advent conspiracy = good idea

junk drawer

It's really not a junk drawer. It's where I keep my washcloths and few odds & ends. But then...

You see, I liked having a cocktail after I got the kids to bed. It helped me relax. Sure, I could have done some deep breathing but the beverage tastes better. And this favorite beverage was having a contest where you could win prizes just but matching the number under the cap to one online. So I thought I would look at caps all together rather than doing it each day. And I kept adding to the pile.

I finally realized that I have never looked at one cap and don't even know if the contest is still running. One clue might have been to see that the newer bottles no longer had this message. But I hadn't purchased any in months. So the whole thing became ridiculous and I knew I needed to just throw them out. But I took this photo first just to share how ridiculous I can be.

The drawer is clean once again and contains washcloths, dish towels and only 3 of the medicine dispensers. Just in case.

it's all too much

It's All Too Much: An Easy Plan for Living a Richer Life with Less Stuff by Peter Walsh

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
Nothing new but great motivation. I even had to stop reading to get up and clean! I still have a long way to go to get uncluttered but I have made a start and that is more than I have done after reading other books. Walsh is not about buying stuff to reorganize, he is about getting rid of it! Most of it I can agree with. I can't get rid of books I haven't read. I know I will read them and will give myself a few month to get through them.



And I cannot get rid of my music CDs even though I have them on my computer. Doing so would violate the terms of use as once you no longer own the CD, you don't have the right to play the music. I don't understand why so many people feel it's OK to keep digital copies of the music and sell the original CDs. I guess that may be just my pet peeve but it's a big one for me.



Walsh did motivate me to get rid of an old roll top desk that belonged to my husband. It was his grandfather's and he was proud of the refinishing job he did on the desk. It is a nice desk but means nothing to me and will not mean anything to the boys. I will be giving it to goodwill where someone can purchase it and enjoy it.



I have never seen Clean Sweep but I think Walsh is a good cheerleader and motivator.


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tagged

I was tagged by Pat today for the Book Tag.
Here’s the rules of the tag:
1. Get the book on your nightstand (or whatever book you are currently reading).
2. Open it to page 56 and find the 5th sentence.
3. Post the next couple of sentences on your blog, along with these instructions.
4. Do not go and find your favorite book, it has to be the one you are reading now!
5. Tag 5 other people to do the same.

I am re-reading Allan Stein by Matthew Stadler:

We split a bottle of heavy Bordeaux and then a Napa Valley red zinfandel that was like drinking a brick wall. A little bon voyage.
"Is that a new watch? You never wore a watch before."

I tag: (sorry if you've been tagged already!)
Dianne
Kimber
Vickie
Stephanie
Susan

freefall

Freefall by Joann Ross

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
I like Joann Ross. Her books have good twists and a bit of sex. Freefall is no exception. Sabrina moves back to Swann Island after a terrorist bombs the hotel she manages in Florence. Zach Tremayne moves back to Swann Island after his SEAL operation goes horribly wrong. Of course these 2 will fall for each other but it's the other stuff that happens around them that makes the book interesting. I was surprised by whom the Swann Island Slasher turned out to be. And a little disappointed in the way the ending wrapped up way to easily and quickly as if the publisher was nagging Ross to finish in 5 minutes.


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greedy little goblins!

We have a love/hate relationship with Halloween. I love the candy, hate the costumes. Andy loves to dress up and go to people's homes, Ryan hates to be outside in the dark.

Before Andy was born, Gail said he didn't want to do the Halloween thing. I didn't say anything but it bothered me. He changed his mind once Andy was here. He thought it was fun to dress Andy up. When we moved down here, I didn't want to Halloween. Doesn't it seem hypocritical to tell our kids that on this one day it's OK to beg for candy from strangers? But Gail was sick so I got costumes for the boys. Andy was the Cat in the Hat and Ryan was Tiggr. Gail went to take the boys out and Ryan screamed but Andy was glad to go with his dad. Andy thought that he should be able to go into the homes and look around. He didn't care about the candy. We didn't know about the autism them.

Andy Gail died, we kept it low key. We stayed home to pass out candy. We never got many kids. Last year, I decided not to pass out candy. I put the bench in front of the door and the lights were out but kids still came and rang the bell. I was going to do the same thing this year but then changed my mind on Thursday since Publix had buy one get one free on candy. So I spent $20 and got over 11 pounds of candy. I set it on the porch with a note to leave some for others. It was gone in about an hour. Someone must have been pushing because the box was flipped and there were a few pieces on the ground smashed. Remind me not to give out candy next year.

