Living in the Moment

Cheer's to a dozen of your favorite cookies and a case of milk to dunk them in! 

 

Have a perfect weekend of fun and relaxation!

 

Monday we'll share our first Book Club review.

Are You Ready for the Holiday Weekend?

This pup is!  I won't take up your time today, I know you're getting ready to enjoy the last weekend of summer.  Hopefully Mother Nature will be reminded that it's time to cool down!

When It’s Gone, It’s Gone

 

We jokingly make up sayings like Manic Monday, Hump Day (Wednesday), and Finally Friday to help us get through the week.  Some week’s are tougher than others.  My question is, if we continually struggle to get through the week, why or how does the year go by so darned quickly?  Not just this year but every year – the older I get the faster time flies by.  I can’t seem to get enough done in a day and then it’s gone.  Poof!  Forever. 

I know people who live in their memories like yesteryear is a much happier place than today.  In some aspects, I agree.  In others, it worries me that they are missing out on the joys of today.  It may be that today is a bit overwhelming where yesterday can be seen in its entirety and in as slow a motion as the mind makes it.  Maybe yesterday was a happier time for you but if you can’t step past it and into the present, you will never be happy today and life will be over tomorrow.

The world, by every standard, is a tough place.  We do our best to navigate the steep terrain that becomes our path of choice.  Do we make the right decisions?  Not always.  Do we have regrets?  Of course we do.  Does life tend to shock us at times?  You bet it does.  Is it easier to live in your head than have your feet firmly planted on the ground?  At times, very much so.  In the end, however, we have to put one foot in front of the other, grab the reins of life and roll with it. 

Remember the past with fondness, respect your experiences, and appreciate today for what it brings to you:  a new day filled with opportunities, a chance to change the things that need changed, and value what is important.  Don’t waste the day living somewhere else in your head.  When it’s gone, it’s gone.  You can't get it back.

First Kiss

I love Snoopy with his typewriter.  Some days I feel like I’m sitting on top of a doghouse, writing, or trying to write, anyway.  I recently got hold of some old notebooks and binders of my writings from high school; my class journals and short stories that reflected grade marks at the tops of their pages.  It has been fun to sit down and read some of my old words and discover how far I’ve come in both experience and ability. 

Writing a “love” short-story is a little difficult when you have no experience!  Yes, I was one of those girls in high school.  Boy crazy but no one was really interested in being stalked.  (Just joking!  I was too shy to stalk anyone.)  But writing about it was different.  I had an imagination.  I knew what I wanted to happen – my lips to caress those attached to some cute male specimen.  The thought made me breathless and giggly.  My girlfriends and I talked in depth about those tender moments we couldn’t wait to encounter.  Boy, did we talk!

My first kiss came on a warm summer night in mid-July between my junior and senior years in high school.  I remember being nervous and googly-eyed.  It was my two best friends and I along with him and two of his friends, all hanging out together.  The parings began and soon I was alone with him, booted out of my own car, and standing on a dirt road out in the country.  (It was a small town so getting to the country was a very short drive.)  Asking me questions, he soon discovered I was a virgin kisser and with what little I understood at the time, the game was on!  Oh, how I wanted that kiss – and got it too.  But drawing a line on the dirt road of where exactly those kisses might lead put a little damper on the evening.   

It didn’t matter.  Having had my fantasies brought to life at last, I was the princess going home to her castle.  However, the princess was late, curfew broken, and the king was none too happy about it.  I scarcely remember his raised voice, the stripping of my car keys, and the grounding lain out before me.  My eyes were sparkling as I relived the feel of those soft lips covering my own, the nerve-endings throughout my body responding, even hours later, while my father's anger exploded around me.  I went to my room smiling, wanting to be alone with my thoughts so that I could relive the evening.  Whatever else happened to me that night was of little consequence.  My feet were not even touching the ground.   

Thank you B – for those memories make me smile, even now, many years and two marriages later.  I guess that first kiss is special and one you truly never forget. 

That's enough of my gushing for today.  We are only the sum of our experiences.  I hope the sharing of my story takes you back to your first kiss and that you remember yours as fondly as I have.

