Sunday, November 30, 2014

Sunday Salon: Turkey and football and cars

Hey, it's the afternoon!  How about that.  But I'm here.  The entire week has been one of low-key sluggishness.  No Polish classes, no doctor appointments, kids were home most of the week.  I did move a little.  I got the tree up, got my Christmas cards done and sent (despite the fact that my kids refused to take a formal picture), and cooked a small Thanksgiving dinner for the four of us.  We went over to friends' house for dessert.  It was a good day.  I was dragged out early on Black Friday by my daughter, which was not optimal.  Massive crowds, rude people, listening to "All I want for Christmas is you" at least two dozen times.  I did a good deal of online shopping, my preferred method of spending money.  I'm slowly getting my ass in gear.

My daughter's high school played football Friday night and won by one point in a triple overtime to become the Regional 5A champs.  If they win next week they will go to the Citrus Bowl to become state champs.  Very exciting stuff!  They haven't had a season like this since 1970.

My husband is slowly coming around on the idea of a dog.  I'm not sure if it is because my kids are older and aren't very lovable, or maybe the hormones, but I really NEED a dog.  We will see if he talks himself out of it.  I'm holding my breath.  I need to mother something.

My husband and I maintained a long-standing tradition and went to the International Car Show yesterday to scope out my next car.  Realistically, I may never get another new one, with all the musical cars we are playing with our driving age children, but it is fun to look.

Mid-season finale of The Walking Dead tonight!  OMG!  I can barely think of anything else.

Oh yeah, I guess this is a BOOK BLOG!  Huh, you'd never know it.  I did finish "Wildlife" by Fiona Wood on audio this week.  I have yet to write it up on Goodreads, but what a wonderful YA book.  It really captured the essence of friendship, grief, and dealing with sexual pressure from the perspective of the 16-17 year old.  It is refreshing when an author takes this topic seriously and is responsible with the messages.  I have yet to start another audio yet...I needed to listen to music for awhile. I'm thinking I'll start the latest Jack Reacher today when I'm finishing the decorating.

In print, I'm so freaking pathetic.  I'm still reading Stephen King's "Revival" and while it isn't horror like I thought it would be, his storytelling is good.  I just am disengaged in general with the idea of sitting down quietly and finishing it.  I'm close though.

I also have to say this about "The Paying Guests" by Sarah Waters, which I talked about last week.  While it didn't blow me away like some other of her books, I am STILL thinking about it.  The characters and the plot keep bouncing around in my head.  So you all really should read it.  That is the magic of her writing.

I'm not totally looking forward to this week, but it must be done.  Back to the doctor appointments, Polish classes, a book club, and two Christmas parties.  In my heart, I am a homebody.  Too much running around makes me irritable even if individually these events are fun.  But I'm just going to put my head down and plod through it, and I'm sure I will have a good time.   

As for the rest of the day, I'll finish decorating, maybe wrap some gifts.  Finish Revival?  Nap?  Yes all around.  Hope everyone has an awesome Sunday and upcoming week.

   


10 comments:

bermudaonion said...

I just took my mom back today and haven't even thought about Christmas. I guess I need to get my butt in gear.

Carl has dog fever and I'm the one resisting around here.

Trisha said...

I bought my first Christmas present online today. And so it begins.

JoAnn said...

So sorry you had to endure Black Friday shopping! I cooked dinner for 18 on Thanksgiving, so spent most of Friday reading and relaxing.

I know what you mean about musical cars - we have one at college and one in Florida now, so that means Twin B must share with me... not fun!

I didn't love The Paying Guests either, but Juliet Stevenson's narration was amazing and I'm still thinking about the characters, too, so that's good.

Anonymous said...

Bah, humbug! The only thing that is remotely getting me into the Christmas spirit is the fact that there is a toddler living in our house and another one who will be celebrating Christmas with us. They are still fun to buy for, and indeed, I already have a stack of stuff for both of them. Well, mostly for the one in this house, because both the parents of the other one don't want a bunch of stuff, having already too much stuff scattered around. And our granddaughter is still easy to buy for...she wants EVERYTHING! LOL

We bought a new tree for the new house this year. A 9-foot one, because the 6.5 ft one would look really dinky in the enormous vaulted ceiling family room. Thank goodness I have plenty of people to help me decorate it, because it would probably only be decorated about 6.5 ft up otherwise.

The kids are still off today, and the weather is crappy, so I think a trip to the Ohio History Center is in order. The toddler can run around to his heart's content, and it will get the older ones away from the electronics for a while.

Have a great week, Sandy!

Susan

Beth F said...

I'm in denial about Christmas and December. Isn't it about Nov. 15?

Marybeth Whalen said...

So much you said in this post made me smile and nod. I am a homebody as well and, though I always have fun, the hardest thing for me is making myself stop puttering around the house, get dressed and leave. I posted the other day about noticing that my December calendar was totally empty. I had to take a picture of it because that never happens. Of course, it didn't last long. The boxes are filling up! I love Christmas but the added shopping, planning, and busyness does bring out the Scrooge in me from time to time. Glad I'm not the only one who resists just the tiniest bit. We did get the house (mostly) decorated last night and the tree up, minus the ornaments. I''ll let the kids start putting some on tonight and little by little it'll get decorated.

And as for the dog thing, I get dog fever every Christmas and it is right on schedule this year. I want a big lab and name him Crash Davis, from our favorite movie, Bull Durham. I am lobbying but I know it is to no avail. My husband is quite satisfied with our one little Shih-Tzu.

jilllora said...

Revival in one word...meh. Revival in more than one word...meh, meh, meh, OMG the ending! But overall...meh. So yeah, I totally understanding the disengagement. I can't believe it's possible to be disappointed in Uncle Stevie, but I was.

Ti said...

This is a beast of a week for me. A huge rain storm is about to hit. They say, 7 inches in one day and that is more than we have had in two years. Of course, it is supposed to hit when I leave work early, to take the kids for their physicals. Booking the appt for them was a challenge so if I can get through this today and the other appt later today, then I am halfway there.

Uncle Stevie. Is he becoming tame in his old age?

Florinda said...

I keep posting pictures of our new-to-us dog (he's 3 years old, but we've had him for less than a month) on my blog and Facebook. If showing them to your husband would help sway him, DO IT! I'll keep my fingers crossed that he comes around.

Most of our Christmas shopping is done, thanks to my husband and the Internet, but the house doesn't look the slightest bit like Christmas yet.

Melissa (Avid Reader) said...

This year, I just can't seem to keep up with anything. Between the new much-more demanding job and the trip I just feel so far behind. I'm with you on the holidays kinda blindsiding me. I do want to read Paying Guests. Waters is always good. I also think you know my stance of dogs aka you need one immediately!