A smattering of recents

Toad

Since our last rendezvous, some things have happened.

1) BOOKS
When it comes to books these days, I am insatiable.

I absolutely devoured “The Hunger Games.”  This series is all the rage, and I know that a lot of you have read them.  No spoilers here, except to say that I have not enjoyed a story so much in years.  For the 8 days it took me to read all three volumes, I was nothing short of obsessed.

Just before “The Hunger Games,” I read “The Help.”  Loved it.  And I typically don’t feel this way after reading a grew book, but I’m so glad they’re making a movie, too.  When you love characters so much, you can’t help but want to see them in action.

Now, I’m reading “Ape House” by Sara Gruen, author of “Water for Elephants” (which I loved).  I’m about halfway through, and it’s so luxurious to have a book that you can’t wait to read every night.

To this day, I am the only person I know who has read “Beatrice and Virgil.”  If anyone out there has read it and wants to help a soul feel better about life, will you please tell me?  I can’t be alone with the burden of this book any longer.

2) DETROIT
I spent this past weekend in Detroit with newlyweds Matt & Julie.  Never you mind that they’ve only been married for three weeks – when they found out I was going through a hard time, they called and told me to come.  A few days later, I was there – and it was exactly what my heart needed.

What a gift to have friends who remind you of what is true about yourself, and to help you remember that it’s not really all about you anyway.

3) TOAD
The vet amputated the Toad’s leg.

Oh yes.  I guess have not mentioned it here yet, but a week ago today, our sweet dog Kodi (remember her?) was diagnosed with bone cancer.  Amputation was the best form of pain management.  So on Friday, the doctor CUT OFF HER LEG.

I swear, medicine these days.

She’s home now, and wearing a t-shirt to help protect the most gnarly incision I’ve ever seen.  She will never high-five again (sad joke).

But this little bear cub is amazingly resilient, and wagging her tail as much as ever.

Toad

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10 Comments

  1. Christina on May 17, 2011 at 8:20 AM

    I’m finally going to read Beatrice & Virgil on my flight to CA on Thursday night – then we’ll discuss :)

  2. Lan on May 17, 2011 at 9:08 AM

    i also loved the hunger games & pretty much ignored everyone until i finished the series. thankfully, i decided to pick up the series after it was completed or else waiting between books would’ve been irritating.

    i am glad you were able to rejuvenate with good friends out of town. sometimes that is just what a “whatever adjective you want to use to describe your” soul needs.

  3. Alissa on May 17, 2011 at 9:53 AM

    I have had several friends point out that my blog is lacking posts recently, – too embarrassed to admit that my mind has been totally consumed by The Hunger Games. I can’t get the story out of my head!

  4. Hope on May 17, 2011 at 10:27 AM

    i just requested ape house and b&v from the library. we could have such a kick ass wine & cheese book club.

    speaking of kick ass, while i don’t remember exactly what the tattooed phrases were, that toby keith quote encapsules perfectly, everything that i would not want scarred into my flesh. thanks for the laugh this morning! :)

  5. Pamela on May 17, 2011 at 11:10 AM

    I hope your sweet bear cub is doing okay. It’s times like this that I wish I could speak Dog (or Cat) and explain the situation to them. It just seems like such a shock, to wake up an amputated limb. But she looks like she’s doing okay! I’m sure you’re loving on her so much she doesn’t even notice.

  6. becca on May 17, 2011 at 1:25 PM

    tee is the best bravest bear.

  7. Lyla on May 17, 2011 at 9:05 PM

    Here’s to quick mending for Toad. It’ll be harder losing a front leg than a back leg when going up and down stairs etc, but I’ve known a lot of tripods in my years at the vet and they really do adapt quickly.

  8. Sarah Kate on May 18, 2011 at 10:03 AM

    Growing up in Mississippi, “The Help” is a pretty accurate representation of my mom’s childhood. I will say that they were much nicer to her than some of the ladies in the stories. Their “help,” Ada was still around until my 20’s (she was in her 90’s) and still helped with things then. My mama’s picture was the only white woman on her wall. Ada had 13 children, countless grandchildren, great grans and great greats. The movie was filmed in my other Grandmother’s town of Greenwood, MS where my father grew up. Definitely close to home. I could tell you many stories of “The Help” in Mississippi, good and bad. Can’t wait to see the movie.

  9. Emily on May 18, 2011 at 1:51 PM

    I have been following this blog for a few months and this is the first time I have commented. I, too, am the lone reader of Beatrice and Virgil in my circle of friends. I was really excited to read it because I adored Life of Pi so much. I think it’s safe to say that the jury is still out for Beatrice and Virgil. Am I just not smart enough to have understood this book? I feel like there is something big I am missing. Until I figure that out (either by someone else explaining it to me or slugging through it again to try to figure it out), I don’t want to make a final determination about it. I really want to love this book.

  10. Gina on May 23, 2011 at 12:23 PM

    The note above from Emily? All the same goes for me. Long-time reader, first time comment(er). I wanted to love Beatrice and Virgil so much after Life of Pi. I was left feeling confused and quite frankly, kind of stupid. I was searching the text for meaning and just couldn’t do it.

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