Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford My rating: 4 of 5 stars I enjoyed this historical fiction novel about a dark period of American history- the Japanese Internment Camps during WWII. Henry Lee, of Chinese descent is lonely in the all-white elementary school his father forces him to go to. Keiko, a Japanese- American soon joins him, and they form a close friendship that develops into love. Keiko, along with thousands of other Americans of Japanese descent is forced to a Interment camp in Idaho (very near where I grew up. In fact, in my school were some descendants of those in the internment camp, and my Dad, a Doctor, had several patients of Japanese descent.) Henry vows to wait for her, but his resolve is thwarted by a fiercely loyal to China father. It's a sad - bitter- and sweet story. It goes from present (in the '80s) to past throughout the novel, so we see Henry grow up, and see him as a man in his 50's with a son of his own. I think the characters in the novel are memorable. I especially liked Sheldon and came to appreciate Mrs. Beatty. Jazz music play throughout the book as Henry and Keiko love the jazz music of the time and it becomes the musical background of the book. I really think this should be a movie. I can picture it; I can hear it- the jazz music playing. It needs to be done before all those who lived through WWII are gone, too. My parents would have loved it. Who do I talk to? View all my reviews

Out of the Best Books- Volume 2

Out of the Best Books: An Anthology of Literature, Volumes One - Five by Bruce Budge Clark Volume 2 I just finished Volume 2. This volume's theme is Love, Marriage, and Family. Each section explores through literature and art (this volume includes some beautiful paintings) character traits necessary for success in love in family. They include: Understanding, Refinement, Humilty, Courtesy, Diligence, Virtue, and Wisdom. See? See? Just reading the list makes you want to be a better person. As expressed in my review of Volume 1, it is impossible to adequately review a 350 page book, crammed with some of the greatest literature ever written. That is exasperated by the fact that it took me nine months to read it. Well, actually most of that time it was sitting in my book basket, begging to be read. But I will mention a few of my favorites: Understanding In this section, I liked a short story called "Sixteen" by Jessamyn West. It's the story of an immature girl's discovery that no matter our age, we are all the same. Refinement A sad, but revealing short story by Willa Cather, "The Sculptor's Funeral" contrasts the coarse townspeople and family with a sensitive, artistic young man, that is persecuted for his differences. Humility I loved, loved, loved a short story in this section, "Mother" by Kathleen Norris. A young woman from a large, poor family is now living in the city- eager to make something of her life. She becomes very interested in a young man; a fellow employee. While at home one weekend, visiting her family, the young man shows up. She is mortified for him to see where she came from, and is especially embarrassed by her overworked mother and her many younger siblings. As she tries to apologize to him at the end of the visit, he responds with a speech worth recording: "You know," continued John Tennison musingly, "in these days, when a woman thinks she is entitled to entirely ignore the question of children, if she feels that way, or at most to bring up one or two , just the one or two that the family income provides for luxuriously and easily, there's something magnificent in a woman like your mother, who, instead of one destiny, starts eight! Responsibility- that's what people are afraid of! But it seems to me there's no responsibility like that of decreeing that young lives simply shall not be. . . Miss Paget, after all, and it seems to me that woman who stands there, as your mother will, whith a forest of new lives about her, and a record like hers, will- will find she has a Friend at court!" Courtesy There were several good ones in this section, but I think my favorite was a little story by Ogden Nash, "The Evening Out." It's about a husband and wife going out for the evening, but the wife is SO concerned about her appearance that neither of them can have any fun. Diligence I liked a short story (Hmmm . .. I seem to prefer the short stories!) by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman, "The Revolt of Mother" (I also seem to like the "mother" stories!) Stop me if you've heard this one, because I've told the plot to several people, as it made such an impression on me. Set in "olden times" a couple and their two children have lived on a farm in an old, shabby home for many years. Though he promised his wife many years ago, he would build her a new home, he instead builds a beautiful new barn in her dream home spot. Rather than nagging and crying and complaining, she comes up with a plan: She arranges for him to be away for a couple of days- just enough time for she and her children to move into the barn and begin the conversion of it to her much-deserved dream home. He comes home to find it's all done and then and only then, realizes what it meant to his wife and humbly accepts. I just loved that she didn't nag or make life miserable. She just did what needed to be done. "Sarah Penn's success does not come from insisting on her rights. It comes from serving so unselfishly and consistenly that even her husband's work-hardened exterior is broken through." I also loved a collection of letters written by Abigail Adams to her husband John Adams included in this section. Abigail is one of my heroes. She and Barbara Bush are the only two women in history to have been both a wife and a mother of an American president. And finally, in the Wisdom section, was another short story by Anton Chekhov. His short stories are so memorable. I enjoyed "The Lament" in Volume 1 and "The Bet" in this one. In it, a young man and an older man make a bet that the younger man can stay in absolute solitary confinement for fifteen years. The older man will then pay the younger two million. It tells how he spends his time, and the lessons learned by both of the men. It has a startling ending. Okay, so there you have it. Now, on to Volume 3! View all my reviews

