2008 November

Nov 25, 2008

A rollicking ride

Today is the fourth Tuesday of the month, which means that 5 Minutes for Books is hosting their monthly What’s On Your Nightstand? carnival. Click the graphic if you want to see what others are reading or if you’d like to participate.

So, what am I reading these days? Well, in addition to the gobs of catalogs that I’m perusing, as I try to come up with some good stocking stuffer ideas for Christmas, I’m reading The Book of Lies by Brad Meltzer. It’s a fast-paced action/mystery-type book involving the age-old story of Cain and Abel; the 1930′s story of Jerry Siegel, who created Superman; and a modern-day father and son who’ve been reunited after a decades-long separation brought about by a family tragedy.

Whew!

I can’t judge yet whether I’ll love this book or not. But I can tell you this: it is one of those books that I picked up and — suddenly, it seemed — I was on page 100. The premise pulled me in, the action was nonstop, and I had trouble closing the book to go to sleep. I just kept turning pages.

Which leads me to something I’ve been thinking about for a while.

[Note: if you just stopped by to see what I was reading, feel free to stop right here. I won't be offended in the least!]

Not too long ago, I read a blog post in which the writer claimed that “literary fiction” is objectively better than fast-paced “genre fiction.” He claimed that because sentences are more carefully crafted, because metaphors are used to great effect, because the prose practically sings with beauty, and because the writing forces a reader to slow down and think, literary fiction is by necessity better than fiction that does not have beautiful sentences, poetic imagery, and well-used literary devices.

Do you agree with that?

The book I’m reading now is pure genre — there’s action, there’s suspense, there’s mystery, but there’s no singing prose. However, that’s okay with me.

Sometimes, I just want to be entertained with suspense and thrills, and I honestly think that a striking metaphor or other literary device would just be a distraction. The writing needs to be simple and concrete (though still well-done) in order to keep the focus on the rollicking ride.

Other times, I want to read a book with a slower pace that resonates and stirs and makes me say, “Wow! That was a beautifully-crafted paragraph.”

I don’t know, I guess I just think there’s a place for pure, fun storytelling, and a place for striking metaphors and resonating words. And I think, in general, it’s more a matter of personal preference than “objective value.”

Thoughts, opinions?

Filed Under: Books/Reading, What's On Your Nightstand 15 Comments

Nov 24, 2008

Google recognizes worth of people like me

written by katrina · 4 Comments

I have to admit, I have diagnosed more than one illness with the help of Dr. Google.

At the first sign of illness in any member of my family, I’ve been known to hop on Google and begin a search involving symptoms, diagnoses, incubations, durations, treatment methods, and of course, “when to call the doctor.”

I like to be prepared. And to know how much sleep I can expect to get the following night.

I don’t do this for every illness, though. For example, I’m already well-versed in any and all details pertaining to upper respiratory infections. Especially since we’ve had about a gajillion hundreds of them pass through this house. So I don’t need a consultation with Google to know that a humidifier, some Pediacare and plenty of fluids are in order.

But whenever a particularly stressful, serious, or miserable infection seems to be festering in one of my loved ones, Google is my faithful sidekick.

Last February, Chad got the flu. Because I’ve memorized I’m familiar with Guide to Your Child’s Symptoms, I was quick to recognize flu-like symptoms in an adult. Nevertheless, I used a quick Google search to confirm that the sudden fever, complete exhaustion, and even painful eye movements were, indeed, signs that Influenza had arrived.

Fortunately, Dr. Google helped me figure out how many days to lock my husband in the bedroom to contain the disease encourage my husband to give in to bed-rest. And Dr. Google also pointed me to a handy tool: the CDC’s Flu Activity Map.

Aha! The perfect resource. With the CDC’s Flu Activity Map, I could determine when it would finally be safe to go out in public again. Unfortunately, that time didn’t come until April, and I had to get bread and milk long before then. So instead, I just checked the map so I knew exactly how much to worry about flu infections. At least it was good for something. (Although my kids had received flu shots, the CDC was warning me that the shot was not all that effective last year. Hence, my concern.)

