December 27, 2021 C IS FOR COOKIE

When I was a kid, I spent countless hours baking with my grandmother. We would spend all day Sunday  making  macaroons, brownies, rugelach, shortbread cookies, black & white cookies, chocolate toffee matzo crack, buckeyes, snowballs-- while simultaneously decorating hundreds of press cookies with sprinkles and cherries. I've continued the tradition with my own children--especially during the holidays. My only problem with baking hundreds of treats though is that they are HERE AND THEY ARE CALLING MY NAME. I have NO WILLPOWER. It's crazy. I stay away from them ALL day --But they haunt me at night. I tell myself that I'll ONLY have ONE but-- One turns into two--turns into three--turns into four-- UNITL I've had TEN.  IT'S MADNESS. I've decided to just eat as many as I can--ALL DAY--to get rid of them. THE SOONER THEY ARE GONE-- THE BETTER--RIGHT? Only then can I  STOP THE MADNESS-- Get back on the straight and narrow and hopefully fit into my jeans again. Ugh. The struggle is REAL. It was--however-- no struggle at all to read Taylor Jenkins Reid's newest book Malibu Rising. Nina Riva, the main character of this novel, is a supermodel and daughter of rock legend Mick Riva. She is also guardian of three siblings--Jay, Hud and Kit--as their mother is dead and their father abandoned the family.  The story takes place over a 24 hour period in August of 1983--the morning of the Annual Riva Summer Party. The novel flashes back and forth between the day of the party and the past--including 1956 when their parents met, married, and  Mick ultimately became famous. As the party gets started, the reader learns about each of the siblings-- their hopes, dreams and shared heartache. Will the siblings reconcile with the father? What happens to Nina' home? Will this fractured family finally find peace? Find out the answers to these questions and many more when you read this thoughtful novel for yourself. It's about 385 pages--or a 4.5 mile run--that I really enjoyed. 

December 11, 2021 SIMPLY THE BEST

It was a whirlwind. Literally. 24 HOURS in NYC. It was TRULY--to quote Amor Towles-- A ONE OF A KIND-KIND OF DAY. Hopped on the train Tuesday morning and got to the city about 3:00. Enjoyed coffee with friends and headed to Rockefeller Center. WOW.  The tree was beyond amazing AND the Sax Fifth Avenue Light Show was incredible. I've never seen anything like it. The window decor at  Bergdof Goodman, Tiffany & Co.,  Henri Bendel  and Lord & Taylor blew me away too. Talk about getting in the Holiday spirit. Jumped on the subway to 95th street to  Symphony Space for a REAL TREAT.  An author talk with Amor Towles--writer of Rules of Civility--A Gentleman in Moscow--The Lincoln Highway. It was a RED LETTER day of ole Marsh.  Capped off the night at Carmines-YUM YUM. Ran through Central Park the next morning. Went to Times Square to find the Lincoln Highway sign--had lunch at the Oyster Bar then jumped on the train to head home. It was the BEST DAY EVER. Hope you're planning your--ONE OF A KIND-KIND OF DAY--real soon.  If you have a little down time, check out Alex Michaelides new thriller, The Maidens. Marianna Andros, the main character, is a therapist who specializes in group therapy in London. She is also struggling to maintain her sanity, after the sudden death of her husband while on holiday in Greece. After learning that her niece Zoe's best friend has been murdered at St. Christopher College in Cambridge, Marianna is determined to travel to the school to help Zoe. Upon arrival, Marianna immediately becomes suspicious of a visiting professor named Edward Fosca and his group of maidens. Soon after, other murders are committed,  Marianna is convinced that Fosca is the murderer, and she aims to prove it. Find out what happens to Marianna, Edward, Zoe and the Maidens when you read this page turner with many twists and turns for yourself. It's about 350 pages or a 4 mile run with a jagged turn at the end I didn't see coming. Enjoy.

November 21,2021 RESPECT

Whatever happened to respecting elders?  Respect--"due regard for the feelings, wishes, rights, or traditions of others." That's the respect I'm talking about. I'm shocked by the lack of respect the younger generation shows today.  When did this become okay? So--do kids NOT respect their own parents anymore? Is that where this comes from? Is it the trickle down effect? Are parents not behaving in a manner that fosters respect so that kids aren't learning it at home?  I NEED TO KNOW. When I was I kid--my brothers had to take their hats off and put a shirt on if they wanted to eat a meal. NO elbows on the table and PLEASE AND THANK YOU WERE THE MAGIC WORDS. Once--I actually held "the door" so long that -- I  missed a whole day of school. On a serious note--I'll never forget the ONE time I was disrespectful to my grandfather. I actually told him to "Shut Up" because he was teasing me about  being chubby. I was in fifth grade AND MY WORLD actually stopped for a minute. The shock and hurt in his eyes was more than I could bare. I apologized immediately but the hurt had been done.  I have never used those words again to tell someone to be quiet. I was being disrespectful--took responsibility--and learned a hard lesson. Maybe the problem is that parents don't make kids take responsibility anymore?? Or is it that parents don't take responsibility?  HUMMMM........on to bigger and much better things. I just finished reading one of my favorite authors--Amor Towles new book The Lincoln Highway. Emmett, one of the main characters, has just been released from a juvenile work camp after serving time for involuntary manslaughter. After being  dropped off at the family farm in Nebraska, Emmett is finally reunited with his eight year old brother, Billy, but they soon discover that they are not alone. Two of Emmett's friends from the camp, Duchess and Woolly have shown up needing help. All Emmett wants to do is leave Nebraska in his studebaker with his little brother to start over--and possibly find their mother in California-- but reluctantly agrees to give his friends a ride to Omaha first.  Once they arrive in Omaha, Duchess and Woolly take off in Emmett's  car leaving the brothers in pursuit of the car--that is now in New York--where they meet a cast of characters that make the story one hell of a ride. This highly entertaining story is a long ride down the Lincoln Highway that you will be sad to see end. It's about 600 pages or a 6 mile ride that I thoroughly enjoyed. 

November 6, 2021 MY GENERATION

Not sure I've ever mentioned this before but I'm actually Jewish.  I'm Catholic but I'm also Jewish. My mother was raised Jewish but converted to Catholicism and raised us as Catholics. According to Jewish law though --the Jewish status is passed down through the mother--so it's in my blood. I grew up raising a glass of wine and toasting  L'Chaim (To Life)--LOOKING at gefilte fish that totally grossed me out --eating Matzo ball soup and lighting a menorah.  I also grew up eating pork, shell fish, decorating a Christmas tree and  celebrating Christmas. I guess it was the best of both worlds.  My mother converted to Catholicism early on because she said that she always hated being Jewish. I never understood why--or even asked her about it until this week AND it was only after reading this wonderful memoir about another woman who converted in the 1940s. It would have been impossible for me to understand my mother's rational because generationally--I am so far removed from her situation that I would not have been able appreciate her thinking. I finally get it. Books. The places they take me  and the lessons I learn.  What would I do without them? I just can't believe it took me so long to find The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother by James McBride. This beautifully written memoir was a collaboration between McBride and his  remarkable mother Ruth McBride Jordan. Ruth grew up in the South. Her father was a rabbi and she was often persecuted in her white community for being Jewish, so she turned to the African American community where she was accepted. She eventually moved to Red Hook housing project in Brooklyn, married a black man and founded a Baptist church. She also became a mother to 12 children who all graduated from college. It is quite a story--laugh out loud funny at times, emotional at others and totally inspirational. McBride never knew anything about his mother's past until he was an adult when she finally agreed to share her history, then he finally understand his own place in the world. This National Book Award winner should be required reading for every human being. It's that good. At only 295 pages--it's a 4 mile run--that is worth every page. 

