A Year of Reading Wirelessly In Review

As the year winds down I thought it was about time that I looked back on the challenge I gave myself to spend a year reading "wirelessly", in other words only ebooks and all read entirely on my iPhone. The "year" is actually a year and change as I began keeping track late 2009.

When the ebook format came out I was skeptical, as a lifetime avid reader I love the feel of a book in hand but when I got my Kindle I quickly became a convert and then after having Sofie being able to entertain myself for long stretches in a chair became key and so I turned to the Kindle for iPhone app and never looked back. Of course there will still be books I'll read in print someday, especially since there are many titles not yet available as ebooks, but I can safely say this bookworm is happy to usher in the era of electronic reading with open arms.

Without further ado, I present the books I've read this year (and change) all via Kindle for iPhone (the starred ones were my favorites):

1. The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
2. Pride And Prejudice by Jane Austen
3. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
4. Mansfield Park by Jane Austen*
5. Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld*
6. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy*
7. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte*
8. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte*
9. Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte
10. Turn Of The Screw by Henry James
11. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
12. The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson*
13. The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson
14. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy (currently halfway through)*

Saying Goodbye To Little Miss Control Freak

One of the hardest things about parenthood for me --besides surviving on three hours of sleep-- has been letting go of my control issues. I have been a control freak for a long time but only recently admitedly so, I think because it took me a while to realize that I was one. As much as I would like to be a spontaneous person, I take comfort in and thrive on routine and feel uneasy when that routine is interrupted. Looking back now I realize I was always a control freak, even in school when we were assigned to work in groups on a project I was always the one to take charge and do all the work, not because I was a born leader--far from that-- but because I knew the only way I could control the outcome was simply by doing it all myself.

A baby will throw anyone's life into turmoil but I think it is especially hard for a control freak like myself. Of course I had this idea in my head my whole life of what motherhood and even pregnancy would be like, that I would have a perfect, content baby who would nap or play quietly while I worked on a scrapbook or (gasp!) made dinner for once in my life. I was even collecting recipes I wanted to try and when my husband inquired about it, I replied, "Oh, I'm going to make it when I'm home with the baby, I'll have more time then."

Boy was I wrong.

Having Sofie has been the most amazing and wonderful thing that has ever happened to me and I love her more than words can describe, but raising her is a full-time job plus over-time. Not all babies are the same, some babies sleep through the night at three months and never look back, some like my beautiful bundle of joy still wake up several times a night even at 15 months old. So there is little time or energy available for things like scrapbooks and dinners that require more than three ingredients.

My sense of control --or lack there of rather-- was quite evident to me again over the holidays. Christmas always feels like a magical time but even more so when you have kids and can once again take in the experience through a child's eyes. At 15 months though, Sofie is still too young to grasp what's going on and I'm too busy, chasing her around making sure she doesn't get into mischief, to revel in the glow of a Christmas tree or even have a real conversation with friends and family around the dinner table. I guess the truth is I'm so busy living in the moment that's it sometimes hard to stop and take in the moment. But don't get me wrong I'm not exactly complaining, sure it'll be nice when Sofie is a little older and more independent but for someone who has lived for most of their life under the burden of my own thoughts and tendency towards over-analyzation it is quite refreshing to simply not have time to think so much.

I do look forward to the days when Christmas is a bigger to-do in our house, when I can take a moment to simply sit on the couch and stare at the lights and get all nostalgic and misty-eyed but for now I'm pretty happy to let go of it all and just be a mom.

Gobble, Gobble

Seriously?! It's Thanksgiving again already! Really? It's pretty hard to believe (and remember) that this time last year Sofie was still just a tiny little bundle I could hold in one arm. The last year has gone by in a flash, ever since becoming a parent time just seems to move faster, with a few exceptions of course like those long, up all nighters, but for the most part it seems like I've stepped into a rapid time vortex since Sofie came into my life. Ever since she's become mobile it's been a go-go-go kind of life and so of course many things have fallen by the wayside, like this blog for example.

More than once in the past year I have begun to compose a blog post in my head but never really had the chance to sit down and actually post it. Even this post has been cobbled together a few minutes here and there. Part of me wishes I still had the freedoms I once took for granted pre-baby, like the kind of time you can just wallow away doing whatever the hell you want, but trying as it can be at times I wouldn't trade a second of my new life away, not even those long, up all night-ers. Even during the rough times I know that in the grand scheme of things this time is fleeting. Each day passes rapidly into the next and Sofie grows and changes every moment, before I know it she won't be so small and needy anymore and I'll have more time to do as I please once again, but I know that what I'll want the most is to have these early days back again.

