December 27, 2020 SUPER FREAK

 The F* Word. Grammar 101. Technically speaking --F* is a verb or noun.

It is also used as an exclamation to express annoyance, contempt or impatience. My questions is this---When did the F* word turn into a GERUND?  Seriously--Many people use it to describe things---That's F*ing awesome. Others try to make the F* bomb " more acceptable" by saying--- Freaking awesome--but FREAKING actually means to come unhinged, crazy or insane--so it doesn't even make sense. Here's the problem--TOTAL LACK OF IMAGINATION. IT'S JUST  ANOTHER WAY WE ARE DUMBING DOWN. There are more than a MILLION words in the English language--of which the average person uses 20,000. What would happen if people started using words to help describe things more accurately. Why say---THAT BABY IS SO FREAKING CUTE when you could say--THAT BABY IS ANGELIC. SHE MELTS MY HEART. So much more accurate and beautiful. Words are one of the few things that separate us from animals--use them well. Even though humans are supposed to be more evolved than animals, this is certainly not the case in The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris. Although this book was written in 2018, I kept putting it off because it was about the Holocaust and those books can be incredibly sad and disturbing. I finally picked it up after I realized that it was based on a true story. Morris actually spent three years interviewing Ludwig (Lale) Sokolov for her novel. At the beginning of the book, Lale is rounded up with other Slovakian Jews and sent in 1942 to Auschwitz-Birkenau.  Because he spoke many languages, he was given the job of Tatowierer--inking numbers on the arms of prisoners. This was where he met Gita and their love story began.   Lale enjoyed many freedoms as a tattooist,  and risked his life helping the less fortunate until his escapades were discovered by the Nazis and he was taken away. In the end, Lale and Gita  spend three years in the German death camp before being separated --Gita on a death march and Lale on a train before being saved by the Russians. Find out what happens to Lale and Gita after the war when you read this amazing testament to the human spirit and the power of love.This courageous story is only 288 pages or a 3 mile run that is important because we should never forget.

December 25, 2020 MERRY CHRISTMAS

--The Belle of the Book

 

December 23, 2020 HERE COMES THE JUDGE

 LITERALLY SHAKING MY HEAD. Can't believe people post SO MANY SPELLING ERRORS on
social media.  I understand that SPELL CHECK is convenient BUT FOR GOD'S SAKE-- USE A DICTIONARY. Save yourself the embarrassment. FYI--YOU ARE BEING JUDGED BY WHAT YOU POST ONLINE. 

 Here are a few highlights from Face Book:

• 
  Santa Claus almost got caught RAPING presents                             
• I'm gonna kick YOUR'RE ass
• I'd rather be pissed off, THEN pissed on
• So excited! I was excepted into my 1st choice collage
• Is it just me or does nobody have MANORS these days
• No OFFENCE but change ur profile  pic.....LOOSE some WAIT n you will look good
• If YOUR going to GRAMER-NAZI someone, make sure YOUR UN-GRAMER-NAZI-ABLE

Hey, I'm not saying I'm perfect BUT at least I make an effort. I even check the dictionary so that I don't look like an IDIOT. Next week-- I'll take a look at punctuation errors on social media. That should be a hoot!! In the meantime, I'll tell you about the 2013 National Book Award winning book The Good Lord Bird by James McBride.

Henry Shackleford is a twelve year old slave who lives in  Kansas territory in 1856, an area that is a battleground for anti/pro slave forces. One day Abolitionist John Brown comes into town and causes quite a stir. By the end of the day, Brown has killed Henry's master and Henry (mistaken as a girl by Brown) is forced to join the abolitionist movement. Brown later nicknames Henry--Little Onion-- and he continues the charade in order to stay safely away from gun fights.  Little Onion stays with Brown and his raiders through many adventures and eventually ends up at Harper's Ferry in 1859--where Brown leads a slave revolt that goes horribly wrong. This highly entertaining novel is a mixture of history and imagination about one of the most tumultuous times in American history. It is written in language and dialect of the time period that might take some getting used to but it's well worth your effort. The characters in the story are interesting and many of their antics are laugh-out-loud funny. This 480 page book or 6 mile run was recently made into a miniseries and can be seen on SHOWTIME but read the book first!! Enjoy. 

December 18, 2020 WINTER WONDERLAND

First snow fall of the season. It's always kind of exciting--until the shoveling starts. Shoveling is hard work. I don't shovel much anymore--but I spent many years shoveling our REALLY WIDE-LONG driveway. And then the plow would go by and BOX ME IN AGAIN. So frustrating. We also have to shovel part of our roof. Sounds weird I know. But a section of our roof is flat-- and if we don't shovel it--we tend to get leaks when it melts. It's a ridiculous problem. Who would ever build a house in New England with a flat roof??? Search me. Who would live in their house 27  years and do nothing about it?? Maybe that's the more important question??? Every year it's the same thing---then we conveniently forget about it until the next year...........Hell......remember...I still DON'T have air conditioning. Yup--And I conveniently forget about that when it's time to shovel the roof  again. UGH. YOU CAN'T MAKE IT UP. Just finished the perfect book to read during a snowstorm, Ruth Ware's brand new thriller One by One. 

In this suspense filled novel, the cofounders of  SNOOP organize a corporate retreat for their employees at a lovely Chalet in the French Alps. Danny is the chef at the chalet while Erin is the housekeeper/jack of all trades. When the group arrives,  it's clear that the employees aren't getting along. Things only get worse when Eva, one of the owners, announces plans for a major buy out. When a snowstorm begins, the group decides to forgo work in order to ski before the weather gets worse. By the end of the day, Eva is missing and an avalanche has left the  rest of the group cut off from the outside world. As the  hours tick by, theories become accusations and one by one members of the group start to die. This is a good who-done-it that is obviously paying homage to Agatha Christie. Interestingly enough, Ruth Ware is now being touted as the Agatha Christie of our generation, a title well earned. If you like a good mystery, with many twists and turns then this is the book for you. It's about 380 pages or a 3.5 mile run that will keep you guessing until the end. 

December 13, 2020 EVERYBODY WEAR THEY MASK

 What the HELL is wrong with people?? What's the deal with these ANTI-MASKERS? Why can't they just SUCK IT UP  FOR THE COMMON GOOD. Yes, we live in a free country BUT that's not the point. HELLO--ALMOST 300,000 PEOPLE HAVE DIED OF COVID IN THE  UNITED STATES AND 1.6 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE DIED WORLDWIDE. No one wants to close businesses and ruin the economy BUT sometimes we all have to MAKE SACRIFICES. STOP BEING SO SELFISH.  Calling it  tyranny is SO RIDICULOUS. I think all the ANTI-MASKERS should buy an island and GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE. They can  name it TRUMPVILLE.  And Trump will be available VERY soon to be your GLORIOUS DICTATOR. HECK --why don't you  get Sarah Palin to be his assistant--she's got nothing else to do.   And when you get COVID on your new island--that has NO hospital--because you don't believe in COVID and what to be FREE--I hope you have a slow painful recovery/death. PLEASE GO--I'M BEGGING YOU TO LEAVE------you are the reason we are in this mess in the first place. Sorry for the rant but I can't handle the stupidity of people in this world anymore. UGH. See why I have to escape into books.

