30 Days

I am thankful...

1 ...for technology that shortens the distance between family and friends in places far from here.

2 ...for water.

3 ...for my oldest son who posted how much he loves his mom on his Facebook page for all of his teenaged friends to see.

4 ...for my dad. He always makes me laugh.

5 ...for my mom. Happy birthday.

6 ...for the ability to go to the grocery store and buy groceries while so many people are struggling with putting food on their tables. It's easy to take this for granted.

7 ...for books. Even the boring ones.

8 ...for humor. It's always good to laugh.

9 ...for quiet.

10 ...for conversation.

11 ...for service. I am honored to know many service men and women, past and present, who put service to our country above all else. Also, my friends who stand with their military husbands, wives, brothers, and sister with dignity and grace. Your commitment and sacrifice requires gratitude far greater than I can express.

12 ...for my in-laws. Seriously, the stories my friends tell are unbelievable. I love our drama-free family!

13 ...for slow-paced weekends.

14 ...for the great manners the kids are really great at using.

15 ...for my younger sister. You are remarkable in all ways. I am glad you're my sister. Happy birthday to you!

16 ...for Modern Family. "I sleep clown." Enough said.

17 ...for fun with good friends. Breaking Dawn I opening night showing!

18 ...for sleep. I am so, so sleepy today.

19 ...for Excedrin.

20 ...for my life's partner.

21 ...for good health.

22 ..for our kitties.

23 ...for my youngest daughter because she makes us laugh. All of the time.

24 ...that my older sister was able to come home for Thanksgiving.

25 ...for my youngest son and that he marches to his own beat.

26 ...for my oldest daughter. She's always so full of light.

27 ...for my brother.

28 ...for new career paths. I guess since I filled out all of the paperwork today, I can say I am now a youth worker at a local pediatric psychiatric hospital.

29 ...for music.

30 ...that I have so much to be thankful for I could easily fill 365 days. I have been blessed in so many ways and am grateful for each day I get to spend surrounded by the people I love doing the things I love.

30 Days

Troubled -- Suzanne Leavitt

Troubled by Suzanne Leavitt

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


This book had many problems that made it difficult to read. First, there were many technical issues with the writing. This book was filled with random use of italics of words, phrases and sentences. Even a just a few letters of words were italicized. The author used quotation marks for thoughts which is really, really uncommon in modern writing and this was made even more troubling as the author combined thoughts with dialogue so it was difficult to follow what was spoken and what was thought.



The characters were flat and came across as pathetic while almost the entire story was constructed through dialogue making for some strange and unrealistic exchanges. The writing itself was elementary and forced. Almost no attention was paid to detail or setting and the author relied too heavily on the dialogue to note changes in setting. The overall story was predictable and anticlimactic because it became such a cliche.



View all my reviews

Troubled -- Suzanne Leavitt

Why I'm a V-Day Cynic.

Okay, to be fair. I don't exactly believe what that sign says...although my thoughts don't stray too far.

I get the desire for people to want to celebrate Valentine's Day with those they love. It's sweet to send flowers or exchange meaningful gifts and if you love to celebrate this date on the calendar then more power to you.

My dislike of this day is not so much the sentiment because anytime couples or families or friends want to show one another how much they care it can't be a bad thing.

My problem with today is the expectation it seems to place on couples and the problems it creates for couples when those expectations are not met. Year after year I talk to friends who are hurt because their loved one didn't do what they thought they should: didn't call, didn't buy the perfect thing, forgot to pick up a greeting card or didn't send flowers. Then suddenly it becomes a measure of a relationship when a relationship is so much more than one day. "He must not love me as much as I thought he did if he didn't even pick out a card today of all days!" It seems off balance to put so much into one day.

Valentine's Day in our house is kind of an afterthought. We are aware of the day but it is expectation free. We understand the need to share our feelings with each other but without the pressure of gifts or cards. We joke, laugh and share daily. We don't place commercial expectations on one another, they aren't necessary.

Today we did what we do every day. We cooked dinner together. We talked about our day. We shared margaritas.

I am not trying to bag on those that love February 14th. It's just not our thing.

Why I'm a V-Day Cynic.

Chocolate Banana Protein Smoothie

I found this protein smoothie recipe in Tony Gonzalez's book The All-Pro Diet. That entire book is great but I particularly love the smoothie and protein shake recipes he included. This one is awesome...

Chocolate Banana Protein Smoothie

1 cup 1% milk (or plain hemp, almond, or rice milk)
1 frozen banana, slightly thawed
1 scoop protein powder

Blend in a blender. Drink immediately.

Chocolate Banana Protein Smoothie

Songs for the Missing -- Steward O'Nan

Songs for the Missing by Stewart O'Nan

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Overall I enjoyed this story--though given the subject "enjoy" doesn't quite seem to be the right word. The author's writing style is a little difficult to follow at times. Specifically, in some places it was tough figuring out who was the focus of that sentence or paragraph. One thing done really well is the great amount of description in this novel. O'Nan also created fully developed characters that you wanted to get to know. One last note: The Killers are from Las Vegas. I appreciate when an author does his or her homework on pop culture references. This story would have benefitted from some fact-checking.



