Rebecca Homecca

Where did the week go? These four day work weeks are AWESOME.

Seemed like we had something going on every minute after work (between filling a dumpster and hauling wet boxes out of the basement) so it went by extra fast this week.

The weekend does not show any signs of slowing down either. We have errands in the morning, then hopefully working on the pantry project some more, followed up by meeting friends for dinner and a baseball game.

I’m tired already just talking about it!

In other news, I recently read Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingslover on the computer.

Did you know you can rent books from the library on your computer (or Ipad or Kindle if you are fancy like that) for FREE? It’s true. You can rent audio books too.

Isn’t the library awesome?

But I digress…

I’m not sure if I misunderstood or if they billed it wrong, but I thought AVM was about eating locally for a year. And I guess technically it was. But really it was more about growing your own food in your garden and raising your own animals to eat.

Remember when I mentioned I wanted to write a book about being a lazy environmentalist? Well this is the opposite of that.

Aside from the fact that not many people live on small farms in the middle of no where, most people have JOBS and the work involved in there endeavor was over the top at best.

It wasn’t all bad, there was some good info in there (especially if you are new to the slow food movement or whatever you want to call it).

I particularly enjoyed the recipes. They are simple, with few ingredients, and supposedly don’t take much time. I am not, however, going to bake my own bread EVERYDAY.

The other thing that bothered me about this book isn’t it didn’t have a clear path. It was part memoir, part cookbook, part encyclopedia (remember those? that is where we got information before Al Gore invented the internet) and part, well I don’t know what. It was all over the place.  I skipped whole sections because I’ve watch Food Inc and King Corn and don’t need to be convinced to eat locally, I just want to know how to do it better or easier.

I was really hoping it was more about shopping than farming. I was looking for some insight into the struggles with finding local foods and how to over come them. I guess the answer is in moving to a farm and doing it yourself?

BUZZ! Wrong Answer, try again.

Meanwhile, we ate good local stuff tonight. The farmer hooked us up with some green & yellow beans, summer squash, broccoli, and beets. Their neighbor brought over some extra zucchini for everybody too (if you’ve ever grown zucchini, you know there is ALWAYS extra).

Seems I am all about the ALL CAPS tonight. Hubs said I was sassy tonight. Guess so.

or should I say GUESS SO.

I finished reading New Moon and I liked it much better than the first one. I think it was Jacob. I don’t want to give too much away, but I think he’s so much better for  Bella than Edward.

Here’s the thing about Edward, just because he is stuck in a teenagers body, he has lived like 130 years (on account of his being a vampire). You are just going to be too mature for a real 18 year old when you are a 130. He is so condescending, it drives me crazy.

Jacob is so much more on her level. He’s a teenager too and is so much sweeter to her than Edward is (Also, I’ve seen the previews for the movie and he is much cuter.)

And if you don’t know what I’m talking about, well good for you and your grown up life. I am stuck in teenager world until I get through these books. And no, you can not stop once you start. They are like crack. I’m a little anxious about the fact that I am done with this one and I don’t know when the next one is coming.

Now, I’m going to start reading some Toni Morrison and try to get some brain cells back.

Becky’s Totally Scientific Rating: 3.5

I picked up the 2nd book in the Teenage Vampire Series. I had put it on hold this time, so I didn’t have spend time loitering in the teen section at the library.

Just run in, self check out and hit the road.

I had another book that came in, so I was able to disguise myself a little. The other book I got was Song of Soloman by Toni Morrison. I chose that book because it was banned book week.

There was a cool map that showed you what books were banned or challenged in your area. I can’t find it now, so feel free to google on your own time.

Anyway, there were 2 books banned in my town and I looked them up. After reading about them, I decided it was a waste to ban them. They sounded so terrible, no one would want to read them anyway. They probably got read more by being challenged than if they just let it be.

So I looked a little further north on the map and landed on Toni Morrison. I remember reading Morrison in college and that is saying something. I don’t really remember anything else I read in college.

It made an impression.

But first I have some teenage vampires to read about.

I finished reading Twilight by Stephanie Meyer today. I did not think it was as great as everyone was saying but it is certainly as easy read.

I found some of the dialogue immature and tedious, but then I reminded myself, this book was written for teenagers.

There was ALOT of explaining which could have been condensed. The first few chapters were intended (I think) to build some kind of suspense as Bella is trying to figure out what Edward is. But everybody knows what he is, so there is no suspense for us.

All in all, if you are interested in a light read that has no basis in reality whatsoever, then go for it. And yes, I intend to read the rest of the books in the series. I am hoping that now that all the explaining is out of the way (hopefully!) there might be some more action.

Becky’s totally scientific book rating: 3

The Shack by William Young

I had heard about this book as it has been both controversial and well loved. After reading the synopsis, I originally decided I did not want to read it. I did not think I would like it and was unsure about the subject matter.

If you don’t know, it’s about a guy who goes up to a shack and meets God.

