Angela's Ashes

You know how there are books on your reading list that you really should read, but you're just not motivated to make it happen? Angela's Ashes was one of those books for me. I even had two copies of it on my shelves... one autographed by the author at a writing fair last year in Seattle.
I read last week that Frank Mc Court died on July 19, and it seemed to me like a good time to finally read this book.

Frank Mc Court was an Irish American. He was born in Brooklyn to Irish parents, returned to Limerick a few years later with his family to escape the Great Depression, and than sank further and further into poverty. The book details his family's struggles: children dying, an alcoholic father who couldn't get his act together to support the family, Frank growing up and supporting his family, etc.

I hadn't read the book because it sounds like such a downer. But I have to say: Mc Court has such a razor wit about him that you find yourself chuckling over the way he describes his misfortunes. It's certainly one of those "if you didn't laugh, you'd cry" situations.

The book was brilliantly written, and I'd certainly recommend it to anyone (especially those of us feeling sorry for ourselves because of minor inconveniences. Like this infernal 103 degree heat... still no air conditioning).

Also notable: Mc Court's book called Teacher Man about his experiences teaching English in city schools. It's fantastic. Especially if you can hear the audio version. His Irish inflection and brogue take it to the next level.

5 Stars to Teacher Man and Angela's Ashes

Bradley Method Classes

Make a Smilebox postcard

So Bob and I have been taking a 12 week child birthing class using the Bradley Method. It's an all natural approach to child birth... no drugs, no episiotomy, etc. To manage the pain instead, you use a birthing tub, physio balls, massage, and so on.

A few things about this class:

• I feel VERY ready to deliver Margot. In fact I'm looking forward to it. I know it will hurt, but I am regarding it as the ultimate marathon experience. One where I get to bring a baby home at the end! The class has taught us so many different exercises that open the birth canal (like squatting. I've been practicing so much I think I could be a catcher on a softball team. My current record for holding a full squat is 7.5 minutes) and the basic mechanics of how birth works. The baby and mommy work together to make delivery possible.
• We're great friends now with the other couples in our class. There were five other couples, and I'm cheering for them and their deliveries... may they be healthy and uneventful.
• Our Bradley Method instructor, Emmy Marcelynas, is now our hired doula (birth assistant). We know her very well after these 12 weeks, and we're confident she will make Margot's birth just a bit more reassuring.
• Finally, it's been fantastic to have a place to go each week (Tuesday nights) where EVERYONE in that room believes it is possible to have a completely natural birth. I can't begin to tell you how many people say to us: "Just you wait. You'll change your mind. You've never had a baby before, so you don't know what to expect. You'll WANT the drugs. I don't know... I wanted natural too, but I ended up having a C-section."

Really, people, do you think we haven't considered all these things? It's completely maddening. I can't think of another arena in life where people tell you you're absolutely wrong about your choices. Can you imagine hearing, "I thought I'd go to college too... good luck with that." "I always wanted to be married to the same man my whole life; it's just not possible." "You've never been 30 before, so you just have no idea what to expect. Take it from me: it's not doable." "I know you've been training correctly for this sporting event for months, but I'm telling you: have an open mind. You might not finish without some medical assistance."

I know Bob and I have never had a baby before, and there are some things that are out of our hands... like a breech position or any other number of things. And I completely am okay with whatever needs to be done to have a healthy baby and to be a healthy mommy. But I wish people would let us strive to achieve our goal without the negativity.

Okay, I guess that's the rant. It's hot here (98 with no air conditioning)... so you'll have to excuse the diatribe. And no matter what happens, if I hear one single person say, "I told you so..." God help me.

The Wednesday Sisters

I saw this book at Barnes and Noble last year- when it was still in hardback. It interested me then, but I thought it might be too silly of a read to pay hard back prices to own. And the library had a mile long wait for it.

So when I saw it in Target last week, in paperback, I knew I had to have it. This is one of those books that takes you completely by surprise by its depth and character development.

The Wednesday Sisters tells the story of five women who meet each other while watching their children on a playground in the 1960's San Francisco area. So much is happening in the nation at that time- Vietnam, Women's Lib, the Hippie Era. And these moms are trying to figure out what that means for them. AND they've started writing together and critiquing each other's writing- on Wednesday mornings. Through all of this, there are births and deaths and infidelity that test and strengthen their relationships along the way.

I thought it might be a quick, light read. But it was deeper than that, and I closed the book not wanting it to end. It's a good sign when you are sad to say good-bye to your new friends in a book. And that is just what happened in this book.

5 Stars.

Baby Shower: Southern Style

Make a Smilebox photobook

More Pregnant Friends

So it turns out: the baby bump might be the hottest accessory this summer. This is my oldest friend, Mindy. We've been friends since 7th grade, and our timing is impeccable.

I met Bob within days of her meeting Tim (her husband).
We were engaged at about the same time.
And now, all these years later, we're pregnant at the same time.
She's due three weeks before me.

So next time I'm home, we'll update these pictures with me holding Margot and Mindy holding Naomi. I can't wait!

Some Summer Reads

I do love the summer, and reading is my favorite summer past time. Now that I'm back from my travels home, I've got more time to devote.


