I'm compiling a list of books/poems/short stories, etc. I have read that I think everyone should read. Of course there are many great books out there which I have yet to read, so if anyone has contributions, please comment (it'll give me good ideas of what to read next too). And as long as I keep reading and keep loving it, this list will grow, so please return.
Everyone Should Read This, According to Bonnie:
1. The Giver by Lois Lowry
2. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
3. The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
4. Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom
5. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
6. Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
7. Left To Tell by Immaculee Ilibagiza
8. Fire of the Covenant by Gerald N. Lund
9. A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute
10. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
11. Harry Potter (preferably all of them) by J.K. Rowling
12. Night by Elie Wiesel
13. 1984 by George Orwell
14. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
15. A Separate Peace by John Knowles
16. The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom
17. The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom
18. As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
19. Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson
20. Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse
21. Poem, "If" by Rudyard Kipling
22. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
23. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
24. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer
25. My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok
to be continued...
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Tubby Ruesdays
Going out to eat as a family is always an adventure. I can't imagine what it would have been like with all 8 of us, it's really quite chaotic enough with the youngest 4 (me, Kat, Kal, Ian).
During our Park City vaca we went to Ruby Tuesday's the night Dad got in. I don't think any of us had been before. Mainly because we kept forgetting the name. Between originally forgetting the name and the game which it led to, we came up with like 20 alternate names for this restaurant. I'll have to ask for some from my fam but some I remember are: "Ruby Friday's," "TGI Tuesdays," "Tubby Ruesdays," "Rubby Tummies," "Tooby Tuesdays," etc. Wow we're funny. And that was before the meal even began.
The meal in itself was pretty funny. I have this effect on my siblings where I can get them pretty wound up if we're in the right mood. We'll just say it's one of my parent's less favorite times, especially in a public venue. Like a restaurant for example, or a "Rudy Moosedays," for a better example. On this night, our moods were coinciding perfectly.
First of all, I didn't know we were going to go out to eat, so I had just barely downed my sister's leftover Cafe Rio and wasn't hungry. But I had a killer headache and lots of thirst so of course I got water. I wish I counted how many I drank. When it came to ordering, there was a little bit of drama (typisch). You see, Ian was very hungry so did not want something from the Kid's menu because it would not be enough. He's a man, so of course wanted the manly meaty meal: a mean platter of ribs. It's a lot, so there were some debates, but he eventually split it with Pop. They both had a little bit of ribs and potatoes, and Dad got the veggies. Sounds even to me! Meanwhile I drank my water...and Ian's...and snuck (sneaked) some of Katherine's...and sampled Kat and Ian's Lemonades...and drank more of my own waters which the waiter kindly kept filling for me, without passing judgment. Dad tried telling me how I could die from drinking too much - water, that is. But since I hardly drank anything all day I think I was still deficient. I don't remember if my headache went away.
Then Mom and Dad went to the Salad bar and the fun began. I'm hesitant to write this because if Dad reads it he'll know what went down. But we weren't loud, we were goofing off very secretively so I doubt the people in the booth next to us even fathomed that we might be rambunctious kids. But Ian, Kaleigh, Kat and I played telephone. It didn't originally occur to us that without a full circle it won't work as well, but we pulled it off in our own way. We told secrets about other customers. Just kidding we didn't do that of course. But I overheard that there was another Bonnie at the table next to ours, I never did figure out if it was the Mom or the little girl. And there was a pregnant lady and her friend who came in and the waiter was leading them to their table when they just sat down at another one. The waiter said, "Oh - would you prefer to sit there?" Haha well the ladies just thought they were being guided to that table....oops. I blamed it on her "pregnant brain." Those pregnant people sure are crack-ups.
This whole time, Kat, of all people, was telling us to behave. Really? I mean I'm sure it didn't look too out of place: Ian laying on the bench, claiming there was gum under the table, Kaleigh and her long gangly self trying to stoop down to also get a look. I was just sitting there innocently (maybe...I might have looked under the table) and Katherine was trying to pull Kaleigh and Ian up telling them to "behave," and while she was distracted I may or may not have stolen her lemonade. Oh I love my family so much! We're fun. But then Mom and Dad came back so we had to be good. They have that effect on us. Kaleigh insisted we were the favorite customers that night. I think she was right. We're fun AND we're cute. Our waiter was married anyway so I don't think he cares how cute we are (I promise I wasn't checking him out, I just noticed when he poured my water). Besides, he's not my type.