Prince Visit 2

Because Brian and Michelle flew in and out of Vegas, we got them at the first of their three week trip and then at the end. It was fun to have them here for a couple more days. We got lots of baby holding time,

And read stories from Grandma's vast collection.

We had a really fun time at one of our wonderful neighborhood parks.

This park has so many creative toys to play on. Everyone had a great time.

And in true Hinton tradition, Gabbi climbed the rock and "touched the sky."

I think Michelle and Brian had as much fun as Gabbi!

We watched "The Help" as they hadn't seen it yet. It's a well-done movie.

We played Marble Works. Gabbi LOVED that.

AND . . . Baby Jaron rolled over for the first time! He just got himself into a ball went from his back to his front. He was on a quilt in the kitchen, so he conked on the hardwood floor when he flipped. But later, he still tried again:

Thanks for the wonderful visits, Michelle and Brian! We love you!

Recording Artists

The Keynotes had fun the other day going to a recording studio to record our Christmas album. It's something Jennett in the group has wanted to do for a long time, so we saved our money from paid gigs and did it this week. The whole goal was that our children would have a nice recording of us- not just our unprofessional rehearsal recordings to remember us by. It turned out pretty well, too. There are a couple of songs I'd like to do over, but most of it sounds pretty good. Here are some pictures of our recording session:

Our wonderful accompanist, Marsha.

Me recording my solo

It was a little scary as we left the studio as we had to beat off the paparazzi- I guess word got out! Ha! Ha! Let me know if you want a copy!

New Years with the Princes

We, a bit spontaneously, drove up to SLC to spend New Year's with the Prince family. Michelle and Brian were still there (they are back here now for a few days) and Cynthia generously invited us. We had a fun New Year's Party. We danced Just Dance on the Wii:

And played games and had LOTS of delicious snacks

Even Baby Jaron stayed up for the festivities

See the clock in the background: What a great way to start the new year- holding a baby!

The midnight kiss (or almost)

Poor Matthew had to kiss Cassie, the dog:

New Year's morning, we had our traditional aebelskivers for breakfast:

After church, we enjoyed a delicious salmon New Years dinner:

It was a fun weekend- and so much better than spending the new year in our quiet empty nester house. Thank you, Princes!

Christmas Reunion- Part 1

We held our annual family reunion the week before Christmas! I know, crazy. . .but with Brian and Blake still in school, and working around other family schedules, it's what worked this year. I want to just start by thanking my wonderful family. They SACRIFICE to make it work; to get together. I appreciate their commitment. And the rewards were boundless! It was so fun to be together and share the Christmas spirit. I've broken this up into two posts. I've been downloading pictures for hours! Maybe I've put on too many . . . but what you don't see is all the wonderful pictures I didn't include. I hope it won't be too long. Okay, here we go . . . .

Shonna and Blake came first on Thursday. I picked them up at the airport in Vegas and we enjoyed Inn and Out Burgers on the way home. Thursday, Shonna and I did all the grocery and Costco shopping for the week, while Blake tended the kids. We got home in time for Blake's family to pick him up to take him to Arizona. Blake's wonderful grandma was dying, so they all went to bid her farewell (she actually passed away on Christmas day, so their holiday was marred by that.) He was gone until Sunday afternoon.

FRIDAY, DEC. 16th

Kristen and Jared flew in on Friday. Jared was sustained in his bishopric the week before, so he needed to be ordained a high priest. So, his father (who was in California on business) rerouted his flight to meet them in Vegas that evening. Ken drove down so that the two of them could ordain him in a Vegas hotel room. (I wonder if that's ever been done before?)

After enjoying dinner together, they drove up here late Friday night.

