The Zookeeper's Wife: A War Story

THE ZOOKEEPER’S WIFE: A WAR STORY: Diane Ackerman: W.W. Norton: Nonfiction: 368 pgs.

Jan and Antonina Zabinski are the keepers of the Warsaw Zoo in Poland before, during and after the German occupation. This history tells of their efforts to shelter escaping Jews in their villa and the zoo’s buildings, as well as their involvement in the Polish Resistance. Ackerman brings the Zoo and its occupants, both human and non, to life as they survive this harrowing period in history.

I love reading stories of World War II and those brave people who sacrificed so much to save friends, neighbors, and strangers from danger and death. This book clearly describes the extremes in human nature the Holocaust illuminated, the atrocious acts of the Nazis and the heroic acts of those who fought against them. I can highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an accurate, sincere, and inspiring story of courage, sacrifice, and love.

(I would like to add...that I did really like this book...but I did have a few little issues with how many animals they just let run around the house...on the dinner table....in their beds. I know I am not an animal person...but seriuosly!)

Hip Hop Update

Just because I thought I should update the world….I have no coordination or rhythm and I sincerely doubt 8 lessons will change that.  Here are the highlights from last night’s first class….

1.    I didn’t hit anyone or fall down…super big achievement!

2.    I could do the head turning…though when she wanted me to do some of the head scoopy things…..they proved more challenging and don’t even get me started on the body roll….how the heck do you do that?

There weren’t too many highlights….mostly I just tried to keep a straight face and not trip over my own feet….it was harder than it sounds.  I didn’t think anything would be harder than not giggling through a yoga class while someone says “center your energy on  a point behind your left incisor” while balancing on your right big toe and reaching toward the ceiling….but hip hop class seriously was!

 

Joe says I’ll be better next week and that he will help me “uncover my inner black person”…but we’ll see J

Validation

I love this video....I found it a few months ago and it just makes me smile!  Enjoy!!

For When You Get Bored

50 Most Beautiful Icon Sets Created in 2008

To help you personalize your desktop...or website or whatever…here’s some icons…and some are pretty cool. 

19 Cool Gadgets For Your Office

I love the #2 The Stealth Switch, #3 The Nappak, #5 Carpet Skates, and #14 Bright Blinds.  The rest are fun….but those are my favs.

"Get a Spine in '09"

Here is how I am going to “Get a Spine in ‘09”.  I am going to do a few things I have never done before….things that I might have been nervous to do in the past.  But I think it is a good year to break through some of those barriers.  So, here are my planned adventures:

Learn New Skills: I’m going to take at least two Community Education classes this year.  The plan now is to take ‘Beginning Hip Hop’ and ‘Archery’.  Thanks to Jenni for agreeing to go with me…I’d hate to try to learn hip hop without someone there to laugh at me…it would just be a waste of entertainment.

Go Skydiving:  I have ALWAYS wanted to go skydiving…and I’m going to do it this year.  I might have to do this one on my own….but I’m going to do it…probably this summer….I’m very excited!

Leave the Country:  That is right…I’m going to Canada!!  Despite the fact that been very near to the borders of the U.S. of A.  I’ve never ventured across.  But, I have my passport and I’m ready to really live on the edge…Victoria…here I come!

Complete a Sprint Triathlon:  I’ve been convinced to register for the Iron Woman Sprint Triathlon in May.  It’s my first, so I’m very excited for the whole thing...well, mostly.  Anyone who wants to join in on the fun….just let me know J!

Well, those are my big ones.  I did come really close to changing the theme to Michaelynn’s suggestion “Make him mine in ‘09” but…I have no ‘him’ and the whole thing seemed a little too predatory for my personality….but maybe I should become more predatory….hmmm….Maybe I should add something to my list… 

Happy New Year!! Part 2

So….have I ever mentioned how much I hate New Years?  I really hate it.  I don’t think I can remember a New Years were I didn’t get insanely depressed.  And here are my reasons for thinking this is the worst holiday/day of the year.

First of all…New Years Eve is always a big let down…maybe it’s the missing kiss…or maybe it’s the fact that we never get drunk….the drunk people in movies always seem to be having such a great time with their hats and noisemakers bottles of champagne….or maybe it’s just the missing kiss….

And then it’s just that the whole holiday requires a certain amount of retrospection and that always leaves me feeling incredibly overwhelmed.  My life just never looks so far from what I anticipated as it does on New Years.  Not that it isn’t great….I’m just not where I thought I’d be and then I start thinking about what I could have done differently….and I just get tired trying to find a single decision I would have changed…and I can never identify one….except maybe waiting so long to grow out my bangs….and maybe some of the things I wore in the ‘80’s…and maybe the ‘90’s, too….

And finally, I also feel a need, though I fight it desperately, to make some goals and resolutions…but even as I make them….I know I will keep on doing what I have been doing….I am such a creature of habit that I seldom make some of the good changes in my life that I should….I should be a better friend and sister, co-worker and ward member…there is so much I should do that I get tired, some more, just thinking about all the goals I should make….

Anyway, now that I’ve totally depressed anyone who reads this…Happy New Year!!  Tomorrow I will go to work and the new year will have started and this annual dip in my spirits will be in the past.  It’s going to be a great year….it always is.