Grandma’s Refrigerator

 

What do you hang on your refrigerator?  Is it filled with magnates, letters of the alphabet, business cards, cartoons, or photographs?  Mine has all of those things and pictures my grandson has drawn or painted or glued.  In fact, I received a picture just last week in the mail, addressed to Grandma.  The back was covered in marker scribbles and the flap was lined with at least twenty stickers, keeping the cargo safely concealed inside.  I had to chuckle when I pulled it out of the mailbox.  Inside was the simple outline of a house in orange marker that had been folded at least eight times.

When I called to thank him for the picture, my son asked me what was in the envelope.  Apparently, my grandson had drawn it the first day of pre-kindergarten and treating like a precious gift via Fort Knox, would not let either one of them view it before mailing.  That made me laugh even harder.

You can always tell a Grandma’s refrigerator above all others because of how it’s decorated.  I love filling up the empty spaces with treasures.  Labor Day is this weekend and we will be getting together with the kids.  I’m hoping my mom and I will have more of my grandson’s pictures to fight over!  (It really isn’t much of a fight – she picks a work of art, then I pick one – when there are many are share.)  Hopefully that will be the case as I seem to have extra room on the refrigerator right now!

One More Week!

 

 

This picture depicts me pretty accurately this morning as I stayed up late last night to finish The Mountain Between Us by Charles Martin.  It was worth it.

I’ll go into depth on the book next Monday as this is the book club pick for the month.  You still have time to pick it up and read it.  Or, you may want to check out the discussion next week before doing so.  Either way, be sure to join the discussion string via comments on this blog.  It will be fun as we examine the story and chat about our personal perspectives. 

I’m really looking forward to our conversation regarding this book!  Have a great day!

Cow-A-Socky

I looked up some of the “You Know You’re a Hillbilly When…” posts on the internet but they were so degrading I refused to put them on this blog.

It’s sad that there are people who make a lot of money playing a “hillbilly” or “redneck” role.  A comedian standing in front of a crowd giving a rundown of the impoverished for a laugh is one thing but walking in their shoes is quite another.  Some chose to live that way, others don’t. 

Have you seen the movie “Winter’s Bone” starring Jennifer Lawrence?  Jennifer played Ree, a 17 year old girl who had to track down her drug-dealing father (and breadwinner) so that she can save the family’s dilapidated home from being taken out from under them.  The movie is both sad and disturbing as you know that there are truly people out there forced to live such a lifestyle.  

I meant to put the above cow picture on as a little Saturday funny but when you really think about it, the hillbilly slant really isn’t.  I apologize.  Bad me.  

I'm sitting here at my desk in the luxury of a nice house typing on the keys of my laptop.  I have a solid roof over my head, food in the refrigerator and pantry, heat, air-conditioning, electricity, warm water, and a closet full of clothes.  And if I don't have something I want, I just be-bop out the door and go get it.  I know a lot of people in this country could and should get off their behinds and get a real job rather than relying on the government to pave their way.  It's truly unfair to those who need the system and those of us who have to work to support the system.

So...look where I've gone with this post.  I refuse to talk government or politics here.  Hillbilly or no, I think I'll stop now before I give an opinion that I can't take back!  Have a great weekend.

Warning to Car Owners Using Key Fobs

This is a Snopes approved story that appeared on Facebook and everyone I know has a key fob so I am sharing it with you.

Here is the story as it appeared:

I locked my car. As I walked away I heard my car door unlock. I went back and locked my car again - three times. Each time, as soon as I started to walk away, I would hear it unlock again! Naturally alarmed, I looked around and there were two guys sitting in a car in the fire lane next to the store. They were obviously watching me intently, and there was no doubt they were somehow involved in this very weird situation. I quickly chucked the errand I was on, jumped in my car and sped away. I went straight to the police station, told them what had happened, and found out I was part of a new, and very successful, scheme being used to gain entry into cars.

Two weeks later, my friend's son had a similar happening:

While traveling, this young man stopped at a roadside rest area to use the restroom. When he came out to his car less than 5 minutes later, someone had stolen his cell phone, laptop computer, GPS navigator, briefcase and whatever else they could find. He contacted the police and since there were no signs of his car being broken into, the police told him he had been a victim of this latest robbery tactic. 

