Catchup

I haven't made a really substantial post for awhile, so I'm going to try to make up for that today.  I've been so busy with work since coming back after Christmas that I've been short on time, as well as ideas! 

First off, it's interesting the things you find when your child becomes able to write.  I find things he's written on his desk that just crack me up.  This little gem was found on my bedside table last week:

When asked why he felt this way, he said it was because a friend at school told him that they put poison in the food at fast food places.  It's not like we eat fast food all the time or anything, but I'm pretty sure Luke has never complained about a fast food meal.  We'll see how he really feels next time we eat fast food.

As mentioned in the previous post, we got to meet my new nephew, who does have a name now, by the way.  Tucker Wade is a sweetheart.  Luke really enjoyed getting to meet his new cousin.  I can't wait to see this sweet little guy again sometime soon!

I've been trying to stay caught up with my reading, but I've been so busy lately, it's been tough.  Here are the books I've been reading for the last few weeks. 

First up, probably my favorite...Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand.  I'm not typically a nonfiction reader, but this book...just. wow.  It is the story of Louis Zamperini, who started out in life as a bit of a thief, discovered running in high school, went to the 1936 Olympics, then ended up fighting in WWII, which led to him being a Japanese POW.  It's the story of the hardships of his life and his ability to remain, well, unbroken, in the face of unbelievable circumstances.  This author also wrote Seabiscuit.  I've never read the book or seen the movie, but the book is definitely on my list.  Though, it was nonfiction, it didn't read like it.  I couldn't put it down.  There are plans in the works to turn this book into a movie.  If so, I'll definitely be seeing it!  Thanks to my friend, Rachel, for recommending this to me!

Next up, another nonfiction book recommended by my friend Shea. This book was a fascinating look at the World's Fair that took place in Chicago in 1893.  It took you through the planning and building of the fair, which was accomplished in an amazingly short time.  It gives you a look at things we use today that were developed and part of the fair.  The fair was called "The White City"...the "Devil" was a doctor who ended up murdering a number of people during the time period of the fair.  It's a fascinating look at one of the first documented serial killers in the US.  This book is definitely being made into a move - to be released in 2013 starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Dr. H.H. Holmes, the killer.  I'll definitely be seeing this one too! 

I love VI Warshawski.  She's a tough as nails private eye in Chicago.  She's getting older, but she doesn't back down from a case.  If you haven't read books in this series, I'd recommend any of them.  VI fights for what she believes is right and doesn't let any threat or danger get in her way.  In this case, she works to solve a murder in a cemetery where a group of girls were holding a vampire club meeting.  There are no actual vampires (can't do those types of stories - too weird for my blood), so no worries there if you feel the same! 

Unwind is a young adult novel I read for work.  Some of my kids may be reading this as part of lit circles coming up in the near future, so I wanted to make sure I had read it.  To be honest, I wasn't really that excited to read it, because I had categorized it as "weird" in my mind, because it's futuristic and science-fiction-like & those aren't really my favorite kind of books.  In this novel, a 2nd civil war has been fought over abortion and the result is that parents can make a choice once their child is 13 to "unwind" their child if he or she doesn't turn out the way they'd hoped.  An unwind will basically be taken apart and every part of his or her body used to replace worn out, broken, etc parts in other people.  In this way, they'll live on and never exactly die.  It was actually a really good story and raises lots of questions.  I can see young readers really getting into this one.

And finally, I joined the world of Pinterest a few weeks ago.  It's kind of interesting to see what other people are "pinning", but to be quite honest, I still really don't get it.  It's just not my thing.  I've mainly pinned books I've read or want to read.  I don't cook, I don't decorate, I don't do crafts...and a lot of other stuff I see pinned.  I guess I'm happy to say I don't find it to be a time waster the way other people say they do when they really love it. I don't really find a need to spend much time there at all!  So, to those of you who love it...that's great...it's just not for me. :)