May 22, 2007
Reading? I am.
In two weeks I've read two books. That may seem like nothin' fancy to some of you, but even at my best I've generally taken weeks or months to finish a book. It's not that I'm a slow reader. I think I have that part down. It's just that I get distracted and sometimes I love a book so much I don't want it to end so I put it down and start another and sometimes I just put them down and never touch them again (sorry MIddlesex). I loved Middlesex a lot but kept putting it aside for book club books and now it's to the point where I look at it longlingly and just never open it. That book is daunting...it's huge and beautifully written so I feel like I owe it to the book to wait until I'm ready to commit. Wow, I need therapy.
Anyway, last week I read The Memory Keeper's Daughter. I'd given it to my mom for Christmas so I could borrow it back. When I realized that Tess will allow me to read my book as long as I sit in the room while she's playing, I got all happy. It's been a long time since I could just sit without interruption. So once I finished that book, I quickly hopped into Water for Elephants. I'm a sucker for book-club-types-of-books. I like my discussion points handed to me at the end of the story and I get wicked happy when people are around who have read the same thing. I'm a humongous dork.
The next one on my night stand is The Road by Cormac McCarthy. I had sworn off Oprah books because they depress the shit out of me most times. I hold no hope for this one either, but I needed one more book to give me free shipping on Amazon and this book was the exact right price for that. Tree will agree with me that it's worth spending 50 bucks you don't need to spend just to get free shipping, but I doubt she'd agree that an Oprah Book Club book is the right choice. I'll let ya know!
Posted by krystal at 6:07 AM | Comments (6)
January 19, 2006
crack attack
I realized the other day that I have turned into a person who needs to be entertained at every waking moment.
This is what I'm talking about:
Talk radio: My biggest quandry of the new year has been if I should listen to the Sports Junkies or Elliot in the Morning. I listen to Elliot in the car and the Junks at work. (fair is fair). Then on the way home I listen to Don and Mike.
Tivo: I've become a tv junkie. If you want to see me get giddy like a school girl, just ask me what's on TV on a given night. Now that we have Tivo I'm able to watch all of the shows I've grown addicted to over the past year. I can watch 24, How I Met Your(stupid)Mother, Bones, House, my soaps, My name is Earl, The Office, etc and just about anything else I can think of and I can work this around the many episodes of Law and Order that I haven't seen yet.
Netflix: for the times when I want to expand my horizons and watch something artsy or foreign or weird that won't be at the video store. For example...right now we've got Killerball and Willy Wonka. Ok nevermind ..I'm not expanding anything.
Ipod: I'm new to the whole ipod thing and I don't like earbuds so ipod gets used at work where I can plug in my earphones that don't gouge my ears or in the car when there's a repeat on my favorite talk shows. I know the ipod holds 1000 songs but I only need about 10 right now. "my humps" "my doorbell" and "rappers delight" (yes the old one that lasts almost as long as my commute) get lots of play. I deleted most of the beatles and maroon 5 that Dan had put on there because ipod seemed to love them and I was getting tired of oh blah di.
Innernets: Fredtalk, The Basement and a bajillion blogs keep me busy during the day while I'm at work. If you sprinkle this with aim chats and emails from my sexy hubby, I never have to worry about getting bored (or working too hard)
Cell phone: just as soon as I think I might die because talk radio took a break for commercials that will last THIRTY MINUTES, I realize that I can just call someone! I either call Dan or the kids most of the time. They're the best entertainers ever. Sometimes I call gayleygayle or my mom or Traci but sometimes I don't even need a voice, so I'll call Sprint and talk to their machine or one of their stupid representatives to find out how many minutes I have used, or to just harass them for not speaking english after I CLEARLY pressed 1 to speak english. GOSH.
Once I get home I'm not usually free to indulge in my technological pleasures so I play with the kids (the ones who still speak to me at least). I even cook dinner sometimes, but while I'm doing that Don and Mike are on. woohoo!
Posted by krystal at 10:52 AM | Comments (1)
May 17, 2005
Fandango!
