Reading Pride and Predjudice like it is a guilty pleasure.

For several years now, I have been hoping to read some of the classic novels that I missed (or neglected) reading when I was slogging through my years of education.  The latest on the list has been Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen.

I had avoided Jane Austen like the plague, all through my formative years, assuming that she was girlie and too fussy for someone as tomboyish, and fun-loving as me.  As I grew older, I just didn't have the extra time for pleasure reading during school (too busy partying, thank-you-very-much), or after wards once I entered the working world.  Often, when picking up Austen's novels, I thought "I really should read those, but they are probably stuffy and dull, or dense and hard to get through with dated 'proper English'.

Charmed by watching the oh-so-witty movie "Emma", Downton Abbey, Upstairs/Downstairs, plus being entertained by my bibliophile friend Tom Otto, who always said he would be perfectly happy watching a movie about Brits having tea for several hours, I decided perhaps I had matured enough to appreciate dull and stuffy British novels too.  I was game to go ahead and give them a try.  I find that I am delightfully surprised at how enthralling Austen's novels have been!

I just finished "Pride and Prejudice" after spending several days, frankly, not being able to put it down. I felt like I was ready a racy pulp fiction novel, even with all repressed British pleasantries and societal restrictions and requirements.  Would Mr. Darcy come back for Elizabeth?  How would he manage it with all the classist restrictions put upon him?  Would Elizabeth be able to overcome her pride and tell him how she feels?  Would Mr. Darcy go against his family and society's expectations and ask Elizabeth to marry him?  FOR GOD'S SAKE WHY CAN'T THEY JUST TELL EACH OTHER HOW THEY FEEL!  What would happen? 

The descriptions above sound dull and horribly repressed, but I must say, I was riveted, and pleasantly so.  "Sorry kiddos - can't make you a snack right now, mommie is reading her novel!"

Perhaps for years, I have been out-and-out wrong about her novels and perhaps the whole genre of writing.  So now, the questions begs me...What to read next?   More novels about repressed British aristocracy, or perhaps delving into a whole other neglected genre?  Is Russian literature next?

The grocery wars are over

The kids are continually fighting with me about going to the grocery and now, hopefully that is all over!  My beloved Trader Joe's has wisely purchased mini carts for their 'future shoppers'.  What used to be a knock-down drag out trip full of threats and cajoling on both sides is now a fun trip for everyone.  At least until the kids get so excited pushing their carts and following behind me that they run into my heels and shred the skin off.  :-(

Another reason why Trader Joe's is my favorite grocery store evah!

First Day back to the grind after Spring Break.

'Nuff Said

First swim of the season...

...and MEO and DTO were ready to head on in to the pool!

After a good solid week of tinkering with the chemicals, days and days of filtering out the frog pond funk I think the water is just about ready for some fun. I have been having a little trouble with the ever finicky pool heater so the kiddos had to suffer along with a pool merely heated to 80 degrees. They endured and managed to get a little lesson time in, fussing and all.

DTO has regressed a little bit in his willingness to jump on in and swim, which is normal.  Spoiled by eyegoggles and reticent after a year off swimming, he is reluctant to put his face in and really swim.  I am committed to getting that boy really swimming this summer, now that I will have some time to actually work with him, instead of merely teaching everyone else's children to swim!

Evening Swim

About me, in more detail

Mother of two small kiddos, but actively fighting becoming a soccer mom.  Wife of one loveable goof-ball/baseball addict/MidWestern (grown) boy.  Searching for inner peace in a house full of noisy little kids and geriatric pets.

Knitter, Reader, Occasional Crafter and Gardner.

Over-spender in recovery and wanna be minimalist, surrounded by too many toys, stuffed animals, Star Wars blasters, and kiddy clothes.  Love to categorize and organize (Excel spreadsheet and list making addict) but can rarely keep said organization in use.  I like to blame my disorganization on my two toddlers, but sometimes, I am just lazy.

My guilty confession, going online to catch up on (or watch for the first time) different TV series that I missed when they were on live. I also sometimes dream of throwing out everything I own and starting over, just so I can have clean shelves for once in my life.

A technology geek and trainer at a Law Firm in downtown DC. 

Wishing I could travel more and waiting for the time when my kids are old enough to allow me begin seriously traveling again.  I hope to bring them with me.  But wondering if I will have to leave my homebody hubby behind when I travel.

Another attempt to blog...

Sometimes Facebook just isn't enough.  I have more to say, or just want to say things that I may not want the entirety of my 'friend list' to read...so I am embarking on another blog, switching blog providers so that I can more easily post.

Hopefully, this time I will be able to keep actively posting interesting things (at least to some, and hopefully to me).

So I jump into the abyss, stare at the empty page and begin again.