the body artist

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The Body Artist: A Novel The Body Artist: A Novel by Don DeLillo


My review


rating: 3 of 5 stars
I can't remember reading this so I started again. The first chapter seems familiar but that is all.

I am through Chapter 6 and am finding this very different from what I am used to reading. What IS a body artist?

It was interesting to say the least. It starts rather innocently with a husband, Rey, and wife, Lauren, during their breakfast routines. Next we see the husband's obit from his suicide. The rest of the book deals with the Lauren's grief and life afterwards.

Lauren goes back to the house they were renting and in a few days finds a man in one of the bedrooms. The man is odd. I think he is autistic. He speaks but mostly in echolalia. He repeats things that he heard Rey and Lauren say before the Rey died.

Lauren does not contact the authorities but tapes the man saying these things. Is it because she want to pretend Rey is still alive? Or is it because she plans to use them in her act? Eventually, the man she named Mr Tuttle leaves and is found and in another mental hospital.

Lauren does her act in the city then goes back to the house even after the lease is up.

The woman needs some therapy!


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hello, larry

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I was starting off on my walk the other morning and I spotted Larry. Larry works as a bagger at Publix. As a rule, I try to avoid him because he insists on taking my groceries out to my car. I prefer to do it myself but Larry will not relent.

Hello Larry. Hello. What are you do? Looking for work. What?! What about Publix? I still work for them. I do yard work as a second job. I have all my tools with me.

I hadn't noticed the backpack he was carrying. We got to talking and I finally walked back to my house with Larry. For $10 an hour he will weed and prune. OK. Can I call my sister to let her know where I am? She worries about me. Larry is 57 and lives with his sister. He doesn't have a car nor a cell phone.

I returned from my walk and Larry was on his hands and knees pulling weeds by hand.

I took Andy to lunch and got him a new bike helmet and got a few things from Publix. When we came home, Larry was still working. Both beds in front were done and he was starting on the side. But I had to tell him to stop because he had been working for 5 hours and I only had $50. He quit and said he would go try to look for more work.

Andy wanted to ride his bike so I sat down outside. Larry did too and we talked. He is a nice guy if not a little strange. He stayed past 4 pm. He is coming back next Tuesday.

lenten promise

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Even though I am a failed catholic and a failing episcopalian, I am going to try with lent this year. At least with the lenten promise, don't ask me to fast or abstain from meat (I don't eat that much meat anyway.)

My lenten promise this year is to NOT buy any books or music albums or dvds. OK, the dvds are easy, I haven't been buying any. But the books and music? Oh, let's throw in magazines as well. Wish me luck.

forever in blue

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Forever in Blue: The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood (Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Book Four) Forever in Blue: The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood by Ann Brashares

My review


rating: 3 of 5 stars

I did enjoy the first book. And I had to read the rest. But it wasn't a strong pull since it took me years to finally finish them. I think I may be too old or something which is why I could really relate to them. None of the family situations were familiar and I did not have close friends like that.

The books starts out after they have finished their first year of college. Each girl has plans but not much is mentioned of them. Why was Bee going to Turkey? It felt there was a chapter left out.

But things were wrapped up nicely at the end, sort of. Though some things were left open enough that you can bet Lena and Kostas get back together someday. And Bee with keep Eric though I am not sure she deserves him. She seemed a bit skanky in Turkey. And how come Carmen never had a boyfriend? But I was very glad to see Tibby come to her senses and get back with Brian.


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when kids with autism get sick

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It's not fun when kids get sick. When kids with autism get sick, well, it's even less fun. They let the snot run down their faces or better yet, wipe in anything that is close like furniture, wall, the dog or you. When they are stuffed up and can't breathe, they will either gasp for breath or snort until they are clear. They cough and sneeze over everything. Constant reminders to cover their mouths and noses cede only minimal results.


You could try some cold medicine but chances are they won't take it. Even worse if you try to force the issue and they get so upset that they vomit. You could try to slip into their drink. But they would probably taste it and refuse to drink anything again. Yes, they are that stubborn.


Vomitting brings up even more frustrations. Kids don't know how to express themselves well. Kids with autism just puke where ever and whenever they need to. Most of us know to puke in the toilet. Unfortunately, kids with autism have issues with the toilet. They are late to potty train. Trying to make them to stick their face into a place where they defecate just does not make sense to them. Try a large bowl, a bucket or even a towel. Plan on washing lots of laundry.


Remember when you were sick and were fed toast or chicken soup? They don't eat those things on a regular day, no way will they even get close to them while they are sick. The same with drinks. You grew up sipping flat coke or ginger ale. Kids with autism have their preferred drink(s) and will not alter. Milk is not a good thing to drink when one has gastroenteritis, but dehydration is worse. The other child walks around with his juice but won't drink. He wants it refilled as the ice melts. Perhaps the sound of the ice tapping the plastic is soothing to him?


Lord help you if they get sick enough to need to visit the doctor. They don't like the doctor in a regular visit, why would they like the doctor when they are sick? And if they do require antibiotics, expect lots of struggles taking the meds. The syringe type dispenser can be helpful.


In other words, we just went through 2 weeks of the plague in our house. The boys are fine now and are finally eating and drinking as they regularly do.

the decision

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I never had any intentions of going to Poland. I was planning on going to Italy as part of the school program. I mean, really, which would you choose; communist Poland or Italy?

Then Carol asked me to come to the meeting. She and her boyfriend were planning on going to Poland. OK, I'll sit in the basement classroom and listen to the spiel. Funny thing happened, I wanted to go. Huh? Why? Was it because Carol was planning on going? Did Tony do such a good job selling the trip? Was it finding out that Fred was going to be the professor? I dunno, I can't recall.

Anyway, I left that meeting thinking that I needed to find a job so I could pay for the trip and in a couple of weeks, I had an interview at SVM. After the Saturday meeting with Steve, I drove home to tell mom of my plans. I smile when I think back to it. I told her, I didn't ask. Carol asked and was told she could not go.

I got the part-time job and spent the next weeks preparing for the trip; getting my passport, planning for my month of travel after school ended in May. Unsurprisingly, my grades remained high as I do better when I am forced to manage my time.