Well first of all, I haven’t mentioned American Idol at all this year. Part of the reason for that is because I didn’t watch a minute of it until a few weeks ago, and then one Friday night I blazed through about 15 episodes on the DVR. At the end of my mini-marathon I felt like Trent and La’Porsha would be the final two, but there was one particular performance that made me think Trent would eventually be the winner.

I didn’t really care for the song when it was on the radio last year, but Trent’s version? YES, PLEASE. So gorgeous. Such heartbreaking lyrics – and he sang them so beautifully.

I think he and La’Porsha both are gonna do big things. They’re crazy talented.

And while we’re talking about Idol, I’ll go ahead and mention that we thought the finale was awesome. It was so neat to see contestants from seasons past, and the music was great. Not to mention that Kelly Clarkson? Nine months pregnant? ROCKED IT.

I just kept thinking that when I was nine months pregnant, I wouldn’t have been able to get my breath long enough to sing for five minutes (I felt like I was pregnant from my throat to my knees), and I sure enough wouldn’t have been able to wedge my planks feet into some sassy booties.

Also: CARRIE UNDERWOOD.

The whole thing was fantastic. And while I didn’t watch AI quite as regularly this season as I have in the past, I thought it ended on a high note, oh please do pardon the pun.

So I guess that if AI was the highlight of the first part of last week (well, that and Alex’s lacrosse game – even though they lost), there were all sorts of highlights for the second half of the week. We had our field day at school on Thursday, and prom was Thursday night. My hometown high school didn’t have a prom, so I get the biggest kick out of going to ours, even if I just stay for 45 minutes to see all the dresses. This year I stayed for about an hour and a half because I could not stop running my mouth, but after I finally got home about 8:30, I had a nice little cry about my senior girls who are graduating. I won’t get into all of that now because I’m currently enjoying a tear-free evening, but OH MY WORD I WILL MISS THEM.

Friday morning I had a meeting and then went to work on the audio book for Home is Where My People Are (have I mentioned that on here? that I’m reading all three books for audio books?). I finished A Little Salty… a couple of weeks ago, and hopefully I’ll finish Home… in the next week or so. I am NOT fast at this whole process, and I’ve been surprised by how emotional it makes me. It has also made me wish that I could edit everything one more time, but that’s not really a shocker considering that I am a little bit of a compulsive editor.

Anyway, I think the plan is for all three versions to be ready around the time that Giddy Up, Eunice comes out (which is only a couple of months from now), and I’m really grateful that I’ve been able to record them. But if you’re wondering why there hasn’t been a new podcast in the last few weeks, that’s your answer. I have to drive downtown for recording, and since I’m working in small batches – an hour here, three hours there – it is a time-consuming deal. Plus, I’m trying to fit it in around all our regularly scheduled stuff, but hopefully Mel and I will have more cooperative schedules at some point in the next couple of weeks.

So that’s pretty much what’s been going on around here. Saturday I ran errands galore, a friend of Alex’s came over, and on a whim David, Alex, and I decided late in the afternoon to go to a spring festival in a nearby neighborhood. The weather was beautiful, and after we stopped by the grocery store to pick up supper, we came home and put on pajamas – at which point I settled in for the Mississippi State / Florida baseball game.

Now y’all know that I love me some college sports, and it’s always been pretty easy to stay caught up with football and basketball because of regional sports networks that broadcast a big chunk of the games. Baseball, however, has always been a different story, and there have been so many times when I have wanted to watch the Bulldogs play and have had to follow along via a message board or Twitter because most of the baseball games weren’t televised.

