Catching Up: Books, Dates, Home and Family

There are so many things that I need to update on this list.  While I haven't been actively keeping track, I'm going to try and go through to update whatever I can remember. Here are a few of the categories I've been working on:

Date Nights - We've actually been doing really well on these.  It helps that we have a very liberal definition of date night, but also that we're making an effort to frame even simple nights in with a special home-cooked (or ordered) meal and a movie counts.  Last night, we went to see friends briefly for a farewell party, but then moved on to see Super 8 and eat gyros at the local Greek street fair.  I won't bore you with all the gory details, but we've had at least one night a month, and usually more, that I can fit into this category.

Books Read - Since I got pregnant, reading has been a real challenge.  I'm just too tired at night.  I've gotten some reading in on our travels, partly added by e-books on my commute.  Here are the books I can remember finishing in the past few months:

• The Help by Kathryn Stockett - This was one of the best books I've read in awhile.  It helped get me out of a slump.  It's beautifully written and thoughtful.  I literally laughed out loud, cried and marveled at how well crafted the book was overall.  The movie trailer looks like they may have done a decent job with it and I'm looking forward to it.  I definitely recommend the book first, though, since it was a great reading experience. 
• An Embarassment of Mangoes by Ann Vanderhoof - I picked this book up (after glowing recommendations from my father-in-law who lent me his copy) over the cold winter when I needed to imagine the Caribbean.  This is a beautiful memoir of the cruising life taking a couple from cold Canada through the hurricane season in the Caribbean and back.  While I also recommend this book, make sure you don't have easy access to a sailboat.  You'll be off before you know it.  The book also includes great recipes that I'm dying to try once I can get my hands on conch and can drink good Caribbean rum. 
• Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen - I got this book in hardback when it first came out as a gift or gently used.  It sat around my house in the "To Be Read" pile until just before the movie came out.  I finally decided to knock it out before the movie was released since it's usually the better way to go about it for me.  I enjoyed the book, although there were aspects I didn't love.  The Depression-era circus culture was fascinating and very well written.  The modern day aspect wasn't as exciting for me, although I liked the way Sara Gruen finally brought it all together.  
• A Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory - This wasn't my favorite of the Tudor stories from Philippa Gregory.  I find the back story very interesting and I knew nothing of Queen Katherine except the bits and pieces from the later Boleyn years.  I thought this book made me wonder if Gregory was finally over-fictionalizing since so much of it is assuming private thoughts and actions.  I'll have to do my own research (which is one reason I love these books - I get motivated to get to the bottom of whatever historical information is actually out there) to see where I fall.  I found the book generally overly romantic, but it is about a teenage bride becoming a widow and negotiating her way back onto the throne.  I'm sure it's hard not to be.
• The Billionaire's Vinegar by Benjamin Wallace - I didn't know much about the wine auction world or rare antique collecting before. I can't say that now I do, but I know more and this books presents a fascinating story of wine purported to belong to Thomas Jefferson and sold for an exorbitant price at auction. Definitely a new world for me and a new way to think about these wines. 
• The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Frank L. Baum - I tried to read this book in high school some time, but the minute I saw that things were not like my well loved movie version, I put it aside.  The Gregory Maguire Wicked series peaked my interest again, but I didn't do anything about my interest until I found the series free on Amazon Kindle.  I actually enjoyed the book this time, appreciating the differences from the movie and discovering the aspects of Oz that had previously escaped my notice. I'll certainly work through the series.

Home and Projects - I've kept up on trying to declutter and keep everything tidy around the house.  It's been harder with a less energetic me and a less-often-home Austin.  But I'm moving forward.  I've also made progress on one of my embroidery projects.  It's a big crib cover for the baby's room which is taking me forever even when I am working on it.  I can't count it anywhere near done, but I'm making progress. 

Family and Friends - I started on my birthday cards this year.  I have to get through 10 to get credit, but  I do have plenty of birthdays coming up to get me there.  Hopefully focusing on this one more closely will help set up a good habit.

I do have more areas - loads of Netflix (my one constant) watched and maybe some others, but this gets me up to date on some of the ones that I was procrastinating.  More to come....