February Book Update #5

February has come and gone and so has my last book of the month. It was historical fiction based that's been on my bookshelf for years. Dad let me borrow it when I ran my first race down at Chickamauga in 2007. I've since done two more races there, including a half-marathon there last fall.

The north Georgia battlefield has always had a special place in my heart, long before it hosted my very first marathon.

I've been climbing on cannons there before I could even say the word "cannon." It's a beautiful place. Beautiful in that haunting way though, because you know just how much was lost there.

But I digress....the book was A Mockingbird Sang at Chickamauga.

I really enjoyed it. It begins in the summer of 1863, in the weeks leading up to the battle in mid-September. It intertwines the stories of several soldiers, the majority of whom fought for the south (after all, the writer was from Kentucky). Having grown up in this area, the author's description of places was so easy for me to visualize. Of course I see them with 21st century eyes, but I've seen enough photos from the Civil War to have a good idea of what it looked like in the drought-stricken summer of 1863.

You wouldn't think that a book about 150 year old war would be a real page turner, especially considering I knew quite well the outcome of this particular battle, but I blew through the pages. And speaking of pages....I love reading an old book. The smell is so intoxicating. Yes, I'm one of those weirdos who will stick her nose in the middle of an old book....just to inhale its musty scent. I won't go so far as to say that I will *never* own an e-reader, but I can't imagine giving up the feel of a page between my fingers.

Wordless Wednesday

Thrift Store Treasures

Allie and I hit a few thrift stores this morning. I was impressed with our finds. A shirt, a dress (Gymboree!) and two pairs of shoes.

The pink shirt is for Anastasia. She's really into peace signs so when I saw it, I knew it was for her. Plus it's one of those worn shirts that is super soft. The dress is for Ainsley and is adorable. She's going to love it. I'm already washing it so she can wear it tomorrow.

Allie is REALLY rough on her shoes. So I didn't mind springing 99 cents for these cute ones that will likely be destroyed before March has come and gone.

I almost forgot! We also got a really cool ball featuring Allie's princess of the moment..Snow White.

I also got some...um...."unique" nick nacks for a certain friend who turns 30 this weekend. Let's just say that I spared no expense.

All in all it was a good haul...I even had a coupon (for a thrift store...cool, right?!?!) so I spent about $9 for all that we got today.

The Saddest Day of My Life

Anastasia and her classmates recently had a writing assignment to document "The Saddest Day" of their lives. Considering the wide variety of backgrounds in her classroom I felt like this was a pretty meaty topic. After reading Anastasia's, I'd LOVE to hear what the other kids wrote about.

Anastasia chose the day her grandparents car was struck in the parking lot after we ate at Cracker Barrel. She talks about how we ate pancakes and how a bystander who saw the wreck happen, stayed to tell police what she had seen.

Now bear in mind that this all happened about 18 months ago. But clearly the event scarred her as she is able to recall with vivid detail the events of that Sunday morning. It it, to date, her finest piece of writing. It will make its way into the Keepsake Box with great fanfare. And as a parent I am incredibly grateful that this is the extent of my child's sadness. So many parents in so many other places are not so fortunate.

Star Gazing

Ainsley got a telescope for her birthday. It's nothing fancy, but Granddad (a bona fide space expert) says it's the perfect beginner one. On Friday night he came over for movie night and before the movie started he and the girls went outside to try and see the moon.

Unfortunately the rest of that front was moving through and the clouds were not very cooperative.

Those clouds helped the moon play hide-and-seek with us for a while. I finally caught a glimpse, but we couldn't get the clouds to get out of the way for them to see the moon through the telescope.

We're hoping to try again tonight and have better luck!

February Book Update #4

The good thing about being trapped at home with your family and a stomach bug....you know what? Actually there is no good thing about all five members of your family being sick. But while we were all down for the count I did manage to do some more reading.

I polished off a really great historical fiction novel, Shashenka.

A friend had said it was a wonderful book and I, trusting her advice, picked it up. It certainly wasn't a book I would've found on my own so I am grateful for the recommendation. It was unlike anything else I had ever read and I couldn't put it down. It begins in Russia in 1916 and ends in 1994. I was completely sucked in by the story despite being very ignorant about Russian history. I knew the basics of course, but learned so much from the book!

Up next was another of my mom's books. (As an aside...my mom just landed a FOUR BOOK contract...so expect to be seeing more of her!!)