October 23, 2021 HARD HABIT TO BREAK

 

NEW ADDICTION---Pumpkin Spice latte with oat milk from Starbucks. It HAS to be STARBUCKS. Believe it or NOT--there' s a HUGE difference. I know a grande cost $6.50--which is RIDICULOUS--but it is worth every penny.  DD  is probably half the price--BUT--it's sickeningly sweet and fake tasting. I'm NEVER GOING BACK. I'm sure they're  both-- VERY FATTENING--So if I'm going to splurge--It's going to be on the best. It's like ice cream. Why eat crappy ice cream--when I can enjoy Ben & Jerry's Chunky Monkey right? Same goes for  a hot fudge sundae. If I'm gonna get one--it's gotta have real hot fudge-- real whipping cream-- and extra nuts too. Or eat a cake from Stop & Shop when the Cake Lady is far superior.  I have a friend who only drinks Budweiser. I don't understand. Why drink a Budweiser when I can have a Guinness--or Carlo Rossi when I can have Cabernet Sauvignon--or Bukoff  when I can have Grey Goose. Sorry--Getting a bit carried away but you get the drift. Why waste calories on JUNK--when I can have the good stuff. I only have ONE life to live. Better enjoy it.  It's a no brainer.  I'm just going to finish sipping my latte while I review Peter Swanson's new book Every Vow You Break. The main character in this thriller  set in New York City is Abigail Bakin, newly engaged to Bruce Lamb, a millionaire IT man. On the weekend of her bachelorette party in California, Abigial has a little too much to drink and has one last fling with a man named Scotty. Although she is guilt ridden, she decides to put it behind her and devote the rest of her life to Bruce. After a very elaborate wedding, the couple honeymoon on a secluded island in Maine where Scotty appears. Is he following Abigail and what does he want? While Abigail ponders her situation, strange things begin to happen on the island and her perfect husband suddenly doesn't seem so perfect. Find out what happens to Abigail, Bruce and Scotty when you read this page turner for yourself. Its a mystery with many twists and turns of about 300 pages or a 4 mile run that will keep you guessing til the bitter end. Enjoy. 

October 11, 2021 DREAM WEAVER

 Not sure what I'd do without the library. Seriously. I have a mild addiction to the place. I actually get jittery if a  few weeks go by and I haven't made a pilgrimage to check out what's new on the shelves.  It's one of my happy places. Where else can you go to BORROW YOUR FAVORITE THINGS. If I bought every book I've read over the years--I'd be a pauper or a hoarder because it's hard for me to give away books--especially ones I've bought. And Get this--if the library doesn't  have the book-- it can be ordered--FREE--from another library. They even send you an email when the book comes in. It's really a no brainer. There aren't many things left in this world that are absolutely FREE. Hope you take advantage of the library and their services and support the library by  Becoming a Friend of the Library. Heck--I just read a great book that was on the recommendation shelf from one of the librarians--that I'd never have spied on my own. It was called In Five Years by Rebecca Serle. The main character of this little gem is Dannie Kohan, an attorney living in New York City. She is one of those people who has planned out her entire life. She's just landed her dream job and gotten engaged--all part of her grand plan. One night she goes to bed and has a dream that changes her life. It is exactly 5 years in the future and she's in a different apartment, with a different man with a different engagement ring on her finger. She wakes highly disturbed by a dream that felt too real to be a dream. Five years go by and Dannie is still engaged when her best friend, Belle,  introduces her to her new boyfriend AND it's the guy from her dream. How can that be? Maybe it wasn't a dream? Don't want to say anymore about this book except that I had a very hard time putting down. It's a quick read only 250 pages or a quick 3 mile run that I thoroughly enjoyed. 

September 30, 2021 ROUND AND AROUND WE GO

Why can't we all just get along?                                                

Why haven't the gun laws changed?

How can we just accept all the violence in our society?

Why do people care more about money than human lives?

When did people become so hateful?

How did we get to this point?

How can we make things better for the next generation?

Will  Democracy even last in the United States?

When did people become SO self-absorbed?

How do we get people to think about the common good?

These are just the random questions clouding my brain lately that are making it very difficult to concentrate. UGH. Think I'll lose myself in a book review for a while.....

I just finished reading The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz and thoroughly enjoyed it. Imagine that you were a famous writer and now you are a has been. To make ends meet--you teach writing workshops on the side. There, you  meet a young writer--totally full of himself--who just happens to have the most amazing idea for a story that you've ever heard. Now imagine that the young writer dies and you think you are the only one left who knows the story. Would you steal it and make it your own? This is the dilemna Jacob Finch Bonner faces. If he steals the plot, then he will be back at the top--the best seller list--Oprah's stamp of approval --a possible movie. Sounds like a no-brainer right?  Find out what happens to Jacob after he steals the plot when you read this fast paced well-written story for yourself. It's 320 pages or a 4.5 run that's full of surprises. Enjoy. 

September 16, 2021 BACK ON THE CHAIN GANG

I'm either having trouble with time management---OR---there just aren't enough hours in the day. Back on the TREADMILL--work--run--yoga--read--blog--cook--AND NOW HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS--is thrown into the mix AGAIN.  Soccer EVERY day after school and then-- WHAT'S FOR DINNER--EVERY night at 6:00PM. It's a lot of pressure. Pretty sure I've been through this once before......HUMMMMM. Yup--back in the saddle again and determined to enjoy every minute. Can't tell you how much I missed high school sports after my daughter graduated. And now--I get to do it all again. Although time consuming-- it really is SO much fun. Trekking to the games--cheering for the team--the camaraderie with parents--I Love it all. Just wish I could hire a chef but I guess that's too much to ask. Good thing I got that Air Fryer for Christmas last year. It's coming in REAL handy these days--chicken tenders, wings, sweet potato fries, fish tacos. I'm a regular Julia Childs these days.............Bon Appetit. 

I'm really into reading James McBride these days too.  He is an incredibly gifted writer. I recently finished his second novel from 2002,  Miracle at St. Anna and  absolutely loved it. As the story unfolds, Hector Negron is a longtime postal worker in Harlem who shoots a customer in the face after he asks to buy a stamp. Negron is arrested and detained but will not speak. Meanwhile, the reader is transported to the village of St. Anna, Italy, in December 1944. Four U.S. Army soldiers from the 92 division--all black buffalo soldiers-- become trapped behind enemy lines after Private Sam Train tries to save an orphan boy named Angelo. The soldiers are stranded in the village of St. Anna, among villagers they don't understand with the German army breathing down their neck. Interestingly, these black American soldiers are fighting for the freedom of others, when they live in a world where their own freedom is questionable, and are serving in an Army that segregates them from others. Don't want to say much more except this novel was  inspired by actual events. It's not only about the terrors of war, but more importantly, about love, sacrifice, and  heroism as a group of men come to believe in the miracle at St. Anna. At 336 pages or a 4.5 mile run--I was sad to see it end because the characters were rich and the different story lines unforgettable. Enjoy. 

August 29, 2021 BACK ON MY FEET AGAIN

 Had a great run this morning--despite the broken toe. Yup. That's what I get for walking around barefoot.  I smashed my baby toe into the side of the couch last weekend. It has turned several colors--dark purple, blue, pink, yellow and now an ominous shade of grey. Couldn't put a shoe on for a few days but it's much better now. Not much you can do for a broken toe. Yoga and running have been a bit of a challenge BUT I'm getting it done. The toe doesn't hurt while I run--BUT after I run OUCH--a little ice really helps calm it down. Gotta be careful with the Chatturanga too. Never realized---exactly what the FOUR corners of the foot really meant until now. We take our feet for granted UNTIL WE CAN'T--never really paying attention to them UNTIL something happens. It's really a shame. If it weren't for our feet --we wouldn't be able to DO SO MANY THINGS. Think about it........ Did you know most people walk over 100,000 miles in their lifetime--and they aren't doing it on their hands. So I'm trying to be kinder to my feet because they have to last a lifetime. Zoe Walker, the main character in Clare Mackintosh's thriller, I See You, depends on her feet too--to keep her safe as she runs from a stalker in the London Underground. One day while on her commute home, Zoe sees her own face in a classified ad. The website is FindTheOne.com and it's an ad she didn't post. Each day, a different woman appears in the ad and Zoe finds out that the women in the ads are later victims of violent crimes. She goes to the police and a policewoman named Kelly takes her case. This psychological thriller is told in alternating points of view between Kelly and Zoe as Kelly and her partner Nick try to solve the case and keep Zoe and the other women in the ads alive. Find out who is behind the classified ads and the crimes when you read this suspense filled, creepy mystery for yourself. It's about 450 pages or a 4.5 mile run that might have you rethinking your routine. Enjoy. 

