madameblogalot

My daughter celebrates her 16th birthday this week. We are not having a big party, well, not really. She asked if we would take her to New York. When we said no she asked for Florida. No. So she asked for Corpus Christi. That was more feasible and we thought about that and said that it might work. As it is, we are going to take her and a few friends to Six Flags in San Antonio. I wonder if she had that in mind all along and just had to work us down to it….she is like that! But I know we will have a good trip and I hope her sweet 16 is a time of sweet friendships and fun!

The Queen: I’ve not read this author before and did not realize the book was considered “Christian fiction.” (My husband gave me this for Christmas, to help “balance out” all the Michael Crichton I’ve been reading!) I still have not decided about this book. The story was good and I like the lack of vulgar language. There is enough graphic gore and violence to keep most people who watch TV interested (??) I did feel like reading this was a bit like riding a bike with slipping gears. I would be going along and then something would jar, like a gear not quite catching. I am not sure what it was. At times I felt a bit lost in all the technology while at others I felt like too much was said (ex: “He took out his iPad 2″; why not just say iPad?) Overall I give the book a HIT and MISS but will also want to check out another book or two of his just to give a fair chance.

The Story of Us-Rebels: I found this series on Netflix and I think it will be perfect to watch while doing my bike trainer. Each segment of the series is about 45 minutes long and tells the story of America. Today I watched this first segment and overall enjoyed the story. I am not crazy about modern day cinematography (I guess that what it is…) but the information was good. I learned that one of the early Pilgrims to come over on the Mayflower was Edward Winslow. Interestingly enough, I have read many books in a fictional series about his descendants. If I understand, about 10% of Americans can trace their ancestry back to him. I also learned that John Hancock was one of the, if not the, richest man in Boston at the time. And I also learned that due to Ben Franklin’s night riders, all the colonies knew of the Bloody (Boston) Massacre before anyone back in England did. I was also surprised at the high level, well known people included in the interviews of this documentary: Colin Powell, Donald Trump, Brian Williams, Michael Douglas, Rudy Gulianni, Michael Bloomberg. Very interesting and I think made interesting and timely, using these current well known interviewees,  for a younger generation as well. I will rate this one a HIT.

The Story of Us: Revolution: This second segment was also enjoyable and informative to me. I learned just how many English ships came to fight-nearly 400! I also learned there were 14,000 soldiers at Valley Forge though many died from small pox. In fact, Washington proposed a small pox inoculation that pretty well kept him from losing all of his soldiers. I learned that Baron Von Steuben came to help Washington and started by incurring hygiene and discipline at Valley Forge, noting that in his previous experience in foreign armies he told soldiers what to do and they did it. Here, he was obliged to tell them WHY and then they would do it. I also learned that Washington had a network of spies including a loyalist writer, a tavern owner and a housewife and her laundry. I rate this installation a HIT.

11/22/63: Whew!! 849 pages including author’s notes. This is a “heavy” novel in some ways. I woke up after having dreamed about it more than once. The story is fascinating; maybe only for those who are interested in history and time travel, I don’t know. But I was drawn in to the story and remained inside it (like I said, even dreaming about it.) My husband asked if it was scary (I was leery to read Stephen King since he’s noted for horror which I do not enjoy.) I said not really scary in the sense of horror, but scary because it’s based on reality, which might be even more horrific….at any rate, I think I would call this story a HIT but I do have to put a HUGE disclaimer on the vulgarity used throughout to move the story along.  I like Mr. King’s story-telling but I just can’t seem to move past the vulgarity (language and sex-both crude and vulgar) used so constantly to tell the story. That for me is a MISS.

The Story of Us: Westward: This segment was another HIT for me. I do keep learning things I don’t remember hearing before. This segment does bring up some uncomfortable ideas from our history, particularly the way the native americans were treated and marched to reservations. There was brief mention of Lewis and Clark’s expedition and the Alamo. I was really struck by the westward movement to Oregon, Utah and California. I also learned that many pioneers died of “milk sickness” which I’d not heard before. Apparently cows ate a poisonous root and the poison was passed on through the milk. I was also amazed that in four generations the size of the nation grew from coast to coast (it was stated that Thomas Jefferson thought it would take 1000.) I do wonder sometimes how accurate these types of shows are, but I am still enjoying this one.

Reader’s Digest: Pretty much still always a HIT with me.

While nothing has been confirmed, save one, here is a list of the events I want and am hoping to do this year.

1. Gator Ride-not sure what distance yet

2. Kona Eastside Tri-sprint

3. Oklahoma City half marathon-already signed up and part of “Team OC”

4. CB&I tri-sprint

5. Ironman TX volunteer

6. COMBAT tri-sprint

7. Clear Lake International-Olympic

8. Brazosport relay

9. Redman-Olympic

10. 10 for TX 10 miler

And if I get the chance I’d like to do a Century Ride (100 mile bike ride). We’ll see what happens and how many of these I do get to accomplish….