There is a device now available that thieves are using to clone your security code when you lock your doors on your car using your key fob.  They sit a short distance away and watch for their next victim. They know you are going inside of the store, restaurant, or bathroom which gives them a few minutes to steal any items from their victim’s vehicle and run. The police officer told me to manually lock my car door by hitting the lock button inside my car.  By doing this, anyone looking to clone and steal your code through the airwaves will be unable to do so. 

Please be wisely aware of what you just read and pass the information on. You can save someone else the anger and frustration and aggravation of their vehicle being broken into and their personal property stolen.

It’s an unjust world out there. 

Be safe and share this story so that you and those you love won't fall victim to this latest scam.

Book Lovers

 

 

And never with the same person!!  (Ha Ha)

That is the awesome thing about books.  I know some people use them for door stoppers or decoration, or kindling, but reading them from cover to cover sparks emotion, intellect, expands the mind, and satisfies our curiosity.  Without books, we would never find our perfect Prince Charming, climb a beanstalk, trade places with our twin sibling, fall into a love triangle with a vampire and a wolf, be stranded in the wilderness with a complete stranger, and the list goes on and on and on. 

Many books are based on real life scenarios while others are based as far from reality as the writer’s imagination can take us.  So you can go to bed with a different person in a different place at a different time every night if you wish.  There truly is a wonderful world of books out there.  Be sure to pick up one, be transported to another place, and enjoy the ride.  No one will ever know that you slept with someone new last night!  It will be our secret.

Be Still and Know I Am God

 

This Bible passage, Psalm  was used during my Stephen’s Minister training several years ago and has stuck in my mind ever since.  Take a moment to think about these words:

“Be Still and Know I Am God.”

Now, think about these words:

“Be Still and Know.”

And these:

“Be Still.”

And finally:

“Be.”

I need to remember this passage and it’s paring down when I am stressed or hurting or lonely or frustrated.  Even in moments of happiness.  I hope that by sharing this, you will come to appreciate it as I do.  God bless.

Lee Thompson Young Will Be Missed

 

I can't believe that on the heels of sharing my Rizzoli & Isles fascination, they lost one of their actors.  Lee Thompson Young, age 29, who played Barry Frost, was found deceased in his Los Angeles home on Monday (yesterday).  The tabloids are reporting that he died of a self-inflicted gun shot.  I can't even begin to comment on how sad this is.     

 

Lee Thompson Young was in the very first book, The Surgeon, appearing even before Dr. Maura Isles' character.  Barry's character was cute and funny, intelligent and gregarious.  It has also been reported that the filming of Rizzoli and Isles has been temporarily suspended.  I'm not sure how this will effect the show going forward.  However, I am sure everyone on set is as deeply saddened as we are.  My heart and prayers are with each of them.

 

Rest in peace, Lee Thompson Young.  You will be missed.  

Back to School

 

 Today is back to school day for many across the nation, including my grandson (he is starting Pre K).  Facebook is filled with pictures of families getting their children settled in college dorms or apartments or younger children headed off for their first day at local elementary, middle or high schools.  The excitement is running high for each of those families.  (I can certainly remember the excitement and fear as both a student and a parent.)  Time flies so fast so enjoy each moment as it comes.  Have a terrific first day!

My love and prayers goes out of each of you.  I hope you have a wonderful year.

My Weekend Motto

 

I plan to fit this in after my Saturday chores are finished, my house is mopped, dusted, and passes the white glove test, our website retail store postings are listed (www.thetoolticket.com), the dogs are bathed, the yard is mowed, our crockpot dinner is started, laundry is caught up…oh to heck with it, I’m just going to plant my behind on the couch and start reading now, and the rest can wait!!

I am reading “The Mountain Between Us” by Charles Martin.  This is the August book of the month for our book club.  I’ll put my review of this book on the blog Monday, September 2^nd.  Please join us for comments and conversation. It will be a lot of fun!

