June 15, 2009

You Rock, Pictures and a Request

I am just blown away by the responses in the Open Adoption Roundtable. So much honesty and thoughtfulness is represented there. You guys rock.

I think I'm all caught up adding posts and blurbs to the list. If I accidentally skipped over yours, please let me know and I'll get right to it.

The one thing I would tell myself from a week ago is that I need to write my own entry before I post the writing prompt. It felt like I was scrambling to keep up with the rest of you all week! Lesson learned for next time. My plan is to post a new roundtable topic every other week for the time being, so check back next weekend for Round #2. I'll keep posting submissions through today, then close Round #1 down.

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Firefly had her pictures taken on Saturday and, for the first time ever, made it through a whole two poses before bursting into tears. Progress! Behold her cuteness at the not-so-secret blog.

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I've lately discovered that there is no graceful way to introduce one's upcoming convalescence into a conversation. "Did you see the local strawberries are out at the farmer's market now? So tasty. And by the way, I'm having surgery soon and will be in bed for two weeks."

Sooooo...I'm having surgery next week. And that's all I think I'll say about that, other than to admit that I am simultaneously scared senseless and grateful that in the grand scheme of medical issues, this problem isn't so bad. Annoying and daily-life-effecting, but not deadly.

I'm bringing it up at all because I need some suggestions. When the doctor first said I'd need to be in bed for two weeks post-surgery, I was bummed, but then thought about all the things I could at least get done whilst propped upon fluffy pillows. Finish the kids' baby books! Finally clear out my email in-box! Write blog posts! Then she clarified that I would need to be in bed on my side for two weeks. So far the only things I've come up with that I can do on my side are (1) read, (2) watch television, and (3) peck at a keyboard with one hand. Maybe I'll figure out a way to roll around the house, à la Violet Beauregarde?

But to get to the point, I'm looking for reading/viewing suggestions. Have you read/watched anything lately that you thoroughly enjoyed?

P.S. I don't do vampires, romance novels, or romance novels involving vampires. Just so we're clear.

21 comments:

Pronoia said...

Depending on your pain level post-surgery, plan to do nothing for a day or two more taxing than rewatch guilty pleasure tv you love and already understand. Those pain pills -- they can really do a number!

Thanksgivingmom said...

learn a language!

Sorry, I want to learn Italian right now and I could TOTALLY do that laying on my side!!!

You can also systematically go through and re-watch every episode of HIMYM :)

I like TV shows for long stretches of time....like a whole season of (fill in the blank).

Jessica said...

There is not much of anything good on TV, this coming from a self-professed TV head. But, since it's summer there are a lot of things in marathon form! And I hear that starting a series like 24 or Lost and the like are great for renting seasons and watching straight through.

As far as reading, I do have some great suggestions for you! My book club is reading "Water for Elephants" right now and it is FABULOUS! We've also read and loved "Life of Pi", "Memoirs of a Geisha", "The Thirteenth Tale", "Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff Christ's Childhood Pal", "Secret Life of Bee's" and anything by Jodi Piccoult. I'd suggest Piccoult's "My Sister's Keeper" before seeing the movie as I hear the ending is changed in the movie and in the book the ending is so unexpected!

If I were you, I'd take this time to stay OFF the computer! Sometimes I'd love to have a release from the online, connected world and just find myself cozied up in books or TV.

Hope everything goes well!

Ungrateful Little Bastard said...

I believe I am the last person in America to watch this show, but my husband and I just watched LOST Seasons 1-4 back to back during a long stretch of dreadfully rainy weather when we were stuck indoors. It was quite addictive. We also watched Season 1 of Breaking Bad, that was good too.

Here's hoping for a speedy recovery!

Anita said...

I just finished reading "The Pact" by Jodi Piccoult & have read the one mentioned above-both would make for a good reading choice.
Good luck with your recovery!

mama2roo said...

Sorry to hear you're having surgery--hope you get to feeling better quickly and that hubby doesn't go crazy taking care of the two little ones for TWO WEEKS!

As far as book recommendations--I read a little bit of everything, but LOVE historical fiction. The BEST book I've read in a long time, that really stayed with me, was Pete Hamill's "Forever". A LOT of history about NYC, a little magic, a little sex/gore...just beautifully written even when its not "pretty"...

Yondalla said...

TV shows that can be got on Netflix: Veronica Mars; My So-Called Life; Wonder Falls.

Do you like historical mysteries with unlikely female heroines?

Amelia Peabody Emerson series by Elizabeth Peters (light and fun)

Gaslight series by Victoria Thompson -- Also light and fun, very satisfactory read when I was sick a while back. I did find the mysteries destressingly easy to figure out, but maybe that is part of why they appealed to my tired brain.

Mary Russell series by Laurie R King. (really excellent)

Mistress of the Art of the Dead by Ariana Franklin (suspension of disbelief required... a female pathologist in the 12th century. Sure, why not?)

If you library is hooked up with netlibrary you can get some of these and others as FREE audio books. They won't play one an iPod, but can be burned to disc, played from a computer or transfered to some mp3 players. I recommend Creative Zen for its bookmarking abilities. (Some of the new creative players probably work too. I happen to have a Zen.)

Yondalla said...

sorry... net library books cannot be burned to a CD. They can be played Creative Zen though.

Tammy said...

Hugs and prayers about the surgery. I'm facing similar issues (meaning, impending surgery) but it is a ways off as the wheels of our health system run very slow. I'll be looking forward to suggestions though. Reading (I don't know what you like... but if you've never read Jan Karon it's great retreat!), sleeping, can you blog via the sound thingy (what's that called? I'm so tech challenged!). I really think that finding a way to blog should be your top priority ;)! When I have to have my surgery and bed rest to follow, I'm planning on watching all the epis of the Gilmore Girls since I only found it midway through the series. Oh and sleep...I'm actually looking forward to the chance to sleep without guilt or interruption.

