Most Recent Read: 3 Willows

I just finished the book 3 Willows by Ann Brashares. The story is written after the Sisters of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants have gone to college. It is about three girls, Polly, Jo and Ama, who live in the same neighborhood. I enjoyed reading it because it made me think about when I was in Elementary and Junior High. I love the dynamic characters and metaphors she uses. Also, Ama's story made me want to go repelling, like my husband Matt, off of a 350 foot cliff. It sounds exciting. And scary.

The story is written in third person with first person letters spattered throughout, which follow the three girls on their respective summer vacations. One of my favorite parts is when Jo, who has been at a beach house with her mom, runs home to her dad. Jo hasn't talked to him in weeks, mainly because he and her mom are separated. Ever since her brother Finn died her parents have been drifting farther and farther apart.

When Jo gets fired while her mom is out of town, she decides visit her dad. Jo expects him to be working, because he is a top surgeon and he seems to always be working. Not only is he home, but he is excited to see her. She realizes that her home seems warmer now that her mom is living at the beach house, with her dad's uncoastered mugs, newspapers and medical journals in random piles and places. Her dad, who has been learning how to cook,makes her tacos, which actually taste good. At the end of the summer she decides to stay with her dad instead of going back to the beach. It helps by that point she has realized her beach friends and beach boyfriend are actually losers.

Leap into the Wild

09:53 Lately I have considering releasing Winston into the wild. I really didn't want to walk into the room and see him floating in the tank, dead. I know he is just a fish, but I rescued him from the Bio 420 lab. I really like that fish, he was my fish-friend when Matt was on his internship.

Then I did research, and Matt was right, Winston wouldn't make it in our arid to semiarid climate. With winters. But then I found out Zach's Girlfriend, Maria wanted a fish. So Matt and I decided to give her Winston. Everything was going well, we dropped of the bowl, green plant, greek ruin and year supply of food. But then I found out later Winston jumped out of his bowl and Maria found him on the kitchen counter! She was quick and put him back in the water and gave him Fish CPR by spinning the bowl around. Luckily, he was still alive.

Maria said she would try to get him into therapy so that he did not try to commit suicide again. Ogden thinks Winston missed me and was pulling a Nemo. Hopefully Winston won't try it again, but I'm glad I gave him to someone who can do Fish CPR.

19:04 Winston died today. Maria came home from school and he was dead. Matt and I picked him up and took him up the canyon. I let him go in the river. It was pretty dark, freezing cold and everything was covered in snow, but it was peaceful. Matt held onto my hand so that I could get closer to the water without slipping on the snow. I dipped him into the water and watched him drift away.

Tree of Books

I found this picture and thought it was awesome.

Thoughts From a Wandering Doe

http://www.bluemousemonkey.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/doe.jpg

My Brother and I were driving back from Salt Lake, and I told him my latest update was Thoughts From a Wandering Doe. Even though I was totally joking, for a second he thought I was serious. It is still totally a joke, but now I am wondering what advice would a wandering doe give?

First let's ask Bambi's mother. I remember being so sad Bambi's mom actually died, and I'm surprised Disney put that in one of their films. They usually just have the character be motherless from the beginning I.E. Snow White, Cinderella, Ariel, Belle, Cinderella's Prince, Pocohontas, Aladdin, Jasmine, Pinocchio and Mulan. Almost all the Disney princesses.

According to the ridiculously long synopsis from IMDB, "Bambi paused to sniff curiously along the way, then scampered after his mother again. "Meadow? What's the meadow?" he asked. "It's a very wonderful place," his mother told him..."Hush, now. We're almost there." And she lead him up over a little hill."

In retrospect, Bambi's mother would have never taken him near the meadow. She would probably advise to stay as far away from the meadow/danger as possible. Futhermore, she would say if you don't listen, your ominous father ("A huge, dark shape loomed above him...He was staring down at the little fawn, his face hidden in shadow.") who is literally twice as old as me ("For of all the deer in the forest, not one has lived half so long...") will try to raise you in the brief time between two scenes. This poor doe didn't really have a chance.

And I'm adding, don't name your son Bambi, it's a girl's name.

I'm pretty sure there are some deer in Snow White, but they just dust and eat pie, not much to learn from that...

Fawns start walking in the first five minutes after being born. I find that incredible. It takes us months before we start walking. And in the winter, they eat bark, even though they like grass. Also, according to infoplease.com, a White-tailed Deer can run 30 miles per hour. That's pretty fast.

I'm not sure there are anymore exceptionally interesting facts about deer. But if there are, I'll let you know.

Dad's Birthday/ New Year's Eve

Dad, Lauren and Mom

Matt and Me (Everyone took a turn wearing the New Year headband)

Dad, Kate and Mom

Dad, the Birthday Boy

Pictures From Christmas Eve

Allyson, Lauren (My Sister) and Ashley

Zachary Playing the Piano, Upside Down

Rapunzel? No, My Sister Breanna

Father and Mother

Grandma and Matt My Husband

This is Zachary's Paparazzi Shot

Darling Katie-Did