Best Easter Ever (At Least in the Top Five)

I hope everyone had a great Easter. I sure did!

Because it is Easter, and because the service I went to this morning ended with the Hallelujah Chorus, I want to remind everyone of this awesome video.

Also, Best. Easter. Ever. Good family. Good pets. Good day. And of course, Good Jesus.

After church and Easter brunch, my sister and I were given the gift of two tickets to Target Field (from my parents who have season tickets and were kind enough to share and then watched the game at my house while dog-sitting. I think they loved it, actually.)

So, the Twins were in an Easter mood and there were many bunny ears to be had, which made for some really cute fan photos and moments, such as this cute message.

From Twins Baseball 2011

Ok, so for those who don't know, it is one of my new goals in life to be on the jumbotron at Target Field (the one above). I think it would be amazing. So, today I got a small taste of it. But only a small taste; it was like having one bite of dessert and having it taken away. Really only my arm and a tiny spec of my head could be seen in the background of the shot up on the big screen, but it was still cool and exciting. My sister and I are total dorks and were excited even to be basically unnoticeable specs. I will admit, I really only knew it was me because I knew the camera was there and could look for myself. But, it was like a taste of how awesome it could be some day. For that I was satisfied.

Even better, my sister and I got a picture with the Twins Easter Bunny. It was fabulous.

From Twins Baseball 2011

Before we got the shot with the other bunny, we got this shot, which I think is down-right hilarious.

From Twins Baseball 2011

P.S. For those who don't know, Baby Jesus is Joe Mauer's nickname. It's not an Easter joke or something.

So, after the awesome afternoon at the ball park, we enjoyed dinner with our parents. I was rather proud of my creative solution for using things around the house to make a festive centerpiece. A few pretty wine glasses that I don't use anymore, some glass pebble and votives- wallah!

From Drop Box

My mom even pitched in by sharing an Easter bunny. (Oh and I totally busted my dad with his hand in the proverbial cookie jar!).

From Drop Box

Happy Easter! Amidst my secular babble, I will say, "He is risen. He is risen indeed!" Happy Easter!

Lucy and Ball

Ok, so I gave Lucy this ball. It was actually a toy I bought for Henry a few years ago, but he never played with it. I think it was just too big for him. He likes his small little balls he can bat around. But, Lucy, on the other hand, loves it. This is just a 24-second video of what she was up to yesterday.

P.S. I love that suggested other videos based on this title are all about Lucille Ball!

Meet Lucy Rose!

So, today I brought home a six-week old puppy. She's absolutely adorable. I am already in love. Be ready, for those of you who read my blog, to get puppy updates-- and lots of them!

So, how did I get here? It's a bit spontaneous, but something I've thought about for a long time!

My sister sent me a text late Friday afternoon that a co-worker's brother had a puppies he was giving away for free to good homes. Erin texted me to see if I wanted one, not really sure if I'd even say yes, but she knew I'd been thinking about getting a dog a lot more seriously lately. Something clicked, I said, "Yes, absolutely, I want one!" So, yesterday we bought supplies and today we went and picked her up. (It was a bit haywire trying to arrange meeting the guy with the dogs, but we made it.) And tonight, I know have a new family member

As I said, I've wanted a dog for a long time, but never really felt like it was the right time. I also knew I really wanted a dog with at least some Labrador in it (I grew up with a beagle, then a yellow Labrador). And, somehow, this weekend, I found just that. My new puppy, Lucy Rose, is half Labrador and half golden retriever. And 100% adorable.

For those who may recognize a name resemblance, yes, Lucy Rose is named in honor of Maggie Rose, the yellow Labrador I grew up with who is now playing baseball in heaven with Grandpa and Uncle Maurice. In my mind, she's perfect. (But maybe that's because she has yet to pee in the house!)

I know puppies are a lot of work, and I'm excited to dedicate a lot of time to training her to be the best dog she can be. I am very excited. I've already learned the cycle of a puppy: sleep, play, eat, pee/poop, play, sleep, repeat!

