November Books

October Books

Christmas Card Giveaway

Leila at Like Mother, Like Daughter is hosting a Christmas Card Giveway over at her blog. I've got my entry in.

Random Meme

I haven't done one of these in an age, but Dawn at By Sun and Candlelight posted this, so I was inspired.

1. What's your middle name?

Ann

2. What's your favorite magazine?

Magnificat

3. What are you wearing right now?

Blue short-sleeved turtleneck, brown pleated skirt

4. What color are your bed sheets?

Sage

5. Who was your third grade teacher?

Sister Mary Patrick

6. What is the weather like right now?

Cloudy

7. Do you know how to ski?

No

8. What was the last thing you drank?

Stew broth. I just put a stew in the crock pot and I was checking the seasoning.

9. Dream vacation?

Trans-Atlantic cruise

10. Favorite article of clothing?

New denim skirt

11. Do you prefer baking or cooking?

Baking

12. Is your hair above or below your shoulders?

 Below

13. What drink do you order when out?

Bourbon and Coke

14. What book are you reading?

I am sadly between books, but awaiting the arrival of The Old Fox Deceiv'd (Richard Jury Mystery) from inter-library loan.

15. What did you dream about last night?

Nothing

16. What was the last movie you went to?

Toy Story 3

17. Any injuries at the moment?

No

18. What color is your bathroom?

Plain off white

19. What's the state of your laundry right now?

Mostly caught up yesterday

20. Do you take vitamins?

Yes

21. Where do you love to shop?

I don't

22. How often do you buy groceries?

Once a week

23. Do you have a pet/pets?

No (we rent)

24. If you are married, when is your next anniversary?

15 years tomorrow

25. How do you take your coffee and/or tea?

Coffee: black with sugar unless there's real cream

Tea: black with sugar

26. Mac or PC? Desktop or Laptop?

iMac G5 desktop; old iBook laptop

I am a Mac, I've never been a PC

27. Favorite month of the year?

November

28. Do you have a hobby?

Many

29. What salad dressing do you prefer?

Greek

30. Live or fake Christmas tree?

Always live, usually cut down by my husband

31. Did you walk or take a bus to school?

Bus

32. Do you have any phobias?

Flying, anesthesia

33. What's your favorite snack food?

Hummus

34. When do you take your shower/bath?

Early morning

35. What time did you get up this morning?

7:00

36. What's your favorite animal?

Dog

37. Have you ever broken a bone?

No

38. Do you wear makeup?

Yes if I go out, but not if I'm just staying home

39. Do you speak any foreign languages?

Not fluently. Took four years of high school Spanish, one semester of college French and I have taught my sons Latin for the past eight years.

40. Have you ever played a sport?

Softball, cheerleader

41. Your last UPS package delivered contained ...

Parts for central vacuum systems (for my husband's business)

42. What's on your desktop?

Tulips

43. What is your home page?

Google Reader

44. Extrovert or introvert?

Introvert, but I'm getting better

45. Favorite board game?

Clue

46. What class did you like best in high school? In college?

High school: Senior English with Mr. Keating

College: Accounting, of course

47. What would you do with an extra hour each day?

Read

48. Do you have allergies?

Hay fever

49. Are your nails painted? 

No

50. Where are you right now? 

Our office (which is really the third bedroom)

September 11 Books

Books for remembering September 11:





Read my review of Bikeman here.

September Books

In addition to our textbooks, here are the books we will be reading this September:

Reading Lately

I have been reading through the Inspector Ian Rutledge Mysteries from the beginning. I am really enjoying them. They are set in 1919 - 20 Britain just after World War I. Although written currently by an American duo under the name Charles Todd, they evoke the best of the Golden Age of Detective Fiction (1918 - 1939).

I've finished the fourth one this week, and am hoping to catch the fifth title at the library for my trip next week.

Speaking of Writing....

I am totally engrossed by the serial mystery Seraphic Spouse is posting on her blog. There's an installment nearly every day. And it is good! She's a published author who lives in an Historical House, so you know it's quality stuff.

Really? I Don't See It

I write like
Kurt Vonnegut

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

I write like
Vladimir Nabokov

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

Summer Soccer

Thought I'd share some shots from this mornings soccer match. It was a glorious day and I had a peaceful spot in the shade for Arch's match.

Simple Woman's Daybook January 18, 2010

FOR TODAY... 


Outside my window... yucky, dirty, half-melted, muddy snow. Not pretty.

I am thinking... about taxes. My new job :)

I am thankful for... for the nice man who fixed my washing machine for a ridiculously low price.

I am wearing... sweater set, pleated skirt and no shoes or socks. My feet are cold :/

I am remembering... Haiti. I had a classmate in college who was Haitian. I haven't seen him since college, but I have thought about him this past week.

I am going... nowhere until Wednesday at lunchtime. I love being home in winter.

I am currently reading... the plays of Oscar Wilde. I am still not through them. I put reading aside this past week. The Fedex man brought me an ARC of a new Civil War history book to read and review today. A Vast and Fiendish Plot by Clint Johnson. It's a true tale of a Confederate plot to burn Manhattan in 1864. I just began it while BamBam was in the tub, and I'm still on the prologue.

I am hoping... to get caught up on paperwork here at home before Saturday. I can do that.

On my mind... again, Haiti. Really unspeakable, and I don't think we, the human race, have done our best to get aide to the people who need it as efficiently as we could have.

Pondering these words... "The unborn are as much a part of the Beloved Community as are newborns, infants, teenagers, adults, and the elderly.  Too many of us speak of tolerance and inclusion, yet refuse to tolerate or include the weakest and most innocent among us in the human family.  As we celebrate the life of Uncle Martin, let us renew our hearts and commit our lives to treating each other, whatever our race, status, or stage of life, as we would want to be treated.  Let us let each other live." -- Dr. Alveda King, January 18, 2010

From the kitchen... There were cinnamon rolls over the weekend, but they're gone now :(

Around the house... I am trying to organize and purge as I go.

From our studies... BamBam is reading now. We have learned short vowel
"a." Cat, bat, pan, man. You get the idea. Arch is working on explorers.

One of my favorite things... Minnie, my minivan. Yes, I named her. Yes, it is from a children's movie.

On my iPod ... Catholic Foodie podcasts. My absolute favorite and the one I always listen to first.

Plans for the upcoming week... cleaning and organizing, co-op, bowling, two soccer games, work on Saturday, confession, football. Go Jets!

From my picture journal... the little "colts" doing soccer drills.

Simple Woman's Daybook January 11, 2010

FOR TODAY...

Outside my window... snow, and more snow. Snowing now. Everything is so white and blanketed. Birds and squirrels are congregating at the feeders.

I am thinking... about blogging and picking up with it again.

I am thankful for... for all of my family and friends.

I am wearing... sweater, top, skirt, heavy socks.

I am remembering... that 2009 went by so fast!

I am going... to Buffalo tomorrow, while the boys play at a friend's house.

I am currently reading... the plays of Oscar Wilde. I was in a Wilde mood. Currently in the middle of "A Woman of No Importance."

I am hoping... to get a good report from the doctor tomorrow.

On my mind...getting ready to go back to work, and renewing my drivers' license.

Noticing that... my two boys are growing very fast indeed.

Pondering these words... "Anyone who lives within their means suffers from a lack of imagination." - Oscar Wilde

From the kitchen... I have no idea what is for dinner tonight, which is not like me at all.

Around the house... laundry is getting done. It had piled up quite a bit last week.

One of my favorite things... my iPhone. For so many reasons.

From my picture journal... Lego ball drop, New Year's Eve 2009.