Heading to DC to celebrate my Dad’s 36 year career with the Coast Guard. Looking forward to the parties, baseball games and babysitting we’ll do. I don’t plan on posting while we’re gone but there will be lots of good stuff when I return!
I spent a lot of Monday reading in my lounge chair on the back patio under an umbrella or reading in the basemet trying to escape the heat. I finished Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress and started How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild and Got a Life.
I’d give Balzac 2.5 out of 5 stars. The book was originally written in French and I am thinking something might have been lost in the translation. I understand it’s going to be made into a movie, but I am not sure for here in the US or a foreign film. (NOTE: apparently the movie has already been released).
I started Opal Mehta and say with mixed emotions that I’ve really enjoyed it. The book has been such an interesting, humorous and entertaining read. The mixed emotions come from the fact that the young author has been accused of plagiarism and the books are now pulled from the shelves. It’s hard to enjoy a book who’s author is a liar.
Opal’s author is said to have copied from Megan McCafferty who’s work I am not familiar with but might have to check out. Although I’m a little nervous as her books appeared on Amazon lists such as: Read the Best Teen Books and MUST READ Ultra-cool and FUN novels! 
YIKES!
I am really impressed with PBS’ Saturday afternoon television line-up: The Katie Brown Workshop, Martha Stewart’s Everyday Food, and Real Simple. Rick Bayless’ (I still haven’t gone to Frontera Grill!) show and Rick Steves Europe is also thrown into the mix. I took a break from planting on Saturday to catch a few episodes and even a little cat nap!
I saw Anderson Cooper on Oprah and really want to read his book: Dispatches from the Edge : A Memoir of War, Disasters, and Survival. He’s had an interesting life and I look forward to reading more about it. Who knew his Mom was Gloria Vanderbilt?
The stack of books next to my nightstand is growing: Second Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, 5 People You Meet in Heave, How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild and Got a Life, Queen Noor’s Memoir and on and on. I look forward to getting out the lawn chair and reading in the sun this weekend.
I had one of my favorite dishes last night at dinner with Betsy and Alison. We ate dinner at Stir Crazy and I was psyched to see Vietnamese Pho on the menu. I used to get it at a Vietnamese restaurant in Falls Church, VA about once a week, but I haven’t had it in Chicago since I moved here 5 years ago.
On a side note, we were at Woodfield last night and did some shopping at H&M – who knew they had maternity clothes?! I haven’t come across that line in their European Super Stores but am excited to see it here in the States!
We had a pretty eventful weekend, yet pretty relaxing too! Friday night we cheered the Kane County Cougars onto victory with Bob and Heather. Minor league baseball games are so much fun, so entertaining and so cheap; I am hoping we can make a few more games this season.
Saturday we woke up early and went to Heather and Bob’s for an early breakfast before we hit their neighborhood garage sales. We found a few things, but nothing too exciting. The rest of Saturday was a pretty lazy day for Mike and I as we both battled colds. Saturday night we headed to Betsy and Chad’s for a birthday/new kitchen celebration.
On Sunday the laziness continued . . .we made a quick trip to Costco and then I went shopping with Heather to find curtains and pictures for their new house. We had a successful trip followed by Dream Dinners Flank Steak dinner (that was really good) and Desperate Housewife Finale watching.
Can you tell Mike and I are excited to have Heather and Bob in the burbs?!
I saw a trailer for The Devil Wears Prada earlier this week and I am so excited to see the movie. The book was a great “no brainer” read that I thorougly enjoyed. One thing I am surprised about – Meryl Streep looks older than I imagined her character to be. What’s with the white hair? If I remember correctly from the book she has children in grade school wanting the latest Harry Potter book or something like that. Mark your calendars – the movie is due out June 30!
I started feeling weird on Monday and things got worse yesterday. I went to the Dr last night only to find out I have an ulcer/viral infection in the back of my throat – YUCK! There’s almost no medicine to cure what I have (lots of sleep and tylenol have been working ok). Notice that I said almost . . . last night I filled a perscription for Magic Mouthwash. This is a concoction of maylox, benadryl and litocain (sp?). It seems to have helped, but the most obvious side effect is a numb tongue!
It was good to be back home again in Indiana this weekend. After my haircut, Mike and I headed down to Indy to visit with our favorite expextant mother, Tiffany (due with twin girls at the end of June) and our newest nephew Cal and his parents. I was psyched that I was able to feed Cal his bottle!
We returned to West Lafayette for a dinner with Mike parents and little brother at Cajun Connection (love the pink cole slaw!). After dinner we met at Harry’s to celebrate Alex’s graduation and birthday. Alex and Priscilla showed us a fun dice game I’ll have to remember: High – Low. Pictures can be seen on our homepage.
Sunday consisted of Mother’s Day church and packing to return home. We had a low key Sunday night of tv watching. It looks like my dreams of a West Wing spin off are done – Bradley Whitford is starring in a new sitcom with Matthew Perry: Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. The show has a great cast; I’m looking forward to seeing it!
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