We've been home for a week. The suitcases are back in the attic, the laundry is finally done, the mail has been sorted, and my google reader is empty. Twin B started second semester classes on Wednesday and Twin A returned to college yesterday. Today the house is a little quieter, a little emptier, and we are re-adjusting to "normal".
Thank you for all of the thoughtful comments on my Moving Forward post. I will continue to respond (on the blog) to those comments requiring an answer, but otherwise give myself permission to be inconsistent and respond to comments as time permits.
The weekend was a lot of fun. After watching Syracuse basketball's heartbreaking OT loss Saturday afternoon, several members of my book club attended a tasting and book signing event with "The Fabulous Beekman Boys" at a local restaurant. We read Josh's memoir, The Bucolic Plague, last fall and were thrilled at the prospect of meeting him. I purchased a copy of The Beekman 1802 Heirloom Cookbook and had both Josh and Brent sign it. More details coming on Saturday for Weekend Cooking.
On Sunday, we saw The Silver Linings Playbook (Jennifer Lawrence was amazing!) and had my family over for dinner. The day ended with Downton Abbey and the saddest hour of television... ever. No spoilers, but I'm still devastated.
As far as reading goes, there hasn't been much time, so I'm still on vacation books. Fall of Giants by Ken Follett is 1000 pages long, but a quick read. With just over one hundred pages to go, I hope to finish any day.
I'm listening to In the Woods by Tana French on my new iPhone (an early Christmas present to myself) and am enthralled! Why have I waited so long to read Tana French? The only problem is that I can't figure out how to get my iPhone to play through the car speakers, so I may have to burn the book to CD if I want to listen in the car.
I hope your week is off to a good start.
I have fall of giants out from the library. I hope to get to it this week.
ReplyDeleteHillary Roberts - I hope you enjoy Fall of Giants as much as I am.... there's nothing like a good multi-family saga! Thanks for visiting.
DeleteReturning to normal is always nice! Yes, last night's Downton Abbey was a heartbreaker :(
ReplyDeleteAfter watching the Golden Globes, I want to see Silver Linings Playbook--glad to hear you liked it.
I drive an ancient Odyssey with old technology, so I have a Griffin device (bought at Target) that enables bme to play my iPhone on the FM radio. It works fine, actually.
Sounds like good reading--down to 100 pages in a 1000 page books always feels good.
JaneGS - My car is only a couple of years old and I think it has technology to let me play an iPod/iPhone through the speakers. I suppose I'll just have to break down and refer to the owners manual ;-)
DeleteI totally agree with you on Downton's episode. I kept saying, no, no, no! Looking forward to seeing Silver Linings Playbook. I am reading In The Woods right now!
ReplyDeleteNise' - Isn't In the Woods great? I've read a few reviews and know to be prepared for an inconclusive ending, but I'm really enjoying it. And I can't wait to see what happens next week on Downton...
DeleteOh. I was just going to suggest that you need a device of somesort to play iPhone noise through the car's speakers but apparently I'm not up on all the new gadgets cars come with these days. I just put my iPhone tucked under the visor so it isn't too far from my ear but I am worried that I'm ruining my iPhone. AND sudden stops - it hits me on the forehead.
ReplyDeleteCare - My car SHOULD be able to play the iPhone through the speakers and I certainly SHOULD be able to figure out how to do it... I am technologically impaired :-(
DeleteFirst let's solve the iPod through the car speaker problem. Do you have a USB hub in your car? If so you can use the that to plug your iPod directly into your system. If not, do you have a speaker jack on the front of your audio system?? If you have that you can get or use a speaker (same end as the headphone jack) cord and that will work too. The only other alternative is to get one of thesehttp://www.amazon.com/Griffin-iTrip-Auto-Transmitter-Black/dp/B000WKPHHO/ref=sr_1_19?ie=UTF8&qid=1359400093&sr=8-19&keywords=ipod+player+for+car
ReplyDeleteOkay..I'm starting the Likeness today and have the 3rd book on audible.com just waiting for me to listen to!! Can't wait to start this one...So happy that you're enjoying Tana French!!!
Staci - I've got the cord plugged in and the phone attached to it, but the system doesn't seem to recognize the phone. I will get out the manual (tomorrow!) and read it, but if that fails, I need to take it in for service next month and will ask them.
DeleteTana French is wonderful - glad I took your recommendation!
JoAnn, I use a cable to connect my Nano through my car stereo. I have to select the auxiliary button (which toggles to my CD player) to get it to play the Nano. I wonder if your car has something similar. I drive a Subaru Forester. The cable plugs into a jack in my center console and connects to the Nano.
DeleteBTW, I love everything Tana French has written! I still have her latest waiting for just the right time, though.
Good luck with your iPhone!
Thanks, Les. I am definitely technologically challenged! My husband said he'd play with it this weekend...the next option is my nephew!
DeleteI'm 3/4 done with In the Woods audio and am loving it! Will definitely read or listen to the rest of French's books.
"the saddest hour of television... ever." is no exaggeration. I was stunned and rendered speechless. Was thinking of writing about it today but found no words. Maybe later in the week. But then again, I do have something for today, lots of books TBR. Come to think of it, maybe one of these days I'll have to go for more e and audio to make space.
ReplyDeleteArti - I got a kindle paperwhite for Christmas and am loving it! There will definitely be more ebooks in my future.
DeleteIt was, wasn't it? I accidentally read a UK wrap-up of Season 3, so I KNEW, but I still wasn't prepared. And it must have been so much fun to meet the boys. I can recommend the butternut squash lasagna rolls in the book!
ReplyDeleteAudrey - It's funny because that was the one spoiler I accidentally stumble upon and I STILL couldn't handle it! I'm bookmarking the butternut squash lasagna rolls - they sound delicious.
DeleteI adored Silver Linings Playbook - we saw it yesterday and I ordered the soundtrack immediately.
ReplyDeleteDiane - Yes, what a great soundtrack!!
DeleteWow - you had a great week to ease back into routine after your holiday!
ReplyDeleteI told Jason tonight that I was going to see Silver Linings Playbook this weekend, with or without him!
ReplyDelete