Simple-minded & ignorant

From Emma by Jane Austen. Chapter 17:

"It was rather too late in the day to set about being simple-minded and ignorant; but she left her with every previous resolution confirmed of being humble and discreet, and repressing imagination all the rest of her life."

I have had many moments like this in my life and so the first time I read that line, I guffawed. I didn't chuckle or giggle or laugh. I didn't cackle, chortle, snicker, snigger or titter. I didn't crow, whoop, grin, simper, smile or smirk. It reminded me so much of me I let out a loud or boisterous burst of laughter.

A burst of laughter and then it was over as I sobered up and realized that like me, our heroine Emma was not actually going to be able to reform or humble herself quite that easily. As I continued reading, I knew I was correct about her efforts. But Emma does sort of grow up a little by the end of the book and we can only assume that like most of us, she continued growing up on a daily basis. Oh it is so difficult to behave properly all the time!

However, I do like the idea that if I get an early start on the day, I can be simple-minded and ignorant. That will never not be funny.

I have news for you

This weekend we took my mother-in-law to Sioux Center, Iowa. There she has some cousins who aren't able to travel to Des Moines to visit her. We had a nice time visiting, eating lunch and a snack and then going to a Southern Gospel concert at Dordt College. We came back the same day and that meant getting home about 2:15 in the morning. We got up to go to church and then spent the afternoon celebrating my stepson's 30th birthday. When we got home, we focused on relaxing, which really means sleeping.

I started this blog because I have a couple people who like to know what is going on. If you've landed on this blog from a search engine, you're welcome to read what you like. But this is news for friends and family and you may not always find it interesting. That's OK by me.

I had to pick a name for my blog and since many, many people have made blogs, finding a name isn't really all that simple. "I have a piece of news for you" comes from Jane Austen's book, Emma. In Chapter 21, Mr. Knightley arrives to tell Emma and her father that Mr. Elton is engaged to be married. However, a neighbor arrives and blurts out the news first:

"Emma," said Mr. Knightley presently, "I have a piece of news for you. You like news -- and I heard an article in my way hither that I think will interest you."
"News! Oh! yes, I always like news. What is it? why do you smile so? where did you hear it? at Randalls?"
He had time only to say,
"No, not at Randalls; I have not been near Randalls," when the door was thrown open, and Miss Bates and Miss Fairfax walked into the room. Full of thanks, and full of news, Miss Bates knew not which to give quickest. Mr. Knightley soon saw that he had lost his moment, and that not another syllable of communication could rest with him.
"Oh! my dear sir, how are you this morning? My dear Miss Woodhouse -- I come quite overpowered. Such a beautiful hind-quarter of pork! You are too bountiful! Have you heard the news? Mr. Elton is going to be married."

So I am here to write about things we're doing in our family for family members and friends who are interested in such things as our goings on.

It is Monday, the first Monday of May. April showers in Iowa really bring only May showers and flooded rivers. Today is one of the kinds of day that makes me think of all the things I could be doing since it is 76 degrees outside already (before noon). I have checked into things like the hours for the Salisbury House, the Des Moines Art Center, the Des Moines swimming pools and so on. Of course, all the desire to be outside and active will end when the rain begins later this evening. I love it when the weather man is wrong...quite wrong. That makes me happy if the forecast is for rain or snow!

I'll work on keeping this updated as well as posting some photos. I'll have to learn to use Blogger all over again. Hope you like it.