To Kill a Mockingbird

I read this book in ninth grade.  Most of the class thought it was boring, long and painful.  There were a handful of us who loved it.  I reserved it a spot on my "top ten" book list for years.  In Nicki fashion, I never went back to it, there are always a million books on my "to read" list so I don't retrace steps.  Then my dear friend Ali sent it to me for my birthday last year with a note declaring me un-American for not owning it.  So I thought I better bump it to the top.

Last week I opened it and  could not put it down.  It was incredible. 

As a fourteen year old girl, I did not realize how profound this book is--profound and heavy and dark and saddening.  The wonderful thing is, it doesn't ever leave you with sad or depressed feelings!  That is because it is narrated through the eyes of a child, it's innocent and happy and carefree.  In ninth grade I thought it was a book about Scout and Jem and their childhood adventures in Maycomb, Alabama.  When I read it again (but with a different perspective) it became a story of racism, oppression and sickening injustice.  The horror of that time swirled around Atticus Finch's family as he heroically navigated his children through troubled waters with astounding courage and integrity.  Harper Lee is brilliant and I am so glad I chose to read this gem again! 

Oh, and the book made me giggle and smile all week.

"I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do." (Atticus Finch)

{READ IT!}
OH, and Ali and I both want to name a child Atticus now.  Well, mostly her, because Mckay would veto it.  But she is going to find a man who will embrace it.

It's official

him.
Spent six hours at the court today, and was selected for jury duty.  Quote, "You're not supposed to campaign for it, but I totally did.  It was a competition for me."  Apparently on the form it says accepted or rejected, he peeked and saw that he was accepted and felt like he "won the game", he did win.  They chose 2/100 people, that's my baby, 1 in 50.

He is:
So elated to be taking an active part in the judicial system.
So confused at why people are so bugged when they have to do it.
So charming during his interview with the lawyers so that they would pick him.

It's official, he's a patriot.


her.
Been sick since Saturday.  Ended up in the Urgent Care Center tonight and has a kidney infection.  Right kidney to be exact.  Dang.

Ate kettle corn popcorn and ice cream for dinner tonight.  Haagan Dazs Vanilla Swiss Almond always gets me through the hard times. After a week of toast and applesauce, it felt so good.  Watched OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network, thumbs up) and is looking forward to a lazy day in bed tomorrow.

She is:
Annoyed.
Feverish.
So ready to quit with the illnesses.

It's official, she's a pinhead.

{*disclaimer, he is truly one in a million frillion.}

Silly thoughts that I could probably keep to myself-

I took a new job. I work fifty hours a week now. It's a little overwhelming, but it will keep me busy while Mckay studies his life away for the CFA. Plus one of the babies that I take care of is only 3 months old. Darling and sweet and beautiful all wrapped up in a tiny pink blanket!

We were so excited for Super Bowl Sunday. Then I got sick. I had to leave church early, which meant I didn't get to go to the party (Mom's rule). Mckay had to go watch the game without me, and much to his dismay, missed out on the awesome treats I was planning on making for him. I went to bed early and woke up to a note on the mirror with a PS that said, "THE PACKERS WON!” phew.

Ibuprofen is the most wonderful thing on the planet. I worked 12 hours on Monday and Tuesday and was able to keep upright the entire time thanks to recommended dosages of the miracle drug.

I came home last night, tired and not feeling well, to a perfectly made bed & sparkling kitchen... chores have been neglected since I fell ill. Such a sweet guy I'm married to.

I am the Beehive advisor (teacher) now. I cannot believe it.  I swear I was just barely 13 years old & chanting “once a Beehive, always a Beehive” with Alysha Kibble. Wow, we actually said that… what does it even mean?

I (and he) love our apartment so much; it is my favorite place in the world. Minus the fact that the hardwood floors are "unfinished" (I don't know if there ever was a finish, if at one point there was, it has disappeared) and I keep getting splinters in my tootsies. Uhg, I don't want to have to go downstairs and talk to our landlords. The cat smell offends my nose.

