Summer Holidays

School's OUT! My kids are happy and so am I. I love this time with my kids after a busy baseball-filled spring and all the end-of-the-year school activities. This summer I am a little bit anxious about juggling my teaching, but so far it's going alright. It helps that my kids know how to entertain themselves. Plus, I've started taking an afternoon nap ... this buys me productive writing and teaching time at night.

I've also cut back on Internetty things ... I miss it, but there's not enough time in the day to do all the things I need and want to. And reading is always high on my priority ... Here are some of the books I've been reading. No luscious book covers, but you can look them up on Amazon.

Incantation by Alice Hoffmann is set during the Spanish Inquisition. The writing is beautiful and I will have to read this again to see how she does so much in so few words. I suspect it's all the right words. I have another one of her books: Indigo. Her writing is luminous.

The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams was a fascinating look into a closed polygamous community through the eyes of Kyra, a 13-year-old, who is being forced into marriage to an old uncle. I wish the book had an author's note about closed communities in general and how they function and fit into the larger society.

I'm re-reading My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult. Amazing, amazing book, voice, plot, everything. Can't wait to see the movie. JP is one of my favorite authors in how she manages to look at several sides of difficult issues.

I'm in the thick of What's So Great About Christianity by Dinesh D'Souza. A wonderful book that reconciles reason and belief. If you wonder about the existence of God, read this.

Enjoy your summer ... and if you don't hear from me, it's because I'm being lazy.
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An Audio Book

My book, Flowers, is going to be an audio book! A very nice man from the recording studio called to make sure he pronounces my name correctly.

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By the way, this is how you say my name:

Vee-jay-ya Khiss-tee Bo-dack.

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I miss my given middle name: Jatindrakumar. It has a lovely rhythm and rolls off the tongue once you get used to it. Here's how: Juh-tin-druh-koo-mar.

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Drama

How I wish I could film the drama in my office. The pup lies beside my feet, occasionally licking my toes with her silky soft tongue. She's very relaxed. Until the black cat comes sauntering in. The cat has to hiss and swipe at the pup to keep her space. She settles on my desk, with the puppy looking longingly at her. It's amazing to see a little cat make this big dog submissive.

Then comes my old, old cat -- the tan one. He cries the whole time. He is terrified of the pup. All he wants is to be with me. But even he manages to keep the pup off. He sits on my lap, tries to take away my pen, but never relaxes. It's too much trouble to be down here ... he goes upstairs. Pup tries to follow. I tell her to stay. She does.

The black cat leaves as well.

The pup looks at me. I pet her. She settles back at my feet. No more drama.

I'm back to correcting lessons.

I can't believe how much in demand I am. I try to give each child, each pet some one-on-one time and there are simply not enough hours in the day and night for this. Sigh.
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Naughty Cats

No plant is safe in our home. Here is my older cat, stripping leaves off the curry plant. I discovered several chewed up ones on the counter. Apparently the taste is not to his liking. We're having lovely summer weather, so I've moved the plant outside. I love having fresh flowers from the garden in the house, but unless they are in a small container, just a wee little flower or two, the cats will find them and chew on them. I wouldn't mind it if they didn't barf it up later, along with their food. When I'm in the kitchen, I can enjoy my flowers, but if I have to leave, I make sure they are put outside on the patio or in the bathroom (with the door closed). Ah, the things one must put up with.

Here's the other naughty cat, dipping her paws in the water that is for the Drinking Bird. I believe we were doing an experiment to see whether the temperature of the water changed the rate of dipping. It did.

I love these curious cats. Their purring, kneading. Treasures. My pets.

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When The Whistle Blows

Remember all those lovely books that are coming out soon? One of them is Fran Cannon Slayton's WHERE THE WHISTLE BLOWS. And I just won a copy of it on Angela's blog! I'll have to fight my son for it, but this one is mine first.

I met Franny at Chautauqua. A lovely woman who has so much heart for stories ... check out her website for more.

My friend Bish is also a winner!

Thank you Angela for having the contest and a BIG THANK YOU to Fran for writing this book.
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New Books

Head on over to the Blueboard and check out these NEW BOOKS in the Promote Your Book section. There are far too many to blog about one by one ...

Happy reading.
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Pet Cartoons

I just came across delightful pet cartoons on Doctor Bob's blog. I'm feeling too lazy to imbed a video so will give you the link: Simon's Cat.

Enjoy!
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