Last Saturday night, I went on my first bike ride with Cycle Memphis! They organize a group ride on the first Saturday evening of every month. They always start at the Cooper-Young gazebo, but the route is different every time and usually includes a stop for ice cream. They even have music – one of the organizers pulls a big speaker behind him. I first heard of the group a few months ago, but they require lights on your bike, and I didn’t get lights until last week. Now I’m sorry I waited so long. We did a 10-mile route that took us downtown and back. The pace was pretty leisurely, and no one acted like Lance Armstrong or anything. It was a whole new way to see the city, and being downtown on a bike was really cool. Plus, the weather couldn’t have been more perfect.
There’s something about riding a bike through a summer night with a bunch of other people that made me feel like a kid again. Like I was out in the neighborhood with the other kids and pretty soon my mom would call me home. It was a great feeling. I only knew one person there, but everyone seemed friendly and I’m sure I’ll start meeting people if I keep going back. Which I will, because I’m already hooked!
Most readers of this blog probably know that I’m a huge Friends fan. I’m re-connecting with the show lately – when I visited my sister a few weeks ago, we blew through two and a half DVDs of Season 5 (still my favorite!). Then, last weekend, Alanna and her roommate hosted a Friends party. We played two rounds of Friends Scene It and enjoyed a menu of meatball sandwiches and mac and cheese (for Joey), with cheesecake, muffins, and coffee for dessert. We decided to forgo the trifle with a layer of chipped beef with peas and onions. :)
Anyway, one of the Friends episodes I reference often is Alec Baldwin’s guest-starring episode as Parker, an overenthusiastic man who dates Phoebe. (Season 8, The One In Massapequa.) I’m randomly thinking about it today. I’ve realized that it’s so good because almost everyone knows someone like that character. I’m even related to a few people like him!
I can’t embed a clip, but you can watch one here. Next time you find yourself frazzled by an intensely enthused person, just exclaim, THIS ROOM! THIS NIGHT!!!
Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter
After the events and revelations of Heist Society, teenager Katarina Bishop has become a vigilante thief, only stealing to recover what crooks have taken from the innocent. She’s also determined to work alone, shunning the help of her family and her best friend/dreamy love interest, Hale. But when Kat gets conned into stealing the Cleopatra Emerald by another powerful female thief, the fallout is more than she can handle on her own. There is something about the pacing, exotic settings, and visual quality of these books that makes them obviously ready-made for movies. But that doesn’t bother me. Bring them on!
Graceling by Kristin Cashore
Katsa is a supernaturally gifted (Graced) killer. Her unpleasant uncle, the king, has forced her to bully the populace on his behalf for most of her life. To counteract those deeds, the good-hearted Katsa leads a secret Council that rights wrongs in the kingdom and beyond. After they rescue an imprisoned grandfather/king from a faraway country, Katsa meets his Graced grandson, and together they discover that the mystery of the kidnapping is only hiding a much greater danger. This novel is really solid and balanced on every level. The adventure, the romance, the danger, the family ties and family dysfunction – everything had just the right tone. I loved it, and loved Katsa and Po, and am looking forward to the rest of the series!
The Beginning of After by Jennifer Castle
In one night, high school junior Laurel loses her parents and brother in a tragic car accident. The only person who can truly understand her grief is the son of the man behind the wheel – David, her childhood friend who’s been aloof toward her for years. His mother also died in the accident. This is a slow, quiet, character-driven novel, but I didn’t mind walking through Laurel’s recovery with her. Anyone who’s experienced a Before and After can relate to and appreciate the realness of this story and its characters (who are as flawed as real people but still very likable). Although nothing is sugarcoated, it still ends on a hopeful, encouraging note.
City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare
I continue to enjoy the characters and the witty repartee of this series. The plot is action packed and kept me up way too late finishing the book. COLS presents even darker stuff than the previous Mortal Instruments books, but it didn’t seem gratuitous and was dealt with in a thoughtful way. Still, I give this 4 stars almost despite myself. I prefer the more genteel world of the Infernal Devices (and got excited about the increasing number of ID cross-references – can’t wait to find out who Brother Zachariah REALLY is!).
