Now, if I could just get this thing out of reverse...

Not-so-little Sparky is growing faster than I'd ever imagined possible. At 5 1/2 months, he is almost out of his 6-9 month size clothes. Here is a picture of the five bags of baby clothes I packed up to hand-down to his cousin, Ethan, who will be born in a few weeks. While five grocery bags of clothes might not look like a lot of clothing, you have to remember that baby clothes are little. This is probably the equivalent of 5 or 6 huge trash bags stuffed full of adult clothes.


We did choose a few things to keep: The first little onesies that Mike & Paula gave us when we found out we were pregnant, the sleeper he wore in the hospital, the Daddy's team baseball outfit he wore in his three-month photos and one or two others. It breaks my heart to give any of his clothes away... When I asked Dave if there was anything specific he wanted to keep, he said, "All of it." He's just growing up so fast!

Part of growing up is becoming mobile. The Sparkster is now pushing up on his hands and knees and rocking back and forth. While this is not the best video of his skills, you get the picture. I asked a few moms that I know about how long their babies took to get from rocking to crawling. They said only a few weeks! It is possible that Sparky will be crawling by Halloween! Yikes! Slow down, baby!

On the topic of growing up too fast, I found the sweetest book today titled Let Me Hold You Longer by Karen Kingsbury. Written in rhyme, it talks about how we sometimes focus on a child's "firsts" and miss the "lasts" - the last bottle we give a baby, the last time he falls asleep in your arms, the last hit in a Little League game. I teared up in the store while I was reading it and am tearing up again now. I love my little boy and want him to grow into an independent, intelligent, loyal young man... but, it is bittersweet, because I don't quite want my baby to grow up.

Goodbye, Harry...

I finished reading the final book in the Harry Potter series yesterday...

I bought it about a week after it came out and was too busy to start it until about a week ago, but once I opened it I couldn't put it down. Plus, I had to finish it before the students get back to school because they are not good about keeping secrets about the ending.

All I have to say is... "Brilliant!"

I've loved every page of every book. I'm not really into fantasy, but, I've always enjoyed great children's literature. One of my favorite authors of all time is Madeleine L'Engle, author of A Wrinkle in Time. But let's be honest: This series was never just for children.

I love how the characters really grow throughout the series. Instead of a series where the characters are a static age in time, never changing, you watch Harry, Ron, and Hermione experience life from pre-adolescents to young adults. They are real characters with flaws that change throughout, as are the other secondary characters in the series.

But, the part that amazes me the most is that J. K. Rowling was able to arc a wonderful, detailed, intricate story over seven novels. Details that seemed insignificant in Book 3 come back in the epic's close to tie together a wonderful tale of adventure and mystery and love.

I read my little brother's copies of the first five books and own the hardcover first edition prints of numbers six and seven. I am now on an EBay mission to find the others to add to my own collection. I can't wait to share these new classics with my own child...

My Newest Internet Obsession

Anyone who knows me knows that I love to read. I will devour most any type of book and once I get started reading, it is hard for me to force myself to quit reading to do any of the other things that daily life requires.

I am also a book collector. I prefer to buy my books than go to the library to borrow them. I like having my bookshelves crammed full of Stephen King and Wally Lamb, J. D. Salenger and Madeleine L'Engle. Plus, going to the library often costs me more than just buying the book in the first place; I've actually been known to have library fines totally over $83 - no joke!

Enter BookMooch.com. Brought to my attention by fellow blogger Caroline Bender, I am totally hooked. This site allows me to post books that I am willing to give away to fellow bibliophiles, while "mooching" books that I am interested in reading from them. For each book that I post in my inventory and each book that somebody mooches from me, I am awarded points. I, in turn, use these points to get the books that I want to read.

The only cost is postage. The person who is giving away the book pays for postage, but I figure the couple of bucks spent there is recouped by the money that I don't have to spend on shipping and handling from buying the book off eBay or buying the book new at the store. Plus, if it is a book I love, I can add it to my collection instead of having to return it at the end of two weeks.

I've already sent off five of my own books and am awaiting the first two that I've requested. I'm excited to have some new summer reading... Anyone have any recommendations of great books that I should mooch??