The guys that work at the Alpine slides though...that's another story ;)
During our Park City vaca we went to Ruby Tuesday's the night Dad got in. I don't think any of us had been before. Mainly because we kept forgetting the name. Between originally forgetting the name and the game which it led to, we came up with like 20 alternate names for this restaurant. I'll have to ask for some from my fam but some I remember are: "Ruby Friday's," "TGI Tuesdays," "Tubby Ruesdays," "Rubby Tummies," "Tooby Tuesdays," etc. Wow we're funny. And that was before the meal even began.
The meal in itself was pretty funny. I have this effect on my siblings where I can get them pretty wound up if we're in the right mood. We'll just say it's one of my parent's less favorite times, especially in a public venue. Like a restaurant for example, or a "Rudy Moosedays," for a better example. On this night, our moods were coinciding perfectly.
First of all, I didn't know we were going to go out to eat, so I had just barely downed my sister's leftover Cafe Rio and wasn't hungry. But I had a killer headache and lots of thirst so of course I got water. I wish I counted how many I drank. When it came to ordering, there was a little bit of drama (typisch). You see, Ian was very hungry so did not want something from the Kid's menu because it would not be enough. He's a man, so of course wanted the manly meaty meal: a mean platter of ribs. It's a lot, so there were some debates, but he eventually split it with Pop. They both had a little bit of ribs and potatoes, and Dad got the veggies. Sounds even to me! Meanwhile I drank my water...and Ian's...and snuck (sneaked) some of Katherine's...and sampled Kat and Ian's Lemonades...and drank more of my own waters which the waiter kindly kept filling for me, without passing judgment. Dad tried telling me how I could die from drinking too much - water, that is. But since I hardly drank anything all day I think I was still deficient. I don't remember if my headache went away.
Then Mom and Dad went to the Salad bar and the fun began. I'm hesitant to write this because if Dad reads it he'll know what went down. But we weren't loud, we were goofing off very secretively so I doubt the people in the booth next to us even fathomed that we might be rambunctious kids. But Ian, Kaleigh, Kat and I played telephone. It didn't originally occur to us that without a full circle it won't work as well, but we pulled it off in our own way. We told secrets about other customers. Just kidding we didn't do that of course. But I overheard that there was another Bonnie at the table next to ours, I never did figure out if it was the Mom or the little girl. And there was a pregnant lady and her friend who came in and the waiter was leading them to their table when they just sat down at another one. The waiter said, "Oh - would you prefer to sit there?" Haha well the ladies just thought they were being guided to that table....oops. I blamed it on her "pregnant brain." Those pregnant people sure are crack-ups.
This whole time, Kat, of all people, was telling us to behave. Really? I mean I'm sure it didn't look too out of place: Ian laying on the bench, claiming there was gum under the table, Kaleigh and her long gangly self trying to stoop down to also get a look. I was just sitting there innocently (maybe...I might have looked under the table) and Katherine was trying to pull Kaleigh and Ian up telling them to "behave," and while she was distracted I may or may not have stolen her lemonade. Oh I love my family so much! We're fun. But then Mom and Dad came back so we had to be good. They have that effect on us. Kaleigh insisted we were the favorite customers that night. I think she was right. We're fun AND we're cute. Our waiter was married anyway so I don't think he cares how cute we are (I promise I wasn't checking him out, I just noticed when he poured my water). Besides, he's not my type.
The guys that work at the Alpine slides though...that's another story ;)
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Park City
Woohoo an actual vacation to record! Well I guess camping counts. On Monday (June 1st) I went to Park City with my fam! Dad was still on a business trip but I went up with Mom, Mal (she helped make it feel more Kirkham-y by contributing to severely outnumbering the men), Kat, Kaleigh and Ian (our lone man for a few days). We basically went to Paradise Resort in Park City and had a very relaxing getaway! I kinda wish I was still there...