August 21, 2021 UP ON A ROOF

I've had SHINGLES twice so my doctor was really on me to get the shot. I don't mind shots BUT I do mind side effects. I was assured that I would only have a little pain in the arm for a few days. WRONG. I LITERALLY felt like I was hit by a bus that was out to sea in the middle of a storm. The nausea was overwhelming AND  EVERY bone in my body ACHED. I couldn't even bend my fingers because my knuckles were SO sore.  It was like I had the FLU TIMES TWO for 24 hours. And as mysteriously as it came--it went. BUT--I still have to have the SECOND SHOT and that's FREAKING ME OUT. Who willingly gets a shot that they know is going to make them wish they were dead for 24 hours. HUM? Not me BUT..........This is a quandary. So I'll tackle this problem like I handle others--I'll ignore it til the bitter end. Forget about it--or try to BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO DEAL WITH IT. The only good thing I can report about my bout with the Shingles vaccine is that I sat still long enough to get through a pretty good book called We Are The Brennans by Tracey Lange. The Brennans are a large, close-knit, Irish Catholic family living in New York. The main character in the story is the only girl in the family, 29 year old Sunday who has been living in LA for five years. After a DUI accident and a string of bad luck, Sunday decides to return home to face her family and ex-fiancee, Kale. Kale is now married and a father who just happens to be Denny Brennan's business partner. After returning home, Sunday is determined to forget the past and rebuild her life but that is easier said than done; especially, after a man from the past reappears and tries to destroy the Brennan family. Find out how this complicated family is almost torn apart by secrets and Irish guilt when you read this interesting, easy to read family drama for yourself. It's only 290 pages or a 3 mile run that got me through a few tough days. Enjoy. 

August 9, 2021 TWO OUT OF THREE AIN'T BAD

 

Actually---it was four out of five. Not Bad. Got together with most of my siblings last week. Haven't seen a few of them in at least 10 years--HELL--haven't  lived with them since I was fourteen. My youngest brother doesn't even remember living with me. Crazy. Nothing like a health scare to get family together.  It was really great visiting with my siblings AND IT WAS LONG OVERDUE. We come from different states AND are as different as night and day BUT there is a bond we share that can't be denied. We laughed talking about the old days--cried because it had been too long--vowed to get together in the next two years. One of the highlights of the trip was running with my youngest brother.  I never in a million years thought we'd ever get to run together. We've texted  about the possibility many times  but the reality was amazing. Running in a new city is an incredible experience made even better because it was with him. I absolutely love the sights and sounds of a new city and running enabled us to explore the nooks and crannies often missed in the car.  We were even able to  run between Cincinnati and Kentucky several times thanks to some really cool bridges. If you have siblings that you haven't seen  in a LONG while--make the effort to get together--it's really worth it. Another thing worth your effort is the final book in The Art of Hearing Heartbeats trilogy by Jan-Philipp Sendker called The Heart Remembers. The last installment of this lovely series is set in Kalaw, a small town in Burma. Ko Bo is a twelve year old boy who lives with his Uncle U Ba. Ko Bo hasn't seen his mother, Julia Win, in seven years as she has a mysterious illness. He only sees his father, Thar Thar, once a year for a week because his mother can not be left alone. Ko Bo yearns to learn more about this parents and begs his uncle to tell him why his mother stays away but U Ba is reluctant to tell him. After finding and reading letters about his parents' love story, Ko Bo is convinced that he can heal his mother and reunite his family so he runs away to Yangon to try to find his parents This beautiful, tragic story is a must read for anyone who has read the first two books. The writing is incredible and the characters are unforgettable. This book is about 400 pages or a 4.5 mile run that you'll always remember.  If you haven't read the trilogy--I recommend starting with the first book and reading them in order. Enjoy. 

July 24, 2021 IF I DIE YOUNG

Passed on. Departed.  Left this world. Passed away. Slipped away.  Was called home. Gained  his angel wings. Kicked the bucket. Is in a better place. Met his maker. Entered eternal rest. It's funny how we use Euphemisms to "Soften the blow"--when we really want to say--DAMN IT --SHE OR HE IS DEAD. DEAD AS A DOORNAIL as Dickens would say. Doctor Death has been on my mind A LOT lately. So many people have DIED over the last few months. YES--THEY ARE DEAD. Really good people.  These were friends, husbands, wives, fathers, aunts, uncles, sons, daughters, siblings--that we will NEVER SEE OR TALK TO AGAIN. That's the reality AND IT SUCKS. It's something you can't possibly understand UNTIL IT HAPPENS TO YOU. Life can change in the blink of an eye so-- BE KIND--BE THANKFUL AND APPRECIATE EVERY DAY. Don't sweat the small stuff. That's all I've got.........If you want to escape reality for a while, check out Stacey Abrams new book While Justice Sleeps. This serious page turner, written by the 2018 Democratic nominee for governor of Georgia, is a real eye opener into the world of politics even though it's fiction. As this mystery unfolds, Howard Wynn, Justice for the Supreme Court, has slipped into a coma at a very inconvenient time. He's due to vote on the merger of an American biotech company with an Indian genetic firm. To make matters worse, he's appointed his law clerk, Avery Keene, as  his legal guardian and Power of Attorney. Add to the mix, a President bent on stopping the merger, and a cast of characters including  Wynn's estranged wife, son, FBI agents and a host of elaborate clues that mimic a chess game. Keene clearly has her hands full as she tries to sift through a web of lies and a political landscape that is reminiscent of our world today. Find out if Avery saves the day when you read this suspense filled novel for yourself.  It's about 360 pages or a 4 mile novel that will keep your mind off your troubles......for a little while. 

July 9, 2021 JUST MY IMAGINATION

 

Call me old fashioned if you want-- BUT GIRLS--COVER IT UP. I don't care what the style is. KNOW YOUR BODY and wear WHAT FLATTERS IT. If you're not sure --ASK YOUR MOTHER. She will tell you the truth. SERIOUSLY. Believe it or NOT--only a FEW girls can actually pull off the MICROKINI-- STRING BIKINI--BRAZILIAN--TANGA--T STRING--THONG. Every BODY is Beautiful BUT every BODY is also DIFFERENT. Don't try to jam your body into a bathing suit that isn't complementary to YOUR figure just because it's the latest trend. It's better to leave SOME things to the imagination. Understand this--YOU ARE REALLY SHARING YOUR BODY WITH SOME SERIOUS PERVERTS OUT THERE.  Respect your body--respect yourself--enough said. This mantra could have helped Lowen Ashleigh, the main character in Colleen Hoovers thriller Verity. Lowen is a struggling writer who gets the opportunity of a lifetime. She's been asked to complete the remaining books in a successful series because the author, Verity Crawford,  has had an accident and is recovering at home.  Lowen agrees to spend time at the author's home and office in Vermont in order to go through outlines and notes to find enough material to finish the novels. While searching through Verity's notes, Lowen stumbles upon an autobiography written by Verity filled with alarming confessions and thoughts that would devastate her husband, Jeremy. At first, Lowen decides to keep the autobiography to herself, but as her feelings for Jeremy grow, she has second thoughts. I don't want to say much more except that this is a disturbing mystery that includes murder, child abuse and some graphic sex. It sort of reminded me of Gone Girl. Find out what ultimately happens to Lowen, Verity and Jeremy when you read this unnerving 331 page--3 mile run --for yourself. You won't be able to put it down and you won't forget it either. 

June 29, 2021 THE DAMAGE DONE

 I was fourteen years old when my mother threw me out--Literally. All my possessions were heaped in a pile on the front lawn. This experience has haunted me for over 40 years. It's left an imprint on my soul. Although it was done in a fit of anger--there was never any apology. No real attempt to repair the damage until it was too late.  One day I had a mother and the next--she was gone. One day I had siblings and then--they were gone. It was kind of like in the Godfather when he says--YOU'RE DEAD TO ME. This event has shaped my life--for better or worse. It's made me--fiercely independent--somewhat callus--and a bit reserved.  Parents have the power to make or break their kids. EVERY decision they make has REAL consequences.  Believe it or not-- CHILDREN ARE AFFECTED PERMANENTLY. I'm proof of that.  Once you become a parent--you don't have the right to be selfish. It's really NOT about you anymore. I've tried to live this because I don't want what happened to me to happen to my kids. I know life isn't fair and things happen BUT I am ultimately in control my own behavior and it's up to me to  think about the long term consequences of my actions--because they really matter.  Jivan, the main character in Megha Majumdar's debut novel A Burning, learns this painful lesson the hard way. Set in Kolkata, India, Jivan is a Muslim girl living in the slums who witnesses a terrorist attack on a train on her way home from work. She  posts a negative comment about the government on Facebook in regard to the terrorist attack and later finds herself arrested for the crime. There are only two people who can help her---PT Sir, her former gym teacher who has aspirations of moving up after joining a right wing political party and Lovely--a transgender with dreams of Bollywood. Lovely can provide an alibi for Jivan but at a price that may be too high. This fast paced, well written novel is ultimately about corruption, class, and politics in contemporary India--which is literally quite frightening. Read this 290 page--4 mile run--book for yourself to find out what happens to Jivan in this lawless land where corruption drips into every section of society. It's well worth the read.  