So that is why I can now say that the SEC Network has pretty much changed my whole life for the better as far as Mississippi State baseball is concerned. Even if our game isn’t the main one featured on TV, I can still watch on the computer / iPad, and OH SWEET MERCY IT DELIGHTS ME. So last night I watched us beat Florida (the #1 team in the nation, mind you) 10-4, and then this afternoon / evening we got to watch the Bulldogs win 2-1, and THANK YOU, SEC NETWORK, for the privilege. It has been so fun to watch and text with Sister / Daphne / Emma Kate through so many of the games, and while I realize that I am a total nerd about college sports, I have gotten the biggest kick out of being able to indulge my Bulldog baseball nerdery. It was huge for the ‘Dogs to take the series over the Gators, so next weekend in Starkville – vs. Melanie’s Aggies, no less – holds all sorts of promise (or potential heartache, but we will not entertain that notion at this time).

And if all that fun weren’t enough, today was Daniel Renstrom‘s first official Sunday as our church’s worship pastor. WE ARE SO THRILLED. It was the neatest thing to be led by him this morning, and then afterwards we got to have lunch at Chuy’s with some of our favorite friends.

Plus, I don’t know if I mentioned it, but State won the baseball series against Florida.

:-)

Spring is so good, y’all.

Real life is even better.

Hope your week is a great one!

I thought that I was going to be a little annoyed when the alarm went off at 5:15 this morning and I had to accept that real life was fully underway again, but I actually didn’t mind getting out of bed because I was so rested from spring break. Apparently six days of reading / watching The Newsroom / sleeping (at least) eight hours a night has some benefits.

IMAGINE THAT.

Anyway, some of you (and by “some,” I mean “at least two”) have asked about my reading list, so I thought I’d do a quick recap of what I’ve read / what I’m reading. I think it’s probably obvious that I’m in a significant non-fiction phase, so if you have any good fiction to recommend (especially fiction where children are unharmed / not kidnapped / safe and treasured), I’d love to know about it.

All righty. Here’s the list.

1) The Art of Memoir by Mary Karr

I love books about writing, especially Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott and On Writing by Stephen King. Given that, I was excited to finally get to read Mary Karr’s The Art of Memoir since I tend to write memoir-ish books. I highlighted a ton of passages in this book, especially the parts where Karr chronicles her own writing experiences. There are a few chapters where she devotes a significant amount of time to critiquing other writers’ memoir techniques, and I found those parts less interesting just because they reminded me a little of grad school and clearly I still have some lingering stress from my grad school experience (especially as it relates to Vladamir Nabokov, a writer held in the highest esteem by Karr). Even still, I know that I’ll read parts of this book again; Karr is a brilliant writer and so fun to read.

2) Lit by Mary Karr

So after I read The Art of Memoir, I immediately downloaded Lit, and I’m still reading it. There’s definitely an overarching tone of sadness (the book focuses on Karr’s battle with alcoholism), but there are also some hilarious moments, and I’m increasingly convinced that nobody writes a better simile than Mary Karr. So far I definitely like Lit better than The Liars’ Club, Karr’s first memoir that was hard for me to read because the subject matter was so heavy. I’ll also say that the pace and structure of Lit are a little fascinating to me; I’m kind of hyper-aware of those two elements when I read, and so far I really like how Karr handles both.

3) The Short Drop by Matthew Fitzsimmons

I read a chapter of this book back in the winter, and then I put it aside and told myself that I could start reading again after I finished my book. Well, that is exactly what I did. I tend to like a novel with any kind of CIA / government intrigue / secret and/or rogue government operation as a backdrop, and this one certainly delivers on that count. I was also interested in the mystery at the heart of this book. However, I felt like it got pretty dark about half-way through, and the dark never really let up for the rest of the book. So when the book was over, it just felt over – but I didn’t feel like anyone had really conquered anything / learned any big lessons / walked away better than they were before. Sorry if that’s a spoiler – I really don’t think it is – but ultimately there was something missing at the heart of this book (redemption, maybe?) that left me feeling hollow.