If you enjoyed Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi then you will definitely enjoy her new book Transcendent Kingdom. As the story unfolds, Gifty is a PhD student in neuroscience at Stanford University School of Medicine. She is determined to come up with a scientific understanding for addiction and depression so that she can better understand the suffering in her own family. Her family originally immigrated to Alabama from Ghana before she was born. Her parents were hard workers who lived and breathed the Evangelical church--a place that highly influenced Gifty's thinking and life. After her brother Nana died of a herion overdose in high school, 10 year old Gifty's world collapsed. Her father left the family and her mother struggled with depression that threatened their livelihood . This novel is ultimately about faith, science, racism and the immigrant experience. It's well written, interesting and insightful. At 290 pages, it's about a 3.5 mile run that you will long remember. Enjoy. 

December 6, 2020 HELL FREEZES OVER

 Baby, It was cold out there this morning. Seriously. Froze my butt off!  It was the wind. It was only 32 degrees  with a NW wind of about 12.  Felt like I was in Dante's 2nd circle of Hell usually set aside for  LUSTFUL PEOPLE. Those poor,  unfortunate souls would be blown about violently by gale force winds chasing whomever they lusted for on Earth FOREVER. No rest for the Lustful I guess. No rest for runners today either. Dante had quite a sense of humor--especially in naming his greatest work--The Divine Comedy. Speaking of comedy--hope you got to watch the SNL skit last night about Giuliani and his witnesses to voter fraud. It was very funny. SNL is the best. You can always count on them for a little chuckle AND we could all use a good laugh right now. Times are REALLY hard. Thinking it's  gonna be like this all winter.  If only people had worn a MASK when it mattered. UGH.  Hoping and a  praying I'll make it through this long, gray, cold winter without a visit to the funny farm. Not even kidding. Winter is hard enough without COVID.  Oh Well--Back to the books.  

If you're looking for a light read--that's actually a good story than you should pick up Susan Wiggs' book The Lost and Found Bookshop. After the sudden death of her mother, Natalie Harper inherits her failing bookshop in San Francisco. In addition to inheriting the bookshop, Natalie must also take care of her ailing grandfather, Andrew. Although Natalie wants to sell the bookshop, her grandfather has other plans. His family has owned the building that houses the bookshop for more than a century and he has no plans to sell as he's convinced there is some sort of treasure hidden in the building--which has a history of it's own. So Natalie quits her job and moves back to the building of her youth to run the bookshop and take care of her grandfather and in the process gets more than she bargained for especially after she hires a contractor with a young daughter to renovate the building. Find out how Natalie's life changes after returning home and if there really is a treasure in the building when you read this book for yourself. It's about 350 pages or a 3 mile run that you will really enjoy. 

November 25, 2020 THANKFUL

 Thanksgiving 2020. It's going to be weird. First time in 30 years that we won't be with the cousins. No Buffers--just my lovely family. Yup--it's gonna be weird.  It's all good though. I just keep reminding myself to be grateful. I have a lot to be thankful for.......

• My family                                                   
  
• Good health
• Employment
• Insurance
• Good Friends
• Laughter
• Sunshine
• Running
• Reading
• Yoga
• Art
• Wisdom
• My dogs
• Happy hour
• Biden
• Students
• My life

If you're feeling out of sorts this holiday season--stop--make a gratitude list and things will turn around. Another thing that always helps me get through tough times is a good book. I'm currently reading Kate Morton's best selling book The Secret Keeper. I love Kate Morton, she is a great writer who takes you to another place and time. She also really understands people and creates characters who are interesting and complex. As this novel unfolds, it's 1961 and  Laurel Nicolson, a sixteen year old girl living on the family farm,  witnesses a horrendous crime involving her mother that changes her life. The novel then jumps to 2011. It's 50 years later, and the Nicolson family is gathering at the family farm to celebrate their mother's 90th birthday. Laurel realizes that time is running out if she ever wants to find out what really happened in 1961.  Laurel starts to question her mother, Dorothy, who is not in good health, and realizes that her mother is haunted by a past that Laurel knows nothing about. The novel then shifts to 1940 during World War II, when Dorothy (Dolly) lived in France and had a boyfriend named Jimmy and a "friend" named Vivien. The novel jumps between Dolly's perspective of the past and Vivien's which  really adds another layer of mystery to the story. What happened during the war that caused Dorothy to commit a crime in 1961?   I still don't know. I have 92 pages left.  I'm dying to finish the book on one hand, and don't want it to end on the other. It's always a dilemma for me. I heard that there's a real twist at the end of the story......this book is about 495 pages or a 5 mile run that will keep you guessing til the bitter end. Happy Thanksgiving. Gobble Gobble. 

November 22, 2020 GOOD LOOKIN' MAN

 It's been a tough couple of weeks. First--Sean Connery AND  then Alex Trebek. A double whammy. How I LOVED Sean Connery--when he was James Bond. I could watch him all day--he was THAT good looking-Suave-Debonair--did I mention EXTREMELY HANDSOME too.  He was the whole package--James Bond---Hell--I would have given my left arm to be a BOND GIRL. My WEAKNESS for good looking men--It's sort of a curse--so I have to be careful. Enough Said. Alex Trebek. He was also a handsome man but my attraction to him was completely different. I started watching Jeopardy with my grandmother WAY BACK WHEN and still watch it at 7:00pm most nights. Trebek was like an old friend--a link to my grandmother and childhood. It was always comforting to sit with a cocktail and spend 30 minutes with Trebek. It doesn't seem real yet as the show is taped through Christmas but when they get a new host it's really going to hit home. I'm hoping they replace him with Ken Jennings--that I could handle. He seems like a good choice to carry the torch into the next generation. 

 It's been 65 years since Eva Traube Abrams has seen The Book of Lost Names, also the name of Kristin Harmel's new novel. As this lovely novel begins, Eva, an 86 year old librarian living in Florida, sees a photograph in the New York Times that sends her reeling. It's a picture of The Book of Lost Names, an 18th century religious text looted by the Germans during World War II. It's finally been recovered and researchers are trying to break the code contained in the book. Eva is torn because she knows that she is the only one left who can break the code, but doesn't know if she has the strength to go back to the past. The reader is then back in 1942. Eva and her mother are fleeing Paris after her father, a Polish Jew, is arrested by the French police. They travel to a free zone in Switzerland where Eva meets a priest working against the Germans. It's here that she realizes she has a talent for forgery and works alongside a handsome Catholic named Remy to forge documents for Jewish children to cross the border. Don't want to say too much more about this interesting historical fiction/love story other than I really enjoyed it and encourage you to read it. It's only about 390 pages or a 4 mile easy read that you won't be  able to put down. Enjoy. 

