Case Histories by Kate Atkinson

I finally got this March book club selection from the library. Jan was right, the mystery book reader in me really adored this book. Read it in 2 days and now am re-reading it.

Three "cold case" murder mysteries. One private detective who as the book club ladies mentioned, does seem to tie the stories together in a way. I lost count of how many characters are involved, but the author seems to really develop each one. I felt that I got to know each character in depth.

Loved the writing. Almost an old fashioned Agatha Christie tone to the stories. Very gory in parts but loved these hard-to-solve mysteries told so skillfully.

More wisdom from MIchelle's desk

I think I have mentioned before that I sometimes fill in at our radiology department's front desk. Michelle's desk is filled with wonderful pictures and sayings. This inspiration seems to always help Michelle be a blessing to our patients. Last week, I was filling in and Michelle asked me to give something to a patient who was due to arrive soon. Turned out that the patient mentioned to Michelle that she was having a really tough time. Michelle's small gift brought the patient to tears and I was honored to be the bearer of love!

One of the most recent additions to Michelle's collection is Proverbs 3:17-18

17 Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. 18 She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed.

World Made By Hand by James Howard Kunstler

Another post-apocalyptic book which really grew on me as the story evolved.

Basically, the world is status post nuclear disaster. No computers, extremely rare electricity flickers, no gasoline, this just starts to describe the changes the survivors experience. Robert is the protagonist and he narrates the story in a clear, matter of fact manner which really makes the horrific things he is describing seem even more dramatic.

Robert's past life in the software industry does little to prepare him for this new world but he manages to survive, even thrive. He takes up carpentry and makes a life for himself without resorting to his community's violent crime network, almost slave-like farm commune or not-quite-cultlike religious group.

I think one of the most interesting things about this book is watching Robert struggle through multiple ethical and moral gray areas as he lives his new life.

From Lynn

Thanks Lynn - http://www.dailylifesinspiration.com is awesome!

A minister passing through his church in the middle of the day,
Decided to pause by the altar and see who had come to pray.

Just then the back door opened, a man came down the aisle,
The minister frowned as he saw the man hadn’t shaved in a while.

His shirt was kinda shabby and his coat was worn and frayed.
The man knelt, he bowed his head, then rose and walked away.

In the days that followed, each noon time – came this chap,
Each time he knelt just for a moment, a lunch pail in his lap.

Well, the minister’s suspicions grew, with robbery a main fear,
He decided to stop the man and ask him, “What are you doing here?”

http://www.dailylifesinspiration.com/just-checking-in

The old man said, he worked down the road – Lunch was half an hour.
Lunchtime was his prayer time, for finding faith, strength and power.

“I stay only moments, see, the factory is so far away;
As I kneel here talking to the Lord, this is kinda what I say:

“I just came again to tell you Lord, how happy I have been,
Since we found each other’s friendship and you took away my sin.

Don’t know much of how to pray, but I think about you everyday.
So, Jesus, this is Jim – just checking in.”

The minister feeling foolish, told Jim that was fine.
He told the man he was welcome to come and pray anytime.

“Time to go”, Jim smiled, and said “thanks” as he hurried to the door.
The minister knelt at the alter, he’d never done that before.

His cold heart melted, warmed with love, and met with Jesus there.
As the tears flowed, in his heart, he repeated old Jim’s prayer:

“I just came again to tell you Lord, how happy I have been,
Since we found each other’s friendship and you took away my sin.

Don’t know much of how to pray, but I think about you everyday.
So, Jesus, This is me – just checking in.”

Past noon one day, the minister noticed that old Jim had not come.
As more days passed with no sign of Jim, he began to worry some.

At the factory, he asked about him, learning he was ill.
The hospital staff was worried, but Jim had given them a thrill.

The week that Jim was with them, he brought changes in the ward.
His smiles, a joy contagious – changed people, were his reward.

The head nurse couldn’t understand why Jim was so glad,
When no flowers, calls or cards came, not a visitor he had.

The minister stayed by Jim’s bed, he voiced the nurse’s concern.
No friends came to show they cared, he had nowhere to turn.

Looking surprised, old Jim spoke up and with a winsome smile -
“The nurse is wrong, she couldn’t know, that in here all the while,

Everyday at noon – He’s here, a dear friend of mine, you see,
He sits right down, takes my hand, leans over and says to me:

“I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, JIM,
HOW HAPPY I HAVE BEEN,
SINCE WE FOUND THIS WONDERFUL FRIENDSHIP,
AND I TOOK AWAY YOUR SIN.
I ALWAYS LOVE TO HEAR YOU PRAY,
AND I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERY DAY,
AND SO JIM, THIS IS JESUS … CHECKING IN.”

