Breakfast with Buddha

This is a novel, but it reads like a self-help book. It's the journey of this 40-something man, who must make a long road trip with a guru following the death of both his parents. He leaves his wife and kids at home, and drives from NY to North Dakota and has a spiritual awakening along the way.

Kind of.

That's what's best about the book. He's on a literal journey in the car and a spiritual journey as well. Like most spiritual journeys, it's not over after the literal destination is reached. Spoiler alert: at the close of the novel, he has made some discoveries, but still full of questions. Isn't that how spiritual journeys are? Anytime someone claims to have it all spiritually/religiously figured out, I know they are full of crap. You know all about God's plan for the universe? Really?

Here are some parts of the book I liked:
Before he meets the guru, he was feeling low and confused about his role in the universe,
"Not free of family obligations, exactly- I loved being part of a family- but with fewer of the responsibilities of American middle-class suburban life. Fewer of the particular concerns and duties that are payment for the safest, richest, easiest lifestyle in human history." (p. 15)
Right? This is reminiscent of my last book post where the narrator realizes that she had lived most of her life without many real worries. I am continually trying to remind myself that I have very few worries also enjoying the safest, richest, easiest lifestyle.

The guru tried to explain meditation to the narrator:
"You want A-B-C like the alphabet, and two plus two make four. But you are asking about something so far past ordinary human thinking mind. How can I put those two things in an answer?" (p. 200)

The narrator spends a lot of time in the book defending his Anglo lifestyle and questioning the guru and his meditation. I like this example of what mediation feels like- it reminded me a lot of some passages in "Eat, Pray, Love."
"-then your mind clears like clear, clear water... you have a small waking-up... and after many small waking-ups we being to see the world the way Jesus sees it... That is the 'kingdom of heaven'."

It was ok. I'm not going to re-gift it as it was not amazing, but it is another example of why I love being in a book club. I would never have picked this book on my own, but I enjoyed reading it.

Helen of Pasadena

Man, I loved this book. You'll be lucky if it's you I choose to re-gift it. Dolan is a Pasadena resident and chose her town as the setting for this charming novel. The Q & A at the end of the book reveled she has plans for a trilogy- yeah! Never heard of her of the book? Me either, but the daughter of a book club member who works at Barnes and Noble in Pasadena found it on a "local authors" table. At Barnes and Noble! Who knew such a table still existed?

Basically it's a coming of age story for a woman in her 40's who has some really terrible things happen in her life and how she deals with them in the particular sub-culture of Pasadena.

In the past few years, I have really been trying to be more positive and grateful hoping it will make me more graceful. Noticed? Maybe not. It's a journey. I'm not there yet. Probably never will be, as I think it is against my nature. I have read little snippets in my silly ladies magazines that say you can train yourself to be positive even if you are negative. Reading books like these helps. I liked this part about worrying- something I am prone to do...

"Back then, I really had nothing to worry about.
I'd always suspected that my life was pretty stress-free, but now I knew for sure I had a good thing going. I used to actually worry about whether I was happy... What a luxury to worry about happiness." (Dolan, 83)

Right? I have nothing to worry about. I am writing this post on a computer in my cozy home, my healthy child is watching an educational program on digital cable, my healthy husband is going to make a surf and turf dinner for us and our friends. I will fall asleep in comfortable bed; I will wake up and go to a manageable job with decent pay and great health care.

I have a good thing going too.

Halloween

We spent Halloween night with our good friends in their lovely neighborhood. Milo and his buddy did a great job of running up to the doors, shouting, "Trick or Treat Happy Halloween!" and then a "Thank You" shout as they dashed away.

Stella was a parrot for Julian's pirate. Look at these guys; this is how these daddies wanted to rock trick or treating with fat stogies. It was ridiculous. I was just grateful Milo was so distracted by getting as much candy as he could that he didn't ask why Daddy was smoking. *sigh*

Trick or Treat

Auntie Kelly thought Murphy would make an adorable banana. He does! He did a great job posing for these pictures, but then he wanted to peel out of that thing!

Lyman and Milo carved this year's pumpkin together. I love that it is becoming a father/son tradition.
The day before Halloween, we went with friends to Boo at the Zoo. It was crazy and crowded, but a lot of fun. There was more candy, more pumpkins and lovely sunny, breezy weather.

Pumpkin Pinata

Our kids are getting pretty old for pinatas. They are so big and strong, we had to limit swings so all kids had a chance to hit it before it busted. We don't have a yard, so this is a special treat when we go to other parties.

Painted Bedroom

Here is the finished bedroom. I love this cool, restful color. Thanks April for the advice! That big blank wall will someday have L's guitars and basses hanging to save the floorspace.