November 11, 2020 HOME ON THE RANGE

 

What's scarier than shingles and covid? Getting hit by a deer--THAT'S WHAT. So--I'm minding my own business driving to work the other day and from out of nowhere--a huge deer--while attempting  to cross route 32-- literally smashed into my car. It was awful. The poor deer. I was shocked when it got up and limped into the woods. What was equally shocking was that NOT ONE PERSON STOPPED. People drove around the deer and my car and just kept going on their merry way. When I finally recovered enough, I moved my car to the side of the road. I was literally SHAKEN AND STIRRED. I still can't believe NO ONE STOPPED.  But the poor deer. It's our fault really. These poor animals have NO WHERE ELSE TO GO. We have encroached on their land--how many dollars stores, malls and fast food restaurants do we need?? I'm fine and my car can be fixed but what about the deer? I love deer. They are one of the most beautiful, elegant animals I've ever seen. Hoping that the deer is in recovery mode and lives a good long time. While recovering from my latest escapade, I read a great mystery called Girls Like Us by Cristina Alger. In this crime drama, Nell Flynn is an FBI agent on medical leave who goes home to Long Island after her father, Martin, dies in a motorcycle accident. Martin, a Suffolk County detective, was investing the mysterious death of a 17 year old at the time of his death. After another girl ends up dead, Martin's partner, Lee Davis, asks Nell help solve the serial cases. While investing, Nell begins to question her own mother's mysterious death, especially,  when all leads make her own father look like the prime suspect. Find out who killed Nell's mother and who is responsible for the murders in Suffolk Country when you read this page turner for yourself. It's about 290 pages or a 3 mile run that will keep you guessing until the end. 

October 30, 2020 THAT'S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR

 That's the thing with books. Every once in a while, I read a book that I just don't want to end. Crazy, I can have 15 pages left AND I put the book down. There are many reasons I find it hard to finish a book. I  might want to stay in that place or time for a little bit longer-- or I really love the characters, and don't want to say good bye just yet.  Another BIGGY for me is that  I'm afraid I won't like the ending and that could ruin the book. BUT the biggest reason I have trouble sometimes finishing a GOOD BOOK is  my never ending fear of finding another really good book to read--They are far and few between. I read A LOT of books that I enjoy but the books I savor are different. I'm currently reading one of THEM. I have 25 pages left BUT I'M AFRAID TO FINISH IT. I'm no ready to leave, I really like the characters and the story is really interesting . I'm afraid I will be disappointed by the ending AND I don't have another book like this waiting in the wings. So instead of finishing it right now--I'll tell you a little bit about it. The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo is set in British ruled Malaysia in 1930. Ji Lin is a determined young woman who wants to attend university but instead is an apprentice dressmaker because of her old fashioned family. Ji Lin also works part time at a dance hall to pay off her mother's gambling debts. One night after Ji Lin's dances with a customer, he inadvertently leaves behind his good luck charm--a mummified finger in a glass bottle. While trying to return the talisman, Ji Lin's world begins to spin out of control, especially after the owner of the charm turns up dead. Another important character in the story is Ren. He is a young house boy who has 49 days to find his dead master's long lost finger. If he fail to bury the finger with the body, his master's body will wander the either forever. The story is told alternately between the two characters until their lives become entangled later in the story. This novel is interesting on so many levels--it's rich in history, Malayan and Chinese folklore, tradition, family obligation, mystery, and forbidden love. It's also filled with many twists and turns that have left me guessing with only 25 pages left. It's about 385 pages--4 mile run--that you will find hard to put down. Enjoy. 

October 14, 2020 WHEN IT RAINS IT POURS

 

Can you think of anything worse than having shingles??? How about having SHINGLES AGAIN. Yup, when it rains it pours. Had a physical last month and my doctor said--don't forget to get your shingles shot---BUT--I kept putting it off. UGH. I NOW have a MASK of shingles--under my chin, neck, around my ear--it's disgusting. I have a line of them down my face, nose, over my eyebrow, cheek and forehead too. Every time I turn around-- new ones of sprouting. Pretty sure I look like the Elephant Man. It's  SOO much worse the second time around. The PAIN & ITCHING are making me crazy. Believe it or not--I caught it early.  Wonder what I'd look like if I had let it go for a few days. SO--If you're  putting off the SHINGLES shot or the FLU shot--DON'T. Now I can't get a flu shot until the shingles clear up. Next thing you know--I'll have the FLU. Dear Lord, NOOOO. By the way, shingles is brought on my STRESS. And the stress is real--Teaching through Covid is a nightmare. Talk about nightmares, Detective Vera Stanhope walks right into one in Anne Cleeves new mystery The Darkest Evening. Although this is the ninth book in the Stanhope series, this is the first one that I've read and I look forward to reading others. In this novel, Vera Stanhope is driving home to Northumberland during a blizzard when she gets lost. While trying to find her way, Stanhope comes upon an abandoned car that has clearly been in an accident. When Stanhope goes to investigate, she discovers a baby left alone in the car. Stanhope decides to take the baby to the nearest home which turns out to be her father's childhood home. When she arrives at the home which is called Brockburn, a Christmas party is in full swing. Minutes later, a dead body is found on the property and detective Vera Stanhope and her team come to the rescue. This is a good detective story with plenty of twists and turns as well as red herrings to keep you guessing until the end. Its about 384 pages --or a 4 mile easy read that will take your mind off of your worries. Enjoy. 

September 30, 2020 NO REST FOR THE WICKED

 BEST DAY EVER. Got a phone call this morning--NO SCHOOL TODAY.  Thank you Mother Nature. I guess all the wind caused A POWER OUTAGE. Thanks again-- Mother Nature--from the bottom of my heart.  I really needed a day of rest. A day away from the MASK. A day away from the BLOCK SCHEDULE. A day away from reminding students to SOCIAL DISTANCE. A day away from trying to find my virtual students on google classroom. A day away from SCHOOL. We have been going FULL STEAM AHEAD  for almost 5 weeks. In school EVERY DAY with ALL of the students. It's a lot.  The kids need THE BREAK just as much as we do. It's NOT easy for any of us. We are all thankful to be back at school though. Connecting and building relationships. Working together to make the best of school in the time of Covid.

  Jessica Farris, the main character of An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen, tries to make the best of awkward situation after sneaking into a morality study. That sounds like an oxymoron in itself right?? Sneaking into a morality and ethics study? Anyways, Jessica needs the cash so she agrees to be a test subject in a physiological study by a renowned psychologist named Dr. Shields. After the initial consultation, the study moves to real life experiences that become more disturbing as the story twists and turns. Told in first person present from the point of view of both Jessica and Dr. Shields, the reader really learns about the characters and the true motives behind both of their actions. This thriller is filled with creepy drama that doesn't stop until the bitter end when it finally  leaves you shaking your head. WOW. This book was on every best list back in 2018--thriller, suspense, you name it. Find out more about this suspense-filled novel when you read it for yourself. It's about 380 pages or a 4 mile run that you won't be able to put down. Enjoy. 