This year as I stuff my belly with turkey and trim I am thankful for a lot of things. I am thankful for a roof over my head and a beautiful ocean just blocks away, I'm thankful for a wonderful, supportive family, I'm thankful for old friends and new, I'm thankful for the best dog in the world, I'm thankful for a loving husband who works hard so that I get to stay home and play, I'm thankful for a beautiful, smart and funny little girl that I get to love and care for every day and yes, I'm even thankful for those long, up all nighters because I know someday I'll miss them.

Writing, Writing Everywhere But Here

Been awhile since my last blog post, I know, but what can I say, being a stay at home mom is by far the hardest (and most rewarding) job I've ever had. I love every moment but it leaves little time to do much else. That said I have been doing some writing in the past few months, just not here.

First there are two F4B articles I wrote a little while back, Among The Worst and What's The Deal With Privacy check em out let me know what you think.

Then I recently was accepted as a paid blogger to a social networking/blogger/news hybrid site called Gather yes that's right I'm officially one of those space filling, Internet content writers, but the nice part about Gather is that it is more blog than news so I'm able to put my own spin on stories. Check me out on Gather, let me know what you think.

Have some other various writing projects going on too, doing some freelance screenwriting and a lot of brainstorming for a children's book, but I'm definitely not giving up on this blog, so stay tuned!

Hihowareya?

Great piece in the New York Times the other day. Reminds me of that Seinfeld episode where Jerry starts saying "you're so good looking" instead of God bless you when people sneeze. I know I've often wondered myself why I always automatically answer "fine, thank you" even when I'm not, but does anyone ever want to know the real answer? I mean maybe close friends do, but I doubt if the neighbor I pass on the sidewalk wants to here that I'm exhausted, haven't showered in three days and all I can think about is when I'm finally going to get to watch the Lost finale.

Don't Mess With Flipper

Why dolphins are officially the freakin scariest mofos on the planet.

Who Still Cares About Carrie?!

Yesterday I caught a snippet of the Today Show where they were discussing the upcoming Sex and the City sequel and I almost choked on my coffee. First of all I really loved this series, while it wasn't my favorite HBO show by a long shot I really enjoyed it and especially admired the uniqueness of such a powerful female driven show, which has since spawned a million lousy imitations. One of the lousiest of these imitations being the Sex and the City film itself. It is very rare that a movie is so bad that I feel compelled to stop watching halfway through, especially if I've paid to see it, the SATC film was one of these precious gems. Of course I wasn't surprised that it did well in spite of being so bad, this series has a massive cult following after all, but when I heard they were going to make a second film I think I may have thrown up a little in my mouth.

But that ill feeling was nothing compared to how my stomach turned yesterday when they reported that they had actually filmed entire, elaborate decoy scenes that were never intended for the film. Excuse me, what?! What the hell do they think this is, a freaking Star Wars movie?! I didn't realize Lucas was directing couture-clad ladies now. Of all the unecessary ways to ballon an, I'm sure already astronomical, film budget. Sheesh. And we wonder why the film industry is not profitable these days.

Doormen On Strike

I'm sorry, am I missing something here: http://nyti.ms/9T6nMN I mean seriously, how hard is it to open a door and press an elevator button?


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The "Swede" Life

My 74 year old mother finally learned how to use a computer about five years ago and ever since she's been forwarding me random email forwards; everything from extolling the virtues of bananas to pictures of funny toilets. Last week she sent me this article on the lives of Swedish women. I should also mention that my mother is, in fact, Swedish and is always relating how sweet it is to be a Swede. Well, as it turns out she's right, according to the article Swedish women are living the good life. The amazing public services in Sweden allow women to juggle careers and family without actually seeming like a circus act, basically they're having their cake and eating it too. Can't help but wonder when we American women are going to wake up and realize the grass can be greener and actually do something about it, I guess the problem is we're all too busy trying to keep our balls in the air.

New Fem Post

Check out my latest Fems For Better Men blog post, and yes I realize I've been blogging and article writing for Fems more than here, c'est la vie!

F4BMag Issue 2

Check out my latest article, The Veil Affair, in the new issue of Fems For Better Magazine!