Ryan had to do a book report on a biography. He chose Richard Nixon who happens to be his favorite president. (He was Gail's as well, I have no idea why.) Ryan had to give an oral report and had to dress up as Nixon. He also got to wear his costume in the Book Character Parade at school. He wouldn't look at me. Neither would Andy. I think I might just stay home next year.

summer sisters

Summer Sisters by Judy Blume

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
I like that Vix and Caitlin were born the same years as me, it was easy to relate to that. I didn't come from a rich family nor a struggling blue-collar family. But I could understand the feeling of trying so hard but not quite fitting in.



And looking at the 2 of them and their families, you see that nurture versus nature struggle. Vix, you didn't have the benefit of money becomes a responsible, caring adult. Though he sister gets pregnant at 17. Then we see Caitlin, who has every advantage but is selfish and irresponsible while her brother becomes a successful scientist.



But I still wonder how Vix could remain friends with Caitlin through the years. Perhaps she was used to not expecting anything in return.



I hated the sad ending and feeling of things not being settled.


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you are not a stranger here

You Are Not a Stranger Here by Adam Haslett

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
This is a collection of short stories. Short stories about mental illness and death. It's rather depressing when thought about as a whole but each story is not so depressing by it's own. They are good stories, thoughtful.



I would like to give this away but I don't know whom I could recommend it to.


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game day

It's Saturday and for some reason, I don't like to do much work on Saturdays. Maybe it's from growing up and having to "clean a room" on Saturdays. I mostly remember having to clean the bathroom which means washing the tile floor on my hands and knees and so much hair on the floor! (Five kids and 2 adults in one bathroom with do that.) After working (hard) for 5 days, I wanted a day to relax but Saturdays always meant errands since the stores were closed on Sundays. Anyway Sundays was for church.

Nowadays, I do my errands and cleaning (?) during the week so I don't have to take the boys out anywhere. Ryan prefers to stay home during the weekend. I might do a little work on Saturday mornings but I prefer to relax and read or maybe work on some cards. I do laundry but that doesn't seem like a chore since there is so much time in between the folding and putting away.

Today, I put on my iTunes set to 4 and 5 stars, my favorite music. I read and played solitaire while listening and noticed that although I remembered the songs, I didn't always remember the singer or group. Oh I getting old and not playing my music enough. Artists from the 80s were remembered because I could remember the video and the title info from MTv.

Later I was looking for some sheets. Didn't I have 2 more fitted sheets? Or did I thrown them away after they ripped? See the boys would jump on my bed and they managed to pop a spring out of the mattress. I didn't notice it because it was in a corner away from where I slept. But it managed to rip sheets. I tried to bend the spring back but it was too stiff so I finally had to cover it with duct tape. Yes, it looks retard but you only see it when the sheets and mattress pad are off. And lately I have just been washing the same sheet and putting it back on. It's my favorite red plaid. I had 2 but I can't find the other one nor can I find the red striped fitted sheet. The flat sheets are there so I must have thrown away the fitted sheets. So now I down to one favorite red plaid, which is getting mighty thin but is oh so soft and one red striped that I am not too find of.

Anyway, I looked in a drawer and didn't find the sheets but did find my round dice. They work OK and are more fun that accurate. I gave them to Ryan as he seems interested in dice these days. Then I thought about this game table cabinet I bought years ago. Here is a similar one. It just sat for years because I didn't want the pieces to be swallowed or chewed. But seeing as Ryan is at the age that he likes to play games, I showed him what was in the draws. Funny, they never were curious about it before.

Ryan dusted it off and I asked him if he wanted to play a game. Hours later and we have to play all four games that we have, chinese checkers, tic tac toe (Why do they call it a cat's game when no one wins?), backgammon and checkers. I can't remember the last time I played those games and have to look up the directions especially for backgammon. I tried to be nice and let Ryan win but I have to much competitiveness in me. And I found that Ryan is ruthless when it comes to knowing my playing pieces out of play. The gloves came off.

Now I am tired and have a headache from his squealing and evil laughter. It's too late for a nap.

boy on the bus

The Boy on the Bus : A Novel by Deborah Schupack

My review

rating: 2 of 5 stars

Well, this was weird.


The bus comes to their house but Charlie doesn't get off. The mother gets on the bus to see why. She sees a boys that looks a lot like her son but is not her son. She doesn't say this out loud but remains on the bus with the boy for hours.


The sheriff comes and gets both the mother and son (boy) off the bus and has the father called who happens to be working in Canada.


The father comes home and isn't sure about the boy either. But he has been gone for months. They get the older sister who is going to boarding school and she is no help.


It's a very estranged family.


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