October Book

I saw a trailer for Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro and admittedly I had no idea what the movie was about. So I decided to read the book. I don't really know how to describe it without giving too much away. It's not a nail biter or a love story. It's the narrator remembering her life up until a certain point. I guess it's mostly about relationships and loss in a weird way. I know, now you are so intrigued that you are dropping everything and heading to the library.

So I thought it was a good story. A fairly quick read seeing how busy October was and I managed to finish it within the month.

Now I am going to re-read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (aka book seven) since the first part of the last movie will be out in a few weeks. Squeeeeeeee!

September Book

When I went home in August my mom lent me Women Food and God by Geneen Roth. As you have probably guessed it's a self help book and while I'm not a compulsive eater or someone who diets or worries much about their figure I thought it was pretty interesting. The book is applicable to any type of obsession like, say, flipping mindlessly through TV channels or whiling away countless hours on the internet. Things that you do that numb your mind and leave you feeling crappy. Her thoughts on allowing yourself to be in touch with your feelings and letting go of all the emotional crap we carry around are the things I found most interesting.

The author tells you that there is nothing wrong with you. You are good and it's possible to overcome the way you perceive yourself. That the way you look at yourself is really how your parents or other people along your journey have seen you and not how you really are. She tells you how to become really aware of your feelings and to take the time to allow yourself to really feel those feelings- but not become lost in them.

She shares a thought from a buddhist teacher that hell is wanting to be somewhere other than where you are. How true is that? After moving to Charlottesville I spent so much time being upset and wanting to be home and just being completely miserable. Same thing when I switched schools after 9th grade. Instead of seeing the things I could have been doing I was so focused on wanting to be back at my old school. As for Charlottesville I can say that taking up knitting probably saved me. And that's mostly because it allowed me to get out and have some social interaction with kind people. I started finding things to do around Charlottesville and realized what a cool town it was. I started being present in my life and trying to live in the moment.

The author writes from her experiences of dieting and binging and searching for answers. I think she's really got something and if you want to free yourself from the pain and suffering that an obsession is causing you I'd suggest you sit down and read it.

From the Kitchen

This Sweet and Sour Chicken was surprisingly tasty. I don't know why we keep trying to make the sauce. It seems to be a tricky one to achieve the right taste. I was very pleased with the taste of this one (especially in comparison with past attempts) but I think I might try a store bought sauce out of curiosity.

Before I tell you that I made these cinnamon rolls from a can of crescent rolls... whoops the secret is out... I cheated. Look how fancy they seem to be. And they are just as delicious as they look. Maybe more. In other news, that bunch of knitting is a shawl I've been meaning to photograph. I'll use my new fancy digital SLR and put the picture in a post with a couple other recent projects! Stay tuned...

Back to food. Emeril's Roasted Garlic- Glazed Chicken with Lemon Herb Sauce, Creole Rice Pilaf, and Vegetable Brochettes to be specific. Do not make this on a Monday after you've been subbing all day and it's raining. You will have a melt down and possibly be cross with your wonderful husband. I wasn't super impressed with the chicken. I wish I would have just roasted the chicken like we did this summer and put the garlic glaze on that. Let's talk about the Creole Rice Pilaf because I am drooling just looking at the picture. Lovely, I know. It has okra and andouille sausage in it. You simmer the rice in chicken broth and tomato juice. I brought the leftovers for lunch and then ate it for lunch again after that.

We are the Champions

I say "we" because I consider myself to be Michael's inner tube water polo team's number one fan. Not to toot my own horn or anything. Anyway, THEY WON THE CHAMPIONSHIP last Tuesday. The semi finals on Monday ended in a tie so they had to have a shoot out. It was so intense. I baked Mr. B's white chocolate brownies for the game on Tuesday. Michael's team, the Wet Bandits, kept a 2 point lead for most of the game.

There was a girl on the other team who was super vicious and played really dirty. She was awful. She better hope she doesn't meet Michael's mom and I in a dark alley one day. Just joking. But seriously, she was KICKING, and SCRATCHING, and SPLASHING, and YELLING at our players. It was pretty embarrassing. Her mom was in the stands and told her she did a good job after the game was over. I would hope my mom would tell me I should be ashamed of myself.

So they won fair and square and got really sweet Intramural Champions t shirts. I'm so proud of them. They've been working hard for four years to win this!

Visitors, Punkins, and a Concert

I'd like to start this post by thanking you for holding on for the emotional roller coaster that is my blog. I don't post all month- leaving you in suspense and agitation- then I show up and start posting every day for a week. Well I'd like to say thanks for sticking around. You're the best!

Michael's parents arrived in town last Sunday. We went to the Grave's Mountain Apple Harvest Festival. I thought it'd be nice since it is in Syria, VA which is close to the mountains. It was a very scenic drive. I was hoping to pick pumpkins but we were there at the end of the last day of the festival so it was pretty picked over. We did, however, have a good photo opp.

On our way home we stopped at the Graves' Apple shed because I saw some pumpkins. Funny enough we didn't buy an apples.

Isn't the pumpkin Mrs. Linda is holding so cool? Hopefully I'll have time to carve them. My dad can attest to the fact that I just love carving pumpkins.

We went home to nap before The Avett Brothers concert at the Charlottesville Pavilion. They put on an awesome show and I wish I hadn't still been recovering from the cold I had the week before. They had a ton of energy and I just wished I could have danced along.

My Best Friend's Wedding and Roller Skating

Three weekends ago I went back to the bayou for my best friend's wedding. We had such a great time, she was absolutely beautiful, and I got to see a lot of friends I don't normally get to spend time with when I'm back home.

During the ceremony I had to kneel beside the couple on the altar. It brought back memories of our wedding day and how we, too chatted a little during the ceremony and then exchanged vows. I really can't believe it's been two years already! The lady who made our wedding cake made my friend's cake. So you can imagine the state of euphoria I was in when they cut the cake. Best. cake. ever.

The next day I felt surprisingly well and ready for some roller skating! I was super pumped because it was only $5 and I love to skate. They still have the leather roller skates! Those new bulky plastic ones are so painful.

I had no idea it was my niece's first time roller skating! I was so happy to be a part of the experience.

We did the hokey pokey and we turned ourselves around.

Then my sister and I were the only people to go out for the 13 and over skate race. This is possibly because we were the only ones who were 13 and over. I won and I went to the snack bar to claim my prize- a small orange soda. It was delicious.

I'd say this trip home could definitely be in the running for best trip home EVER. We had so much fun together.

Oh, October

why are you always the busiest of months? don't get me wrong- you are also the most awesome.

going home for a wedding... roller skating... subbing... working at the toy store... knitting... sneezing... hanging out with my wonderful in-laws... staying up too late... watching james bond movies... cheering for inner tube water polo... reading...

we have so much catching up to do.

i haven't even watched the latest episode of grey's anatomy. or the last two episodes of private practice.

i'm sleepy.

i can't even capitalize my letters.

i promise we'll chat soon.