The Hunger Games: This young adult novel was captivating! It will be made into a movie this spring and I can see how it will be a hit movie with the teen crowd. The themes of hunger, entertainment, fire, “Big Brother” government and even reality TV make for an interesting story. One I could hardly put down. My daughter and I rate this a HIT.

Catching Fire: This second book in the Hunger Games picks up where book 1 leaves off. It is also a good story, very political. The themes of hunger and fire still figure largely in the book. I rate this one a HIT as well.

Mockingjay: Wow! This trilogy really drew me into the story. While this third book was probably my least favorite in the series, I really like the way it was all wrapped up. As I got into this book I felt like the author had sights already set on the movie screen while writing it (and author’s notes seem to confirm that.) This one is more violent, more “graphic” though not overdone. As I read the author’s notes though, and “hearing” what she was taught by her parents, I can see how the ideas in the book were important to her to convey. I enjoyed the author’s imagination. I like how she used futuristic techniques, while at the same time making some things seem present day as well as including some archaic feel to it. I really like how the themes of hunger and fire resonate throughout all three books; a really good job on weaving that throughout the series. I will rate this book, and the whole trilogy, a HIT for older teens and adults.

Gnomeo and Juliet: I watched this goofy little movie while on my bike. It was a good enough way to pass the time, though I know many of the references from the play were lost on me (too long since I’ve read it.) There were some funny moments and it was light enough (being more of a comedy than a tragedy.) I am sure those who are more into Shakespeare could appreciate the humor better. I will rate it as neither a HIT or MISS but could be an all right way to help pass a bit of time.

Pompeii: Back From the Dead: This new documentary seemed interesting in the fact that new skeletons have been unearthed from Pompeii. The skeletons are all that remains as the ones found in the 19th century are ruined by the casting done to them. I thought it would be interesting to hear what they have found through testing these skeletons. Overall I did not like the “way” in which the film was done; just the overall tone seemed like they were appealing to a younger generation. Overall I gave this documentary a MISS.

Beauty and the Beast: This high school musical featured a few of my daughter’s friends, including her best friend’s sister as Belle. In taking the lead she truly carried the show. While the show and music are fun, this girl truly carried the show with her singing, acting, and poise. She was spectacular and it was fun hearing the little girls in the audience dreaminess over Belle (”it’s Belle”; “she’s in her yellow dress”; etc) I give this show a HIT for the lead actress as well as the girl who played Babette and even the boy doing Lumiere did all right in his role, a tough one to carry.

Micro: Another interesting Michael Crichton book, finished posthumously by Richard Preston. While some of the premise could be mistaken for other cheesy sci-fi hits (The Incredible Shrinking Woman, Honey I Shrunk the Kids) there is some very interesting ideas in here too (maybe more like an “M” rated Magic School Bus.) This one was too violent for me and I felt like some “sexiness” was added just because that is the thing these days-it wasn’t needed at all to advance the story along. I felt the same way about the language as well. Overall I will give this one a HIT though there were moments I was afraid it might be a MISS.

Is that what you call a slacking blogger? I have been pretty distracted from the blog so far this year! Between my workouts, my chasing a toddler around, taking care of household chores and taking my nephews hiking once a week, there is not much time left for blogging! I have my HIT/MISS list ready to go in a couple of days. Other than that, I will try not to be such a slogger!

Here are the first lines from the first blog post of each month from 2011. I need some variety!

Jan: My dad said I needed to write the date down somewhere today.

A fun date to write (too bad I missed 11.11.11) and fit well with my blogging year in review.

Feb: Staying busy

A rhyming tribute to my life.

March: Just a reminder to spring ahead one hour tonight/tomorrow morning at 2.

A reminder of why we have to “spring forward” each year.

April: In my husband’s training for Iron man it calls for lots of drill training.

Incorporating drill training helps build strength and speed.

May: Fahrenheit 451: I read this book several years ago and liked it.

A HIT or MISS post.

June: I am frugal.

Some things never change!

July: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy: When I saw this book for $2 at Barnes and Noble I thought I’d pick it up for a Christmas present.

Another HIT or MISS post. Reading a book I am going to give as a gift doesn’t count as “re-gifting”…

Aug: It took me most of June and half of July to finish this book.

Another HIT or MISS post. I need to try to keep that from being my first post each month!

Sept: …I finished my first ever Olympic distance triathlon.

YAY!

Oct: The Prestige: Wow! What an interesting movie!

surprise, surprise, a HIT or MISS post…

Nov: The Dark Ages: I actually watched this History Channel presentation in Sept. but forgot to list it.

I lead an exciting life…..

Dec: Pirate Latitudes: I found this Michael Crichton book on sale at the grocery store.

I guess I am blogging on autopilot!

Pirate Latitudes: I found this Michael Crichton book on sale at the grocery store. Reading the cover flap I learned that this complete manuscript was found in his files after his death. I wondered why he never had it published. While reading it I just did not feel drawn in to the story. It was fine but just felt like something was missing. I thought maybe he had not really finished it or polished it and that is why it was not published during his lifetime. When I finished the story I felt that this is the first MISS Crichton novel I’ve read. Then I read the epilogue. It was very short. Too short. And too sparse. I decided that is what was missing from the story, the depth. And there was no bibliography. So it made me wonder if he had not finished his research and that is why he never had it published. Or maybe I am just not into pirate stories….