June 22, 2021 LIFE IS HARD

It's funny how we still call my youngest--The Baby. He's 6 feet tall. He just laughs and rolls his eyes--but to us--he will always be the baby. The ONE everyone in the family looks after. The same is true with siblings. Older siblings always want to protect their younger siblings--NO MATTER HOW OLD THEY ARE........It's crazy but true. We want them to be safe, happy and healthy--AND--when something threatens the BIG THREE--we feel it almost as much as they do. We want to make it all better and take away their troubles BUT that's impossible. Can't put a bandaid on grown-up problems. This thing called  ADULTING can be an ARDUOUS journey. It doesn't come with an instruction manual and the are NO guarantees.  There are pitfalls--dead ends--ditches and even one way streets that make it so VERY difficult to navigate. I guess that's where family comes in. When the going gets tough--the tough get going. Right.  Family rallies-- helps you help yourself. Reminds you that things will get better.  Believe it OR not--Things that seem ENORMOUS today will be but a sad memory someday. These lessons and many others are paramount in Marilynne Robinson's Pulitzer Prize winning novel from 2005, Gilead.  This lovely, quiet story is set in the fictional town of Gilead, Iowa, in 1956 where Reverend John Ames writes his memoirs for his seven year old son. Ames is a 76 year old Congregationalist pastor  who knows his days are limited due to a heart condition. He realizes that his young son will not remember him, so he wants to leave him with a gift.  Ames stories include telling his son about his own humble beginnings, memories and  experiences with his father and grandfather that ultimately shaped his life. Ames also focuses on his second marriage to Lila and the importance of friendship with his life long friend Boughton. Although Ames' memoir is also in part theological, it is more importantly a meditation on appreciating life and the beauty of simplicity. I've always wanted to read Gilead--not sure what took me so long--and I can't wait to read the companion books including Home of 2008, Lila of 2014 and Jack 2020. The writing is impeccable and unforgettable. It's only 245 pages--4 mile run--that you will never forget. Enjoy. 

June 9, 2021 LIFE'S BEEN GOOD

What a relief. School is FINALLY OVER. It was a crazy year. What I hated most was the MASK. 

It justdidn't work for me. I'm a person who says it all with my face--Hence the problem with the mask. I think the kids were confused all year because they couldn't see my FACE. They didn't know whether I was serious or NOT. It's funny too--wearing the mask inhibited my other senses. I couldn't hear the kids--everything sounded muffled--and my vision was limited too. I can't tell you how many times I tripped over backpacks because I couldn't see under my mask unless I moved my head--something I could never get used to for some reason. I was also BLIND for most of the year--I constantly took off my glasses because they fogged up. I couldn't see with them or without them. So thankful that life is finally getting back to normal. I went grocery shopping the other day WITHOUT THE MASK. I went to a restaurant WITHOUT THE MASK. AND finally went back to the yoga studio today WITHOUT THE MASK. Feeling grateful. Life is good. Erin French candidly reflects back on her life  and what she's grateful for in her new memoir Finding Freedom. Erin French is the owner and chef of the world renowned, Lost Kitchen, a 40 seat restaurant in Freedom, Maine. Erin's love affair with food began when she was a child as she spent most of her time in her father's diner in Freedom. It was there that she learned to prep, cook, clean, and manage a restaurant. After high school, she left home for college, but found herself back in Freedom after becoming pregnant. Erin's life takes many twists and turns as a single mother trying to make ends meet. She eventually marries and opens her first restaurant.  After her marriage crumbles, and she hits rock bottom, Erin somehow finds the courage to start over again to become one of the most sought after chefs in the world.  Find out all about Erin's life when you read this 300 page --3 mile run--for yourself. Her passion for food and desire to succeed will lift you up and help you learn that anything is possible in life. 

May 29, 2021 BITTER SWEET LOVE

I used to look forward to going to my grandparents house when I was young. It's the only time I can  remember being taken care of.  Not sure if those are the right words--what I'm trying to say is--it was the only time I remember feeling special. I spent my early years taking care of my brothers and little sister. Cooking, cleaning, changing cloth diapers with pins and rubber pants. I can vividly remember telling my 6th grade teacher that I could stay after school for volleyball as long as I got home by 4:00 to put the chicken in the oven. He must have thought I was nuts-- I thought nothing of it. My grandparents knew I was always taking care of others--so when I went to their house--I was treated like a queen. My grandmother made my bed--cooked whatever I wanted for breakfast--lunch--dinner AND we had giant hot fudge sundaes every night for DE. Those were the days. Today I spent three hours in the kitchen making a few platters of eggplant parmesan for my son. It's his birthday so I wanted to cook one of his favorite meals.  Take care of him--make him feel special.  It's funny how a little thing like making eggplant can turn bittersweet. Miranda Schuyler, the main character in Beatriz Williams lovely novel The Summer Wives, return to Winthrop Island after 18 years is also bittersweet. As the story unfolds, it's the summer of 1951 and Miranda has just arrived on Winthrop Island--loosely based on Fisher's Island--for her mother's wedding. Her mother is marrying into a wealthy family--Hugh Fisher--who owns a summer estate on the island. Miranda is also gaining a sister about her age named Isobel. Miranda immediately loves the island but the glamor and lifestyle of the rich is new and uncomfortable for her. Soon she meets Joseph Vargas whose father is a fisherman and the lighthouse keeper. By the end of the summer an event occurs that changes Joseph's life forever and leaves Miranda banished from the island. The book then picks up again in 1969 . Miranda, now a famous actress, has finally returned to the island. The Fisher estate is in shambles, but the island has remained the same except for the police who are  looking for an escaped prisoner named  Joseph Vargas. Find out what happens to Joseph, Miranda, Isabel and the people of Winthrop Island when you read this page turner for yourself. It's a mystery and love story of about 360 pages or a 4 mile run-- that I really enjoyed. 

May 18, 2021 HAPPY TRAILS...................

Went to a funeral today. It was a tough one. Lost one of the good ones. Seriously. They broke the mold after him.  He taught us all  how to live a  more meaningful life just by setting a good example. I'm going to do my best to be a little more like him. I heard the same words over and over today when describing him. He was kind, humble, empathetic, helpful and fully present.  He was also a good listener who never criticized others. Let's all choose to be a little more like our beloved friend. If we all work together--the world WILL be a better place. Happy Trails. 

If you're looking for an interesting book to take your mind off your troubles, check out What's Mine And Yours by Naima Coster. As the story unfolds, It is 1992, and young Gee's father, Ray, is killed for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The impact of his death on two families is central to this story set in Piedmont North Carolina. Told from alternating perspectives, the story jumps between 2002-2018. The  main characters are  Gee and Noelle. Gee and Noelle actually meet in 2002 when Gee, a black student, is bused to Noelle's mostly white high school in an effort to integrate the schools. Noelle's mother, Lacey May,  actively protests the integration as her daughter befriends Gee and the two star in the school play. Lacey May another important character in the story,  has also had a hard life as her husband, Robbie has been in and out of prison and has a drug problem. The story then flips to 2018 as Noelle finds out her mother is ill and she returns home to repair relationships and come to terms with her life. This is ultimately a family saga about race, class, hardship, poverty, addition,  and  two families whose lives are forever linked by tragedy. This novel is about 350 pages or a 4 mile run that I found interesting and enjoyed. 

