Oh Blog, Where are thou?

I see a flurry of catch up posts coming my way.

As summer ends and fall begins, a whole rash of changes has happened over the last month. Hence, my silence here on my blog.

We found a house, and then the seller wasn't all that great at negotiating. Then we found a better house and these sellers were awesome to work with, and over the last week, I have signed my name more times than I can count, produced reams of paperwork supporting our purchase, and have dreamed a few dreams about our own space, more square footage, new paint colours, and debt (although it will be good debts, har). It is a split level, big lot, great back yard, and it even has a shed and a man cave, a play set for the kids, and an ensuite. No more four people living on top of eachother in a measely 800 square feet, one bathroom, and laundry upstairs. It will be a total shift for all of us. I bet we will all hang out close to each, since this is what we know. We lift our subjects by Monday.. and then we are no longer co-owners but rather the King and Queen of our domain.

The big dude successfully started kindergarten. This start was almost anticlimatic compared to his start in his new after school care. The principal and teachers are awesome, what a supportive, collaborative place! I couldn't be happier how things have worked out. Of course, now comes the behaviour tweaking as we guide our boy in to being a good kid, aware of himself, and no pushing and shoving. You have to love transition, and transition, and then a whole new group of kids to get used to, to learn, and then adjust to.

Of course, what is September without a semester start up? This year has been so much better than last year, but holy shit, what a busy month. Coffee is my best friend right now and I can't wait for the meetings, the changes, the inability to sleep for long periods of time, and the adjustments to end and have a chance to assimilate it all. Ultimately, I figure that will happen during the week between Christmas and New Years when I get a chance to catch up with myself.

A foray in to something different

This is one of those novels that grows on you. In some ways it is a bit confusing, convoluted, and it takes a while to get in to. By the end, I was thoroughly charmed, really enjoyed the book, but was glad that it was done.

This is the story about Ruby Lennox and the relationships around her that form part of her matrix and who she will become (eventually) as an adult. At times I found this book fascinating, and at other times I had to skim read through sections. The prose is well-written, and I think that Atkinson really captured something here. This is a woman's book, a woman's history. Although technically about Ruby, this book delves in to her mother and grandmother's lives, and the family that surrounds them - their successes and tragedies, and their movement through time. I think this is a novel that will stick with me for a while, and the end is rewarding as all the threads come together.

It reminded me a bit of some of my family history - the stories you hear about your aunts and uncles, your grandparents... those whispered bits of history and half-truths that you are semi-conscious of as a child growing up and the history you fabricate for yourself as an adult. Well worth a read and I have heard that her later books (a mystery series) are quite good and you know how I feel about a well-written mystery! Bring it on!

Another in the series

Another fine novel in this series.

Although you do not need to read them in order, in hindsight, it would have been nice as this is one of his earlier books that answers some of the questions I have had about character development from newer novels. The prose continues to be great, the characters easy to relate to, and the plot well woven.