Spring Break!

Wow, it's been a month since my last post...I was doing so good there for a while. lol.  The weeks have flown by.  So, so busy.  Work wise, I've been in the middle of a crazy AR reading contest which is thankfully over!  BTW, our school came out in FIRST place in the nation.  Then last week was Lutheran School Week which means a busy week of activities - fun but exhausting.  Now for a break.

There are a few things I want to do this week:
1.  Wash all the curtains in the house.
2.  Trap all animals to give them spring flea treatments.
3.  Scrapbook the photos taken thus far in 2011 (although I'm not feeling in the scrapbook mood yet)
4.  Finish the books I'm in the middle of.
5.  If the sun comes out, try to lessen the pasty white of a stay-at-home that I am right now.

So far, I've completed on book, and have seen two movies.  A trip to Corpus is planned for tomorrow - movie and a meeting for Allan.

Book Review:  Whiplash by Catherine Coulter.  This one took me about 3 weeks because as I said, life has been busy.  It was a great story, one of my favorites.  I love Sherlock and Savich, and they were great in this book.  They were working on two jobs at once, and a few new characters were introduced.  The new characters show potential for showing up in future stories.  Story #1 involved a US Senator who was seeing his late wife's ghost outside his window.  Savich's physic abilities helped to solve this mystery.  Story #2 involved a drug company, a murder, and Germans.  A really good read.  (A)

Movies:
Red Riding Hood - stinker.  Allan thought it was terrible, but I was a bit intrigued trying to figure out who the werewolf was.  (C-)

Adjustment Bureau - very intriguing.  We both enjoyed this movie.  Lots of thought provoking ideas about free will.  (A-)

On the list for tomorrow:  Cedar Rapids

MLK Day

This has been a fairly good Martin Luther King day.  If only Allan had been here to spend the day with it would have been perfect.

After seeing Allan off on his Circuit Counselors conference, I started my weekly cleaning (which I had no time to do on Saturday ).  Jacob and I had lunch together which was a nice treat.  I worked on my 2010 scrapbooking - completed October and have a start on November.  Two friends came over for dinner - chili and cornbread - and we talked wedding talk - Lizz is getting married in September.  Lastly, I've become totally stuck on 24.  Sarah was right.  I've watched the first three episodes and am having to force myself to go to bed.  Pretty good TV.  I have to stop after three and then talk Allan into watching because I think he'd really like it as well.

Wicked Appetite by Janet Evanovich.  I finished reading this book last night.  It is supposed to be the first in a new series by Ms. Evanovich.  The main character, Deisel, has appeared in the previous between-the-numbers Stephanie Plum novels.  This time he teams up with a great character named Lizzy.  She is a master cupcake baker.  Her circle of wacky friends works in the bakery with her.  All in all a good read...maybe not quite as funny as the Stephanie Plum books, but certainly has potential.

Spring Break Part 2

Thursday is drawing to an end...my week almost complete. It has been a wonderful week, and frankly, even though there are only 10 weeks left, am not ready to go back to school. Totally in summer mode. Not a good sign.

I had a great St. Patty's day yesterday. Look here for a short history of St. Patrick. I ran some errands, cooked dessert and soup for church last night. I got in a short time to soak up some vitamin D, and finished this book:

"Blood Game" by Iris Johansen. I always enjoy her Eve Duncan books and this was no exception. It has been quite a while since I read the last one and this refers back to that book quite a bit. As always the story centers around Eve, Joe, Jane and their search for Eve's daughter's body. This book has a big paranormal...ghost...element to it. Also a character named Seth Caleb that seems familiar...must have shown up in another of her books...she likes to do that. It was a really good read, even if it did take me like 3 weeks to read it. Next up...Open Season by C. J. Box.

Finished off the day with a terrific soup dinner at church followed by another awesome Lenten service led by my favorite pastor. Voter's Meeting followed that. Seeing as how I am not a voter, several members thought that we should have our own voters meeting at the parsonage, which we did. Us girls had a great time with their kids, with Allan joining us after the meeting adjourned . A fun end to the day.