As soon as I said I'm bring a puppy home, many asked about how my cat, Henry, would adapt. I'm sure he'll be fine, but right now, it's weird and new for him. He is slowly adjusting. I hope the two will become good friends. The best of friends. So far he hasn't swatted her nose, so I figure we're off to a good start! I say only half jokingly that I feel like I'm preparing myself for having kids and learning to bring a baby home from the hospital and helping their older sibling adapt!

So, fun and happy are my words of the day. I think Lucy Rose is just what the proverbial doctor ordered!

If you have a moment, enjoy a Lucy Rose slideshow with guest star Henry Thomas!

Easter is Coming

I just came across this again, as I was reading my friend Jenni's blog. I remember watching it a year ago and it took my breath away. It still does. Blessed Easter.

Book Review: In the Woods

Book: In the Woods

Author: Tana French

My rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Brief synopsis:

Quite simply, I couldn't put this book down. It was amazing. I love Tana French's writing and am immediately now reading her second book, The Likeness. I highly, highly recommend her for anyone who likes a good psychological thriller.

Here's an overview of the book:

As dusk approaches a small Dublin suburb in the summer of 1984, mothers begin to call their children home. But on this warm evening, three children do not return from the dark and silent woods. When the police arrive, they find only one of the children, gripping a tree trunk in terror, wearing blood-filled shoes, and unable to recall a single detail of the previous hours.

Twenty years later, the found boy, Rob Ryan, is a detective on the Dublin Murder Squad and keeps his past a secret. But when a twelve-year-old girl is found murdered in the same woods, he and Detective Cassie Maddox – his partner and closest friend – find themselves investigating a case with chilling links to that long-ago disappearance. Now, with only snippets of buried memories to guide him, Rob has the chance to unravel both the mystery of the case before him and that of his own shadowy past.

As I read the book which I could barely put down, I just grew closer and closer to the character, and loved them for all their flaws. Rob Ryan is innately flawed. He doesn't always treat people well. I don't think it's because he means to be rude or cruel, but because he just doesn't know any better. He's a bit self-absorbed and taking on a case like the one he and Cassie are assigned to only seems bring that out in him even more.

Cassie, on the other hand, is entirely loveable. She's tough, edgy and funny. I just liked her. She kept Rob in his place. But as much as she seemed like a hard-edged cop, she was also very, very real and very, very loving. But to that end, she won't put up with anyone's crap. She's the main character in The Likeness and I'm already enjoying getting to hear the story from her perspective.

I will say, as I mentioned before, the end does not wrap up in a neat little bow. That can be frustrating for some. While, I didn't love where all the characters ended up, I do appreciate where they ended up feels real. Sometimes life doesn't wrap up in a perfect bow. And by the book ending the way it does, there is opportunity to go back and revisit the characters in a new way. I hope French does this at some point. It would be fun to see where Rob goes from here.

Oh and because I love Tana French and want to be her friend, if you, like me, want know know more about her, visit her website.

Cat and Dolphins Playing Together

I came across this adorable video today. I share it because if my cat ever met a dolphin, I think he would do the exact same thing.

Book Review: The Forest of Hands and Teeth series

Book: The Forest of Hands and Teeth, The Dead Tossed Waves, The Dark and Hollow Places

Author: Carrie Ryan

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Brief Synopsis:

I just read the third book in Carrie Ryan's post-apocalyptic zombie series came out this March. I've read all three, and as I started this blog after reading the first two, this is going to be a brief three-in-one review.

I'll start with saying that I love this series. I think my friend and colleague, Kelsey, for introducing it to me. They're young adult books so they are quick reads. It took me a week to read the most recent, "The Dark and Hollow Places," but mostly because I was quite busy all week and trying to savor it a little.

Here's an overview of the three books.

"The Forest of Hands and Teeth"

In Mary's world, there are simple truths.

The Sisterhood always knows best.

The Guardians will protect and serve.

The Unconsecrated will never relent.

And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village. The fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth.

But slowly, Mary's truths are failing her. She's learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power. And, when the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness.

Now she must choose between her village and her future, between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded by so much death?

"The Dead-Tossed Waves"

Gabry lives a quiet life, secure in her town next to the sea and behind the Barrier. She's content to let her friends dream of the Dark City up the coast while she watches from the top of her lighthouse. Home is all she's ever known, and all she needs for happiness.

But life after the Return is never safe, and there are threats even the Barrier can't hold back.

