Doomsday Book by Connie Willis.  Winner of Hugo and Nebula Awards. And truly deserving of them, as far as I’m concerned.  Wow!!!! 

The year is 2054. The main character, Kivrin, a University history major, is studying the Middle Ages and all that goes along with that – illnesses included. What is unique about this story is Kivrin will study this period of history in person! Yup…time travel.

The story opens with Christmas carols being played over a carillion and annoying evryone. That, however is a minor irritation compared to what awaits everyone.  Though each chapters jump back and forth between 2054 and the 1300′s, it is done seamlessly.  Ms. Willis gently draws you into the story very subtly and before you know it, you are fully invested.  By the time I was halfway through the story, I couldn’t put it down.  The last ten chapters took me on an emotional rollercoaster ride which left me breathless by the end.  I went to bed thinking about Kivrin, the friends who loved her in 2054 and in the 1300′s.  

There are only a handful of books that grabbed like fhis one.  Read it. You will not be disappointed. I promise.

Tonight we read various prayers that are said during Matins for the Feast of Theophany.  Never having heard them before, it was neat to read through them together and share what particular phrases or sentences jumped out at us and why (if there was a why).

The one that made me pause was this:

Tone 7

A strange wonder it was to see the Maker of heaven and earth stand naked in the river, and as a servant receive baptism from a servant, for our salvation.

We tell God in our prayers that we are His servant, we sign letters to priests and Bishops “your servant in Christ” and speak to others telling them we seek to serve.  Christ received baptism from His servant , John, and He Himself “came to serve.” Another connection/link we have. He is a servant. We are to be servants too. I dunno…hard to put into words but the connection just struck me.

The new year has started off quietly.  ”They” say (who is ‘they’ by the way?) what you are doing as the new year rings in is what you can expect all year.  I was falling asleep when distant fireworks began and DivaDog jumped in bed alarmed by the noise and then promptly jumped out of bed to slink into the closet for the night.  ”Fine by me,” I thought, as I drifted off peacefully to sleep.  And so went January 1st and 2nd – both quiet days of relaxing, reading, and refreshment.

If that’s the remainder of my year, I shall be pleased.

How did you spend your time when the new year rang in?

My goodness!  2011 sure flew by!  Or is that a result of aging – that days seem to go by much faster than they used to?!

It was a good year in many ways.  I didn’t write many blog entries this year but I did note that this blog has been in existence for 7 years!

This year saw many events, both happy and sad.  Moving to my childhood vacation spot was a dream come true.  I keep wondering when I am going to wake up and find it’s all been a dream.  We live in a beautiful house, are making friends, the hubster continues to enjoy his job where many good things are happening (to the tune of $5 million+ donated to the college foundation) and I enjoy volunteering, sewing, and doing crafty type things.

My beloved aunt and beloved mother-in-law met eternity.  They are sorely missed and loved more if that is possible.

The DD and DS have had success, joy and good accomplishments in their personal and business lives.  This gives me a good deal of peace of mind and heart.

There is much to be thankful for  – much to continue to pray about and people to pray for.

In this year of our Lord 2012, may He who gave us Life continue to sustain us, granting us peace, health, salvation and furtherance of all good things, unto His glory forever!

Yesterday late afternoon we took a drive to Cape May, NJ to see the Painted Ladies and other Victorian homes with their Christmas decorations.  We were quite disappointed.  There were very, very few, if any, with any lights or decorations.  Imagine, if you will, the houses decorated for Christmas with lights and wreaths and candles, one right after the other.  Take a horse drawn carriage ride, bundled up with blankets, along the shore drive viewing the homes and hearing their history.

Oh well.  We had a delicious and inexpensive seafood dinner though!

Okay, that didn’t work.  Maybe if I give her kisses that will!

This first book, “The Dry Grass of August” was very, very good.  It reminded me of “The Help”.  Set in Charlotte, NC in the early 1950′s, the main character, Mary Luther, is the the Watts’ family domestic.  There wasn’t any humor in this story, like in “The Help”.  There was more drama, mystery, and tension, though not in a  heavy way.  I enjoyed it and recommend it.

“The Perfect Nazi” was also excellent.  Written by Martin Davidson, the story reveals the truth about Bruno who was the author’s grandfather.  A stern, brusque, opinionated man, Bruno served in Hitler’s army of SS troops, though we are quickly told he was not “one of the SS men who ran the gas ovens.”  Bruno managed to slip through the hands of the courts and his role was never discovered.  Not until Bruno’s death was Martin able to get his mother, Bruno’s middle daughter, to talk about her father and life during the Nazi Regime.  Davidson gives a very clear picture of the progression of Hitler’s rise to power and Bruno’s infatuation with and commitment to him.  A fascinating read and another recommendation.

“Scones and Bones” is the type of book I usually love; a cutsey story with cutsey characters and an intriguing mystery that is spun well. Not so with this one.  Sorry readers.  There was more than one page turned and paragraph read when I said to myself, “How in the world did she get here?!”  A romance popped up in the middle that totally threw me for a loop.  A pretty cover, but that’s about all I found this book good for.  If you come across it, let it go by.

Tomorrow I’ll be taking another trip to the library to see what I can scare up to read!  I’ll keep you posted!

