Book club take two

Last year I was jealous of all my friends who belonged to book clubs who had fun discussing books every month without me.

So I started my own.

It was quite ambitious of me, which is new and different, and I really didn’t know how to go about it. I put a status update on Facebook asking any of my local friends if they would be interested in a book club. I got a good response and started a club page. Since we live all over the area, I thought we should have our meetings at a central area, pick restaurants to try out and get together once a month to enjoy each other’s company and discuss that month’s book.

So we’ve now been at this for over a year, and while I’m still excited about the prospect of my own book club, I’m disappointed in the turnout. I’m disappointed in the dedication of the members. We have 14 members, according to the facebook page, and at last month’s meeting only three of us showed up.

How do I change this? How do I address it?

On the other hand, two months ago I met a woman at a vender luncheon, and she immediately invited me to join her book club. This was the same Wednesday that my grandmother went into the hospital and passed less than a week later, so while I said yes and was excited about it, I didn’t really think about it too much. I picked up the book from the ebook library (Into Thin Air, by Jon Krakower), but I wasn’t even sure I would end up joining this club. I didn’t know anyone, and I just barely knew the girl who invited me.

But I went. I brought a bottle of wine, and I trekked out to the home of a perfect stranger to eat hors’ de oeuvres and drink wine and talk extensively about a book that I had lukewarm feelings about but enjoyed the discussion immensely. I was there for three hours! And probably half of that was spent talking about the book! And these were people from all walks of life, and all backgrounds and were so very interesting. Fourteen people attended! Raucous conversation on the idiots who climb higher than a plane cruises, knowing it’s more than possible they’ll die!

I’m definitely going back. I’ve already requested next month’s book from the library, and I can’t wait until the last Friday in March when I can do it again. And then the last Friday in April, when I can do it again.

So it was everything I wished for in a book club. It’s everything I wish my book club could be, would be. And the question is, can I turn my little book club into something like that?

(And on a slightly separate note, someone brought a quinoa and edamame salad to the group and it was AMAZING. It tasted like sushi on a spoon. This looks like the recipe and I can’t wait to make it myself to confirm)

Ten on Tuesday

1. What did you do this weekend? I had a pretty eventful weekend. Friday night was the first time I tried out my new, second book club. It was fabulous! I plan on posting about it later, though, so that’s all you get about that. Saturday morning I ran my first timed race since 12/3, and my only goal was to run the whole thing. While I jog about as fast as the average power walker, I did indeed run the whole thing. Not my best time (33:08), but that wasn’t the goal so I’m making myself be okay with that. Saturday afternoon we went to a first birthday party at My Gym, which I was unsure about but the kids had a blast. I recommend it. Sunday we hung out for a while (and my Hubby talked me into playing Skyrim, also a post for another time) before trekking downtown to a restaurant we have a restaurant.com certificate for (good food, terrible service) and to a grocery store on the other side of town.

2. Do you prefer short fingernails or long fingernails? My nails break when they get too long, so I keep them at a respectable longer than supershort length.

3. What is your favorite use to Pinterest? Recipes, baby.

4. Do you sleep with your mouth open? Most of the time.

5. Where did you have the best pizza you’ve ever eaten? I’m not a huge pizza fan, but Gino’s East in Chicago was it for me. Look at this pizza:

6. What do you eat for breakfast on weekdays? Sometimes I make an egg scramble and pack it for work, or have oatmeal, but usually my breakfast is a piece of toast with peanut butter and honey.

7. Do you watch awards shows? Why or Why not? I do, but I’m not diehard. I fell asleep during the Oscars but I actually stayed awake for the Grammy’s. I watch for the dresses but I don’t really care about the awards. Isn’t that how everybody is?

8. Can you whistle? Snap? Curl your tongue? Bend down and touch your palms to the ground? No, yes, yes, no.

9. What email service do you use? Yahoo primarily, but I have two gmail accounts as well.

10. What is your favorite outdoor activity? Reading on my back deck or having a beer with the hubby while the kids play.

How I've done #noshopping

I haven't posted at all on how I've been doing on #noshopping for February. But I'm doing pretty good! There have been a couple slip-ups. The only thing I got was a sandwich maker on Target clearance for Spencer ($7.49). But also I re-gifted a toy that Henry got for Christmas from his daycare lady that he already had to my neighbor's son for his first birthday, so I think I came out ahead on the actual items/money spent.