Gabry's mother thought she left her secrets behind in the Forest of Hands and Teeth, but like the dead in their world, secrets don't stay buried. And now, Gabry's world is crumbling.

One night beyond the Barrier...

One boy Gabry's known forever and one veiled in mystery...

One reckless moment, and half of Gabry's generation is dead, the other half imprisoned.

Gabry knows only one thing: if she is to have any hope of a future, she must face the forest of her mother's past.

"The Dark and Hollow Places"

There are many things that Annah would like to forget: the look on her sister's face when she and Elias left her behind in the Forest of Hands and Teeth, her first glimpse of the horde as they found their way to the Dark City, the sear of the barbed wire that would scar her for life. But most of all, Annah would like to forget the morning Elias left her for the Recruiters.

Annah's world stopped that day and she's been waiting for him to come home ever since. Without him, her life doesn't feel much different from that of the dead that roam the wasted city around her. Then she meets Catcher and everything feels alive again.

Except, Catcher has his own secrets—dark, terrifying truths that link him to a past Annah's longed to forget, and to a future too deadly to consider. And now it's up to Annah—can she continue to live in a world drenched in the blood of the living? Or is death the only escape from the Return's destruction?

These books build on each other and should be read in order.

Throughout all three, of course, the teenage female lead character is heroic and each has a unique flaw (Mary is a bit of a martyr, Gabry is resentful of her mother's oddities and Annah wishes she was as beautiful and perfect as her sister.) Without understanding the women that came before them, each book will not make as much sense.

They also build on the dangers that the various women face. In each, they face the walking dead (though they have different names for them depending on where they are from). But the Unconsecrated, Mudo or plague rats (depending on the voice of the main character)-- in short, the zombies-- are not the only threat. There are dangers within each of their cities. There are those meant to protect who hide deep secrets.

In the end, all the women find themselves needing to escape where they are from. Where they are always holds dangers they need to flee from. They must face some form of an adventure, they must also face love and all its dangers and mostly, they must survive.

So, who might like these books?

Those who appreciate a fantasy books, seek a little romance in their novels (even if that romance comes in the sometimes naive first love, but hey, they are young adult books). And really, if you like zombies, you can't go too wrong. (That is if you're a girl that likes zombies. But I won't say that statement is universally true. My friend Jenni likes zombie books and didn't care for these. I think she's crazy.

If you give them a try, let me know. They're fun. I like them. I also really like the author. I follow her on Twitter, @carrieryan, and really enjoy her tweets. I feel like I want to be her friend. It's silly, I know, but I hope she writes a whole bunch more of these books and they become really popular. Or maybe not, so they are like a secret present for me and only those also cool enough to know how great she is.

Signs of Spring

Spring is finally around the corner. It's so near. I can hardly wait. I'm ready to get outside and plant flowers and enjoy warm, breezy walks. Spring is near. Yes, spring is finally near!

I feel like Minnesotans crave and appreciate spring in a way that our southern neighbors can't understand. It's our reward for again have survived the dead of winter, the below-zero temperatures, the snow, the ice, the scraping cars. It's a God-given gift that yes, we can again appreciate warm days, smmer clothes and summer food and drinks.

This year it is more true than ever. It's been a long, cold and very snowy winter. (Minnesota had nearly record-breaking snow fall, I think around roughly 60 total inches of snow this winter based on what I've found). Now with that said, I don't want to dwell the long, cold winter we are exiting. Instead I want to focus on the signs that spring is near. The signs that good days are ahead.

Sign 1: Summer beverages.

Sangria is just around the corner. Soon, I'll switch back to ice tea as my drink of choice. Lemonade will soon sound delicious again. To welcome in spring, I've already enjoyed margaritas and summer beer, Bud Light Lime (while I'm not a huge fan of regular Bud Light, I do love it with a touch of lime in it.)

Sign 2: Summer food.

Last night my mom, sister and I watched the Twins home opener, accompanied by a dinner of brats and pasta salad. Months of grilling are ahead. Ahh summer days. Ahh, summer food.

And speaking of the Twins, that leads me to sign 3...

Sign 3: Baseball.

Ahh, the American past time. I've already commented on how happy it makes me.

