Friday's Letters

Dear Friday.  You are the start of a very hectic weekend, and even more hectic next two weeks!  Bring it.  Dear husband.  Hanging out with you never gets old.  I'm glad we never have a dull moment together, and look forward to every single weekend knowing we'll spend the entire time laughing our heads off at each other.  So, to celebrate us, I've hired a sitter for the dogs and booked a room in Cologne for a night.  You've offered to give up pretty much your entire leave to help me pack, move, and clean the old house...we [YOU] deserve a night out.  Dear house.  It doesn't matter how many times I have to do it, packing is a pain in the ass.  I've seriously contemplated just selling every single one of my books since there's no easy way to tote you all around the world.  Dear books.  Just kidding, that would never happen.  We're inseparable.  Dear house.  Seriously though....pack and clean yourself already.  Dear dogs.  I love you all mucho.  Dear Cologne.  We're heading your way for a night of good food, good beer/wine, some touristy sites, and one helluva Christmas Market.  Don't disappoint.  Dear job.  I love having you, and love the fact that I get out of the house more.  You were a good idea.  Dear school books.  Why do you have to be so freaking expensive?  And why do I need so many?!  Dear life.  You're going well, lately.  I'm a happy girl, so thank you for making that happen.  Dear everyone.  Can you believe that we've been here for a year already?  Neither can I!  I caught myself browsing through this post about our first day abroad, and am amazed at how much we've changed and how far we've come since then.  I love it!

Girl Behind the Blog: Flying Squirrels

I'm so over the time limit, but I needed to extend my excuse to not pack up the house...

Week[end][s] in Pictures

I'm so behind on this little weekly tradition, it's ridiculous.  So, without further ado, here is a completely overwhelming number of photos to catch you up on my life from the past couple weeks.

kinda in love with these very sophisticated dogs

 darling husband let me open my Christmas present box early, and this is what was in it!

 new furniture for new houses

 a Beau in a pocket

 shopping for some new furniture and decor to fit our new place

<a href="http://www.befreckled.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j458/englander2010/WeekendinPictures_zps59fae824.jpg"/></a>

Bookish Sundays: Anansi boys

Title: Anansi Boys

Author: Neil Gaiman

Category: Fiction, Mythological fiction

Synopsis [c/o Barnes & Noble]: "When Fat Charlie's dad named something, it stuck. Like calling Fat Charlie "Fat Charlie." Even now, twenty years later, Charlie Nancy can't shake that name, one of the many embarrassing "gifts" his father bestowed -- before he dropped dead on a karaoke stage and ruined Fat Charlie's life.

Mr. Nancy left Fat Charlie things. Things like the tall, good-looking stranger who appears on Charlie's doorstep, who appears to be the brother he never knew. A brother as different from Charlie as night is from day, a brother who's going to show Charlie how to lighten up and have a little fun ... just like Dear Old Dad. And all of a sudden, life starts getting very interesting for Fat Charlie.

Because, you see, Charlie's dad wasn't just any dad. He was Anansi, a trickster god, the spider-god. Anansi is the spirit of rebellion, able to overturn the social order, create wealth out of thin air, and baffle the devil. Some said he could cheat even Death himself."

source

Overview: I wrote a while ago about another Neil Gaiman novel called American Gods one of my all time favorite books.  Anansi Boys is yet another example of Gaiman's extraordinary talent, and another one of my top ten favorites.

This is the story of Fat Charlie, a very plain and unassuming wall flower that tries to get by without gaining attention.  Nothing ever works out for Fat Charlie, especially nothing that has to do with his father or newly found brother.  But, after his dad dies, Charlie must tie up some loose ends, and therefore manages to dive headfirst into a lot of family drama.  He learns more than he wants about bro and dad, and manages to find himself in the process.  Gaiman manages to interweave reality and mythology in a way that leaves the reader wondering if perhaps this world actually does exist.

Gaiman, as ever, absolutely enthralls me with his writing styles.  If any of you took my advice and perused Good Omens, then you'll know that his way with words will have you doubled over in laughter.  He not only entertains with humor, but develops the characters in a way that makes them seem like family or dear friends.  The reader watches them grow, and at the end of the novel, sighs with contentment as if they had anything to do with the amazing results.  Extremely well written, hilarious, and definitely a must read.  Let me know if you enjoy it!

Friday's Letters

Ninja says *gobble gobble*

Dear Friday.  I have accomplished absolutely nothing today.  Dear friends.  WE GOT THE HOUSE!  I'm so excited to say that we'll be moving early next month into a new home with better heating, and even more importantly, a yard.  I'm freaking out a little.  Dear family.  I'm overly jealous that you all got to visit Kentucky for Thanksgiving, and even more jealous that you got to see family that I haven't seen in years.  Dear husband.  It figures that even though you always volunteer to let others leave work early, and always make sure you take the family friendly holidays so those with kids can stay at home, they still wouldn't let you come home to eat Thanksgiving dinner with me and friends.  Sometimes, I despise your job.  But since I love you, I try to put up with it.  Dear Cindy & Ethan.  Despite not being a Thanksgiving fan, it was definitely fun to hang out with you and others, eating and playing games.  I could get used to this.  Dear husband.  I almost forgot to thank you for the new camera :)  Best early Christmas present ever.  Dear pups.  We found your future sibling.  French Bulldog.  It'll happen, so just deal with it.  Dear Germany.  Time for Christmas Markets!!!!  Dear sinus infection.  Kind of over you, so time to move onto someone else, please.