September 20, 2020 YOU'RE A HARD HABIT TO BREAK

 Another thing keeping me from my blog these days is the Sudoku. Don't laugh, I'm serious. I'm kind of addicted.  Add that to my list of addictions---running, yoga, reading, crossword puzzles,  words with friends, cocktail hour and you'll have to agree--THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH HOURS IN THE DAY. It was easy to fit it all in when I was home BUT now that I'm back at school--I'm finding it increasingly difficult. SOMETHINGS GOT TO GIVE.  I can't give up running--yoga-- reading-- my current fixation with SUDOKU-- OR cocktail hour--so I've had to cut back a little on my crossword puzzles, words with friends and THE BLOG. Don't get me wrong--I love writing the blog BUT it takes TIME. In addition to time--it takes BRAIN CELLS--which seem to be FRIED by the time I get home from school. It's HARD to come up with something CLEVER to say--when the brain's on PAUSE. No worries--this too shall pass. I'll find a way to make it all work because I can't give up ANY of my compulsions. They make me--ME and it's ALL GOOD.                                                                           

Vivian Morris, the main character of Elizabeth Gilbert's novel City of Girls, has a few addictions of her own that eventually land her in a heap of trouble.  As the story begins, Vivian Morris is a 95 year old woman from New York City, looking  back on her life as she responds to a letter from an old acquaintance. Vivian describes herself as a WASP who is sent to live with her Aunt Peg after being expelled from Vassar. Aunt Peg and her secretary Olive own a run down theatre where they produce shows for working class people. Vivian is initially shocked by their lifestyle, but quickly falls in love with the theatre, the quirky actors and the showgirls who reside at the theatre. As a seamstress, Vivian is finally allowed to design costumes and join the cast on their adventures in the city. She loves the bars, men, dancing, and the lifestyle a little too much. One night after too many drinks, Vivian makes a mistake that threatens to ruin not only her life, but the lives of other people she loves. Find out what happens to Vivian, Peg, Olive and a host of other great characters when you read this fun story for yourself.  It's an easy read of about 480 pages--4 mile run--that keeps you interested until the very last page. Enjoy. 

September 7, 2020 I WANNA THANK YOU

       September 7, 2020   I WANNA THANK YOU                                                                  

                                                                                                                                                                           

Had to step away from the BLOG for a bit so that I could WRAP MY HEAD around the school year. It's THAT complicated. Seriously--when you see your teacher friends out and about please say--THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. It's Crazy.  Teachers are being asked to basically be MIRACLE WORKERS because of Covid 19. In addition to dancing and singing, we are now performing magic tricks while balancing teacups on our noses AND doing a handstand--or  maybe that's just how I feel. In an effort to keep kids safe, most schools are either going hybrid and or simultaneously teaching to IN-class learners  and ON-line learners.  It's a real balancing act. The logistics are ALSO mind boggling. Who's online? Who's in person?  How do I get the supplies/supplementals to the online learners so that it's equitable? AND the inevitable loss of the online learners because of "INTERNET PROBLEMS" which are way above my pay grade. I finished week one--BARELY--and am hoping for a SMOOTHER WEEK this week. I'm trying my hardest to live in the moment--AND KEEP IT ALL IN PERSPECTIVE. Wish me luck. Emira Tucker, the main character in Kelly Reid's debut Such a Fun Age is going to need a little more than luck to get her life on track. Emira is a 25 year old African American college graduate living in Philadelphia who can't decide whom she wants to be when she grows up. She knows she needs medical insurance, but with two part time jobs, she's just barely scraping by. Emira loves her baby sitting job because they pay her well, but things get rather tangled after her boss, Alix Chamberlin, sends her an emergency call. In the call, Alix begs Emira to come over and take her two year old daughter, Briar, to the grocery store. Although Emira thinks it's odd, she agrees to help her employer, only to be accused by a security officer of kidnapping the child. After the mess is sorted out, Alix becomes slightly obsessed with Emira--for all the wrong reasons. Although Emira wants to leave her job, she truly loves Briar and feels guilty about leaving. It's only after Emira meets and starts dating Kelley that things go from bad to worse, especially, after he meets Alix. Find out what happens to Alix, Emira, Briar and Kelley in this interesting novel that explores race, class, friendship, forgiveness and how people can "trick" themselves into believing what they need to believe. This novel is about 300 pages or a 3 mile run that will keep you guessing and thinking. Enjoy. 

August 19, 2020 GAMES PEOPLE PLAY

One positive during the pandemic is the resurgence of board games. Believe it or not--Scrabble, Monopoly and a form of Parcheesi called Ludo are still the most popular board games. Do you remember playing

Parcheesi?  I whittled  away several hours trying to win that game. Haven't played it in years though.  I've been playing Scrabble my entire life though and have to admit that I'm a little addicted to Words With Friends. Monopoly always took TOO LONG for me so it wasn't one of my favs BUT I spent huge amounts of time pretending I was Miss Scarlet when I played CLUE--one of my all time favorites. Remember playing Trouble with its "Pop-O-Matic" dice action, Or Sorry, Checkers and Battleship? It's funny--I always thought of Battleship as a boys game. Not sure why but I can still hear the commercial from back in the day--"you sank my battleship." Right now--I'm listening to a couple of teenagers try to play SpongeBob Guess Who!! Ha! They haven't played this game in years. Life is good. 

 Life was also pretty good for the Vignes twins before they ran away in The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett. Stella and Desiree Vignes grew up in a small Southern black community in Mallard, Louisiana.  Although the residents are black, they pride themselves on being very light skinned. Desiree, feeling smothered by the town, talks her identical twin sister into running away to New Orleans when they are sixteen. Starting a new life is difficult, until Stella realizes that she can pass as a white person while applying for a job at a local department store. This realization sets in motion events that separate the twins forever. While Stella disappears to California and life as a white privileged woman, Desiree flees her abusive husband and returns home with a daughter, Jade, who is "dark as tar". After enduring many years of abuse because she is dark, Jade moves to California for college where she unexpectedly runs into her aunt. This story is told through flashbacks and alternating points of view between the 1960s-1990s. It's an interesting read that focuses on race, identity, sisterhood, and how the choices people make-- many times due to circumstances--can shape a life. This moving novel is about 350 pages or 4 mile run that is well worth your time. 

August 11, 2020 KNOCKING ON HEAVEN'S DOOR

Confessions of a dysfunctional home owner. Did you know that until last year--NONE of our door knobs

worked correctly?  I'm serious--they turned by wouldn't open.  EVERY  person that came over our house--got stuck in of bathroom. So embarrassing. We were forever rescuing people from the toilet. Crazy. One time we actually forgot that someone was in the COMMODE  and they LITERALLY spent a good hour in there before being let out. That friendship didn't LAST. So then I became a BATHROOM MONITOR. Every time someone used "THE CAN" I would practically stalk them  just to make sure I could help them out of the facilities. Stalking bathrooms IS NOT OKAY Though--I started getting strange looks--and I started worrying that people thought I was a PERVERT--NOT KIDDING. So then  I starting making people sign a disclaimer when then entered our house. I'd have to explain--sometimes to complete strangers--ABOUT OUR DOORKNOB DYSFUNCTION--so that I wouldn't feel responsible for any more bathroom mishaps. Isn't this nuts Yup. 27 longs years. Did I every tell you about my sink woes? That's a story for another day. 

Have you ever heard the story of the runner in red? Many people believe that in 1951,  a woman wearing red ran the Boston Marathon--although it's never been proven. In his novel Runner In Red, Tom Murphy uses this urban legend as a springboard to solve the mystery of the runner in red. Set in 2000,  Murphy mixes Boston Marathon history with fictional characters to create an unforgettable story of a family torn apart by the Marathon of 1971 who find their way back to one another through the millennial marathon. This book explores the history of women's running and the pioneers who opened the door for future runners. It's also a love story and family drama that is a real page turner. It's only about 240 pages-- or a 2 mile run that you will not be able to put down. Enjoy. 

