This week, like all of the other ones this year, has flown by. Spring Break is ending and I’m not entirely sure I’m ready for that. It’s been pleasant to not have to rush to class and to rush home.
What I noticed too is that my demeanor with the kids changed. Usually I am exhausted and frantic and overwhelmed when we all get home late at night. It’s just really unpleasant for everyone. Lots of shouting and fighting and messiness ensues and I hate it. But yesterday, although I was tired, I wasn’t frayed. So I was able to control myself better and resort to a stern disposition instead of a crazy one. It worked well. Shocking right?
Something I’ve been doing this week is a lot of reading. As a matter of fact on Wednesday when the kids were with their father, I came home and got into bed with The Belgariad Volume One to do some reading before getting to crochet and dinner. I woke up at 10 PM. Oops. This isn’t by the way any type of negative reflection on David Eddings’ epic tale. I actually am enjoying it thoroughly. It’s beautiful to read. Unfortunately when I’m too exhausted, it’s beautiful like a lullaby. If you’re into Fantasy and haven’t read it, I highly encourage it. Perfect for Spring Break.
I’ve been playing with the blog of course. Don’t get too attached to any design you see for the next several days.
And when I haven’t been doing all that stuff up there, I’ve been reading my text book for class and doing some of the exercises. Now I’m really excited, because I found Practice-It, a website built on my book. I didn’t see it mentioned anywhere in the book but maybe it just slipped by my eyes. You don’t need the textbook to use the website by the way. It’s actually a really good tool to use no matter how you’re learning Java. But if you are curious, the book is called Building Java Programs and I really like it quite a bit so far. With the website, it’s an even better deal.
K-Fat and I switched weekends so the kids are with me again this weekend. Not really sure what we’ll do tonight or tomorrow. Sunday we will be going to a family friend’s house for a reunion sort of thing. Maybe we’ll head over to Jungle Island again tomorrow. The weather is cool so it’ll be fun. And I do love using those annual passes.
I’ve been trying to continue incorporating everyone into the cleaning of the house. It’s not easy. I’m always afraid I’ll upset someone with my requests. That I will come across as demanding or nagging. But my exhaustion prevails and I end up not really caring. It’s working, I think.
The only big thing I can think of to comment on that happened this week is the selection of the Pope. I’m not an angry person so even though I don’t really believe in Catholicism anymore, I don’t disrespect it and don’t wish it ill. I don’t think Catholics as a whole are a bad group of people. I don’t think popes are evil. I don’t think priests are molesters. Are there bad Catholics, Popes, and priests? Yes. But I feel they are as great in number across all religions. Anyways, there are things about Catholicism I do like and that has to do with the groups associated with poverty and disenfranchisement. So I’m happy they have finally selected a Jesuit. My father is a counselor in a Jesuit school and I grew up with a family friend who was a Jesuit priest. He was an absolutely beautiful person. I’m hoping for the Catholics they can at least get part of their mission back on course with his selection. I don’t expect them to ever really overthrow their views but I do expect them to stick to their core ministries. I know my Mom and Dad were really pleased with the choice.
I’m drawing a blank on pretty much everything else. Oh Google Reader’s demise. That made me sad as well. I’m trying different alternatives. We’ll see what sticks.
I feel like drawing a blank has been the main activity of the week for me. Blank spots everywhere.
What about you? Anything special happen this week? Anything planned for the weekend?
nicoleandmaggie
March 15, 2013 at 5:53pmre: Catholic, I do think that something does need to be done about the systemic abuse and coverups in the Catholic church. We’ll see how that goes.
re: Eddings, he’s ok. Your oldest son can probably read the Belgariad along with you! When I was reading him, I liked Terry Brooks a little bit better. They’re pretty similar though– recycled Romance of Chivalry stuff. Not hard on the brain. Robert Jordan is like Eddings but much much longer and more stretched out (I wouldn’t recommend Jordan though). For a little more mental stimulation, Weis and Hickman are awesome. (These series were a good portion of my free time as a junior in high school!)
re: cleaning the house… why is it you that are demanding and nagging? Why isn’t it someone else’s responsibility to be demanding and nagging? You guys are all a team, and everyone plays a part. And if anyone forces you to nag, that’s on them, not on you.
