Happy 12 days of Christmas!

As a working mom, I have it better than most.  My commute is 5 minutes, I leave at 8 and am home by 4 and have no homework to do at night.  That being said, preparing for Christmas is still a huge grind!  I don't know how other Moms that work longer hours do it.  It is stressful--extra shopping, all that wrapping, all those last minute gifts, parties to prepare for, special food to make, the house to clean and decorate!  I could't sleep for 2 weeks prior to Christmas I was so stressed out.  It is all worth it though!  Christmas day arrives and it is truly special.  It is not all the gifts that make it special, it is the traditions and time spent with family. 

After Christmas--those days from Christmas day until Epiphany, aka the 12 days of Christmas that I love.  All the busyness and preparation is over and we can relax and enjoy the season.  I leave all my Christmas decorations up until the 6th (or the weekend closest to this day).We make cookies as we eat them (instead of making a ton all at once before Christmas and having them so stale); we watch special holiday movies together; I have time to cook, so we eat delicious meals together, and most-importantly just relax!  I look forward to being able to hibernate and relax all fall.  After an active summer of activities and being outside and a busy fall full of back-to-school events that merges into crazy days of too many actives, events, and homework I really need this time to just chill relax and recover for round 2.  

Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostand Translated by Louis Untermeyer

Sometime ago, I subscribed to The Easton Press' 100 greatest books. I have a thing for really nice, leather bound books--they are so beautiful and such a joy to read! Currently, I have 24 of the 100 and I take one down from time to time to read. This one I started over the summer, put it down when school started and have finished it over Christmas break. This is one, I probably would never have decided to read on my own, but because it was part of the 100 I decided to read it. I, of course, am familiar with the story, but found myself pleasantly surprised and really enjoying the story. It was difficult at first to adjust to reading the language and the way the text was presented in play form, but I quickly became used to that and just enjoyed what is a classic story that is still a great read today!

The All-True Travels and Adventures of Lidie Newton by Jane Smiley

My daughter goes to school at the University of Kansas where the mascot is the Jayhawk.  In Lawrence there are also a lot of things named with "Free State" at the beginning and I, at first, didn't think much about it, but slowly I began to realize what a significant history Kansas has regarding slavery.  I also love Oprah--I subscribe to her magazine and page to the books section as soon as it arrives in the mail.  Well, in one issue, I read about The All-True Travels and Adventures of Lidie Newton, which instantly intrigued me.  A book that would maybe explain what happened in Kansas, I immediately put it on my to-read list.  It took me a while to decide to order it and then a while longer to decide to begin reading it and a while longer to actually read it (I took a break for several months), but have finally finished it! 

I think the cover and title are misleading--I would have never picked it up without reading about it in Oprah.  It makes me think of some stuffy Victorian novel about a rich woman traveling and that is not what the book is about. 

I truly enjoyed the story!  That is not to say that I didn't become bogged down and have to take a break from time to time.  The author's writing style does not make one want to stay up all night reading, but what a rich story!  I learned things I didn't know about the Kansas-Missouri border war, it's roll in Kansas being a free state, and the subsequent civil war.  The book, told from the point of view of Lidie Newton, takes us from Quincy, Illinois to Lawrence, Kansas and back during the turbulent times of 1855, a time when Kansas was still a territory. 

A great book!  Anyone interested in Kansas history and the civil war should definitely read this book.  Told from the point of view of someone there experiencing it brought the events to reality in a much better way than if just reading about it in a dry non-fiction book. 

My grandmother asked me to tell you she's sorry by Fredrik Backman

I picked up this book mostly because I has read A Man Called Ove and really enjoyed that story.  It was full of quirky, interesting characters and Ove himself was a bit different. This book was also full of really interesting characters that were a joy to read about.  The little girl that is the main character was, like Ove, a bit different and kind of set apart from the main stream.  The girl's grandmother was wacky and full of life.  The relationship between the girl and her grandmother was very close; the grandmother would watch out for the girl and help cheer her up in the most interesting ways when she had a bad day.  The building where she lived was full of characters that were revealed over the course of the book.  Like a Man Called Ove, Backman  revealed details about the story, bit by bit, but was able to hold our attention because of the strength of the characters and the interesting, quirky girl.

