Update from sunny but cold Florida
I really didn't realize how completely mentally, physically and emotionally exhausted I've been until the last few days.
My trip to Florida was much less eventful than it was a year ago. For one thing, I arrived in West Palm Beach on the same day that I left SLC. My luggage arrived on the same flight. I mean, what else could I want. It was even sunny. We were delayed getting in from Atlanta so by the time we got home, it was after 5. Enough time to hang out poolside (though in long sleeves, a fleece jacket, pants and sneakers). Mom made dinner. She didn't want to go out because she didn't want to take the chance that my flight could be really delayed. That was fine. She made this amazing tuna salad that I will make myself when I get back to SLC.
I've done my share for the economy so far this week. Bought a lot of new clothes, which is good because pretty much I brought everything I owned that fit. It wasn't much. I got a decent mix of work and play clothes. I'll do a little more shopping before I'm done, but I won't be in a rush to do more when I get home.
I haven't really touched the computer, however. I've glanced at email. I've read LJ, but from my Palm Treo, not a computer. I haven't touched Facebook. I've enjoyed the semi disconnect. I've slept late every day. The first day I could claim jet lag or something. But this morning, I just didn't want to get up. Tomorrow, I'll be up at 6:30. We're meeting my dad's brothers (and their wives) about 2.5 hours away at a nature preserve. I can't wait. I've got my binoculars and my camera. It's going to be cold but the sun will be out. It will be worth it.
My mom and I did a 3 mile forced march yesterday and it was fun. We even hung out at the pool. In between the rain. I did go into the pool. The rest of the week - from Wednesday on - should be warmer and sunnier. I'll be very happy to just be.
Finished Stargate SG:1 season 1 yesterday. I enjoyed it very much but unless it gets an awful lot better, I will never understand why they canceled Farscape in favor of it. Though I know Farscape was expensive due to makeup and costumes. When everyone you meet is human, it's cheaper.
Did some decent reading and some total crap:
Book #23, People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks. From my Goodreads review: Based on a true story, this is a very fictionalized version of the restoration of the Sarajevo Haggadah, a priceless Jewish artifact that had been kept safe during the war by a Muslim librarian. The book not just about the restorer and her arts, though that's pretty cool, but it's about the stories (completely fictionalized) about the little things - a hair, a butterfly wing, salt etc. - that were found in the book. Very uplifting and yet also very true to life in the sense of the characters not being perfect or heroic or having perfect lives. There is a lot of sad in this book. It was also fascinating. 4 stars.
Book #24, While My Sister Sleeps by Barbara Delinsky. From my Goodreads review: Delinsky's latest book takes on family who discovers everything about themselves when their oldest daughter, age 30, has a heart attack and is declared brain dead. None of the family is exactly who the other believes. Molly, the youngest, idolized her older sister while also resenting her. But when Robin is declared brain dead, it's Molly who goes to great length to determine what Robin would have wanted. It is a sad story but not a real tear-jerker. It's not about death, it's about living. That said, I wish it had been longer, gone into more depth. 3 stars.
Book #25, Wonder Woman: Mythos by Carol Lay. From my Goodreads review: Despite the full cast reading, the story was misogynistic when it wasn't playing into every possible stereotype about men. The sound effects were annoying and made it impossible to concentrate on the story, though that might be in its favor. Wonder Woman must prevent the island of her birth from being overrun by hulking males who hate women and want to destroy everything and enslave whatever's left. Wonder Woman comes off weak, though another woman, a mundane human, keeps her head better than pretty much everyone else. Though she still falls in with her husband who wants to devote his time to saving the formerly hulking men who have been reduced to placid men who can't read, write or otherwise exist. 1 star.
I've even done some stitching. Started a baby bib for a friend. I think I'll bring it in the car tomorrow. I'd love to finish it this week which is possible if I focus on it. Since most of the rest of the week will be spent by the pool... I'll either be reading or stitching.
Tonight we say a cabaret-ish performance of 3 Men and a Baby...Grand. They saluted the Rat Pack. The pianist was amazing. Since few of the songs were familiar to me, I didn't get a lot out of it, but I'm also tired. Since I'm getting up in 7 hours, I'll sign off.