From Emily

Dragon boat coach Ilana is getting back into running so told her I would post this. Emily sent it to me before my two 5ks this fall. Good luck at Boston Emily!

I saw this and though of you! “It starts with the simple desire to lose a few pounds or scratch off a bucket list item. We begin nervously, but as the layers of doubt and fear and fat are shed, the magic of the run sets in. Over the miles, we stir our souls, open our hearts, sharpen our minds, and strengthen our bodies. As we break down what was, we allow our best self to shine through. This completely predictable, yet always powerful story begins again each day when another woman laces up, dusts off her heart, and says ‘I’m going for a run.’”

The Little People Project

The name of this blog is misleading. This blog is basically a pictorial of little figurines here there and everywhere. If you are in the mood for silliness this is the blog for you.

http://little-people.blogspot.com/

Hey John and Meni - a Korean cooking blog!

http://beyondkimchee.blogspot.com/

Society of Canadian Catholic Bloggers

Just happened across this on blogspot. If you are interested, it links to many other Catholic blogs. Can't guarantee the content of all these blogs so read at your discretion. I especially am interested in how Canadian Catholicism differs from American Catholicism.

http://canadiancatholicbloggers.blogspot.com/

Rome

I heard that Rome liked this getup so much, he had to wear it to the restaurant for Grandpa's birthday


Rome and friend


Apparently this was at Legoland. Apparently much more than legos at Legoland!


Love all the pictures of nephew Rome. My blog is kind of photo album of Rome as he grows up. Funny thing is he just keeps getting cuter!

Gratitude

This is from Father Jim's blog - my blog has a link there too. Father Jim's sermons and apparently even his blog often point my heart and mind in the right direction. I was just writing about my imperfect, self-absorbed day and then I read this:

Gratitude
How can I thank God for all he has done for me?

GOD'S RESPONSE

We praise God for the wonderful kindness he has poured out on us because we belong to his dearly loved Son. Ephesians 1:6

Great is the LORD! He is most worthy of praise! He is to be revered above all gods. The gods of other nations are merely idols, but the LORD made the heavens! 1 Chronicles 16:25-26

Who can list the glorious miracles of the LORD? Who can ever praise him half enough? Psalm 106:2

Let us continually offer our sacrifice of praise to God by proclaiming the glory of his name. Hebrews 13:15

✙ You can thank God by offering him a sacrifice of praise. What does that mean? It means that you sacrifice, or give up something, to praise him instead. You might give up some sleep to get up early to praise him. Maybe you will give up some free time to spend time in prayer praising him. Perhaps you need to give up complaining to praise him for all he has done for you. Whatever it is for you, give God praise. He is worthy of it.

GOD'S CHALLENGE

It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to the Most High. PSALM 92:1

Praying Lent

I really do love this website. The link is on the right side of my blog about half way down. They have scripture readings and prayers for everyday of Lent. This is todays closing prayer:

God of Love,
through this Lenten journey,
purify my desires to serve you.
Free me from any temptations to judge others,
to place myself above others.
Please let me surrender even my impatience with others,
that with your love and your grace,
I might be less and less absorbed with myself,
and more and more full of the desire
to follow you, in laying down my life
according to your example.

Today was an extremely imperfect and self absorbed day so these words really hit home.

Happy Birthday Dad

We love you!

Happy Birthday Rome

Nephew Rome in LA is enjoying his birthday with Mom, Dad, Grandma and Grandpa.

Love this latest picture.

Accountability

Our dragon boat coach Ilana started a health and fitness blog (link is on the right side of my blog about half way down). At our recent meeting and brunch so many of us mentioned losing weight and getting more fit as things we wanted to work on this year. Yes, we actually had mucho healthy food at that brunch!

Many of us also mentioned having more fun this year and winning more medals. Actually, the fitness thing will help us win those medals!

Anyway, Ilana posted her plans to exercise more with specifics so that she would feel accountable to her readers to follow through.

OK so here are mine. First of all, I gave up cheese for Lent. Yes, that is tough for me at least since I would eat cheese three meals a day if I could - way too much fat, cholesterol and calories. So now I have double accountability to follow through.

Second, I have stopped exercising in my free gym at work (or anywhere else) since Lorraine passed away. Her office was right door and it was too hard to go back. I think it is time to go back which I am sure Lorraine would want.

3/7/12 Accountability update - weak excuse for a gym workout and not doing so well on diet either. Tomorrow is another day.

The new kids on the kennel block

VERY early this rainy morning, 21 new greys arrived from Florida. That brings the total at the kennel to 41. There was a sense of urgency to take as many as we could since some had been waiting for several years for a rescue organization to take them. More and more greyhound tracks are closing making more and more work for Greyhound Pets Incorporated. I took the youngest (1.5 year) Joe through the getting settled routines which involved weight, worming medicine, fitting muzzle, etc.