I didn't like the fairytales that were a large part of the book, I struggled to pay attention to the details as I was reading them and only later discovered that I should have been paying attention because they revealed important details about the story.

Overall, a great story and a fun read.  I love reading Backman's characters because they are "different" in the most, fun interesting ways.  Since a lot of people struggle with being "different" or out of the main stream, It is nice to read such great stories featuring people that are "different."

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, Illustrated by Yelena Bryksenkova

I've seen the movie and the stage production of the book several times and have read other Dickens' books, but had never read A Christmas Carol, so this year I decided it was time to rectify that.  If I was going to read it, I wanted a beautiful, illustrated version to read, so I scoured the internet and found this one by illustrator Yelena Bryksenkova and it is perfect.  Beautiful Illustrations, nice thick paper, good binding, and a ribbon place marker all at a pretty reasonable price!  It was a joy to hold and read.

I'm not going to say a lot about the book--everyone pretty much knows the story!  I enjoyed the book and was glad I took the time to read the book instead of just watching the movie.  It is a great story to remind us to be kind to other people, to think of others, and to help those who need help.  A good thing to keep in mind, especially at Christmas time. 

December Read--Christmas at Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan

After spending most of the fall with Lewis and Clark, I was in the mood for a lighthearted Christmas story.  I purchased this book realizing several things:  1)  "Christmas" books often have very little about the Christmas holiday in them.  2) I knew it was a book in a series, but didn't know anything about the books that came before this one.  3)  The blurb on the back of the book sounded intriguing--a Christmas storm on an island.

Once home with my extravagant purchase (I have been trying not to purchase novels) I happily dove in once December 1st hit. (In my house, one does not begin celebrating the Christmas season until then.)The story was cute--a baker who lives on an island, but quickly started to annoy me:

*The main character's boyfriend, Huckle, mostly just laid around from what I could tell.  What did he do all day?  He seemed a bit lazy to me.  If he wasn't working, why didn't he help Polly at the bakery?
*The couple's pet puffin, seemed ridiculous.  Really, who would let a puffin loose in a house and (shuttering) in a bakery.  All that nasty bird poo all over, the thought of it made me sick.  
*The side story about the best friend who cheated on her new husband seemed a bit depressing to be in a Christmas story.
*Same goes for the father who abandoned her story line.
*The storm wan't what I was expecting.  It didn't really hamper much and didn't show up until the end of the book, making the line from the back of the book completely misleading.

So, in the end a decent story, but misleading, annoying and depressing at times.  Not at all what I was hoping for.

Wonder by R. J. Palacio

When my son was in 6th grade he came home from school all excited about this book called Wonder.  He really liked it and wanted his own copy to read (the special edition from Target with the Julian chapter in it.)  He read it and put it on his book shelf and I forgot about it until I heard it was going to be a movie and I thought I should finally read it.  Well, I finally did and I was a bit underwhelmed.  After all the hype, excitement, and love out there about the book/movie, I think I was expecting too much.   

I did enjoy the book.  The story and told from all the different points of view was surprisingly interesting; I usually find that annoying in stories.  I think I wanted more depth and more details, which I guess isn't very realistic for a children's book.  I gave it 4 out of 5 stars on Goodreads.   The Julian chapter was my favorite part of the book.  After the entire book of reading how awful Julian was, it was very interesting to read why he did what he did.  It was a good reminder to have compassion for people that don't behave well, you never know what is going on in their lives and that when you do make mistakes, you can apologize and move on with your life. 

After my college-age daughter has read the book, all three of us are going to go see the movie over Christmas break!  I am excited to see the movie version. 

Holiday Faux pas or how to avoid pissing off your host this holiday season.

