Good Morning, Young Lady by Ardyth Kennelly

Good Morning, Young Lady is one of the books I checked out repeatedly on my frequent trips to the library when I was young.  It takes place mostly in Salt Lake City. Recently I wondered if my perception of the book would be different now that I live here, and I wondered how prominently the LDS church might figure in the book (I didn't recall that at all).

There was just one obstacle in finding the answers to those questions. I couldn't remember the name of the book, or the  author! I thought I remembered the author's name was Kennelly, because I always looked for Kennedy in the stacks, then moved to the right a couple of books, and there it would be - Good Morning, Young Lady.  I also remembered that Butch Cassidy was a character in the book. I went online and checked to see if there was any name listed similar in any way to Kennelly. No luck. I honestly did not have any idea of the name of the book at that time. Then I tried Barnes & Noble, and Amazon. No luck. I was bemoaning this fact and one of my kids said google it. I said, "How do you google for a book you don't know the name or author of?" My genius child said, "Put in Salt Lake City Butch Cassidy novel." So I did. Up popped Good Morning, Young Lady by Ardyth Kennelly. I immediately recognized the name of the book. Then I went to Wikipedia and found out a little more info. Then back to Amazon, and sure enough there were copies in their used book section. I bought one. I must say I was pretty pleased with my computer adventurous self.

That was a few months ago. I finally reached a point in the stack of books by the side of my bed, library selections, and book club reading that I could read Good Morning, Young Lady.  I honestly only remembered little snippets from the book, and as it went along I hoped for the best in various plot situations, thinking surely it must turn out okay, or I wouldn't have kept reading. It's hard to say now if happy or sad endings would have enhanced or hindered my like or dislike of a book at that time.  (I wish I'd kept a book journal then - and I wonder if I should do a better job now.) 

Surprisingly, it was a page turner right to the end.  It was fun to know the Salt Lake City references - especially where residences were. There were also many very long words that I did not know the meaning of. I'm sure I didn't know the meaning of them 35 years ago either. Also there were many literary references that I'm sure I didn't know when I was reading it so frequently. Apparently none of that stopped me from reading it several times. The LDS church only appears in a few small innocuous references - mostly polygamous. 

I might read it again sometime - if I'm out of new stuff to read. I'm glad I found it. It brought back many good reading memories. 

Happy Birthday Austin!

Four years old today. Austin is a joy in our life. What a great boy to start being grandparents with.

Here are a few things he says that are fun for me:
G'ma (pronounced ghee' ma), I just hungry (usually said within 30 seconds of entering our house, no matter how recent his last meal was).

G'ma, let's go in the hammock (which lasts approximately 30 seconds, then he's off and playing at something else - it's all a ruse to play in the back yard. I'm usually happy to comply.)

The best words of all: G'ma, I love you.

Austin with Elizabeth

Austin

Austin - I love his smile!

Here's the latest update on the cougar conversations:

Austin: G'ma, there's a cougar on your car! (I have BYU personalized plates that say BOOKS, with the BYU logo with a cougar on it).

me: You're right!

Austin: We not go to the game today. I like the volleyball.

The favorite uncle

It's been so fun to have Ray around again. He's very nice to me - we do crossword puzzles together, work in the yard together, and occasionally play Dr. Mario together. I also love having his muscles available to help his father - instead of me!

Although I'm sure Ray loves to spend time with me, by far his favorite past time is being the favorite uncle. He seizes every moment he can to hold the babies - all three little girls love to be with him. Madeleine rides on his shoulders - perfectly balanced, not hanging on with her hands much at all. She directs him and he goes where she wants. Rachel and Elizabeth are not quite so demanding yet, but I'm sure they'll get there!

Ray and Madeleine - July 2008

Ray and Madeleine July 2008 - just learning how to ride on his shoulders - she's a pro now!

Ray and Elizabeth - April 2009

Ray and Rachel - May 2009

Ray and Rachel - May 2009

While the cat's away...

Boris is an indoor cat. At least he's supposed to be. Occasionally he escapes. Here's how it usually works:

1. Boris sneaks out of some door that is inadvertently left ajar (it doesn't take much - he is very skinny).

2. Around bedtime we usually figure out he's gone. He always starts out at night on our bed, and when he's not there we get suspicious that something's up.

