reading

Finished reading The Secret Life of Bees.... just loved it. And before talking about it, thought I'd post a pic that I took last week of the bee hive outside our house. It's a good size and I see the honey bees all over the yard. They buzz around the flowers and seem to love the morning glory. I love bees. Have since childhood. Big fat bumble bees are my favorite, but since reading this book, I'm now truly intrigued with honey bees and everything that they do. This is a pic of the hive and pics of the flowers in our yard... wish I could get up real close and hear the buzzing sound. (pics were taken w/ my camera phone and aren't the best.)

I think the book is a must read. It's touching, heartwarming, funny, at times, and sad. Full of life lessons. I found myself thinking a lot about my childhood while reading it. A lot about things I've gone through, what my sister must have gone through and my mom. I thought about my older sisters life back then, my niece and nephew, my sister's ex, who passed many years ago, his family and the neighborhood where we used to play as kids.

I grew up in Madison, Indiana. A small, historic town in Southeastern Indiana. I loved Madison as a child, but as I got older and into junior high, I found my life full of drama... for many reasons.... but this one thing, in particular, is the reason behind my thoughts while reading.

My oldest sister married a black man back in the 70s, had two children - a boy and a girl - and I grew up believing there was nothing wrong with being black.... it wasn't until I was in junior high that I realized that not everyone had the same ideas and beliefs as me, and having a black family and friends just wasn't cool with a lot of ppl.

I spent a lot of time with my sister as a child, playing with my niece and nephew (we're not too far apart in age), and a significant amount of time at my ex-BILs mom's house... in the heart of downtown Madison. There was a playground next to her house and we'd spend hours there. If we weren't there, we were playing in the house where she had a piano that we loved to play. She had a good sized yard or so it seemed when I was small and we'd play tag and hide and go seek there... in the dark, of course. :) I loved that time in my life.

I can remember going to church with my niece and her grandmother (sister's ex-MIL)... all the ladies with their big hats... so much of what Lily (Secret Life of Bees) experienced while living with the beekeeping ladies (wont give anything away here). Lily happens to be a young white girl that has an abusive father, and her best friend is a black servant that has helped raise her.

The book journeys through racial tension, hate, abuse and the ideas, of some, that it was taboo to be around blacks and, even worse, love one and would get some black men killed - if they were to have a relationship w/ a white girl. This is when I started thinking about my older sister. I can only imagine the tremendous struggles she went through. Not only did she have a black husband, but she also had two mixed children. And like I said, it wasn't until I got into junior high that I experienced the suffering that comes along with being anything different from what white ppl want you to be... remembering the racial tension I went through, the name calling, abuse on buses, the fights....

All I can say is - color is only skin deep. I wonder how many, if any, of them realize that now?!

The book ended nicely, but I longed for a bit more. Am wanting to see the movie now. My sis told me that it's really good.

Will add that I'm now more than fascinated with everything that honey bees do... as a result of reading this book. If you read it... or have... hope you enjoy(ed) it.

breaking dawn

Am on the last book in the series - breaking dawn. It's the biggest of the four with 754 pages. I'm already more than 1/2 way through it. I'll have to admit, I'm seriously addicted to these reading *gems*.

I wasn't much impressed by the 2nd book, even skipping about 8 or 9 chapters, to get to the back... which made my younger sister sorta pissy... but I didn't like where it was going and was dying to find out what was going to happen with Edward and Bella. And, to my credit, it's the first time I've ever done that... and... I'll also admit that I went online to find out what was going to happen. Yeah... she was really upset over that one. :)

Having done that, I wouldn't suggest it nor will I do it again. Plus, seeing the movie sorta ruined it for me for a while.... now, being in the midst of all that's going on in the 4th book, I've gotten past all of that. Even though I know, basically, what's going to happen... it's ok. I even want to go back and read the 2nd book - all the parts I skipped, since I'm really into Jacob and the werewolves.

I told a friend last Friday about these books and she quickly exclaimed, "oh, those are for teenagers.... you should read the vampire books I'm reading" and before leaving, went on to tell me the sordid details! Can't remember the names of them, but they're NOT for the kiddies. ;) She laughed and said she was getting up at 2 in the morning, w/ the excuse of having to go to the loo, just to sneak a read. :)))) And I thought I was the only one! ;)

On another front, Naief is now singing. He's started really liking a song we sing at Tumble Tots that has the same melody as "Are You Sleeping", but it's about fruit... and today before going to sleep, he sang it several times. He hums a lot and is starting to do a little diamond w/ his fingers for "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star". He's going through a stage of not wanting to share at all. One of his little friends didn't want to share w/ him this past play day, and it seems like he's all of a sudden realized that things are 'just' his. So today at lunch, he refused to share anything w/ his cousin, which made SIL none to happy, but me being me, I did tell her that her son was and is still the same and doesn't like to share sometimes, and that all kids go through this stage. Hubby also said it in Arabic... and she said nothing... so not sure if it sunk in or not. Probably not.

