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I always say. "You can never decorate for Christmas too early."
However....there is such a thing as carving your pumpkin too early.
Alex was a little bummed out to see his jack o' lantern when we got back from our trip.
(Photo credit to our neighbor Susan. Everyone needs a neighbor who will pick up packages from your doorstep when you are gone. Or take photos of your be-moldened pumpkins and then e-mail it to you at the beach:)
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The PetSmart Guy said, "Enjoy your rats."
"That just sounds like a weird thing to say," I responded.
So.
We have rats.
Alex has rats.
2 Rats.
(As it turns out, they are social and get lonely.)
2 GIRL rats, as we do not want to become rat breeders.
Zippy
and
Chuck.
Really, these were some of the best names put forth.
I told Alex right in the store that if he wanted to name these rats any version of Tiny Tim...we were not getting them.
(The boys think it is funny to have named every hermit crab, fish and aquatic frog we have ever owned: Tiny Tim.)
So Zippy and Chuck really did seem like a "God bless us, everyone" moment.
Alex wanted a hamster for his birthday.
We figure it was the closest thing to an animal that may show some affection without our family being allergic to it.
Grandma and Grandpa got dibs on giving it to him.
But then we did extensive research on it:
(We asked our Facebook friends and checked Wikapedia)
And found rats are:
The smartest
The most social
Trainable
And cleanest
Of the rodents.
Ok, cleanest of the rodents is not a write home to mom kind of title
I mean...the plague is a hard rap to beat.
(I know...it was the fleas on the the rats....but still. Eeww.)
And truthfully, they are very cute and fun.
They are Fancy Rats.
That is the breed.
I'm thinking that means they are right below Show Rats.
Maybe a notch above Domestic Rats.
I seem to be the only one not yet tiring of references to top hats, walking sticks and monocles with our Fancy Rats, ZIppy and Chuck.
Alex at PetSmart.
Note that there are 2 inexpensive rats in the box in his hands and a buggy full "rat necessities."
We have "rat necessities." I don't know if that will ever sound normal.
(That is Zippy in the picture. She doesn't sit still even for photographs.
I told her it was for the blog...but she is a Fancy Rat. What are you going to do?)
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Darcy and Elizabeth is the sequel to Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife which is a sequel to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. It is the final piece of my favorite follow up to P&P which makes this the last portion of a great Darcy and Elizabeth trilogy. It is the Return of the Jedi in Austen.
Summary from the back of the book: "...As the Darcys raise their babies, enjoy their conjugal felicity and manage the great estate of Pemberley, the beloved characters from Jane Austen's original are joined by Linda Berdoll's imaginative new creations for a compelling, sexy and epic story guaranteed to keep you turning the pages and gasping with delight."
My review of Linda Berdoll's first book, Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife, is here. Seeing as how I do not like redundancy at all in literature, I suggest you read it first. This review will not do justice to Berdoll's great language and characterization that I spoke about quite extensively in that review. Go ahead. We'll wait.
I found Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife to be a fantastic book. Darcy and Elizabeth is very good. Very Good following Fantastic feels like a let down. But you have to read it anyway because, well, it is very good. And Berdoll starts you on a path, that for those who like it, want to continue on.
Language: A
Characterization: A
Plot: B-
Revisit vs. Rehash: D
Hooked: A+
Nit Picky Things: A
Wonderful Moments: A
Originality: A
Language: Linda Berdoll's writing style and language appeal to me greatly. Her work feels like parts 2 and 3 to Austen's.
A
Characterization: Berdoll said she was inspired by the 1995 BBC / A&E Pride and Prejudice movie. (Which is the definitive movie version for me.) The characters (new and old) felt like they would have blended well with that cast.
A
Plot: Ok, here is where things go from fantastic to just good. Berdoll took 4 years to research and write her first book. She wraps up the loose ends very well at the end of Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife. We find out what will happen to some of the main characters in the coming years. Her second book, Darcy and Elizabeth, was on the shelves just 2 years later. This book goes back and retells what happened to some of those same characters in more detail. It not only retells you things you already learned at the end of the first book, it retells you events from Pride and Prejudice as well. It really made for a stagnate plot at times.
Here is my theory: An editor told Berdoll that she had to remind the readers about these things. I want to blame an editor because it is a big departure from the swift pace of things in her first book. But really, if you think of this a trilogy, then who read the third book without reading the first two? If someone leaned over to you during the opening of Return of the Jedi and said, "So who is this Luke guy again?" You'd say get out of here! (Or, "I am not the person you are looking for" with a smooth Jedi mind hand sweep.)
Like Jane Austen, Berdoll uses chance meetings and a small band of characters. And like reading Austen, one might think that there are 20 people and a few background players in the whole of England. But really, those 20 (and 2 in particular) are the ones you want to read about.
B-
Rehash or Revisit: Not to repeat myself, but I really can't stand rehash:) I think that every sequel or trilogy series should start with a disclaimer: Read the first book first. Read the second book second. Read them in order. It will make more sense. Trust us.
D
Nit Picky Things: Just that one big one.
A
Wonderful Little Moments: Really, all over the place. The humor is delightful. And the last line is great. It made me smile the rest of the day just thinking about it.
A+
Originality: Berdoll is the best at letting us peak peak into Darcy and Elizabeth's future. And she makes us want more.
A
Redundancy aside, it is a very good book. It is full of the same eyebrow raising marital passion, gallantry, manners and delicious vocabulary as Berdoll's first book.
If this book were a movie - It would absolutely be rated "R" due to marital passions and references to indiscretions.
If you have read this book - I put some questions about it in the comments. Let me know what you think:)
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Happy Birthday Alex!
(Note the boxes and old computer in the back ground. Classy. Always.)
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Max: Take the picture closer Mommy!
Me: Max, if I get any closer you will not have eyebrows.
Max: Ok, then that is close enough.
He has wanted to loose a tooth for the past 2 years.
(As much as he walks into things, I really thought it might have happened sooner.)
Today, he ate an apple and then worked this little tooth on our long car trip.
Then he just yanked it out himself.
(Verses the days/weeks of agony I used to put myself through when I had a loose tooth.)
Me: Max, do you think the Tooth Fairy can find you tonight?
Max: MommEEEY, the Tooth Fairy can just flit anywhere she wants. I mean, she is the Tooth Fairy after all.
Me: Oh, right. Very true. Flits anywhere she wants.
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Alex dressed for Wacky Day at church.
2 things.
1. You know you go to a big church when you have spirit days.
2. I am impressed he dressed up because I told him Wacky Day was 3 weeks ago...and he dressed up.
(Excellent Momming points, there.)
I have become quite impressed with people lately that do
most of their thinking inside their heads.
As opposed to
out loud
swirling around for public consumption
before any refinement can happen
or
better yet
filtering.
Or editing.
You people are impressive.
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Allergies.
I'm thinking it is the ragweed that is being especially
harsh to me right now.
I almost forgot it was Friday.
Thanks so much to Shutterfly for a
fun week of give-aways!
The winners will all get their codes from
me for their books on Sunday.
But you don't have to wait until then to start making them:)
Today's winner selected by a random number generator is:
it's the last chance to win this book !!!
count on me
isabel
Just send me an e-mail with BLOG in the title and I will get you your code for you book!
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