Sunday, August 31, 2008

Riding the Bus with My Sister


This is a really important book! A tragicomic true-life account of the often difficult relationship between a single career woman and her mentally retarded adult sister. I missed seeing the Hallmark Hall of Fame adaptation a few years back, but it must have made a great movie.

Rachel Simon's youngest sister suffered brain damage during a difficult birth, but Beth grows up full of life and determined to live on her own terms. She insists on living in her own apartment, has a long-time boyfriend, refuses to work, wear a bra or eat vegetables, and drives her family to distraction.

Beth's daily occupation is riding buses around town and she asks - dares - Rachel to spend time with her by riding with her. Whether from guilt over past neglect or exhaustion from her own harried life, Rachel agrees to ride with her several days each week - for a year.

What Rachel learns about Beth, about life for the mentally retarded, about bus riders and drivers - good and bad, and about herself is by turns fascinating, sad, and funny.

With a young nephew facing the same issues for the mentally retarded, I found this to be a real eye-opener. I have new respect for the courage needed to navigate the world today when you're "different."

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Summer in the City



This week we went to hear The Planets at Millennium Park on a beautiful summer night. This is what summer in the city can be like: sitting on the lawn with other picnickers, kids, the occasional siren on a street nearby, listening to gorgeous music, surrounded by the city skyline and lights from the skyscrapers and stars overhead (I could actually see one). And it's all free! A true multimedia event - sight, sound, smell, taste.

Friday, August 15, 2008

First Woman Hog-Calling Champ in Illinois!

The Illinois State Fair is going on right now and I found this amazing video of the 2008 hog-calling champeen - the first woman to win this contest in the Fair's history. So, turn up your speaker volume and be prepared for your family to come running in to see if you are ok (or just crazy). Yee-haw!

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Cousin Matt in the Olympics

It's been really interesting looking up info on Matt Schnobrich, who will be in the 8-man rowing final for the USA on Sunday, Aug. 17, 2008. I just saw that he has his own Wikipedia article! And one of the resources listed for the article was a link to his own blog from St. John's University in Collegeville, MN, where he earned his undergrad degree. The blog has some posts that he didn't write himself, but were put in just to keep everyone up to date on his Olympic adventures. Other posts he wrote from China and, I must say, he is a very thoughtful person and excellent writer!

I'm sure I must have seen Matt at family gatherings in the distant past when he was a kid, but he probably doesn't even know who I am - ha ha! Luckily, one of his grandpas is my uncle and godfather, who is now in China to watch the rowing events. I intend to hear all about it on his return!

Thursday, August 7, 2008

The First Tomato of Summer

Tonight we ate the first tomato from our garden - with basil, salt and pepper, and a little olive oil. Perfect!

The garden is really crazy now - I picked a half dozen beets yesterday, some as big as softballs. The green beans and cucumbers have to be checked daily lest monsters grow under the leaves. The cilantro went to seed weeks ago, but I'm keeping the basil in check - barely - by pinching off the seed heads as fast as they can make them. Kale and swiss chard are green (and red) and glossy. Since I got smart and only planted one short row of each, we only have to eat them once a week so far. The 5 tomato plants are ready to start full production - bruschetta parties are planned.

And little peppers are growing at last on just 3 plants. This is my first attempt at those, so whatever we get will be a bonus.