lit*chick

the dudes: summer update

I don't think I've talked about the cherubs lately, so let me give you the run down:

Caleb is recovering well from his bout with Lymes. And must have started a growth spurt because he is eating more than ever. And it was a lot to start with...so you can imagine. He continues his obsession with two five two (also known as ESPN) and if he isn't watching sports, will listen on the radio. His capacity for statistics and play by play is startling. And darn if it isn't helping him with reading and math too. Even with outbursts from time to time, he remains the nicest person in our house. And the ladies still love him. (all the ladies, all ages) He is shaping up to be a reader, he just doesn't have a lot of confidence yet. But it is amazing to me considering he couldn't speak 3 years ago...

Karl William is struggling a little bit with attitude and gratitude - don't we all from time to time? But I was thinking we had a couple more years before this started. I have no clue what it's like to be an adolescent boy, but from what I can see it's exhausting. He's still reading a lot and loves listening to Casting Crowns. Our sentimental child, he is sad that camp is over and we got rid of the couches we had since he was a babe.  On the plus side, I am proud and relieved that he is swimming with a pretty stroke to boot. He is also diving off the diving board, which I still don't do. I was surpised to find his head under my chin the last time we hugged. Oh my.

Last but certainly not least...the Owen. We are noticing a slow growing maturity...he listens a little better, tries a little harder, and appears to be potty trained. This could also be attributed to a lessening of his sugar intake. He is still the funniest member of the house with a ridiculously acute sense of smell.  While our basement was being painted, he remarked that it smelled like "nasty beer."  When we bought ground beef with a higher than normal fat content he thought it smelled like butter - he was right.  And he has a newfound love of spitachios (pistachios) in the shell. Currently he enjoys wearing 3 watches at a time, listening to Camp Lisa (lisa loeb's kids cd) in the car, and reminiscing about that time long ago (easter) that he accidentally drank vinegar thinking it was water. In the words of Vince Vaughn  in Swingers"he's all grows up".

Our basement is completely finished. Evidenced by the inaugural football game, with a soft ball of course, we plan to keep it furniture free for a while. Summer is practically over and there is lots of school prep left. I need to order new uniforms, keep track of their reading lists, and shop for loads of supplies.  And clean the house for the 1st grade pizza party. It is flying by.

The End.

This calls for a new bookcase..

 

...to house my collection of autographed copies. Yes, I'm getting ahead of myself, because I only have three. But I did buy the new paperback version of Run and stood in line for a little over an hour to have Ann Patchett write me this note.  If you are wondering what "Never swim with an alligator" means...she was telling me about a book she read called Bitten about all the things that might bite you and apparently there is a story of a man getting attacked by an alligator who stuck his arm down its throat and stimmed the gag reflex. Too which I replied, I would never have the presence of mind to do anything like that. I don't have the presence of mind to do sensible things in the course of daily living, much less a survival situation. Miji calls me self-preservation girl. And I am. So, long story...that's my signed copy for you.

Ann Patchett, besides having one of those names that when you speak it must be said first and last together annpatchett, also recommends the book she is currently reading..My First American by Lore Segal. Adding to the ever-growing tbr (to be read) list. It just won't shrink, dern it.

Okay, as for the book reading/ q&a part.  Ann Patchett is clearly brilliant. As in, I don't do any research on what I write about, I just imagine well, kind of brilliant. Huh? I'm not kidding, amazing. She has a reserve (New England-esque) that doesn't match with her L.A./Nashville upbringing. She spoke of the options on Bel Canto - movie/Broadway show. The latest is perhaps a Broadway show which in my opinion seems the most fitting. For some reason, perhaps pandering to her big city anti-establishment audience, she was overly apologetic about being Catholic and living in a small city (Nashville). For the most part, she gave interesting answers to questions about how she writes, where she gets ideas, and my favorite - because I share this theory, sort of - that everyone has one story and they just retell it with different setting and characters. Her "story" is always about loving families, people coming together to form one, related or not.

That store was oh-so crowded. Not anything like the Leif Enger event. I must say I preferred the laid back vibe at his event, to the packed standing room only let me ask you a question so I can impress you with how smart I am vibe at this one. (There's one -or some- of those people everywhere, no?) I can only attribute it to AnnPatchett having arrived. Note to self: visit author events before they get too famous. Although if Jhumpa Lahiri comes anywhere in the tri-state area, I'm there.

We will hosting our very own author event in September when Joshua Henkin stops in to visit. So read his book, Matrimony, won't you?

The End.

Plan B

Just in case my favorite book & coffee cottage doesn't come up for sale in the next decade or so, I have a plan B.

Cricket Book Shop

It's not at the beach, but it is 5 minutes from the boys' school...hmmm.

The End. 

My Three Favorite Girls

It's their birthday, please wish them a happy one!!

Love you, Faith (faafe), Hope (hopey) & M (Miss Miji).

The End.

Breaking Dawn is Here

B&N was madness. Not as much goth as I expected, but a lot of tweeners SCREAMING like the Beatles invasion. It was the essence of awkward nerdom - and I was right in the middle of it. We made it out of there by 12:30. Here's the happy crew with their brand new books:

 

lit*chick's reading relatives: Ryann, Colleen, and Tricia

I promptly began reading when I got home and made it about 450 pages and then fell asleep. This morning, I finished it, all 758 pages. Don't worry, no spoilers here. I'll set up a discussion in online bookclub so we can talk freely. But I will say this, Stephenie Meyer managed to finish it up in such a way that every fan should be pleased. I don't know how she did it. A fitting and satisfying end-of-series book. And how often can you say that?

Anyone out there reading today?

The End.