Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Humble

To begin,

I wrote a post last night that I thought to pull down immediately after I hit publish. It’s not like me to complain, or to write while in an angry mood. But none of our lives are all sweetness and light all the time, and mine isn’t either. I changed my mind about an hour after pressing the publish button, and went back online to pull my post before I went to bed. It already had several comments of support and caring and it was then that I decided to leave it up.

When I came home this afternoon and actually began to read the comments, I was shocked. I still haven’t been able to get to all of them but I want to thank you now. Life isn’t that bad, you know. And I don’t mean to whine. There were people we saw at the hospital today that have it thousands of times worse than my husband does. Yes, he’s disabled but he can walk and talk and care for himself and a number of other things. He’s not in a wheelchair. It’s his brain – his memory, in particular, that’s disabled.

We got a good report today, so we splurged on dinner at the Olive Garden. That’s about as fancy as it gets around here, and when I say AT the Olive Garden, I actually mean FROM the Olive Garden. My husband doesn’t go out to eat.

We chose the $12.95 Italian Meal Deal. You get your choice of soup or salad, an entrée, and one of five Piccoli Dolci (little dessert treats).

 

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This is my Dark Chocolate Caramel Cream Dolci.

 

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There are approximately six little teaspoons of heaven in this cup.

I apologize for this flagrant display of deliciousness.

But hey – it made me happy.

Happier, anyway.

 

 

I finished reading The Book Thief after we got home today.

:  :  :

QUICK REVIEW ON THE BOOK THIEF by Markus Zusak

I found The Book Thief to be a unique book, with a rather unusual narrator: Death.

Death is a hard-working entity, who travels far and wide delivering souls to their maker. Death isn’t the killer – people die because of any number of things – but it’s Death who you meet in that exact moment in time when your soul departs this earth. Death does not understand humans, but at the same time, shows compassion for them. It is the children’s souls that he carries the most gently, the most tenderly. And it is the good souls who are the ones who sit up and say, ‘here I am. I don’t want to go, but if go I must, well I’m ready’. At times, Death comes across the most interesting human stories, most of which can be found in the unluckiest and unlikeliest places. One of the best of these stories was that of The Book Thief, a young girl who lived in Germany during WWII.

The narrator lets us know in advance that some people in the story will die soon, but it’s the descriptions of what he sees, and the sheer tenacity of the human race that totally captivated me. I really enjoyed this book. It is sad but I feel better for having read it.

:  :  :

Have a beautiful week. Thanks for coming by today.

123 Signature[5]

33 comments:

Gail said...

Go ahead...just rub that dessert in my face. I haven't one bite of chocolate in the house.

Glad your report was good.

Sounds like an interesting book.

Hilary said...

Yum.. that looks good. And the book sounds like a good read. Thanks for the review.

Christie - Fine Lines said...

I read The Book Thief quite awhile ago and remember liking it, in spite of the rather unusual narrator!!

I haven't eaten yet and that dessert reminds me that I don't have anything really scrumptious like that to eat after my left over arugula pizza from Trader Joe's. Remember, I mentioned the other day that I was giving it a try after a friend recommended it? Yum!! It IS good. Now I am going to figure out something for dessert or I will feel deprived!!

And finally, so happy to hear that today was a better day.

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JC said...

I did not know that Olive Garden had take out. I have ideas now ...

And, the book .. sounds very dark.

I know, every time I feel bad, there is someone else who has it so much worse than I do. Thus, I try to keep it together knowing that everyone has something going on. It just doesn't always show.

Enjoy your evening and pet George for me,

JC

Nellie said...

Wonderful dessert!

It is always good to have a positive report I have you and your husband in my thoughts as this is surely a difficult time for the family.

Reading - I simply must carve out more time for that!

Denise at Autumn Sky said...

I wish I had some vanilla ice cream in the house. And some topping. Now I may start to look through the kitchen to find a treat.

Hilary said...

I like the Olive Garden...my fave is the FIVE cheese ZITI.....my husband goes to pacify me...he says he doesn't really like it.
And I think it's good to keep it real.
You know I do.
Life is hard sometimes, and I think sharing it makes it less hard.
:)

beth said...

you my dear friend, are fantastic in so many ways...and thanking everyone for their support...well, now you see how we're all here for you and each other...isn't the blogging world amazing !!

and now i want dessert. my caramel chocolate heart from walgreens, found in the valentines day section, sucked compared what you had !

xo

Donna S. said...

Glad you got a good report today.

Yummm!

Your friend, Donna

Cloudia said...

we prefer to be cozy at home....
yes, we all have ups and downs.
Glad we have each other(s) to share.


Sending YOU Aloha
from Honolulu,
Comfort Spiral
~ > < } } ( ° >

The Weaver of Grass said...

How can I possibly write anything having seen that beautiful dessert!! Could you spare just one teaspoonful?

BB said...

I have no idea what the Olive Garden is - sounds sweet though! Can I say (in reference to last post which I missed) that it's absolutely okay to share that - we are all three-dimensional and none of us are sunshine and roses ALL the time. Especially when dealing with the stuff you do. The frustration you both feel must be enormous sometimes. So glad you have your birds and photos and glorious place in the world...