May 2, 2021 THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD

 Just registered for my first race in over a year. AND IT'S A BIGGY. A half marathon. I haven't run one since my injury 3 years ago. Not even sure I should attempt it BUT looking forward to getting the gang back together again. It should be VERY interesting. Right now one of us has an injury (NOT ME) another has only been running 3 miles and I've been trying to sneak in a 6 miler on the weekends.  WE ARE DEFINITELY NOT IN HALF MARATHON SHAPE. FYI--They just opened up registration for the 59th Annual John Kelley Road Race. This is the only FREE race around--and they are ONLY taking 1000 runners. So if you've been thinking about committing to a beautiful scenic run--and want to get in some distance--this is the race for you. It's always a great time. They have a band after the race and there's NOTHING BETTER than a COLD BEER and BAD NACHOS. There is also another fun run/walk coming up on May 16th--the 4th annual Dylan Konakowitz Memorial Run. I'll definitely get my feet wet at that run.  They have a great basket raffle, food, drink and music too. If you don't feel comfortable running in person--the run is also available virtually. Check it out.  After you check out the local races, check out this debut novel by Nancy Jooyoun Kim called The Last Story of Mina Lee. Margot Lee is a 26 years old Korean American who moved to Seattle after college leaving her mother behind in Koreatown , LA. She decides to travel to Koreatown to visit her mother, Mina Lee, after repeated attempts to reach her by phone fail. When she arrives home, she finds her mother died in the living room. This discovery sends Margot digging into her mother's past because she is suspicious even though the police believe the death is accidental. The story then flips back and forth between Margot's quest to discover what happened to her mother, and her mother's arrival in the United States in 1987 as an undocumented immigrant. This book is part mystery, part love story and part examination of the immigration process in the 1980's. By the end of this novel, Margot finally understands her mother's struggles-- an orphan of the Korean War who came to American to try to have a better life. This book is about 380 pages or a 4 mile run that is worth the read. It will make you thankful that you are an American, but also give you a little empathy for other people seeking The American Dream. 

April 25, 2021 WATCHING THE WHEELS

 We all know THOSE people who continue to do the same things     

OVER AND OVER and expect DIFFERENT RESULTS.  I have NEVER been able to understand that some people NEVER LEARN FROM THEIR MISTAKES. They never realize that it's NOT SOMEONE ELSE'S FAULT. It is THEIR RESPONSIBILITY.  I'm NO Math genius BUT--Same BEHAVIOR + Same BEHAVIOR= Same result.  RIGHT? I think that's the hard part though--Changing OUR BEHAVIOR. Realizing that OUR own actions ALWAYS affect the outcome. If we really want to change our lives--we have to take responsibility-- realize that we have to change our behavior--AND--everything else will fall in place. It's really that simple.  BECAUSE--Our behavior affects our THOUGHTS-- WHICH IN TURN-- AFFECTS OUR EMOTIONAL WELL BEING. Kind thoughts--Kind words-Kind heart--my mantra. It's a game changer.  This is one of the MANY lessons I've learned through my yoga practice. Yoga  really is the gift that keeps giving.  Olympic runner Alexi Pappas also learned this valuable lesson  and wrote about it in her new  memoir Bravey. When Alexi Pappas was four years old, her mentally ill mother committed suicide. This tragedy shaped her life in both positive and negative ways.  This memoir is a collection of essays that illustrate how she has dealt with loss, hardship and the pain of losing her mother to become an Olympic runner, actress, filmmaker and writer. Part of Pappas' drive to succeed stems from her fear of becoming her mother, but in working hard to always do her best, she almost succeeded in becoming her worst fear. After her debut in the 2016 Olympics, Pappas fell into a post Olympic depression and thought about ending her life. She finally got the help she needed and realized that she had to reevaluate the list of rules and behaviors she developed in childhood because they no longer served her. It's interesting--we all have certain rules in our lives--or coping mechanisms--that work for us up to a point, but at some point, we have to let them go because they prevent us from growing and changing. Pappas changed her behaviors--that in turn changed her thoughts and finally her emotional wellbeing. This coming of age story was both funny and heartbreaking in so many ways. I'll say this-- Pappas is a courageous, strong, woman who has overcome a tragedy I wouldn't wish on anyone and she has written about it in hopes of helping others see that they too can overcome adversity and live a richer life. This memoir is about 330 pages or a 4 mile run that I'd recommend for anyone seeking a better way to live. You really CAN change your life. 

April 17, 2021 PLEASE RELEASE ME

Just got back from a MUCH needed little get away. Felt like I was released from prison. Seriously--I 

haven't been anywhere OR gone to a restaurant with my husband since COVID. I didn't even care that it rained and snowed the whole time. Took a little trip to the Berkshires. It's a lovely drive with great little towns and BOOKSTORES. We stopped at an interesting book store in Stockbridge and then went to the Norman Rockwell Museum. What a treasure. It's hard to believe that Rockwell painted 321 different covers for the Saturday Evening Post---starting when he was just 17 years old. That's A LOT OF WORK. Imagine  painting  a cover a month. That sounds CRAZY enough but he also had to decide what to paint first. That would be a real problem for me because I'm so indecisive.  Williamstown is also a lovely area. Stayed overnight and then visited The Clark. NOW THAT'S A REAL GEM. The collection includes Renoir,  Homer, Singer Sargent, Constable, Turner, Degas, Toulouse-Lautrec, Mary Cassett, Monet, Manet, Durer, Pissaro, Remington.........and many more. Bookstores, museums, good food and drink--that's all I need. Oh yeah--a good pair running shoes and a yoga mat too. Peace. 

I just finished a very interesting novel written by Sue Monk Kidd called The Book of Longings that really got me thinking--What if???  In this novel, Kidd imagined that Jesus had a wife and her name was Ana. Ana was from a wealthy family in Sepphoris. She was an independent, scholarly woman who was  determined to have her own voice, but her family had other ideas. Against her will, she was originally betrothed to an older widower who suddenly dies. After a chance encounter with Jesus, her life changes.  Ana and Jesus marry and move to Nazareth to live with his family which includes his mother Mary and some siblings. Ana supports Jesus and learns to cope with his choices even though she doesn't fully understand, but also finds her own voice with the help of her Aunt Yaltha. Ana is eventually forced to flee to Alexandria with her aunt where she realizes her goals and discovers a sisterhood. This is essentially the story of the power of women.  Who knows--maybe there was a strong wife in Jesus' life. Scholars admit that their knowledge of the life of Jesus is very limited--especially his lost years between childhood and his ministry, so we really don't know. Why shouldn't he have had a wife? At that time in history, men were married by the time they were twenty. Kidd spent four years researching to write the book so read it and take from it what you will. It's about 400 pages and worth the read. 

April 10, 2021 MY WAY

 My attitude towards running has really changed and for that I'm thankful. 

I used to put SO much pressure on myself. It was crazy. Even exhausted, I used to make myself run after a LONG day at school.  They were TERRIBLE runs--but I did them anyway--BECAUSE I HAD TO GET THE RUN IN--or so I told myself. These days--I walk after school if I'm tired. AND THAT'S OKAY.  I don't try to RUN THROUGH injuries anymore either. THAT WAS REALLY DUMB. Had to learn that lesson the hard way too. I've had a foot that's been bothering me --so I've been more careful about running. Doing more yoga instead.  I've been nursing it for about a month and finally decided to give running a whirl again--Had a GREAT 6 mile run. Resting and stretching my foot made all the difference.  I think of running now as a privilege. I'm just grateful to be able to get out there and  put one foot in front of the other.  It doesn't really matter how far I run or how fast I am. I'M STILL OUT THERE AND I'M GETTING IT DONE. MY WAY.   I'm not getting any younger. Who knows how long it will last--so I might as well just enjoy the ride. Speaking of enjoying--I just finished a psychological thriller that had me hooked from the first page. It was called The Push by Ashley Audrain. The main character, Blythe, is a young woman who wants to break the cycle. Her grandmother and mother were both dysfunctional, selfish, unloving mothers. Shortly after marrying Fox, Blythe finds out she is pregnant with their first child. Although she is steeped in doubt, Fox assures her that she will be a great mom and their family will thrive. Unfortunately for Blythe, and many other women, that first birth doesn't go as planned. She gives birth to a healthy daughter named Violet, but experiences postpartum blues, has difficulty nursing, sleepless nights and is unable to bond with her daughter. Although she feels guilty, she doesn't really like her daughter and the feeling is mutual. Although she voices these concerns to her husband, Fox  refuses to admit there is a problem. A few years later, Blythe has a second child, a boy named Sam and her experience is very different. They immediately bond and she finally feels like a loving mother. Problems with Violet and her behavior weigh on Blythe's mind--she is manipulative, sneaky --maybe a "bad seed" but her husband refuses to see it. Do I have you interested?? Find out what happens to Blythe, Fox, Violet and Sam when you read this page turner for yourself. Did I mention that I loved the ending and we really taken aback. It's about 320 pages or a 3 mile run that will greatly disturb you.........on many levels. 

