More about Reading and Week in Review, 5/25--5/31

First of all, I feel bad that some of you said you felt ashamed, or words to that effect, about not reading much, and I felt like maybe it came across that I was boasting or something. Please remember that the only reason I read as much as I do is that I am not gainfully employed, and that I have a messy house most of the time. I COULD have a neater house and read less, but I doubt it would benefit the children, because I would be unhappy without my books, and as you know, IF MAMA AIN'T HAPPY AIN'T NOBODY HAPPY.

Anyway, if I had an actual paying career, and children on top of that (but how could children be on top of a career?), I bet I'd only read a book or two a month. And then only because I'd be antisocial at lunch sometimes and read in my office. So if you're just too busy living your life to read much--maybe it's just where you are right now, and you'll read more later. Or maybe you won't, if it's just not your thing.

Also, I read those books in a month in which Miss Pink was in school three mornings a week. I guaran-dang-tee you I won't read that many in June. Two kids = MORE than double the interruptions.

You probably didn't care that much about it. Let's move on.

Week in Review, 5/25--5/31

You know, this week I wish I could do two parallel columns so you could look across to see the irritating aspects of even the positive things. I guess I'll do them right after each other.

Liking

Mr. Blue is obsessed with monster trucks. He makes us look up monster truck videos on YouTube, and I bought him a small one that he can push around--and does he ever. He takes it to bed at night.

Not so much
His daddy can't wait to take him to a rally when he's older. It's safe to say I will not be attending. Oh, and Mr. B throws a fit whenever I tell him he can't take his "moh-stah twuck" into restaurants or places where he will lose it.

Liking
2. Miss Pink wants me to read Bible stories to her every day. Since we happen to be Christians, it's nice to see one's child becoming interested in the book we try to live by.

Not so much
However, this particular Bible story book is a little weird for me. It's very sanitized for little ones. No mention of any of the gory details that might disturb a child. I mean, I know that a child doesn't need to hear about Tamar being raped by her brother or anything, but I remember hearing as a child that David cut Goliath's head off and my only reaction was, "Yeah! Serves him right!" It reminds me of the way they have sanitized the old Grimm's Fairy Tales, which were pretty darn violent. It seems to me we rob these stories of their power if we take away the ugliness they contain. Okay, I think this needs to be a post of its own.

Liking
3. Miss P has the cutest bathing suit: green and white stripes, with a flouncy skirt. It is so sweet it makes my teeth hurt for a minute when she wears it. I wish mine looked like that.

Not so much
Of course, I wouldn't look as cute as she does if I wore a larger-sized version of her suit. (Freakin' cellulite!) But the skirt would help. I will surrender and get a suit with a skirt next year.

Liking
We have some new friends who we met through Miss P's school. (She's the one who inadvertently got us locked in the pool area.) She and I have really hit it off, and Justin likes her husband, too. She had said she really needed a cabinet for her laundry area but couldn't afford much, and Justin told her he had leftover cabinets all the time and would give her one when he had one. This weekend they went out of town, and when they get back, they will see their brand-new, custom-designed cabinet that my sweet husband built just for them and conspired with her brother to have installed for their return. It's so lovely to be able to do something nice for someone.

Not so much
There really isn't a down side to this one.