Here's the general breakdown:
Monday I went to work...then we drove up that afternoon. Park City is amazing. It probably bears the closest resemblance to Garmisch that I will ever find in Utah and I bet in Winter it's even more similar. The resort was beautiful with an indoor/outdoor pool, sauna, steam room, workout room, tennis/bball courts, spa, etc. You could just feel relaxed looking at the place...haha. When we first got there we didn't really feel like going to town or anything so we just chilled around the resort, mainly at the pool (which basically became my favorite spot for these few days...I have the sunburn to prove it). That evening we watched a movie...or two. Both of which I fell asleep in but woke up just in time for the ending.
The next morning I woke up just before 7. Not on purpose, mind you. I happen to have a family full of early birds. I don't know what these kids are thinking, it's summer!(None of the good TV shows are on that early so that can't be it...) But I guess they did just get out of school and aren't adjusted so I'll cut them some slack. Props to Mal though - she slept through everything. Nice work. So my mom and the sibs all went to work out, and Mal was still sleeping, so I read my book and slept a little more too. Reading does that to me.
When they came back and Mal was up we went and did a tour of the Olympic Park place (sorry, the official name seems to escape my memory). Our tour guide was interesting. She made me laugh. Maybe it was the sarcasm? But she seemed to get a kick out of telling us all the bad things that can happen with these dangerous sports. Trying to frighten the little ones.
The ski jumps. An 11-yr old holds the record on the biggest one.
Me and Mal, and Me and the sibs
After our tour we went through the museum. It was cool - stuff about skiiing, the Winter Olympics, etc. They had all these cute, fun games too - one was kind of broken and so when I played it, the ball started before the timer...so when I finished it looked like I had this amazing record time. So if anyone goes and plays the ski slope game with the ball, and the all-time record is 0.6 seconds, that was me. Unfortunately it's not from skill, but strangers don't know that :) I'm a legend.
Afterward we grabbed lunch at good ol' Cafe Rio and then returned to our little home. So of course, Mal and I went to the pool. We just lounged: reading, sleeping, chatting, loving the sunshine. Later that afternoon Mom, Mal, Kat and Kaleigh had to head back for various reasons so Ian and I got the place to ourselves (just for that night, they were coming back the next day -but without Mal, she decided one day with half the Kirkham's was enough...or maybe she had work. Or both).
So Ian and I went back to the pool (I told you I spent lots of time out there...maybe it's because of those high school boys... I'm most definitely kidding by the way. Gross).
But I just played with my bro and of course, read more. I'm reading "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini. He wrote "The Kite Runner," which I have yet to read. It's mainly about women in Afghanistan and just shows over three generations how women rights (and people's freedoms in general) have been repeatedly granted and taken away from them. But even if the law dictated one thing, much of what the woman could or couldn't do was determined by the man of the household. That's what I've gotten out of it anyway. It's good. Sad, but good.
After swimming Ian watched a movie and I read my book and watched some TV and just lounged. I got the massive bed alllll to myself. I love my life.
Next morning I slept in later than the day before and my Mom and sibs got back around 10 or something. So we went outside and played tennis. I wish I had a video. It would be highly entertaining. I'm terrible. It's really been years since I've played. But it was tons of fun, and this is a sport that is just embarrassing for me to play so now I'm determined to get good at it...well decent. I want some good rallies. After tennis I ran a little (I decided I want to do the 10K with Mal in July), then we went to the alpine slides. That was fun. On the ski lift ride up I was mainly concentrating on not losing my shoes...I eventually took them off.
Kat and Kaleigh on the zipline
Ian flipping like crazy. He's awesome
After dinner we went back to home sweet home and I went to the pool. Again. Those sweet little high school boys tried to get us to play tag. I think makeup-less I actually look their age. But I still told them I'm going to be the lame old one who is too tired and does not want to. And honestly I wanted to finish my book. Well it worked and they were able to round up my sis and bro. And one was pretty set on trying to get Kat out...he had a little crush on that girl, was following her around like a puppy dog. Cute. She said no too. We play hard to get. NOT - we're most definitely lazy. We watched a movie/read instead.
The next morning we just packed up and drove home, and I went straight to work. It was like I never left. It was kind of a bummer that Dad only got one day but all-in-all it was a much needed break and it was absolutely relaxing. I loved it and I think the fam would say the same!