April 2, 2021 DON'T STOP BELIEVING

 I'm the luckiest person in the world. I get to meet incredible people who inspire me to be a better person. 

Believe it or not ---I'm talking about my students. I've been a teacher for a LONG time and have had the privilege of working with SO MANY GREAT KIDS who have grown up to become INCREDIBLE ADULTS. I don't usually Name--Names--but today is different. Way back in the OLDEN days--when I taught fifth grade--I had this little girl WHO LOVED TO READ AS MUCH AS I DID. She always had her nose in a book and carried them around like they were her best friends. She was different though--because she was legally blind. Even in fifth grade--she never let her disability STAND IN HER WAY. She worked hard and succeeded in every area--academics--theatre--dance. Her CAN-DO attitude made me smile. AND talk about KIND and POSITIVE--never met anyone so genuine in my life. This remarkable young girl is now a grown up who continues to BLOW MY MIND.  She always wanted to write a book and that  dream has come true too. The book is  called Yes and it's written by the ONE and ONLY Frankie Ann Marcille. This lovely book is based on Frankie's life and how she dealt with adversity because of her disability. As a young girl, she had big dreams but was told by many people that because of her disability, she shouldn't dream too big. Well--if you know Frankie, she faced her challenges head on and left the naysayers behind. This review would be incomplete if I didn't mention the illustrations --which were done by my son, Pat. Frankie's story is wonderful, but it's the combination of the story and illustrations that make it a must have book. It's worthing noting that Frankie and Pat have known each other forever. They actually attended the same schools from preschool through high school, so they have a special bond. Having an illustrator who truly knows the writer of the story is rare. And that's what make the book so special. He really knows the little girl in the story. WOW.  This book is not just for kids either.  It's a story that will  resinate with anyone who DREAMS BIG. Every generation needs to remember not to let anyone or anything stand in the way of making dreams come true. --The book launch is Saturday May 1, 2021, at McCook Point Park in Niantic, CT from 10-12. Covid precautions will be taken--masks for all.  There will be a read-aloud, Q & A with the author, illustrator and book signing. Hope to see you there.

March 27, 2021 CHICKEN FRIED

 Back in the day--my grandparents bought a 350 acre farm and my grandfather became a chicken farmer. It was called SueDick Farm--after his children. The farm housed several coops that held approximately 25,000 hens each. Talk about a FULL TIME JOB--The average hen lays about 250 eggs per year and he probably had 100,000 chickens.  NOW THAT'S A LOT OF EGGS. The eggs had to be collected --BY HAND--twice a day. Dawn and Dusk. They were placed in big wire baskets and then cleaned in big machines --kind of like washing machines. THEN-- they were put on a grading machine--BY HAND--to be weighed and packed--BY HAND--to sell. Lets do the math. A dozen eggs in the 1950's sold for about 60 cents. My grandfather sold his eggs to restaurants and various places by the case. A case of eggs held 30 dozen eggs so he made about 18 dollars a case. WOW. I remember helping---once in a while--but  my brothers were the real "farmhands." It was back breaking work. I've been thinking about the farm a lot lately. A friend of mine has 6 VERY HANDSOME HENS--and she surprised me with some FARM FRESH EGGS a few weeks ago. They were AMAZING. I haven't had  eggs like that since the farm--when I took them for granted. Missing the farm but grateful to have a friend with hens. BUK-BUK. Nao Yasutani, one of the main characters in Ruth Ozeki's lovely novel A Tale For The Time Being, is also missing the the past. Nao is a sixteen year old girl who grew up in Sunnydale, California. She has recently returned to Tokyo with her family after her father's disgrace. She's being bulled at school and her family is a mess. She has decided to end it all, but not before she records the life of her Buddhist nun great-grandmother Old Jiko-- in her secret diary. Ruth, the other main character in the story, is a writer who lives on a remote island in Canada called Whalestown. One day she is walking the beach with her husband when she finds a Hello Kitty lunch box that has washed ashore. She suspects the lunch box is from the Tsunami of 2011. When she opens the lunchbox, she finds, wrapped in plastic for safekeeping, Nao's diary. As Ruth reads the diary, she becomes engrossed in the story and is determined to find out what happened to Nao. This is a wonderful novel for so many reasons. It was really  interesting to learn about Japanese culture, tradition and their understanding of history especially WWII. I also loved Nao, her family and especially her Old Jiko.  This novel was at times laugh-out-loud funny, but  it was also heartbreaking and tragic. It is everything a well-written book should be. At about 400 pages--I'd say it's a 6 mile  run that I was sad to finish. 

March 19, 2021 TEEN ANGEL

 Do you remember being a GAWKY TEENAGER? 

Well-- I was transported back in time today. Back to  that UNFORTUNATE AGE--while at an event for my son--who just happens to be in eighth grade. All of the sudden it was 1979.  I was SKIN  and BONE. Long AND lanky AND AWKWARD. Uncomfortable in MY OWN  skin. My feet were too BIG and my arms SO long they practically dragged on the ground. UGH. I was trying to fold inward--TRYING TO HIDE MY ODDLY SHAPED BODY FROM BEING NOTICED. But that was impossible because I was TOO TALL--parading around in my "high waters". Towering  over EVERY boy in school.  My boyfriend LITERALLY had to stand on a step ladder for our first kiss. NOT KIDDING.  AND forget school dances--the strain on my neck and back from bending over while "Slow Dancing Swaying to the Music" put me on a heating pad for a week. In case you're wondering-- I was also FLAT.   YUP--apparently--I was flatter than a TWO by FOUR--or so the boys told me.  Those were tough times-------- Thank God I'm back. It's 2021 and I'm not that GAWKY TEEN anymore.  It's really hard being IN BETWEEN......I remember it vividly. If only Addie LaRue, the main character in V.E. Schwab's new novel The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, were just a little bit older when she made her deal. Addie is not like other girls in France in 1714 who only want to get married. She wants to live, be free and travel the world, but her parents have other plans. After her parents arrange her marriage, Addie takes matters into her own hands. She runs away and meets a stranger named Luc in the woods. She then makes a deal with Luc that forever changes her life. She now has her freedom, but the cost is greater than she could imagine. It's now three hundred years later and Addie meets a man in a bookshop in New York. This is the first person in 300 years who remembers her name. I don't want to say anything more so you will have to read the book for yourself to find out about Addie's life and how the man in the book store ultimately changes Addie's future.  This interesting, very different story is about 440 pages or a 6 mile run that I did enjoy. I'm still trying to decide if I liked the ending though......let me know what you think. 

March 13, 2021 DON'T YOU FORGET ABOUT ME

YOU KNOW YOU'RE GETTING OLDER WHEN:        

•   You read People magazine AND DON'T RECOGNIZE THE CELEBRITIES. 
•   You say something to your kids that YOUR MOTHER USED TO SAY TO YOU.
•  It takes you TWICE as long to look HALF as good.
• You think you have more patience--but you really--JUST DON'T CARE ANYMORE.
• You look for your phone for an hour and it's in your pocket.
•  Your address book contains mostly DEAD people. Maybe just having an address book makes YOU old??
• You hear SNAP, CRACKLE, POP when you walk down the stairs. 
•  The "Oldies Station" is NOW playing the music you grew up with.