My trip to Florida was much less eventful than it was a year ago. For one thing, I arrived in West Palm Beach on the same day that I left SLC. My luggage arrived on the same flight. I mean, what else could I want. It was even sunny. We were delayed getting in from Atlanta so by the time we got home, it was after 5. Enough time to hang out poolside (though in long sleeves, a fleece jacket, pants and sneakers). Mom made dinner. She didn't want to go out because she didn't want to take the chance that my flight could be really delayed. That was fine. She made this amazing tuna salad that I will make myself when I get back to SLC.
I've done my share for the economy so far this week. Bought a lot of new clothes, which is good because pretty much I brought everything I owned that fit. It wasn't much. I got a decent mix of work and play clothes. I'll do a little more shopping before I'm done, but I won't be in a rush to do more when I get home.
I haven't really touched the computer, however. I've glanced at email. I've read LJ, but from my Palm Treo, not a computer. I haven't touched Facebook. I've enjoyed the semi disconnect. I've slept late every day. The first day I could claim jet lag or something. But this morning, I just didn't want to get up. Tomorrow, I'll be up at 6:30. We're meeting my dad's brothers (and their wives) about 2.5 hours away at a nature preserve. I can't wait. I've got my binoculars and my camera. It's going to be cold but the sun will be out. It will be worth it.
My mom and I did a 3 mile forced march yesterday and it was fun. We even hung out at the pool. In between the rain. I did go into the pool. The rest of the week - from Wednesday on - should be warmer and sunnier. I'll be very happy to just be.
Finished Stargate SG:1 season 1 yesterday. I enjoyed it very much but unless it gets an awful lot better, I will never understand why they canceled Farscape in favor of it. Though I know Farscape was expensive due to makeup and costumes. When everyone you meet is human, it's cheaper.
Did some decent reading and some total crap:
Book #23, People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks. From my Goodreads review: Based on a true story, this is a very fictionalized version of the restoration of the Sarajevo Haggadah, a priceless Jewish artifact that had been kept safe during the war by a Muslim librarian. The book not just about the restorer and her arts, though that's pretty cool, but it's about the stories (completely fictionalized) about the little things - a hair, a butterfly wing, salt etc. - that were found in the book. Very uplifting and yet also very true to life in the sense of the characters not being perfect or heroic or having perfect lives. There is a lot of sad in this book. It was also fascinating. 4 stars.
Book #24, While My Sister Sleeps by Barbara Delinsky. From my Goodreads review: Delinsky's latest book takes on family who discovers everything about themselves when their oldest daughter, age 30, has a heart attack and is declared brain dead. None of the family is exactly who the other believes. Molly, the youngest, idolized her older sister while also resenting her. But when Robin is declared brain dead, it's Molly who goes to great length to determine what Robin would have wanted. It is a sad story but not a real tear-jerker. It's not about death, it's about living. That said, I wish it had been longer, gone into more depth. 3 stars.
Book #25, Wonder Woman: Mythos by Carol Lay. From my Goodreads review: Despite the full cast reading, the story was misogynistic when it wasn't playing into every possible stereotype about men. The sound effects were annoying and made it impossible to concentrate on the story, though that might be in its favor. Wonder Woman must prevent the island of her birth from being overrun by hulking males who hate women and want to destroy everything and enslave whatever's left. Wonder Woman comes off weak, though another woman, a mundane human, keeps her head better than pretty much everyone else. Though she still falls in with her husband who wants to devote his time to saving the formerly hulking men who have been reduced to placid men who can't read, write or otherwise exist. 1 star.
I've even done some stitching. Started a baby bib for a friend. I think I'll bring it in the car tomorrow. I'd love to finish it this week which is possible if I focus on it. Since most of the rest of the week will be spent by the pool... I'll either be reading or stitching.
Tonight we say a cabaret-ish performance of 3 Men and a Baby...Grand. They saluted the Rat Pack. The pianist was amazing. Since few of the songs were familiar to me, I didn't get a lot out of it, but I'm also tired. Since I'm getting up in 7 hours, I'll sign off.