                                                  With the holiday season I am here to give some advice to those attending all those parties and get-togethers:

1. If the host is serving any kind of mixed snacks such as nuts or snack mix, do not stand there and pick out your favorites.  For example, if there is a bowl of mixed nuts, for God's sake don't cherry pick the expensive cashews, walnuts, and pecans leaving the host a bowl of peanuts, hazelnuts and Brazil nuts that no one else really wants to eat on their own.  If you don't like everything in the bowl DON'T EAT IT!  
2. Don't ever, for any reason ever double dip.  Seriously that's just gross and completely ruins the dip for the entire rest of the party.  No one wants to consume dip contaminated with your saliva!  If you want more dip you have two solutions:  either break your chip in two or scoop some dip onto your own plate and double dip away!
3. Please R.S.V.P.  I realize we all are busy and sometimes we forget, but by not R.S.V.P.ing you are sending a message to the host that you are keeping your options open and don't want to commit until you know if you have a better option.  Even if that is not what happened that is the message you are sending.  Hosts go through a lot of money and expense and plans enough meat (or main entree) and beverages for everyone.  No host want to run out or waste money purchasing food and drinks for people who don't show up.  Even a difference of 2 people can throw a host off.  
4. If you have very specific drink requirements just bring your own please!  No host wants to have to purchase a different drink for everyone coming.  If for example, you just refuse to drink nothing but Coke and if you can't have Coke you won't drink, just bring some!  Hosts are not not mind readers.    
5. Either eat or don't.  Either eat a lot or just nibble, but please don't eat and then complain about how much you ate; about how you are going to have to fast forever or stay up all night running or whatever totally ruining it for everyone else.  It's a party not a diet club meeting.  

Do I sound like a cranky curmudgeon?    I probably do, but after throwing years of casual parties, these are things that just bug me.  I don't think I'm asking too much of people. 

Okay, now you are equipped and ready to party on!

Pencils, an annoying necessity.

     I have a love/hate relationship with pencils.  I work as a paraprofessional in a grade school, so I am around pencils and use them all day.  I like writing with a perfectly sharpened, new pencil that still has the eraser on top.  The problem is, when they become dull, it is almost impossible to sharpen them!  One of two things happen--either the wood comes up the point and won't sharpen away, leaving the user with 1/2 of a pencil tip or the pencil sharpens beautifully, but then as soon as you go to use it, the lead falls out. I have thrown away more pencils because they wouldn't sharpen. 

     The other issue is the sharpeners; none of them work properly.  The hand held ones become dull very quickly.  The wall mounted ones would work properly, probably, if the district maintenance/janitorial stall didn't insist on putting them up incorrectly.  The way they hang in my district is so that the narrow, end where is shavings are suppose to collect is towards the wall.  Leaving the shavings no where to collect, causing them to get caught in the grinding mechanisms and dulling them.  I have tried to put them back correctly, but the kids all think it is wrong and immediately fuss with the sharpener trying to put it back.  Electric sharpeners sound like a nice idea and usually work very well, the problem is they too break and need replacing after a time and the district and the teachers neither one wants to spend the money. 

     The end result of all of this is endless dull pencils that don't write well made worse by sharpeners that don't sharpen well.  I think more time is wasted by staff and student alike by messing with pencils and trying to find one that writes.  As a new parent (years ago) I purchased my child 48 (yes, the required number is 48!) of the high quality pencils knowing that having quality pencils are important.  The problem was that the teachers all dump them in a collective bin, so you have no incentive to purchase good quality pencils and believe me almost no one does.  Even the pencils that used to be good now seem to be cheapened.  Parents wonder how it is possible to run through so many pencils, well now you know.  A good number of them get chewed up just trying to sharpen them; another large amount get tossed because they just won't sharpen; and finally there are those students who break pencils either for fun or because they are frustrated. 

Thanksgiving Recap

The Thanksgiving holiday is over.  My daughter came home from college for the first time since the semester started.  We watched movies, played board and card games together, colored (those adult coloring pages!), and generally relaxed. I got some reading in my Lewis & Clark books done.  (They have reached the Gates of the Mountains in present day Montana.)  It was a really nice break.  We did venture out to Target on Saturday--we could not resist the lure of the book section, but that was about it.  I did do some on-line shopping (hey, I'm a busy working mom, I had to get it done), but didn't go out Thursday night/Friday early. 

I will attempt to stay relaxed and not get worked up about how much I have to do as the Christmas season gets closer.  That kind of thinking is totally reversed from what we should be doing during this season.

Lewis and Clark Total Immersion!

