Book Review: I Heart Snape

Caution: Minor Spoilers Ahead
Oh man. I stayed up an hour and a half past my bedtime last night to finish the last Harry Potter. And I have to say, I knew it! I knew Snape couldn't be evil. Although I have of course worried an fretted over Harry, Ron, and Hermione, I think Snape turned out to be the most interesting character of the series and certainly the most heroic. Harry got to be brave with the love and support of friends, but after Dumbledore died, Snape must have been the loneliest person in the world. Everyone he was helping hated him. And he protected Harry, as he said he would, until the last possible moment. Because he loved Lily! Ah, man that was good! And I loved the bit when Harry considers how much Hogwarts meant to him, and Voldemort, and Snape, the abandoned boys. Sigh. I don't even feel like reading my next book (which is a book club selection) because I'm still so wrapped up in the Harry Potter saga.

Rain

Garion started a new daycare about six weeks ago. I had heard wonderful things about the new daycare from some families who had sent kids there. I knew that I wanted to send Garion to the school, and was thrilled when they had an opening for him, but I was sure that we would have a long, tough transition to the new place, new teachers, and new friends.
On the first day, Garion shocked me by being not only not apprehensive about the new school but downright enthusiastic. Since then, I've been really pleased with the quality of the teachers and the program and I am so grateful for the opportunity for Garion to have this kind of experience.
This was reinforced yesterday when I picked Garion up. It was raining outside and Garion and two of his classmates were sitting up on top of a counter (by the guinea pigs) under the window, shoes off, and watching the rain. I can't remember the last time I was three four-year-olds in calmly sitting in one spot, never mind doing something as utterly peaceful as watching rain. I love that kind of relaxed, open atmosphere at this new school. It was a tough decision to switch schools but I'm glad we did.

Nice!

On my way home today, I ended up in a pack of about 10 or so bikes traveling along the Third St. bike route--it was just like the Tour de France. Except minus the fruity spandex clothing and plus some backpacks and a dude with a cell phone. I was in a peloton! It was so exciting.
The problem with my peloton was that it was kind of a slow peloton and I was trapped on the inside by two lollygaggers in front of me and a couple of riders on the outside. I listened a bit while Lollygagger A and Lollygagger B discussed the merits of the bike route, and how now that they rode their bikes there were more conscious of bikes when drive. I told myself the slow pace was fine, I didn't mind the easy ride home, it'd be very pleasant.
Except that after a while I felt a surge in my legs, a desire to feel the wind in my bike helmet: I felt the need for speed. The two riders on the outside turned off and I saw the chance to make my move. I looked left--no traffic. I centered my will, moved to out to the left of the two Lollygaggers, and turned the power on, baby.
As I was whipped past the Lollygaggers, with my trailer, going up hill (slightly), I heard Lollygagger A remark:

"NICE!"

Was it for me? I don't really know, but I'd like to think Lollygagger A knows awesome biking prowess when he sees it.

Book Review: Jesus, a Novel by Paul Wangerin

This book is basically what it says it is, the story of Jesus in a novelized form. You know the characters and the story, so I'll skip the summary. I think the point was humanize some of the central figures of the New Testament to make them easier to relate to, but to be honest, the book fell flat. Mary was portrayed as the stereotypical Jewish mother and Simon Peter was made into a big oafish clown. I found the book really difficult to finish, and I think partly because I already knew the end. We talked about this in book club, and one of the members said she thinks the lack of tension was really the fault of the author; there are a lot of stories whose end we already know, but who manage to make you hang on the edge of your seat regardless. Overall, I'd say this book was just blah, and I wouldn't recommend it.
For those of you (yeah I know this phrase is a little presumptuous because I think I have all of about three readers, one of whom I'm married to) who are wondering why my book club would pick this book, a word of explanation: I'm actually in two book clubs, one at work (which would not have picked this book) and another with my uncle, grandmother, and some friends in which we read books about Catholicism or faith in general. Although some of the Catholic books are total duds, kind of like this one, I'm immensely enjoying the opportunity to talk about issues of faith with a group of smart, thinking grown-ups. (In contrast to my smart, thinking child who asks me questions about God like, "could God eat a whole house?" or "how many eyeballs does God have? Does he have infinity eyeballs?")

Back in the Saddle

We did it. Garion and I braved stupid hot weather to bike to work on Friday, not quite as stupid hot as earlier in the week (only 103), but stupid hot enough. The morning wasn't too bad but the ride home, was to be frank, a bitch. Anali's first law of biking proved true--it was raining and no matter which way I turned, I was riding directly into the wind. Thankfully, Moses picked Garion up from daycare, so I only had the empty trailer to tow home. However, that stupid trailer still might as well have been a Greyhound bus--it acted like a big sail in the wind, pulling the bike in the opposite direction from the one I really, really wanted to go. Some guy running, i.e. on his feet, with a stroller, almost passed me, as did every other trailer-less bike on the road. I actually considered turning around and riding the opposite direction, just for the pleasure of not riding into the wind, but then I remembered the first law of biking. And also I wanted to go home. I used almost my lowest gear to go up a very mild hill, and actually had to pedal to get myself down the hills. I made it though, and I have to admit that riding in the rain was very refreshing : )
Today's ride was much better. Very pleasant in the morning and, even though I had Garion and the CSA share in the trailer, a pretty easy ride home. Garion asked me at one point if the trolley tracks were nearby. Apparently I've convinced him that trolley tracks=death. I'm not crazy about the trailer, but it's an effective way to my kid and my stuff from point A to point B, with no gasoline (yay!), so I intend to keep it up, barring any further disasters. Unfortunately, Garion's a little tall for the trailer. Pretty soon I think we're going to have to fold him in half to stuff him in there.

Book Review: In Her Shoes by Jennifer Weiner

Ah, summer. When I ignore book club and read whatever I want. Sort of. You'll notice I'm currently reading "Jesus: A Novel" which is actually a book club book. Because I have book club on Saturday and feel like I need to have something to talk about, rather than just going for the snacks. Anyway, In Her Shoes is about two sisters, Maggie and Rose (see how well I paid attention to this book?) and their grandmother, Ella. Maggie and Rose's mother died when they were small, their father remarried a witch and Maggie and Rose I have since simultaneously relied on each other while making each other crazy. Ella was shut out of the sisters' lives by their father after their mother's death and is looking for an opportunity to re-enter. Also, all three women love shoes and wear the same size, which is really convenient when you're coveting shoes. The book is about how the three eventually come to understand each other despite being separated by time (the sisters and the grandmother) and a really fight between the sisters. Although it sounds a little heavy, it's actually got some very funny parts and was highly enjoyable. I'm pretty sure that I'll be reading more of Weiner's books.
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Ouwie update: all better! Garion and I tried the bike + bike trailer yesterday and everything went fairly well. (I picked up a bike trailer on craigslist because I'm now a little bit nervous about towing Garion on the trail-a-bike). The plan is to resume riding to work tomorrow--assuming that I can convince myself it's not too hot : ).