A Review: The Lost Symbol

I don't usually post reviews of things on this here site. As much as I read, I should do it more often since it would give me more to talk about than just my kid. Oh, and my dog. Don't get me wrong, I am oh so sure that you all love nothing more than to read about our life...but well, I imagine most of you are getting bored, so I shall talk about a book I read on Thursday.

Okay, so I read about sixty pages Wednesday night. The rest I read on Thursday.

This book? I am sure you've heard of it, as it and its predecessors get a lot of hype.

Let me start by saying that I have read all of Dan Brown's books: Digital Fortress, Deception Point, Angels & Demons, The Da Vinci Code, and The Lost Symbol. The first two in the list are interesting and separate entities. The final three, however, have quite a few connections.

My favorite of the last three was Angels & Demons. This might be because it was the first that I read, but I think it has more to do with the fact that it is crammed full of information. Full to the brim and overflowing with everything from the manner in which a new Pope is chosen to all of the buildings with sacred and secular symbols in Rome, and the list goes on.

The Da Vinci Code felt a bit like a rehashing of some of the information in Angels & Demons, and honestly it read like a blockbuster movie, which is never really a good thing. Whether you agree with the story it tells or not, books are supposed to be better than the movie, not the same as or less than. I should admit here and now that I haven't seen the movie, but my point is that if a book reads like a blockbuster, then it isn't doing its job; it should be much more than that.

Anyway. Back to the latest novel, The Lost Symbol.

Freemasons are the group with all of the intrigue this go 'round, and symbols are the name of the game once again. As far as that part goes, like Angels & Demons, and the portions of The Da Vinci Code that are about the works of Da Vinci, etc., things are fine. You learn about buildings in D.C. and some of the history of the place, although you have to take it all with a grain of salt, as Mr. Brown is most certainly a fiction writer, not a historian.

Unfortunately, reading the book feels a bit like Déjà vu because of the ingredients. Insert [group surrounded in mystery] here, mix with [symbol] here, add a dash of professor turned super-duper-CIA-foiling (or other military super-group) hero, and bake for approximately 700 pages.

And don't forget the super intelligent girl about half-way through.

There were other things about the book that were a let-down. One was the fact that the identity of the villain is supposed to be a shocker at the end. Um, hello? Dan Brown? If I can figure out where you are going with that...oh, say the second time you talk about the villain (which was in the first little bit of the book), then you've got a major problem. I honestly don't see how anyone could not figure out who he really is. Then again, I guessed the puppet master in The Usual Suspects very close to the beginning of the movie (BU! can attest), so maybe I have super-powers.

You know, like Robert Langdon apparently has in the books. I know, I know: it is fiction and he is supposed to be able to evade, etc. It is also supposed to seem realistic, people. At least enough to pull the wool over your eyes.

Anyway. So the reveal at the end where we all are supposed to gasp about his identity was lost on me as I already knew who he was.

The most irritating thing about the book was the last bit where for quite a few pages we are lectured to regarding Dan Brown's version of the Freemason's beliefs. I mean, I can see where you're going with the conversation, so just get there already and save me the lecture.

One thing I believe will be most controversial about the book (once everyone gets past their obsession with figuring out if his Freemason information is true) is his inclusion of what he called Noetics. I have done no research on it and have no idea if it really exists, but according to Mr. Brown, it is the scientific study of the power of people's thoughts. This is then translated directly into the power of prayer, etc. Of course, he also ties it into things like astral projection and moving objects with your mind (How could he not, right? This is a conspiracy theory, man.), but overall the message is that the power of prayer works.

The reason (according to The Lost Symbol) it works is probably not everyone's cup of tea. He walks a very fine line on his...theological...information, and hoo boy can that be a doozy. Whether you agree with him or not is up to your personal beliefs, so I am going to leave that for you to decide...but it means you have to read the book.

Which I am guessing you can tell I am not so sure you should do.

Basically, he wrote another blockbuster. He even included things like i-phones and twitter to make it easy to get sponsors. I mean really.

Also? Mr. Brown should make things more difficult to figure out. Especially if it is at the end of the novel and therefore is supposed to be a big 'un. Aside from the identity of the bad guy, I also figured out the location of the secret...erm...secret...as soon as the final symbol puzzle was solved. Not even the protagonist did that. To which I say: "Um, really?"

Anyway. There's my review. If you just want something to read that will keep you busy for a day and you can get past the fact that he makes it too easy to figure out (and drags it out a bit, in my opinion), then go for it. Otherwise, read something else...

...preferably something that will not be in theaters any time soon.

A Look Back, Take One

Way back in June, we had a birthday party for Perpetual Motion. We decorated the dining area a bit and purchased some balloons and bubbles to give to those who attended.


Miss Thing was completely unaware of what was going on. She was a tad concerned that all of the people she usually saw at the playground were suddenly in her house, but no worries - they all began playing soon enough!