                                     
I am currently reading two Lewis and Clark books at the same time!  I started to read Undaunted Courage years ago on vacation to Montana, but never finished it.  I always intended to, but you know there are A LOT of other books I wanted to read and I never got back to to.  Well, in the mean time, a friend of the family, published his Lewis and Clark book, Fraught with Difficulties and asked me to read it.  Fraught with Difficulties is a novelization of the Lewis and Clark story that takes you on the journey with the Lewis, Clark, and the Corps of Discovery and Undaunted Courage is a non-fiction account of the famous expedition.  I am finding them both interesting and am enjoying reading the events, written from different perspectives, at the same time.

I will publish reviews of each when I am finished reading, but I don't expect it to be anytime soon, with the holiday season here.

All schools should be Scent-Free Schools

     People, I've noticed, love to smell good and surround themselves with artificial scents!  They apply scented hand creams, liberally douse themselves with perfume, they spray air freshener in bathrooms, and use those scented plug-ins or the electric wax warmers.  The problem is that most of these scents aggravate people's asthma.  I work in a school and notice as I walk the halls that almost every room has some different artificial scent wafting out.  I see that this is a problem that I don't understand why it hasn't been taken more seriously.

     Schools have done a really good job keeping the schools safe for food allergy sufferers.  The problem is those children with asthma aren't being given the same consideration.  It is well know that artificial scents and perfumes cause aggravate asthma and cause an asthma attack, which like a food allergy attack, can be life threatening. School districts need to ban the use of artificial air freshers and perfumes at school for the health of the children attending.  I know it will be a hardship for some, all those sweaty bodies packed in a hot classroom (phew), but think big picture.  What is merely annoying to you can be causing someone else to struggle to breathe and it is really hard to learn when you can't breathe. 

Random Questions!

Five Questions for today!  

1.  Why do people drive right on my bumper in a long line of traffic on a  two-lane highway?

2.  Why do parents literally send full sandwich bags of crackers and cookies for snack time at school and then get upset that their child won't eat at meal time?

3. Why do adults like Disney?

4. Why can't people who disagree about politics have a civil discussion?

5. Why don't people wear their Pandora bracelets anymore?  After spending hundreds of dollars on them, now no one wears them? 

Okay, that's all!  

Thanksgiving or PreChristmas?

     Thanksgiving is in just a few days and I am bracing myself for the Christmas onslaught.  Every year I am overwhelmed with the way the big kick off to the Christmas shopping season overshadows what is a wonderful fall, harvest day of thanks.  I just want to shut myself in the house and not emerge again until Christmas season actually starts, which is the first Sunday of Advent (December 3 this year).  I know, we are only talking a difference of 10 days, but I think they are important days. 

    

     It is nice to have a couple of days off work to eat and relax and take note for what we are thankful for in our life--what is important to us.  It is family time.  It is time to go for a hike on a crisp fall day and come back in and have hot chocolate.  It is a time to play board games, to read, to watch parades relax and recharge.  That is what is important.  Planning our shopping conquests, running ourselves ragged trying to get the best deals takes all of that away.  Thanksgiving becomes the start to a commercial race I don't even want to watch, let alone participate in.  

     This year, we are having a low key Thanksgiving dinner and family get together.  We are playing games and watching TV.  We are relaxing the rest of the weekend and will go back to work/school refreshed and energized.  The next weekend, we will attend church and celebrate the beginning of the Advent season and put up the Christmas tree.  

     

Community One Read Book--of beetles and angels, A Boy's Remarkable Journey From A Refugee Camp To Harvard by Mawi Asgedom

This is a book I would have never normally picked up, but it is the community wide One Read book and since I love reading so much, I wanted to participate. I am glad I read it--the author's story was inspiring. I loved his message of looking to help people, from all walks of life, that are invisible or downtrodden in some way, aka beetles. "Their struggle is just to be visible, just to exist in an atmosphere of respect." Talking about student's struggles no matter where they come from. As an shy, introverted child I often felt like a beetle and still remember those few that took the time to notice me. It helped me realize that, like the author, I have something to give to others. In life we are often caught up in our struggles and busy lives, but that our lives can be enriched by reaching out to help others. 