The Surgeon by Tess Gerritsen, a Book Review

 

I am a huge fan of the Rizzoli and Isles series running on TNT.  Tess Gerritsen’s “The Surgeon” is the debt novel of the series.  “The Surgeon” is a fast paced book meant to keep the pages turning while the adrenaline pumps.  If you are squeamish, you may have a difficult time reading it as Tess Gerritsen is not only a novelist but a physician as well and her knowledge of the human body is blasted throughout the pages of her book.

The story is based in Boston where a serial killer is on the loose, stalking, torturing and then mutilating his female victims.  Because of his horrific acts, the press has labeled him “The Surgeon.”  The murders are nearly identical to those committed two years ago in Savannah, Georgia, where the predator was shot and killed by his last victim, Dr. Catherine Cordell. 

Now living in Boston and a partner in a medical practice, Dr. Cordell is being stalked once again. Homicide detectives Thomas Moore, Jane Rizzoli, and Barry Frost begin working the case round the clock to determine how the killing sprees are related and to put an end the brutal murders. 

I don’t want to give away too many details as I only had the book jacket to go off of when I started reading.  I did find that I was unable to put it down for very long.  “The Surgeon” is an intricate medical thriller that we keep you up all night.  The plot is well paced and meant to keep you guessing.  The chapters are intense and ripe with captivating scenes of suspense while the characters are strong and engaging.  Tess Gerritsen’s firsthand knowledge of the subject matter and attention to detail also crafts a villain who is as vicious, if not more, than Hannibal Lector.  Give to that a startling climax and gratifying ending, I can’t wait to get started on the next book in the series, “The Apprentice.”

I hope that if you enjoy the TNT series as much as I do and haven’t ventured into reading Tess Gerritsen’s novels, that you will take the opportunity now.  Jane Rizzoli was just as funny and entertaining in the book as she is on screen!  Maura Isles has not yet made an appearance.  I’m looking forward to her addition.  Yes, I am a huge fan of Rizzoli and Isles!

25 Rules for Mothers and Daughters (A Must Read)

 

  1. Paint her nails. Then let her scratch it off and dirty them up. Teach her to care about her appearance, and then quickly remind her that living and having fun is most important.

  2. Let her put on your makeup, even if it means bright-red-smudged lips and streaked-blue eyes. Let her experiment in her attempts to be like you…then let her be herself.

  3. Let her be wild. She may want to stay home and read books on the couch, or she may want to hop on the back of a motorcycle-gasp. She may be a homebody or a traveler. She may fall in love with the wrong boy, or meet Mr. Right at age 5. Try to remember that you were her age once. Everyone makes mistakes, let her make her own.

  4. Be present. Be there for her at her Kindergarten performances, her dance recitals, her soccer games…her everyday-little-moments. When she looks through the crowds of people, she will be looking for your smile and pride. Show it to her as often as possible.

  5. Encourage her to try on your shoes and play dress-up. If she would rather wear her brother’s superman cape with high heels, allow it. If she wants to wear a tutu or dinosaur costume to the grocery store, why stop her? She needs to decide who she is and be confident in her decision.

  6. Teach her to be independent. Show her by example that women can be strong. Find and follow your own passions. Search for outlets of expression and enjoyment for yourself- not just your husband or children. Define yourself by your own attributes, not by what others expect you to be. Know who you are as a person, and help your daughter find out who she is.

  7. Pick flowers with her. Put them in her hair. There is nothing more beautiful than a girl and a flower.

  8. Let her get messy. Get messy with her, no matter how much it makes you cringe inside. Splash in the puddles, throw snowballs, make mud pies, finger paint the walls: just let it happen. The most wonderful of memories are often the messy ones.

  9. Give her good role models- you being one of them. Introduce her to successful women- friends, co-workers, doctors, astronauts, or authors. Read to her about influential women- Eleanor Roosevelt, Rosa Parks, Marie Curie. Read her the words of inspirational women- Jane Austen, Sylvia Plath, Emily Dickinson. She should know that anything is possible.

10. Show her affection. Daughters will mimic the compassion of their mother. “I love you” and Eskimo kisses go a long way.