On the advice of a blog friend, one that has been blocked from my viewing pleasure because of the infamous MOI here in Bahrain (The Diary of a Lost Boy), I colored my hair darker this past Friday. It was a bit darker than I liked, but a nice change, and I'm now used to it. Went back today to get the highlights put in, which look really nice. I went to a Jack in the Box type of salon to have it done (right around the corner from our house)... something I was afraid to do and refused to do in the past, but.... decided to give it a try once again since my usual place keeps raising their prices and it costs an arm and leg to have my hair done nowadays... also got a pedicure while there, which didn't impress me. I'm spoiled, I suppose. I usually pay 8 to 10 dinars for a regular pedicure at my salon, which doesn't seem to costly since they give great massages and always do a great job w/ clipping, buffing and painting.... but this place, I paid 8 dinars for a "spa treatment" that was supposed to include a massage and didn't. She also clipped the side of one of my nails, when I specifically told her NOT to do that (again w/ the pointed toenails and why ppl like that style is beyond me), and then didn't want to paint the nails at the end... and did a bad job w/ it as well.

BUT... the nice thing about it and what made it perfect is that when I got home, Naief told me how "purty" my nails were over and over. :)))) Made my heart sing and made it all worth it in the end. He sure knows how to make momma putty in his hands.

good day my friends. :)

this book...how it's touched me....

Am almost finished reading Marley & Me. Wow.... it has touched my heart in so many ways. The writer, John Grogran, is an amazing story teller.... his family, his life has touched the deep emotional strings inside of me, and Marley.... the dog.... I laughed, cried and cringed w/ them through all of their ups and downs.

It has given me a different view of Henry.... different view of dogs, in general. Helped me see a lot of things, and respect and love the nature of dogs... especially Henry.

I got this book before I realized a movie had been made... only picked it up because we had only just gotten Henry and I wanted to get an idea of what a bad dog was.... just in case Henry wound up being similar. Only after starting to read it did I see that a movie had been made. My older sister is also reading w/ me, so it's been nice to hear her thoughts.

I wont give anything away... just wondering if anyone else had come across and read this book. I love it.... and forever my heart will feel differently.

There are really good excerpts from the book that I'd like to share....

On page 243, chp 24, John Grogan says, "Marley reminded me of life's brevity, or its fleeting joys and missed opportunities. He reminded me that each of us gets just one shot at the gold, with no replays. One day you're swimming halfway out into the ocean convinced this is the day you will catch that seagull; the next you're barely able to bend down to drink out of your water bowl."

pg. 279, chp 28, he says, "A person can learn a lot from a dog, even a loopy one like ours. Marley taught me about living each day with unbridled exuberance and joy, about seizing the moment and following your heart. He taught me to appreciate the simple things- a walk in the woods, a fresh snowfall, a nap in a shaft of winter sunlight. And as he grew old and achy, he taught me about optimism in the face of adversity. Mostly, he taught me about friendship and selflessness and, above all else, unwavering loyalty."

I needed to read this book.... not only because it's opened my eyes and my heart, but when someone asked me last night WHY we had gotten a dog.... this is why...

pg. 281, chp 29, he says, "Animal lovers are a special breed of human, generous of spirit, full of empathy, perhaps a little prone to sentimentality, and with hearts as big as a cloudless sky."

I only wish some ppl could understand .... but some will never know this sort of love for animals.

I cried so much today while reading. Many times I had to put it down and wait a bit before being able to pick it up again.... it made me think a lot about my cat, Frankie, who seems to be on the verge of death some days and then 'making it' the next. I know what's ahead of me and I'm truly dreading the day..... but instead of being angry because he's dying... which I've been for weeks now, I'm trying to take a different approach.... and I hope, when the time comes, it helps.

The Laws of Attraction

Well, I've been reading this book for the last few days and, at first, I'll say that I liked it - even thinking that it could be that 'one' book, but it's taken a big turn .... and my faith has wavered because of it.

