Monthly Archives:August 2008

During a recent “click here – click there” session I ran across someone, and I can’t remember who that was, who had a list of books she wanted to read. Among them was The Shack. The cover looked familiar – and, I remembered that it was among the books my boss had brought to the office to share. (My boss is great that way – she buys and reads a LOT of books – and then brings them to share with the staff.) The next day I looked at the stack on the counter and found it – just like it was waiting for me . . . The Shack by William P. Young.

The rest of the staff know me . . . if the books sit there for long, eventually ALL of them make their way into my bag and home with me. I read voraciously, too, but can’t afford to buy as many as my boss. (that’s one of the reasons I am thankful she shares so graciously with all of us.) After I finish the books I take them back so someone else can share them.

Because of the type work we do (a shelter for victims of domestic violence/sexual assault) many of the books my boss brings carry a similar theme – women who rise above and overcome diversity.

Not so this book. I don’t give away plots and I don’t ever read the end before the beginning (some in my family do that to see if they will like the book . . . shudder), so I am not going to do that here.

I’m also not very good at giving reviews of books (or movies, or blogs, etc.) so I’m not going to do that here, either.

What I WILL do is this . . . tell you that this book brought me to tears – it made me smile – and it made me think about things differently.

It is NOT the Bible. It is NOT the Word of God. But it made me think.

and it changed me – if only a little bit.

I’d love to hear what you thought of the book after you read it.

I would be really remiss if I did not at least mention the fact that Governor Sarah Palin has been announced as Senator McCain’s Vice-Presidential running mate for the November election. I know that everyone and their brother is already talking about it, but, I’m an Alaskan, dagnabbit, so I MUST talk about it.
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It is so much fun to note that Sarah is a frugal spender, too. See the dress that Piper (youngest daughter) is weaing in this Associate Press photo? Yup . . . we purchased the very same dress a few weeks ago for one of our granddaughters for school. At the local Fred Meyer (a part of the Kroger family for those of you back east) store. On sale (at least we got it on sale – not sure about Piper’s). It’s worthy to note that Sarah didn’t buy it at a hoity-toity store – she is counting her pennies just like the rest of us peons. And, that, to me, is very telling.

And, I just got off the phone with my uncle in Ohio – figured as he is a long standing republican committee member that he had gone to yesterday’s hoo-hah in Dayton. Turns out he had tickets, but he gave them to someone else – who was ecstatic to be in the crowd to see all this happening. The best thing he said during our conversation was this: “I really like her. She won’t go to DC and get Potomac Fever.” Amen, Uncle George! may it be so.

For the naysayers . . . that’s life, get over it, get over your bad selves, and do the right thing – at least get out and vote in November. If you don’t like the McCain ballot, then vote for another. I’m just sayin’. I never tell anyone how to vote – I just remind them TO VOTE!

I talk a little more about all this over at the knitting blog, but I’d like to give a link here to an article that was written back in June . . . prophecy, perhaps? (in that it was written in JUNE, folks).

You see, even though a lot is being made by the press about this all being so sudden and such, it was announced quite awhile ago that Sarah was on the short list – and, for those in my own state who forget – she said she would strongly consider it.

Others have said something about her being able to keep a secret for so long . . . People! She was 7 1/2 months pregnant with her youngest before anyone other than her immediate family knew! And she was making daily appearances as Governor for heaven’s sake.

All I can add is that this will make it a VERY interesting election. Go, Sarah!!!

I couldn’t help myself . . . I HAD to change the graphic. Snerk! What with all the talk about her being a heartbeat away and all that.
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Shelly wrote and asked me what fireweed might be. I have a love/hate relationship with the plant . . . it is a gorgeous color and I lurve beautiful things . . . so I love it. I dislike seeing summer leaving and winter a-coming, thus the hate part of the quotient.

How pretty is it, you ask?

seeeeeeeeee?

It really IS getting closer to winter, though. On my trip to Anchorage last week I noticed that the fireweed had topped out in Cooper Landing – that is, the plants had fully budded out all the way to the top of the stalks. Some of it was even ready to pop! That is, the buds and flowers had all dropped off and the stalks were getting ready to open up and shoot off their white fluffy seeds.

AH . . AH . . . AHCHOO!

It’s such a pretty flower . . . too bad it’ll soon be covered in the white stuff.

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So, my friend, Mz Kitty asked in my last post where I was – and if I was hoofing it off to Milwaukee. Wouldn’t that be loverly? Alas it is not to be – but . . . .

. . . . a little bit of self care IS in order. I’m “the boss” at work again for a couple of weeks – and it can be draining. Rewarding . . . but draining. Sooooooo I just called my sister-friend in the big city and asked if she could put up with me an extra night. I am planning a visit to her in September, but think I need to get out of town for a night now, too.

Thus the title Self Care. It’s all about taking care of yourself sometimes. It’s all about YOURSELF sometimes. Not very often, but sometimes. This is one of those times.

I probably won’t make it to Friday night knitting at Knitting Grounds, this time anyway. But, I will likely pop in on Saturday before I head back to the little city. Zaynab has just returned from several weeks away – AND – I haven’t been to the new location yet, so a visit is definitely in order.

As to why I’ve been a bit absent minded hereabouts lately – I’ve been giving my wrists a rest (say that several times really fast) – overuse in typing and knitting – and I’ve been vegging in front of the Olympics. But I have been here.

Thanks, my friend, for checking in on me. Thanks to all who comment and check in from time to time here. You haven’t seen the last of my rack – yet.
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of course, this IS hunting season (bow hunting for moose) so the bull critters are hiding in the woods – one was found, though. This is what I saw in the neighbor’s driveway when I came home from work yesterday:

Can you see it?

how about now? Yup, looks like the neighbor (or one of his buds) got a nice sized bull moose. Yummy!
(no, that’s not canniblistic . . . the PurpleMoose is STUFFED, sillies!)

and, by the by . . . . be sure to go and visit Mz Kitty . . . she has cut the scrub ties and is a full time designer now. Whoot! Congrats, Kitty. Talking about self care . . . there it is.