We're going at 6:30 Thursday night to see the new Star Wars. Yay! <3 fandango.
***
On a funny note: My dad called me today from his cell phone to say "HI SAUCY!!" He was so tickled.
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I am a bundle of hormones this week. I've cried off and on for 2 days over the stupidest shit. So if I'm suddenly furious at you, it's probably not your fault.
***
Hey Tree, go look at this: http://www.nataliedee.com/051605/greenie.jpg
Posted by krystal at 2:57 PM | Comments (1)
March 11, 2005
Fry deee
A crazy storm just came through here that lasted approximately 2 minutes. The worst of it was the black sky and strong wind.
In a short bit James will come and get the kids then Dan and I are going to see Million Dollar Baby. I like having time alone with him. We're usually so busy carting kids around and refereeing their fighting that we don't get time alone til they go to bed. I'm looking forward to the weekend!
Tomorrow is the book club. I feel bad for not reading the book but I hope to get through it soon. I'm still looking forward to the gathering because it's a fun group. We're also having lunch w/ some of the fredtalkers before that. Lots of them actually, I think there are over 20 people going. Great googamooga!
This week we watched Rounders. I'd never seen it but had heard good things about it. I don't think I've ever seen a bad Ed Norton movie. We also watched Collateral, Bourne Supremacy and something else. I swear, we definitely get the most of our netflix subscription.
I'm suddenly sans anything interesting to type. Like that's anything new.
Posted by krystal at 4:21 PM | Comments (2)
March 8, 2005
Do I have spinach in my teeth?
There are 8 days from my most recent entry til this one. I know everyone's just been dying of anticipation. Well, not Mike and Kate who somehow got banninated from seeing my site, I hope we have that fixed now.
Since I last wrote, I had an accident with my car and got 2 appraisals averaging in damage of around $1500. For once it wasn't my fault and for that we are very grateful. Also, since I last wrote I've developed a thyroglossal duct cyst. That's a very fancy word for "lump". It's painful as hell and makes me look like I have the mumps or just the lack of any neck at all. I'm taking drugs for it and hoping to resume having a neck sometime soon.
In the past week I also finished reading Digital Fortress and moved briefly on to the book club book. (the one I need to finish by Saturday...no pressure). I fell asleep on that book 2 times before putting it down in exchange for Jennifer Weiner's new book "Little Earthquakes". I never know if books go in "'s or italics. I'm going to do quotes though because it's my blog and I can. Little Earthquakes is rocking my world and I already don't want it to end even though I'm only 1/4 of the way into it.
Jake's hives are gone and his dorky attitude is back. Thank God for small favors, right? Kendall is doing gymnastics on Saturdays starting this Saturday. She's had Dan doing flips with her...now THATs funny. Trevor has worked himself into a tizzy about SOL's and no matter how many times I tell him that those tests are bullshit and he's smart enough to pass without even showing up, he's still stressed out. I hate that. There should be a law against kids having stress. You get enough of it as adults.
Several things have come together for Dan and I and I just love him so much.
I know that I'm inclined to bitch nonstop about the cluttered state of my house and how I hate cooking and all of that, but really, I'd never give it up (unless someone hired a maid for me. hint hint).
Posted by krystal at 12:13 PM | Comments (7)
January 19, 2005
Different from the entire grit eating world
Honestly, I have been up to more than taking pictures with my phone. I also took some with my regular camera.
Now where was I? Oh yea. Being fat but working on it.
Last Friday night we went out w/ the Fredtalkers to Mi Pueblo. I had a really good time and ate lots but not more than allowed AND I am happy to report, I've been drinking nothin' but lite beer and it's not so horrible.
Saturday Gayle picked me up for girl lunch with her and Dea and Kate. That was so fun. I'd never been to hooters. The food was good, the company was better. I really enjoyed myself and then we went to Kates to look at her sweet lil puppies. After that I came home and we just laid around *resting* til time to go meet Dan's folks for dinner in Ladysmith. The restaurant was surprisingly good for the area. Once again, I ate too much, but not too too much. (make sense?) and this time I stuck to water.
