Book Review

32 Candles by Ernessa T. Carter

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A great book that has a great 80s movie tie-in. Davidia is an outcast because she is poor, her momma is a ho (no kidding), and she is the darkest women in the room. High school was not kind Davie but she soon corrects that, moves to a big new city and becomes a jazz star. Lo and behold, the people who made her life hell have re-entered her life in a dramatic way. What happens next and during it all is amazing, funny, sad, and redeeming. I did think the book wrapped up too neatly but overall, it was good.



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Musings on Pope Francis I

I gave him a month and now I can say that PFI is exactly what we as Catholics need.
He is not perfect...psst...neither was Peter (he threw shade at Jesus) or Paul (he threw shade at other Christians).  PFI has some controversy (wikipedia him) with the Argentinian Dirty War and sex abuse.  On the Dirty War, I can't agree with the outcome of the PFI supposed decision but I had this conversation with my boss (a non-Catholic).  We about talked leadership sometimes requires discretion in order to survive.  The Dirty War was just that...about survival. If you haven't read of the political struggles of Argentina (going all the way back to time BEFORE Juan Peron's first plight as its leader) you should because it is heartbreaking and nail bitting.
The reason I chose today as the end point of my review is because today is Pentecost or the day the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles and gave them the ability to speak in tongues (read other languages) if your need an example see this link.  The apostles were charged were making disciples of all men and nations. The Pope has to do that and keep those in his flock, in his flock.  So kinda difficult with all the distractions of today.
Back to PFI.  He made decisions that haven't been fully flushed out or even understandable today but haven't we all? He still has to follow the example of Christ and His Disciples and lead 1 billion Catholics.
For people who vie for the new evangelization (read Pope Emeritus Benedict created this new initiative and PFI has kept the party going), he is fabulous and everything.  PFI wants priests to go out and invite Catholics home and those interested in Catholicism to join us.  He likes people who fight for the Church.  As a convert, I have a serious, SERIOUS problem with those who take possession and ownership of the Church and then prevents new membership (reverts and converts) and evolution of evangelization to keep people and bring people in.
Speaking of evolution...here are somethings that won't change...

1. Same sex marriage.  Still verboten but I have a feeling while PFI will maintain the heavenly exclusivity on marriage, the G&L community will be able to find a home with Catholicism and thereby create a community of inclusiveness.


2. Women.  Will not be priests.  But I do see women being able to take more active roles in the church.  Not immediately but think about how long the Church took to back off Mary Magdalene and she didn't even do anything controversial other than hang with Jesus?  Answer: 1700 years


3. AIDS in Africa - won't change much to my chagrin.


4. Married Priests...don't ask it happening. 

 These things won't change...accept it now (remember how we all thought Obama was going to make America shiny and new? he has helped but he isn't magical).  More and more people are losing faith and flat out losing interest. We need a community and we need a leader that inspires the will to fight for that community.  PFI is just the Shepherd we need.

Book Review

The General in His Labyrinth by Gabriel Garcí­a Márquez
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A great book but a sad one.  While the subject of the book is Simon Bolivar, the title alludes to two things: (spoiler) his mind and his journey toward death.  The book itself covers the last nine months of the General's life from final renunciation of power to his death in his mid forties.  The journey he travel is both a physical and mental one - from Bogota to Cartenga and from living the glories of exile, battle, love, and betrayal.


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Loving Epically

Like I said earlier, I went to see The Great Gatsby this weekend.  It was fantastic.  It was on point.  It was a delicious as those fabulous macaroons you see in a bakery but are too cheap to buy or when you do buy it, you’re too careful as to eat it…you know what I’m talking about

Photo Credit:

By the way…if you’re looking for critical acclimation, skip ahead because you won’t find it here. 

I remember reading this book in high school and immediately falling in love with Gatsby simply for his diligence.  Gatsby was diligent in his love for Daisy.  He would kill, steal, and lie for the opportunity to be with the woman he loved.  Daisy on the other hand was dirt for not reciprocating Gatsby’s feelings. 

As an adult, I reflect on that observation and I want to amend it.  I think Daisy should have left both Gatsby and her good for nothing husband.  The person who had the most to lose was Daisy.  Lets focus on the good for nothing oaf that was Tom Buchanan:

We all know he’s dirty but he is low – subjecting his wife’s cousin (Nick) to witness his infidelity.  And there is one point in the movie where Tom say’s this to Daisy:

“I love you…I know I have strayed but I always come back to you” (Tom to Daisy)

Sh************d .  Let my husband say something remotely close to that to me and I’ll be throwing hot grits  faster than you can say “B**ches Be Crazy”.  I would be throwing deuces after that admission alone.  Nope don’t need me to stick around and watch you embarrass me or my children further. 

Side Note:  I’m that chick.  The “ride or die” spouse who will fight for my husband even if he’s wrong and I know it.  The moment you step out on me equates to the moment you’re not loyal and no longer of service for me.  For the single people out there…you don’t mess with that person.    Think Olivia Pope who doesn’t wear heels and has two sticky but adorable kids who will attack random people at will. 

