Humanae Vitae

If you've never read this encyclical, it really is required reading (and not very long at all.)

I'm Henry VIII I am, Henry VIII I am, I am

Per Annie's suggestion, Mom and I have started to watch (and are now somewhat obsessed with) The Tudors, which airs on Showtime (WARNING: Showtime = Scandalous! Do not watch around the little ones!).

So now I'm totally intrigued with this historical period and last night I bought the book "The Six Wives of Henry VIII," by Alison Weir, and it's terrific! I must admit, I bought it because I saw it on Annie and Frank's bookshelf when I babysat... Annie is really doing wonders for my entertainment these days! I wasn't sure if I'd actually read it, or just own it with the intention to read it one day, but I've started and it's great. The author writes it in a very engaging way, and I don't find it boring at all. Very vivid.

Gramuglias - did you read it? Is it good throughout?

Anyway, from the G's, to me, to you, go rent the Tudors and read this book. History is entertaining and informative, who knew?

Percy whipped

So, not exactly breaking news around here but this guy Walker Percy can put the pen to paper as they say. I just finished the Last Gentleman and am now onto the Second Coming. Damn good, chillins.

I also recently (and coincidentally) saw on book tv an in depth interview with Shelby Foote. (A lot of book tv's interviews are archived online, especially the recent ones). The two writers were very close friends apparently and a book with their letters was recently published. Foote was a wonderful interview generally but the parts where he talked about his friendship with Percy were especially interesting. It's a long interview but thought I'd post the link if you're inclined to go Percyfooting (TM) around.

Jolly good

Courtesy of my nephew Ryan, it has come to my attention that dozens of English people have written fake reviews of the Bic Crystal Ballpoint pen on Amazon UK going back to 2007.

Follow the link to amazon UK and scroll down to the customer reviews. The 1 star reviews are especially good. Some of the comments and titles are individually very funny (see for instance 'Left handers beware', 'Use caution in a medical setting' and 'Not edible') but the true wondrousness here is that there are 181 comments - all false - all trying to outdo each other in creativity and humor (or should I say humour).

If you like your yuks the way you like your gin (dry) peruse if you have some time to kill and can tolerate some good old fashioned, unfiltered Britishness.

Love Bites

I feel like I'm back to my Hanson years.. pining over a young male I've never met. Hoping he's thinking of me too... day-dreaming of us together, running through open fields, hand-in-hand. Sigh, young love.

The difference this time, is that I'm 23 and the boy is a fictional vampire. Life just isn't fair!

It's a problem, guys. I'm obsessed with the "Twilight" series. And I'm not alone. Hoards of tween girls are reading the books and getting ready to see the movie that comes out IN-JUST-SEVEN-DAYS. How can we resist? It's got romance, battles, danger, vampires, wearwolves, a young heroine that I would give ANYTHING to be, and a heart-stopping, dreamboat: Edward Cullen. I read the first two books in 4 days.. that's a thousand pages. I'm on the third. It's sitting on my desk, just staring at me, but I'm doing everything in my power to hold off. Once I read this one, there is only one more left.. that's it. Then it's done. Forever.

It doesn't help that the movie is coming out and the actor playing Edward Cullen is British and gorrrrrgeeeeouuuussssss. How did I do this when I was 12?? How did I get past the longing, the day dreaming, THE OBSESSION?? When I'm not reading the books, I'm googling them.. looking up the author, the actors, the pictures, ANYTHING I CAN GET MY HANDS ON! It's sick, sick, sick.

Anyway.. for those of you that have too much time of your hands, like moi, I'd suggest reading them. They're the new "Harry Potter." Also.. I might suggest listening to Def Leppard's "Love Bites" while reading. I've always been partial to this song, but "Twilight" gives it a whole different meaning..

Blog Recommendation: "Cultivating Home"

A blog I'm enjoying: Cultivating Home

You would think that when the first entry I saw and read was called "How to Butcher a Chicken," my attraction to this blog might be because it's written by a wood-stove tending, redhead, mother of five towheads, who loves to write and lives a simple and frugal life with her husband, in an old house on a farm in upstate New York.

In fact it was the pretty pictures, and even prettier attitude towards children who are blessings and joys, never burdens. And family as ordered by God.

I'd say the primary theme is submission. Really very refreshing.

Enjoy.

p.s. This blog is the latest that has me seriously considering homeschooling our kids. (Frank's always been on that bandwagon.)