SATURDAY, DEC. 17th

Saturday was a pretty relaxed day. Ken and Jared went on the bird count. That evening, we attended the Hinton Family Party in Hurricane. Dave and Gerri just left on a mission, so this was kind of a farewell party for them, as well. It was fun to be together.

The kids meet exteneded family cousins and "run the halls" with them.

Michelle and Brian arrived late that night.

SUNDAY, DEC. 18th

Sunday was our ward's Christmas program. I appreciated Kristen singing in it and Shonna playing the flute on one of the numbers (she's really good!) Everyone else did a great job taking care of seven grandchildren under the age of six during the meeting!

A favorite activity all week was rearranging the nativities. Kids are SO drawn to those, especially baby Jesus. All week, we kept finding the baby Jesus in the laundry room sink. Then, one day, Caleb was crying, trying to get him back out, but he couldn't reach it. The next day, I found him throwing him in there. Why? We're not sure. The sink is one of those free-standing ones . . .maybe he thought it looked like a manger? Or maybe he thought the baby Jesus needed a bath?

Sunday evening, we went to the temple visitor's center to see the nativity and lights. All but Lily in this picture.

Caleb was mesmerized by the statue of Jesus:

The kids headed right for the temple and climbed the stairs to "touch" the temple.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 19th

Kristen had an idea in mind for a great craft, so the day started with getting a picture of all seven cousins together. Oh my! We got a taste of what picture taking was going to entail all week. . . . It takes an army . ..

We then got ready and went out to Walmart to do Sub For Santa shopping. I was aware of a family with seven children that we could help out. So we divided up the children, and took over Walmart. It was so fun.

After lunch, we did some random activities.

While I folded laundry, many joined on my bed to watch Wordworld.

Grandpa, Brielle (Kristen's) and Lily (Shonna's)

Grandpa helps Nathan (Kristen's) on with his shoes.

Feeding the ducks in the pond on the golf course by our house was a favorite activity all week. This is Jacob (Kristen's)

Monday afternoon, the kids all did crafts. Here, they are writing notes to go in a treasure chest for Grandpa and Grandma:

And mugs with their fingerprints for a Christmas gift for Grandpa and Grandma.

That evening was the reenactment of the nativity. It was a bit chaotic, but it was such a sweet little show. Jaron (Michelle's) was baby Jesus.

Joseph, Mary, and the baby.

A very handsome Mary and Joseph, I do believe.

Caleb (Shonna's) was our wiseman- shown here with his gift of a cupcake

And Jacob was our unruly sheep

Gabbi (Michelle's) was a shepherd, but had a hard time getting her little lamb to follow her!

The sheep visiting baby Jesus

The chaotic cast being instructed by Shonna

Here's most of them, with the sheep escaping.

We had some good laughs.

Each evening, the kids opened a book and we enjoyed a Christmas story together.

TUESDAY, DEC. 20th

We started the day with more fun crafts. Kristen and Jared got prints of those cousin pics we took yesterday and made ornaments with them with wreaths made from puzzle pieces. They turned out so cute.

And they made reindeer from traces of their hands and feet!

Brielle was in charge of costuming for the nativity on Monday, and was DELIGHTED to find this "Laura dress" in the dress up box. She has been reading the Little House series and loves Laura. So for the rest of the week (most of the time) she wore the dress and instructed us to call her Laura. Here, she's dancing in the dress. .

Pictures were scheduled for Tuesday afternoon, so baths and preparations went on all morning

Pictures. If you've ever tried to take pictures with little ones, you know what it was like! Crazy.

Brian chasing Nathan.

It took an army to evoke smiles. It was pretty funny.

I love this shot of the Daddy's tending their babies, trying to keep them warm and happy.

It was chilly, but a beautiful day.

We haven't got the pictures yet, but honestly, I like this one better than any of the professional ones of Ken and I.

There was lots of this, but we made it and got some nice pictures that I'll be posting sometime.

We came home and fed the kids and the kids opened matching Christmas jammies from Grandpa and Grandma. Here's Lily in her new jammies:

And baby Jaron in his:

The girls inspecting their new jammies

And the boys doing their inspection:

Another Christmas story:

Since tomorrow was to be our "pretend" Christmas, the stockings were hung by the chimney with care . . .in hopes that Grandpa and Grandma would fill them up!

(Please click "older posts" to read the rest of our reunion.)