Yup--That about sums up my week.  Now on to bigger and better things. I'm a huge fan of Richard Russo, so I'm trying to read all of his books. I recently finished Nobody's Fool which was written in 1993 and made into a film staring Paul Newman in 1994. The novel is set in upstate New York in a tiny blue collar town called Bath and centers on the main character Donald "Sully" Sullivan. Sully is a 60 year old divorced  man with a bad knee who lives in a rented room above his landlady, Beryle Peoples. Because of his ailing health, Sully has difficulty working, but he is generally a construction worker when he can find the work and enough pain pills to make working bearable. Sully also seems to have commitment issues--an on again off again affair with a married woman and a son he could never commit to being a father to--because he's haunted. Haunted by his dead father, a mean drunk who abused him when he was a kid. Sully has never forgiven his father so in a sense--he's stuck. After his estranged son, Peter, returns to Bath, Sully is forced to face the choices he's made. This is a novel really about a small town, with a bunch of eccentric wonderful characters just trying to figure out life--which at times can be very complicated. It's about 560 pages or a 7 mile run that is well worth your time. 

March 5, 2021 HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT

 Got my first COVID shot the other day--Moderna--and it really knocked me for a loop. I was extremely nauseous and fatigued. I couldn't eat and felt  like I had run two marathons back to back. Not sure how I made it through the day. Took a two hour nap as soon as I got home from school AND I NEVER NAP. Couldn't lift my arm for two days either. Finally feeling better but it's been a rough week. Thankful that I was able to get the shot.....but already worrying what the next one will be like. Maybe I should have waited for the Johnson & Johnson shot--then I'd only have to get ONE SHOT. Who knows. Looking forward to that second shot though because I REALLY NEED TO GET MY LIFE BACK. I miss restaurants, movies, theatre, the library, book stores, and just shopping in general. Take out is great but what about the atmosphere at THE BAR or BUTTERED POPCORN at the movies. I miss wandering around the library and the SCENT of new books at my favorite book store.  ONLINE SHOPPING IS JUST NOT THE SAME. I can FINALLY see the light at the end of the tunnel  though AND IT'S ABOUT 5 WEEKS AWAY. In the meantime, I'll tell you a little about Kristen Hannah's new novel  The Four Winds. As this lovely epic unfolds, it's 1921 and Elsa Wolcott  lives in Texas with her wealthy family. Because of an illness when she was young, Elsa is deemed unmarriable and doomed to spinsterhood --until she takes matters into her own hands. After meeting Rafe Martinelli and getting pregnant, Elsa's family disowns her and she is forced to marry Rafe and live and work on his family's farm. The novel then jumps ahead to 1934 and the Great Depression. Millions of people are out of work, and the Martinelli family is barely surviving. Droughts have caused dust storms across the Great Plains and farmers are going bankrupt. The family must decide whether to fight to save their land or go west to California in search of a better life. This sweeping novel has interesting characters and is beautifully written. It vividly brings to life the harsh realities of the Depression, the Dust Bowl and the spirit of the American people. Find out what ultimately happens to the Martinelli family when you read this 450 page--6 mile run--for yourself. Enjoy. 

***If you are currently in the DOLDRUMS--you might want to wait to read this book. Remember--it's about the GREAT DEPRESSION and the DUST BOWL.  I still have grit in my teeth and I finished the book two weeks ago. 

February 18, 2021 HIGH TONE WOMAN

Did you know that the punctuation rules have changed with texting?? Apparently there is TONAL CONFUSION out there and the OLDER generation is to BLAME. I don't know........but in my world THE ELLIPSIS MEANT..........you were switching ideas. TODAY........ the younger generation BELIEVES an ellipsis can be seen as PASSIVE/AGGRESSIVE......like you left something UNSAID. In order to rectify this CONFUSION ---PLEASE USE THE DASH-----It's a safer punctuation mark  because it doesn't carry MULTIPLE MEANINGS.  Apparently--A DASH IS JUST A DASH???  WHO KNEW??? THE PERIOD is also causing all kind of trouble. Again--in my world-- the PERIOD means ONE SIMPLE THING--the end of a sentence. WELL--NO MORE--BE AWARE-THE PERIOD CAN NOW INDICATE AN UNINTENDED SERIOUS TONE. Now I FINALLY understand ALL the run on sentences. I just thought they were lazy.  And be EXTRA careful with  EXCLAMATION POINT TOO!!! Today they are WAY TOO AGGRESSIVE AND CAUSE TONAL CONFUSION.  Is the person HAPPY--YELLING--EXCITED?? Never EVER use an exclamation point in your text UNLESS the other person is using them too!!! GOT IT.......!!!! While I wrap my head around this--I'll tell you a little about Jane Harper's new book The Survivors. One of the things I love about Harper's books is that she uses landscape to set the mood in her stories. In this novel, Harper takes the reader to a small Tasmanian town called Evelyn Bay made famous by the wreck of the S. S. Mary Minerva. As this story unfolds, Kieran Elliot, his girlfriend Mia and baby are headed back to Evelyn Bay to help his parents move. Kieran hasn't been home since a storm twelve years earlier claimed the lives of his brother Finn and friend Toby. Kieran still blames himself for the events that led to their deaths and the guilt has taken its toll.  Within a day of their arrival, the body of a young woman is found dead on the beach. This death opens old wounds from the day of the storm, including the whereabouts of a girl who went missing during the storm. Could the two events be connected even though they are twelve years a part? What really happened on the day of the storm and is Kieran really responsible for his brother's death? Find the answer to these questions and many more when you read this suspense filled thriller.   This book about friendship, family, secrets, and small town life will keep you reading because someone in this sleeping town is a murderer. It's about 380 pages--a 4 mile run--that will keep you guessing til the end. 

February 14, 2021 MY FUNNY VALENTINE

Valentine's Day. It can be A LOT of pressure--especially for NEWBIES. Expectations can be TOO HIGH. Too much time watching THE HALLMARK CHANNEL. And many times--WOMEN ARE JUST DELUSIONAL. Thought I'd spend a little time this morning reading about the absolute WORST VALENTINE GIFTS EVER. Gentlemen--never EVER give your significant other a gift card, coffee mug, e-card, used flowers, jumper cables, hygiene products, socks, re-gifted items, heart-shaped pot holders, kitchen or household products, edible underwear, giant teddy bears, or hair removal systems.  AND NEVER EVER BREAK UP WITH THEM ON VALENTINE'S DAY EITHER. That seems like a NO BRAINER--BUT I actually know people who HAVE LIVED THROUGH THAT  KIND OF HELL. Let's face facts--Valentine's Day is really for WOMEN. MEN DON'T GIVE A CRAP. It's time for you to MAN UP-- a nice, thoughtful card --bouquet of flowers--and dinner. That's all you have to do to make it a great day. If Nora Seed had a valentine, she probably would have chosen a different path in Matt Haig's new book The Midnight Library. As the story unfolds, Nora Seed is a sad sap full of regret. She had such potential--Olympic swimmer, singer in band, intelligent--and she blew it. Nora is a lost soul. She's just lost her job, she's terribly lonely and to top it off, her cat has been killed by a car. Nora has hit rock bottom and decides to end her life, but a funny thing happens --she ends up in The Midnight Library. The Midnight Library is "in between" life and death. It's filled with books each telling a version of Nora's life if she had made different choices. Nora is given the opportunity to use these books as portals--to sample the lives she could have led to help her decide if she really wants to end it all or try one more time. This is an interesting idea but it was a little too simple for me. I did enjoy the premise and the lessons the book affords and encourage you to give the book a try. It's only 300 pages or a 3 mile run that I enjoyed for the most part. 

February 9, 2021 AIN'T THAT A SHAME

Why are there so many people IN THIS WORLD who believe that THE RULES DON'T APPLY TO THEM. I really can't understand this behavior--THAT I SEE ALL THE TIME. This narcissistic outlook--about how the world should work to BENEFIT THEM. These are the people who believe they DESERVE more than other people. WHY? Because they believe that they are ENTITLED FOR SOME REASON. These are the people who don't follow the "Usual Rules" because THE RULES do NOT benefit them. EVEN if the rules benefit society and  social norms. AND they feel NO SENSE OF SHAME ABOUT IT EITHER. BECAUSE They are SPECIAL PEOPLE who deserve SPECIAL PRIVILEDGES. And I'm talking about ADULTS RIGHT NOW. Adults with children who will grow up WITH A SENSE OF SELF-IMPORTANCE AND ENTITLEMENT TOO. They will lack EMPATHY because they will also BELIEVE THAT IT'S ALL ABOUT THEM.  UGH--sorry for this much needed rant. Chief Inspector Gamache faces a few of these idiots in Louise Penny's new installment of the Gamache series All The Devils Are Here. What's exciting about this new book is that it takes place in Paris instead of the usual Three Pines. Although I missed the regular characters, it was fun to be in Paris for a bit. As the novel unfolds, Armand and his wife Reine-Marie are in Paris visiting  family. Their son Daniel and his family have lived in Paris for many years, and Annie and Jean-Guy have recently relocated for his new job. Unfortunately, their holiday is interrupted when Armand's billionaire god-father Stephen Horowitz is deliberately run over and almost killed. Thankfully, Gamache, and his former second-in-command from the Surete du Quebec, Jean-Guy Beauvoir, are there to investigate. What did Horowitz know or discover that made him a target? After a second man is killed  in Horowitz's apartment, it is obvious that the danger is closer than they think and that other members of the Gamache could be the next target. Find out what Horowitz discovered and the secret that stood between Daniel and Gamache  for so many years when you read this suspenseful, mystery for yourself. Penny really has a way of making the reader feel part of the story here with the sights, sounds, and smells of Paris on every page. I enjoyed this 450 page--5 miler--very much, but I'm also glad that the family will return to Three Pines for the next book in the series. 