One of my only complaints about the book is that I wish there was more to it, but the author did explain he wanted to respect the privacy of his family that is still alive. I get that, but I still would have enjoyed reading more. Especially as a mother of a college student and a middle school student in my quest to hep them grow up to be the best people they can be. 

Well worth reading. Thanks to the author for sharing his inspiring story! I look forward to the discussion groups.

October Reads - The Gunslinger; The Dark Tower I by Stephen King

So, the kids and I watched The Dark Tower movie this summer and we were left with more questions than answers.  I realized that I would have to read the book if I wanted to know what the heck was going on in the movie, so I ordered a copy of the book from the library and after reading the book, I can now see that the movie reflected the books.  I STILL HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS GOING ON!

     I have read, I think, 2 other Stephen King books and enjoyed them, but wasn't crazy about them and this was no different.  I just can't fall into a Stephen King book and be completely submersed, which makes it, at times, difficult to get through. I can see now that he is setting up for a long story.  The main character, Roland, keeps flashing back to his childhood and we get little bits and pieces of the story as the book goes along. 

     In the end, it was an interesting book.  I don't really have any answers to the questions the movie posed.  I'm unsure if I will pick up the next book.  The book is a bit dark, which to me makes it depressing and I typically like a more uplifting read.   

The Sleep Solution, Why Your Sleep Is Broken and How to Fix It by W. Chris Winter, MD

    

 In my family, out of the four of us, only my daughter sleeps well. I knew the importance of good sleep for both physical and mental health and wanted to make some positive changes, so I picked this book up.  I was immediately impressed--it is funny and presents the scientific information in an easily readable, interesting way.  I was wary though, because a lot of nonfiction books start that way and quickly become wordy and boring, but not this book.

     If I was concerned about sleep before, I really am now.  The author really stresses how important sleep is to our health and in ways that I didn't know about.  I work in an elementary school and I see day after day, children coming to school with HUGE black and red tired eyes.  I've seen children sent home from school because they kept falling asleep in class.  Parents need to know the information presented in this book and structure their children's days so they can get the sleep they need.  This does also apply to adults, so many adults don't want to follow a routine be disciplined enough to do what needs to be done to get a good night sleep, but then they complain they are tired.  My advice--READ THE BOOK AND FOLLOW W. CHRIS WINTER'S ADVICE.  It will change your life.

     Before I read the book, I had a home sleep study and was diagnosed with Sleep Apnea.  While I was reading the book, I started CPAP therapy.  I can not stress what a difference therapy made in my life.  I spent years in a tired fog, struggling to get through my days.  I feel so much clearer headed, I no longer wake up with headaches every morning (I thought it was allergies and went through years of, probably unnecessary, injections.) and have the energy I need to, not just get through my days, but to enjoy them!  Even though I was diagnosed before I read the book, I still was able to gain a lot of good and useful knowledge.

     A great, informative book that everyone should read!

A Dance with Dragons, A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 5 by George R.R. Martin

I finally finished this one all 959 pages!  I actually started it a year or more ago and stopped about half way through.  What's the hurry I thought, it's not like George R.R. Martin is going to release the next book anytime soon?  I originally wanted to read the book before I watched the show it was based on, but that didn't happen, finally I decided that I was going to finish it during summer break. A problem I had reading this is that it is just so HUGE!  I had trouble holding it upright while reading in bed and it was too heavy to bring to appointments and on trips, so it sat at home unread.

I love this series!  I love George R.R. Martin and his complex, detailed wonderful world!  I do wish there was a bit less misogyny, but I do understand that it is a medieval world and like our own medieval history, women were treated that way.  It doesn't make it any more pleasant to read about however.

Anyone who enjoys the show should read the books, they are so much better.  There is so much in the books that they just couldn't put on screen.  Well worth the time spent reading it.  This book represents, for me, why I read.  It takes us away to a different, time and place and immerses us in a detailed, interesting story.  I spend a lot of time just thinking about the story--a true sign of a good book!

