Flashback Friday

It's Flashback Friday again. I haven't participated in this for awhile and thought I would today!

These pics are from around 1984-1985. I was about 2 or 3 at the time and my brother was 12 or 13. This was back before life got complicated with my parents divorce and my brother going to live with my grandparents. Back when my brother and I adored each other before we became strangers. I don't really remember either of these pics but I remember the way I loved my big brother.

There is a stream and mineral springs that runs through our downtown park area and its been a place for people to come bath or drink the water since the 1700s. (George Washington even came here) Anyway, its a great place to go play, wade and catch fish and tadpoles when you're a kid. We used to spend every summer here because it was a free swimming pool of sorts and lots of fun. (I heart my brother's 80's shorts.)
My brother was also a big skateboarder and bike rider. This is on the street we used to live on with our parents. Our aunt and uncle and grandparents all lived on this street and it was pretty great. I know this looks dangerous but my mom trusted my brother implicitly. He never did drop me even when he was skating around. I of course loved it and thought it was the greatest thing ever. Apparently, I would laugh really loud and cling really tightly to my brother and yell "Again Souse!" (I couldn't pronounce Shawn).


Have a Flashback Friday of your own? Join up over at
Christopher and Tia's!

Bored...on Wordless Wednesday

I spend most of my day sleeping, watching tv, reading or watching the cat sleep. I'm very bored all the time now. I can't wait to get back out in the field again. I can't wait til this is my life once more:

Sotah by Naomi Regan

This one is about an Orthodox Jewish woman living in Jerusalem struggling to make sense of the world she lives in. She struggles to make the reality of the world fit the fantasy image she’s always been told the world is. The girl in this book is told to deny herself of everything she’s ever felt or wanted out of life. She’s told to form herself into a perfect model of everyone else and any individuality is not encouraged. She is told that this is the only way to show her devotion to her religion and keep away from temptation because that is the way God intends it to be.

She learns in the end, however, that it is not God or her religion that says these things but a group of foolish people who decide to interpret God’s word this way. She is accused of adultery and sent away to rectify her perceived wrong doings. It is here in the Western world that she finally learns the truth about her religion and is able to demand things for herself.

The story was good and an easy read. You learn all about traditional Jewish culture, a complex and often bizarre place that I had no idea about. While I respect different culture and found it fascinating to learn about, I was often angry about the limitations and expectations placed on these Orthodox women. They are made to work very hard (much like women of a century ago, this seems strange to me in the modern world we live in) to support their very large families (they give birth to as many as 15 children) and live in poverty while their husbands study the Talmud for their place in heaven (in some cases the only work the men do, this is also strange to me). The women of this region live shorter, harder, more brutal lives than their husbands.

In the end of the book, the author talks of how she attended a woman’s conference and met women from all around the world. These women came from different backgrounds and she found that fundamental religious women of different faiths had more in common than modern women of the same faiths. These women also discussed how they share the common theme of the men in their culture attempting to control and limit their lives by justifying it with religion (a religion that to these women says nothing about control or dominance but advocates equality and love).

Overall, I liked the themes in this book and the relationships of the women to one another. We see mothers, daughters, sisters, friends, lovers, husbands, traditional, non traditional, western and non western relationships all mixed together and relying on one another to make it through the rough times in life. The trials and disappointments these women face, while completely different at times, are also universal concerns about one’s role in life and the place of religion, duty and love in that life. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good read about a woman from another culture striving to find herself.

Award

I got this award a while ago from a blog I follow.Krystal's Kitsch is a fellow blogger who writes about her life in FL and she's extremely funny. I enjoy reading her stuff immensely. There are rules to the award. You have to tag 12 people and then alert them to their winning. I didn't really feel like tagging anyone so I hope its ok to just put this here and say I enjoy every blog I follow. I think everyone I read deserves this award. So thanks again to Krystal and if you read this blog congrats you've got an award!

YES

P.S. We finally have healthcare!!!!!!!! Welcome to the ranks of the rest of the first world countries, America. I knew you could do it!!!!!!

It's Monday, What are you reading?