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Songs for the Missing -- Steward O'Nan

White Bean Mash

White bean mash shown served with pan-seared sirloin medallions and sauteed spinach.

Cannellini, navy and great northern all work but our favorite is cannellini.



Serves 6

Ingredients:
2 cans white beans, rinsed and drained
4 cloves garlic, minced
¼ medium-sized onion, finely chopped
½ C vegetable or chicken stock
Lemon
Salt and pepper

Method:

In a small skillet, saute onions and garlic until soft and translucent. Meanwhile, heat rinsed and drained beans into a medium saucepan and heat over medium-low heat. Add cooked onions, garlic, stock and juice from half of the lemon. Bring to a simmer then mash, off heat, with a submersion blender, standing blender or hand masher until desired consistency. Return to medium-low heat for a couple more minutes then salt and pepper to taste.

White Bean Mash

Room -- Emma Donoghue

Room by Emma Donoghue

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I could not put Room down. The characters were well-rounded, particularly Jack. He was such a vibrant character and, after getting used to his voice, it was fun to experience the story through his eyes. There were a few things I did not care for in the story, but to avoid spoilers, I will keep those to myself. I enjoyed the story overall and found it difficult to put the book down.



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Room -- Emma Donoghue

ttyl (Internet Girls, #1) -- Lauren Myracle

ttyl by Lauren Myracle

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


My daughter rated this four out of five stars. She loved the unique format of the story. She read it very quickly--one afternoon when she was home sick from school. She really enjoyed the story and characters.



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ttyl (Internet Girls, #1) -- Lauren Myracle

The Bone Garden -- Tess Gerritsen

The Bone Garden by Tess Gerritsen

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Past and present collide in The Bone Garden. I loved how fiction and history come together as two people attempt to discover the identity of a skeleton found in a back yard. This story is both charming and gory. It is a little convenient but well-told.

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The Bone Garden -- Tess Gerritsen

Final Scream -- Lisa Jackson

Final Scream by Lisa Jackson

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


This story was disappointing. The characters were annoying--no one said what they should have said. The dialogue was forced and unbelievable. The twists were easily predictable--I figured both out well before I was supposed to. And again with the gratuitous sex scenes that added nothing to the relationships or storyline. The incestuous undercurrent in the plot was gross.

This is the second book I have read by this author. I felt the same for the first one as I did this one so I just think this writer's style is not for me.

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Final Scream -- Lisa Jackson

{Indie}Pendent Books

{indie}pendent books
Featuring Indie Authors and Publishers

{Indie}Pendent Books is an online book store dedicated to new and independent authors.

Go visit! And, if you visit, click the above link or the link on the right and I will earn commission on all sales from that click-thru.

{Indie}Pendent Books

Must Write

I haven't written anything in quite a while. At least, not anything of any real substance. I am working on changing that because I always feel like something is missing when I'm not writing something. I think that is why I haven't been sleeping, my brain has too much stuff floating around in there.

I am going to start here on this blog.

It's about time!

Must Write

Huge Signature Nail Polish Giveaway!

Please visit our company's blog for more details!!

Huge Signature Nail Polish Giveaway!

Almost All The Truth

A great blog for green living, awesome product giveaways and more!

There is a button in the lower left margin of this blog or you can click the button in this post!

Seriously, go read. It's great!

Almost All The Truth

KCFreePress.com

KCFreePress.com is one of my favorite sites for reading about local news, events and businesses.

Right now they are having a contest and the grand prize is an iPad--so, of course, I have to try to win that!

KCFreePress.com

Jamie Oliver is Awesome!

Jamie Oliver is on a mission to make school lunches healthier! I am 100% on board with supporting his cause. If you are too, sign the petition.

Jamie Oliver is Awesome!

Nature's Purpose

Nature fleeting and changing yet always
Comes and goes as winds wind slower faster
Ushering the unique new crisp nights and days
Showing our happily ever after

Nature's Purpose

More A-isms

July 2009, Age 4

*Alyson's favorite word of the day: Onceamadoodle.

*Aly on dinner tonight: "Momma, this is your victory."

*Bonus C-ism (age 8): Collin was just trying to say rocket ship and his mouth-brain connection got scrambled and he said "rocket $hit" his eyes bugged out he thought he was going to be in huge trouble.

*Bonus C-ism (age 8):Collin told me today at tennis he was pretty sure my racket had a hole in it.

*"Smmet spells full. That's me, Fullie" Alyson said after cleaning her plate tonight.

*Aly busted into the bathroom with a Hannah Montana wig on shouting, "Hannah Montana is in da house."

August 2009: Age 4

*All Kids: Kids are cracking me up! Sebastian: Hey Collin, You've got Mrs. ___, right? Collin: Ya, why? Sebastian: Dude, don't get on her back. She's strict. She's a good teacher, don't get me wrong but she's strict. Madison: I went into her classroom once, she's fine. Collin: Well, strict is okay because someone needs to keep m...e on task. Alyson: *singing* I got Miss ___ la la lee lee

*Aly's first words to me after school today: "Oh Mom, I had the best Kindergarten day ever!"