July 31, 2020 BEHIND THE MASK

The MASK. It's complicated. NO matter which kind I try---MY GLASSES FOG UP AND I CAN'T SEE A DAMN THING. It's SO frustrating. I've tried different materials, ties,  nose clips--HELL--I'm on the verge of bankruptcy. I've finally decided that I'm just going to wear my glasses to drive and the HELL

WITH IT. I'll be blind as a bat the rest of the time. While I'm talking about masks. I have a question that must be answered before I go back to school. Do my masks have to color coordinate with my outfits? I know that sounds like a strange questions BUT I have certain standards. Can I wear a mask that's purple & red with an  orange outfit? Seriously--I'm NOW seeing the "MASK" as part of my ENSEMBLE--much like a scarf. AND I AM A SERIOUS LOVER OF THE SCARF. Don't think I'll be wearing my scarves to school though--a MASK and a SCARF together IS  JUST TOO MUCH. SO--is my MASK--my NEW SCARF? If so--then I need to get to work. I've got some coordinating to do. And what about my lipstick?? What's the point if I have to wear a mask?? NO more coordinating my lipstick with my outfit either? I might have to start painting my nails instead. THIS IS A LOT FOR ME. I have an image to uphold and this "MASK THING" is really cramping my style. The residents of The Causes Housing Project feel the same way when drug dealers take over their park in James McBride's new book Deacon King Kong. 

One day a drunken church deacon known as Sportcoat has had enough. After a few too many drinks, he heads out to the courtyard and shoots a drug dealer. This is not just any drug dealer, this is a kid who grew up in the projects. A kid that Sportcoat once coached and taught Sunday School. It's September 1969 and drugs, organized crime and theft have taken over the projects. The shooting sets off a chain of events that changes all involved as well as the future of the Causes and the Five Ends Baptist Church. I know this book may sound sad and it is to a point, but  it is also  quite funny--laugh out loud funny.  McBride  brings to life a cast of colorful characters that are unforgettable including Hot Sausage, Bum Bum, The Elephant and Hurly Girly to name a few. This is ultimately a story about a community of people who band together to save their church and make their home safe. I really enjoyed the story, LOVED the characters and learned a lot about a community that I knew nothing about. It's only 380 pages or a 4 mile run worth every minute. 

July 23, 2020 THEY'RE COMING TO TAKE ME AWAY

Life in the time of COVID--The WHOLE MEGILLAH IS DRIVING ME CRAZY.  We are DEEP in the WEEDS here--living in uncertain times--and SOME people still think it's a HOAX. It's all too much for me. I'm starting to feel betwixt and between and not sure what to do with myself. I want to be productive but when EVERY day is Ground Hog's Day it's NOT easy.  Is it Monday-Friday-Saturday-What difference does it even make? Every day is a Mary Mix-Up day AS one day bleeds into the next.  I'm feeling all SIXES and SEVENS and I'm starting to talk up side streets. UGH. Is this really my new NORMAL? I just want my old life back before I fall over the edge and I'm--four quarters short of a dollar--a few bricks short of a load--five cans short of a six pack. Before they take me away to the--booby hatch--bug house--Funny Farm--where life is wonderful ALL the time. They're coming to take me away.............HA HA--but before I go--I think I can handle one more book review.
If you enjoyed The Clockmaker's Daughter, then you should definitely read The Lake House by Kate Morton. Sadie Sparrow is a detective in London who is forced to take leave after violating rules of conduct during an investigation. She retreats to her grandfather's home in Cornwall where she stumbles across an abandoned estate called Loeanneth or Lake House. Sadie soon learns that the estate has been abandoned for seventy years, since 1933 when young Theo Edevane went missing during a summer party. Sadie becomes obsessed with the house and family and decides to investigate the seventy year old mystery. During her investigation, she meets Theo's now elderly sister Alice, a famous writer of crime novels with her own secrets about what happened that night. Morton weaves a wonderful mystery between the past and the present told through various members of the Edevane family and Sadie Sparrow. This book is essentially a mystery within a mystery as every member of the Edevane family has something to hide. This beautifully written novel is about 500 pages or a 6 mile run that will keep you guessing until the end. Enjoy.

July 11, 2020 DEDICATED TO THE ONE I LOVE

There's this book I've been wanting to read for 20 years. Seriously--but I kept putting it off because it was a BIG commitment. There are commitments and THEN THERE ARE COMMITMENTS. This book is a MONSTER. 1488 PAGES. That's essentially 4 books if you think about it. That's a lot of time reading ONE BOOK. I wavered back and forth and finally decided to tackle the BEAST. Reading a book this size is a challenge for many reasons. First off--IT'S DAUNTING. I actually had to read a good 500 pages before I felt like I was even making a "dent". It was also quite heavy--carrying it to the beach was a serious workout. Forget falling asleep reading it--I almost suffocated. And my fingers couldn't even stretch around it. It was like trying to hold TWO whoppers from Burger King at the same time. Even though I faced tremendous odds-- I put on my SUPERHERO reader glasses and mottled through. The novel--that took me two weeks to read--was called A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth. At 591,552 words, A Suitable Boy is one of the longest novels ever published in the English language. 

It is set in the fictional town of Brahmpur, India, in the 1950s post-partition. It follows the story of four interconnected families over an 18 month period. There are over forty colorful characters in the story, thankfully the book contains a family tree at the beginning to help the reader keep everyone straight. The  main character is Mrs. Rupa Mehra, who is on a  quest to find a suitable boy for her daughter, Lata, to marry. Sadly, Lata is in love with a Muslim whom she is forbidden to marry.  Lata and her overbearing mother travel far and wide so that Lata can meet and marry a man her mother and family approve of.  Seth's story is a social satire on the times as he pokes fun at many of the interesting characters who can be shallow, social climbers who only care about money and connections. Seth also examines the 1950s in terms of  political issues, land reform, caste systems, academics, religion and the importance of family. Although I found the chapters on politics immensely detailed and dry, I really enjoyed the chapters that focused on Lata and her extended family. Again, it was a huge commitment that I'm not sure was worth the time, but I am really glad that I finally BESTED the BEAST. This book is REALLY a marathon--26.2--that is definitely not for everyone but it was made into a BBC series last year that you might enjoy. 

June 29, 2020 I WONDER WHY

                            I WONDER...............................................................................

**Why our glorious leader WON'T wear a mask? He is supposed to be a role model. Just think how low our Covid numbers could have been??

**How things would be if we had a president who worked to unify the United States and ACTUALLY LEAD us in our battle against Covid??

