29
Oct
2005

THE GRAND ESSENTIALS

There is a quote I’ve read that says: “the grand essentials of happiness are: something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.” Isn’t that a great philosophy when it comes to happiness? It works for me even when I’m only referring to BOOKS! 😀

I’m torn between the philosophy that anticipation is what keeps us going, and that having things on our to-do list is what keeps us going. Maybe it’s the anticipation of actually clearing everything off our to-do lists (all the different ones we keep, not just the ones that keep our households running) that keeps us going!

There’s a difference there…the things we look forward to vs. the things we need to get done.

I told my mom recently when she commented that I do too much that I can rest when I’m dead. I was only half-joking. Sometimes I wonder if that’s what drives me: the urge to do as much as I can now while I still have the capability. I’m aware that, while I have (hopefully) a lot of time left, it IS running out. I don’t want to waste any of it. But, just to clarify, I DON’T think that relaxing, or taking it easy, or even sleeping in, is WASTING it. I think it’s taking advantage of it.

In fact, a beautiful day of relaxation makes for a very happy lizardek. I slept in and woke at my own pace, which is what I think weekends are for. Anders and Karin were gone most of the day, to hockey practice (him), wall-climbing (her) and clothes-shopping (for her and Martin). I started what is promising to be an EXCELLENT book, in fact it is so good that I’m already a third of the way into it and expect to be up late reading: Ursula, Under, the debut novel by Ingrid Hill, whose author note contains the startling information that she’s a mother of twelve. *boggle*

After the other half of the family returned home, we decided to have a family night at the movies and found that the new Wallace & Gromit film was showing in Lund, in English, no less, so we booked tickets over the internet and set off.

TWO THUMBS UP from me! What a wonderful movie!! It’s completely amazing when you consider the whole thing is stop-motion claymation! I’ve always enjoyed Wallace & Gromit, and the other superb creations of Nick Park and the Aardman Animation team, but they’ve really outdone themselves with this magical movie that was 5 years in the making. According to IMDB, the film required 2.8 tons of Plasticine in 42 colors and 1000 baby-wipes per week to wipe it off animators’ fingers. 🙂 Anders thought it was a little too “Hollywood” with all the action, but I thought it was perfectly done, and a tribute to the definition of “entertainment.”

Tomorrow, another morning of relaxation for me (unprecedented! 2 days in a row!) as Anders and the kids are going canoeing with Martin’s Scout troop, so I will have plenty of time to bop around the house and get some things done, and gather costume ingredients for the Halloween Party in the afternoon.

Man! I love sleeping in! Nearly as much as I love my to-do lists. 🙂

Really Great Writing Out There Right Now: Sweet Salvation

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