If you read this blog you may have noticed that I haven't posted here in a while. Well, I've decided this blog is too dark for me. Not dark as in gothic or even angry or ill-tempered. It is just rooted in layers of me that I'm shedding now. I'm changing yet staying the same at once. So, I've moved my blog here. If you like, continue reading my new stuff! :)
I recently finished reading Battlefield Earth by L. Ron Hubbard, and I thought I'd make a few comments here. This isn't a "review" and I'm not going to summarize or explain the book. I'm just going to say what I liked and didn't like. I thought this was a great scifi novel, full of action and adventure. It took me nearly 6 months to read! (It takes me longer to read most books because I don't spend very much time at it.) I enjoyed all the action, and also how the book was split into small chapters, which made it very easy to read in short bursts. All the essential events and characters were easy to remember, and everything made sense throughout the book. There wasn't too much characterization in the book, all the characters were fairly simple. The plot was much more focused on the action and the flow towards the climax. The story was easy to follow throughout and the conflicts and resolutions were clear.
I didn't like how the book slowed at the very end. After the second climax I was sure the book would be over! I also didn't like how Hubbard sometimes invented a new thing seemingly at random to explain something (e.g. the Psychlo doctors at the end of the book). These things would have been more believable had he hinted about them earlier in the story.
Overall I thought it was an excellent book.
This morning on NPR, Morning Edition featured a story about "Generation Next". Basically, people within the 18-25 year age range do not consider themselves adults and are not usually considered adults by their own parents. Many want to have careers and want to wait to get married and settle down to have a family.
When I hear things like this it stirs up some interesting emotions. I was 18 when I got engaged to my now-husband. We got married two days before my 21st birthday. I had my baby girl about a month before I turned 24. I've heard it said that we were too young, especially for marriage. Well, we've been together for over 7 years total and we're still enjoying each other. I have met a couple of people my age who are astonished at my "way of life" and family, and say "My gosh, I can't even imagine being married/having a kid at my age!" This reaction has always made me feel like an outsider.
So this morning's program got me thinking. Z's friends in school are all going to have older parents. Probably most will be 8 or 10 years older than my husband and I. I have a friend who is 34 and her son is now almost 8 months old. My best friend is 26 and her kids (she's not having any yet) will be at least 3 years younger than Z.
I feel it's great if 18-25 year olds don't need to take on the real responsibilities of the world, so they don't yet feel like adults. I'm sure we'll still be helping Z if she needs it, and I don't want her to feel like she's being pushed into being a "grown-up". Yet I also feel like an outsider when I think about how many people out there my age are so different from me. I always felt compelled to settle down and have a family. Not from the outside, but from the inside. I wanted it.
My own father was 36 when I was born. My mom was 30. Growing up, I felt like my mom could understand my situation better, maybe because she was younger. So I wanted to be closer in age to my own children. Thinking about that now, I can look at things in another way. My father was born in 1946. His parents were "traditional". He was raised differently than my mom. Now I think he was less approachable and understood me less when I was growing up because he had a different perspective of me. He thought "children should be this way" and "growing up should be this way" and it wasn't the same for me. My mom had a more open mind and could see more things my way. I bet that many more parents of 18-25 year olds now have more open minds and in that way can remain closer to their children. And their children don't feel the need to push away.
All that said, I am very happy with my life and my family. I wouldn't trade any of it for a career or a chance to travel more or whatever. I like it just the way it is.
We got our Christmas tree yesterday! The first time we've ever gotten it before December. We put it up and put the lights on it last night and Z helped me decorate it this morning. She had so much fun at the tree place yesterday afternoon. She was running around and playing with everyone there and she helped pick out the tree. It was so wonderful to see her enjoying herself. I love it.
Caution: this is not necessarily a toddler-friendly recipe! My girl isn't a very picky eater. But we all think this soup is yummy. And it's filling!
Saute in a heavy pot:
1 medium onion
3 stalks celery, finely chopped (include leaves)
Add and cook until tender:
3 medium potatoes (or 2 large), peeled and diced
3-4 cups water or stock
salt and pepper to taste
1 small bay leaf
Let cool briefly. While stirring with a wire whisk, add:
1 cup instant dry milk
1-2 tablespoons butter
Reheat but do not boil. Add salt and pepper to taste and garnish with parsley or green onions.
