Yesterday was Mother's Day, and my first one as a mother. It was not what I had envisioned. Yes, there were the usual flowers, jewelry, and brunch, but these aren't things I necessarily get excited about. And I had to spend a good portion of the day with my MIL and SIL, neither of which I have much in common with. I had a whole discussion this morning with a coworker of mine about this, as she too had to spend a day in activities that weren't really of her choosing. We seem stuck in a model for Mother's Day based on previous generations' desires, which don't particularly apply to our modern lives. For instance, I don't feel like a kitchen slave (yet?), so going out for brunch, while nice, isn't exactly a special treat.
Even so, I had a good day yesterday, despite my initial trepidation. My MIL watched the girls for us in the morning, so I could sleep in and DH could a bit too. After brunch, my BIL came over to help DH install a mammouth window-unit air conditioner. As there was going to be much cursing involved, I escaped the house with the girls and went to the local park.
I truly enjoyed watching the girls at the park. They just turned 9 months old, and this weekend was the first time that they'd been out of their stroller in the park and on the grass. They were fascinated by everything -- the grass, the dirt, the feel of the blanket on their feet, the other kids, the cars, and most especially the dogs. It was fun to watch them discover the world around them.
So it wasn't the day I would have planned, but it all turned out OK.
In other news, the Social Security Administration released the 2008 list of popular baby names. I've been fascinated by this list for years, because I'm curious about names, and I viewed this over and over again as we were trying to come up with names for the girls. I was aiming for names that were in that middle ground between completely overused and too unusual or old-fashioned. Both of the names are at all time highs now on the list, with DDA's name climbing a little higher than I'd like. She may end up being "A in DC" in school, rather than just "A". L's unlikely to run into that problem, but we'll see. In high school, I was one of two C's in my grade, which wasn't surprising, although the fact that we only had one Jennifer was.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Love and Hate and Authors
This week's Booking through Thursday question: Which is worse? Finding a book you love and then hating everything else you try by that author, or reading a completely disappointing book by an author that you love?
For me, the answer is easy. The second one. I will usually drop an author quickly if his or her books don't keep meeting my expectations. If I've come to love an author, though, it's hard to let go. I find this to be particularly true of authors who have been writing for a while and who begin to earn enough money that their editors stop editing and just push to get the books to market. It's disappointing all the way around.
The example that comes to mind is the later Elizabeth Peter novels. I actually threw one of them against the wall one summer - a signed hard copy, mind you - because I was so angry with what she'd done. I must admit that I did buy at least one or two more after that, but I know that there have been later releases that I haven't.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
National Library Week
This week is the ALA sponsored National Library Week. In honor of this, Booking Through Thursday, a weekly meme about books and reading, asks: How often do you use your public library and how do you use it? Has the coffeehouse/bookstore replaced the library? Did you go to the library as a child? Do you have any particular memories of the library? Do you like sleek, modern, active libraries or the older, darker, quiet, cozy libraries?
Unfortunately, I don't use the public library as often as I should. Mostly I use it to check out books on tape or to stock up on light reading when I'm going on vacation. The last time I used it, I checked out some baby name books.
I don't believe the coffeehouse or bookstore has replaced the library. They offer different services than libraries do. Most coffeehouses don't offer books, for instance. I've seen articles recently showing that usage of public libraries is up due to the economy. As people continue to look for ways to cut costs, I think being able to obtain books and access to the Internet for free will continue to draw patrons into their local libraries.
As a child I used my school library a lot. I don't think I went to a public library regularly until I was in middle school. Once I conquered reading and really began zooming through books, my local public library became my favorite place to go. I used it a lot through middle and high school.
I prefer well-lit traditional libraries, with comfy chairs and all of that. I'm not one who ever really studied in the library, unless I was doing something with a group, so I also don't think that they need to be as quiet as a tomb, either. I'm really excited about this project at my alma mater and hope that they will obtain the funds needed to complete the transformation from stark office space back to cozy reading room, especially since the existing "reading room" is now used almost exclusively as a lecture space.