Leigh said...

Best wishes for an "easy" surgery and as quick and painless a recovery as possible!

My latest obsession and I WISH there were more seasons to watch: Friday Night Lights. I bought all 3 seasons and it's still not enough!

Anonymous said...

So, I'm not sure understand. You do NOT want to read about vampires in love??? ;)

If you like Fantasy (Lord of the Rings type things) The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan is fantastic. I'm on book 9 right now. They aren't easy reading by any means but they would keep your mind occupied. :)

Ginger said...

Uh...depending what you like to read my current top 3 book recommendations without vampires are:
---"The Barefoot Sisters: Southbound" by Lucy & Susan Letcheris a story of two sisters' barefoot thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. It's pretty good.
---"The Black Jewel Trilogy" by Anne Bishop - Fantasy with some dark undertones but a great read. I'm in love with this series and have been for years...
---the Dexter Books by Jeff Lindsay. Mysteries where your main character is a serial killer working as a blood splatter expert and gets pulled into investigations by his sister the cop. The books are much better than the TV series but you could get the series on DVD and read/watch them together.

Sam said...

You may want to check out Emily Giffin. Not necessarily romance (as in the "Fabio" flavor) and not vampire. Incredibly entertaining and fluffy. Hope you get well soon!

Anonymous said...

I must confess I didn't read the rest of the comments first so I hope this isn't a repeat.

1st read "Stupid and Contagious" by Caprice Crane however it comes with a warning. This is a funny funny book depending on what kind of surgery you're having it may hurt to laugh so you might want to save this one for toward the end of your recovery.

2nd have MUCH more planned to keep you occupied than you think you could possibly do in two weeks. I know I would inevitably not want to read/watch whatever I'd pre-planned for myself so I'd need back up.

3rd I recommend USA's In Plain Sight. although again only if laughing doesn't hurt.

familyofthree said...

Hmmm, well, I could suggest the "Series of Unfortunate Events" books, but me thinks you might have read those already... :)

I have a pretty limited genre of books on my reading list usually -- parenting, adoption, and um... more parenting books. Right now, I am reading "Making Your Kids Mind Without Losing Yours" by Dr. Kevin Leman -- LOVE it!

The best funny book I've read in a while was "The Girlfriends Guide to Toddlers" by Vicki Iovine. I was laughing so hard in some parts I woke up my husband!

Sorry to hear you're having surgery! Wish I was close enough to drop off some dinner while you're recovering, but I'll keep you in my prayers at least!

a Tonggu Momma said...

Sleep. Eat. Sleep some more. That's what I'd do. And no, I wouldn't grow bored.

A couple of years ago, my best friend was on bed rest for a long time. And she didn't really want visitors. So what I did was schedule "coffee dates" for her via the phone. Every day at 10 AM a different person would call her up to chat for awhile. She said it helped to pass the time.

Kendra said...

Check my goodreads account for the ones with 5 stars. I'm having a brain fart at the moment, and all I can think of is "We Need to Talk About Kevin."

Anonymous said...

I found books on tape/CD really helpful post-surgery. You can listen with your eyes closed and sort of drift in and out of the story as it unfolds - no effort required. Good books: 'Gilead' by Marilynne Robinson, 'A Complicated Kindness' by Miriam Toews.

Anonymous said...

DON'T learn a language. That is really hard work. You will have low energy. Relax.

Fun books I've read recently:

Diplomatic Baggage made me laugh out loud on an airplane! My seat mates kept glancing at me. It's an autobiography written by a woman whose husband is a diplomat. So fun! I must own this book. (I borrowed it)

Sweetness in the Belly is set mostly in Ethiopia in the 70s as well as England in the 80s and it's sad but well-written and unusual. Seriously, a really good book on many levels.

Finding Nouf is a murder mystery set amongst Saudi Arabia's rich families. Fascinating glimpse into the culture and a good story to boot.

My Cleaner is the story of a depressed white man, his repressed mother, and their African former housecleaner who comes back to help. It's unusual and funny.

Water for Elephants is really good but you've prob already read it--apparently I was the last one to read it.

Speedy recovery and best wishes! Hope you've got lots of help lined up with the kids ;)

Kristin said...

I'm glad that you shared about the plans for your surgery. Now I can keep you in my thoughts and send very best wishes for a quick and easy recovery.

Several people in my life have recently had to go "under the knife," and each of them has felt 1. the pain and recovery were tough BUT easier than they anticipated; and 2. their overall health was so improved that the few weeks of pain and inconvenience now seem well worth it for a better quality of (and in at least one case, longer) life. I hope these things are true for you as well.

Sorry I don't have many good suggestions for what to do sideways for a couple of weeks. Listening to music and talking on the phone come to mind. Could you get a massage? And of course, reading could be a wonderful escape, if you are feeling up for it. What kinds of things DO you like to read? I'm a bibliophile and may be able to send you some novels...One that I think I would've appreciated while convalescing was "Eat, Pray, Love." Although I know some people who detested it, I found it just the right mix of travel journal/chick lit/self-help. And it is written in short chapters, so could be good between snoozes.

Take good care of yourself.

Lisa said...

If you haven't read any Harry Potter I'd recommend them. Jane Austen is a favorite, too (start with Pride and Prejudice).

Good books I have read lately:
Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte

Might also be a good time to catch up on some of the classics you never read (I know I have my list I'm always working on).

Great TV shows:
30 Rock
The Office (try the British version with Ricky Gervais)
Friday Night Lights
Lost
Arrested Development
Extras

Twilight is awful, but I read all four books in one week. They draw you in like that.

Good luck -- feel better soon!

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