A few of the books I've read recently:


I picked up Comfort Food in the Seattle airport. Lucky thing, too: I had a 12 hour delay trying to get out of Seattle to go to Atlanta. This book filled a need.

Comfort Food tells the tale of a world famous chef/ t.v. personality (think: Ina Garten or Paula Dean) who finds herself turning 50 and grappling with cable ratings, relationship issues with her daughters, and competition from a hot Latina cook. It's a silly little read, but it was enjoyable.

3 Stars.






This one was a bit of a surprise. Gloria Vanderbilt's newest book, Obsession: An Erotic Tale, ventures far from what I would expect to read from Vanderbilt. In the opening chapter, the main character's husband drops dead at their 10th anniversary party.



As the widow is reading through their past love letters, she happens upon a stack of letters from the husbands' mistress. Really, the mistress was sort of a hired lover housed in the lap of luxury by the husband.



This slim book is a series of letters and dreams... all pretty erotic. The tag line is accurate.

Rated "M" for mature... and "I" for intriguing?



3.5 Stars.



Cormac Mc Carthy is not known for his happy literature. It's usually dark and deep. He wrote All the Pretty Horses and No Country For Old Men, to name a couple of his better known works. So I kind of put off reading The Road.

I knew the premise: something has happened to the world in the form of fire or explosion, and there are very few people left. Two of the remaining people are a man and his son who are just trying to travel south on foot to survive the winter. There are certainly horrible parts of the book that make you think: oh man, it really would be like that! And most of the book makes you wonder just how much you'd like to suffer through before you threw in the towel. -But then you think, If I had a kid to keep alive, perhaps I would be this dogmatic about surviving.


What I wasn't banking on was the underlying, nay: PERSISTENCE of hope throughout the book. Even when there is not one good thing to hope for.


The movie is coming out October 16 (the day after my 30th birthday). I'm not sure I want to see some of those images, but I'm sure if the movie is half as powerful as the book, it will knock your socks off.

5 Stars.

The Last Summer (Of You and Me)

My aunt Diann gave me this book to read while I was home. The author, Ann Brashares, is the same person who wrote The Traveling Pants books (which I have not read). This is her first novel written for adults.

It's a bitter sweet story of three kids who grew up together summering over at their beach houses on Fire Island. But when they grew up, they found their friendships morphing into deeper relationships, and the issue then became: how do they deal with the complexities involved with those changes?

While it does not claim to be deep literature, it is a pleasant read, and it connects to readers on multiple levels.

3.5 Stars, in my book.

Sneak Peek

Yesterday we went to have a 3D/4D ultrasound done to see Margot, and We invited our parents along for the adventure. It's something to see Margot move around while feeling it at the same time.

She was a little stinker though... and she kept her face snuggled into the placenta most of the time. She would give little peaks at us, but nothing head on. It was a great experience with everyone cheering her on, "Come on, Margot! Let us see your little face!" -But she just couldn't be convinced. Some things will remain a mystery until she gets here.

But two fun pieces of info: we confirmed she is a girl. -Whew! I'm not sure how I would have dyed all those cute little pink clothes blue. And I am officially in my 8th month now.

The question on everyone's mind is: Does she have Bob's nose or mine? Wagers are being made even now... Can't wait to find out!

Summer Traveling

Tomorrow I'll be 31 weeks pregnant, and my time for flying is rapidly diminishing. So it was time to head back East to see friends and family.

So on June 25th I flew to Alabama to visit my old college friend Bev. She and her mom threw a beautiful baby shower for me that Saturday. I don't have any pictures from that... they were all taken on another camera. So I'll post those when I get them.

The next day Bev and I drove to Ft. Benning, Georgia, to visit my friends Robin and Joe. Robin is due about five weeks after me, and it was fun to get some belly shots. She's just SO DARN CUTE!

We were in the South for about a week, and then Bev, her fiancee Kevin, and I drove up north to visit my family. Bob flew in to meet me there.

On Saturday, July 4th, my mom threw a baby shower for her side of the family and some old family friends. It rained... but it was still a lovely time (indoors). Again, I don't have tons of pictures on MY camera.

Sunday, Bob's mom organized a shower at Bob's brother's house (which is an amazing house, by the way) for that side of the family. I'm not sure if there are any pictures of that day or not. It was a beautiful day and a great chance to catch up with people we haven't seen in a year and a half. Too long!

Yesterday, we met up with my cousin Christy, her husband Mike, and my Godson, Leo. We met at Newport on the Levy and visited the aquarium. Leo is just brilliant and adorable to boot. It's a great combination. Unfortunately, the sun is so bright that we are squinting terribly, and I look absolutely enormous in this shot, but what can you do? -That's what I get for leaning back on the railing and sticking out my gut...

And finally, I'll leave you with a picture Bob snapped yesterday, after I woke up from a nap on the sofa. I think it's not a bad picture, and lord knows, I could use a decent picture of myself SOMEWHERE on this blog. So here it is...

There's more fun to come... including a 3D/4D ultrasound tomorrow... I'm so looking forward to that! And dinner with old high school buddies, and swimming with my old, pregnant friend, Mindy, on Friday. I'll post more later in the week.