Currently Reading:
Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger
I liked the Time Travelers Wife so much I picked up this one too.

Amazing Past Reading:
Two beautifully written books that give you a glimpse into Muslim lives marked by tragedy.

Mornings in Jenin tells the story of four generations of Palestinians living in exile. Their lives are surrounded by tragedy and loss and yet the beautifulness of Palestinian culture comes through in the story. While reading this book, you see a side of the conflict often hidden or denied. This story is beautifully told and when I put it down I was so angry that events such of these are allowed to occur while the world and the UN sit back and watch. I would reccommend this one to anyone.


The rooftops of Tehran tells the story of a boy nad his friends who dream and love just like everyone else. They live in Tehran in the 70's under the Rule of the Shah and suffer the consequences of this brutal, dictator. This book is a story about life and love and the Persian culture. I would recommend it to everyone to read!


Sucky Past Reading:
Also, I read P.S. I love you by Cecelia Ahern and Dear John by Nicolas Sparks. Both books, in my opinion, were terrible. Dear John was sappy and had a very, dumb plot. I don't believe in love at first site and I kept waiting for events to happen that would make them fall in love (like in the Notebook) but it never happened. The book just ends with the guy doing something that I don't think any normal guy would do.

P.S. I love you was supposed to be about a woman coming to terms with her life without her husband. Instead, she spends the whole book miserable and upset that no one else has stopped their lives just because her husband died. The movie which I saw first was VERY different from this book version and I can see why. In order to sell it and make it watchable they had to change it. Also, the writing didn't flow well and the events were hurried, rushed, and the book lacked an interconnectedness of style I like.

Haha, This sums up my feelings about it: From Etsy of course

Getting to Know you Sundays

Joining this posting for the first time. I thought it seemed like a cool idea. Been a bit bummed and lonely lately so I haven't really been writing here. YOU can join up over at Mann Land 5.

1. What year did you graduate high school? 2001

2. What part of your body do you neglect the most? Not sure. I have a simple laid back style and don't do to much of anything but basic maintenance.

3. Beach house or Lake house? Beach for sure. I have lived in a beach front hotel when I was a teacher and it was amazing!!!

4. Mac or PC? PC because that's the type I have. I don't mind Macs I just don't have one.

5. Did you wear braces? Nope, I got lucky to skip that. I have slightly crooked and bucked teeth but the orthodontist said not enough to worry about.

6. If you could be one person for a day..living or deceased..who would you be? Jane Goodall, Gloria Steinem, Hillary Clinton. A strong woman who had made a difference in the world.

7. How many times have you moved in your life? To many to count. We moved from apartment to apartment when I was younger and I moved in and out of college. The temporary nature of my jobs requires me to move every few months. I've lived in 7 different states (all in the south) so far.

8. Would you rather cook or clean? Neither. I hate domestic chores. McDonalds and "rearranging" things all the way!!!

Cracks my shit up 2

Happy St Pattys Day!!!

The WORSE day yet

Four days ago was the worse day since I had my surgery. It wasn't because my throat, ears, and mouth were in agony from pain. It wasn't because I couldn't eat, breathe or swallow. No, it was something far worse. It was the day I tried to eat a Fudge Round and failed.

This doesn't sound like that big of a thing. But if you knew me, knew the many Fudge Rounds I have eaten with delight, the way I had to upgrade from the small ones to the large ones, knew the way I had to buy the family value box, or the scary way I guarded them then you would understand.

Fudge Rounds are my kryptonite. The reason I get up in the morning! They are gooey, chocolately and delightful! Eating one is, as my friend Mikey would say,like an angel shitting in your mouth!!(because nothing bad can ever come out of an angel) They are better than an orgasism!

I think you get the point.

So, the other day I felt a lot better. I was taking Aleve for the pain instead of the usual baby aspirin. I had tackled many different kinds of foods. I was on a roll. I decided it was time to resume our love affair. Enter my beloved Fudge Rounds and DIASTER.

Instead of delightfullness, I tasted disgustingness. Instead of lovely, soft sweet fudge there was bland, weird tasting toughness. What happened?? How could Fudge Rounds forsake me in this manner?