11. Hold her hand. Whether she is 3 years-old in the parking lot or sixteen years old in the mall, hold on to her always - this will teach her to be confident in herself and proud of her family.

12. Believe in her. It is the moments that she does not believe in herself that she will need you to believe enough for both of you. Whether it is a spelling test in the first grade, a big game or recital, a first date, or the first day of college…remind her of the independent and capable woman you have taught her to be.

13. Tell her how beautiful she is. Whether it is her first day of Kindergarten, immediately after a soccer game where she is grass-stained and sweaty, or her wedding day. She needs your reminders. She needs your pride. She needs your reassurance. She is only human.

14. Love her father. Teach her to love a good man, like him. One who lets her be herself…she is after all wonderful.

15. Make forts with boxes and blankets. Help her to find magic in the ordinary, to imagine, to create and to believe in fairy tales. Someday she will make her 5-by-5 dorm-room her home with magic touches and inspiration. And she will fall in love with a boy and believe him to be Prince Charming.

16. Read to her. Read her Dr. Seuss and Eric Carle. But also remember the power of Sylvia Plath and Robert Frost. Show her the beauty of words on a page and let her see you enjoy them. Words can be simply written and simply spoken, yet can harvest so much meaning. Help her to find their meaning.

17. Teach her how to love - with passion and kisses. Love her passionately. Love her father passionately and her siblings passionately. Express your love. Show her how to love with no restraint. Let her get her heart broken and try again. Let her cry, and gush, giggle and scream. She will love like you love or hate like you hate. So, choose love for both you and her.

18. Encourage her to dance and sing. Dance and sing with her - even if it sounds or looks horrible. Let her wiggle to nursery rhymes. Let her dance on her daddy's feet and spin in your arms. Then later, let her blast noise and head bang in her bedroom with her door shut if she wants. Or karaoke to Tom Petty in the living room if she would rather. Introduce her to the classics - like The Beatles- and listen to her latest favorite - like Taylor Swift. Share the magic of music together, it will bring you closer - or at least create a soundtrack to your life together.

19. Share secrets together. Communicate. Talk. Talk about anything. Let her tell you about boys, friends, or school. Listen. Ask questions. Share dreams, hopes, concerns. She is not only your daughter and you are not only her mother. Be her friend too.

20. Teach her manners. Sometimes you have to be her mother, not just her friend. The world is a happier place when made up of polite words and smiles.

21. Teach her when to stand-up and when to walk away. Whether she has classmates who tease her because of her glasses or a boyfriend who tells her she is too fat - let her know she does not have to listen. Make sure she knows how to demand respect - she is worthy of it. It does not mean she has to fight back with fists or words, because sometimes you say more with silence. Also make sure she knows which battles are worth fighting. Remind her that some people can be mean and nasty because of jealousy, or other personal reasons. Help her to understand when to shut her mouth and walk-away. Teach her to be the better person.

22. Let her choose who she loves. Even when you see through the charming boy she thinks he is, let her love him without your disapproving words; she will anyway. When he breaks her heart, be there for her with words of support rather than “I told you so.” Let her mess up again and again until she finds the one. And when she finds the one, tell her.

23. Mother her. Being a mother - to her - is undoubtedly one of your greatest accomplishments. Share with her the joys of motherhood, so one day she will want to be a mother too. Remind her over and over again with words and kisses that no one will ever love her like you love her. No one can replace or replicate a mother's love for their children.

24. Comfort her. Because sometimes you just need your mommy. When she is sick, rub her back, make her soup, and cover her in blankets - no matter how old she is. Someday, if she is giving birth to her own child, push her hair out of her face, encourage her, and tell her how beautiful she is. These are the moments she will remember you for. And someday when her husband rubs her back in attempt to comfort her...she may just whisper, "I need my mommy."

25. Be home. When she is sick with a cold or broken heart, she will come to you; welcome her. When she is engaged or pregnant, she will run to you to share her news; embrace her. When she is lost or confused, she will search for you; find her. When she asks for advice on boys, schools, friends, or an outfit, give it to her. She is your daughter and will always need a safe harbor where she can turn a key to see comforting eyes and a familiar smile; to just be home.

