Seriously Frustrated

I know.  This isn't life threatening or something overly huge or serious.  But I am rather frustrated.  Let me tell you about it.

My hard drive crashed on my desktop.  Thankfully we were able to retrieve the data off of it so I didn't actually lose anything.  But it did mean I had to re-install things onto a new hard drive and/or onto my laptop.  iTunes was one of those things.  So, of course, my iPhone decides it cannot sync because it thinks my iTunes library is new despite the fact that I copied it from the back up I saved from the bad hard drive.  I tried everything I could to get it to work, but I couldn't figure out a way around it.

So I took the huge gamble, backed up my phone and then did a restore to get it to sync.  It kept everything.

Except my playlists.

Playlists I've spent literally days creating (due to the number of them I have - had - on my phone).

I also discovered that it did not keep all of my music from my old iTunes library either.  So I have to start over.  At least it's not completely over, but from what I can tell so far it's about half missing.

So I'm frustrated...grrr....

Book Review: I Go to America: Swedish American Women and the Life of Mina Anderson

I Go to America: Swedish American Women and the Life of Mina Anderson by Joy K. Lintelman is an interesting account of the immigration of Swedish women in the late 1800s and early 1900s.  Lintelman weaves together the life of Mina Anderson with the history of the immigration in such a way that provides a fascinating look at this point in history.  She supplements some of the history with details from the lives of other Swedish female immigrants as well.

I have to say there are two things I really enjoyed about this book.  First, Lintelman is careful to base most of the book off of primary sources such as diaries, letters, and other personal accounts.  This lent a personal touch and a great balance of color to the history of this piece of immigration to the United States.  The other thing I really liked is that she balanced the drier factual history pieces nicely with the personal stories of Mina and other Swedish women.  These two elements were, for the most part, woven together well in telling the immigration story for these women.

I think my one criticism of this book is that there were a few parts where the history got pretty detailed and dry – hence long as well.  I think there were some details that could have been edited out without losing anything of the overall story.

That being said, I would certainly add this to your list of books to read.  I was surprised by some of the things I learned in this book.  And it is a well written history book that is pretty easy for the most part to get through.

Random Sunday – Dust Pans, Toys, and Headaches

What is it about dust pans that attract toddlers?  Case in point – I was trying to sweep my kitchen and dining room floor today before my mother-in-law got here for lunch.  And, where is my son?  He stole the dust pan and was following me around trying to pick up the dirt off the floor.  This would ordinarily be a good thing, except he’s 22 months old and didn’t wait for me to sweep stuff up into a pile.  Then he took off with the dust pan.  My husband had to chase him back into the kitchen with it because, of course, my son vanished with the dust pan when I did need it.

Speaking of my son, I have to say I’m rather glad a bunch of his toys are from garage sales and other second hand sources.  Why, you ask?  Because of what happened tonight.  I was running his bath and trying to pick up a few things.  He took his bus, that lights up and sings, and threw it in the bath tub.  Needless to say, it’s now sitting in a bucket of rice and many prayers are being said that it will work again.  After all, it is favorite toy.  Figures.

I thought I had lucked out after I had my son.  I thought things changed enough that I wasn't going to get the headaches I used to before I had my son.  I've been discovering lately that I don’t think I got off that lucky.  Which sucks.  I’m now hoping the headaches are not quite as frequent and bad as they used to be.

Book Review: School’s Out – Forever by James Patterson

Genetic experiments on kids, government conspiracies, and at least one love triangle thrown in for good measure.  Yep.  Patterson combines all of this into a decent story.  This is the second book in his Maximum Ride series.  The kids, who were experimented on genetically, are still on the run.  They end up being taken in by someone, who turns out to be with the FBI, and are given a semblance of a normal life.  Of course it all gets disrupted because that would be too easy.  And, amidst the action, the beginnings of a love triangle show up.