February 7, 2021 SEXY EYES

 You know how some people get tummy tucks? 

 Well--I'm thinking I need an eye lid tuck?  Seriously. 

What  the HELL happened to my EYE LIDS?? It's a real surgery you know--it's officially called Blepharoplasty or an Upper Eye Lift AND I'm pretty sure I need one. There is so much skin on my eyelids-- that I LITERALLY have to pull my lid down to my chin just to get my eyeliner on. OK--I can handle that BUT by lunch time--BECAUSE I HAVE AN EXTRA EYELID NOW--it has smudged all over my lids and I look like I've been in a fist fight. I can't handle this crap. What am I supposed to do--carry eyeliner around in my back pocket and fix it all day?? So--I've started investigating the surgery. It's been around for a long time AND insurance will pay for it IF IT IS TO IMPROVE VISION LOSS. So--MAYBE  that's REALLY why I can't see. WHO KNEW? FYI-- This procedure is actually one of the most popular forms of plastic surgery in the United States. There are some  side effects I'd have to consider-- bruising--swelling-- double vision BUT what the HELL. My eyes look BRUISED AND SWOLLEN  EVERY DAY. And if I had some temporary DOUBLE VISION--isn't that better than  DOUBLE EYELIDS.  HUM.................While I'm pondering this IMPORTANT decision I'll  tell you about a great book I just finished called Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell. In this beautifully written novel, O'Farrell literally takes a small snippet from Shakespeare's life and uses it as a springboard to write a novel completely different from anything she has written before. Set in England in 1580, a young Latin tutor falls in love with Agnes Hathaway. Although their love is forbidden, the two eventually marry and live adjacent to the groom's family. The Latin tutor ( whom we assume is Shakespeare-although his name is never mentioned) feels inadequate around his family who want him to continue working in the family glove business. After a bout with depression, Shakespeare moves to London while Agnes stays behind to raise their children--two daughters and a son named  Hamnet. While in London, Shakespeare finds his niche acting and writing plays.   The second half of the book focuses on the Black Plague, the tragic death of Hamnet, and the effect his death has on his whole family. This is a story about marriage, sacrifice, grief, and how Shakespeare took that grief and created his longest play Hamlet. I especially loved the ending, but you'll have to read it for yourself to find out what happens. This is a powerful novel that I really enjoyed. Great character development and interesting read. It's about 320 pages or a 4 mile run that you will really enjoy. 

January 30, 2021 THE BEST IS YET TO COME

HUGE milestone yesterday. Not for me--but for my

 BETTER HALF. He retired--AFTER 39 YEARS. He

was  a prosecutor. That's how we met. Way back in the olden days--WHEN I WAS ALL THAT. Yup, I was 22 years old when I started working as a clerk at the courthouse. It was a State job--a big deal BACK IN THE DAY. I can still remember the first time we met.  Where did the time go?  It went by in the blink of an eye--that's for sure. So my husband was interviewed for the paper the other day--I guess he was a BIG WIG--and he said the most touching thing. The interviewer asked him what the highlight of his career was --and he ACTUALLY SAID--I met my wife working here. We've been married for 27 years and have 3 kids. What a thoughtful, kind thing to say right?  Who knew I was a highlight?  Like I said--HE'S MY MUCH BETTER HALF.  I wish some of it would rub off on me but I guess I can't ask for miracles.  While I'm happy for his well deserved retirement, I'll still be shlepping to work for a few more years.  HUM--maybe he'll learn to cook AND take over the grocery shopping??  Probably not, but a girl can dream. Ellie Mack, one of the characters in Lisa Jewell's thriller Then She Was Gone was a bit of a dreamer too before she disappeared in 2005. 

As the story unfolds, Ellie is a fifteen year old girl living in England with her family. She's got a great life, a doting mother and father and an older sister and brother. Everything is perfect.  One day she leaves her house to go to the library and disappears. Although the police look into the disappearance, they eventually classify Ellie as a runaway. The story then moves on to 2015. It's been 10 years since Ellie disappeared. Her parents, Laurel and Paul,  have since divorced and her grief stricken mother is still struggling to put her life back together. One day out of the blue, Laurel gets a call from the police. They have found bones in the woods and a back pack that belonged to Ellie. At least the family has closure and can finally bury her body but they  still don't know what happened to Ellie. While at a diner one afternoon,  Laurel meets Floyd Dunn. The two begin dating and Laurel meet his young daughter, Poppy, who bares a strong resemblance to her missing daughter. Don't want to say much more so you'll have to read the book to find out What happened to Ellie? This is a real page turner with many twists and turns. It actually reminded me in a way of The Lovely Bones. It's about 380 pages or a 4 mile run that you will have a hard time putting down. 

January 24, 2021 HIGH MAINTENANCE WOMAN

 Celebrated my birthday last week.  YUP--Another year--Another wrinkle. I'm not complaining --It's great

to be alive but with age comes certain consequences. I've NEVER been ONE OF THOSE high maintenance  women UNTIL NOW. Age demands it. I used to color and high lite my hair for fun-NOW I HAVE TO COLOR AND HIGH LITE MY HAIR OR GO GRAY. And I have to do it every 5-6 weeks. And what happened to my eyebrows?? They've thinned out-- I EVEN HAVE A FEW GRAY ONES in the mix. Don't want to pluck them though or I'll have GIANT GAPS and that would look really weird. So I've had to invest in eyebrow PENCILS or look like a freak without eyebrows. Something strange has also happened to my GUMS. Age Recession is what I'm calling it. Can't eat a thing without food getting stuck everywhere. It's so embarrassing. I almost hate to eat in public--but when I do-- I have to mumble without moving my lips until I can get to a mirror to examine the damage--USUALLY A giant piece of spinach WEDGED between my front teeth.  UGH. Didn't know I had nose hair until recently either. I've actually had to start trimming it or risk swallowing it. SO WEIRD. I'm just putting it out there RIGHT NOW--I draw the line at electric face shavers and ear trimmers. Even I know when to call it a day. I'm sure the main character, Grace Bradley, of Kate Morton's lovely novel The House at Riverton can definitely relate to my problems. As the novel begins, It's 1999 and Grace Bradley is a 98 year old woman living in a nursing home in  England who has kept a secret for 75 years. While working as a servant for an aristocrat family named the Hartfords at Riverton in 1924,  she witnessed the death of a famous poet. Grace's devotion to the Hartford family kept her silent on the matter, but the event changed her life forever. One day a young director visits Grace at the nursing home asking questions about Riverton. She is interested in making a film about Riverton and the events of 1924 and knows that Grace once lived on the property.  She questions Grace about the Hartford family and offers to take Grace back to Riverton which is now a museum. After the director's visit, Grace finds herself thinking back on her life and the events that shaped it. The reader is taken back in time then as the story is told in flashbacks. Grace as a young servant and later as a lady in waiting for Hannah after she marries. This historical novel encompasses World War I, including the devastation and sacrifices made because of the war. It is also about aristocratic privilege, and the Edwardian values of the time period. This is an unforgettable story about sacrifice, passion, love and suspense with twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the bitter end. Morton is a lovely writer  whose book has been compared to Downton Abbey. It's about 475 pages or a 6 mile run that you will never forget.