**What it would be like to have a president who actually cared about the health and safety of the people??

**What it would be like to have a president who faced the issues armed with REAL knowledge and facts??

**What it would feel like to have a president who comforted Americans during these difficult times??

**When THIS nightmare be over???   

...........These are just a few of the things I wonder........... about---- as we enter the fifth month of Covid............Phase Two--I believe. (HEAVY SIGH)  

Speaking of sighs, I recently finished a novel from 2008 that I absolutely loved called Bridge of Sighs by Richard Russo.  Russo is a fabulous writer and has become one of my favorite American writers. He has the ability to write about small-town life and actually make you feel as if you are part of the neighborhood.  This quiet story is set in Thomaston, a fictional town, in upstate New York. Lou "Lucy" Lynch,  the main character, has spent his entire life in Thomaston.  A town where--everybody knows your name.  At age 60, Lucy decides to write a book about the history of the town and his life. While writing the book, the reader learns about many issues that  faced the town over the years including social classes, racism, mental illness, environmental pollution and the cancer caused by the old tannery. The book  also follows Lucy's childhood,  his quirky parents, grandparents,  best friend Bobby Marconi, girlfriend Sarah Berg and just how the family came to own several convenience stores in town. This book is filled with a cast of characters that you will come to know and love because  Russo understands human behavior and has the ability to create rich, interesting, unforgettable characters. If you like beautiful writing, then this is the book for you. It's about 640 pages--or a 6 mile run--that you will never forget. 

 

June 22, 2020 LIE TO ME

As Covid threatens to take over the United States, our fearless leader carried on with his idiotic rally. Are you kidding me? And masks were optional? As it stands now--8 of his staffers have tested positive for virus. DAAHHH....Trump actually said that he wanted to limit testing to keep the numbers down--so that he could spread his "Fake News." OKAY-- let's just stop testing so that Trump can claim he's conquered his enemy. UGH.  The only good news that came out of the rally--besides the fact that TRUMP made an ASS out of himself AGAIN-- was that the rally wasn't  well attended. Many people were smart enough to stay away from an enclosed area full of people--they actually listened to SCIENCE.  I think that the  people who were actually DUMB enough to attend the rally --should have been required to a sign a waiver-- giving up their rights to medical care--when they get Covid. Sounds fair to me.  It's laughable that TRUMP stood there spouting about MAKING AMERICA GREAT AGAIN --when everything that's gone wrong in the United States since his election is pretty much his fault. He doesn't give a HOOT about Racism, BLM, Covid or trying to Unite the U.S.  He wants to divide the U.S. AND spread HATRED so that he can get re-elected.  TRUMP ONLY CARES ABOUT TRUMP-- HIS  MONEY--and GETTING REELECTED.
Another person who seemingly only cares about herself is the main character in Taylor Jenkins Reid's novel,  The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. As the story begins, Evelyn is a legendary actress of "Old Hollywood" living in New York City who wants her story told. She hires an unknown journalist named Monique Grant to write her story. This begs the question why an unknown journalist? At this point in the story,  Monique is barely scraping by as her husband has left her and her career is going nowhere. After the two meet, Monique goes to Evelyns apartment every day to record her biography for a book that stands to make millions. Monique learns that Evelyn made her way to Hollywood in 1950 at the age of fourteen to become a star. She was ruthless in her endeavor and didn't let anyone or anything stand in her way as fame and fortune meant more to her than anything. Evelyn's story is one of  glamour, betrayal, friendship and scandal as  Evelyn explains why she had seven husbands, and why she was forced to leave Hollywood in the 1980s. This book is ultimately about the love of Evelyn's life and her desire to finally speak the truth. By the end of the story, Monique will also learn why she was chosen by Evelyn to write her biography. I really enjoyed the story--it was not what I expected--for that I'm thankful. It's about 400 pages or a 4 mile run that you will find hard to put down. Enjoy.

June 10, 2020 OLD TIME ROCK & ROLL

Concerts. I read a book a few weeks ago that got me thinking. Back in the day--concerts were a MAJOR event. Remember---Kind of like seeing the The Wizard of Oz on television. Tickets were about $10--Can you believe it? Seriously--you could see Van Halen for $8.50--BUT--that was a lot of money-considering minimum wage was about $3 an hour. CRAZY.  Then I started thinking about some of the concerts I went to in the 1980s.  It's funny--some of them I remember VIVIDLY--while others NOT SO MUCH--I'll leave it at that. To the BEST of my recollection--these are some of the concerts I saw WAY BACK WHEN. Genesis-Rush-Journey-Bryan Adams-Def Leppard-The Police-Fleetwood Mac-Rod Stewart-Madonna-Elton John-James Taylor. I'm sure there were others but I can't think of them right now. I can still remember wanting to be a groupie though. Wanting to run away and follow a band around the country. I fantasized that Rod Stewart would see me in the crowd and whisk me away.......SORRY....back to reality. I'm sure we have all fantasized that we were either in a band or part of the band and if you REALLY want to feel that way again--for a little while-- you must read Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid.
This book is unique in that it is written as a series of interviews about a famous rock band of the 1970s. The interviewees include members of the band, groupies, agents, and friends of the band, forty years after their mysterious break up. Daisy Jones, the lead singer, grew up in Los Angeles on the Sunset Strip. She hangs out with bands and enjoys the lifestyle of a groupie. As she grows older, she discovers her talent for song writing and eventually as a singer. Billy Dunne, is the leader of The Six, a band gaining popularity in the early 1970s. After the two join forces, the sky is the limit until problems in the band --jealousy-drugs-alcohol-sex--become too much. This is the story of the rise and fall of a rock band and how things are recalled by members of the band forty years later. It's interesting that things that seemed important then--seem quite ridiculous now. The story seems so real that I actually googled the band--only to find out that the book is VERY loosely based on Fleetwood Mac when they were recording their album Rumors. This is a great story. I loved the writing and the format. I fell into it and wanted to stay. I did read that the book is going to become a mini series too. It about 370 pages or a 4 mile run that I thoroughly enjoyed.

June 1, 2020 BLUER THAN BLUE

Have you ever heard of the Blue People of Kentucky? Me either--until last week. Apparently, a man of French descent named Martin Fugate, who had blue skin, settled in Troublesome Creek around 1800.  He married a woman named Elizabeth Smith and four of their seven children were blue. Why were they blue? The color of their skin was due to low oxygen saturation caused by hereditary Methemoglobinemia. Interestingly enough, it was caused by a recessive gene--so both the father and mother had to have the gene in order to have blue children. By the 20th century, descendants with the gene still lived hidden around Troublesome Creek. In the 1950's, two siblings caught the attention of a nurse who then took them to a hematologist who was familiar with their condition as he had seen it in Alaska. After testing and further study, he  was able to treat the them. Sadly, the blue people were discriminated against because of their skin color. They were murdered, beaten, and ridiculed because they weren't white. Unfortunately, things haven't changed much in our world-- They've only gotten worse as witnessed by the events of the past few months. Stand for a moment in Cussy Mary Carter's shoes when you  read The Book Woman of Trouble Some Creek by Kim Michelle Richards.  

Cussy Mary, the narrator of this fine novel, is the last of her kind--the Blue People. She's also a pack horse librarian, one of  Roosevelt's WPA programs of the 1930s. Cussy Mary is a brave, dedicated librarian who faces prejudice, intolerance and attacks from whites as she travels the poverty stricken rural areas of Appalachia delivering books to her patrons. She and her father are not accepted in town and are not considered part of the community because of their difference. Because of the color of their skin, they are persecuted and held hostage in  their own homes. Her father is a coal miner with  lung disease who has one last wish. He wants to see his daughter married and taken care of before his death. But who would want to marry a Blue? This book is so many things. It is a well- researched novel that will make you feel like you are back in Kentucy in the 1930s. It's also a book that pays tribute to the women who rode countless miles over rough terrain to bring hope to the poor, ignorant masses. It's also about prejudice and what it's like to be different in a world that does not accept difference. Find out what happens to Cussy Mary and her father when you read this beautifully written novel for yourself. It's about 320 pages or a 4 mile run that is more timely than ever. 