Saturday Morning Skeptic... and Stuff

I admit it: I read junk mail. I look through the catalogs and coupons that are sent in the mail on a daily basis. Occasionally, one will stand out to me, and I'll pull it out thinking, "Ooohh, I could use this." However, I never end up using them and they all end up in the trash eventually.

This morning, I was looking through these little cards, each with an offer, when I came across this one:


"Everyone deserves a smile they can be proud of!" it touts, above a before and after picture of somebody with really nasty teeth, apparently fixed by the the teeth straightening and whitening process advertised on the back of the card.

Maybe it is just me, but somehow I don't think that the "before" teeth were simply straightened and whitened in order to get the "after" teeth. If it is the same person (which the appearance of similar facial hair seems to indicate) there was other major dental work performed in order to reach point A to point B. I have a feeling that it isn't even the same person in both photos, though.

But, I may just be too much of a skeptic.

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Several of you requested information about the Citrus Shrimp and Penne Pasta meal that I cooked last week. After seeing that post, Blogarita was so impressed with my culinary skills, that she asked me to be an author on her kitchen blog! I made my first post over there yesterday, so if you are interested in it (or other delicious recipes that Blogarita posts) click on over and check it out.

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Speaking of other blogs, I have posted the discussion questions for "Fall On Your Knees" by Ann-Marie MacDonald on the Check This Out book club blog. Those of you who read it along with us and those of you who've read it before, please go on over and add your two cents to the conversation.

Our next book that we'll be reading is "Running with Scissors" by Augusten Burroughs. It was recently made into a movie with Alec Baldwin and Annette Benning. I've already started reading it and it is a pretty quick read, so please join our discussion at our book club. The more, the merrier!

(After this book, we'll be choosing something lighter, from a chick lit line, per the request of Paula and Jen, so stay tuned!)

Poppy Dogs

Every family has some type of delicacy that when others see it, they raise an eyebrow and think to themselves "eeeewwww..."

My family has Poppy Dogs.

They came by their name after my grandfather, who we called, of course, Poppy. Poppy Dogs are hotdogs, but the way they are prepared is what makes them special. They are also always served with real baked beans - cooked in the oven with salt pork, not out of the can.

They are delicious. They are also a staple of our menu while on any family vacation.

To prepare Poppy Dogs, simply slice the hotdogs down the middle and stuff them with brown sugar, yellow mustard, and horseradish and top them with slices of American cheese. Broil them in the oven until the tops get all browned and crispy.

I know it may sound odd to you, but they are delicious. I believe that they are unique to our family, but I guess it is possible that other people have something similar. You know that your family probably has interesting recipes like this, too... Admit it!

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One of my favorite things to do on vacation while lounging at the pool or beach or even inside on a cloudy day is to read a book. Some friends may remember a particular float trip when I sat at the edge of the river the day before the float reading a book. May sound dorky, but nothing says leisure and luxury like lounging with a book.

I'm having lots of time on this vacation to immerse myself in the current book that I'm reading: Fall On Your Knees by Ann-Marie MacDonald. The book is excellent and it is the current read of the Check This Out book club blog. For those of you that are reading along with us, the discussion topics will probably be posted on the site by April 1st. Even if you've already read the book and want to add your thoughts, feel free!

Also, the next book we will be reading is Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs. It was recently made into a movie that looks pretty interesting. I want to give everyone a heads up so if you think that you'd like to read along with us, you can get your copy. You've got plenty of time to find a copy and read it; we probably won't post about it until the beginning of May since we haven't even posted about the current book yet. The more the merrier over at the book club blog; please join us!

Links and Such...

Several of you mentioned that you were interested in a copy of the recipe for my Low-Fat Roasted Corn and Crab Soup. Instead of posting it here, Blogarita has been gracious enough to post my recipe in her Kitchen. This is a fabulous website with great recipes and stories and photos to go along with most of the food featured. Go on over, check it out!

Speaking of checking things out, I've finally posted the discussion questions for Icy Sparks on the book club website. I've also changed the web address to: http://checkthisoutbookclub.blogspot.com. The site kind of morphed from reviews by me to a book club format, and I'm pretty excited to see how it all works out.