And that good report? CHEERS from me. *chink*
;-)
BB

wildbanshee said...

Another book suggestion from Kate, put it on my Goodreads list. Got to have that dessert.

Barb T. said...

You are so brave, but remember, we are all allowed to crack.
I will try and wow you with blizzard photos on Facebook this weekend. Our closest barometer is Fryeburg, Maine. About 15 miles away. Our weatherman said 19 inches there; my first real Nor'easter!!!!

Karen thisoldhouse2.com said...

My son had to read it for school, I have it around here somewhere, perhaps time to pick it up.

I just finished Gone Girl... I cannot believe it is so popular, although I will admit it is very well written. I found it to be a horrible tale of a truly sick, psychotic marriage. yuck.

thotlady said...

I love those little desserts at the Olive Garden, and that's all I am going to say about that.

Deborah said...

Don't feel bad about the entry from last night.

All is relative and it's tremendously hard to have a sick relative. I tried it last year, when my dad was seriously ill and had tripple by-pass.

You're alowed your bad days even though I know there is someone who has it worse. Don't feel bad about letting out some steam - that's alright! Take care and I'm glad you felt better after the ice cream.

Carolynn Anctil said...

I'm glad all went well at the hospital yesterday. I like the Olive Garden, although I've only ever eaten there a couple of times. That dessert looks yummy!!

Anonymous said...

I've written many posts over the years of blogging and deleted them for fear of sounding ridiculous. But we all have our own problems and even though some may not be as severe as others, they are still problems to us.

Take care,
CJ x

Jan's camera said...

Hi Kate, glad to hear about your hubby's good report. That dessert looks wonderful. The books sounds very interesting. I just finished reading 'Gone Girl'. A wonderful pyschological thriller. I also just finished 'Catching Fire' the second in the Hunger Games trilogy. Bracing myself for the huge Nor'Easter heading to New England. I live alone and I am dreading being stranded all alone for the weekend. As long as the power stays on I have movies and TV shows to catch up on. And tons of magazines that I have been putting off. Have a good weekend.

thecatalanway said...

You are a really good person! don't try to deny it! It doesn't mean being an angel or always sunshine and light or any other nonsense, but just being true to yourself and honest and caring about things. I always want to pull things that I write if they seem in any way negative but who wants to read jolly, pollyanna, look on the bright side stuff all the time - it would make us feel so lonely in our struggles if noone ever told it as it is when it is hard. That's how I see it anyway and I love what you write - whichever way out it comes.

the book sounds really good - thanks for the tip! The pudding looks wonderful. Glad it went well at the hospital and have a good day my friend, love Kate x

abb said...

Glad the news was so good for your hubs! And that dessert...I'm sure it's not part of the Paleo plan I try to follow. :(

Daryl said...

hooray for yum

Lili said...

Six little teaspoons of heaaven I say is "just enough"! Now I must admit a book that is narrated by death is an interesting concept. xo

JaneK said...

You are not whiney! We all have down times and it is good to be able to share. I'm glad you got a good report. I'm sad I don't get any of that dessert.

becky up the hill said...

I think its a good day when we can say what we think/feel/experince without being censored by others. I have a few good friends who I can be real with. You have some wonderful readers of your blog and I'd like to hug them all and say thanks for being kind. I'm glad you had some Olive Garden. The closest one to us is an hour away. I don't care if the food is frozen/reheated and an Italian chef is not in the back making the food. I love it!

Linda said...

There's no news like good news! Yay!
No treat for George? ❤

Ellen said...

Glad to hear that your husband (and you too) got a good report. I know there have been quite a few setbacks along the way in this journey, so good news is always welcome.

I had to chuckle that you went to Olive Garden, as I was visiting my parents today and that's where we went to eat. And had the $12.99 three course meal too. Though, I must admit, i had the chocolate mousse cake.

As usual, sending good thoughts and hugs your way.

Country Gal said...

Hey we all need to let off steam some how , we are human and we are also all here for one another as well ! Life gets tuff and definately isn't a bowl full of cherries as my mum used to say ! Oh that looks soo YUMMY , ya think I could taste it if I lick the screen lol oh I know I am a nut but heck did it make you smile , if so then my job here is done for now ! Great news about your hubby's test . Have a good day !

mrs mediocrity said...

So glad to hear you had good news.

The book thief is one of my favorite books ever, mainly because it changed my view of death. It didn't make it any less sad, but somehow it managed to make it less dark.

I hear they are making a movie of it now.

The JR said...

I might have to bust the diet and get the hubby to take me for a pre/or after valentines meal.

Would not dare to attempt to actually go anywhere on the V'day. Always too crowded.

GailO said...

I am glad you left that post up..you deserve some loving:) I am also glad that things were so much yummier on this day:)

That book sounds interesting and Somehow or other it reminds me that I wanted to let you know I finally watched the movie "Beasts of the Southern Wild" and all I ended up saying is I was confused...