Food is a different matter. We already had Spencer's birthday dinner at Red Robin planned, and a fancy dinner at Armani's for Valentine's day/date night (we haven't been on a date in many months). After Spencer's four-year doctors appointment we hit Steak N Shake as an apology for the three shots he had to have. I had a lunch planned with some work friends that happened mid-month. Hubby and I went to Tijuana Flats for a lunch date on President's Day because I was off work and he was working from home, and he insisted on Greek food for dinner on Saturday night, since I had an exhausting day of running/biking/birthday parties.

The last thing I bought was something April, but I had to pay for now. Technically, it was planned. We got opening day baseball tickets -- woohoo! Against Stacie's Yankees, on Good Friday.

One thing I have done this month is window shop. Fitness clothes. Sports bras. Running socks. Beads for bracelets I want to make. I do desperately need a new sports bra or two (the ones I have are all from when I first started working out), but I think that I'm going to try to generally keep going on the lack of spending. No spending = good.

Elevens

Nearly two weeks ago I was tagged by Shea to do this meme. I knew I wanted to do it, but it's taking me FOREVER to finish! But, I have! Shea is a dear person, a wonderful teacher and the cousin of my hubby, and someone I'm glad to call a friend.

The Random Eleven

The Rules:

• Post these rules
• You must post 11 random things about yourself
• Answer the questions set for you in their post
• Tag 11 people (can't be the person who tagged you)
• Create 11 new questions for the people you tag
• Go to their blog and tell them you’ve tagged them!

11 random facts about me:

1. I’m left-handed, as is my uncle and my late grandmother. When we all got together for dinner, it was interesting figuring out who was going to sit next to whom (PS – my MIL is also left-handed, and I think Henry is too).

2. If money was no issue, I would run a used bookstore in a small town center where I could sit and read all day and not care if anyone bought any of my lovely books. I entertain this fantasy approximately once a week.

3. I also entertain the idea of going back to school to get my Masters of Library Science. I don’t, because a) I’m a little short on free time and b) most librarians have to deal more with the administrative side of libraries, which I’m not fascinated with. I volunteered at a library reference desk for about a year and loved all the little tedious jobs that a volunteer is given: checking to see how many times a set of books are borrowed, pulling loan books, etc etc. If only my allergies weren’t such a problem when I was stuck back in the western section with all those 1980s paperbacks.

4. I never liked sports before meeting my husband, but now I am a diehard baseball fan. Some of my “dates” with my hubby last year involved baseball games, and we’re in for taking off work for opening day last year and this year, and I find myself watching baseball games when no one else is home. I’m also cultivating the love of baseball in Spencer, who has a mean pitch for a 4-year old. I’m also a fairweather football fan, but I’d rather have a good game than root for a specific team (Gators and Bulls notwithstanding). I’ve also been known to turning on Sportscenter when there’s nothing else on.

5. I have realized in working with Spencer for his homework and writing that I could absolutely not be a teacher. I was already pretty sure of this despite a short stint in the Education program in college, but seriously, trying to coach S through his letters makes me want to wring my own neck. It’s so frustrating!

6. I’m physically incapable of being on time to work. Even if I think I'm going to be on time, that will be the day that I'm out of gas and have to stop.

7. I lived with my in-laws for 6 months while we were looking for a house and right when Spencer was first born. Somehow during that time my email address got linked up with their physical address, and ever since I’ve received AARP emails for my FIL and china replacement emails for my MIL. I’ve tried to get them to stop, and we haven’t lived there in nearly four years but still, they keep coming.

8. It has taken me a solid week to come up with these random “facts” about myself. Obviously, I do not find myself to be that interesting.

9. I love editing. I would take a red pen to any newspaper, newsletter, Facebook page, etc. I have probably judged you on your grammatical mistakes. No offense.

10. I hate politics with a fiery passion. I have my own opinions about everything, but I hate listening to other opinions, I hate having to discuss my own, and I hate being belittled because of my views. I think that anyone too far to either side is bat shit crazy and I can’t understand why no one cares to listen to the other side.