Finally, as someone who is trained as a librarian, I'd like to mention the librarians who influenced me over the years. I think meeting Mrs. Miller, the school librarian, when I was in 4th grade put me on course to going to library school many years later. She probably more than anyone else influenced me to become a reader. She was followed by Ms. Blair in middle school and Mrs. K. (Kelter? Keltzer?) in high school. Nearly everyone remembers Bruce at my alma mater, the most amazing reference librarian I've ever met. And then Margery, the college archivist who hired me one summer. I worked for her for 3.5 years and then went off eventually to library school so I could follow in her footsteps.
How have libraries and librarians influenced your life?
Unfortunately, I don't use the public library as often as I should. Mostly I use it to check out books on tape or to stock up on light reading when I'm going on vacation. The last time I used it, I checked out some baby name books.
I don't believe the coffeehouse or bookstore has replaced the library. They offer different services than libraries do. Most coffeehouses don't offer books, for instance. I've seen articles recently showing that usage of public libraries is up due to the economy. As people continue to look for ways to cut costs, I think being able to obtain books and access to the Internet for free will continue to draw patrons into their local libraries.
As a child I used my school library a lot. I don't think I went to a public library regularly until I was in middle school. Once I conquered reading and really began zooming through books, my local public library became my favorite place to go. I used it a lot through middle and high school.
I prefer well-lit traditional libraries, with comfy chairs and all of that. I'm not one who ever really studied in the library, unless I was doing something with a group, so I also don't think that they need to be as quiet as a tomb, either. I'm really excited about this project at my alma mater and hope that they will obtain the funds needed to complete the transformation from stark office space back to cozy reading room, especially since the existing "reading room" is now used almost exclusively as a lecture space.
Finally, as someone who is trained as a librarian, I'd like to mention the librarians who influenced me over the years. I think meeting Mrs. Miller, the school librarian, when I was in 4th grade put me on course to going to library school many years later. She probably more than anyone else influenced me to become a reader. She was followed by Ms. Blair in middle school and Mrs. K. (Kelter? Keltzer?) in high school. Nearly everyone remembers Bruce at my alma mater, the most amazing reference librarian I've ever met. And then Margery, the college archivist who hired me one summer. I worked for her for 3.5 years and then went off eventually to library school so I could follow in her footsteps.
How have libraries and librarians influenced your life?
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Happy Easter
We've been sick here. Both the girls and I have had bronchial infections. It's been a miserable few days. Fortunately, before we all got sick, I was able to make these. I'm not sure why this one looks so tilted; it isn't really. Of course, they still haven't been mailed. Maybe tonight, since we're all starting to feel a bit better.
I hope you all have a Happy Easter.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
6 Things
Lee tagged me a while ago to list the 6 Things that make me Happy. I was hoping to track down more pictures, but time has gotten away from me. So here they are:
My hubby
My friends
The yellow flowers of spring - daffodils, forsythia, etc.
Good chocolate
Crafting - stitching, stamping, etc.
I was going to tag some folks, but given my delinquency, I won't.
Firsts
Borrowed from Geggie.
1. Who was your FIRST prom date?
Dan. Who was also my date to the wedding where I met DH.
2. Do you still talk to your FIRST love?
Nope. (Who?)
3. What was your FIRST alcoholic drink?
Beer.
4. What was your FIRST job?
Girl Scout Camp Counselor
5. What was your FIRST car?
1983 Ford Escort
6. Who was the FIRST person to text you today?
Don't text.
7. Who is the FIRST person you thought of this morning?
The babies
8. Who was your FIRST grade teacher?
I had 2 of them: Mrs. McNaboo and Miss Persons.
9. Where did you go on your FIRST ride on an airplane?
My first ride was from Buffalo to Atlanta, but I had several more flights until I reached my destination, Rio de Janeiro.
10. Who was your FIRST best friend & do you still talk?
Jen Keller. Yes. She's a godmother to DDA.