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There's Something About Dogs and Babies

It amazes me how friendly people can be when you appear to share a common bond, especially when that bond is babies and dogs. I encountered this phenomenon when we first got Charlie and we started walking him around the neighborhood. He was a damn cute puppy (still cute now, just huge) and so of course it didn't surprise me that people wanted to stop and pet him, but what I found really interesting was the willingness of strangers, mostly other dog owners, to jump immediately into conversation simply for the fact that we had a four-legged furball walking alongside of us. I've always been something of an introvert so perhaps that's why I find it more surprising, but still I can't help but wonder everytime I meet a new dog owner if they would have even nodded hello to me if it wasn't for the leash and poop bag dangling in my hand.

Now that I have a baby the phenomenon has of course widened from dog owners to other parents. We take walks in the neighborhood everyday and starting back when I was pregnant I noticed a change even then, it was as if my baby bump was a calling card for other parents or soon-to-be parents. I may as well have been wearing a giant sandwich board advertising my impending motherhood and sudden inception into the "parent club" as each outing seemed to produce more new aquaintances.

Just the other day I was out for a midday walk in the neighborhood with Sofie and Charlie, when a young mom just coming out of her car stopped to greet me hello as if we were old friends. She was friendly and not completely crazy so I didn't really mind much that she chatted me up for a good fifteen minutes before I finally managed to drag Charlie away from the small child she had with her, that he so anxiously wanted to play with. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not some weirdo hermit who avoids all human contact, in fact I always go out of my way to smile and say hello to people that I pass on the street (a nicety I wish more people partook in), but usually when it comes to strangers that's about as far as the communication goes. I mean, let's be real, we live in a scary world where even seemingly nice people can turn out to be axe murderers, so why does having a dog or baby make you so much more approachable?

I mean, to be honest, we have met a few nice people and it does feel pretty pleasant and small town-ish to be able to greet people by name in the neighborhood, but I'm not sure it will ever stop surprising me each time we make a new aquaintance. I guess I will just have to try to get used to my new membership in the parent's club, I just wish they would hurry up and send me my secret decoder ring.

My Year Of Reading Wirelessly

As I have mentioned previously I spend a great deal of time rocking Sofie and am able to read books via the Kindle app on my iPhone while I do so. I've already made my way through, the recent Dan Brown, three Jane Austen titles, Prep, Wuthering Heights and my crowing achievement, the 800-plus page Anna Karenina. I'm currently making my way through the Bronte sisters, having just finished Wuthering Heights, I've now begun Jane Eyre.

I've probably read more books for pleasure in the last four months than I have in the last four years altogether and I'm obsessed. I actually find the reading to be fast and easy on the phone, I think I even prefer it reading on the Kindle itself. My goal is to read as many books as possible using only my iPhone and I'll see what the tally is at the end of the year. If you hadn't already sensed a theme, I have been reading mostly classics. At first this was purely a financial choice, as all the digital books in the public domain are either free or just .99 cents to download from Amazon, but now I'm hooked and intent on reading as many classics as I can. I may even consider tackling War and Peace, I wonder if I'll be the first person to ever read the entire tome on a phone?


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F4BM Mag Issue One

Check out my article, "Year of the Cheater" in the very first issue of Fems For Better Men Magazine!

Dear NBC: You suck.

Good for Conan for standing up to the schmucks at NBC. Why don't they just get rid of Leno and be done with it once and for all, does anyone really think that man is remotely funny?! I sincerely hope they get their heads out of their asses and fix this fast.

Rupert, Rob and Coach, oh my!

Cannot wait for Survivor: Heroes vs. Villians! Seriously looking forward to a Coach vs. Rob smackdown. Yes, I'm a geek, that's already been well-established.

New Year, New Rules Take 2

Last year at this time I took a moment to stop and reflect on the year that had passed and to ponder the new year ahead. I set some goals for myself, some were achieved and some weren't and now I'm standing at the brink of another new year doing it all over again. This past year has been amazing, having my daughter has brought me more joy than words can possibly express. I have grown and learned a great deal about myself in a very short period of time and I look forward to more growth as I know each day as a parent brings something new to learn.

My goals are simple and almost the same as last year, finish a novel and get back to pre-pregnancy shape. However, I have one addition and its not a goal so much as a promise to appreciate every precious moment of life. These last four months with Sofie have flown by and since I can't slow down time the only thing I can do is promise to live in every moment and appreciate even the trying or mundane because this is the stuff that life is really made of. I wish all my friends, family and readers a healthy and happy new year and I wish you all the same pure joy my baby has brought me in whatever form it may come to you.


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New Year, New Blog

Check out our new family blog experiment, a new picture every day, 365 days.