When the air gets cool, my mind turns to soup – homemade that is.  The last couple of days I made and froze several batches of Cream of Tomato as well as Leek Soup with shredded prosciutto.  Delish!

Christmas presents are getting done.  I’m really happy with how they have turned out.   Can’t write too much about them in case one of persons for whom they are intended is also a reader!

Took a tumble on the sidewalk two weeks ago.  Landed flat on my face and my chin took the heavy hit, shoving my jaw back and up.  A trip to the ER revealed nothing broken but a lot of very bad bruising and a mild concussion.  My nose and chin turned lovely shades of purple, yellow and green.  The right-side TMJ remains inflamed and sore.  According to the dentist who fixed my chipped tooth today, the TMJ could take as long as six months to heal, if it heals at all.  Great.

The search for a church home in my new community is done.  I have landed at the local Greek Orthodox Church.  The priest is great!  There are hoards of kids.  There are many activities.  They are very mission minded.  It helps that the priest serves on the OCMC Board.

Oldest child celebrated his 31st birthday with us last week.  Our family tradition invites the birthday celebrant to order up whatever they want from the kitchen.  This year’s menu was the same as last years:  shrimp, grilled chicken, salad, veggies, homemade garlic bread, angel food cake with whipped cream and strawberries.  I can’t believe I have a son who is 31!  Oldest child also is settled in a new apartment – the first time he has lived without a roomy since he moved out of the house 10 years ago.  We have a standing invitation to dinner, which we are really looking forward to.

Youngest child’s wedding preparation continues.  The girl has nearly everything done!  A woman after my own heart!  Once the new year comes, I am sure the pace will pick up.

A recent trip to the fabric store’s sale table found me dancing in the aisle when I scored fantastic material to make skirt and shawl for DD’s wedding.  At $10.00 a yard, I bought 4 yards “just in case.”  The sales clerk assured me I was getting a great deal because the material in NYC would have cost three times that.  I’m psyched!

And so life goes on.  Until next time!

Yes, that is another Rushnyk on the frame.  A different design this time.  I’m hoping to get it done for Christmas and am working feverishly to that end.  No, I will not tell you the intended recipient!  You’ll have to wait – in part because I’ve not decided which of two people it will go to!

And this little cutie is a cell phone cover made of felt.  I dropped my cell phone and the protective cover served its’ purpose but broke in the fall.  Thus a new cover was purchased and delivered today.  The new cover does not fit into the clip the original one came with so I devised a cover to store the phone, protecting the screen when I throw it in my purse.  I made a very simple tab that goes over the top and velcros on the back to keep the phone in the carry cover.

I adapted this design to suit the size of my phone.  The designer uses wool felt which is pricey.  Since I made this cover just for me, I figured I’d use the craft felt.  Now I understand why wool felt is a better choice.  It is thicker, thus more substantial.  I’m guessing it cuts easier too.  The designers prices reflect the cost of the felt too.  She has felt earrings for $30 on her Etsy Shop.  They are beautiful though!  Nonetheless, I like my little cover.

There are two items I am extremely excited over but I dare not share them on the web since they are gifts for a family member.  One is done and hiding in the house until Christmas.  If you’re interesting in seeing it, leave me a comment and I’ll send you a photo.  The second one is still being worked on so you’ll just have to be patient. Giggle!

“The Lord said to his disciples, ‘He who hears you hears me, and he who rejects you rejects me, and he who rejects me rejects him who sent me.’”

*************

It always seems the case when my spiritual father says, “I’d like you to….” that I sigh heavily, wonder to what benefit, do it [whatever it is] and then marvel at the benefit.  You’d think I’d learn!

Thanks to a Facebook friend, I downloaded the “Daily Readings: Scripture, Saints, and Feasts” app on to my Andriod phone. It is provided by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America .  This app has made reading “a couple of chapters of scripture a week” easy to do no matter whenever I remember to do so.  Of course, one must have the correct date set on the little calendar to get the correct scripture for the day; however, one is usually blessed no matter which passage is read.  Since I had the calendar set incorrectly, I read the passage for the 6th not the 8th.  Since God blesses even idiots like me, St. Luke had a word for me.

Word up!

The above passage from St. Luke’s Gospel kept bringing my eyes back even as I read to the end, especially the first six words the Lord spoke.  “He who hears you hears me….”  I have proudly puffed out my chest and pounded on it like a rejected Tarzan…”I’ve been rejected for Christ’s sake!  I took one for Him!”  I got that part down.  Yeah, right.  Meh.

But what about the “…hearing…” part?  Have I considered what words I speak in my voice?  Have I considered what tone those words carry?  Have I ever given it one single thought that as a Christian – a Christ follower – that my voice is His voice?  Do I speak with one voice – His?

Consider this.  God spoke and the world came into being.  When is a word formulated?  Not when it exits your mouth on your breath.  A word is formulated in the mind.  The seed of a word begins in the brain and once formulated and coupled with other words, then is translated into sound and exits your mouth carried by your breath.

Those word-seeds…are they His Voice?  Are they coupled and carried out on my breath with His Breath?  Mine are not.  No wonder I am rejected.  I speak in my voice, not His Voice.  My thoughts are not His Thoughts.

It is better to keep silent than to speak without care.