"The" Swingset

So here it is...in all it's glory...the swingset Kate and I carted to Kohler from Cosco's in Milwaukee by ourselves. It certainly is grand. The back side has a rock wall and rope ladder. Rachel and Jake will have a wonderful summer playing on it. Kate will get a bit of a respite allowing the kids to go out and be entertained on it. The kids need some smiles and laughter this summer, and this is sure to deliver.

Good, "afternoon by the pool" reading

My friend Amy and I went down to the library's annual book sale on Friday morning. My sister-in-law, Jo Anne, clued me in to how many great books you could get cheap (and James Robert would tell ya'll that I'm cheap...although I prefer the term "bargain-hunter"), so when I saw the advertisement for the sale, I knew I had to go. We bought some great books at $1 per hardcover and $.50 per paperback. As we paid, they reminded us to come back the next day for their $2.00 for a bag of books sale. $2.00 for as many books as will fit in one of those plastic grocery bags! I took the kids down to see what was left. On a whim, I threw a bunch of paperbacks into my bag. I wanted some books that I didn't care if they got a bit wet while reading in and around the pool.

I picked up "{THE} HOURS" by Michael Cunningham. It's not a book I would typically pick up, as the cover has picture from a movie based on the book. I'm a bit odd in that as a general rule I feel books should be books, and movies should be movies. Whenever they meet, people are usually disappointed. But this particular book swayed me with the "Winner of the pulitzer prize" tag...which of course, like all good marketing, worked to reel me in.

Anyhow, it was fantastic! A quick afternoon's read. I got to the final chapter and the relationship of one of the characters to the others dawned on me and I sucked in a breath. It was just fantastic. I highly recommend it. If you don't mind a bit of warped pages from pool water - I'm willing to lend out my copy.

Oh - and here's another piece of advice...skip "The Haunting." I was very disappointed in it. I absolutely love M. Night Shyamalan's work. This had moments, but there just wasn't enough of his brilliance to carry the entire movie. I felt sort of gypped. Of course, Betty Buckley got high billing in the opening credits, so I guess I should've known...the last time I've seen Betty Buckley was in 1980 on "Eight is Enough!" It seemed more like a Made for TV movie. A pretty good one...but still not quite big screen material.

My oldest turns 16 today

Jim and Kirsten - June 1992

Funny...I was just remembering Jimmy's 16th birthday and today Kirsten turned 16. I think back to what Jim & I were each like at 16. One thing is for certain - we thought we were pretty invincible. As long as you didn't get in a car with a stranger or someone who'd been drinking, you'd live forever. Such simple rules we lived by. The world gets so much more complicated as we grow up. Okay, well the world's always complicated, but at 16 it doesn't seem to be.

I feel for my mom and dad today. I look at Kirsten and want her to dream big and go for it. I know my parents felt the same for Jimmy and me. Looking at the photo of Jimmy's 16th, never in a million years would I have imagined those dreams ending so soon. I look into Kirsten's face and can't see her future any more clearly than I saw Jim's. But I send up wishes to the heavens for health and happiness.

Today's happiness is pretty simple - the new M. Night Shyamalan with Mom (me) and her friend Roya. Then a sleepover. Life is good for her today, and that's all I can ask for.

Happy 16th Birthday Kirsten. Love - Momma