Today was a great day. I cleaned the kitchen...top to bottom...mopped the last of the floors. Then the three of us had lunch at Chili's. Then Allan and I went to Wally world and bought this. All I can say is WOW - do I ever love this vacuum! CanNOT believe what a great job it did. And EASY to push. love love LOVE it.

Short little cat nap, followed by the most amazing brats grilled outside by the most amazing grill-master (Allan of course) Served with Sour Kraut, potato salad, rye bread and pickles. Yummy. Then college basketball. Couldn't be better -unless my bracket wasn't already looking so bad:(

Charlie Bit Me

For my long awaited return, I've chosen this youtube video, which for some reason makes me chuckle. I wish I knew how to put the screen itself on, which many of you do, but I just don't have that much blog smarts.

I know it's been forever since my last post, it seems that way anyway. I just haven't been able to get motivated to blog. As I told my mother several weeks ago...things in our house have been outstanding, but it seems like once we step outside things fall apart. It's been a very busy, and often sad, time -- these last few months. It's hard to even know where to begin.

Our German friend Markus has safely returned home to Germany. His family and friends are thrilled to have him home. It was such a pleasure to get to know him, and have him share our home.

Jacob finished the year ranked 8th in his class. He went right to work the Monday after school was out. He is working as a cotton breeder. He and two other men keep the weeds out, cross pollinate the cotton plants, and later will harvest their hybrid cotton to obtain seeds for next year. He enjoys being outside, the nice hours (no weekends, 30-40 hrs/week), it's close to home (gas = $$), and the wage is good.

Our good friend who was battling cancer went to be with the Lord July 4th. She was such a blessing to our family, and the faith, bravery, and courage that she faced her illness with was incredible to see. Here is a picture of my great boys at her memorial service.
Our good friend, David, Jacob, and her grandson -- Jacob's best friend -- Paeton

Speaking of David, his mother is also very ill with cancer. She is out of town receiving treatment, and David is living with us. (Currently he is with her until school begins, and then he will return to our house.) He's an awesome young man, and now occupies Sarah's/Markus' room.

We took a quick trip to check out some colleges and also to visit our families in Ft. Worth. We walked around A&M, UTA, UNT, TCU, and UT. Jacob is still headed for Aggie-town unless something changes once school begins. We had a great visit with our families, Jacob checked out the July 4th fireworks, and was very impressed. His Grampy surprised him by putting together a complete Craftsmen tool set for his truck. Was he ever thrilled.

I've read several books while on vacation: Fearless Fourteen, by Janet Evanovich; Phantom Prey, by John Sandford; Nothing to Lose, by Lee Child; and Barefoot, by Elin Hilderbrand. Fearless Fourteen was terrific - introduced several new characters --A+. Barefoot was very well written. The subject matter hit a little too close to home, not a feel good summer read. The other two books were worth reading, since I love Lucas Davenport and Jack Reacher, but nothing spectacular about them.

We've been to see several movies: Indiana Jones; Wanted; Get Smart; Wall-E. All were good, but Get Smart was probably my favorite of the four. Watched Live Free or Die Hard last night - we've had this movie since Christmas and just watched it (you can tell how often we watch movies at home:) Loved it - definitely one of the better ones.

Our granddaughter had her first birthday. She is such an angel. Very beautiful and sweet. She took to us right away - very friendly and good tempered. Sarah had us over and she fixed the best meal: chicken Parmesan, pasta, salad, bread and of course birthday cake. Everything was so tasty - we were stuffed. It was great to get to see them all again.

I don't know what else to write. Maybe more later??

I Know....I Know.....I Know

I know I missed my weekend post. AND I know it's almost the weekend again already (yipee). But this has been a crazy time. First, my reviews:

"Where Angels Go," by Debbie Macomber. This is a delightful book. It appears that she has written other books, and I'm definitely looking for them at the library. My friend, Susan, had checked this out last week, and gave it to me to read. (She is having a heart attack about now because it's due tomorrow and she knows I rarely return a book on time - but I'll take it by after school tomorrow:) It is a Christmas story about the guardian angels Shirley, Goodness and Mercy and their assignments that Gabriel gives them for the week leading up to Christmas. Apparently they tend to get into a bit of trouble every time they're sent to Earth. It's fairly theologically OK, and just a beautiful story. A++

"Nim's Island" Allan and I went to see this last Friday, and WOW. This is a great adventure movie. It is creative, funny, sensitive, well acted...we just loved this movie. Two weekends -- two great movies. Probably be months before that happens again!