Sign 4: Open Windows

Today was the first day I could open a window. It was only in the mid-50s, but my cat was begging for a chance to sit in the window, so I gave in. (Of course, he's so spoiled, it doesn't take much for me to give in.) The little bit of, albeit cool, fresh air felt great after many months of cabin fever.

Sign 5: Flower buds.

I can already see my tulips and lily of the valley coming up. Soon there will be flowers! Soon there will be flowers! (The photo below was taken a few weeks ago. While there is still snow, there is significantly less now.)

Sign 6: Warm weather.

It's coming. I finally believe it's coming. Happy spring! Happy summer! Happy warm weather!

Museum Tour 2011: Museum 3: Minneapolis Institute of Arts Titian Exhibit

So, I have to start off by admitting, my goal is to go to one museum each month. And I'm two days late for March. Bad planning on my part. Oh well, I am counting my visit to the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, where I saw the special exhibit, "Titian and the Golden and Age of Venetian Painting" as my March museum stop. I also plan to visit a second museum later this month.

This month, my sister was my museum tour buddy. (Our wanting to go together and both having busy schedules is one of the reasons I missed my March deadline. I'm a little hung up on that, unnecessarily. Anyway...) We both loved the exhibit and would highly recommend it.

On the MIA's website, the exhibit is described as:

Catch this rare opportunity to see the cream of the Venetian paintings collection of the National Galleries of Scotland, here for the first time ever. Two ravishing pendants by Titian, Diana and Actaeon and Diana and Callisto, make this a must-see for painting lovers.

Acclaimed as the most poetic creations of the Italian Renaissance, these luminous sixteenth-century paintings are the two most significant works by Titian outside of Italy and Spain. Originally painted for King Philip II of Spain, they entered the Bridgewater/Sutherland collection at the end of the eighteenth century and have been on loan to the National Gallery since 1945.

The exhibition also includes Titian's famous Venus Rising From the Sea (formerly a Bridgewater picture) and masterpieces by Lorenzo Lotto, Jacopo Tintoretto, Jacopo Bassano, Paris Bordon, Giovanni Cariani, and Paolo Veronese. A companion exhibition, "Venice on Paper," will present a selection of stunning Venetian drawings by Venetian Renaissance masters.

While it is a small exhibit, I was overwhelmed as soon as I walked in the room. I learned a lot about Titian, and his Venetian roots. The exhibit of course featured several other Venetian

artists from the period, as well as some beautiful maps drawn of the city of Venice.

One thing I found really interesting was a map Titian drew of the city of Venice, which is considered to be history's first copyrighted work. (See below.)

I actually found a review of this exhibit from its tour at the High Museum in London online that gives a nice overview of what you'll find. The article describes Titian's work as a mix of humor, eroticism and mythology-- and its true, you'll find that in several of the paintings on display at the exhibit.

My favorite piece was a Madonna and child (below).

I did not pick this as my favorite because of the subject matter (I think we've all seen more than enough interpretations of the Madonna and child from Renaissance artists), but because of the bright, beautiful paint used. I love the way she is posed, too. The Madonna has slight gesture away from the saint who has a tear in his cloak (which shows a location of one of Christ's wounds). There is an unknown female saint in the background leaning near her, and two mysterious men in the background going about their work. This particular painting caught my attention more than any others I saw today. It was just beautiful and rich.

I'd really encourage anyone who appreciates art to see this exhibit. It goes through May 6, 2011 and is well worth the mere $8/ticket (non-member price).

Also, Art in Bloom starts later in April. While I don't plan to count a second visit to the MIA among my tour, I may come back the weekend of April 28-May 1 to see this exhibit. I went last year and it was beautiful and well worth the visit.

For those who aren't familiar, Art in Bloom features fresh floral arrangements placed throughout the museum that are meant to be an interpretation of the piece that they are arranged near. According to the MIA's website, more than 150 floral artists will be featured. It's a great event and a fun and interesting way to look at art and think spring! Again, highly recommended!

As a final note, I also checked into the MIA today on Four Square and earned a badge. I'm not an avid Four Square user so I'm up to a solid two badges. (Woot!) But thanks to the History Channel, I can now proudly say I have a "historian badge. " I guess this museum tour idea is worth something!