September 2009, Age 5

* Alyson walked up to me in the kitchen and said, "We are the champions my friends, right momma?"

*Upon finding a sesame seed on her bun, Alyson said she wanted to plant it and grow hamburgers.

November 2009, Age 5

*To quote Alyson, "Now that I have cleaned up the living room, everyone will appreciate me. Because basically I cleaned the entire thing All. By. Myself!"

*Alyson has learned what googol means so of course, everything is measured by it now. "I want a googol of ice cream!"

*Aly's argument to convince me to let her pierce her ears, "It's not like I'll get my lip pierced."

*Alyson on closing one eye but not the other? "It's not winking, it's magic!"

*Alyson to Collin: How can you be my brother if you don't like roast?

*Alyson: Something is wrong with my eye. When I blink it goes blank.

*On moving the refrigerator: Collin, "Maybe you should get a dolly to move it, dad." Alyson, "WHAT kind of dolly can move a refrigerator?"

*Thanksgiving thoughts from Aly: Her memories are locked up safely in her brain cage. Liquor stores sell licorice. And it's only 37 weeks until Christmas.

December 2009 Age 5

*Aly: Taking a bath at grandma's is super fun because she has a rubber ducky and we don't.

*Aly issued Collin a ticket for "breaking the style of her bed."

*Joke Aly told us today: How do you make Lady Gaga mad? Puh-puh-puh-puh-poker face.

*Aly: "This book is off lemons. I don't want anyone else to read it."

*Alyson: My brain lock is where I keep my crazy.

*Two Christmas thoughts from Alyson: "I can't stop smiling." & "I can pull my hair off."

*Aly: "Salad sandwiches are really good."

January 2010, Age 5

*Alyson when playing Mario Olympics: "Peach will now show you how its done...with style...tra-la-la..."

*Aly on opening a little bag of potato chips: "I don't even know how to pop so I never, never do it."

*Bonus M-ism:Madison: "Oh my gosh, Harrison Ford does not look as good now as he did in Star Wars."

*Sebastian to Maddi: "The 28th I'm coming to your school." Maddi to Sebastian: "The 8th I'm coming to your school." Aly to everyone: "The 3rd I'm coming to noone's school."

*Bonus C-ism: We had a reading event at the kids' school. Jeff took Aly to her K group and I took Collin to his group. The lady asked the kids, "What are you reading?" Collin puts his hand up and says, "Stephen King!" EVERY adult in the room gasped and all eyes were on me as I meekly explained, "He wrote a story for a younger kids."

More A-isms

Haiti Relief Links

There are a number of organizations mobilizing efforts to get emergency aid, both short-term and long-term, to Haiti. And, unfortunately, there are a number of fake sites going up exploiting the situation for their own gain. I thought I would post some reputable organizations just in case someone wants to help.

American Red Cross

CARE

Fonkoze

Heart to Heart International

MercyCorps

Oxfam

UNICEF

United Nations Foundation

Yele Haiti, founded by Wyclef Jean, sponsored by Rock the Vote

World Food Programme


AT&T Text Relief US: Text "HAITI" to 90999 to donate $10 via AT&T to the American Red Cross (Standard messaging rates apply)

Text Relief Canada: Salvation Army text donation of $5: Text "HAITI" to 45678



The State Department has set up a site with information on how to find American citizens in Haiti.

Haiti Relief Links

I got to be a guest blogger!

Blogging is an interesting phenomena. Bloggers decide what part of themselves to put 'out there' while keeping other parts completely private and behind the invisible walls of the internet. Yet, there are many blogs with writers sharing what is important to them leaving readers with a look inside the unique worlds of individuals we would otherwise never encounter.

We can read why this guy cries, what's up with Major Bedhead, explore the culinary world through the words of a culinary student and join in as a self-described seeker embarks on a path to self-discovery in Waiting for the Click.

Waiting for the Click in one of those blogs I was thrilled to find. We can relate to it because all of us, in one way or another, look to ourselves trying to fit all of the pieces together as we discover who we are. Leslee, from Waiting for the Click, issued a challenge to her readers. She wanted readers to submit stories that shaped and defined them...a challenge that, originally, I had no intention of accepting. I am not the kind of person who puts herself out there for people to judge, at least not on a personal level. However, my ultimate goal is to write, for a living, and to get there writers need to share parts of themselves they would rather not have people see. True writers make themselves vulnerable as their passion pours out into words that fill blogs, articles, short stories, and novels. So, I accepted Leslee's challenge and wrote.

I wrote a true story I never, never share. Not because it is difficult but because I never wanted it to define me. But as I wrote, I realized it does, indeed, define me. Or, it defines how I view the world and the people in it.

So, this is most certainly the most personal thing I have ever shared on the internet.

Leslee, thank you for giving writers this opportunity to share themselves with you and others. I appreciate you and your blog and I feel lucky I have gotten to know you a little bit over the past few months.

The Eleventh Year

I got to be a guest blogger!