First, in my opinion, I am glad Patterson didn't take the love triangle thing farther than he did.  I think that would have really put a damper on the whole story for me.  That being said, I also don’t think it really added much to the story as you already knew where things stood without having to have the love triangle paint the picture in neon colors.

The rest of the premise to this book and the series in general, is very interesting and fun to read.  Who doesn't like a government conspiracy with a dash of genetic manipulation and cloning thrown in?

I do have to add that this is a kids’ series.  In that respect, maybe my opinion of the love triangle thing is a bit harsh.  But I also feel that kids shouldn't be treated as dumber because they are younger, and that is, to a slight extent, what I feel is happening with that piece.  I just want to make sure that it is clear not to expect adult level stuff out of this story because, despite the premise being similar to many adult level novels I've read, it is a kids’ series and is well written for this age group.  I would certainly recommend adding this to your list of books to get to eventually, just don’t expect too much out of it.  As a quick, fun read it delivers well.

Random Sunday – Cars, Cake, and Mosquitoes

Yep.  I’m a little late with Random Sunday – again.  But, considering what’s been going on the last week or two, the fact that it’s up at all is an accomplishment.  One of those issues is my car.  Can I just say at the moment I hate cars.  Maybe it’s more car problems and stupid auto shops that jerk me around.  So, here’s the story.  My car had an issue.  Go figure, it has over 100,000 miles on it.  Not surprising.  So I took it in, not to my preferred shop due to the aforementioned craziness in my life, but to another shop.  Over 24 hours later THEY HADN'T EVEN LOOKED AT IT YET MUCH LESS STARTED TO FIX IT!!!  Can you tell I’m a little irritated?  Now I’m not entirely certain I even trust that they fixed it because my car was still having the same issue for a little bit after supposedly being fixed.  I have an appointment with my normal shop, which I trust completely, on Friday.  You may get another update on this next week depending on what happens.

I love cake.  That’s why I hate cake.  My brother got married this last weekend (more of the aforementioned craziness).  His wedding cake was amazing.  But it’s started me on this thing where I want cake all the time.  I go through that every once in a while.  Maybe I’m nuts, no I probably am, but I do.  And given the fact that I’m trying to get into a little bit better shape, this cake thing isn't helping!!!

Holy cow are the mosquitoes horrible this year.  Not surprising since we've had a ton of rain and there’s standing water everywhere.  But I can’t even let my son outside hardly because he gets so bit up it’s ridiculous.  I want to be outside, too, but there are so many mosquitoes I don’t want to risk life and limb.  I’m praying for something to change and kill off those flying hordes of blood sucking insanity inducers.

Random Sunday – Fireworks, Hair, and Green Beans

Honest - I really am trying to write more.  Between finals, my sister's graduation, and my brother's wedding things are a bit nuts.  I am hoping things will get a smidgen better soon.  So, on to this week's Random Sunday:

As I sit writing this post, I am listening to fireworks going off about a quarter mile from my house.  I keep praying they won’t wake up my son.  He’s been having a tough time going to sleep lately.  I had intended on going to bed twenty minutes ago but that was about the time the fireworks started.  Oh – it sounds like the finale is going.  Please let my son sleep through it…

I also had to deal with my hair today.  I’m in my brother’s wedding on Saturday.  Which means I had to figure out how to do something somewhat fancy with my hair.  I am totally inept at things like that.  Luckily, my aunt can French braid.  I figure we can start with that and fancy it up some with some flowers or ribbon or something.  Hopefully my soon to be sister-in-law likes it.

I watched something rather amusing tonight.  We grilled pork chops tonight as it was warm enough I didn’t want the oven on in the house for that long.  I microwaved some green beans and made instant mashed potatoes to go with as I didn’t have much time to do anything else.  So I got my son’s plate ready, then dished up my own and sat down to eat.  My son decided to invent a new toddler hors d’oeuvre.  He’d take a green bean, dip it in his mashed potatoes, and then eat it.  All while holding the fork in the other hand.  And he ate most of his green beans that way.  The whole thing just made me laugh.