July Books

This past month I read 2 more books. I don't know if audio books count as reading, but anyhow.

This was my first time reading a book by Dean Koontz. It wasn't that this was a bad book. I have read worse for sure, I at least got through the whole thing. But the book was very frustrating to me. Dean Koontz is SO descriptive, so much so that it would bore me. The plot was interesting and many aspects were very creative, it just took too long for any action. Lets just say that for 2 hours to pass in the book was over half the book! Really, do we need to be that descriptive? The unfortunate thing with audio book in this case is I couldn't scan to get to the stuff I cared about. I had to listen and listen and listen, because who knew when something important would happen. I don't think I will be picking up another Dean Koontz novel though.

After learning a little more about Bob Barker in Chuck Norris's autobiography I happened to come across Bob Barker's. He is one interesting guy. I of course watched him on the Price is Right, and enjoyed him. I did not realize that he was host of another show called Truth or Consequences. It was interesting hearing about those stories and make me want to go and watch a few shows. Something that really stands out to me about Bob is that he never did try to get laughs or fame by putting others down. Everything he did was about building others up and he would work to make them funny, not to be funny himself. I like that, I wish more comedians were that way. I never realized how involved he has been with animal rights, now the whole "help control the pet population, have your pets spayed and neutered" makes complete sense. Not only has he been involved with animal rights, I would deem to say that he has been central and a key player to all they have accomplished. It was a good book.

My First Time

Yesterday I mowed the yard for the first time in my life. Well, that is not completely accurate. I tried when I was probably 12 years old to mow the lawn but couldn't push the lawn mower, so never tried again. Omar always points out when we drive in and out of our neighborhood all the houses that the wife mows the lawn.

He has been super busy the past 2 weeks and has not had a chance to mow it. So of course it is really high. I thought since I had the day off yesterday and it would be good exercise I would give it a go. I got my junk clothes on and popped a Zyrtec because I knew the grasses would kill my allergies.

I got the lawnmower out and called Omar. He told me I need to fill it with gas. For the life of me I couldn't get the gas can to open to let the gas out of the canister. It had some crazy weird safety on it with no instructions. So I was going to mow as much as I could until it ran out of gas. He then tried talking me through starting it up. The UPS guy showed up in the middle of his explanation and I was embarrassed so I told him I would call him back. He just kept saying, "ask the UPS guy, ask the UPS guy." So I did. I mean the UPS guy comes to our house pretty much everyday so it is like we know him right? I told him I have never mowed a lawn and asked if he could start it for me. He started checking the oil and everything. I was like "wow" he is thorough. I showed him the gas can and it took him a few minutes to figure out the safety. He then turned it on and showed me how to use it. It was amazing how helpful he was!!! He told me he always tries to mow the lawn for his 67 year old mom but she won't let him.

I was so proud of myself for mowing the grass. The whole time though I felt so bad. I can only imagine how many creatures I killed. In my wake I would see animals jumping out of the path of the storm. It was a sad sight. I just hope none of them were frogs, I love frogs and it is the baby frog season.

I didn't do as great of a job as Omar and there are a few spots where I missed a few blades of grass. But I did trim the hedges and even cut my african daisy plants because they have grown so wild that they look like weeds. They haven't had flowers on them since I bought them. I don't know what the deal is with them.

It was a good workout too. I wore my heart rate monitor and it stayed about 167-169 bpm consistently. I burned 317 calories and 9.9 fat. It took me 58 minutes to complete.

Freckles

As I was running this morning I heard the song by Natasha Bedingfield, "Freckles". I don't think I have heard this song before. It really caught my attention. Last night I went and saw the movie "The Help" as part of a girls night with some people from my ward. These two things just made me really think about the strength that comes from loving yourself for who you are. Sometimes that is hard, when really there are so many things we have been blessed and given by God that He loves about us - why we don't notice them like others sometimes do, is beyond me. The sad thing about it all is just that people have such a natural tendency to compare, and to want to pull others down thinking it will help them feel better about what they have to offer.

"The Help" really just made me so sad. So sad at how I think in some ways the world has not changed too far from how it used to be - it is just masked better now because it isn't as tolerable. So sad that people are utterly cruel to others that are still God's children and our brothers and sisters. I look forward to the day when we all see that we are on the same playing field and that unity is what will cause us to achieve our highest potential. Until then, I will work to love myself and others.


I used to care so much about what others think about



Almost didn't have a thought of my own


The slightest remark would make me embark


On the journey of self doubt


But that was a while ago


This girl has got stronger


If I knew then what I know now


I would have told myself don't worry any longer its okay



Cuz a face without freckles is like a sky without stars


Why waste a second not loving who you are


Those little imperfections make you beautiful, lovable, valuable,


They show your personality inside your heart


Reflecting who you are


I wondered if I could trade my body with somebody else in magazines


With the whole world full at my feet


I phantom worthy and would blame my failures on the ugliness I could see


When the mirror looked at me


Sometimes I feel like the little girl who doesn't belong in her own world


But im getting better


And im reminding myself



Cuz a face without freckles is a sky without stars


Why waste a second not loving who you are


Those little imperfections make you beautiful, lovable, valuable,


They show your personality inside your heart


Reflecting who you are



Cuz a face without freckles is a sky without stars


Why waste a second not loving who you are


Those little imperfections make you beautiful, lovable, valuable,


They show your personality inside your heart


Reflecting who you are