Truth in Fiction - If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch

"I answer her with my silence, understanding the full power of it for the first time. Words are weapons. Weapons are powerful. So are unsaid words. So are unused weapons." p.24

I have understood the power of silence and words for quite a while. However, I never quite thought of words as weapons which is surprising as I know how much words can hurt. I know how much damage words can inflict on self and on another. Yet, I still see words as tools...tools and weapons.

"What do you mean you got nothin'? You have these books, for one. Books are like whole new worlds," I say, my voice reverent.
"So?"
"So, that means you have the world. And you better take care of it, I say, handin' the book back to her." p.117

"Good things come to those who let them in. All you have you have to do is take a chance." p.135

I agree that good things come to those who let them in, but for me it is much easier said than done. "All" is a very big word in this instance. Taking chances can be simple in certain aspects of life and complicated in others. Taking chances on myself and on others is a mighty big "all" indeed.

"No one warned me that being close to people meant hurting sometimes, both them and you." p.164

Getting close to people is not something I do well or often. The hurt I have caused loved ones gives me as much pause as the hurt that has been inflicted on me.

"I wait, listening. I reckon it's the biggest gift a human being can give to another." p.185

Listening is indeed a gift, a big and precious gift. There is absolutely nothing like being heard.

Birthday Hangover

My 43rd birthday can be summed up with three words: popcorn, Twizzlers, and movies. My official birthday party was a movie marathon hosted by F/friends. 

1. Despicable Me 2

2. B.A.P.S

3. Brown Sugar (You know all celebrations must include this movie.)

4. The pilot episode of 7th Heaven ( I miss the Camden family, and the birthday party hostess had never seen the show!!!)

5. The Last Dragon (Taimak aka Bruce Leroy catches a bullet with his teeth!)

Why yes, that is the biggest bowl of popcorn I have ever seen.

A singing balloon!!!

Strawberry AND cherry Twizzlers. It was definitely a party!

Tulips and an orchid. Purple beauties everywhere!

Doc Popcorn is the best popcorn in the world. My favorite flavors? I must have the hoppin' jalapeno and cheesy cheddar mix.

Happy Happy Birthday Week

A F/friend who is not a fan of birthdays was thoughtful enough to send me a "HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY WEEK" message. The message made me giddy (imagine me giddy over a birthday related correspondence...shocking, I know) and made me laugh out loud. 

This being my birthday week, I have begun enjoying birthday treats. 

First Day 3-16-23

What a glorious Sabbath! It wasn't freezing outside. Worship was deeply meaningful. I felt...connected. I enjoyed a lovely walk to my favorite indie bookstore followed by a pleasant conversation with a dear friend  in "Tangentese" (My friend made up that word).Tangentese is the language of speaking in tangents. It is the language of friends. You know when you have those rambling conversations where you start off talking about the Sabbath and end up talking about the awesomeness that is the Swingline stapler from "Office Space"? These conversations are punctuated by comments such as, "My house is broken" and must include random quotes from "Brown Sugar". Yes, a wonderful start to a HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY WEEK!

Birthday treats: a bottle of Sparkling Grapefruit Izze and a pleasant conversation. I feel like I should explain why Izze qualifies as a treat. Beside the fact that it's a treat simply because I like it, I enjoy drinking out of glass bottles and belching quite loudly. I drank my beverage, belched loudly, and laughed hard. Happy birthday to me.

A List of Good Ideas

 

 

This post is brought to you courtesy of Laurel Snyder's marvelous book Seven Stories Up.

 

Annie and Molly created  a "list of good ideas to do sooner or later but hopefully sooner." These two fictional young ladies have inspired me to create my own list:

 

1. File my income taxes
2. Go to the movies
3. Take a walk in the park (when the temperature is above 60 degrees)
4. Visit Glenwood Springs
5. Write letters to Junior and Senior Young Friends
6. Go to Egypt
7. Dance in the rain
8. Declare my feelings to someone special
9. Go skinny dipping
10. Be kissed
     



My B Side

I recently read Beautiful Music for Ugly Children by Kristin Cronn-Mills. Although I am not a radio fan, nor am I an Elvis fan, nor am I a vinyl fan... well you get the picture... I enjoyed this book, A LOT! 1. I am most definitely a Prince fan and 2. I am a fan of B Sides. For the record Prince has the most amazing collection of B sides known to woman :-)

A side -  the song everyone knows
B side - not played as often but just as good

My A Side - Christian Friend, Teacher, Librarian, Reader, "Nice quiet girl"

My B Side - Loud, Knicks fan, Inappropriately and Easily Amused

What about you? What grooves are on your A side/B side?

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!

Who is your favorite Dr. Seuss character?

The Grinch

 

 

What is your favorite line from a Dr. Seuss book?

"Today you are You! That is truer than true! There is no one alive more Youer than You!

 

 



What Dr. Seuss book would you recommend that everyone read?

Oh, the Places You'll Go

 

The More that you read,

the more things you will know.

The more that you learn,

the more places you'll go.

~Dr. Seuss