Thoughts en masse

There have been a few things on my mind. I feel so busy right now, I don't think I can compose them in a uniform way, but these thoughts keep pressing, so maybe if I write them out they will let me do my work.

Why are homes so expensive? I mean, if we really think about this, it's ridiculous. I am perfectly happy to pay someone for their labor and for quality materials. But is it reasonable for someone to ask $1,300 a month for a home that was built 30 years ago and has not been updated or even well kept? On top of this, they want you to eventually BUY their home and pay through the nose for it.

The whole house hunting thing has been very frustrating. (Michal, I would LOVE to buy your parents' home.) We have been home owners. And yes, we benefited from the exorbitant home inflation 5 years ago. Twice, actually. It wasn't something we expected or sought. But, now that we are in the reverse situation, I want the market to be in our favor again, dang it.

We are committed to being out of our current home September 30, because there is a lovely young couple who wants to rent our place. This is good. We have a deadline. I like deadlines. I actually work better under stress. Not that I haven't been stressed about this for a year now.... :)

And for some reason, when my mind is preoccupied like this, chocolate chips enter my body without me even knowing about it. Seriously. Dave Barry hit it on the nail when he said:

"The problem with human bodies is that they're based on a design that is eons old. Our bodies believe that any day now, we'll have another Ice Age, and there won't be any more food, so they need to store up lots of fat. So while our brains are in the 21st century, wanting desperately to lose weight, forcing us to eat salads and engage in bizarre cult activities such as ''Pilates,'' our bodies are back in 12,000 B.C., thinking: `I made 6 more ounces of fat today! Bring on the glaciers!''

I am, however, combating the chocolate chip invasion with daily jogs. Jogging also really helps my poor, overwrought little brain sort things out.

I've been debating on whether or not to write my thoughts on Stephanie Meyer's new book, Breaking Dawn. I didn't think I'd give it a fair review, as I was reading Dickens' Bleak House before and after. I think we can all agree, even you big time Meyer fans, that she is not in the same league as Charles Dickens, right? We read about vampires for fun and fluff and endure the teenie bopper language because the plot is engaging. Big deal.

Then yesterday, our 11 year old neighbor came over and gushed about Breaking Dawn. To be fair, she is years older than her actual age, but I was aghast. I saw the book in a different light. The thought, "Would I let my kids read this book?" came to mind and it was frightening. I have been an enthusiastic supporter of this series for the last 3 books, but Breaking Dawn sort of changed that for me. In my opinion, the series and ESPECIALLY the last book is for adults. Married adults. There are some things in the last book that bothered me and the more I think about them, the more they bother me.

Hey, if you want a book that speaks about love on MANY different, real levels in a thought provoking and very uplifting way, Bleak House is the book for you! It is now one of my very favorite books. Mystery, romance, culture, murder, suspense, plot twists, and a heroine that will make you want to cheer and weep for her, she is so honest, sensible and good. The BBC mini-series is excellent too and follows the book pretty closely. Dickens is a genius.

Someone likes my blog! And this fine compliment means all the more to me considering the source. Amber M. is one of the treasures I have found through blogging. She blogs about her darling family (she also has a Sam and Anna!), her great Target finds (see all the cute Visiting Teaching gifts she makes with them), her beautiful handmade items (that she gives away!), and her recipes, and I could go on...needless to say, I am grateful for this gem of a friend blogging has given me.

Thanks Amber!

I am leaving tomorrow. My sister is having her baby and I am very excited. I get to stay with my darling nephew while she brings that new little life into the world. Oh! I can't wait to see my sweet niece. There is nothing like the freshness of new life. I've been thinking about her and her family a lot these past few days.

Jeremy, bless him, is taking a few days off from work to stay with the kids. They are looking forward to their "substitute teacher." Maybe I will convince him to do the weekly report this week. That ought to be good. :o

Phew...I do feel a little relieved to get these thoughts out. Now, on to the laundry and children!

* the found type (images of letters and numbers) on this post are from Jeremy's flickr account.