May 28, 2020 TRAIN WHISTLE BLUES

I'm one of those people who rarely watches the movie after I read  the book. And when I do--I'm generally disappointed with the movie version. It's just impossible to capture so many details on film. It's also REALLY annoying when a book gets made into a movie and they completely change the plot AND the characters. So I went against my better judgement the other night and watched a movie right after I finished reading the book. The movie was made back in 1991 and was a HUGE hit. It was nominated for a few Academy Awards and was loaded with stars. I will admit that I really enjoyed the movie and if I hadn't just finished the book--I would have probably loved it--except for a few things.  First of all, the movie was different. The plot was rearranged and changed because several characters in the book were not in the movie. UGH.  I also didn't agree with some of the actresses chosen for certain parts--but that's my deal. I had a picture in my mind about what the characters should look like and some were completely different in the film. OKAY--I've kept you waiting long enough. Believe it or NOT--I finally got around to reading Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg.
This wonderful story centers on the friendship of Evelyn Crouch, a middle-aged housewife and an elderly woman named Ninny Threadgoode. The two meet at Rose Terrace Nursing Home while Evelyn is visiting her mother-in law-in the 1980's.  Evelyn enjoys Ninny's company so she decides to visit with her while her husband sees his Momma. Ninny regales Evelyn with stories of  the Threadgoode family  and the Whistle Stop Cafe in Alabama.  Many of the stories focus on the adventures  Idgie Threadgoode and Ruth Jamison, owners of the cafe during the Depression riddled South. Her stories are  filled with colorful characters including Smokey, Big George, Sispey  to name a few. This novel explores many themes including family, ageing, racism, lesbianism and friendship. If you read this book back in 1987--it's worth a second read. It's about 400 pages --or a 4 mile--run that's filled with lessons we could really use in 2020. 

May 23, 2020 STILL THE SAME

My life feels like the movie Groundhog's Day. You know-- Where Bill Murray wakes up and everything is--EXACTLY THE SAME--every day. Yup--The MONOTONY IS KILLING ME. I love my family as much as the next person--BUT SERIOUSLY--ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. Being together THIS MUCH-is getting OLD.There is NOTHING left to talk about. O-M-G. Trying so HARD to stay positive but SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE. I can only run SO many miles--then it's back to the prison. THE DREADED ROUTINE. HOW MUCH CAN I COOK?? How many times can I wipe down the counters?? Scrub the toilets? Sweep the dog hair? Fold the leggings? You know things are bad when GOING TO THE GROCERY STORE IS THE BEST PART OF MY DAY--at least its's a diversion from my routine. Hopefully things will get better soon. Outdoor venues are starting to open and one of the libraries has opened with curbside service--so that's a plus. I'm Trying not to FALL DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE in the meantime. Udo, better known as Little Bee, has problems of her own in Chris Cleave's novel from 2010 Little Bee.  

Little Bee is a young Nigerian girl who flees her home for a better life during the Nigerian Oil Wars. As the story begins, Little Bee and four other refugees are being released from an Immigration Detention Center near London. After staying at a farm near the center, Little Bee decides to make her way to the home of Sarah Summers and Andrew O'Rourke--the only people she knows in London. Little Bee and her sister briefly met the couple two years earlier when Sarah and Andrew were on a  beach in Nigeria during their vacation. After a confrontation with the sisters and some hostile soldiers, Andrew lost his license while Sarah lost a finger. Two years later,  Little Bee shows up at the house on the day of Andrew's funeral and stays on to help Sarah and her son Charlie. I don't want to say much more except that this is a book about choices. Some are good, others bad but they ALL shape our lives. I enjoyed this book that was made into a movie in 2018 although I did not find some parts believable--but that's just me. It's a 270 page book or 4 mile run that is definitely worth your time. Enjoy.  

May 19, 2020 NOTHING'S GONNA STOP US NOW

I have two words for you. VIRTUAL GRADUATION. It's that time of year again. Our seniors will graduate this Friday. We usually have all kinds of special activities--a breakfast--awards program--beautiful graduation--BUT NOT THIS YEAR. I feel badly for ANYONE who is trying to celebrate in the midst of COVID-19. The struggle is REAL. After much debate, my school decided to hold a virtual graduation. This involved the COORDINATION  and DEDICATION of many people. I happily agreed to help with the filming AND I'M SO GLAD THAT I DID. I got to see "the kids" again in all their finery. There were "congratulation signs" covering the lawn as the seniors readied themselves with their--caps--gowns--cords--to walk down the aisle and accept their diplomas. Each was captured on film and will be put together for friends and family to watch--this Friday at 6:00.  I know it's not the same as actually being there together BUT we did our best to honor the graduates. Congratulations Seniors. Happy Trails.
Too bad the trail wasn't happy for Lily Millington, the main character of Kate Morton's mystery The Clockmaker's Daughter. This lovely novel is part love story, part mystery and part ghost story. It also spans 150 years, and is told through multiple voices. If you are okay with that then you will love this book. Lily Millington, a one time thief living in England in 1862, falls in love with acclaimed painter Edward Radcliffe while working as his model. The feeling is mutual, but Edward is already engaged to a wealthy socialite named Fannie Brown. In order to escape his future, Edward, Lily and a group of painters escape to Edward's home in the country, Birchfield Manor. After a fumbled robbery, Fannie is dead and Lily disappears. A few years later, Edward dies and leaves his home to his sister Lucy who uses the house as a school for girls and later a museum dedicated to her brother. What's important in this novel is Birchfield Manor and its effect on the people who visit the home over 150 years including a student named Ava in the 1900's, Julia & Alan Winston in 1928,  Leonard, Jack, and Elodie Winslow, an archivist, who finds an old satchel containing sketches of a house and a picture of a woman that sets her on the hunt for answers. I really enjoyed this book but have to admit that it was NOT an easy read. You should make a list of all the characters because they are all connected in the end but it's hard to keep track of them because the book flips back and forth through time and has a ghost who is an unreliable narrator. WOW. This book is about 500 pages or a 6 mile run that I thoroughly enjoyed.