She received some rather nice gifts, including a Dr. Seuss book. She still won't really let me read it the whole way through as she is far too busy to sit for that, but she really enjoys the crazy cow that came with it. She can tell you that the cow goes "mooo"...and if you ask her what she says, well, "mooo" again.


All of her gifts are being put to good use and have been since her birthday, but this magnetic farm animal toy has just taken on a new meaning. The farm has two slots on it where you place the front end and back end of animals. You can make a match or not, and each has a song to go with it. Recently, we discovered that the front of our dishwasher is magnetic, even though it is stainless steel, so she races from the side of the fridge to the front of the dishwasher moving the animal halves back and forth.

Good times.

Also? Keeps her busy while I take care of things...for about a minute.

Kids: They certainly teach you how to make the most of very short periods of time.


I have a couple of other photos of Perpetual Motion opening her gifts, but in most of them she is fascinated by the paper. Oh, yes. The best gift of all...


...in fact, once she realized that the paper was off of a couple of gifts, that was all she wanted to play with, so I was going to open the gifts for her. Fortunately, one of her friends noticed her absence and immediately took advantage of the fact that it appeared as if whoever was sitting with me got to open presents. Too funny.


We had enough gifts that each of the kids who cared enough about it was able to open one. Good times ensued as everyone was then able to play with whatever we had received! The youngest kids played with paper and the older ones managed to break in the toys the right way.

We grilled hot dogs and hamburgers and then we had cake! Perpetual Motion had no clue what we were doing in the above photo.


She had experienced solid foods a bit, but nothing like this cake. We poked it, we grabbed it, we licked our fingers...


She soon discovered that the icing was indeed her favorite part and managed to get most of it off of the cake.


Very soon thereafter she was showing her exhaustion and the thumb took up residence in her mouth. Off to bed she went...after a good bath of course.


The following morning the leftover balloons were fading and she managed to get this one and play with it. Oh, how exciting and fun that was! She still loves balloons and points them out when we ride in the car or if we see them in a book.


Overall it was a very nice weekend and a good first birthday!

An Update

Why this photo:?


Because it is awesome, duh.

We've been traveling basically since the Thursday before Labor Day. Perpetual Motion and I have been on eight flights in a month. Thankfully, she only had one illness as a result. Granted, it consisted of fever and stinky diarrhea of the leaky diaper variety, but it only lasted a couple of days and since then she's been healthy (knock on wood). I, on the other hand, have had a cold that turned into a strange cough that has lasted over two weeks. I finally went to the doctor's office yesterday and now have some antibiotics. Hopefully they will do the job 'cause if not, then I don't even want to think about what in the world we will have to do to figure out what is going on.

So.

The above photo is from a playground in Virginia near Papa Jim's and Guga's house. You are looking at a plastic tunnel with a crazy child in it. Look, here's a hole. Let me put my face against it and chomp it!

Why not, right?


Miss Thing is slowly but surely turning into a child (as opposed to a baby). I think she would look even less like a baby if the hair would grow a little more. It is finally growing, however, so that is good.

She is way into wearing things these days. Mainly necklaces, bracelets, shoes, and hats. Anything can be a bracelet. One of her favorites is empty toilet paper rolls. Oh, yes, the height of fashion.

She knows that shoes go on her feet, but not quite how to accomplish it just yet, so that is a tad bit frustrating.

Also? Please. She says it. Repeatedly. Without fail if she needs/wants something. We are working on adding the thing she needs/wants to the request. Just for sanity's sake.


Rocket Man and I were lucky enough to be able to go to Brian's and Rebecca's (of Uri! Zone fame) wedding the first weekend of October. The ceremony was at a vineyard and outside and it was beautiful.

There was good food, great wine, and lots of internet people I "know" but I don't really know. Strangest part of being there. I can only imagine what a bloggers conference must be like.

I especially enjoyed the first dance of the couple and also our final seat for dinner. Originally, we were at the right table but at the wrong time, so we moved to allow the families to all sit together. This gave us a slightly elevated view of the place and room to be silly, as documented above. That photo? It is totally for Rocket Man's siblings, M and R-Shelly.

Briecca had frisbees ('cause who doesn't like frisbees?) made with their photo and wedding info on it as gifts for everyone who attended. They really are pretty cool and Perpetual Motion already enjoys using her feet to slide it all over the place. Obviously we need to work on her frisbee skillz.

As a tribute to Rebecca, and therefore Brian since hello, he loves her, I posed with the awesome gift and made a face. I can't tell you how many photos I've seen of Rebecca, and even of Brian, where they are posing crazy-like with funny faces. I thought it fitting.


They are an awesome couple who deserve every happiness and we were honored to have been invited.

Of course, right now they are in Hawaii and are posting photos to show us "how awesome it is where [we] aren't"...and that's kinda a slap in the face...but since Brian ended up with strep throat (How's that for an awesome wedding gift?) for the first week of his honeymoon, I guess I'll still wish them all the best.