Airframe: Back to good classic Crichton. Good story. Drawn in from beginning. Another HIT.

National Treasure 2: While I missed the beginning of this one, I was happy to watch it since I had seen the first one last month. Even better, my nephew came in before this one was over so we got to finish this one together too. All of us watching, from preteen to grandparents, enjoy these movies and rate them a HIT.

Jurassic Park (novel): I held off reading this book since I remember not being a big fan of the movie. But I have to say that while this book is pretty gruesome in the killing scenes, I sped through those and really enjoyed this novel. I like the ending. I rate it a definite HIT and am hoping to even see the movie again. I also want to go back and see how the original Lost World ends.

Secretariat: A nice family movie, though my family did not watch with me. It was neither a HIT or MISS for me (though more of a HIT than not.) I did enjoy the ending and the blurbs about the real people portrayed in the movie.

Whew! What a busy couple of weeks. We traveled to Phoenix to watch (help) my husband participate in his first Ironman triathlon. I don’t think it will be his last!

It was an amazing day (weekend; nearly a week for him) with Ironman village being set up out in the Town park. I was blessed to be able to volunteer for race day, beginning at 5:45 am with the swim exit. It was a lot of fun to see everyone get to the finish of the first third of the race. Nearly everyone made it to the cutoff time of 2hrs 20min. We cheered those who were close to the cutoff time and were saddened with those 10-12 who did not make the cutoff.

After lunch I helped in the women’s change tent for their T2 transition from the bike to the run. After their 112 mile bike ride through the desert and back to town, the athletes headed out for their 26.2 mile run. It was fun to see all the different kinds of ladies who undertook to finish the Ironman race (my husband’s aunt being one of them!) I learned different ways the ladies prepare themselves for such an undertaking and the different things they pack to help them through the day. So many asked me if I was going to do next year’s race. I think I surprised many with my “no” answer! (Volunteers get a preferred registration, after race day and this year’s athletes. Many people volunteer just to be able to get in that line! Lots of this year’s racers were last years volunteers!)

Earlier in the day I met the lady who was captain of the finish line and she said I could come help that evening at the finish to be able to greet my husband. I was glad for that, since by volunteering all day I was never able to see him out on the course (luckily he spotted me at the swim exit and came over and gave me a big wet kiss!) I sat that evening opening medals and rolling t-shirts waiting for him to come in. I was thrilled to hear his name announced and got to him seconds after he crossed the finish line, now and forevermore an IRONMAN!!

This morning before church I did the first leg of a triathlon relay event. I was the swimmer for our team. Our wave start consisted of men 45+, mens clydesdale (a weight division) and relay teams. Each wave had three minutes in between and they allowed us to jump off the dock into the bay to warm up for those three minutes. The water was pretty chilly when we jumped in. Thankfully I had on my wetsuit and that helped a great deal.

It seems in my limited experience I still have a hard time getting adjusted in the open water swim. Today it still took me some time, being one of the last swimmers to get started in our wave. By the first buoy however, I had caught up with the group. By the second buoy I was even passing a few people!

I never saw any of the women in the wave (other relay swimmers) but I know I was not the last finisher in our wave. I had estimated that I would finish the 1500 meter swim somewhere between 40-60 minutes. I was hoping for closer to 40. And I finished today in 38:38! I was thrilled with that time.

As soon as I finished swimming I ran out as quickly as I could to meet our next team member. I gave her the timing chip and she took off on her bike. Unfortunately I could not stay for more of the race but I did make it to church on time (after showering of course!) Our cyclist finished her 25 miles in 1:17 and our runner finished her 6.2 miles in 50+ minutes!! Good enough to earn us second place in our division!! And since we lost to some of my other team members, I didn’t feel too badly about it at all!!

We heard a sermon today about the effect each of us has on everyone around us. And also those we may not ever be around. It is the “butterfly effect”. What you do affects someone, who touches someone else, which leads to….and on and on. Even when you feel like what you do (for good or bad) is not a big thing, those small things touch other people in ways may we never know or realize.

It makes me think of something that has happened a few times to me as I am running. It is a sort of corny example but the first time it happened I thought it could be made into a tv commercial! As I ran by this older couple who walks every day, the man came over and handed me a small sucker. He had apparently just received it from a neighbor child of his. For whatever reason, he decided to give it to me. When he first gave it to me I just smiled and went on to carry the sucker til I got home. I did throw it away but while I was running with it, my “dream” of how it would make a commercial was if I were to hand it to someone else, who then passed it to someone else and on and on….

In this scenario the candy represents the effect we have on the people near us but also that we never know. If I had passed the candy on, it would have ended up with someone who was indirectly impacted by that little neighbor boy who first passed it on……