Self-Help Read! You are a Badass--How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life by Jen Sincero

I picked this book up at Target on a post-Christmas shopping trip.  (Yes, that does, in fact, mean that it took me 7 months to read.)  The New Year's timing and the catchy title both caught my interest and I fell prey and picked it up.  I was, of course, in that New Year's self-improvement mood and thought that I should try to make some positive changes in my life and the book would be a good place to start.  I took a while to read this book for several reasons, one is that I intended to take it slow.  I wanted to think about what she wrote and maybe have a chance to internalize the suggestions before I moved on.  

I both liked and disliked the book.  I liked the love your self theme and think positive thoughts advice that are the main stay of each chapter.  I disliked the new age Source Energy prosperity doctrine.  A lot of the Source Energy advice reminded me of what Christians are advised to do by preachers every Sunday in church, just substituting Source Energy for God and Jesus.  I don't believe we all are willed by God to be rich or that everyone can be rich or that everyone needs to be rich to be happy.

In addition, a lot of the advice seemed like the same old advice handed out since Normal Vincent Peale wrote The Power of Positive Thinking in 1952, just presented in fun, hipster, quirky way.

In the end, not a total waste of time, but not quite what I hoped it would be either.

August Read! The Light of Paris by Eleanor Brown

I bought this as my backup vacation book (it wouldn't be much of a vacation if I ran out of things to read).  My parents took me to Paris when I was in my 20's, so the book intrigued me enough I picked it up, plus I read the author's other book The Weird Sisters and enjoyed it.

I liked the book okay.  It switched back and forth from the 1920's to 1999 timeline.  That didn't bother me (which it often does).  I enjoyed both timeline's stories and characters and the descriptions of Paris were great and fun to read.  What I didn't like was the constant, endless, and very repetitive self-doubt and self-criticism of both main characters.  ENOUGH ALREADY!

The author has an anthology of short stories about Paris and a Paris travel book coming out, but I couldn't find anything about a follow-up book.  I think there is another book that could be told about Madeleine's trip to Paris and her self-discovery.

July Read--The Vampire Chronicles, Prince Lestat and The Realms of Atlantis by Anne Rice

My vacation read!  I purchased a paperback for my electronic-free camping and beach trip.  It is now beat up and dog eared after being drug all over Wisconsin!

I love Anne Rice--another great book!  I inadvertently skipped the book before it, Prince Lestat, now I need to go back and read that one.

July Books! Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe

I picked this book up for two reasons:  one, it is a great, historical novel and a book that I have heard about a lot, but have never read and two, because it is one of the books in the Easton Press 100 greatest books ever written.  I am collecting these gorgeous books and this one is one of 19 that I own, as of now.  I don't want these books just for show, I want to read them and learn from them.

As with all books written long ago, it took me a while to get used to the writing style, but it wasn't too difficult.  The book is an piece of our country's' history and I'm glad I read it.  The character's stories were interesting and tragic, all told with an aim to expose the true horror that was slavery.

June Reads! A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

I devoured this book!  It really touched me, I laughed out loud, I identified with Ove at times, and I was sad at times.  It did all the things a book should do.  I can't praise it enough!

My mom recommended this book it wasn't the type of book I normally read, but it sounded interesting.  Right after that I saw that the book club I attend, when I am able, to is reading it, so I decided it was fate and requested it from the online library for my Kindle app. Unfortunately, it took months to come in and I missed the book club meeting. Well, it finally came in and I happily started reading and pretty much didn't put it down until it was finished.

Ove intrigued me right away with his organized, persnickety ways.  The things that annoyed him seemed both funny and fairly reasonable, if not a bit over the top.   The story of Ove's life unfolded slowly a bit at a time through going back and forth between the present and flash backs of the past. Normally this would annoy me, but in this book I wanted to learn more about Ove, so the flashbacks were interesting to me as well.  To me, Ove seemed like he was on the high-functioning end of the Autism spectrum and I loved the relationship he had with his wife.

The author's style of writing tragic, unhappiness in a way that makes you laugh reminded me a bit of Angela's Ashes.  (Although, that book was a true story and this is fiction.)  I finished the book with a satisfied sigh, a bit sad at the end, but not unbearably so.  A great book about our relationships with other people and how we persevere after tragedy.      

I have heard there is a Swedish language movie of the book out.  I'm off to figure out how to watch it.

