The Difficulties of Finding a Good Book to Read

After dinner and cleanup, I enjoy sitting in the living room with my husband. I like to read on the kindle app and he plays solitaire on his smart phone. So we are together, but not together. I borrow ebooks from the public library or download free books offered online. To be honest, I never buy books, because I am a quick reader and don't want to waste money. I have five or so criteria for rating a novel highly--setting, plot, character development and likeability, maturity, originality, and flow of writing style, and morality of the characters. For instance, I liked a book well enough but disliked the main character when she hopped into bed with her former lover while her husband (who had an affair) lay in a coma. It has been extremely difficult to find a book that meets all the criteria. Generally, an author chooses the perfect setting. However some writing styles are childish and immature and the conversations are awkward and disjointed. Cliches are boring to read. In some books, the main character acts stupidly and puts him or herself in danger. I have written several novels myself so I know the difficulty involved in writing a book. On a positive note, I have downloaded ten or so novels written by various authors who have met all my criteria. However, I am looking for new authors to wile away the hours.

Winded

Last night my husband told me that he was stocking windshield wiper fluid boxes at the automotive parts store where he works. He became winded and had to stop. He is concerned that he will have to have open heart surgery and be off work for a while. We won't know for a few weeks as his check up with his cardiologist is not until early February. Praying and trying to remain positive. His heart problems were diagnosed in 1995 and he has had several stents. His cardiologist monitors his condition although he had a check up one day and was taken by ambulance to the hospital the same day for a stent replacement. Effects him emotionally also and I'm positive the meds contribute to his memory issues.

Repairs Around the House

In my jewelry case, I had a dozen or so small cosmetic pendants. None had chains so I wasn't able to wear the for years. At Christmastime my daughter mentioned that she misplaced her cross necklace, and I had a cross (sans chain) that my boyfriend had given me when I was 16. I gave the cross to her and we went shopping and she found a chain on sale. Since then she told me that she found her original cross necklace near where she kept it on a candle. Said that "an angel must have moved it, so that I could find it." After our shopping adventure, I considered how I could replace a dozen or so chains inexpensively. I searched online and finally decided that I would purchase some chains, rings and alligator clasps at a local craft store. I spend a couple days working with the jewelry. I wanted to hang the necklaces so that the chains would not get tangled. Many years ago my sister brought a small treasure chest from a souvenir shop. It was missing a hinge, the clasp was lost, and a stud that hold the chain so the chest opens only a certain distance, had fallen out. So I went to the hardware store and purchased a 3/4" hinge set, a decorative hasp, and some furniture brads (only needed 1). Very delicate work and it took forever until I figured out to use the vice on the workbench and my husband came home and got out his drill and smallest bit. I was struggling with my relationship with my sister and fixing the chest was symbolic of repairing that relationship. It all had to do with her perception of my parents' situation. She can't know the true situation if she hears what my brother and his wife feed her and only see my parents on holidays when everyone is drinking and tired. Of course I will deal with whatever comes up. Plan to visit with them today.

"Worry about nothing, but pray about everything..."

My youngest daughter experienced anxiety and depression, so last summer she began taking antidepressant meds. And while she had a very successful semester at university, she is having difficulty with increased appetite which is causing weight gain. Lately, she has been watching "My 600 Pound Life," and I'm wondering if there is some significance it that, even though she weighs 150 or so. I also remind her that she is underage and to not drink or smoke pot, but I feel that this is falling on deaf ears. She came in early am, and I heard a crash in the bathroom, and this morning the wax seal on the toilet appears to be broken or the tank is loose, as water is pouring out of the base of the toilet. On my other daughter's 21st birthday and legal drinking day, she pulled down the shower curtain as she fell in the tub. So, I am concerned and am trying not to worry, but turning to prayer. And I pray that my son will find the right person to share his life. You know my husband's issues, arthritis, heart disease, tiredness, shortness of breath and memory issues. I did take my friend to her eye appointment and she has cataracts and needs surgery. The appointment lasted 4 hours, she missed her van ride home, I had to drive her 12 miles home and then back home. Of course, I had to fill the car with gas as I didn't plan to drive so many miles and the low gas indicator chimed. Once home, I fixed dinner and cleaned up and opted out of hapkido. Surprisingly, my sister and her husband understood because they had days like this with his mom. I am working on repairing a string of Christmas lights and a net. It's not because I want to save money, but because my Dad gave me both sets and the pink lights are my son's favorite. My sister mentioned researching palliative care help for my mother. She said the definition of palliative care is that the "person will not improve." We had someone from care come to the house a couple years ago, and it was a "no go" so doesn't seem like we would get help now. My Dad is concerned that he can only pay for aides for my mother for two more years.

Too Cold to Ride

I scheduled a riding lesson, and then since I was near my hair stylist arranged to get my hair cut. Not sure how this would work out as 1-3 inches of snow was predicted. I got an email from my riding instructor last night, "too cold to ride in the morning, so I will see you next week." I am still hoping to keep my hair appointment. My sister and brother in law commented that they couldn't believe I scheduled an appointment over kickfit. I have two days off, Tuesday and Wednesday. On these days, I prefer to do (or not do) exactly what I want to do. I am already annoyed because my friend needs a ride to her eye appointment, and asked me to take her on Wednesday. It is not out of the goodness of my heart, but because I know she has been waiting for this appointment for a month. I need to say no and tell them--I want no obligations on my day off except what I choose to do, and not feel guilty because of it. I dislike when people tell me what to do on my days off and fill up every moment, whether it be an exercise class or an eye appointment. Sometimes, I want to be home reading or napping.

The Only Constant in Life is Change

In 2013, our daughter married, bringing a son-in-law into the family. And this week, my oldest daughter told me that she has been seeing someone and that he was driving 500 miles to spend New Year's Eve along with some other days with her. I suspected that she was seeing someone because she had secret, private conversations. I am very glad. Her man is quiet and he did not converse with me, but maybe at their age, they feel that it is not necessary to interact with parents... Now, if my youngest son and daughter can discover someone. They are both leery of talking to people that they don't know, but perhaps a soul-mate is in the near future for them. I began the day at church and took to heart the message that "it is not the size of the act that counts, but more the love that goes with the act." A fine mantra for 2015.