Shogun by James Clavell

To be honest, I dragged my feet about reading this book for a long time.  After living in China, it felt disloyal to show interest in Japan.  I know it sounds weird to say that, but what can I say?  It turns out that  Communist propaganda works.  For the first few months after returning from China, I felt defensive of Mao, like Taiwan should still be part of the Mainland,  and a little ( I am not proud of this) distaste for Japan.   Thankfully I soon came to my senses.  And when I finaly got around to reading Shogun . . . wow.  I loved it.  Well, more accurately I loved the first 1000 pages (it kind of drags a little bit at the end) but it is definitely worth reading.  It gives such great insight into the Japanese culture.  Well, to be honest, I really have no idea how accurate Clavell's portrayal is but it seems like it gives great insight into the Japanese culture.   

Shogun tells the tale of Pilot-Major John Blackthorne, who along with his surviving crew, shipwrecks on the coast of Japan during the 1600s.  The 1200 page novel is the story of his attempt to assimilate into the Japanese culture while trying to fix his ship, attain riches, and head back home to England.  Obviously, the story is much more complex than this and truthfully I could tell you nearly everything about the plot, and it wouldn't spoil the book for you.  The magic of Shogun is found in the details.  It's been weeks since I finished the book, and I still catch myself pondering scenes.  Shogun also has helped me be a better person.  You may laugh, but it's true. 

For example, Clavell's description of karma and zen has helped me develop a coping strategy for my anxiety.  Whenever I feel myself starting to worry, I just tell myself that if what I am worrying about comes to pass, that is my karma and there is no sense in worrying.  I'm sure that sentence didn't seem that helpful to you but if you immerse yourself in Shogun, it will.

Along those same lines, Toranaga (one of the main Japanese leaders) tells his son that "patience is very important. The strong are the patient ones. Patience means holding back your inclination to the seven emotions: Hate, adoration, joy, anxiety, anger, grief, fear. If you don't give way to the seven, you're patient, then you'll soon understand all manner of things and be in harmony with Eternity".  I had never considered anxiety (can you tell that anxiety is at the forefront of my mind right now?) as a lack of patience.  But it's true.  Most of my anxiety stems from worrying about unknowns, or what ifs--in other words, things that are yet to be.  Patience would mean waiting until an event exists before reacting to it.  What a gift that would be. 

Anyway, I  know 1200 pages seems daunting but I think it's worth reading.  Heck, I've even read it twice.  and you know what?  In another 5 years, I'll probably read it again.  Although, as my DH is always quick to point out, that isn't necessarily an endorsement.  In a pinch, I'll reread books I hated.  But in this particular case, I'd be rereading it because I loved it.

Balance Bikes

I like to research things before I buy them.  I make pro and con lists, read reviews, ask people, etc.  Usually this process is relatively painless.  A couple of google searches and I am good to go.  Researching balance bikes was not quite so easy.  The first problem was that there is not an consensus on the name.  These pedal-less bikes go by Run Bikes, or Push Bikes, or (my personal favorite) Balance Bikes.  Also, there were very few comparative reviews.  In fact, when I was researching this about a year ago, I only found two (there are more now).  This New York Times article and this cycling blog.  Both of these reviews were really helpful and informative.  If you are considering purchasing a balance bike go read them. now. 

Because I am a cheapskate, I easily ruled out the bikes that weren't floating around the 100 dollar price point.  I don't care how awesome the bike is, I am not spending $300 on a bike my kid will use for 6 months.  I also easily ruled out the wooden bikes.  I am not really sure why but I had zero interest in them.  Some people love them, but I wanted a bike that looked like a bike.  I thought my daughter would like it better and I thought it would wear better.  Oh, and I also ruled out the Adam's Run Bike because I can't support a company that names their pink bike the "Girl" bike and the blue bike the "Boy" bike.  That is inexcusable. 

At the end of the day, I was debating between the Kinderbike and the Striderbike.  Yes, it's true, one review was very scornful of the Strider Bike, but I seriously considered it because it was the only balance bike I had seen in person.  And my friend's daughter made it look AWESOME.  Also, I liked that it had a place to rest the feet. 

So . . . in the end, we went with the Kinderbike.  It was well reviewed on both of the comparative reviews and I liked the fact that it had real tires (rather than foam tires like the Strider bike) and that it had a higher weight limit.  And I have to say, I was right.  The kinderbike clearly is nicer than the Strider bike.  BUT, after comparing them both side by side for the past 8 months (we ride bikes a lot with our friends), I can say with authority: it doesn't matter.  The kids weigh so little, that nicer components just don't make that big of a difference.  Every bike has pros and cons.  I like the foot rest on Strider, as well as how light the bike is.  And I like the inflatable tires and heavier weight limit on the Kinderbike. 

I guess what I am trying to say is don't waste your time researching.  They all cost about the same, and they all serve the same function, and every balance bike I've seen is of good enough quality to last through a couple of kids.  Just go out and get one.  They are awesome. 

My cautious daughter (2 and 3/4) during her first week on the Balance Bike

And here she is 6 months later.  Believe me, we thought this day would never come. 

Inception: Not So Much.