This year, I was amused, yet pleased, to read Google’s announcement that — thanks to people like me who use the Google search bar to type in symptoms and other illness-related queries — they think they can predict flu outbreaks just like the CDC does, except faster.

See, they keep track of what people search for. And if they see tons of people in Louisville, Kentucky or Billings, Montana searching for things like “sudden fever,” “body aches,” “extreme fatigue,” and “flu symptoms,” they can guess that a flu outbreak might be on the horizon. It turns out that I’m not the only person who visits Dr. Google before calling Dr. Pediatrician or Dr. Family Physician.

Google has put up a new site this year — Google Flu Trends. Another tool to help me track the spread and intensity of influenza in my area.

So this year, if it turns out that the flu shot is ineffective, my concern about flu infections will be much closer to “real-time concern,” since Google thinks they can predict flu trends 10-14 days faster than the CDC does (since the CDC waits for data from physicians and hospitals to trickle in). This is great. After all, if you’re going to worry, you might as well be efficient and timely about it.

So today, I’d like to say: “You’re welcome, Google. You’re welcome for coming to you first, whenever someone in our house gets sick. You’re welcome for typing in symptoms, looking up treatment options, and bookmarking helpful sites. You’re welcome for aiding you in tracking the flu in my area. Really, I’m glad to help.”

[Editor's note: My tendency to occasionally worry about illnesses may have been slightly exaggerated in this post. I'm sure my husband would be quick to assure you that I am the very picture of serenity whenever I feel we are in danger of contracting the flu or a vicious stomach bug. Or, at least, he'd say that I get better about it as my kids get older. Right honey?]

Filed Under: I am insane, Purely Random 4 Comments

Nov 21, 2008

Fall Into Reading 2008: Less than a month to go!

written by katrina · 16 Comments

So, how is your fall reading going?

I just realized that the Fall Into Reading 2008 challenge ends in less than a month, and I am not doing very well.

Personally, I’m blaming all the illnesses that have been ravaging our house this fall. When I can’t breathe through my nose and my head is pounding, and the coughs just keep coming, I generally have no energy or motivation to hold a book up in front of my face and attempt to, you know, read the words.

At one point, I tried to convince Chad that his duty as a husband was to put his own book aside and read my Fall Into Reading books to me, but he did not look too thrilled at that prospect. So, instead, I have listened to a couple audiobooks that weren’t on my Fall Into Reading list: The Friday Night Knitting Club and The Millionaires. My iPod is always happy to read to me, and that option has been very convenient.

If you check my original list, you’ll see that I have completed several books (including, amazingly, 3 of my 5 nonfiction books), but I still have a fair amount to go. And did I mention that there’s less than one month left?

But enough about me. How are you doing? [I know a few participants are already done with their lists and I will try not to resent them for that. ]

But what about you? Are you done? Do you predict you’ll be done by December 20th? Did you completely scrap your list and start over?

Share, please.

Filed Under: Fall Into Reading 2008, Reading Challenges 16 Comments

Nov 21, 2008

Thankfulness Leaves

written by katrina · 5 Comments

The picture above contains the simple ingredients for one of our family’s traditions. We call them “Thankfulness Leaves,” mostly because I’m not very creative when it comes to titling things.

Here’s how our tradition works:

Every evening, for the five days leading up to Thanksgiving, each of us will pick a leaf and write on it one thing we’re thankful for. Then we’ll tape the leaves on our fireplace mantel and spend some time in prayer, thanking God for the many blessings He’s given us, and for the specific blessings we wrote on the leaves that night.

By the time Thanksgiving arrives, our mantel is decorated with tangible expressions of gratitude, and every pass through the family room brings a reminder of God’s provision and grace.