At school, I've been buried in achievement tests and testing. Last week we tested every day. Because we're a small school, the teachers score their own tests, and do all the results themselves. This is a brain numbing/back breaking job. There are chart after chart of tiny numbers and columns and rows that all have to be kept just so. But it's done now and I am currently half way through parent conferences.

Our niece was confirmed in Fort Worth the Sunday after Easter, and I just got her gift in the mail today. I hate not being able to be at such important events. Since we've been here, we've missed one high school graduation, and 3 confirmations. It makes me sad. She is an awesome young lady...terrific student...amazing ballerina...and a very serious and devout Christian. We love her to pieces.

The biggest news of all: My wonderful friend - who lives in New Orleans - her mother has been very ill for the past month with cancer. We have prayed for her since we met ten years ago that she would know the love that Christ has for her. My friend spoke some pointed words to her mother several years ago, which has been in the back of her mind all this time. Her mother called Allan Monday and said told him she wanted to learn about Christ, join the church and be baptised (I'm tearing up yet again just typing this). Tomorrow, she's being baptised at her home with her close friends nearby. She is positively glowing with the love of Christ. Needless to say, my friend is crazy happy and thankful to God for his answering of prayers. Amen.

Post Austin...Various Reviews

We had a great time in Austin. The weather was a bit dreary, with clouds and some rain, so no pool time. Allan thought the speakers were awesome, and I enjoyed lazing around. I finished a book, watched a movie and took several very long naps. We walked around 6th Street on Tuesday night, ate at a terrific restaurant, and enjoyed the sights. We peeked in an almost empty Coyote Ugly bar, laughed at the Modeling agency/Chinese massage sign, took in the beautiful capital building at night and checked out all the groovy UT students walking around campus.

I finished reading "Home to Holly Springs" by Jan Karon. As always, her book about Father Tim returning to his home town was terrific. She is a wonderful storyteller. I often wonder if she is a PK, or what connection she has to pastors, because in all the books, she gets it just right. This is a terrific book. Tim goes back to his home town, looking for someone who wrote him a letter simply saying "Come Home." While there he meets new people, and finds old acquaintances. The story is filled with flashbacks of things that have happened to him as a child. Wonderful book! If you're not familiar with this author, start at the beginning and be prepared for wonderful stories.

While at the hotel, I brought a DVD of "The Guardian" with Kevin Costner and Aston Kutcher. I had wanted to see this when it first came out, and Jacob has watched it several times. I haven't liked Costner in a movie in years, but he was good in this movie. The movie had a "Heartbreak Ridge" feel about it for much of the movie. I thought it was a great movie, and am glad I finally watched it. Well worth the time spent at the desk.

Allan and I went to see "21" Friday night. Being a math wiener, I had to see this movie. In our local paper, it got 2 1/2 stars, but I thought it was much better than that. Here's a movie about Las Vegas - no nudity - amazing! It was really good and we had a good time watching it. Jacob went to see it last night and he liked it too. Check it out!

Markus went on a day trip to Mexico with other exchange students yesterday, and seemed to have a great time. He's had a bit of allergy problems, but hopefully he's on the mend.

Jacob spent yesterday at the local airshow - checked out the blue angels and all the other planes. That means that today he has spent doing all the homework he didn't do on Saturday:)

We do our achievement tests this week. I'm nervous. Maybe they'll do good...