Mutant Supermodel
March 19, 2013 at 9:53pmI actually read The Belgariad with Eldest in mind and yes I’m pretty sure he’ll like it. Need to read Volume Two as Volume One ended with a literal cliff hanger. I’m going to add your recommendations to my Goodreads. You’re responsible for a ton of them.
Good point re: nagging. I need to get that out of my brain.
nicoleandmaggie
March 19, 2013 at 10:03pmIIRC, all the sex scenes in the book are totally off-screen and easily go over the head of a kid
Adrian Colley
March 15, 2013 at 9:31pmOh, you’re learning Java? Let me recommend you a couple of books.
“Java: The Good Parts” by Jim Waldo (http://books.google.com/books?id=YMQqZoc6L3EC) which will help make you a better software developer by keeping you away from the, er, cruftier features that Java is saddled with. It’s a very dry read, but the information is hugely valuable because the only other way to get it is years of experience.
“The Java Programming Language” by Ken Arnold, James Gosling and David Holmes (http://books.google.com/books?id=HJUkJJomJZQC) which is a fun, engaging introduction to the language and its features by people who are knowledgeable enough to know what’s right and experienced enough not to steer you wrong.
I should also mention Josh Bloch’s Java Puzzlers series. They tour the languages uglier warts. It’s a complement to Jim Waldo’s book in that it shows you what to avoid and why, whereas Waldo shows you what to use and why. Frankly, I think you should just watch the tech talk (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbp-3BJWsU8). It will convince you why you need “Java: The Good Parts”.
Mutant Supermodel
March 19, 2013 at 9:50pmThank you SO much for this. I’m going to add them to my wish list.
Mysti
March 15, 2013 at 9:41pmI love fantasy lit. I am not into Medieval type stuff, so if it is what I think…not sure it is the right fit for me.
This weekend….Sassy and Daddy left for dinner before the Father/Daughter dance about 30 minutes ago. I miss them. The rest of the weekend….dunno!
Mutant Supermodel
March 19, 2013 at 9:50pmIf by medieval you mean knights and kingdoms and sorcerers, yeah you won’t like it
Awww i have to catch up on the blogs this week. Can’t wait to hear how it turned out.
Sharon
March 15, 2013 at 11:23pmLike the Pope choice, but didn’t like the politics leading up to it. But then again, I never like politics.
This weekend? All about me.
!
Mutant Supermodel
March 19, 2013 at 9:49pmThose are the BEST weekends
D. A. Wolf
March 19, 2013 at 2:28ami think it’s great and fun that you’re playing with the blog design! (I like to tweak mine; I only wish I had more time to do so!
I realize Spring Break just ended, but mine was “book-ended” by insane (fury-inducing) travel arrangements for one of my sons to get home, and ditto the reverse trip back which started at 3am yesterday (sunday morning – 3am for me, 4am for him) – and he arrived finally at his destination around 11pm last night. That’s a roughly 18 hour trip (planes, trains, automobiles, buses…) THUS, my post a week or so ago on “Angry” (*insert divorced mother sigh ______________ and grateful deep breathing ________________ as he is safely back at school).
It was cool having him here – mostly he slept – but it’s fascinating and wonderful to see how our kids grow and grow up (and also remain kids)… Of course, then there were the unbudgeted expenses (another sigh?)…
But the sun will shine brilliantly tomorrow, my kids are fine, and I have plenty of good stuff I can focus on…
Pope stuff? I read a little… not yet enough.
By the way, I’ve given up on a clean house (for now). Even the college kid just dropped his stuff everywhere as usual… I’m too tired to nag, and was too happy to see him to bitch.
Mutant Supermodel
March 19, 2013 at 9:48pmAh that explains a lot then. I’m glad you are in a happy place again. A happy wolf is my kind of wolf. Yeah I’m letting go on the clean thing in pieces. But I still try and keep things not gross. It’s a compromise.