4) Looking for Lovely by Annie Downs

Reading Annie’s books is like having a conversation with a friend. I just started reading her newest book (it releases Tuesday 4/5), and I can honest-to-goodness hear her voice in every single sentence. I love that. Without spoiling the premise of the book, I will tell you that 1) in the nerdiest possible way, I am a fan of the way Annie has structured / organized the chapters 2) almost every woman alive will be able to relate to Annie’s stories and 3) you’re going to laugh and cry as you read. This book would be a great choice for a book club or a small group – lots to talk about, lots of ways to connect Annie’s experiences to our personal experiences. Just FYI. Yay, Annie!

5) Jesus Outside the Lines by Scott Sauls

I’ve mentioned this book before. I just don’t want you to forget about it. :-) IT IS FANTASTIC.

6) Why Not Me by Mindy Kaling

I finished this book a while ago, and I’ve been meaning to mention it ever since. Mindy Kaling makes me smile, primarily because she is hilarious. I loved her first book and was concerned that book two nmight be a let-down, but oh no it was not. So. If you liked her first book or Tina Fey’s book or Amy Pohler’s book, you’ll enjoy this one, too. Some of you who like to read Serious Things might want to keep in mind that this is not necessarily something you would read to strengthen your world view, but it’s light and funny and, in places, tender. I am such a fan of Mindy Kaling’s writing style (random-ish, stream-of-consciousness-ish, loaded with pop culture references, conversational, etc.).

7) Unoffendable by Brant Hansen

I bought this book last week because I felt like I needed it. This presidential election has brought out parts of my personality that I don’t really love – a side of me that is super-opinionated and very certain of my right-ness and way too judge-y. Without belaboring the (boring) point, I’ll just say that I’m tired of feeling angry about it all, and after seeing mention after mention about Unoffendable, I decided to read it. No joke: I was teary-eyed by page three because it hit me right where I’ve been living. And while I haven’t finished it yet, this book is challenging me and encouraging me. I am grateful for both of those things. Also, Brant Hansen is HILARIOUS (I used to read his blog posts back in the day and wish I could write like he does), and he brings lots of levity to what could be a super-earnest subject matter. Also, I’m pretty sure that I’m on track to highlight more passages in this book than any other in recent memory. It’s a keeper.

So. Those are all of my current book-related thoughts. Have y’all read anything good or memorable lately?

We went to the beach last Monday, and while I can’t really categorize last week’s beach weather as “warm,” not even the chilly winds could diminish our beach enthusiasm. Wednesday morning I actually sat in my beach chair while wearing a sweater, thankyouverymuch, and Alex pretty much made up his mind that the water still felt great even thought it was a “little” cold.

Anyway, we had a great time getting away for a few days, and since we’ve been in spring break mode this past week, it seems like a fine and appropriate time to share a few things I’ve been enjoying.

I mean, I’m not enjoying them at this very moment, of course. But in general, most definitely. Yes.

1) Chicagoans find unexpected home in MSU’S Left Field Lounge –

I love college baseball. I love people. I love when people make unexpected connections. I also love great writing, and Bob Carskadon is really good at that part. This article will make you smile (and if you’ve never been to a baseball game at Mississippi State, you totally should).

2) Carry On, San Vicente by Dave Barnes –

I’d only heard the first ten notes of this album before I was instantly transported to 1977 and my daddy’s green Gran Torino. It’s like the Eagles got together with Dan Fogelberg and Steely Dan and Styx and they made themselves a record. The melodies are classic (clearly with a strong 70’s vibe), the lyrics are compelling, and the Hudsons are listening like crazy. So fun.

3) Halogen Long Linen Blend Cardigan –

I adore a long, lightweight cardigan. Just today, in fact, I wore one to lunch because 1) it’s chilly-ish outside and 2) a long cardigan makes an otherwise boring ensemble (like today’s black t-shirt and boyfriend jeans) look way more pulled together.

Well, last week I ran across these long cardigans on Nordstrom.com, and I think the colors are so gorgeous. They come in regular sizes and plus sizes, too.