Hand Over Your Problems

I wrote up a list of problems I'm handing over today!  As Carrie Underwood sings, "Jesus, Take the Wheel."  We probably need to do this more often, however, control is a hard thing for us humans to give up.  I know this personally because I like things to be done a certain way in a certain order. 

In the end, why does it matter how it's done and what the order was?  Life's obstacles tends to get in the way of our joy and purpose.  Today, let's step back, let go and enjoy the day.   

Unconditional Animal Love

This blog post is for those of you who have pets such as indoor cats or dogs.  We have two one-year old Chihuahua pups.  They are sweet and playful and demand attention.  What I love most though is that when we're  sick or just having a bad day, they know it.  Not only do they know it but they want to cuddle and love on us.  It is an awesome experience.

Meet Biscuit and Blu:

Our pups share our king-sized bed at night.  I worked rather late last night and by the time I fell into bed and finally found sleep, I experienced some unpleasant dreams.  Blu (momma’s boy) must have sensed it because he wound his four pound body up between my shoulder (I was sleeping on my side) and the pillow, resting his head on my throat.  I felt the love pouring out of his warm little body and listening to his little puppy breaths as he breathed in and out quickly calmed me. 

Somehow he knew I was agitated and came to my rescue.  And that my friends, is unconditional love.  No matter how my days flow, the pups are there to enhance it.  At times we do have issues with them, like running to the emergency vet, cleaning up after the occasional accident, and running the sweeper more often because they tend to destroy their toys, but what they give in return is priceless.

If you don’t have pets, consider changing that.  There are so many animals that need loving homes to belong to.  It took my husband and I a long time to commit to these little guys but now, I wouldn’t change a thing.  I only have to look at their cute little faces and wagging tails to know that life is good.  They make every day just a little bit better.

Books are Better (Most of the Time)

 

I’ve gone to many movies that were based on books that I’ve read.  Most of them were good, a few questionable, but nine times out of ten, the book was better than the movie by far.  Though cinematography can make movies pop, books tend to sweep you up into the characters thoughts and allow you to see the world from their perspective.  Between that and shortened dialogue, movies can’t always make that clear.  One of the things I truly dislike about movies made from books is that the ending changes.  I can’t tell you how many movies I’ve seen that don’t end the way the book did.  I think that robs both the author and the audience. 

Don’t get me wrong, I love movies, whether going to a crowded theater or enjoying the film on my home television in private companionship.  I can laugh out loud or cry in the dark at either.  I appreciate movies.  However, I appreciate where they came from more.  The artist’s brain who wrote the book or the script is the true genius.  I’m not calling myself a genius, but I do appreciate the person who puts words on the page.  Even when you love it, it still takes a lot of work to get those words in the correct order, the correct form, and to make something entertaining come out of them.

I believe that as a society, we need access to both books and movies.  We learn and we grow from both sources.  I have a book sitting on my coffee table at all times to pick up and read every chance that I get.  I derive much pleasure from storytelling, whether my own or someone else’s.  With someone else’s, I can get lost in their words and not have to worry about all the details of my own work.  I can truly let go and enjoy the story. 

How about you, do you enjoy books better their movie counterpart?  What are some of your favorite book adaptations or disappointments?     

Unexpectedly Priceless

 

I love this picture.  Those little yellow minions make me laugh every time I see them.  This this picture is so very true.  Even if your friend lives miles away in another town or another state, when you see one another, time melts away and you pick up exactly where you left off.  And that my friends, is a wonderful and priceless gift. 

If you can’t be near someone special to you today, I encourage you to pick up the phone.  Everyday life has such a way of taking us over that we get too busy or tired or inundated to make the effort of adding something as simple as a phone call to our day.

And if that special someone is lucky enough to live down the street or across town, make plans to have lunch or go to the pool or a movie or the mall together!  Just a few hours together will recharge your batteries and lift your spirits.

It’s Saturday.  Put the work week behind you and do something simple for yourself.  You’ll feel a lot better reconnecting with someone.  I can feel the laughter bubbling up the esophagus now!  We all need the easy laughter associated with those we love, more than we know. Enjoy your weekend!