3.We search the house and realize he must be outside.

4. We yell for him outside.

5. At times we've gone so far as to roam the neighborhood calling his name (Ray's even been out at two and three in the morning hollering).

6. Finally we crack the downstairs door open so he can come in if he wants.

7. Usually around 5:00 a.m. he returns, coming in and making all sorts of noise, almost like he's yelling at us.

8. We dash downstairs to shut the door so that we avoid the same thing happening all over again.

I would guess this happens three or four times a year -- certainly not very often. It's worrisome at our house here in Utah because it is so close to a very busy street, and there are wild animals (deer, etc), who roam freely.

Last night we went to a play (Treasure Island - it was very good), got home late and dropped into bed. This morning when we got up at five, Ray said, "Where's Boris?" Fast forward to realizing he must be outside. Ray went to the back door and yelled, but no response. I went down a few minutes later, and there was Boris, looking in through the window in the door. I let him in and picked him up. He wriggled down and began hobbling toward the stairs - he was wounded! He wouldn't put any weight on his right rear foot, and it had been bleeding. Ray took a look at it and decided we'd kind of wait and see how he did. By about 1:00 p.m. it was swollen and Boris wouldn't put any weight on it at all. We called the vet and they had us bring him in immediately. They determined it was a cat bite, and was abscessed. Boris wasn't too happy about all that. So they kept him for the afternoon, sedated him, cleaned it out, gave him an antibiotic shot that will last two weeks (thank you for modern medicine), and sent him home. They said he'll be as good as new in no time.

You would think he'll learn from this experience. Ha! I have very low expectations in that department.

Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen by Susan Gregg Gilmore

This is a book I read for book club this month. It's a Reader's Choice book at our library. It deserves to be on that list. I really liked it.

The story takes place in a very small town in the South. Catherine Grace Cline is the main character, and since she was a small girl she's been looking to get out of that small town. This book is about her life and that quest. It has a delightful southern flavor - a little reminiscent of Fannie Flagg, but this book stands firmly on its own. The chapter headings alone are worth reading, but don't stop there. Read the whole book.

Mom! Don't sweat the small stuff!

This is what my son Ray says to me every day when we work together in the yard. Miracles have been wrought in the yard this year because of him. Unfortunately he hasn't gotten a job yet, but fortunately for me, that gives him time to help me. He is a willing and hard worker out in the yard with me.

With Ray at my side work gets done at least five times faster than usual. He worked a summer doing landscaping before his mission, and I am now reaping the benefits of that (thank you Wendell Bruner!!). All of the big areas Ray goes through with a mattock (my new favorite garden tool), then I follow either picking out the weeds by hand or with a rake, depending on the size and volume of the weeds. We did one area in a day that it used to take me a week to get done.

Ray tells me repeatedly that it's inefficient to worry about the little stuff until after the big stuff gets done. (I could write a book -- Life Lessons Learned from Yard Work). Sometimes I can't help myself and I just want to get that small stuff. So now he says, "Mom! Don't sweat the small stuff!" Then he tells me that when the big stuff is done we'll go through with a hoe and rake and maintain. Those are indeed sweet words to my ears.

Today Ray was out job hunting, and I was left alone to work at my weeding. I did what I call the "solo" areas - where weeds are so intricately woven in the intentional plantings that they need to be gotten by hand. I missed Ray. He's good company. I must admit I have mixed feelings about him getting a job...

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

I have never read this book before. We're going to see the play version of it on Monday, so I thought I'd read the book and get the story line. 

I liked the book quite a bit. I was afraid it would be wordy - it was written in the late 1800's, and the literary style then was often so. It wasn't too wordy at all. Stevenson gets right into the story, and it just keeps moving along. It was nice to finally know who Jim Hawkins and John Silver are. I'm not sure where "long John Silver" came from. I don't recall that phrase being used in the story. 

I went through a phase of reading pirate stories when I was young. I'm surprised I never found or was directed to this one. It's worth reading.

Warning! Yard work may be dangerous to your health

I heard on the news this morning that two people were killed (in separate incidents) while working in their yards yesterday. In each situation a random car jumped the curb, running over the poor souls.

I rest my case.