4) The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey

On the way home from the beach I finally got to listen to Jamie Golden on The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey. IT WAS DELIGHTFUL. The Jamies discuss a wide range of topics, including three of my personal favorites: TV shows, the Lord, and mascara. You can also find Jamie G. on The Popcast, her podcast with Knox McCoy, and on the Twitter, where she is one of my very favorite people to follow.

5) The Newsroom

A few weeks ago I was talking to my friend David (not my husband David, though certainly he is also my friend) about this current presidential election, and towards the end of our conversation, Friend David said, “You know what? You really need to watch The Newsroom.” Well, I finally watched the first episode while we were at the beach, and I was instantly hooked. The writing is great, and while I think season one is a little all over the place in terms of character development, I will say that the storylines held my interest all the way through. It’s an HBO show, so the language definitely errs on the side of colorful; consider yourself warned in that regard. If you liked Broadcast News, though, you will LOVE this show (it has definitely put me back in touch with the early-90s version of myself that really wanted to be Jane Craig).

If you have Amazon Prime (have we ever talked about Amazon Prime? I adore Amazon Prime.), you can watch all three seasons of The Newsroom for free. And I guess it’s the same if you subscribe to HBO.

6) OPI Sorry I’m Fizzy Today

This is my very favorite springtime pedicure polish, and we have been happily reunited over the last couple of weeks.

7) Old Navy Boyfriend Jeans in white

Last weekend Melanie and I had a long talk about white jeans for spring. I’d been looking for a pair of white boyfriend jeans – something I could cuff and wear with flat sandals or wedges – but everything I was seeing online looked a little tighter in the legs than is my preference. A couple of days later I got an email with a discount code from Old Navy, and after I’d clicked around a little bit, I was tickled to see that they had some white boyfriend jeans that didn’t look skin tight.

Well, I ordered a pair, and I really like them. To be clear, they’re Old Navy jeans, so they may bag out / stretch out a little quicker than other brands, but I think they’ll be perfectly fine for work. They come in regular sizes and plus sizes, and at only $30 or $35-ish dollars, they’re a deal. Even better is that the discount code SPRINGFUN is valid through tomorrow (Monday), and on the regular sizes that’ll get you an additional 40% off (don’t know why the code doesn’t seem to work with plus sizes). GET THEE SOME.

Hope y’all have a great week!

Well, it is finally (and most mercifully) spring break for us. It’s the latest spring break I can ever remember, and while I know I’ll love it when we go back to work / school and only have about seven weeks left until summertime, I may need a day or two to recover from how twitchy I’ve been the last couple of weeks. Personally I think it’s high time for me to devote a considerable amount of energy to staring at a large body of water. That’s usually a good cure for whatever ails me.

Last week Alex had a lacrosse game on Tuesday night, and then Wednesday night I washed All The Clothes in our new washing machine. You may remember that about a month ago we enjoyed some exciting adventures with a new dryer that would not in fact turn on, and its replacement was finally delivered and installed a couple of weeks. But while we were waiting on it, our washing machine started doing weird things. When the repairman came to look at it, he said that we needed a new control board and a new doohicky and a new thingamajig, but since the washing machine was still under warranty, the manufacturer opted to just replace it instead of fixing it. SO, we picked out a washing machine that matches our new dryer, and here’s to hoping that we’re done with replacing any of those things for a while. So far I really like them both, but I’ll like them even more if they turn out to be dependable. Dependable is such a good quality.

Then last Thursday, Friday, and Saturday I worked on recording the audio versions of A Little Salty to Cut the Sweet and Home is Where My People Are. I’m going to record the new book, too, but that’ll probably be a couple of weeks down the road. Anyway, I recorded A Little Salty… first, and since I haven’t read it in a long time, it was kind of neat and maybe a little bittersweet to walk back through those stories. It felt strangely full-circle since the book ends on Easter Sunday and I was recording it on Thursday and Friday before Easter – and we actually went to my hometown Easter Sunday. For some reason I was so, so nervous about reading, but the people who own the recording studio are actually from Mississippi, too, and they totally put me at ease about my accent and the fact that the “-ing” sound is hard for me.

