I'm certain that when I'm living in Las Vegas someday I will miss the snow, the frigid air, the slushy feeling under my feet, the icy windshield when I get out of work. I'm not really so much certain of this as I am ... well, in complete denial of it all. I like the snow for about 6 days a year, culminating on December 25th and beginning its melting cycle the following day.
Although there's really no better way to read a book than to lay in a hot bath tub with it on a freezing day like today. Unfortunately, I had no such luxury. After working from 6:30-2, driving to the vet to get antibacterial/antifungal shampoo for my husky and forcibly holding her in a bathtub for the appropriate amount of time (I'm supposed to do this THREE times a day!? Really!?), cooking dinner for my family (don't worry, Mom, I washed my hands first!), changing clothes and deodoranting up to remove the wet dog smell from my person, 3 1/2 hours of Alice in Wonderland rehearsal/travel time in the nasty weather, and doing my devotional/bible time, it is now 11:00 in the evening. So, no rose-petal scented bubble bath for me. Someone would probably knock on the door with an urgent need to use the restroom the moment I got comfortable anyhow. It's all worth it, though -- I actually enjoy working with my husband, living with my husband, AND assistant directing for my husband. I also got to see all three of my kids today, which is a rare occasion. The oldest is usually at rehearsal for show choir or band or school drama everyday, so it's really nice when all five of us can sit down at the table and eat dinner at the same time. Even if the dogs do decide that "Family Time" includes them, and they sloppily chow down and slurp up water while we're eating. (They're motto is, 'Hey! You're the one with the opposable thumbs -- if you don't want us to eat while you're eating, then move the buffet out of our reach!')
How's THAT for a preamble?
I've gotten about halfway through the Dan Brown book "The Lost Symbol", and my friend Heather is right. I really don't want to put it down. It's more fast paced than Angels and Demons, and more fun than The DaVinci Code. It's set in Washington, D.C. and I find myself really wanting to visit there someday. I've never been interested much in politics or political figures. But certain pieces of historical information I find interesting when presented in the right way. (Just ask Mr. Galvin, my high school history teacher. The days when I wore my sunglasses and took a nap -- not interesting days. Unfortunately, that was approximately 87% of the time I spent in his class. But it wasn't nearly the amount of time I spent sleeping during chemistry class.) At any rate, I'm looking forward to Steve reading this so we can discuss it together and I can ask him questions about the geography, because he's actually been to D.C. That's another thing -- we both love to read, and I'm trying to read a lot of books that he's also read, or is planning to read, so we have something to discuss other than work, kids, finances, and dogs!
Which brings me around to the other book I'm reading, "A Marriage Without Regrets". It's simply fantastic. I've read a lot of books in this genre. There's nothing wrong with my marriage, don't get me wrong. I'm just one of those people who are consistently trying to make things even better. When someone sees a first draft of something I've written, it's likely the third or fourth draft, and I'm still not completely convinced that it's good enough for a first draft. (Part of why I'm forcing myself to blog everyday -- these are all first drafts. I write, I publish. I don't edit. Typos excluded. I don't edit for content, but I edit typos. If you see any, it'll upset me because I'll feel like an idiot for missing them.) So this marriage book, she says basically the same things that any marriage-book-writer says. Unconditional Love. Communication. But it's in the presentation of these subjects that Kay Arthur really shines. Personal examples, biblical quotes that are more than just the ordinary fodder, and beautiful language. I'm fascinated by language. Probably why I write. (Side note: I was actually complimented today at work by a customer because I used the word 'facetious'. I use it all the time because my parents used to say it when I lived at home and I just carried it with me. I didn't realize that you don't really hear it that often. I laughed a little!)
The chapter I just read is on communication, which (probably not ironically because it's also a marriage devotional) coincided with the chapter I read in my devotional book by Gary Chapman right before it. The way that Arthur describes the power of words... it just blew me away. We've all heard that words have the power to heal or to harm, but she puts it into such a perspective that you can relate it to any relationship in your life, not just that of a husband and wife. I'm officially a Kay Arthur fan. I'm somewhat saddened that I found her book on the clearance rack at church for $4.99. At the same time, I feel like I got a pretty good bargain!
It's about bedtime -- I might read for a few minutes to try and put myself to sleep before I do it all again tomorrow!
Goodnight,
SJS
No comments:
Post a Comment