Random Ramblings

It's about time to post. I know it's been a while. I've had so many little things on my mind, I haven't been able to even think of something definite that I would want to post about. So, here are some of my many little things.

I was talking to my brother about books the other day. He wanted me to recommend one for him to read. Our conversation drifted to--why are there so many good books with a smudge of smut in them? I recently read "Shopaholic" and there were many parts I laughed out loud at, but that smudge of smut made it a book that I certainly don't want my 14 year-old or 17 year-old reading. "Girl with the Pearl Earring" was a great book, but I hated the smut. I was reading it on the plane and felt like people were looking over my shoulder and I had to cover those pages so people couldn't see what I was reading. When "Marley" came out, my 14 year-old (12 at the time) wanted to read it. I told her, instinctively, that it was probably an adult book and I would need to read it first. In the time it took me to get around to reading it, a young reader version came out and she read that one while I read the adult version and I was glad it worked out that way. Why can't all books be young reader versions? Should books be rated? Can we please get the G or even PG version?

There's someone ringing my doorbell--and I didn't answer it. It's a yard guy and we don't have a yard guy. With the kidnapping/murder at Kohl's last Sat and the armed robbery at Randall's yesterday, I'm not answering my door. K--he went away. I know our yard looks like it needs a yard man, but I'm still not answering my door.

I was asked to make the Jeans and Jewels quilt again for this year. I have been better at saying no to a lot of things lately, but this is something that I can do. Not time-wise, but ability-wise--so I said yes. I picked out fabric Tuesday and will post pictures of the progress. I'm just piecing the top, someone else will have to quilt it. I don't have time or money for another shoulder surgery.

When I was at my sister's two weeks ago, we spent some time watching a DVD she has of musical numbers from various Bollywood movies. I haven't seen a lot of Bollywood movies mostly because you have to sit and read the captions, but the ones I have seen I love. I highly recommend "Bride and Prejudice". It is funny and in English and has some great musical numbers. All Bollywood movies have music and dancing and they are clean. They are very passionate but not even a kiss--even in the wedding scenes. Public kissing is a no-no in their culture so they express their emotions in their eyes and in their dances and music. Bollywood is getting more popular--even Steven Spielberg is getting in on the action.

The economy--there's a subject for you. Chris has not had a raise forever and no bonus for the last 2 years (we're not giving raises because we're giving bonuses!) and the small amount of stock we had with the company isn't worth beans. So, this week, Chris got a salary cut. So, what do we cut back on now? We already live very frugally. We already use coupons and plan our errand running and tear our dryer sheets in half. So frustrating. And--we just figured out this morning--when Erin goes on her mission, Cait will just be starting college. Great timing. I'm grateful for my preschool job--which I love.

I've been thinking about having a garage sale--for about a year now. As I've cleaned out closets and cabinets over the last year I've been putting extra things out in the garage. Well, there's quite a nice pile out there now and I think it's time to price it all and put a sign out on the corner. Spring break is coming and that would be a good time to work on it. Or, that would be a good time to work on the quilt. Hhmmm.

Well, I guess I better go do my day. Blue and Gold dinner is tonight and I need to buy all the scout awards, help Benj finish his cake, and make a potato salad. Plus the regular have-to's like put on make-up. Yeah, I think I'll start there.

How Close Was It?

Before I left for NY a couple of weeks ago I had a nagging worry. I've never been afraid to fly before but this time I was definitely unsettled. I was nervous. There had been two recent plane crashes (Hudson River and Denver) and things like that usually come in threes. Still, I decided I needed to buck up. If it's my time to go, then it's my time to go.

On my flight to Albany last week, I had a layover in Newark, NJ . From Newark to Albany I flew in a Colgan Air Continental Connections D-8 plane. The SAME type of plane that crashed in Buffalo. The SAME airline. The SAME starting location. The SAME week.

We watched a lot of CNN that day and the wreck was a horrible thing, but it sure made the flight going home a little easier.

Hanna Ummeayman Hossain

I went to visit and help my sister who had a baby last Tuesday. She lives in Albany, NY, and thanks to my amazing husband, I was able to spend a week with my sister and her family and my mom.

Jen invited my mom and I into the delivery room to see sweet little Hanna come into the world. Even though I've witnessed my own 5 come into the world, it's an incredible miracle every time. It's a memory I will always treasure.

Hanna is a sweet, beautiful baby. She looks good in pink and loves her binky--perfect girl.