If anyone who didn't get in on the Icy Sparks action, the next book we will be reading is Fall On Your Knees by Ann-Marie MacDonald. We'd love to have another person to jump in on the discussion with us, so go on over and see what the website is all about, then pick up a copy of this next book. You've got plenty of time; we probably won't end up "discussing" it until the beginning of March at the earliest.

And, a link, just for fun!

Check This Out

Just a public service announcement (and invitation) that those of us reading over at Check This Out have selected Icy Sparks by Gwyn Hyman Rubio as our current book.

It is kind of like a book club, so pick up the book and join in on the discussion. If you are interested, let me know, and I will add you as an author to the blog so you can post thoughts as you read and we can discuss along the way. Blogarita is way ahead of me reading - (haha, I still have to get the book this afternoon) - so there's plenty of time for you to join in.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled blog.

Book Review

I finished my review of The Bright Forever by Lee Martin. Go check it out here.

Also, the next book I will be reading is Snow by Orhan Pamuk. Should be a good one. You are invited to pick it up and read along with me. I'd love to hear your opinions about the book!

Check This Out...

For those of you who don't spend 100% of your life on the Internet, I've created a new blog.

It is (for now) called: Check This Out.

I am going to review books, movies, music, etc., there. It is more a site for me to record my own reactions to books and stuff than anything else, but I want to invite you to join me, if you'd like. The first book that I'm reading is posted there... Feel free to pick it up at the library or whatever and read along with me.

Summer Reading List

I always fantasize about having a summer on the beach. I can just see it: Sun shining, on a lawn chair under an umbrella, my beach bag next to me with a veritable library comprised of both classic and contemporary literature, working my way through the books one pina colada at a time.

I don't have that luxury at this point in my life. But, someday..... For now, I have to just imagine I am on the beach while I read anywhere I can catch a few spare minutes.

I went to the local mega-bookstore last night and stocked up on some new reading. Nothing excites me more than having a bunch of new books to read. I can't wait to get into them. (I know, I know... I'm a dork... I've come to terms with it.) Here are the books now in my "To Read" queue:

Dry by Augusten Burroughs - I read Bouroughs' first memoir Running with Scissors when it first came out several years ago and loved his sense of humor as he retold the (rather traumatic) story of his childhood. This is the follow-up memoir.

Bad Dirt by Annie Proulx - This is the author who wrote the short story Brokeback Mountain. This book is a collection of short stories that all take place in Wyoming. Should be a good read.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith - I try to buy a "classic" that I haven't read each time I go to the book store. I like to think of myself as a well-rounded reader.

Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty - This is a young adult novel, with the main character in her upper teens and still living at home with mom and dad. Kind of reminds me of the type of novel that Judy Blume's Forever was at first glance.


Now I just need to decide which one to read first!


P.S. Congratulations to Mike and Paula on the birth of their daughter, Ella Marie, on July 27 at 4:20 p.m. She weighed 6 lbs., 14 ozs. We're going to visit the family soon!

Memoirs of a Geisha

I began reading the book "Memoirs of a Geisha" while I was recently out of town. It was one of those books that once I picked it up, I was unable to put it down. I would be out with friends or at work or wherever and wishing that I had the book with me so I could pick it up and read a few pages any time I had a spare second.


Part of what made it so amazing was the beautiful descriptions of life in pre-WWII Japan. I'm not always a big historical fiction fan, but this was so incredibly written and the details were so intricately woven into the prose that I was immediately drawn into the world of the characters. It isn't a romance novel, by any means, but it is truly a love story in many ways.

That being said, I have to say that I was disappointed in the movie. (Isn't that always the way it is? You love a book and the movie never really lives up to it.) I had mentioned to a friend that I was interested in watching the movie and he said that he'd heard unless you'd read the book, the movie was difficult to understand. I can totally see that this would be accurate. The movie tries to fit everything from the book into its screenplay, and although I appreciate the effort to be true to the manuscript, the movie is little more than a series of vignettes from the book. It would be difficult to follow if you hadn't read the book and didn't know how to fill in the blanks that the movie leaves out.

If you have the chance to pick up "Memoirs of a Geisha," I would definitely give it a high recommendation. Put it on your summer reading list... It's perfect for beachside reading.