I loved this story so much. It didn't hurt that a large part of it takes place in Key West which was just the escapism I was looking for in the midst of a stomach virus epidemic! Her writing took me back there, in fact to many of the very same places Jamie and I visited last summer. I loved it!

Also this week I read Born to Run.

It was really slow at first, but once I got into it, I enjoyed it. It examines why we run and how we run. It centers around the Tarahumara Indians of Mexico and the isolated life they lead while being perhaps, the world's greatest runners. I appreciated the science of this book that has me thinking about various aspects of my running and how I can improve. I love inspirational running books like this because it always makes me want to get out there and run!

Star Wars Saga Continues

I realize now, that showing the Star Wars movies to our girls was a life-altering moment for them. It's now a part of their everyday vernacular. Even the toddler can be overheard playing with her dolls, now named Luke and Leia. I asked her last weekend what she wanted to watch for family movie night and she said, "YODA!!!"

Nana and Granddad fueled the Star Wars fire with a gift recently. Star Wars Lunchboxes from Williams-Sonoma.

And yes, those are cool sandwich cutters that came inside. Awesome!

And then on Amazon this week....I came across this.....

I TOTALLY am buying it for Allie!!!

Taffeta, Darling

Jamie and I have always loved the Mel Brooks classic, Young Frankenstein. There's one scene from the movie that totally describes our life this week. Gene Wilder and Madeline Kahn are at the train station as he prepares to leave for Transylvania. The scene is as follows.

[Dr. Frankenstein leans in for a kiss.]
Elizabeth: Taffeta, darling.
Dr. Friedrich von Frankenstein: Taffeta, dear.
Elizabeth: [pulling away] No, the dress is taffeta. It wrinkles so easily.

The scene goes on as he tries to hug her (The hair!) and shake her hand (The nails!). Finally Dr. Frankenstein gives up and the pair shakes elbows. It's hysterical and something we've done over the years anytime one of us is sick. And wow, have we been sick this week. Despite a fair number of elbow shakes, all five of us managed to fall to a nasty stomach bug. It's been a rough few days. I think we're finally on the mend, but if you see us...I don't even know if I'd dare touch our elbows!

Wordless Wednesday

More From Cades Cove

Because I took one hundred photos last weekend, I feel the need to share more from our trip to Cades Cove. It never fails to be a paradise for a photographer, even an amateur like myself.

A Picture's Worth 1,000 Words

When it comes to running, the only pictures I have are ones taken during my races. Those fall into two categories.

Category A: The Happy Shot

These photographs are taken when I see the photographer and grin, smile, and wave to indicate I really am actually enjoying this maddening torture folks call a marathon.

Category B: The Not-So-Happy Shot

These pictures are taken when I don't realize someone is there snapping away and I am feeling every one of those 26 miles. My personal favorite picture from category B came in 2011 when one of the folks from IOH snapped a picture of me just after I finished (two races in two days, mind you). I look...in a word...miserable.

But as much as these pictures capture, they are photographs of racing, not running. Which in my mind - are two totally different things.

I was thrilled to be included in a local photographer's February Foto Project. His wife and photo partner in crime had took our family pictures back in late 2010. This month he is shooting TONS of cool, creative things and I'm so glad I was able to be a part of it. When I first saw his pictures of me running on my beloved greenway I had two thoughts, a:) WOW, Wes was pretty liberal with the photoshop. In fact he must have just plopped a different runner into the shots because there is no way that graceful creature is me and b:) That is *exactly* how I feel when I am running.

February Book Update #3

My next book for 2012 was Torrents of Spring by Ernest Hemingway.

I will be honest and say, I didn't get it. I know it is hailed as a brilliantly written satire, but sadly that was lost on the likes of me. I need to do a little research to learn more of the background of the book. It was a short read though so I didn't toil very long over its pages.Suffice it to say, it is not my favorite Hemingway.

My next book was one that has been on my bookshelf for over a decade. I purchased it on a trip to Jamaica in 1999. It's a small paperback originally published in the 1920's that I picked up in the gift shop at Rosehall Plantation.

It's a fascinating spot that sits high on a hill overlooking the ocean. And just like all good historic spots in the West Indies, it is rumored to be haunted, this house specifically by Annie Palmer. She was the mistress of the house who (after going through three husbands in rapid succession that she is believed to have killed) was killed by her slaves during an uprising.

