Today is especially busy for me and I won’t be home until late, so I went ahead and voted first thing this morning. I enjoy voting, even when I’m not gung ho about any of the candidates or issues. I think I’ve only missed one or two votes in the past fourteen (!) years. It’s important to me to honor the sacrifices of the Founding Fathers AND the suffragettes! I always consult Shelby Vote and the local newspapers for info about local races, and Candidate Comparison helped me make a decision for the presidential primary. You can select any two candidates and look at their takes on different issues side by side.
I’m remembering the last Super Tuesday, February 5, 2008. That day was memorable not for political reasons, but because of a massive storm that swept through Memphis at the evening rush hour, dropping two tornadoes in the metro area and causing a Tornado Emergency to be declared. It went on to basically level Union University in Jackson. My former boss let us leave early that day so we could get to the polls before the storm arrived. When I walked out of the elementary school where I vote, a huge mesocyclone (not quite a funnel cloud) was swirling and starting to descend before my eyes. I’d waited all my life to see a tornado in person, so I’m still disappointed that instead of taking out my camera, I fled to my car and sped around the corner to the safety of my house. (My ex-husband was standing around in the front yard, totally nonplussed. A few minutes later he went to the gun range and left me to cower alone in the bathroom with the cats for over an hour. Thank God those days are over.) Anyway, I don’t think I’ll ever vote in another primary without thinking of that night!
I have lots to share this week, so stay tuned!
2 Comments + Posted in: celebrate, weather
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| This rabbit reminds me so much of my Bun! (I had a rabbit from high school until a few years after college.) |
How about some Friday Links?
♥ Short but profound thoughts on the events that separate your life into “before and after,” from Glorysgirl.
♥ What’s saving your life? at Through a Glass Darkly.
♥ Friends who fight for you at A Deeper Story.
♥ Relationship vs. Action at Stuff Christians Like.
♥ Whenever I buy my herb plants for the year, I’m going to celebrate with this Green Couscous (aka Glenn Couscous). I just discovered the Amateur Gourmet – he’s hilarious! Read the whole post about the dishes people brought to his Oscar party.
♥ My favorite local bakery, Muddy’s Bake Shop, turned four this week. The owner wrote an inspiring post about how it got started.
♥ This engagement story from Whitney Darling made me laugh AND cry. And sigh.
What is everyone doing this weekend? I have NO plans and am thrilled about it. Anything could happen! And if nothing comes up, I’ll be happy hanging around the house. :)
1 Comment + Posted in: what i'm into
Crossed by Ally Condie
In this sequel to Matched, Cassia and Ky try to find each other and stay alive in the Outer Provinces. In the process, they find unexpected new allies, and Cassia learns of The Rising, a rebellion against the Society. Ky also reveals more of his and others’ secrets, proving that much of what happened in Matched had a whole other shadowy meaning. As expected, I had a hard time putting this down. Now we wait again for the finale.
Must’ve Done Something Good by Cheryl Cory
Despite the Sound of Music-referencing title, this book’s plot has strong Jane Austen roots. After vowing to do “something good” with her life during some rough inflight turbulence, Sylvie becomes a high school English teacher. Unequipped for the job, she’s overwhelmed by the kids, the responsibilities, and her fellow teachers – especially a cute male teacher who appears to hate her on sight. As the year progresses, Sylvie tackles each new challenge and learns that a lot of things aren’t what they first appeared to be. These characters are fun and likable (especially Sylvie’s sisters), and there’s plenty of self-referential winking woven in. The plot jumps were a little abrupt at times, with a lot left unexplored, but overall I really enjoyed it!
The First Gardener by Denise Hildreth Jones
This novel focuses on a fictional First Family of Tennessee – the governor, Gray, his wife, Mackenzie, and their “miracle baby,” Maddie. When tragedy strikes, the brightest light in the family’s dark valley is the titular gardener, Jeremiah. I sense and appreciate the personal pain that DHJ put into this story. It’s a lot weightier than her Savannah novels, although some of the characters are just as over-the-top. At one point I almost stopped reading in fear of where things were going, but I’m glad I persevered. It ends on a hopeful note and with a twist that stunned me.
Surprised by Oxford by Carolyn Weber
My first Thomas Nelson BookSneeze selection! I reviewed it here.
