Read This 11/28

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
When most of my friends and family said they were reading the Twilight Saga I had to find out what all the appeal was about! I was expecting a simple vampire story and while it is a simple vampire story it is somehow highly addictive.



Stephanie Meyer's articulate writing is suspenseful and vivid. Her well-developed characters and their interactions leave you needing to know more about them, feel their feelings and hear their thoughts.



Twilight is romantic but not the typical over-sexed vampire story we are used to reading.



When I began this book I honestly was not expected to be thrown so completely into Forks, WA. I cannot wait to begin New Moon!


View all my reviews.

Read This 11/28

Surgery Day

C's surgery is tomorrow (Tuesday) and I'm starting to freak out a little. Thankfully he sleeping peacefully in bed and not witnessing my moments of weakness. =) It isn't the surgery exactly that's got me a bit freaked out. I know he will benefit greatly from the surgery. He will sleep better, his sleep apnea will likely go away. He will overall be healthier without the troubles of sore throats and strange croupy coughs for no apparent reason.

But it is the moment when my little guy will be wheeled away from me to the surgery room that has me beside myself. The anticipation of that goodbye scene when J and I give hugs and kisses to our little man and he walks on into the operating room. Will he cry? Will he go bravely? Will he have a panicked meltdown? Can I hold it together long enough for the doors to close?

I already know C is dreading that moment more than the actual surgery because he told us as much the night of the surgery party. The hospital showed a video of a child leaving his parents to go off to surgery and that was the point that C got upset and said, "I'll have to do that to you Tuesday". It was heartbreaking except I had to pretend it was perfectly normal to send your child away to be put to sleep and operated on.

Of course when it comes to the dramatic plights of parents a tonsillectomy is pretty simple stuff compared to some of the fright and heartbreak of traumatic cancers and illnesses. I am trying to keep some perspective as I think about tomorrow. But I just can't shake that "my poor baby boy" feeling I'm getting.

He'll be fine and the end is well worth it. But anticipating that moment of saying a brief "goodbye" breaks my heart.

Surgery Day

Finals Time

It's finals time, finally! I have a lot of studying to do and unfortunately my finals are roughly the same time as C's surgery. Next week is going to be tough!

Wish me luck!

sigh...

Finals Time

Read This 11/15

The Pre-Nup by Beth Kendrick

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
The Pre-nup is a story of three friends who conveniently experience rough patches in each of their romantic relationships and work together to solve their problems.



This story is fast-paced and unfolds in a predictable but satisfying manner. Little time is spent on character and setting development and it is difficult to determine the timeframe of when the events unfolded. There are some holes in the plot as it jumps from one character to another but the overall story flows quickly to the end.



This is not typical of the novels I am usually interested in reading but because I "won" this advanced copy from the Good Reads giveaway I was glad to give it a try. I am not typically fond of the 'women scorned' type of stories but those who like Lifetime movies will probably like this story.


View all my reviews.

Read This 11/15

Read This 11/13

In the Woods by Tana French

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
There are many things I liked about In the Woods. It is set in Ireland and Tana French does an excellent job of making Ireland pop off of the page. French has a great vocabulary that brought the story to life. Her characters were complex, flawed and realistic. The story was captivating, dramatic and stunning.




View all my reviews.

Read This 11/13

I am tired

I am so tired.

I could sleep for a week.

That would be nice.

I am tired.

That is all.

I am tired

Listen to This 11/10

Let's begin Monday with a song! It's one of my favorites! They drop the F-Bomb in second verse--beware.


The Bravery, An Honest Mistake

Listen to This 11/10

I Suck

And I don't even want to tell you what happened when I searched for an image for this blog using the word "suck"! HA! I got a warning about adult content and my browser was shut down--I didn't even think about suck and porn...doh!

So back to why I suck--

I am taking Human Development this semester. It is a really interesting class but it is a lot of work. And life right now is, well, hectic and stressful to put it mildly.

Each week we have 3-6 essays we have to write on various topics to help us focus and expand on concepts through the units. The essays do not exactly have an assigned length but in order to clearly articulate the concepts and our understanding of those, along with real-world examples of how those concepts explain human development, they can get pretty lengthy and require a lot of effort.

Last week, I forgot two of them. Flat out forgot to do them. The worst part, I remembered I needed to do them then promptly forgot again. The due dates passed and it was not until I was in the testing center that it dawned on me I forgot to write two of the required essays. My professor does not accept late work and frankly if I was her I would not accept them late either. I messed up. Simple as that.

We do still have more points to be earned so I am hopeful that my overall grade will not fall too much. I had a good cushion with the 109% I earned on my last major exam but I am so angry at myself. I have this standard of perfection that even though I know is impossible I still strive for it. My GPA is a 4.0 after 39 credit hours and I want to keep it that way but after this I am just not sure that is possible.

Now I have to work twice as hard to try and make up for this. I suck.

I Suck

Did you know...

Did you know...

...that one of our local food banks feeds about 60,000 people weekly?

...that of those 60,000 people only 6% are homeless?

...that most of those 60,000 people work hard every day but just cannot make ends meet?

...that 43% of those 60,000 people are children?

...that 36% of those 60,000 people are from suburban and rural areas?

...that 101,000 children are enrolled in free or reduced lunch programs in schools through out the area? What do they eat on the weekends? School holidays? Summer vacation?

...that these numbers are guaranteed to grow as more and more people join the new class of the "working poor"?

These are just the statistics from one food bank in one relatively small metro area. Right now, more than ever, local food banks need donations of food, money and time. Each and every one of us could find ourselves in a position to ask for help despite our best efforts to plan and avoid it. Most of the families receiving assistance are everyday average families who are in difficult situations.

Please don't forget them when you are doing your grocery shopping. Even one item will make a difference in the life of the person who receives it.

Did you know...

Listen to This 11/06

It is truly unfortunate that the day our great country made such a giant leap forward by electing our first ever African American president that we took major steps backward by adding discriminatory state legislation and in the case of CA, changed the language of the state constitution to create UNequal rights. I am positive that one day we will have full equality in this great country.

Listen to This 11/06

The Will of the People

I have more to write about this monumental event but I must feed my children! But for now I leave you with this...

Well done, America. Well done.

The Will of the People

ATTN: All Registered Voters!

1. Democrats do NOT vote on Wednesday Nov. 5th. Election day is Tuesday Nov. 4th for BOTH Democrats and Republicans.

2. You will not be subject to a warrant search upon arrival at the polls.

3. Your college financial aid will not be revoked if you vote at school.

4. Your parents will still be able to claim you if you vote at school.

5. You are aloud to vote regardless of your race if you are a registered voter.

6. You cannot vote by phone.


If someone, anyone, claims there are different voting rules than you thought do not automatically believe them! If you receive a mailing that looks official but says something has changed do not believe it or says something you know to be false, do not believe it.

Call or visit your local county election office for clarification! Immediately!

Do not let anyone steal your vote!

ATTN: All Registered Voters!

Listen to This 11/2

Let's Dance to Joy Division by The Wombats

Fabulous!

Download it from iTunes.

Listen to This 11/2

Insane in the Mem-Brain!

My brain isn't working lately.




I can't seem to think clearly. When I study the words go in and out and I can't seem to retain anything. I have gotten several people confused with one another. I've forgotten assignments. I lost our checkbook. Forgotten to return phone calls.

I just can't keep things straight.

Too much going on, I think. My classes and homework, planning parties for both C and M's classes, three birthday parties, out-of-town hubby...blah blah blah.

Insane in the Mem-Brain!