11. These new meds I’m on make me feel like I’m pregnant. I know that the nausea is supposed to pass (all the research on it says 7-10 days) but man, it’s hard right now.

Questions from Shea:

1. What is your favorite book of all time? This is a hard one for me. I count McTeague by Frank Norris as my favorite, but Tender is the Night by Fitzgerald is also near and dear to my heart. And the two books I have read the most times are Beach Music by Pat Conroy and High Fidelity by Nick Hornby, and they are also both way up there. This was an unfair question, Shea.

2. You are stranded on an island and can only bring 3 things. What three things can you not live without? Oh, this is another question where I can never come up with a good answer and am amazed at what other people would bring. Okay. I would bring an axe, a giant supply of matches and a boat (to get off said island). If I can’t have a boat, a fishing rod.

3. Are you a shoe person or a purse person? Shoes, definitely. I’ve successfully culled my shoe collection down to about 50 pairs of can’t-live-without shoes. I have a number of purses and would love to have more, but I can definitely refrain from buying them. It’s hard for me to pass up a good pair of shoes for a good price.

4. What do you order when you go to Starbucks? I’m so boring. I order a tall Pike and add a little cream. If I’m really craving something foofy, I get a medium (is that grande? Venti? See, I don’t even know) skinny white chocolate latte with an extra shot. But that’s pretty much never.

5. If you could go back in time and give your younger self one important piece of advice, what would it be and why? I would tell myself to have more fun. I wasn’t the most outgoing highschooler/college co-ed, and when I hear stories about other people’s years I feel like I may have missed out on something.

6. What is your guilty food indulgence? My assistant at work always has candies and chocolates at her desk, and when I’m having a stressful day (which is most days lately) I raid the starbursts. And the dark chocolate. Currently there are Girl Scout Cookies.

7. What is your favorite candle scent? I like things that are clean and not overpowering, like Fresh Cotton, or tart fruit like Pomegranate.

8. Do you have a signature recipe or food item that people always ask you to make? If so, what is it? I always make stuffing for Thanksgiving, but otherwise not really. I tend to make the same things for gatherings: Hot wing dip, PW’s apple dumplings … I used to always make Chicken Bryan when people came over, but I haven’t done that in awhile either.

9. Do you have any pets? If so, names and types? If not, have you ever had pets? I used to have two lovely dogs, Lola and Jazzy. Right before Henry was born I was having a lot of problems with them and had a crisis where I had to go no-pet. I miss them dearly, although I don’t necessarily miss all that goes along with being a dog owner. I will eventually have another animal but I don’t know when or what. I just don’t know.

10. What is your favorite color? I seem to be drawn to teal and purple these days, but mostly jewel tones. Dark greens, maroons …

11. What made you start blogging? I’ve started and stopped a bunch of times. When I originally started in July of 2004, it was about keeping my writing up. Usually when I stop for a while and then start again, it’s because I notice that I think of things in terms of posts. I make a new recipe and think, ‘hey, I should take a picture of that for the blog’ or something cute happens and I want to tell the story on the blog. Or I need to rant and I turn to the blog.

The people I'm tagging, and your questions (if you don't do it, no worries!):

Stacie, MamaFuss, Ordinary Girl, Jessica, and Stephany

1. What fictional character do you most identify with?

2. What have you always wanted to do with your life?

3. What did you want to “be when you grew up”? (these really are two different questions, although I suppose they could have the same answer)

4. What is your favorite thing about yourself?

5. Are you giving anything up for Lent? What?

6. How devoted are you to politics? Do you follow politics? (this question is not to ask about your particular views)

7. How about sports? Do you follow any particular teams or specific sports?

8. What is one hobby that you have always wanted to take up but haven’t, and why not?

9. What is one of your favorite things to do when you have the time/money/energy?

10. What is your very favorite recipe or food to make?

11. What is the most rewarding thing in your life?

Enjoy!

Hey!

I'm still here! I keep thinking that I should be posting, but I'm not giving myself enough time to actually sit and post. So here's a quick doodle:


Look at my boy! On the front page of the the Metro section of the newspaper!