What Are You Afraid Of?

It's Friday so I'm sharing a little humor with you! 

 

So, really, what are you afraid of???

Short, Sweet,and Filled with Love!

Happy 50th Anniversary to two very important people, -

My Parents. 

I love you with all my heart.

Congratulations!

Campfire Stories

 

I saw this picture and had to laugh.  I was a Girl Scout in my younger years.  My mother was a Girl Scout Leader.  We had a lot of fun times together.  We had weekly meetings, earned our patches, camped (many different times and places), sang songs, cooked over an open campfire, built outdoor latrines (ugh), sold cookies, made crafts, painted Christmas ornaments, told campfire stories, and the list goes on and on.

I truly enjoyed the time I spent in scouting.  I may not have been a model scout earning my way to the top (I didn’t stay involved long enough) but I learned a lot and had fun while it lasted.  The Girl Scouts is a good program, especial for mother/daughter teams.  I encourage you, if you have a daughter, to consider getting involved together.  You'll learn a lot and the memories you’ll make will be priceless.    

Optimism Trumps Disappointment

Welcome to our Virtual

Although I had a couple of positive responses on Facebook yesterday, no one came forward to comment on the blog that they were interested in starting a virtual book club.  Since this is something that I would really like to move forward with, it's my blog so I'm going to!  I believe this is something that can work and as more people find this blog, we'll gather a larger following.

The book I've picked for our August read:  The Mountain Between Us by Charles Martin.

Synopsis:

From the author of Where the River Ends, comes this page-turning story of love and survival.

On a stormy winter night, two strangers wait for a flight at the Salt Lake City airport.  Ashley Knox is an attractive, successful writer, who is flying East for her much anticipated wedding.  Dr. Ben Payne has just wrapped up a medical conference and is also eager to get back East for a slate of surgeries he has scheduled for the following day.   When the last outgoing flight is cancelled due to a broken deicer and a forthcoming storm, Ben finds a charter plane that can take him around the storm and drop him in Denver to catch a connection.   And when the pilot says the single engine prop plane can fit one more, if barely, Ben offers the seat to Ashley knowing that she needs to get back just as urgently.   And then the unthinkable happens.  The pilot has a heart attack mid-flight and the plane crashes into the High Uintas Wilderness-- one of the largest stretches of harsh and remote land in the United States. 

Ben, who has broken ribs and Ashley, who suffers a terrible leg fracture, along with the pilot's dog, are faced with an incredibly harrowing battle to survive.  Fortunately, Ben is a medical professional and avid climber (and in a lucky break, has his gear from a climb earlier in the week).  With little hope for rescue, he must nurse Ashley back to health and figure out how they are going to get off the mountain, where the temperature hovers in the teens.   Meanwhile, Ashley soon realizes that the very private Ben has some serious emotional wounds to heal as well.  He explains to Ashley that he is separated from his beloved wife, but in a long standing tradition, he faithfully records messages for her on his voice recorder reflecting on their love affair.  As Ashley eavesdrops on Ben's tender words to his estranged wife she comes to fear that when it comes to her own love story, she's just settling.  And what's more: she begins to realize that the man she is really attracted to, the man she may love, is Ben.

As the days on the mountains become weeks, their survival become increasingly perilous.  How will they make it out of the wilderness and if they do, how will this experience change them forever?

Both a tender and page-turning read, The Mountain Between Us will reaffirm your belief in the power of love to sustain us.

Don't miss out on this great opportunity to expand our minds, make new friends, and have some fun in the process - all from the privacy of your own home.  You can find this book in your local bookstore, library, Amazon, eBay, and for those tablet readers, you know what to do.  So grab a copy and join me for an informal discussion on Monday, September 2nd.  Thanks!

Virtual Book Club

 

 

The traffic seems to be heavy when I post book reviews on this blog.  Because of this, I thought it might be fun and insightful to start a virtual book club through this blog.  I'm excited about this!  I've been trying to find a local book club to join but so far, no luck. 

