October 10-16

Monday, October 10

Reader’s Digest  5:00-6:00

Once a month, after bringing in the mail, I sit down to read Reader’s Digest cover to cover. It is such a great way to unwind from a long day. In between jokes, quotes, recipes, health tips, and fun facts are usually interesting and thought provoking articles. In this particular November issue was an article summarizing nurses’ accounts of what really goes down in a hospital. I found this to be very interesting because my mother-in-law has been in and out of the hospital for the past month for leg and back surgeries. Some facts were humorous, some informative, and some a little disgusting (like cutting cake with a scalpel). All in all, it was worth reading. I’m sure some people think of Reader’s Digest to be a waste of time, but for me it is a must-read. In one sitting I am entertained, engaged in personal stories, informed about latest technologies and ideas, and so much more.

Friday, October 14

The Help 6:00-6:30

As I picked my book back up after almost a week of reading, I ended my short glimpse into Celia and Minny’s situation and was introduced to another character, Miss Skeeter. At the end of chapter four we are led to believe that Celia’s husband has come home from work early and is not going to be happy to find Minny, a black woman, in his home. When she hears the truck doors, Minny runs to the guest bathroom to hide. We are left to wonder what will happen as the next chapter begins focusing on Miss Skeeter. Miss Skeeter is a white Ole Miss graduate with a trust fund who just doesn’t seem to be fitting in to her old lifestyle. Her friends are married and the dynamic of their friendship has changed. She is getting pressure from her mom to get a job and get married while she still has a trust fund (those are attractive to men especially when the girl isn’t so attractive herself). She, however, is more interested in her writing career and how she will fit in back in her hometown. For the second time, there has been mention of Miss Skeeter's old house maid Constantine. It seems that they had an intense connection, but we are still left wondering where she is not and how that fits into the big picture.