Here's a better copy of the actual picture. It was on tbo's website in the picture gallery, and it was the photo jump from their FB page too!

(photo credits: Christie and tbo)

A not-so-hot mess

I haven’t been posting that often lately because frankly, I’ve been a bit of a mess. I’ve been snippy and cranky and possibly a little depressed. I’m having anxiety attacks and falling asleep at 8pm only to wake up multiple times a night and have dreams that are a lot like episodes of Criminal Minds or the Rachel Maddow show. I’m not getting as much exercise as usual, and I have no energy to push myself to try to exercise. I ran 2.75 miles on Tuesday because I’m signed up for 2 5ks in less than two weeks, and I nearly threw up after and felt like my body was revolting for the rest of the day.

The past six weeks haven’t been great. But honestly, I don’t *feel* any more stressed than usual. I don’t know what’s bringing this on, but I’m not a joy to be around, I feel bad because most of the time I don’t want to play with my kids because they just keep annoying me, and I’m not being a good wife.

I have a doctor’s appointment on Friday. Hopefully I’ll follow that up with finding a good therapist, and all will be hunky dory. In the meantime, it appears I have two book clubs and a writing club to prepare for, two kids birthday parties and a baby shower to find gifts for, a date night Friday to gussy up for, and Spencer’s friend is sleeping over on Saturday.

Anybody have a bag I can breathe into?

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A list - in photos

1. Henry likes to lay on this ball and roll around on it like a medicine ball. It might pop, but it's funny as heck. (PS - could someone please steal that paci out of his mouth? he's becoming more obsessed)


2. I saw this pasta in my feeder from on Tasty Kitchen and was inspired. But I didn't have any of the ingredients. So I subbed Gorgonzola for the blue cheese and spinach for arugula, and added a little pesto sauce. Fabulous.


3. This is well-needed, and found at BJs for $5.99 so I can drink it whenever I want. Where does Target get off charging $11.99?


4. Spencer has a lot of cars. A. Lot. In this picture, the Lightning McQueen is having a birthday. I don't know what the others are doing.


5. The haul.


6. They changed out our vending machines at work to be "healthier". They took away my poptarts which I rarely eat when I forget my breakfast, but they still have honey buns. And drinks (including water) now cost $1.25 because they are in shiny new machines. How is this healthier for us?


7. This is my friend's daughter, and this picture makes me laugh out loud every time I see it.


8. Spencer playing Hungry Hippos with the neighborhood boys (ages 11 and 7) in front of the house.



And because you stuck with the list, you get a peek of Henry lip-synching to Gitchee Gitchee Go by Phineas and Ferb. It's pretty great, even if he does look a little like a monkey.

My four-year old

I meant to be a good mommy blogger and write a whole long touching post about this wonderful little boy that would upload on its own at 3:44am, the moment four years ago yesterday that he came into my life.

Needless to say, I'm just not a good mommy blogger.

Sunday we had a huge party (36 adults and 16 kids) at the park. We did a cookout and cake and presents and the kids played tag in the field and played on the playground. It was a lot of fun, and I think he had a lot of fun which was the point really. I felt like an under-achiever because the first birthday at the pavilion next to us had a bounce house and a clown that did face painting and a pinata ... But my kid doesn't like any of those things. He likes to play with his friends, and he did so I'm counting it a very successful party.

He also got a new bike, which he took home and immediately rode over the neighbor kid's bike ramp while I ran after him desperately with his helmet. He's a huge fan of the bike.

We have been spacing out the opening from the packaging if his 1,871 presents, so now every day when he comes home he asks what he can open and I keep putting off the boxes of play dough and hungry hippos. Those might be tonight.

Wednesday, his actual birthday, I sent him off to daycare with a "birthday boy" ribbon and a dozen cupcakes. That night we went to one of his favorite places (the mall) and ate at one of his favorite restaurants (Red Robin) with most of his grandparents and my brother and they sang to him and gave him a hit fudge sundae. Big hit.

So my baby is four. This is crazy to me, and i'm amazed every day at how smart he is, and funny and inquisitive and, okay, sometimes crazy annoying. But so lovable, and such a good big brother and such a wonderful little man.

Okay, so I got a little sappy. Happy birthday, Spencer! My first boy.