June Reads! The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead

The book was difficult at times--so much brutality and bad things happening.  It was hard to read about, I can't imagine how horrible it would have been to live as a slave.  The courage Cora showed was inspirational.  I loved Cora's observations about people and the world and how things seemed to her.  A brilliant book!

June Reads! The Chemist by Stephenie Meyer

I like Stephenie Meyer and yes, I liked Twilight and The Host.  I picked this book up when I was sick and just wanted a fun book to take my mind off feeling bad and this book fit the bill.  The main female character (aka The Chemist) reminded me a bit of a cross between Katniss Everdeen of the Hunger Games and Jason Bourne.  I liked that she was smart and scrappy and able to take care of herself.  I really liked the main male character, he was very likable, maybe almost too perfect to be realistic, but very fun to read about.  I enjoyed reading about all of the things The Chemist did to stay safe.  What I didn't like reading about was all the guns.  I realize that this is a thriller and there are armed people and shooting happening, it just seemed like gun overkill, with lots and lots of guns, gun stashes, gun practice shooting that was maybe not 100% necessary.  I also would have liked a bit more interaction between the characters and a bit less of the running.

Overall, an entertaining book that I enjoyed reading.

June Reads! The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking

The Little Book of Hygge: The Danish Way to Live Well 
by Meik Wiking 

I stumbled across the concept of Hygge after the New Year, determined to make changes to be happier. This book seemed perfect! I have recently been reevaluating my life and are making changes to be happier and healthier. So I order a copy and, first of all, I love the look of the book. The white cover, orange end paper, and adorable drawings in blue and orange make the book visually cute, warm, and comforting.

I loved the book! It was just the thing I needed. I have always believed in finding happiness in everyday life and in the small things--changes in season, good food, family, etc. and this book just kind-of solidified that view for me and put a name to it--Hygge! The book spells out how the Danes find happiness and while not everything will work for me, living in the United States, there is a lot I can take away from it. I plan to get my hygge on tonight by grilling out hamburgers and enjoying family time around a fire.

Memorial Day, pick-up trucks, and flags.

I live in what was once a quaint, quiet, farm town on a river.  Now-a-days it still has a bit of small, farm town flavor left, but mostly it is a bedroom community with subdivisions full of McMansions.

Our beautiful town square park!



Unfortunately, the main north/south road through town has been expanded from 2 lanes to 4 and now there is a veritable expressway running right in front of our quaint park.

Yesterday, I attended our town's Memorial Day service.  (I am ashamed to say, that until I had children in middle school band that played at the service, I never attended.)  It is held in our town square park between the above gazebo and the memorial to the veterans from our county that gave their lives in war.  The band plays, there is a singer, the mayor and other guests speak--it is a nice remembrance of the many who have died in war.

So I'm sitting in my lawn chair listening to the band and the various speakers on a beautiful day, when I suddenly can't hear what is going on because a vehicle is gunning his engine and roaring past the park (note that this is a 35 mile an hour zone--no engine roaring is necessary)  I am now distracted from what is going on and look over at the highway and this is what I see:



Amazingly this happens not once, but 3 times (yes, 3 different trucks!)  during the service.  I was left wondering if maybe these obnoxious, flag-waving trucks owners would find a better outlet for their patriotism by attending a Memorial Day service instead of the over-the-top, loud, flag display.  I don't have anything against flags or trucks.  What I don't like is when trucks are driven like the road through town (that passes parks and pedestrians walking) is their own raceway.  When drivers trick out their engines and then drive around at an ear-splitting roar, it is just plain rude.  Flags are a symbol of our country and deserve to be flown respectfully not used for an over-the-top patriotic display.  (And as long as I'm ranting--they shouldn't be worn as clothing or decoration either!)

Dollars for progress; How to defund the Right!

My husband and I are solidly Progressive.  My husband grew up in a once booming manufacturing town among other hard working, Democratic people and I grew up in a rural, small town community among Republicans, the sole voice for the Environment and policies that help people not corporations.  For the most part, we try not to go around causing trouble and arguing about politics.  I dislike arguing and my husband works for a large corporation and would not benefit from progressive politics.  Lately, however, the election of Donald Trump as president has caused us to reevaluate. For obvious reasons people who care about how other people are treated, that people be able to earn a decent wage for a day of work, and for the environment would dislike the election of a person who has no political experience and who's policies and opinions range from moronic to downright dangerous.