As it turns out my operation and lack of real food were the culprits. My mouth and throat muscles had been scraped and unused for a week so everything was tough. Also, apparently eating trims our taste buds back and allows us to taste things the wayt we do. When you limit what you eat to soft food or liquids your taste buds are allowed to grow out and things taste differently.

Well, shit. I guess I won't be having Fudge Rounds for awhile then. I don't want a repeat performance of this fiasco. I'll have to wait until I can eat properly again and my muscles heal up. Afterall, I want to wait until I can give them the proper culinary experience they deserve.

RIP Fudge Rounds
I miss you :(

Cracks my shit up!

Cyanide & Happiness @ Explosm.net
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Better

Wow, feeling so much better!
I got to have roast beef and okra for dinnner and was hardly in any pain today. I am so super excited about that! All this down time is also allowing me to catch up on movies and books.

I watched 4 movies today:
Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen -cuter than I thought but oh Lindsay Lohan, you were so talented, What happened to you???)
Freedom Writers -really enjoyed this one although I saw it sporadically through a visit with relatives, also it seems strange to me that there are people out there who have no idea what the Holocaust was
In Tranzit -this one was good but sad and the plot was a little random at times
The Science of Sleep -just plain weird and it went on and in and then just ended abruptly

I have reviews for books coming:
Sand Daughter
Dear John
Occult America
A Matter of Class

Currently Reading: Rooftops of Tehran and am in love with this book!!!

Ahhhhhh, a whiny one

Still in lots of pain. Can't wait for next week. Hopefully I will feel better then. Between nausea, pain, and hunger I am reaching the end of my patience. The pain meds make me feel nauseous and sick. No eating makes me feel sick but it hurts to eat. Then I need more meds and the cycle starts again. All I can think of is food but I can't have most of the stuff I want or the thought of what I can have makes me feel sick. I realize I'm whining but I need to get it out. I read two more books and managed to watch a movie so those were distractions. I have good moments and bad moments throughout the day but I seriously can't wait until its all behind me. I keep trying to tell myself that. Chin up and just keep swimming. Sometimes its hard. At the doctors today they said that my tonsils were swollen up inside my skin and down into my throat. So they really had to work to get them out. I can tell.

monday reading, follow fridays, surgery

Wow, I haven't been around in a while. Things have been crazy between moving, a mini vaca with the bf, and surgery.

I wanted to do the follow friday thing but didn't have time. I promise to take a look at everyones blog who is following me. Thanks for all the comments from everyone. They were very much appreciated!

As for Monday what are you reading: I have been reading Sand Daughter by Sarah Bryant for the last two weeks. Its a good book but I've been to distracted to really pick it up and give it a good read. Now that things are slowing down I think I can start getting back into reading.


__________________________________________________________________________________
I had my tonsil surgery yesterday. What an experience that turned out to be! They gave me to much anesthesia and it made me sick. Apparently, the taking out of my tonsils went fine (they were disgusting and huge but easy to remove) but the rest of it was a doozy. You are supposed to recover for two hours, have your iv removed and then be sent home. For me they tried to do this but when I couldn't even stand up or walk and felt nauseous they immediately put another iv in, gave me a shot of anti-nausea meds and made me rest there for another couple hours. Eventually, I felt well enough to go home but it took 2 more false starts to make it.

Once home, I went to bed immediately but woke up in severe pain. I had a panic attack and then couldn't keep anything down (meds, water, ginger ale) because it kept making me sick. I went back to bed and woke up with a migraine the second time. Eventually, I woke up, got some meds and water down, started feeling better, stayed up and ate some broth. Then I was able to watch some tv and start reading my book. I also started drinking water every 15 minutes and that helped immensely!!

I didn't think that is was going to be this bad. I am still in a lot of pain but slowly doing better. My lip was split during surgery and that's healing. My entire face and neck were swollen but I think that is starting to recede as well. I still have problems opennign my mouth and chewing and eating solids is a big NO right now. I hope that I bounce back soon and get over this because at the end of the month I start my new job and I am really excited about that.