How good is your laundry detergent?

There's not much nicer than the lovely heat from a wood-burning stove on a cold winter day, right? To this end, Russ has decided to take the oldest 2 kids this week and go wood cutting on Smith's Mesa. The wood that's available to cut are some trees that were burned in a fire a few years back. As the fire moved through quickly, the trees were really only burned on the outside, and they still make great firewood. Plus, they're free (which is one of our favorite words in the whole world.) The only real problem is how filthy handling this wood makes a worker. Check out these photos of Aubrey and Russ after a morning hauling wood. It makes me cringe just to look at them. I'm sure glad I don't have to do the laundry by hand.

No more music

The service I was using to put the music player on my blog changed their policy, and they now have ads about every 3 songs. I'm not sure when this happened, because I haven't blogged in about a month, but if you ever were here and had to listen to commercials int eh music, I'm so sorry. I HATE commercials and ads that appear when you don't choose to watch them, like at the beginning of videos on Youtube and Failblog, or in the middle of the news article you are reading. I know that companies have to make money, but they didn't have ads for the first 2 years I used them. Why now? If the ads had been there from the beginning I wouldn't mind so much. Or if they let you know they are changing their policy. But when they just start throwing ads around without warning, I feel offended. I try my hardest to keep that stuff out of my life. I don't let the kids watch too much commercial television (we usually watch dvds - and skip the previews), I don't subscribe to magazines. I even try to put name brand stuff in generic containers in my house, trying to avoid the brand-name recognition and influence at least a little bit. (See this article about the effects of advertising on children.) So when I was working on my blog and enjoying the music and heard the commercial for McDonald's, I got mad. I removed the player and emailed the company telling me how disappointed I was. I'll be looking for a player that doesn't have embedded ads. Or maybe I won't. That music I chose mostly for me to listen to while I was working on posts. I have tunes on the computer. Perhaps I'll just let a little peace and quiet reign here on Simple and Small.

What I've been reading

Yeah, I've spent a lot of time reading this summer. I just love it. I keep thinking I need to get to work on other projects, but I have a list I just can't seem to take a break from. It helps a lot that all of my kids are old enough now to keep themselves occupied. Usually by reading as well. Cool! I went through many years in reading Siberia (due to little children needing constant attention) and now I'm really enjoying being back. So, here's the list:

• I Am Not a Serial Killer, Mr. Monster, and I Don't Want to Kill You, by Dan Wells. I saw this series on the Whitney Awards. Mr. Monster won the 2010 Whitney Award for best novel. I started the series expecting a psychological thriller, but then it morphed into a fantasy thriller. I was confused (probably my own fault) but I finished the book, and the series, and quite enjoyed them. The books are about a young man who has antisocial personality disorder, a condition associated with psychopathy and serial killers. He is obsessed with killing, and causing pain. However, his logical mind knows this is wrong, and although he has no empathy for others' emotions, he doesn't want to do what is wrong. He is at war with himself. Then, into his small-town world comes an actual serial killer. I enjoyed the books, and could see the author grow as each book progressed. I think the second book, Mr. Monster, was the best of the three, but I look forward to the next installment. (On a side note, I loved Mr. Wells' dedication in the first novel. It read, "For Rob, who gave me the best incentive a little brother can give. He got published first." Classic.)
• Escape from Rwanda, by John Bizimana. This is a story of this man's escape from the slaughter in Rwanda, when he was a child. John was very lucky, in that his mother was alive and was able to accompany him and his siblings, that she was able to bring some valuables with them, that they had friends to go to in neighboring countries, and that they had family in Europe and the US to get the children out of Africa after their mother passed away. It's hard to believe how harrowing the story is, even with all that "luck." The story of humanity in general is so filled with contradictions - people risk their lives to save other people who are fleeing still other people intent on killing them. How can people be so wonderful and yet so horrible? It frightens me that we all have the potential for either within us, depending on the circumstances. In addition to his physical circumstances, the book discusses John's emotional reaction to the upheavals in his life until he found the LDS church, which gave him a solid foundation of moral belief and social support that helps him along with his life. All in all, an uplifting book about overcoming the challenges of our lives and finding God.
• The Captive, by Victoria Holt. I've been trying to find books for Aubrey to read,a s she devours books as quickly as I do. I remembered I used to love Victoria Holt as a teen, so I found one at the D.I. for Aubrey. Who doesn't love a good Gothic romance? I know I do. Victoria Holt, under several pen names, produced nearly 200 novels, and so if Aubrey enjoys them, she'll have plenty of reading material for a good while. (Reading material that doesn't have anything to do with vampires.) Well, of course, I had to read it first, for old times sake, and I enjoyed it. A quick, light read just for fun. Nice.
• As I was in a nostalgic mood from the Victoria Holt, when I saw a copy of Tarzan of the Apes, by Edgar Rice Burroughs, at the library, I felt I had to re-acquaint myself with it as well. I remember reading several of the Tarzan novels by Burroughs as a young teen and finding them quite thrilling. This newer edition (2008) has an introduction by Gore Vidal and an afterword by Michael Meyer. My heart thrilled to the fond memories of action and adventure, while at the same time my mind cringed at the blatant coincidence, anthropomorphism, and sticky Victorian stereotypes. I loved the bulging-muscle, bodice-heaving fun of the jungle, but I had forgotten the truly terrible finish to the novel. No wonder the movies kept changing the ending. All in all, a fun trip into the past. But I don't think I'll re-read any of the sequels.
• The Healing Spell, by Kimberley Griffiths Little. This book, another find from the Whitney Awards, is a juvenile fiction book about a young girl, Livie, growing up in the bayou. Her mother is injured and in a coma, but is brought home by Livie's father to recover surrounded by family. What a sweet book about the struggle to go from childish fear and guilt to more mature responsibility and acceptance. At it's core it's a book about love, with it's many challenges and frustrations, as well as it's comforts and rewards. I enjoyed this novel, and highly recommend it.
• Wolves, Boys, and Other Things That Might Kill Me, by Kristen Chandler. A novel aimed at teens, this story follows KJ Carson, a young woman growing up just outside of Yellowstone National Park, who is caught up not only in her social and romantic struggles, but also in the small-town debate regarding the reintroduction of wolves into the Yellowstone environs. As the controversy heats up, so does the conflict in KJ's life. I think this novel does justice to the depth of emotion and struggle that comes with changing the status quo, whether it be environmental (wolves), social (new boyfriend), or emotional (seeking independence). I think this book will really appeal to my daughter, who is struggling with all these issues. Except the wolves.
  

So there is a month's worth of books. I did start The Girl Who Played with Fire last month, but put it on hold when some of the above books came available at the library. I will pick it up again someday, and report. People who's blogs I read keep recommending good books, and my list continues to grow. Although a looming list creates a bit of pressure, and there is much satisfaction in finishing a to do list, when I find myself wondering if I will ever finish, I kind of hope not.