So, now we need to take action.  Others have marched and protested, but that is not really our style. We have decided that we will do our best not to support companies that donate to Republican campaigns, that mistreat their employees or the environment, or support policies that favor the wealthy and corporations over people.  This will be a huge undertaking and will require a lot of research, but it is what we feel is the right thing to do.

We are starting with a product that sees its way into our house on a regular basis (after all, the current state of politics has driven us to consume more--so we felt it is the best place to start).

Beer

Environmentally, try to buy from locally-owned microbreweries, but first check into their political activities.  When buying from nationally distributed products here are the brands I found to be worthy of spending your hard-earned money on:

New Belgium Brewery produces Belgian beers for the forward-thinking individual. NBB is a wind-powered and employee owned craft brewer located in the United States, distributing throughout the western US. 100% of their political donations have been donated to the Democratic party.  They have extensive, positive environmental polices.  

Boston Beer Company brewer of Sam Adams beer.  Not only have they, almost exclusively, given to Democratic campaigns, the company is American owned.  They also reuse bottles in states that have bottle deposits.   

Heineken is a Netherlands owned company where the beer is brewed,  However, the United States distribution company give mostly to Democratic candidates and have environmentally responsible policies.  

May Books

This is a recent Oprah's Book Club selection.  I saw it on the list and thought it looked interesting for two reasons: 1, The description talks about a married women with kids and a family reevaluating her life and since I have recently turned 50, I have been thinking about what I want to do with the remaining time I have left in my life.  Granted, my marriage isn't in trouble, but who couldn't use a bit of attitude readjustment now and again.  Plus, it seems like there are so few books about a woman who is a mother AND also a real person (or maybe I just don't know about them.) And 2, I read that the author uses yoga in her self discovery and that also rang true to me since I have recently started practicing yoga and are currently obsessed with it.  

After I started reading, I almost immediately felt a bit like I had gotten the bait and switch.  A good third of the book was about the author's childhood/young adult hood and her struggles and while interesting and well written, it was not what I was interested in reading about.  (I had just finished Wild after all and this seemed a lot like that.)  Once we got to the story of her marriage, it got better and I truly enjoyed reading about the author's struggles and how she overcame them. I did, at times, wish the author had gone into more detail about their lives, I found myself wondering and wanting to know more--how often did she practice yoga? What did the husband do for work that allowed him so much time at home?  How were they able to afford for the author to stay at home all the while taking expensive yoga classes, attending expensive therapy sessions, etc.?  Money is a real issue in a lot of people's lives and often lack of money accounts for people not getting the help they need.   

Once I finished the book, I was left with more questions, so I went on the internet and **WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD!!!*** was again left feeling like I was on the wrong end of a book bait and switch.  The author ended up divorced from her husband and recently remarried a woman.  Wait, what?!  I'm not sure I would have wanted to read a book about a marriage that, in the end, failed anyway. 

April Read!

This book has been on my self since Oprah picked it for her book club. I started reading it, but wasn't able to get through the beginning where the author was describing the loss of her mother. I have recently been reading books on my Kindle app on my phone, but my phone died just in time for a 8 hour weekend drive to Kansas to see my daughter. So, in desperation I pulled this book out, and I am so glad I gave it a second chance! The book was so well written! I truly enjoyed learning about the author's unusual life, she seemed to me to be very much a free spirit. Just the descriptions of her childhood home with out central heat (in Minnesota!) were interesting. I liked the seamless way the author flashed back filling us in on the events in her life interspersed with descriptions on the trail and her hiking experiences. I can take inspirations from the braveness of the author for my own challenges. I plan to have a movie night and watch the movie soon!

May Books!

This is the first fantasy book I have read in a really long time. I normally read paranormal books, finding fantasy books too much work keeping all the world building information straight. This books, however, was easy to get into, the author introduced the world slowly and on a need to know basis that kept you reading and wanting to know more. I loved the character, Nona and the convent she lived in, both were unique and interesting. I'll be looking for the next volume--hopefully the wait won't be too long!