It's about this husband and wife team who embark on a... let's call it a quest to get many of life's questions answered. In doing so, the husband tries the ouija board w/ it actually working many times along the beginning of his journey, and he even got some of the questions on his list answered while doing so (even made me want to try the board again.. having had a bad experience w/ it earlier in life - even my mom and aunt having many bad experiences w/ it). He and his wife then get into meditation after being told that it'll help them get in contact with their spiritual guide(s).

Only after a short time span, the wife soon discovers that she's in contact w/ something or someone that starts telling her things. She starts telling her husband and he starts talking to this someone while his wife is in this meditative state. Not only does he start talking, but he starts asking questions. They're so thrilled about the information they're gaining from this entity that is called 'Abraham' (which is actually a group of different entities/ppl) that they decide to start telling their friends about it who then start coming over to the house to have conversations w/ all of these different entities. They soon take it public, and then... come to find out last night while reading, they decide (someone... can't quite figure out who exactly decided ... the husband or Abraham. The book made it sound like it was Abraham's decision or sole purpose ) to write a book. And after looking up the title of this book on google, I realize that they've conducted seminars, cruises... all sorts of things really to let ppl know the answers to these all important questions (which I've only just begun).

So... my first thoughts went to scam. This whole 'book' writing thing has really put questions in my mind, and the fact that the wife has become like the Whoopi Goldberg character in the movie Ghost. I'm really having a tough time with this. Maybe it was the way I was raised. Not that I don't believe it possible to talk to the other side, but I still don't know how I feel about a spirit or whatever coming into your body and talking....

and then for her to go out and make money on this... I'm also wondering about this.

I haven't decided if I want to continue w/ it. I know lots of books and, even movies, I think, have been done on this very thing.. even taking it in other directions w/ books like The Secret... but does that really mean anything?

I feel sorta silly because I told my friend that I really loved the book.... and maybe, if I keep reading, I'll allow myself to open up to such things/possibilities... allow myself to have faith that such things are possible and this could actually be 'that' book.... but my insides are saying, "nahhhhh"....

who knows... I'll read a bit more and see where it leads me. Have any of you read this book? Olivia, I know you said your dad either read it or some of his friends did and liked it.... I thought about this, but I still find it odd or, rather.... to 'out there'. Obviously I'm more close minded than I wanted to realize.

real quick post

Thought I'd post real quick since I'm at the in-laws and have a bit of time.

Just wanted to tell all you ppl here in Bahrain that if you haven't checked out the photo exhibition at Seef, you should. It's really great. Brought tears to my eyes many times over. There was one photo of a gorilla that had been killed and they were carrying his body outta the jungle. Did you guys know that there are only like 300 of these great creatures left in the jungle??? Apparently, they're being killed, execution style, and they're not sure why. That's not the only great photo, there were so many... have you seen them?

Naief is doing good. I've been wanting to post a picture, but just haven't had a lot of time as of late. We cut his hair... actually twice now. This past time, we cut it short. It's cute. Looks a lot blonder when it's short, and you know how I feel about that! ;) He's 15 mths now and isn't walking yet. I find myself worrying a bit about it, but am trying not to. He stands and takes steps... probably about 5 at a time, but wont walk any further than that. I asked him one morning if he wanted to walk and he shook his head "no".... and he hasn't. It's as if he knows I really want him to and just refuses to do it. I read that a child will wonder why a parent wants it so badly and feels that if they want it so badly there must be a reason not to do it... and I guess that's what he's doing. :) He's a smart little booger, that's for sure.

No talking either, except that he started calling me "mommy" yesterday and hasn't stopped. Matter of fact, it's non-stop. I like it. It's so sweet and melts my heart.

I've been reading, and blogged about it earlier, this book called A New Earth. I must say that it's really changing the way I do things, think (thank God) and helps me to stay present in the moment, which is the greatest gift of all, actually it's changing my life.... yes, I know that's a huge thing to say, but it's true. Before, I used to write a lot of poetry about my mind and thoughts... about not being able to control them and feeling outta of control because of it... never realizing that it was my ego controlling me.... now, I am gaining control of it and it has slowed down considerably. I still have days where I will get carried away in my mind and it takes a bit to come back to the present, but it's getting better. This book is absolutely incredible. All this time, all these years, I've been looking for that ever escaping "peace" in my life, only to realize that it will only come when I'm Present.... when I'm just Being. Hope that makes sense... because if any of you out there want to just "be"... want calm in your life, want your world to slow down, want your mind to be clear.... I suggest reading this book.

that's it for now... our internet is messed up at home and we have none right now.... I'm hoping that hubby will fix it tonight, and we have no TV either... so... soon, I hope to be back reading blogs and visiting again... but haven't I said that before!?? ;)