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Tens! We've missed Tens!

1. How do you feel about Groundhog’s Day?
Great movie.
"Well, what if there is no tomorrow? There wasn't one today."

2. What color are your fingernails right now? (Bonus points if you include a picture.)
Au Natural. I think I look ridiculous in colored fingernails.

3. Do you like riddles?
I do, but not too hard - I like to be able to solve them too.

4. When you were 10, how old did you think “old” was? At your current age, how old do you think “old” is?
At 10, 30 was probably old (I can't remember, but I thought my mom was old and she's 20 years older than me). Now I think 80 is old. I'm pretty sure most 80-year olds would agree.

5. Do you wish on stars?
No.

6. Do you recycle?
Yes, especially because it's seriously easy to do so, and I would probably feel guilty for not when it's so easy.

7. On a scale from 1-10, how good of a cook are you?
An 8.5. I love to cook.

8. Do you color your hair? Professionally or at home?
I color it myself, usually a medium golden brown.

9. One a scale from 1-10, how do you rate your manners?
I try to be around a 7, but I slip. Good with please and thank you, terrible with Thank you Cards.

10. Who are the last 5 people you have texted?
my mom, my next door neighbor, my uncle, my dad and my friend Stacy.

January Books

I’m trying something different this year. Usually I post the books I’ve read quarterly but I don’t comment on any of them because by that time there are so many that I just don’t have the time to comment on all. So I’m going to post monthly, and comment at least on if I liked it or not. Let me know if it works this way.

Without further ado:

Swamplandia!: Didn’t like at all. Nothing happened, and then when something DID happen the author just passed right over it like THAT DIDN’T JUST HAPPEN. And then, finally, nothing happened. Bah.

The Death Cure: Not my favorite of the Maze Runner trilogy, and I’m not sure how much was my frustration on this or just that I was still irritated at the amount of time it took me to drag through Swamplandia! But it made a good conclusion to the trilogy.

The Inside Ring: Not bad. The characters were pretty one dimensional but it was entertaining and it’s the first in a series so they might get better.

Last Breath: One of my favorite mindless reading, more of Rachel Caine’s Morganville vampire series.

Sweet Valley Confidential: I knew this would be terrible, and it didn’t disappoint on that front. But I’m happy that I finally got it out of my system.

Blue: I knew exactly where it was going pretty much from the beginning, but it was still good.

Until Again: The prequel to Blue. Not bad. Not as good as Blue.

Working Stiff: I thought I would try another book by Rachel Caine, and I was terribly disappointed by this one. I’m willing to try her other series, but this one bit.

No shopping! Ack!

Jennie mentioned on her blog that she was committing to a month of no spending. And since a) I tend to follow Jennie’s lead on everything and b) my hubby had already said that we needed to get our spending back under control, I am all in for this.

Of course, that meant that Tuesday I had to go out to lunch even though I brought mine. Yum for a carnitas quesadilla from Panchero’s! Also, I got a deck umbrella on Monday and accoutrements, so that’s taken care of. The only thing I can think of honestly needing is a new garbage disposal because my current one sprays water under the cabinets every time it gets used.

This is what it includes:

• Clothes
• Accessories/shoes
• Unnecessary things for the home
• Dining out solo (Starbucks, quick lunch at Subway, etc.)

This doesn't mean:

• Gifts
• Groceries
• Necessary things for the home
• Dining out with others

I have a couple of planned things that I’m not giving up: Hubby and I are supposed to go out for a date night somewhere around Valentine Day, and I have two book clubs (*yes, two!!) and mommy/kid playdate night tonight. I can also say that if some certain circumstances change, I might also be spending some money to redo my home office to make it a little, ahem, more usable for myself. Like this, except with some yellow splashed around too. Also, Spencer's birthday party is Sunday and that might make me go broke.

I’m hoping that it will help me curb my unnecessary spending, and will keep me in the office for lunch more so I have to go work out. We can also go on more family bike rides and excursions to the playground instead of the mall (which we do quite often). I want to learn to knit and/or crochet but I have all the items to learn so maybe I’ll get on that. My book club books can be obtained from the library either for my Nook or in paper print. There is no reason for me to be spending.

So yay, no shopping! Yay.