Remember the story of the Emperor's new clothes? The king was really naked but everybody kept saying how beautiful his clothes were because they didn't want to admit they couldn't see them. That's how I feel about Inception. I think people say they like it because they don't want to seem stupid for not liking it. At least, that's the only explanation that makes sense to me. All through the movie, I kept wondering if I was seeing a different movie than everyone else. How could this be the movie that has received such great reviews including being labeled the "best science fiction movie ever" by Orson Scott Card? The movie makes no sense. and not in a good way.

First of all. Here is the unforgivable error. And it is not even a spoiler. The dreams don't feel dream like. Which, seeing how this is the premise of the whole movie, is a MAJOR problem. Dreams bounce around from location to location. One minute you are chatting with your mom about the best recipe for chocolate oatmeal cookies and the next minute you are reading aloud the recipe to your 8th grade chemistry class, naked. They are not dreary, stationary sets from mobster movies. This flaw was so obvious and apparent that I couldn't suspend my disbelief for a second. These dreams would feel fake and forced to anyone having them which undermines the entire premise of the movie. If you are interested in seeing an awesome portrayal of dreams, check out the last episode of Season 4 of Buffy.

Another major problem with the movie (and this is sort of a spoiler) is something that I didn't really notice until my husband pointed it out. They make a big deal out of the fact that in the first layer of dream 5 minutes = 1 hour, and that in the second layer 5 minutes = 1 week and in the third layer that 5 minutes = 10 years (or whatever) but in the movie, while they go out of their way to show the time difference between the first and second layer, they act like time is passing in real time in the third layer. That is just lazy writing.

Don't get me wrong, I have liked Chris Nolan's work in the past. Memento was phenomenal. But Inception just seemed superficial and poorly thought out. Plus, Leonardo looks like a chubby 12 year old which is always distracting.

Here is a hilarious spoof on all the things that were so lame in Inception. Well, it's hilarious except for the last 10 seconds.

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

My Nursing Story

I was a guest blogger on The Mom Blog. Check it out!

Utah Needs More Nudity

In the past year, I have been to 4 different public pools with my children. 2 in Utah and 2 in Seattle. Granted, it's a pretty small sample size but the locker room experience is so different. In Utah, everyone patiently waits for a changing room, either that, or does the awkward changing under the tee-shirt dance. In Seattle, women . . . wait for it . . . change their clothes as they usually would. Because of this *Gasp* there is actually nudity in the women's locker rooms. Shocking, I know. Since, I grew up in Utah, it took me a while to get used to it. Admittedly, I was a little uncomfortable when my neighbor stripped down in the middle of a conversation with me. But, after 8 weeks of swimming lessons, I was stripping down with the best of them.

I didn't think much about it, until a few months later, M. and I went swimming in Utah. I started to nonchalantly change into my swimsuit, and then froze. I was the only person in the room not waiting for a changing room and many moms looked disapproving. How dare I change in front of their impressionable daughter? Right then and there, I realized how grateful I was that I lived in Seattle. I love that M. sees other naked women. I think it is healthy for her to realize that women come in all shapes and all sizes. I think it will give her a better body image. 99% of the population look better with their clothes on, and I think girls imagine that other women's bodies look better than they actually do.

Probably, women in Utah are just trying to be modest but I would rather my daughter feel comfortable about her body.

What do you think?

I'm just going to say it.

I hate cutesy blog backgrounds. What constitutes a cutesy background, you ask? Well, here's a hint. If you found your background on "the Cutest blog on the block," it's cutesy. Or, if you have a picture of you and your spouse hugging and/or kissing behind block letters of your names, it's cutesy. I am well aware that I am in the minority on this one but that's just how I feel. You will never see holiday themed, overlapping shapes with coordinating margins on any of my blogs. and that's that.

Why I hate Subway.

I seriously hate Subway. It's not that the food is gross, it's that they pretend to have specific sandwiches you can order, when, in point of fact, they don't. They really just sell you types of meat. For example, I went to Subway and ordered their Chicken & Bacon Ranch Sub. Here is the description from the menu:

The fresh toasted SUBWAY® Chicken & Bacon Ranch sub is made with melted Monterey Cheddar cheese, all-white meat chicken breast strips, bacon strips, lettuce, tomato wheels, onions, green pepper strips, black olive slices, and ranch dressing.

Sounds good, right? But then the subway guy asks me, "What type of cheese I want". Um. . . doesn't it come with Monterey Cheddar cheese? Then, he asks me, "What vegetables I want?" Again, didn't the menu list the vegetables. and then the last straw . . . "what type of dressing do you want with that? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Why do you think I ordered the Chicken & Bacon RANCH sub??? It certainly wasn't because I hate ranch dressing. I ask you, WHAT IS THE POINT OF HAVING A MENU DESCRIPTION if you then make your customer spell out every stinkin' ingredient? I clearly ordered the Chicken & Bacon Ranch because it sounded good, and I shouldn't have to explain to the staff how to make the sandwich that is listed on the menu. Argh!

Quizno's, on the other hand, actually will make you the sandwich you ordered. Their menu has a purpose. And that, my friends, is why I prefer Quizno's over Subway.