Sunday was the day of rest indeed. We were both comatose and pretty much lounged and geeked out all day long. I think it was a really necessary day after all of the running around from the week before us. Sunday was awesome.
Monday is the day when lots should have gotten accomplished. I went to the Honda dealership to get my car checked because the airbag light came on and it needs an oil change. Honda guy said I needed an appointment. Fucker. Then I went to my eye appointment and waited an hour for my checkup. Finally I rescheduled because I had a 10:30 gym appointment with Gayle. Oh yeah! We joined Slender Lady. It's this circuit training thing where you do each machine for a certain amount of time then do some running in place and stuff. It's only 30 minutes but it's quite a workout. It's also very fun and I look forward to going. This is quite a development for me since I hate hate hate hate +++++ exercise. I went again on Tuesday night and even though I wasn't going to go 'til Thursday I think I'll go again today if the snow holds off.
So anyway, after the gym, Dan and I went to the movies to see In Good Company. Cute flick. I liked it. Then we bought more fish (to replace the ones dan murdered) and then got the kids.
End of relaxing weekend.
/boring recap.
Posted by krystal at 10:17 AM | Comments (1)
January 12, 2005
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
This month we're having the first Fredtalk Book Club meeting at my house.
I found a reading guide online and a few other reading guide questions. Here's what I've got so far:
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
How do you think this novel bridges the gap between literature for adults and children?
What do you think Haddon's illustrations add to the story and to our understanding of Christopher's character?
Although seemingly ill equipped as the narrator of a book, Christopher's character succeeds in eliciting a wide range of emotions in the reader. How do you think Haddon uses his protagonists voice to touch his audience in such a way?
Discuss the relationship between father and son in the novel. How well do you think Christopher's father copes with his son's condition?
The author has used his extensive knowledge of Asperger's syndrome to allow us to see the world through Christopher's eyes, how do you think the story further enhances our attachment to the character and our enjoyment of the book in general?
How far do you think the author has used Christopher's alienating condition to expose intricate truths about our modern lives? Do you think this was his intention in Christopher's exposure of his parent's secret?
Haddon uses the literary technique of the 'unreliable narrator' where the narrator gives a limited or possibly false version of the story, and the reader must work out the real story. What do you think is the overall purpose of using such a narrator in this novel?
Other well known examples of an 'unreliable narrator' are Ishiguro "Remains of the Day' - the repressed butler and Helen Martin's 'Property' - the slave owner's wife. Can you think of any other examples of where an author has used a narrator that doesn't or can't give the whole picture?
In your opinion, has Haddon created a credible picture of someone with Aspergers or Autism? Why/whynot? Research and discuss what you know of these syndromes? Imagine what it must be like in your everyday life to have to think/react like Christopher? or to have Christopher as a member of your family?
Despite Christopher's many 'behavioural problems' - do you feel sympathy or empathy for him? What makes him likeable character?
"This is a murder mystery novel." p 5 Is it really?
What is the significance of the title? How does the Sherlock Holmes novels influence Christopher and how he goes about being a detective?
Christopher doesn't like 'proper novels' because they use obscure metaphor p5 and because 'they are lies about things which didn't happen." p 24. Is 'The Curious Incident..' a proper novel? What makes something the truth or a lie in fiction?
Christopher's father lied about his mother. Why did he find it necessary to lie? Do you think he behaved badly by lying?
'Intuition can sometimes get things wrong. But logic can help you work out the right answer." p82 Does logic lead Christopher to the right answers? How important is intuition in reading this novel?
Is Christopher capable of change? Does his experiences help Christopher grow by the end of the novel? Has he overcome any of his behavioural problems?
What is your opinion of the ending of 'The Curious Incident...' Is it a satisfactory and tidy resolution as Christopher would wish for his novel? What do you imagine will be their lives in the future?
Posted by krystal at 1:07 PM | Comments (4)