Shadow Dance

This is the second book by Julie Garwood that I've read. As it turns out, it picked up where the other book left off. I like reading books with continuing characters. This books main character, Jordan, was a minor character in the other book. Jordan travels to Texas to meet up with an odd Professor who supposedly has researched a feud between two families...one of which is hers. He tells her that her family are brutes. Jordan's intent is to prove his research faulty. But once she arrives in the little town of Serenity, Texas. People begin to be killed. They seem to turn up in her trunk every time. The romance between herself and FBI agent Noah is of the cookie-cutter variety. It is almost word for word like the romance between the two characters in the other book. I don't care for this much - it will be interesting if in other books this same pattern is followed. Other than the romance part, this was a good story and kept my attention.

The Sixth Target

The Sixth Target by James Patterson. I finished reading this today. It has all the things you love in a James Patterson book. Short chapters, fun characters, and a good mystery. I enjoyed reading it, but somehow it didn't keep me riveted to the pages like his books usually do. Maybe I just have other things filling up my mind!

Did anyone catch the Women's Murder Club show on TV Friday? Any thoughts? I personally did not really like it. It seemed fake. Only the reporter seemed real. Now granted, I don't watch a lot of network TV. I've never watched any of the CSI shows (even if the Who does sing all their songs:), so maybe this is just how these shows are. I'll give it another week, but I'm not impressed so far.

Memorial Day

Finished "Memorial Day" by Vince Flynn on Saturday. Honestly, I've had this book by my bed for months. I've started it countless times. It doesn't start out with a bang. Only because I had nothing else to read did I stay with it. Once I got a few chapters into it, I was really good. Not as good as his other books, but good. Mitch Rapp discovers a terrorist plot to detonate a nuclear bomb in Washington, D.C. on Memorial Day. There are bad guys in the US, and overseas, and Mitch has to figure out the whole plan while the government is trying to stand in his way at every turn. Worth reading if you can get past the beginning.

Bourne Ultimatum / HP & the Deathly Hallows

Wow, what a great entertainment day! We went this afternoon to see The Bourne Ultimatum. Fantastic! As my dad would've said - a real womp-stomper! The movie never slows down, it's one mad and terrific race to the finish. OK, 2 things might be a bit unrealistic *smirk*. #1 Why if the guy standing between the bomb and the man in the car isn't injured is the guy in the car dead? #2 How does anyone walk away from that car chase?? Great movie, A+

Now, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - don't look here for a spoiler. But what an amazing book. I can't begin to express how sad I am that this was the last installment in Harry's life. I have enjoyed these books so much. My son was 11 (Harry's age in book #1) when the first book was published. He has grown up with Harry, Ron and Hermoine. He is not a reader, but reads these books (all 700+ pages of them) from cover to cover. This last book does not disappoint. The characters are heroic, faithful, devoted (to each other and their cause.) If you've not read the books, now is the time to start. Enjoy!

Lean Mean Thirteen

"Lean Mean Thirteen" by Janet Evanovich is the thirteenth installment of the Stephanie Plum adventures. It was as funny as ever. Grandma was in fine form, Morelli and Ranger were both looking for Stephanie's attention same as always, Lula is a scream. There are exploding rodents, stun gun accidents, and burning buildings. A great read, perfect for summer !

Same Kind of Different as Me

Here's a shocker: "Same Kind of Different as Me" by Ron Hall & Denver Moore is a NON-fiction book - yes, I've read a non-fiction book:) A friend from church gave us this book to read, and it is an amazing story. It is the story of 2 men - a homeless black man from the cotton fields of Louisiana and a well-to-do art dealer - and the art dealers wife. This is the story of how these three people came together at a homeless shelter, and how God worked in their lives. It alternates between the two men's voices, telling how they grew up, and how they came to meet at the mission. It all happens in Fort Worth, TX, which happens to be where we are from. It was neat because we recognized all the places, and Ron Hall actually graduated from our high school. This was an inspiring story, and well worth the time spent reading it.

Step On A Crack

I finished "Step on a Crack" by James Patterson earlier in the week. This book introduces a new character, Mike Bennett, a NYC police detective. This story explored both sides of the character: his personal life, and his professional life. On the personal side, very touching...loving husband and dad to 10 adopted kids. On the professional side, he is called to negotiate with someone who has taken 34 famous people hostage in St. Patrick's Cathedral at the funeral of the former first lady. Also has 2 really interesting characters: his Grandfather, and a new au pair. Really a good read, I hope he writes more books with these characters.

