Forking --- I'm doing it wrong

The first time we were eating dinner.   I tried handing him a plate + silverware.  Instead, the fork flew at him and missed his foot by a couple inches.

The second time was a success!  We were playing the game where my hands are under his, then I try to slap the top of his hands, and he pulls away before I "win."  I slapped his hand (hard) down onto his fork. 

I'm doing it wrong.

Social Obligation or Voluntarily Attended?

I'm using a 10 pt scale (where 0 is obligation and 10 is voluntary).  The ratings are based on one weekend from October --- not the general case. 

Wedding ~ 3
Ordination ~ 6
Spearhead concert ~ 7


Lessons learned:

I couldn't come up with a good lesson relating to weddings.  Sorry!

Lutherans don't sing the hymn with the (passing) mention of wizards for ordinations.  I should be disappointed, but the organist that left Saint Andrew's a while back came for the service and it was fantastic to hear him play.

The concert was fun, but escaping from the insanity of EMI testing for a couple days was even better.  The Spearhead concert would have been rated even higher if it'd just been Michael Franti (Say Hey - I Love You).  You could tell it was a rock concert by the volume :)

Summer is Over

So instead of writing about where I've been, when, and with whom, I'll plug a movie I recently watched. 16 to Life replaced The Music Man as the movie I'd recommend as a introduction to Iowa.  Bonus points include:
1) The main character kept making me think of ijenn.
2) Proof that Iowa has hills (yes, it was filmed in Iowa).

For the record --- "making me think of ijenn" does NOT equal "is exactly like ijenn."  I think it was something about her facial expressions, but really, who knows. 

A random photo from the summer is below.  It makes me feel a little better about not following through on my resolution to post at least once a month.

Observation Skills

Book stores are wonderful, but I have a tendency to fall head-over-heels in love with books I don't need. Libraries are magical, but I also have a tendency to forget to return entire piles of books and wind up paying (not so small) fines. While you may not think this a problem, my bank account has been known to differ. So instead, every few months I swing by Better World to snag a few books.

Well, this time a few books I wanted were cheaper at Barnes and Noble. While browing, I noticed a Louis L'Amour book I hadn't read. L'Amour was a guilty pleasure of mine in high school (thanks, Dad), so I added it to the cart. When my order of books arrived a week or two later, that impulse purchase was in Spanish. Doh.

A few books that I'd recommend as good reads (not life changing) lie below.

My Antonia, by Willa Cather
A (sorta) love story that couldn't make me gag if it tried. I'm glad I didn't read it at age 14, because I likely would have hated it.

Girl Meets God, by Lauren F. Winner
If you're particularly dogmatic or an avowed atheist you won't like it.

Darkness at Noon, by Arthur Koestler
Dark, but my mom also loved it.

Winesburg, Ohio, by Sherwood Anderson
Short stories that I adored. As of yet I've been unable to find anyone else enthusiastic about it.

The Big Necessity, by Rose George (props to oogrobot for the recommendation)
It made me laugh many times --- but then again, I have the same sense of humour as my (< 10 yrs) nephews.

Geek Love, by Katherine Dunn
Interesting, although odd. Vivi gave it rave reviews but oogrobot punted it to the curb w/out finishing it.


On an unrelated note --- it's amazing how much more I can (quite literally) see at softball games while wearing contacts. It's great fun winning those softball games, then eating Indian food or chocolate cake to celebrate :P