Currently Reading

I've already finished this book, but I'm way behind on posting, so this is to catch up.

I recently read My Ishmael, the "sequel" to Ishmael by Daniel Quinn.

I won't say too much about this novel, because it shares many of the same ideas as Ishmael. However, I will say that I enjoyed this novel much more than Ishmael. The narrator is Julie, a twelve-year-old girl searching for answers to the same questions Quinn presents in his first novel. Questions like "From whom can I learn about how people ought to live" and "How did the world end up in the state that it's currently in". She works out the beginnings of the answers to these questions through the same means Quinn introduced in Ishmael - through telepathic dialogues with Ishmael, the gorilla.

I found the dialogue and story in this novel much more engaging and interesting than Ishmael's conversations with Alan Lomax in the first novel. Julie is young, but very curious about the world. I like her as the narrator, because I feel that her youth allows her to look at the information Ishmael presents without prejudice, or pre-conceived opinions about his ideas. I also found the book to have a much more hopeful tone, but I think that may be due to the difference in narrators.

I liked this novel so much more than the first. I identified with Julie's sense of not knowing what to think, but having a strong sense of the need for change.

I'm not familiar with the subject matter of Quinn's third novel in the "series", "The Story of B", but maybe it will be even better than My Ishmael. We'll see . . .

Snow days are the best days

On the last weekend before David started the new semester, we decided to head to his parents' house in the mountains. We talked to his mother and learned that they had received a nice dusting of snow. We were both really excited for a relaxing, snowy weekend.

Our requisite view of the valley.

The Cates' casa.

Walking on the "Brown Dog Trail".

The brown boy himself.

After our little hike we took a drive on the national forest road.

Scary drives are made way better by the Cates' trusty Wrangler!

We headed to downtown Blue Ridge after our drive for window shopping, which is literally what we did - almost every store was closed and it was freezing. Not the best plan. Luckily, the fudge shop was open. yum!

We had lots of fires and cuddling with Murphy, but the best part was playing in the snow.

The Cates' have a great sled, perfect for flying down the center of their street.

Donna taking the first ride.

David getting ready for his turn.

Here he comes . . .

. . . there he goes!

My turn!

It was a great end to our break.

Back to work!

Mr. and Mrs. Heil

It's a new year and I was so happy to begin 2010 with the wedding of my bf, Summer.

I have known Summer since I was fifteen. She is the sweetest, kindest person I know and I always have the most fun with her. Basically, she is the coolest, and I feel very lucky to have her as my best friend.

She was my Maid of Honor at my wedding and I was thrilled when she asked me to be her Matron of Honor.

She and Greg decided to get married on New Years Day, which I thought was such a fun idea.

The wedding day came around and we had a great morning getting ready and taking pictures, and as always, being silly!

The beautiful bride and her beautiful sister, Sydnah.

The ceremony was lovely and the whole day fit so well with who Summer and Greg are.

I had fun getting to wear a pretty dress and carry pretty flowers.

And my love was kind enough to be my date to the event.

I am so, so happy for my bf!

Love you, Summer!