From the Bookshelf

If I continue to bore you all with my thoughts on various books maybe I should come up with some kind of rating system. Hmmm, I'll think about that one.

For now I have two books to share. First...

Okay, I know a lot of people loved this book, and a lot of people didn't love the movie, so I gave it a shot. If you haven't read it, it follows the self-discovery journey of a woman experiencing a mid-life crisis of sorts. She decides to take a year off and travel, spending four months in Italy to indulge (eat), four months in India to learn from her spiritual guru (pray), and then four moths in Bali to practice the art of balancing the two (love). 

This book had some amusing parts and I enjoyed her commentary of the various countries, but I found it hard to relate a lot of the time - and I feel if I am going to be spending my time reading about one person and their opinions and experiences I should at least be able to relate. I could relate to her time in Italy (if you know me you know I love to eat) and somewhat to her time in India (different religions and all), but once she got to Bali I was completely separated from her. Maybe I would have liked it more if I was a thirty-something professional in the middle of a divorce with money to burn...but I'm not. Either way, I am glad she found her happiness.

Then...

I thought this book was really fun. I mean, who doesn't like the circus (even though I realized as I was reading this that I have never been to a circus before). This book tells the story of a young man who ran away and joined a circus during the depression as he is remembering/dreaming about it many years later. It jumps back and forth between his circus life and his current life at an assisted living facility. I think I liked his current life more than most would because I work with men just like him at an assisted living facility. It was fun to make comparisons. Anyway, the description of life as a circus worker was very entertaining. The story kept me captivated and I felt attached to the characters. I haven't seen the movie yet and I don't know if I want to...I like the way the story looks in my head (I just can't picture a vampire as the main character...and yes Robert Pattinson will always be a vampire to me, sorry). Regardless, I definitely recommend this one.

Up next...a book lent to me by my aunt.

Super Bowl XLVI

I don't have to tell you that the New York Giants are a big deal around our house...so it was a very happy day when they made it to the Super Bowl. 

It was also my father-in-law's (FIL? is that a thing?) birthday dinner that day so we kind of combined the parties. My MIL made an amazing dinner, we watched my FIL (yep...I'm making it a thing) open his birthday presents, and then we watched the game with some typical Super Bowl party treats. 

Unfortunately, this is the only picture I have from that day.

The seven layer dip I made for the party.

It was close but, as you most likely already know, the Giants came out victorious.

Carson was very excited of course and we still have the game recorded on our DVR. I have a feeling I won't be allowed to delete it for a while. 

I really need to be better at taking pictures of our life...