MemeGRL: December 2010

Friday, December 31, 2010

MPM--Happy 2011

Well, that took longer than I thought. Long story short: I took my MacBook to the Apple Store because it wasn't backing up and was starting to malfunction. "Genius" at Genius Bar said, "Your hard drive is crashing but no time soon; order this item from Amazon and come back next week." Me: "Can I just buy it now and back it up so I know I have my irreplaceable photos?" "Genius:" "No, that'll take too long and cost you $30 extra dollars. It'll be fine." Insert me asking in two other ways for him to pretty please back up my stuff, and him blowing me off. Next time I turned on my computer? Gone. Dead.

Back at Apple, I got the same "Genius," whose response was "Who would have known that it would happen like that?" Answer, "Genius," I think, is ME, which is why I was there, asking three times for you to please back up my stuff so it was safe. He gave me lousy advice and knew it, so next thing you know, my entire computer was upgraded and spiffified (new cover to the keyboard, etc.) for nothing. But all those new things would have cost maybe 1/3 of what it will cost for data recovery, if my data even can be recovered. And I was so bitter, I didn't get on the computer for a month. And I still can't open the MacBook without feeling like I've been stabbed in the heart, so I'm back on my Dell, which is less than ideal but doesn't make me want to cry.

So. My resolution for 2011 is to back up my photos. I'm looking at SmugMug.

But it's also to spend less time on the computer. While I was completely web-free, I read seven books, used my cookbooks (though I really did miss some of my favorite food blogs), called and texted more, and wow, was my house cleaner.

I'm not sure how I'm going to continue this blog. I might just use it to mention new favorite recipes. Because I did have some pangs with big successes or failures, thinking, Oh, I need to blog this. And it has become an awesome personal favorite recipes bank. (Newest favorite: this crockpot pork and sauerkraut recipe is cooking right now so I can take it to my father-in-law's birthday party tomorrow; I used the non-vinegar CSA sauerkraut for a slightly milder flavor, and shredded an apple in there too).

Finally--it's not too late to make an even better resolution for 2011...be inspired at Resolution11! Mine: stop throwing out leftovers. Buy less, give more to our local food bank, and be serious about making Aid for Friends meals. How about you? Please check it out. And may 2011 bring you all that you dream.

Books I've Read Recently or Am Reading

Marriage and Other Acts of Charity: A Memoir. I won this from other bloggers and really enjoyed the story. Kate Braestrup, the author, is a minister and chaplain of the state police in Maine with a deep interest in science and nature. Her story of her two marriages was thought-provoking and comforting at the same time.
People of the Book. A fictional history of an actual artifact. I am being converted to a Geraldine Brooks fan, one book at a time, for her research abilities if nothing else.
Half the Sky. Also not an easy read emotionally; I had to stop in the middle a few times to catch my breath and be grateful to live in the US. Also inspiring as a reminder that the world is a big place, and choices matter.
Little Bee. Gah. Hard book, great writing--I loved his use of language. Two of my book groups read it and both of them hosted Bead for Life parties afterwards.
Water for Elephants. I had started this a while ago but this time it stuck. Not my favorite, as it was all too realistic in its depiction of a pretty lousy way of life, but the story was interesting and I enjoyed how Sara Gruen crafted the book.
The Help. I know, didn't everyone read this? I really enjoyed it in an another-world kind of way, though like many, I felt the ending a little unjust.
Tender at the Bone. I read this for one of my book groups, along with the companion, Not Becoming my Mother. Ruth Reichl is (duh) a great writer and these were great lived-history pieces.
American Wife. This was my favorite book club pick of the last two years. A fictional imagining of a Barbara Bush-like political wife. I loved it.
Animals in Translation. I was looking for Animals Make Us Human, but they didn't have it at the library yet. And this one caught my attention as our dog was facing surgery so the "Animals and Pain" chapter was of real interest. I love Temple Grandin and admire her gift for sharing her unique perspective with the rest of us neurotypicals. And this was fun and fascinating, to get a glimpse in to the world of unintended animal husbandry consequences.
Not Buying It: My Year Without Shopping. Fascinating yearlong experiment by a couple opting out of consumer society for a year. I'm not quite sure how she pulled it off but am intrigued.
Under the Banner of Heaven. One of the most frightening books I've ever read in my life. Truly challenging to think that this happens in the US, and that the law is either powerless to stop it or not interested.
The Ten Year Nap. Great fiction, suggested by Moxie, on moms who've mostly stayed at home for almost a decade, and the twists their families' lives take based on what they decide to do next.
The Overachievers. So fun for a recovering admissions officer to read the "inner lives" of a group of kids at a high school I worked with for a decade.
Animal Vegetable Miracle For book group, but also for interest. Of course, I don't live on arable land so I can just gawk at them.
A Walk in the Woods The second month in a row my book group picked a story I knew--yeah! Looking forward to skimming/rereading.
Excellence without a Soul A higher-ed junkie can't do any better than the former dean of Harvard bashing (surprise!) Harvard.
Waiting for Birdy Because I adored Catherine Newman's column on BabyCenter. I like the Wondertime work a lot too but find it harder to get to, so it's nice to have this collection of blog posts off the computer as well.
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan: A Novel The foot binding description still causes me agony, as does the semi-unwitting betrayal of friendship. Otherwise I loved this book.
Water for Elephants For both my book groups. Alas, I missed both discussions. Loved the first chapters and got sidetracked.
Life of Pi I actually bought this for my husband the year it came out in paperback because all his good friends raved. He hasn't gotten to it yet, but my "other" book group read it for this month. Yet another month I didn't get to the meeting but enjoyed the book.
Simple Abundance My sister-in-law's copy. I'm not quite as committed as she was, yet, but some parts are inspirational.
Why I'm Like This 'Cause I'm in to memoirs and she went to Penn around when I did.
Eat Pray Love. The short chapter format seemed ideal for a reading mom, but I found myself lingering over what she wrote, pondering and eager to get on to the next, so this took longer than I wanted. Overall, an enjoyable escapist read and a great book group discussion.
Love and Other Impossible Pursuits. I adored a column Ayelet Waldman wrote for the NYTimes Modern Love column, and despite the heartbreaking subject of this book, I love her writing so much I was willing to brave it. Read in one day.
Jane Austen in Scarsdale, or Love, Death, and the SATs Very funny, and good for my psyche, which is homesick for my pre-babies job
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows I know, shouldn't this go without saying? But even though it's the first one since Azkaban I haven't stayed up all night to finish, I loved it. And I didn't realize until my wave of relief at the end how glad I'd be that Harry...oh, no spoilers here. Just in case someone hasn't gotten there yet.
Practically Perfect in Every Way Written by one of the founders of Brain/Child magazine and a friend of a friend, a fascinating look at the world of self-help and how not helpful it can be.