Now onto Gatsby.  While having that walk down powerful and sexy memory lane, you get the feeling of “Hey, maybe with this guy – I’m not something but someone” but once he started opening his mouth about being proper and upstanding and not starting over but repeating the past…boy bye.  I ain’t got time for that either.  Although, I still feel that Daisy could have convinced him to realize that money wasn’t important and that they could start over again. 

“So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”

Needless to say now, Daisy was stuck with two useless lovers – one who wanted a sidepiece and thought that was okay (it is not) and one who wanted to constantly go back to the past (not cool either).  Either way, Daisy realized that whichever macaroon of a lover she chose, it was doomed for disaster.  The moment she bit into it (committing to that relationship) was the moment it would crumble.  With Gatsby, she couldn’t live with him seeing that the past couldn’t be repeated and she couldn’t risk what she didn’t know.  With Tom, she knew what horrible flavor she got but she could be left alone.  Sure her husband smashed things and she was a willing accomplice but she knew she could move forward not backward.  I’m not justifying her decision but do I understand it more now.  

In terms of the movie – Go.  You should know by now what to expect when you view a Baz L. film:  epic pictorials, audacious musical choices and presentation, and decadence galore!  Seriously Moulin Rouge?  William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet?  Strictly Ballroom?  Even Australia!  All these films were epic.  To me the movie was an organized Lady Gaga concert or music video or both.  The soundtrack is great by the way.  I can see why folks are up in arms about the Back to Black cover but Crazy in Love is cute while Fergie and Will.I.Am each have great party/workout anthems.  Worth the money. 

Great Gatz! My weekend wrap up

I'm tired! But good tired not I'm ready to jank my spouse tired (that was last weekend).
I was in charge last week at work which drained me on another level. I got home Friday to a itchy kids, more exposure to laundry soap than human should see in a week, a cranky spouse, and an empty stomach.




After a meal of chili tacos on corn tortillas, I started cleaning my house and my children (a nightly ritual). Saturday we got up and headed over to our community recreational center for swimming lessons. After a great workout, we headed home where I finally, finally rested, then prepared for church which was great.




Sunday. I was given a free day pass as a mom which equates to dust clouds as I busted loose and headed over to see Great Gatsby. I went shopping and picked up some trinkets for me and food for the kids.
Then home as my day pass was up. I got rewarded to my favorite dinner of carbonara and some frozen yogurt at Sweet Frog where my son usurped AAs cup.




Other than the crying over taken yogurt it was a great weekend.

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day.

To the millions of women who care, fight for, and love their children...this one is for you:

Mom,

I just want to say thank you!

Perspectives on Mommyhood

I have said my thanks repeatedly to the millions of women (and men) who work to be great moms, aunts, grandmothers, fearless leaders, and outright goddesses.  Now, I want to reflect on my own experiences of motherhood.

Being a mom is hard.

I don't believe it will get easier with time, with a partner, with a village because when night falls, you are still alone with your worries, fears, frustrations, and pleas to God Almighty to alleviate that burden.  Not the burden of smiles and laughs.  Not the burdens of growth or new development.  Sometimes...SOMETIMES, not even the tantrums.

But the worry.  The worry if your child is being cared for by good people while you are working your azz off from 9-5.  The worry that your child is safe at school (odd that is a worry but I pray every time I drop off LadyBug at preschool).  The worry that you have done all you could to provide for that child financially, nutritionally, spiritualy, and given them the best educational foundation money can buy (yours or the tax payers).

But the worry doesn't stop there...you will worry if your kids have good friends that won't pressure your kid to be stupid or do something stupid. You work if your kid is a bully and because you were bullied or were shy, your child now lacks empathy.

The worry grows but because your child is an adult, you pray and just hope.  My family suffered a loss nearly two years ago where a distant relative lost a child and she still worries.

I know four years ago, when I was pregnant with LB, I worried for the future.  Now I enjoy the present and let the worries consume me only when necessary.  I say that because of the following:

1. Two children under 5
2. Toddler with a broken leg with a full lower body cast in summer...you don't what hell is until you bath a small child in a body cast by holding her over a tub or scraping off dead skin.
3. Having a boy...that should speak for itself.  
4. Having a daughter...also speaks for itself
5. Toddler with severe food allergies
6. Being your child's advocate at school
7. Potty training...again you don't know hell until you go cold turkey potty training in SUMMER.

I know I know..."But you have AA"...yeah but he is more concerned about things of the ecclesiastical nature more so than that of the domestic which I have steered to respond..."you can have your Monday-Wednesday God nights but Thursday and Fridays we are together".  It does and doesn't work.

Then a certain someone...who lives at 13700...told me a great peace of advice...

BE.MORE.VAIN

Not in the literal sense but as in start back at one...YOU.  Since 2009, I can honestly say that I have been lost and caught up with my kids...I mean look at these lil people.

But at the same time, I needed to redefine myself, hence the chop and the list in 2012.  I am proud to be their mom but in 20 years, I want them to be proud to be my children.  I don't want my children to say that while I fought like hell for them, I didn't fight for myself.  Because at the end of the day, we are just a reflection of the women who raised us and I want them to recognize and exemplify strength, respect, love, faith, knowledge, and hard work.