The day after the wedding, Rocket Man and I traveled to a conference for his work. The above photo was taken in the city where the conference was held. Anyone know where that is? Perpetual Motion stayed behind with her Grammie and Pop-Pop and had so much fun she could hardly stand it.

I am thinking that holds true for the three of them.

We're home and I am working on some posts for November. Yeah, yeah. Hold the complaints. November is the goal, so deal with it.

If I have time, I'll try to post again this month.

I'm out.

12 of 12 August

Alternate Title: Shocker, I Know.

The rules for 12 of 12 are simple enough: 12 photos of your day on the twelfth of the month. The difficulty, at least for me, comes in actually taking the photos and/or managing to post them in a timely manner.

Shocker of all shockers, today I have succeeded.

Hence the alternate title.

Thanks to Chad Darnell for the idea and if you'd like to see others' 12 of 12 posts, head to his site for the list.

All photos were taken in Houston, Texas.


8:47 AM - Perpetual Motion, as the child is now called, made this mess in less than five minutes. The better to see the toys, muahaha.


8:49 AM - The two of them play best when I am not officially watching. Growls, squeals, scuffles and laughter lead to this photo. Sit, dogggie, I am snapping my finger at you, so sit!


9:34 AM - Why are we in the car so early? Rocket Man left his flash drive at home so we had to take it to him. At least she is finally in a forward-facing car seat. Hmmm...I think I like this view better.


11:02 AM - Library time! After some singing and reading, the toys and instruments come out. Shake, shake, shake Senora...


11:46 AM - I cut it up and she won't eat it. I hold the apple and she bites it, no dice: she spits it out. She holds it, and wa-la: the apple is swallowed. Mmm, crunchy.


4:09 PM - We are at the playground and this photo is awesome. It is now my desktop photo. I am so fly.


4:30 PM - Perpetual Motion really enjoys traversing the equipment at the playground. Today she insisted on taking her rake and shovel with her. Why? There's no telling...Take me to your leader.


6:00 PM - Dinner. Ready, aim, smoosh, slide, and into the mouth!


6:01 PM - Cooper enjoys hovering at dinner. He awaits morsels patiently, though usually in vain. So far we have been able to prevent feeding from the table. I am sure it is only a matter of time. Sit, doggy! I snap and you listen!


6:04 PM - Dinner is over, and while cleaning up I get her to do her latest trick: Blalah blalah blalah. Blalah blalah blalah.


6:27 PM - Bath time is over and we are ready to head upstairs. First, we need to read some books. Tonight that meant ripping them. Joy. How many books can I get out before I have to go to bed? One, two, one-hundred-ten!


7:37 PM - Now both children are in their beds. Ah, peace.

Thanks for stopping by!

An animal by any other name...

We've been a little busy this summer. This is our family photo from our trip to the beach.

In early June, we traveled to Virginia to visit Grammie, Pop-Pop and aunts and uncle. Perpetual Motion, formerly known as Little Miss Itty Bitty, was very occupied at their house - she investigated everything and everyone, including the cat.


One of her favorite...toys...up north was her...cousin...Zorro. He was very entertaining and allowed her to hold his ball and his bone. Oh how exciting it was.


One of her favorite things at Grammie's and Pop-Pop's place was the fountain on their porch. Water of any kind is fun, and this one never ended! Well, as long as you refill it after Zorro has a drink that is.


Our trip up north was a special one as we were celebrating Grammie's and Pop-Pop's 40th wedding anniversary. Man did they throw a party! Good food and lots of people to enjoy it. It was a very special time and we were very happy to be able to join in the fun.


About a month later we headed to the beach with my family. We had a bit of travel drama, a la Rocket Man, but I'll save that story for later. Let's just say that he won't be in charge of alarm clocks in the future.

Perpetual Motion really enjoyed the beach. Mostly the ocean appealed to her. She would walk to it and just keep walking and walking until it knocked her down. Towards the end of the week, she noticed the seashells and managed to grab two to keep.


This photo is the result of a long day of family photos, sand, ocean, and constantly being on the go. So lady-like, the way she sleeps, eh?


A few new developments have taken place since her birthday. She walks. Very quickly. She also finally has a car seat that faces forward. This is important mostly because it means that the air-conditioner in the car can finally have an effect on her. Previously she only ever got hot and sweaty in the car.


As is obvious, she really enjoyed playing in the car seat box as well as climbing in and out ad nauseum until we finally put it in the car.

We are also tackling the utensil use at the table:


It is hit or miss thus far.

Lastly, she talks. Most of what is said is, well, lacking in clarity, but definitely along the talking lines. Words that are very clear: eat, night-night, tree, leaves, ball, baby, diaper, bushes, yes/yeah, and dog/doggie.

That last one? It is shouted. "DOGGIE! DOGGIE! Htrieohgjksdnglsj", where Htrieohgjksdnglsj = There he is!

Thus far, all animals are dogs. The cat is a dog and squirrels are most definitely dogs as well. We've yet to see any others live, but I imagine she does not discriminate.

More to come, we hope.