Cross Country Baby!

At the cross country meet on Saturday, these pictures were snapped. Riley was being her typical cute self, except for the second picture when she was tired and crying. She had a ball at the meet playing with a couple of puppies, traffic cones, and the team. Plus, she ran around a lot. Who knows? Maybe she'll be a record-setting distance runner like her dad? Maybe one day she will want to run a marathon with me? How cool would that be?

What I'm Reading...One more Tim O'Brien

This past week, I read Going After Cacciato by Tim O'Brien. Though it was long (395 pages), the story was rich, layered, imaginative, and hopeful - despite the background of 'Nam. In this National Book Award winner, a team of soldiers goes after one of their own - Cacciato - who planned to walk from Vietnam to Paris. The men who give chase (Stink, Oscar, Paul Berlin, Doc, Eddie, and the lieutenant) call it a mission, but aren't they, like Cacciato, just running from the war? And is the act of running brave or cowardly? The men trace Cacciato into the Middle East and finally through Europe. They met a girl en route, Sarkin Aung Wan, who helps them escape from tunnels and wants desperately to settle down in an apartment in Paris. Along the way, they encounter water buffalos, earthquakes, jail, sickness, love, monotony, and measures of happiness.

At the same time, the novel skips back to stories from the war, told from Paul Berlin's perspective.

And as per Tim O'Brien's usual, the question of what is real and what is imaginary, what is story and what is fact looms throughout.

The prose here doesn't just pull off a winning story of war; it elevates the tale into the realm of meaningful reflection on life, humankind, and war.

Does Cacciato make it to Paris? Does the team trailing him make it? Can the trip even be made? Here's a tale of a journey that is worth taking.

Playing Dress-up!

The other night, Riley decided she wanted to look more like me! Can you blame her? I have been dressing more fashionable recently. . . . Anyways, she had me put on the belt (which had to be looped around her twice), and then she romped around the house in my heels. Too cute. My little girl is growing up!

What I'm Reading...

The Puttermesser Papers by Cynthia Ozick

This story is wildly imaginative and highly lyrical. I found the prose to be enthralling, and the main character Ruth Puttermesser is at once sympathetic and frustrating, lovable and annoying - yet, always contemplative and deep. Set in New York City, this novel tells the tale of an aging woman who works for a government agency, becomes the mayor, creates a golem, is obsessed with George Elliot, has a Russian cousin who comes to visit, and ultimately offers insight into what Paradise is. The ending stretches the limits of narrative and challenges notions of point-of-view consistency in order to provide a reflection on life and death that is profound and critical.

A finalist for the National Book Award, this novel is a powerful, unique, at times fantastical character portrait.

Monkey Baby!

Just playing around the house this afternoon, and here's how Riley wanted to do her hair...

How cute is that! She is such a fun and smart and loving kid. These days, she has been getting more and more ready to talk. She is good with words like bath, ball, nana (for banana), mama, and dada. We've also been working on keys, please, thank you, and I love you. So exciting! She is also doing a better job of sitting on her potty (though she only pees in it every once in a while), helping to give the cats water, giving kisses, and cleaning up after herself. Seriously, she wipes up spilled water and throws away garbage. Oh, and she has been carrying a purse around on her arm lately. Some days, we can't go anywhere without it! My little girl is growing up. . . and, I'm just thrilled to be a part of it!

Another Book Down: Less than two full days later...

I just finished Tim O'Brien's book In the Lake of the Woods this morning, even though I just started it on Tuesday night. Honestly, I could not put it down. So many elements of the story combined to make it a gripping read: First, the prose. Wow, can O'Brien write. I am in awe of his use of language to stir emotion, render sentiment, and demand thought. Second, the structure. He is a master at mixing genres within a novel. It is as if O'Brien is challenging the definition of a novel, a story, and working within and outside of traditional bounds to bring us something more essential, more captivating, more pure. He brings us the dream that is the story and invites us in, holds us in, and won't let us go. And finally, the content. This novel is at once a love story, a mystery, a war story, a story of dealing with failure, and a story of finding happiness.

If you do check it out, I am curious to know your take on what happens or what may have happened. This is definitely a story that is fun to talk about. And, one that will stay with you. . .

What I Just Finished Reading...

This past week, I read Annie Dillard's The Maytrees.

What a delightful and touching story. Dillard's writing is beautiful: concise and dead-on. And the story, a tale of a couple who parts and then reunites in old age, moves along and builds almost surprisingly until the epilogue, when the essence of the story is surrendered (and, of course, I started to cry). Here's a novel that reveals a lot about love and a lot about life through courtship, marriage, parenting, separation, disease, friendship, injury, and aging. So many of the lines in this book are beautifully rendered and striking in their stark simplicity. At the same time, the power of place is highlighted in this story. Provincetown and its skies are fondly depicted and enter into the story as a character, as striking as Maytree and as quiet as Lou. As I read, I wanted nothing more than to be on the dunes myself, watching the landscape change with the times.

If you want a book that will challenge you to question the definition of love and the meaning of life in a soft yet poignant way, check out The Maytrees. I'm glad I did.

My New Do!

After three long months, I finally treated myself to a haircut yesterday. I went to the same woman who did my hair for Caroline's wedding. She is amazing!

Now, my hair feels amazing, and I have to admit, when my hair looks good, I feel better about myself. I guess a splurge every now and then is worth it for a self-confidence boost. And I needed it now, with the school year starting and the baby thing not starting. . . . Anyways, I love my hair, and I just wanted to share!