The book is an account of the weeks leading up to Ms. Palmer's death. The opening sentences of the novel transported me back to the gates of the grand estate where in front of you the house rests on a hill far above while the ocean waves crash at your back. My friends and I had a wonderful day exploring Rosehall, a trip that included a stop at Annie Palmer's grave. Under the shade of palm trees we stood by her stone tomb as our native tour guide sang "The Ballad of Annie Palmer" that Johnny Cash wrote. Despite the insane heat of that day I vividly remember getting goosebumps during that song. Anyway, the book was pretty good. The language was that of a novel written in the early 1900's and I got a kick out of the vocabulary and the sex scene...which was a sex scene...without saying it was a sex scene. It was a quick read that gave me plenty of nostalgia for Jamaica. I even pulled out my photo album from the trip.

So for those keeping track...that's ELEVEN books for the year so far. Not too shabby!

A Mid-Winter's Day Dream

Yesterday we loaded up and drove to Cades Cove to meet some of our family for a fun day. We always go to the Cove with the hopes of seeing lots of wildlife. But of course, it is the middle of winter even though the thermometer read well above 60* yesterday.

We did managed to see a couple dozen deer, but that was about the extent of our wildlife pursuits.

But what the Cove lacked in animals, it made up for in other ways. Like daffodils in bloom everywhere....

The kids had fun together, as always!

And we had a wonderful picnic. Nana really went all out with a great meal that included ribs warmed on the engine of my uncle's vehicle. (Are we cool, or what??)

It was a beautiful day!

I'm so thankful we were able to enjoy time with our extended family. I like that my girls have grown up knowing all these amazing people. You know...people who heat up meat on a diesel engine. ; )

A Cousin Abroad

Recently on the blog I talked about one of my cousins who was obsessed with The Sound of Music growing up. As it turns out, that very cousin is currently studying abroad in India for several months. I was able to tell her about watching the movie with my girls thanks to Facebook. It amazes me that Lucy can be on the other side of the world and can communicate with me and the rest of our family as if she were next door.

Lucy's blog is a more detailed account of her travels. Her pictures are a stunning travelogue of her time in India and in other parts of the world. I don't have many regrets in life, but I do wish I had traveled more while in college. Before I had a job and kids. Before I put down my roots so deeply.

I'm so proud of Lucy for leaving her comfort zone thousands of miles away and experiencing life in other countries. Her time in India is not a vacation. It is an in-depth study of a place and its people. I hope her example will encourage my own girls to travel and learn more about their world. Here is an excerpt from her latest e-mail to us...

"It seems to me that I can feel it getting hotter and hotter each day, but my time in India is becoming more and more exciting and fascinating. Two weekends ago I did a home-stay with a wonderful older Indian couple who were incredibly hospitable and generous. I came away from that weekend feeling much more informed about this incredible country I am in."

My Best Friend

"Mommy, you my best friend."
-Allie (Followed by a big, wet kiss on the lips)

(Not-So) Wordless Wednesday

I know my Wordless Wednesday posts are supposed to speak for themselves, but I wanted to say that I didn't take this picture (although I wish I had!). My mom took it at the Grand Canyon over the weekend. I've never been but have always wanted to go. I'll have to check the Clipboard of Fun, but I'm pretty sure we're heading that way in the Summer of 2014.....

Valentine's Day Competition

Anastasia's class took a different approach to Valentine's Day this year. Each child was supposed to design some kind of receptacle for their Valentines. There were categories in which you could enter your creation. Anastasia went for the humorous category with her Christmas-inspired box.

It was a Valentine's Day gift from Saint Nick to Saint Valentine....

She came home with the award for "Funniest." Love it!!

P.S. Both Ainsley AND Anastasia come home with gifts from boys. Seriously?!? I've moved on from the "That's cute" stage to the disturbed stage. We have now had a talk about boys and presents and lots of other things that I certainly didn't expect to have to discuss on Valentine's Day.

Happy Valentine's Day!

This is the card I made for the girls' grandparents and great-grandparents. I'm sorry if you didn't get one. Please, don't be offended. Just know I had a coupon for some...and only had 5 printed....so enjoy it now, even though it didn't show up in your mailbox.

February Book Update #2

I'm already up to nine books for 2012.I'm sure that number will drop off drastically, but for now I'm going to keep plugging away it and enjoying each turn of the page.

After the Pioneer Woman's book, I borrowed Bossypants from my sister.