So yeah, I thought, this could be really offensive.

A lady at work (whose judgement I trust in these matters) raved about it and said I HAD to read it. She stayed up half the night to finish, it was so good.

I did not have quite that reaction. My MIL read it and said she had heard others having that reaction, but she did not. She said she thought she was over analyzing it too much at first.  After hearing that from her, I realized I was too. So I tried to just take it for what it was and it went a little smoother.

I still did not have some big reaction to it. It was an interesting story, and I can see where it would maybe help people get through a difficult time. Also, some of the imagery was a little over the top for me.

I didn’t NOT like it (as I originally thought) but I wouldn’t say I LOVED it either. I did not find it offensive, so therefore I am recommending it.

Becky’s totally scintific rating: 3

Recommended by one of the ladies in my art group Outliers takes a look at super successful people and the circumstances that brought them there. It was very interesting at times, but I sometimes missed the point.

It is not a book on how to be successful, which is what I thought at first. Instead it shows how our circumstances shape people. Also, it shows how opportunities arise and super successful people take advantage of them. This is important because sometime these “opportunities” seem like disadvantages at the time, or risky ventures, or even events of no consequence.

The people taking advantage of these opportunities don’t always recognize the opportunity at the time. It’s not until this circumstance has led to their success that it is noted.

There are alot of studies and facts & figures in this book, but it is written in a easily understood way.

I don’t know that this book gave me any big insights into my own world, but it was very interesting. It definatly gives a unique perspective on how success is acheived.

Becky’s totally scientific rating: 4

After renewing Team of Rivals once already, I returned it to the library unfinished.

I was maybe a third of the way through. I really did want to read it, but it was so big and a little tedious. I think Doris Kearns-Goodwin could have benefited from a new editor.

I got a little sidetracked when Dewey and Outliers came in, and then the sun came out. I’m thinking I might give another try in like February.

It was interesting, but she kind of went on about things too much. You know when you were in 9th grade and had to write a 10 page report about Abe Lincoln, so you went to the library (I’m old school, no internet back in those days) checked out a couple of books and put every fact you could find in your report so it looked like you worked really hard and could also fill 10 whole pages?

It was kind of like that.

After waiting for weeks to Dewey The Small Town Libary Cat to come in. I finally got it, and read it in 2 days.

It was a very sweet book but I wasn’t expecting all the depressing stuff going on in the authors life.

Since I have a sweet kitty with tons of personality I could totally relate to Dewey’s story. There were things Dewey did that Marvin does all the time. Of course Marvin would not make a good library cat since he hates strangers.

When we first got Marvin, I said I was not going to be one of those people who talk about their cat all the time like they are your kid or something.

But I am. I can’t help it, he is so funny and follows me everywhere. When your kitty greets you at the door, and doesn’t leave your side until bedtime, you find things to talk about. He’s not an aloof cat that you hear stories about, he likes to be with his people (only his people, but all the time).

Even if you don’t have a goofy kitty like me, Dewey is still a good book about the effect animals have on people lives. People like to say “it’s just a cat”, but not when he’s your buddy.

Becky’s Totally Scientific Book Rating: 4

I would have some more artwork to show you, but the battery was about dead when I took the pictures, so I’ll have to wait for it to recharge to download them.

So essentially, this could be really cool and exciting but it’s not.

In other news, I am completely overwhelmed by the amount of books I have on deck and I am currently in the middle of the longest book ever.

Well, maybe not ever, but the longest I have read since college.

Who am I kidding. I never “read” anything in college. I was more of a “skimmer”.

I got good grades though, so don’t judge it ’til you try it. It’s really handy when they give things like Bold or Italics. Then you can just read those parts.

One of the books I had been waiting on for weeks (Outliers) came in, and hubs got an email the other day that Dewey (the cat book) finally came in.

Not to mention the other two books I have on the table that I borrowed from friends.

All of a sudden there is all this pressure. I feel like I am in school again. Well, except for the fact that I am actually reading these books.

Well, I guess better get going so I can fast forward through last nights Idol. Go Matt!

Since the book I want to read for my Business BINGO square refuses to come in to the library, I had to move on to another square.

I have been wanting to check on Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin (you may recognize her from TV). I had read good reviews and Goodwin is a very knowledgable historian.

I have recently been interested in past presidents. Partly from a show they had on the history channel a while ago. I think the recent election and general political climate also has me looking to the past.

Anyway, it was on shelf at a near by library so I went and picked it up today.

The thing is huge! It weighs a ton, my bag was so heavy (and had nothing to do with the 4 magazines, 1 book, and 4 cds I already had in there.) Even with all the notes at the end, the actual reading part is still 750 pages.

This one might take me a while. Luckily, BINGO is over (I’m just filling out my whole card for fun. Yes, I am a nerd.) If I had this book at the beginning, I wouldn’t have had time to get any more squares!

I’m excited to read it though. I like expanding my horizons and learning new things.