Here is what I'm thinking:

We pick (or vote on) one book per month.  On the first Monday of each month, I'll write a quick review on the book of choice and we can all share our thoughts via the comment box, about the book we've read.  If you'd like, I could list some thought provoking questions the week before to help initiate discussion.

If this is something you're interested in, please add a comment to this post.  If we have at least five interested people, we'll start our reading club.  Please join me - I believe this is a great opportunity to expand our horizons, meet new people, and have some fun!

Review: The Step-Mother’s Support Group by Sam Baker

I found this book to be a good “fictional” read.  I’ve never read a story from the step-mom’s perspective before and actually found myself rooting for them.

It was not one person’s story but the story of five different women, each with a unique circumstance of her own, but as they shared their stories in their SSG meetings, their comparisons of each situation were thought-provoking.  This day and age, there are a lot more blended families out there – the actual numbers are probably quite staggering.  I’m not a step-mom so I don’t have the experiences many of you do but it made me appreciate the role you play to a much higher level. 

This is a well-written book with a predictable plot so I don’t want to give the story away.  I would characterize this as a chick-lit novel which is sympathetic, gritty, entertaining, and emotional.  Sam Baker's book focuses on the step-mother role while the theme centers around women and friendship.  You don’t need to be a stepmother or even a mother to appreciate the premise of this book and I would recommend it if you're looking for a satisfying read. 

Women Over 40

CBS commentator, Andy Rooney on women over 40:

 

"As I grow in age, I value women over 40 most of all. Here are just a few reasons why:

A woman over 40 will never wake you in the middle of the night and ask, 'What are you thinking?' She doesn't care what you think. If a woman over 40 doesn't want to watch the game, she doesn't sit around whining about it. She does something she wants to do, and it's usually more interesting. Women over 40 are dignified. They seldom have a screaming match with you at the opera or in the middle of an expensive restaurant. Of course, if you deserve it, they won't hesitate to shoot you if they think they can get away with it. Older women are generous with praise, often undeserved. They know what it's like to be unappreciated. Women get psychic as they age. You never have to confess your sins to a woman over 40. Once you get past a wrinkle or two, a woman over 40 is far sexier than her younger counterpart. Older women are forthright and honest. They'll tell you right off if you are a jerk if you are acting like one. You don't ever have to wonder where you stand with her. Yes, we praise women over 40 for a multitude of reasons. Unfortunately, it's not reciprocal. For every stunning, smart, well-coiffed, hot woman over 40, there is a bald, paunchy relic in yellow pants making a fool of himself with some 22-year old waitress. Ladies, I apologize."

 

So Ladies, if you're over 40 like me, we have much to be proud of.  I'd like to weigh in on the bald, paunchy relic in yellow pants making a fool a himself...he is undoubtedly RICH!  What other use would a 20-something woman have for him?

 

We are in the prime of our lives, whether 41 or 101, we are beautiful, smart, generous, and respectable.  So we have wrinkles, scars, and stretch marks.  They are signs that we've lived life - the hard times as well as the good times - to the fullest.  Wear them with pride.  Be happy with who you are - you're the only YOU, you have.         

 

 

Hello August!

I found this cute picture to celebrate our end of summer (though technically it doesn’t end until September 21st).  However, it is for all accounts and purposes, our back to school month and thus, the end of our summertime freedom.

 

While searching “Hello August” I ran across a Christian pop/rock band by the same name.  I hadn’t known of their existence and thought I would post a link so you could check them out.  Below the link, I posted their biography.  They are very good - I hope you enjoy their music!

http://www.reverbnation.com/helloaugustmusic

Members: Natalie Askew, David Askew

Bio:  Blending cutting edge worship with pop sensibilities, Hello August is a rock/alternative band that strives to create energy and emotion that is unique and welcoming to the presence of God.

Hello August believes that, as a Christian music artist, it is their responsibility to be lead worshippers and to create an environment of surrender and dependence on Christ. Above all the trappings of the music business, it is more important to the members of Hello August to focus on their ministry. “We want to fulfill our call in life and stay close to God, we hope that through this, God will change lives and our ministry will have a great impact for The Kingdom.”