Sometimes the words on the leaves pinpoint something concrete and material: a favorite toy, our house. Occasionally a leaf will attempt to capture a concept no words can fully express: Christ’s sacrifice, the love of family. But always, we hope that the leaves reflect more than just a “we’re glad we have this stuff” attitude. We want to share with each other, and to cement in our own hearts, the acknowledgment that all these things, the material and the abstract, the ordinary and the profound, are gifts from God.

What do I hope our kids will remember or gain from this yearly tradition?

1. Thankfulness isn’t something we reserve for one day of the year. Though this particular exercise only lasts five days, I hope it is a reminder that gratitude is something we can and should express daily. And that “counting our blessings” is a worthwhile habit to pursue.

2. Perpsective in times of uncertainty or discouragement. Just yesterday, C. and I had some heavy conversations about divorce, economic difficulties, and despair. At age 10, though he’s buffered in many ways from those things, he knows they exist and he sees their effects. Tomorrow, as we pick up our permanent marker and write down specific things God has done for us or given us, our hearts will be encouraged, and we’ll be reminded that we have a God whose grace transcends discouragement and hopelessness, a God who is good and loving and generous. I hope that mindset is one our kids keep with them always.

3. Thankfulness shared is thankfulness multiplied. Yes, being quietly grateful is good. But when we share our blessings with each other and thank God for them together, we both build each other up and increase our awe of Him. I hope that in some small way, we’re doing what Psalm 78:4 says: “…We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done.”

When Thanksgiving is over, I gather the leaves, bundle them together, and tuck them away in my “memory box,” preserving a permanent record of the things that, each year, make our list of things we’re very thankful for.

One word of advice: If this is something you’d like to do with your family, you could trace and cutout many construction paper leaves, as I have in years past. OR, you could visit a craft store or OrientalTrading.com and just buy some foam leaves, as I did this year. Option #2 is definitely easier, not much more expensive, and creates far fewer hand cramps.

This post is part of a delightful Thanksgiving feast hosted by L.L. Barkat over at Seedlings In Stone. Please click over to enjoy all the dishes, and maybe even bring your own — the invitation is open! L.L. says, “Just post about a Thanksgiving memory, something you are thankful for this year, a special family Thanksgiving tradition, your favorite ‘thanksgiving’ bible verse, or anything else you can dream up. Be serious, spiritual, creative, beautiful, humorous, whatever… it’s a celebration and good celebrations welcome all kinds of expression!”

Filed Under: Faith, Family 5 Comments

Nov 20, 2008

Unpacking the bloggy boxes

written by katrina · 13 Comments

Whew. I made it.

I packed up my stuff, lugged it all down the street, and unpacked it here at the new Callapidder Days.

Things are a bit different here. The decor, the floor plan…it’ll all take a little getting used to.

But it’s still me, Katrina, working behind the scenes. You’ll get the same random assortment of posts, the same great book giveaways, pictures of the same cute kids. The look might have changed, but the blogger herself will stay the same. Or maybe even improve. We can only hope.

I still have some boxes to unpack here in the new digs. There are “image issues” that I need to resolve in past posts. There’s a little sidebar-tweaking yet to be done.

But I think, for the most part, that things are up and running.

If you subscribe to my feed (THIS ONE), you shouldn’t have any trouble with the transition and you should already be getting notices of posts here. If you are having trouble, though, just unsubscribe and then resubscribe using the link in my sidebar.

I’d love to hear your thoughts (unless they are very, very mean ones; then it’s okay if you don’t feel like sharing). And if you run into any issues or have any questions, I’m just a click away. See that nifty “contact me” up in the navigation bar? That’s what it’s there for; feel free to use it.

Thanks so much for being patient with me during the changeover. And welcome to the new Callapidder Days!

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A special thanks to Lauren from WebExHosting.com. My attempt to transfer my blog would have been a pitiful failure without her patience and help. If ever you are in need of hosting services, head over to WebExHosting.com immediately. I can’t recommend them enough!

Filed Under: Bloggy Stuff 13 Comments