11. Where was your FIRST sleep over?
Family: grandparents Friend: Jen
12. Who was the FIRST person you talked to today?
DH
13. Whose wedding were you in the FIRST time?
Lisa and Frank's, where I took Dan as my date and met Paul
14. What was the FIRST thing you did this morning?
Looked at the clock
15. What was the FIRST concert you ever went to?
Sheila E., the Oak Ridge Boys, and Kenny Rogers.
16. FIRST tattoo?
None, thank you.
17. FIRST piercing?
In fourth grade, my ears.
18. FIRST foreign country you visited?
Canada - it was less than an hour away.
19. FIRST movie you remember seeing?
Bambi.
20. When was your FIRST detention?
7th grade. First and only.
21. What was the FIRST state you lived in?
New York.
22. Who was your FIRST roommate?
My sister
23. If you had one wish. What would it be?
To have my grandparents meet their great-granddaughters.
24. What is something you would learn if you had the chance?
To play the piano.
25. Who do you think will be the next person to post this?
Brave Astronaut
1. Who was your FIRST prom date?
Dan. Who was also my date to the wedding where I met DH.
2. Do you still talk to your FIRST love?
Nope. (Who?)
3. What was your FIRST alcoholic drink?
Beer.
4. What was your FIRST job?
Girl Scout Camp Counselor
5. What was your FIRST car?
1983 Ford Escort
6. Who was the FIRST person to text you today?
Don't text.
7. Who is the FIRST person you thought of this morning?
The babies
8. Who was your FIRST grade teacher?
I had 2 of them: Mrs. McNaboo and Miss Persons.
9. Where did you go on your FIRST ride on an airplane?
My first ride was from Buffalo to Atlanta, but I had several more flights until I reached my destination, Rio de Janeiro.
10. Who was your FIRST best friend & do you still talk?
Jen Keller. Yes. She's a godmother to DDA.
11. Where was your FIRST sleep over?
Family: grandparents Friend: Jen
12. Who was the FIRST person you talked to today?
DH
13. Whose wedding were you in the FIRST time?
Lisa and Frank's, where I took Dan as my date and met Paul
14. What was the FIRST thing you did this morning?
Looked at the clock
15. What was the FIRST concert you ever went to?
Sheila E., the Oak Ridge Boys, and Kenny Rogers.
16. FIRST tattoo?
None, thank you.
17. FIRST piercing?
In fourth grade, my ears.
18. FIRST foreign country you visited?
Canada - it was less than an hour away.
19. FIRST movie you remember seeing?
Bambi.
20. When was your FIRST detention?
7th grade. First and only.
21. What was the FIRST state you lived in?
New York.
22. Who was your FIRST roommate?
My sister
23. If you had one wish. What would it be?
To have my grandparents meet their great-granddaughters.
24. What is something you would learn if you had the chance?
To play the piano.
25. Who do you think will be the next person to post this?
Brave Astronaut
Friday, March 13, 2009
Two Finishes
I promised you that when Lee received her package that I would share photos of my February finishes with you. She has, so here they are.
I finally found a teapot design I liked for the Bride's Tree SAL in a pattern book that a friend sent me this fall. When I went looking for a scrap of fabric to stitch on, I found the pre-finished jar cozies in my stash. Perfect, except, of course, that they're not ornaments. Oh well.
I only kept the general shape of the teapot from the original pattern. (It was blue, with a heart motif.) I chose the colors to go with the fabric, and I designed the poinsettia motif myself, based on some other patterns I had.
I finally found a teapot design I liked for the Bride's Tree SAL in a pattern book that a friend sent me this fall. When I went looking for a scrap of fabric to stitch on, I found the pre-finished jar cozies in my stash. Perfect, except, of course, that they're not ornaments. Oh well.
I only kept the general shape of the teapot from the original pattern. (It was blue, with a heart motif.) I chose the colors to go with the fabric, and I designed the poinsettia motif myself, based on some other patterns I had.
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