I should finish up Home is Where… next week, and then we’ll get started on Giddy Up, Eunice. I think they’ll all be released about the same time as the new book, but I’ll keep you posted on specifics. The whole experience has been really fun and has also confirmed that there is no hope for this Southern accent of mine. I can try and try and try, but I will say “git” instead of “get” every single time.

Early Sunday morning we drove to Mississippi so we could celebrate Easter there. David and I ended up hanging out with Mama at home and watching First Baptist’s service on TV (Mama wasn’t feeling quite up to church that morning, though she perked up as the day went on), and Alex went to the church where we grew up with Daddy, who was teaching Sunday School, and Martha, who was greeting before the service. He had the best time getting to be with them there, and afterward we all went out to my cousin Paige’s for lunch. Paige and I planned the menu while I was sitting in the Publix parking lot Saturday afternoon, and I have to say: we got ‘er done, y’all. It’s nice to be able to do that for Mama and Chox considering that they’ve spent forty years planning and cooking for us, and it’s fun to cook for Martha just because she thinks every single dish is wonderful! perfectly wonderful! is this not wonderful?!?!?

We all had such a good time (that’s Paige’s son in the pictures with Alex, by the way).

Hopefully we have a good bit of quality time in store this week (along with no small amount of reading – I am SO EXCITED ABOUT THE READING). Hope y’all had a wonderful Easter – and if it happens to be your spring break this week, please know that we share in your joy.

Hallelujah. And also amen.

I didn’t really intend to take another week off from the blog, but Alex had four lacrosse games from Saturday to Saturday, plus a big birthday, and then in the middle of all the normal parts of our schedule, I got page proofs back for book three and had a pretty tight turnaround with those. I actually love me some page proofs – making all the final tweaks and changes but not really having to come up with any new words – so when I finally finished those, I just wanted to hang out with my people and watch some Mississippi State baseball. We played Vanderbilt (they’re the #2 team in the country) in Nashville this past weekend, and Friday night’s (and Saturday night’s) games were just delightful if you’re a Bulldog (WE WON!).

Saturday morning Alex had a lacrosse game, and afterwards we were eating at Chuy’s (AS WE DO) when I started thinking that I might want to meet my friend Daphne at State this afternoon. Our women’s basketball team was playing Michigan State for a spot in the Sweet 16, and since my people were going to be tied up with – you guessed it – lacrosse practice, D told me I should go if I wanted to go. I was on the fence-ish until we found out that our small group wasn’t meeting at church this AM, and at that point it seemed like a no-brainer.

So. This morning I drove to Starkville, enjoyed some fine worship time courtesy of Travis’ new album, met Daph, her brother, and her older son for brunch, then headed to the Hump for some basketball.

We had THE. BEST. TIME.

The game was so fun – with a crowd that was the absolute best kind of rowdy – and after who knows how many lead changes, the Dogs hung on and won 74-72.

I may be the tiniest bit hoarse.

After I got back to Birmingham I ran by the grocery store since I was unfamiliar with how to pack a lunch for Alex using air and tap water (and since I hadn’t pulled together a Shipt order earlier in the day), and after I got home and caught up with my people, I turned on the A&M / UNI 2nd round game so I could cheer for the Aggies while I wrote this blog post.

OH. MY. LANDS., y’all. I have never seen a game like that in my life. It was hands-down the most incredible comeback I have ever watched. And it resulted in a lot of ALL CAPS texting between Melanie and me.

There must be a lot of heartache on the Northern Iowa side – they played their hearts out – but I am thrilled for the Aggies. As far as I’m concerned it’s always a good thing for a team wearing maroon and white to be in the Sweet 16.

So, to sum up: lacrosse, baseball, women’s basketball, men’s basketball. That was pretty much the weekend.

And it sure was a good one.

Hope yours was, too!