Mudhouse Sabbath by Lauren Winner
This book is expensive and hard to find in print, so I was thrilled to find it cheaply available for Kindle! It’s a series of essays on the Jewish practices that Winner feels are most valuable for Christians. Her writing is so interesting and engaging, I’ll pretty much read anything she has to say (her new memoir Still is in the mail as we speak), and this didn’t disappoint. I want to incorporate some of her observations into my life. I love feeling in touch with my quarter-Jewish roots!
Books for February: 5
2012 year to date: 12
3 Comments + Posted in: book reviews, reading
All of a sudden I’m obsessed with shoes! I’m sure you’re asking yourself, “When is Brenda NOT obsessed with shoes?” But in fact, I haven’t bought any new shoes since September (other than a recent sneaker purchase, which doesn’t count). Now spring is almost here and I have a sudden craving for bright, happy shoes.
I’d love some orange or yellow flats to hold me over until sandal season. My metallic flats from Target are great, but sometimes I want more of a punch. The yellow ones with flowers are Bandolino, but can anyone identify the other brands so I can look for them?
Orange and yellow heels – Ruche on the left, unknown brand on the right.
Three colors of Steve Madden P-Rada… an impossible decision.
Madden Girl Lyons. It comes in a few colors too, but the beige and white is ladylike without being boring.
I also love bright bags, and am on the lookout for a structured orange one! I really liked one at TJ Maxx, but am still waffling on whether to get it (I cringe to pay full price even at TJ). These are similar:
On the more neutral side of things, I like ruffly gray bags. When I saw this one on Pinterest (of course), it reminded me of a V-neck T-shirt. Then the light bulb went on: bag from a thrifted V-neck T-shirt. I’ll run some tests in the sewing lab and share if I come up with anything. :)
PS- Thanks for the nice comments on yesterday’s post! :)
5 Comments + Posted in: fashion
I envy people who knew from a young age that they wanted to be a doctor, or a teacher, or an architect. I’ve never had that kind of focus. I’ve always said along with Harriet the Spy (one of my childhood heroes), “I want to know everything, EVERYTHING.” My ideal career changed every month or so. Unfortunately, I still feel and think that way.
Here are a few of my careers/fields of interest, some old, some new:
Writer. This blog exists because I want to, have to write. No need to elaborate. :)
Other Book-Related Careers: Librarian. This is a no-brainer, right? I would be an excellent librarian. If libraries weren’t downsizing and closing nationwide, I’d be on my way to getting an MLS right now. Same problem with the publishing industry. Or journalism. Or owning a bookstore (part of me still wants to be Kathleen Kelly). A wise friend of mine often says that although things change, they always change to something, so you just need to determine what that is. Time to learn more about e-books. :\
Meteorologist. As a kid, I could happily watch The Weather Channel for hours. I read endless books about hurricanes and tornadoes. In college I had a vague plan to major in meteorology and then enroll in a grad program at Mississippi State or OU. Unfortunately, the day I went to declare, I was told that the meteorology major no longer existed and they just hadn’t taken it out of the catalog yet. *facepalm* It was a blessing in disguise because I had forgotten one crucial thing: I have no math skills whatsoever. So I reconciled myself to being a big fan of weather. I have a home weather station in my backyard, make a sport of talking back to the storm team during tornado season, follow a bunch of weather celebs on Twitter, and attend storm spotting classes. It’s a good time to be a weather nerd.
Exercise instructor. I love exercise, most of the time. I love dance and choreography. I love finding the perfect energizing song. And nowadays, a lot of instructors don’t even talk much – they just gesture, and everyone figures it out. When I did Zumba regularly in 2006 (before it was popular – exercise hipster alert!), I seriously considered getting certified to teach it, but some people didn’t think I had the right personality. Of course I also love yoga, and my yoga teacher of four years has actually suggested I sub for her sometime! So we’ll see. However, I know I can’t make a career out of exercise instruction, unless I someday have the luxury of being the secondary household income.
Professional organizer. This is so interesting to me and uses all my Monica Geller cleanliness tendencies to great advantage. You get to organize stuff and help people in a tangible way (sometimes including a little armchair psychology). What’s not to love? I’ve researched professional organizing, taken a one-day class, and even thought about joining NAPO. But starting my own organizing business would consume all of my free time, so it’s another idea on the shelf for someday.
Counselor. My own wonderful counselor came to the field later in life, and I’ve considered it. But I think I’m too empathetic to be an effective counselor. My patients would end up comforting me. LOL!
What do you still want to be when you grow up?
6 Comments + Posted in: career