I’m entirely digital now.

I HAVEN’T been turned into a hologram image, if that’s what you were thinking…

But all my books are digital. That is, the ones that I buy. I’m still a huge library patron.

But anytime a book is SO good that I need it in my forever, ever personal library: I buy a digital copy. Same thing with movies.

Things I like about digital books:

- they have the potential to be interactive, with illustrations, animations, music, sound effects, and olfactory stimulation. Okay, so the olfactory stimulation isn’t possible yet. But it’s coming soon.

- It’s better on the environment. Even though it still takes a lot of energy to make digital copies, after all, email and internet info and all that still has to be stored somewhere, it still isn’t taking up such a precious commodity as a tree. And while I don’t disagree with using paper, I’d still prefer not to if I don’t have to. I’d much rather use trees to make more important items–like toilet paper.

Of course, this also makes it dangerous. It’s so easy to click the BUY WITH ONE CLICK button. So Easy! Why you make it so easy Amazon? Don’t you know I have to spend my money on food and heating and such?!

- You can check out the first few chapters, and see if you like a book before purchasing it.

- You can leave notes and bookmark sections, without forever scarring the page (I hate writing in books, it freaks me out).

- Your kids can’t tear out pages.

- Your kids can’t color on the pages.

AND, the finale:

- - It’s convenient. Say I read a recommendation for a book. I want that book. I go on my Amazon.com app or iTunes store and buy the book. It’s on my phone or iPad. It takes less than a minute (if the internet’s fast) for me to want a book and then buy it.

However, there is one reason why I’ll always love paper books. One reason. It’s the feeling of the pages in your right hand getting smaller and smaller, thinner and thinner, until you turn the very last page and close the book with a ‘snap.’

iPads can never rival that.

Cast of RED DAWN 1984 version

First there was Hunger Games, and now Red Dawn. Seems like it’s a good year to show kids in war. Now I love a good, rollicking adventure story. It’s my favorite type. A lot of people have been bothered to see teens with grenades but that doesn’t really bother me. Teens have been in wars since the beginning of war–when the first boy got jealous of the attention the another boy was getting. War is always started because of jealousy, right? I think so. Either that or fried chicken, I can’t remember which. Anyways, strapping young men have always served on the front lines. It’s a story that needs telling and I don’t mind the violence.

But can we add a little humor, please? I don’t care if it’s slapstick, knee-jerk, ironic, witty banter, or what–can we add at least one character who isn’t so darn grim? When there’s humor, there’s hope.

The Red Dawn 1984 version is pretty psycho. Like Hunger Games. Anytime someone’s willing to kill their friend or ally over war I have to stop trusting them, and stop rooting for them. I don’t like those stories. They’re good and possibly great–but I don’t like them.

I loved a Red Dawn remake from Australia called Tomorrow When the War Began. In it the teens actually deal with the fact they’re ending someone else’s life … even if it’s just in self-defense. And I really appreciated the fact that the film spend at least 25 minutes of character development before anything bad happened to them … because then I cared about what happened to them. It’s a solid, entertaining film and I think it’s a well done kid-meets-war story. And it has humorous characters in it.

But if there’s any movie that handles kids meeting violence well it’s THE WAR. Holy moley mop buckets! Elijah Wood, Kevin Costner, and it deals with violence, race, war, hurt, and love in a profound way.

Have you seen any good media that deals with kids in war?

We’ve been renters our whole married life, for about six years.

We’ve lived in closets and old ramshackle houses that had probably not been approved by the fire marshall. And definitely not approved of by my mother.

But now we’re buying a house! We have enough credit (whatever that is) in the world that a bank actually trusts us for up to 120,00 buckeroos! I feel so adult now that I’m in debt. Or maybe just like a dolt.

Either way, there are some things I’ll never miss about renting and things that I’ll miss a lot.

Pros of Renting:

- When something breaks, you can call maintenance and they’ll come over within 12-14 business days and fix it but not really. BUT at least you don’t have to pay for the parts. Unless it’s the blinds.

- You can bribe the maintenance men with cookies and brownies and jalapeño poppers so that they come to your house first. It works, and is well worth it.

With a house, there are no maintenance men to bribe, only Michael. And he takes cookies and jalapeño poppers whether he’s fixed the toilet seat or not. I’m going to have to figure out a new method of bribery.

- Just because there’s a stain on the carpet, it doesn’t mean it’s yours. With a house, all the stains on the carpet are your fault.

- You’re surrounded by people 24/7. The nosy ones know all about you. The sweet ones ask all about you. And the good ones never ask anything about you. You know things about each other that could be blackmail in a high-school horror movie. And most people treat you with a kind of tentative friendliness. Or pretend you aren’t there.

- The stairs. Stairs are good exercise.

- It’s so small you can vacuum the whole house without change electrical outlets.

- It’s so small it only takes 1 hr to deep clean it and 3 hrs to Spring clean in.

Cons of Renting:

- When something breaks, you call maintenance and they won’t come over for another 12-14 business days. And then they’ll fix it, but not really. However, they can be bribed with baked goods.

- The squeaking mattress you hear in the dead of night isn’t yours.

- Hauling groceries from car to apartment. Too much exercise is bad for you.

- You have to walk all the way to the Office to hand over rent money. Walking is good for you, but sheesh, it hurts like the dickens to not only give over more than half your paycheck, but to walk it there yourself.

- The panties and used rubber outside your doorstep isn’t yours.

- You have to sweep off your porch every morning before the kids wake up.

- Anytime your child throws a screaming fit you have to call out the window, “I’m not even touching them.”

- When someone cooks something that smells exceptionally awesome, your dinner tastes lame.

Do you own or rent?

What’s your apartment pet peeve? 

Walked in the trails behind the house. I know them better than my left hand.

Smelled these

Found this. It’s Old Jonas’ House. Currently, a family of raccoons resides in it. But they’re messy folks and I expect them to be evicted soon. If you’re interested in the location . . . just call.

Dam

Stole a few berries from Mother Nature

Went Cycling

Saw some art exhibits (this one is called “Family rides Dragon”)

Saw yo mama the llama at the Zoo. Watch out, they spit.

Drank Coffee

Cooked Birthday breakfasts

Cooked Birthday suppers

Fed my kid

Fed him some more.

Cleaned my kid. About every ten minutes.

Kept my kid from falling off dangerous precipices. About every 10 minutes.

Got new piercings

Taught my kids amazing new skills. Like this.

And this.

Went to a circus.

Ran the Warrior Dash over death-defying obstacles. Fire was involved. And running.

Met my new, little niece, Valentine Greer. She’s awesome.

Bubble Tea.

Saved a bird. Actually, I watched as my brother saved a bird. I like to think the bird uses his second chance at life to improve the lives of birds everywhere, and improves man/bird relations. 

S’mores.

And . . . I got a new job, finished writing a book, read tons of books, and met the amazing Piper Bayard and Jennifer Joseph.

Can a girl ask for more? I think not.

What did you do last summer?