I've always enjoyed Tina Fey's comedy and had heard that I should really read her book. I will say, I was a bit disappointed. There were certainly moments that I laughed out loud, but overall I found the book to be pretty bland. The anecdotes seemed jumbled and disorganized. I'm not sure what I was hoping for, but it just really wants as funny as I thought it would be. I guess I give it an "okay."

After an easy, light read from Tina Fey, I opted for something a little more substantial. The book was South of Broad.

I had read his Beach Music a long time ago so I knew Conroy's work pretty well. I've got a thing for Southern writers. I always have. From Eudora Welty to William Faulker. Wilma Dykeman to Margaret Mitchell....I just love them all. Pat Conroy does not disappoint in this regard. The book is set in Charleston, a city I've loved since I was a child. That alone was enough for me to pick it up at the used book store recently. (Translation...I begged my children to let me have 3 measly dollars of credit so I could get it.)

South of Broad is a hefty 500+ pages but by ignoring my chores and my children, I was able to finish in record time. I was so invested in the book and its characters that I failed to notice that a large portion of the book was set in the summer of 1989. Not sure if you know what happened in Charleston in September of that year, but suffice it to say there I was mourning the death of one of the characters when BAM! Conroy hit me over the head with Hurricane Hugo that I should've seen coming miles away as it gathered strength in the Atlantic.

I truly enjoyed this book not only for its setting, but for its characters. It's not a "beach read" though and tackles topics like faith (specifically Catholicism), marriage, and the AIDS epidemic of the late 1980's. It also takes friendship head-on and explores the many ways our friends shape us and change us as we grow from teenagers to adulthood. I was very sorry to see this book come to an end yesterday afternoon. I am going to head to the library this week and see about getting another one of Conroy's books. But until then...it's time for a book by my old stand-by favorite - Ernest Hemingway.....

Allie at Rest

Allie is an on-the-go kind of gal. She runs full-throttle from the moment her feet the floor each morning. Though we've never tried, I'm pretty sure she would outlast us all in a "Stay Up All Night" competition.

But sometimes, when the planets align....she rests. And she rests well.....

Consider Yourself Warned

I'm putting my family on notice-your Halloween costume has already been determined. So no need to fret for the next 8 months or so about what you will wear this year, my girls have already chosen a costume for you.

Jamie-Darth Vader (or Dark Vader as the girls call him)
Me-C3Po
Ainsley-Queen Amadala
Anastasia-Leia

(She did that hair all by herself so she could watch the Empire Strikes Back in full Leia regalia.)
Allie-Yoda
Granddaddy-Obi-Wan Kenobi ("Because he gets old in the fourth movie anyway!")
Nana-Han Solo (Duh...because she loves Harrison Ford...)
Chris-Luke Skywalker
Anna-One of the Queen's servants (Sorry...I lobbied for you to be Chewbacca...but that request was denied by the Queen)

Oh...and R2D2 will be played by a well-designed cardboard box that will be pulled in the wagon...just like in Episode IV. And if you are interested in joining our motley crew....there are plenty of Ewoks and Droids that will need to be cast. (Lightsaber experience not required, but a plus.)

In Which Much Is Revealed

Sometimes I do weird things. Correction: I often do weird things. And now I know why.

Yes, that's my mother, posing like a cactus in Arizona this week. At least I come by it honestly.....

Overheard at Our House This Week

"Dad, S says that Harry Potter is better than Star Wars."

"I'm sorry, you can no longer be friends with S."

"Are you serious?"

There is No Finish Line

It's a quote that is often tossed around on running posters and shirts, "There is no finish line." Corny? Absolutely! False? Absolutely not. Even though last month I crossed the finish line of my fifth marathon, my race goes on. I was thrilled with my monthly mileage for January. I am working harder to be able to run faster and more efficiently.

Thanks to my expert shoe folks over at Runner's Market, I've found the best pair of socks ever.

They are actually designed like a shoe so there is a left sock and a right sock! I love the way they make my feet feel when I run. I've got to get another pair. And in case you need a pair of your own...you can go to Runner's Market, or click here.

February is off to a good start. I'm very strict about running on the first day of the month, which I did last week. I feel like it sets me up for success in the days and weeks to follow. My next goal is the Knoxville Marathon on (appropriately) April 1st. I so enjoyed running a big race in my home city last year and I can't wait to do it again!