plot, character vices and virtues, conflicts, and historical references.  I've never read this book, but like a good mom I did read these chapters, and spent about six hours yesterday helping her.  LIKE A ROOT CANAL.  I would have never been a good English major.

On the reading front, I spent most of my time finishing up Joe Hill's "Nos4a2".  It was a loooong audio (over 19 hours) but worth the journey, and ended up truly loving it, especially the narrator.  She was freaking amazing!  Now I'm several hours into the incredible Joshilyn Jackson's newest book "Someone Else's Love Story".  Her audios are like slipping into a favorite pair of sweats...warm, comfortable, loved and familiar.

In print I'm still slowly plugging through "Winter's Tale".  I was waylaid by the Dickens project though, so maybe next week I'll gather some momentum.  I DO really like it though, even though this is not my genre.  Something about it called to me.

Today my primary goal is to walk a lot.  To make up for last night's dinner and tonight's dinner.  This might mean a round of golf, or a walk about the neighborhood, I'm not sure.  But I'm going for it.

What is everyone up to today?  Reading?  Staying warm? Digging out of the snow?  Working on their Super Bowl menu?   




20 comments:

rhapsodyinbooks said...

OMG what a great mom you are! (great as in Great Expectations!)

James Chester said...

So another typical week? ;-) Congratulations to everyone, confirmation boy, birthday boy, accomplished mom and lucky daughter.

JoAnn said...

Congratulations on your son's confirmations... such a long, arduous process! Hope your mother continues healing well, and enjoy the b-day dinner!

Anonymous said...

Reading about your son making his Confirmation, at first I thought you were Catholic. Then I noted he is 14 and in the 8th grade, and I realized you are of a different denomination. Not that it matters, only that I made my Confirmation in the 7th grade at St. Stephens -- but in the last, 25 years or so, Catholic Confirmations are made when teens are in their Junior year of High School. Presumably it was changed because of exactly what you mentioned here in your post -- what 14-year-old, boy or girl, really understands, or deeply feels, the importance of the commitment and promise they are making?

I, too, have started reading WINTER'S TALE. Funny thing, I was watching the trailer and it struck me (like moments like it often do) that I HAD THAT BOOK. Sure enough, it has been on my book shelved for at least 10 years. I used to work at a bookstore years ago and have, let's just say, many, many books. So I decided to try and read it BEFORE the movie comes out. My grandson noticed it on my table and said,"Wow, Grandma, that books is a big as some of the classics you read." Yes, unlike you, I AM an English major. I have my Masters in English Literature (hence my collection of many, many books). Of course, as my adult daughters pointed out, I really didn't NEED a degree to write, which was and is my ulitimate goal. It didn't go to university in the hopes of getting a degree to land a better, or teaching job. I went "for the love of learning." Of course, now that my tuition loans are due, becoming a teacher and, perhaps, having a higher income than my present day-job brings in, doesn't seem like it would have been such a bad goal after all.

Can't wait to hear your take on the book {and the movie when you see it}.

Anonymous said...

Seeing the trailers for the Winter's Tale film on TV have me wondering if I should give it another try. It really did not work for me on audio, and I gave up. But maybe it would be better in print?

So glad you're finally getting to listen to Someone Else's Love Story!

Anonymous said...

Oh, good grief --> you'd hardly think I was worthy of receiving my degree with the typos in my previous comment. (Edit or Proofread, anyone?)Alas, even English majors with Masters degrees are humbly human. ;-)

Mary (Bookfan) said...

Digging out of another 5 inches of snow (along Lake MIchigan). Congrats to your son on his confirmation. I hope your mom's arm heals quickly and perfectly. Ouch! I can't wait to listen to the Jackson book. I'm reading The All You Can Dream Buffet by Barbara O'Neal.

Ti said...

I love that literary analysis crap!

You've had all sorts of stuff going on this week. I saw the confirmation pics. He has really filled out since the last time I saw a pic of him. My son is also filling out. As you know, he's 6 ft tall and was 129 at his physical in October but all of a sudden, he has width.

I have some stuff going on this week with the girl's new track team and then right after Super Bowl we are heading into production week.

We are still at odds with religion. I know you know what this phrase means as we have been talking about it. The people in my house never seem to be on the same page.

Iliana said...

Hope your mom is feeling better and the kiddo too! Congrats to him on his confirmation!

You have had a long, full week! I was "lucky" to have Friday off because of an ice storm we got. It wasn't that bad but we don't know how to handle that kind of stuff here in central Texas. So I got to catch up on a bit of reading - yay! Have a great Sunday and enjoy your workouts!

bermudaonion said...

Oh my gosh, your poor mom! That is so scary!! I'm waiting for my mom and sister right now. My walking will decrease and my eating will increase while they're here but I don't care!

Melissa (Avid Reader) said...

I'm so sorry about your mom! That's horrible. Congrats to your son though.

Janine K said...

It's Australia Day here, so we hosted a BBQ for 9 including 3 lots of neighbours, lots of laughs and good wine and food. I'm reading Jemima J by Jane Green and listening to The Better Woman by Ber Carroll, I would recommend this one Sandy, it's the first book by her that I have read and is really good. Hope next week is better for you, life is never dull 😊

Nise' said...

Digging out of the snow has been our life all week. Congrats on your son's confirmation. Those are important milestones in their lives whether or not they think so at the time. Happy Birthday to the Mr. I hope your mom is feeling better. Have a great week.

Heidenkind said...

Ouch! Poor mom.

Beth F said...

Oh no about your mom!! Happy late birthday celebration to the man & congrats to the boy.

Literary Feline said...

I am so sorry about your mom's accident! I feel for her. And I hope your son is feeling better after his stomach troubles. It's going around and around and around . . . Ugh.

Happy birthday to your husband and congratulations to your son on his confirmation! I still remember bits and pieces of my confirmation. It was such a milestone for me at the time. I especially remember the overnight trip to San Francisco and my time at Glide. I will never forget that church. It was amazing--and I love how it's popped up in my reading lately.

That was so good of you to help your daughter like that with her Great Expectations assignment.

I hope you have a great week, Sandy.

Angela said...

I'm sorry to hear about your mother.

In answer to your question about what I'm reading: I just started reading a book called Chickens in the Road by Suzanne McMinn. I'm only a few pages into it, but I'm enjoying it so far.

Unknown said...

Congratulations on the confirmation! Great photo :-) I'm not looking forward to my sons being taller than me - scary!

Sorry to hear about your mom. Hope she gets better soon.

Jenny said...

I started Winter's Tale too and I'm a little worried about whether or not it's gonna keep my attention the whole time!

Anonymous said...

Love that picture of you and the boy :) Looking good :) What an awful thing for your mom (and you too!). Hope she mends fast.
So, did the 8 chapters of GE make you want to read more or was 8 enough?