I had a dream on Sunday night that my two front teeth came loose (I was fighting a girl and my fingernail hit my tooth. Yes, that is what was happening in my dream.) and were only attached by little strings. I was at a party and I'd have to stuff them back into my jaw and then go and talk to people, but they kept coming loose and dangling over my lip, it was just so frustrating. Someone told me to just pull them out and I was mortified, I was looking for super glue or a dentist and couldn't find either.  I have crazy dreams like that on a nightly basis. 

Mckay really wants an iPhone and I really want an iPad.

Mckay and I watched The Bachelor last night.  It was the best.  I loved watching it with him!!!  He was so funny and into it.  He kept pausing it to point things out or laugh at the girls.  He hates Michelle, SO MUCH.  Alli's date was so awkward, I was cringing the entire time, the sinking table was an apt metaphor for their relationship.  I was sure Britt was going home but Jackie getting the boot wasn't a disappointment.  I'm thinking in the end it may come down to Michelle and Chantel.  I love Shawntell and Emily but they're too good for him.

The sun is finally out and I am so thrilled.  We have mounds and mounds of snow and I need it gone.  I hate when the snow drifts that line the roads turn black.  It makes me feel like I live in such the ugly, polluted world.  At least the lovely blue sky is out today, blue skies make me feel like the world is in harmony. 

A pretty, pretty picture.

While on the island of Antigua, we walked by an intriguing sign.  It said something to the effect of "ten and done", so we stopped, pondered on what it could be, and then moved on.  Within seconds we were approached by an overzealous islander who showed us this fabulous picture he'd drawn of himself and Samuel L. Jackson.  It was really impressive.  The thought crossed my mind that he surely didn't draw that, but I pushed it aside and trusted in humanity.  He promised us that he would draw our portraits for $10.00 each.  Should we do it? {NO!} Well, it sounds kind of fun, we've never done that, if it's really impressive that would be something cool to have.  Against our better judgement we said, "Sure, what the heck."  He led us to his little corner and we perched on the plastic chairs for fifteen minutes.

Onlookers walked by, smiled, gave thumbs up, laughed or just blatantly stared.  I started to get nervous and was feeling pretty foolish for falling for that one, but still held onto the hope that in fifteen short minutes and twenty dollars I would have an island masterpiece.

Then he turned this around for us to see:

We were less than pleased.  In fact, I felt a little ill and understood the laughs.

We smiled as convincingly as we could and handed over the money.

Then we got out of there as fast as we could. 

Mckay had a whole plethora of names he was calling the picture of himself.  They were choice, and not too far off the mark.  We brought the picture home, don't even ask me why, it's no masterpiece-that is for sure.  Later, while sitting on the beach and laughing/crying over our portrait Mckay said, "That money was worth the laugh alone."

You live and you learn, right?

Two other things.

1. Ice storm? Worst.  It was literally a storm that left 1/2in of ice over every surface.  Our cars turned to ice cubes and the world turned into an ice skating rink.  I was slipping and sliding and getting soaked and cursing this stinking weather.  Spring needs to come, and quickly.

2. The Bachelor? Yes, I confess, I am an avid watcher, again.   Brad Womack drives me insane.  He is such a wuss.  Maybe next season ABC can get someone who doesn't need his therapist on speed dial.  I can't take the constant reassuring he needs as to why he is there (That would be to fall in love.  You have to trust yourself).  Also, he needs to expand his vocabulary.  Although "please" is a very nice word, it has its place.  And that place isn't after every sentence that comes out of his mouth. Example? "Could you kiss me? ...pl-ease?" "Come here? ...please?" "Can I steal you away for a minute? ...please?". 

It's too much.

• Wake up and realize that Miss fakest-tan-I've-ever-seen Michelle is a snarky, spoiled biotch. (But don't kick her off, because most of the stuff that comes out of her moth makes me laugh.  "Next time we're together, you can talk".)
• Nice move ABC sending the sweet southern bell Emily (I vote for her) to the NASCAR racetrack!  So heartless...yet convenient.
• A shopping spree?  Really??  I guess running through a mall hand in hand is a good way to tell if a woman is wife material....
• Favorite part of this last episode was Brad's comment "I don't want any drama in my life.".  Uhm, note to Brad, going on The Bachelor twice would suggest otherwise.  Mmmmkay?