Here's the general breakdown:
Monday I went to work...then we drove up that afternoon. Park City is amazing. It probably bears the closest resemblance to Garmisch that I will ever find in Utah and I bet in Winter it's even more similar. The resort was beautiful with an indoor/outdoor pool, sauna, steam room, workout room, tennis/bball courts, spa, etc. You could just feel relaxed looking at the place...haha. When we first got there we didn't really feel like going to town or anything so we just chilled around the resort, mainly at the pool (which basically became my favorite spot for these few days...I have the sunburn to prove it). That evening we watched a movie...or two. Both of which I fell asleep in but woke up just in time for the ending.
The next morning I woke up just before 7. Not on purpose, mind you. I happen to have a family full of early birds. I don't know what these kids are thinking, it's summer!(None of the good TV shows are on that early so that can't be it...) But I guess they did just get out of school and aren't adjusted so I'll cut them some slack. Props to Mal though - she slept through everything. Nice work. So my mom and the sibs all went to work out, and Mal was still sleeping, so I read my book and slept a little more too. Reading does that to me.
When they came back and Mal was up we went and did a tour of the Olympic Park place (sorry, the official name seems to escape my memory). Our tour guide was interesting. She made me laugh. Maybe it was the sarcasm? But she seemed to get a kick out of telling us all the bad things that can happen with these dangerous sports. Trying to frighten the little ones.
The ski jumps. An 11-yr old holds the record on the biggest one.
Me and Mal, and Me and the sibs
If you go to the museum you simply must take a photo here. The sign says so. Ian's expressions are my favorite. See the image below...
I don't think I could ask for a funnier little brother.
Afterward we grabbed lunch at good ol' Cafe Rio and then returned to our little home. So of course, Mal and I went to the pool. We just lounged: reading, sleeping, chatting, loving the sunshine. Later that afternoon Mom, Mal, Kat and Kaleigh had to head back for various reasons so Ian and I got the place to ourselves (just for that night, they were coming back the next day -but without Mal, she decided one day with half the Kirkham's was enough...or maybe she had work. Or both).
So Ian and I went back to the pool (I told you I spent lots of time out there...maybe it's because of those high school boys... I'm most definitely kidding by the way. Gross).
But I just played with my bro and of course, read more. I'm reading "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini. He wrote "The Kite Runner," which I have yet to read. It's mainly about women in Afghanistan and just shows over three generations how women rights (and people's freedoms in general) have been repeatedly granted and taken away from them. But even if the law dictated one thing, much of what the woman could or couldn't do was determined by the man of the household. That's what I've gotten out of it anyway. It's good. Sad, but good.
After swimming Ian watched a movie and I read my book and watched some TV and just lounged. I got the massive bed alllll to myself. I love my life.
Next morning I slept in later than the day before and my Mom and sibs got back around 10 or something. So we went outside and played tennis. I wish I had a video. It would be highly entertaining. I'm terrible. It's really been years since I've played. But it was tons of fun, and this is a sport that is just embarrassing for me to play so now I'm determined to get good at it...well decent. I want some good rallies. After tennis I ran a little (I decided I want to do the 10K with Mal in July), then we went to the alpine slides. That was fun. On the ski lift ride up I was mainly concentrating on not losing my shoes...I eventually took them off.
Alpine slides: I beat Ian. But I'm pretty sure it's because I'm like 50 pounds heavier than him.
Kat and Kaleigh on the zipline
Ian flipping like crazy. He's awesome
After, we got some ice cream and drove around Park City a little, then went back because Dad was coming home! Oh and I decided I love the blue houses with white trimming and if I ever get a beach house, those are the colors I want. Anyways I found out my Dad saw one of my friends who is on a mission in Hungary at church last Sunday! So that made me happy - small world. with our more complete fam (well still just half the kids) we went swimming and tackled the tennis courts once more. Which I am feeling today. Guess I just keep rediscovering muscles. Then we swam more and had dinner together. Dinner is a story in itself...which I may or may not tell.
The next morning we just packed up and drove home, and I went straight to work. It was like I never left. It was kind of a bummer that Dad only got one day but all-in-all it was a much needed break and it was absolutely relaxing. I loved it and I think the fam would say the same!
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