We Have Confidence! by Cheryl Cory
This sequel to Must’ve Done Something Good finds Sylvie happily married to her former co-teacher/frenemy, and still getting into plenty of hijinks with her sisters, Kate and Meg. In need of a new purpose in life, Sylvie and Meg launch Miss Meg’s Common Sense Academy, but face opposition from a similar business in the area. The B-plot revolves around Kate’s pregnancy and Sylvie’s subsequent soul-searching about whether or not to have kids. This book could have used more editing and structure, but it’s still enjoyable and relatable!
Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? And Other Concerns by Mindy Kaling
I laughed out loud a lot at this collection of funny essays. I didn’t know much about Mindy Kaling before, but now I feel a kinship with her. Partly because her general “voice” reminds me so much of Jessica that I feel like I know her. :) This is a fun, fast read.
Scary Hope: Courage and a kick to hug hope, face fear, and get going by Gary Morland
As a student of hope, I was all over this e-book when I read about it on Emily Freeman’s blog (Gary Morland is her father). It’s a collection of thoughts, quotes, and stories about hope. It’s God-centered without being preachy, and has a rambly, stream-of-consciousness style that fans of Donald Miller will love. Don’t be fooled by its humble appearance – this little book is inspiring and insightful. It was what I needed at this moment in my life. In fact, it’s probably already time to re-read it.
Books for May: 7
2012 year to date: 28
My Kindle is earning its keep! I read most of these books on the Kindle, and some were from my library’s new e-book program, which is almost TOO convenient – you don’t have to go anywhere to pick up your holds. I’ve been stacking up $2.99 bargain e-books too. I really hesitated to get a Kindle, but it’s one of the best investments I’ve made in a long time!
My brother came home for Memorial Day weekend! On Saturday, we and our parents went to Beech Lake, about an hour and a half away. I wish there was a nice lake close to Memphis, but at least this lake is better than the Mississippi mud pits. It was a pretty fun day – I tubed and Jetskied a little, but mostly sunned myself on a float and caught up on my magazines. Good times.
Monday was an expensive day. I finally ordered a bathing suit from Land’s End:
I don’t think any woman enjoys swimsuit shopping, but it’s borderline impossible for me to find one that fits correctly for under $100. So I was thrilled to get this cute top AND a coordinating striped bottom for a total of $53! However, I quickly found something to eat up that savings:
My $5 sunglasses from last year are falling apart (surprise?), so I decided to branch out and get something a little nicer. These are from Kohl’s, and I admit it – they’re J.Lo. I generally avoid aviators (having worn non-sun aviator glasses throughout my Awkward Years), but these made me feel very glam. I also fell in love with this straw-look summer bag, which seemed reasonably priced next to the $120 Club Monaco straw clutch I’ve been longing for. When I tried them on together in the store, it was game over.
To protect my new shades, I sewed a quilted sunglasses case using this tutorial (found on Pinterest, of course). It’s the first reversible case/sleeve I’ve made that came out correctly on the first try! Progress!
It’s time to take down my spring wreath and put up a summer one, so one of my goals for the long weekend was to make a (fake) lemon wreath! I’m pleased with how it turned out, but sadly, the lemons are too “tall” to fit between my regular door and storm door. I guess I’ll deconstruct, display the lemons in a bowl, and find something else to put on the wreath. This was my first attempt at covering a wreath form with moss ribbon, and FYI, wrapping around is not the way to go unless you can afford a lot of moss ribbon. I barely had enough to cover the front.
That’s the latest from this Popsicle stand.
So a chipmunk has taken up permanent residence under my back step. I call him Theodore. I’ve seen him playing with another chipmunk on several occasions, but I can’t tell if that one also lives here or is just visiting. Anyway, Theodore has become very bold and spends most of his time on the back patio or sitting right on the step. This keeps my cats entertained for hours.
I also noticed this tiny path that’s been worn from my shed to my bird feeder. Maybe the other chipmunk, or the squirrels, are living under there. (The squirrel birdseed war rages on.)
Everything is blooming in my yard right now – I want to be out there all the time!
This week I finished my annuals planting. I always put geraniums in a planter on the back patio, but I couldn’t resist adding these “Lemon Zest” petunias. I saw them at Lowe’s a few weeks ago and was still thinking about them. They’re so cheery!
I had to plant a pot of mint for summer beverages. :)
The front planter is complete – I went with caladiums and a whole flat of multicolored impatiens. It’s going to look great!
The first of the lilies! These are Asiatic lilies that I planted last spring, but my tiger lilies from the fall planting are coming up too. I can’t wait for those to bloom.
Happy holiday weekend!
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