Act of Treason

"Act of Treason" by Vince Flynn is great. Awesome. 5 stars. Absolutely loved this book. Mitch Rapp is the character he writes about. He is a CIA agent. It is election time, and the presidential/vice-presidential candidates are on the campaign trail. A terrorist is hired to kill them with a car bomb. Mitch's assignment is to find the bomber, and who hired him. Flynn's books are always outstanding. Can't put them down. Mitch Rapp is a great character, as is the CIA director, Irene Kennedy. Only one of these books have been hard for me to get into...the pages keep flying on all the others. After two duds that I've had to quit reading in the last few weeks - this was a joy. Sorry that it's over.

Cross

Just finished this last night. Great read. Excellent story. Not real thrilled about the graphic nature of many scenes. This is sometimes a problem for me with the Alex Cross books. In this installment, Alex quits the FBI and opens a private practice. He teams up again with his buddy John to try to catch the killer of his wife. He flashes back to the time of his wifes death and plays that out at the beginning. Really a good story, but I didn't like the amount of graphic violence in it.

The Shape Shifter

Finally finished "The Shape Shifter" by Tony Hillerman. We always enjoy his books. This one is a good story, and the last third of the book is excellent, with a bit of a shocking ending (at least different from anything he's written before.) It took me a long time to finish it, partly because the chapters in the first half were very, very long (for me anyway.) I generally read at night before bed, and just don't have time for 30-40 page chapters, so I was doing a lot of mid-chapter ending, which caused me to loose the thread of the scene a lot. I rate this book fair.

Motor Mouth

"Motor Mouth" by Janet Evanovich. This is the second 'Barnaby Novel.' Most of the story takes place in Florida. Barney is a spotter for a NASCAR driver. She grew up working in her dad's garage, and has an engineering degree. She knows everything about cars. Hooker is the driver of the car she spots for. They used to be an item. Hooker has a Saint Bernard named Beans. Our main characters try to help a friend out of a jam, and find themselves in deep doo. Dead bodies seem to be following them. This is a great read, especially the last few chapters which are hilarious. Worth the time to read it.

Dead Watch

Finished "Dead Watch" by John Sandford yesterday. Sandford is one of my favorite authors. Love the 'Prey' books with Lucas Davenport (just noticed a new one due out mid-May - can't wait!) This book was a bit slow to start, maybe because the characters were all new and required some set-up. The 'hero' of the story is Jake Winters. He considers himself a 'forensic bureaucracy specialist.' Basically, the federal government hires him when something is really messed up - to figure it and and apply pressure to those who can fix it. A former senator has disappeared and his wife suspects the Virginia governor of the kidnapping. Jake is brought in to find the senator and find who is at fault. This book turned out to be a really good read, despite the slow-ish start. Well worth your time. Enjoy:)

Judge and Jury

Judge & Jury by James Patterson. James Patterson is one of my favorite authors. Probably because his chapters are so short - usually only 2 pages! But I never have to put down the book in the middle of a chapter :) This was an excellent read. An FBI agent is struggling to get a mafia boss convicted of murder. This first trial ends in a disaster, and the second trial doesn't come out much better. He and a member of the first trial jury team up both romantically and revengefully. Certainly worth your time.

Plum Lovin'

I read "Plum Lovin'" by Janet Evanovich while we were in Austin Monday and Tuesday. Janet Evanovich is one of my favorite authors. I love the Stephanie Plum character, and all the 'Number' books. This is a 'between the numbers' book...not long enough for a novel. She did another one back at Christmas, and this is a Valentine's Day book. The mysterious Diesel shows up once again needing Stephanie's help. He has someone she needs to find, and he will give her up once Stephanie helps him complete all these match-ups in time for Valentine's Day. It is a quick read, fairly amusing, but not as funny as her full length books. As always, Stephanie's Grandma is hilarious - top form!