In which I share what I’m into these days {Summer 2012}

Evelynn (and her little Africa birthmark) at the Spray Park

Books I’ve Read

• I loaded up on books from the Bestseller Express shelf at the library for this summer. I wanted to read for fun. (I keep track of my 2012 reading with Goodreads, if you’d like to track me down over there.)
• The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty. I was surprised by how much I liked this book. Even now, I don’t know why I couldn’t put it down, but I did, I liked it, and I read it in about a day, unable to stop. The best parts of the book are near the end, it made me ask myself some hard questions about truth, and being known, and keeping secrets, right to the grave.
• The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. I liked it, once I got into the rhythm of it. It’s one of those books that you must stay with, or you lose the believability and the thread. Overall, I liked it though even though there are some bits I could do without….
• The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender. Great writer, but have to admit that the book didn’t do it for me. I wanted to like it, and failed miserably.
• I Remember Nothing: and Other Reflections on Aging by Nora Ephron. I love Nora Ephron’s writing. I haven’t watched a romantic comedy that can stack up to her work. (Almost every decorating decision I make comes down to asking myself this question: “Would it go in Kathleen Kelly’s brownstone?“) And yet, these essays weren’t her best work. I liked them, but I wouldn’t re-read.

T.V. Show Worth Watching:

I’m late to the party (what else is new?) but ZOMIGOD, you guys. SHERLOCK. Yes, the BBC series of Sherlock is so fantastic. The sharp dialogue is rivalled only by the sharpness of Benedict Cumberbatch’s cheekbones. (Just say that name out loud: Benedict. Cumberbatch.)

Movie I’ve Seen (in or out of the theater):

I haven’t been on much of a movie kick this summer. I didn’t see a single theatre-movie. I won’t even me tell you about how obsessed I became with the Olympics…

In My Ears:

Florence + The Machine’s Shake It Out feels a bit like my anthem these days.

In My Kitchen:

Brian manages our family budget, and, in the interest of getting our Eating Out budget down to a squeak, I learned how to make pizza at home. And then I met this little blogger, maybe you’ve heard of her? Yeah, that Pioneer Woman can make a pizza. (My current favourite is the Thai Chicken Pizza from her latest cookbook. I make it almost weekly.)

We’re also eating a lot of variations on chicken salads since Brian’s got the green thumb for lettuce.

Things We Have Done That Might Be Redneck-ish

Meet the Omaha Waterpark. We couldn’t figure out if we were brilliant or redneck-y, but it worked. And the sheer delight of the tinies because we clamped a hose to a tree? UNMATCHED.

New (to me) Blogs that have caught my eye:

• My frentor (friend + mentor, natch) Kelley Nikondeha has FINALLY launched a blog called Doing Theology in Transit. Seriously, this woman. I want to be more like her when I grow up. Read her About page to get just a taste of why I love her so. Now I just need to get her writing a few books… At the end of August, she’s coming to see a few of us (like Idelette, another blog you need to read) here. I’m taking her to the nose-piercing and tattoo place because, well, why not?
• Jonathan Martin of Renovatus in the United States has been knocking them out of the park lately. I love when crazy charismatics like me can run with the big boys on theology and culture. My recent favourite: Gender, Race, and Pentecost: The World Has Moved On
• D.L. Mayfield contributes to A Deeper Story with me, she also writes for McSweeney’s Internet Tendency. Her blog about living the upside-down kingdom is always a good read.

Favorite Pinterest find:

Actually Made Me LOL

Stuff I’m Painting White:

I’m so sick of the colour brown. Brown, beige, neutrals, BLAH. Almost my entire house is brown. You see why this is a problem. Brian is determined NOT to repaint perfectly fine walls that we just repainted Cappucino three years ago, so I’m stuck. I ended up tackling our gigantic dark brown Ikea bookcases. I tore off the cheap backing, and if I do say so myself, they turned out pretty damn fantastic. I can’t even tell you what a difference it made to the house.

What I’m Looking Forward To Next Month:

• Anne will starting public school. I have Very Big Thoughts about this, but I’ll save them for later. Also, she’s turning 6 years old *sob*.
• Joe will be starting preschool next month.
• A bit of travel: I’ve got a Girls Weekend coming up with a few friends. I haven’t gone away from the tinies since 2008 (when there was just one little tiny), so this is a new experience for all of us. Brian will then wing away to Texas to officiate a wedding, catch up with our dear friends in the area, and attempt to make up for 7 years lack of decent BBQ and tex-mex. (I’m not jealous, I’m not jealous, I’m not jealous…)
• I will be able to share the details about the book contract with you at long last! And then must finish the writing of it….
• Finally, I didn’t know when I choose my One Word for 2012 that God would take me so incredibly literally. FEARLESS is changing my life, over and over. (I might choose Rich and Famous for 2013, just to call His bluff….) I’ll have an announcement about this in a couple of weeks…. it’s a big deal. (To me, anyway.)

Do tell – what are YOU into right now?