May 9, 2020 A MOTHER'S LOVE

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there. Being a mother is a tough job--if you want to do it well. There's ALL this SACRIFICING, nurturing, understanding -- did I mention SACRIFICING. Good bye--LIFE--FIGURE--SLEEP--MONEY--TIME. My advice to ALL THE WOULD-BE MOTHERS OUT THERE---Get a puppy first. Seriously--they are an awful lot like babies. They are adorable little creatures who-- poop-peep-cry--just like a baby--but better.  Seriously--Your legs won't swell and your belly won't get bigger than a balloon. Right? They won't take over YOUR WHOLE LIFE EITHER--get a crate and you've got yourself a babysitter. While I admit--puppies whimper at night--at least you don't have to get up and feed them. Get yourself a white noise machine to block it out. And a puppy is a hell of a lot cheaper than a baby. The diapers-formula-clothes--baby systems--ENOUGH SAID.  All you have to do is train that puppy to do his BUSINESS outside. Best of all--the time commitment is not as OVERWHELMING.  A new mother is literally CHAINED to that ADORABLE baby 24/7. HEED MY ADVICE ladies--a puppy is that tiny step you take BEFORE YOU LEAP in to THE REAL WORLD. Being a mother--ISN'T FOR THE FAINT OF HEART--but I wouldn't change it for the world. 
Vera Ray and Claire Aldridge, the main characters in Blackberry Winter by Sarah Joi, are both mothers who face very different struggles that ultimately change their lives. Set in Seattle during the Depression, Vera Ray returns home after her shift at the Olympic Hotel to find her three year old son Daniel missing. It's May 2, 1933, and heavy snow is falling as Vera searches frantically for her son. After a desperate hunt, she finds his teddy bear in the snow and realizes her son has been abducted.  Decades later, It's May 2 in Seattle as a blizzard strikes--an anomaly that is referred by meteorologists as Blackberry Winter. Claire Aldridge, a reporter for the Seattle Herald, is called upon to write a story about the Blackberry Winter of 1933. While researching, she learns about Daniel Ray's unsolved kidnapping and takes it upon herself to solve the mystery. Find out what happened to Daniel all those years ago and Claire's strange connection to Vera when you read this book for yourself. It's about 290 pages --or a 3 mile run--that I really enjoyed.

April 30, 2020 JUST ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE

If there's one thing I dislike about as much as grocery shopping --it's deciding WHAT'S FOR DINNER.  Just hearing those THREE WORDS used to make my BLOOD BOIL--before the pandemic. Today cooking dinner has taken on a whole new meaning--YUP-- cooking dinner has become an EVENT in my house. I guess I've REALLY hit ROCK BOTTOM. I've turned into SUZY HOMEMAKER-- I'm cooking away--BECAUSE IT GIVES ME SOMETHING TO DO. I've been trying new recipes--spending hours in the kitchen.  Here's a small sampling of some of the tasty food you can get at my restaurant:
Fish Tacos with Pico De Gallo and avocado slices
Blackened Fish/roasted veggies/arugula and couscous
Chicken Parmesan with house salad and freshly made bread
Grilled pizza--red or white--you choice your toppings
Bean Burgers with arugula, red onion and feta
Hearty Beef Stew with homemade cornbread
Eggplant Parmesan with fresh tomato basil sauce
Pulled Pork with black beans and rice
We also served healthy fruit smoothies with protein powder for breakfast and a variety of sides. Yup--that's what happens when you've been home for 7 WEEKS and you have TOO MUCH TIME.
If you're spending too much time in the kitchen then perhaps you'd like to take a break to read Terry McMillan's new book It's Not All Downhill From Here.
Loretha Curry, the main character in this novel, is a sixty-eight year old woman living in Pasadena who loves her family fiercely. After a sudden loss, her world is turned upside down. Her weight spirals out of control, putting her health in jeopardy, and her business is in limbo. In addition to  her own problems, her daughter Jalecia barely speaks to her,  her mother has recently moved into an assisted living, and her niece Cinnamon is pregnant. She's got a full plate.  Luckily for Loretha, she has a close knit group of friends who band together to help pick up the pieces. Her friend group-Ko, Lucky, Sadie, and Poochie--have been together for fifty years. They are raw, honest to a fault and hysterically funny at times.  Find out how Loretha finds her way through grief-- with humor, hope and a few prayers--when you read this novel  This book is about many things. It's about friendship, strong women, mental illness, addition, faith, and how we must all endure change and challenges in our lives.  This is an easy read--about 350 pages or a 3 mile run that's filled with hope and wisdom.

April 27, 2020 RHINESTONE COWBOY

The Grocery store. I hated grocery shopping BEFORE the pandemic. NOW I ULTRA HATE IT. Don't know how those doctors and nurses can stand wearing a mask ALL day. I wore one to the grocery store last week and almost passed out from my own carbon dioxide. OKAY--maybe it was just the anxiety over the whole experience. Not only did I suffer from lack of oxygen--I couldn't see a DAMN THING because my glasses kept fogging up. I was banging into everything--going up and down the wrong aisles--I'm surprised I didn't get arrested. And people get really NASTY if you go up the wrong aisle. I actually got into a  LITTLE altercation with some lady because I was GOING in the wrong direction. I am directionally challenged--on a good day. She gave me a VERBAL LASHING that was seriously OUT of proportion for the crime. Thought for a minute I was gonna be hanged in the town square at noon. Which brings me to my review of the Classic Western Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry.
This incredible epic focuses on two famous retired Texas Rangers, Captain Woodrow Call and Captain Augustus "Gus" McCrae.  After spending years taming the West, the two now own the Hat Creek Cattle Company and Emporium in a tiny town in Texas called Lonesome Dove. They have been in Lonesome Dove for about ten years when they receive a visit from an old friend who regales them with tales of  Montana and his travels. Call and Gus then get the itch to go on one last great adventure. They decide to herd cattle from Texas to Montana with their company which includes Pea Eye, Deets, Dish, Newt and many others --to be the first to succeed in starting a cattle ranch in Montana. Along the way they encounter all kinds of danger and meet a host of unforgettable characters including ladies, whores, settlers, Indians, and sheriffs. This beautifully written novel is a story about friendship, ageing, death, and unrequited love on the last frontier. It's a biggy though--almost 900 pages or a 10 miles run that is well worth your time. Getting lost in Lonesome Dove is a great way to get through this pandemic!

April 18, 2020 TAKE THE LONG WAY HOME

The LONG book. Yup-- it's a commitment. But since we ALL have SO much EXTRA time these days--WHY NOT??  There are many good things about reading a longer book. Better character development--more intriguing plot--many times multigenerational--an ending that doesn't feel rushed either. I personally love the LONG novel because I get to spend MORE TIME in another world. A world that sometimes is much BETTER than my own---OR Worse--so that I can appreciate my own. One more great thing about the long novel--I don't have to WORRY about which book I'm going to read next because the LONG BOOK is going to keep me busy for quite a while. WHAT A RELIEF.  I'm currently reading an 845 pager. It's THICK. Remember Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurty? It won the Pulitzer Prize in 1985. I'm lost in the American frontier with a couple of Texas rangers, outlaws, whores, ladies, cowboys and settlers. It's a good place to be. If you're not interested in the West, I've come up with a list of other GREAT LONG books that you can lose yourself in.
1. The Country Girls by Edna O'Brien--530 pages
2. A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry--624 pages
3. A Prayer For Owen Meany by John Irving--645 pages
4. Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham--650 pages
5. Bleak House by Charles Dickens--680 pages
6. The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt--880 pages
7. I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb--900 pages
8. 11/22/63: A Novel by Stephen King--1000 pages
9. The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett--1104 pages
10.--These writers have written several books--so if you still don't want the giant commitment--check out their other  books. Enjoy!

April 13, 2020 STRANGE BREW

Strange Easter this year. Missed being with the family. In this time of social distancing my poor MIL sat home alone. Yes--we brought her a meal--BUT--she had to eat it alone. It's the first time she's spent Easter alone in her entire life.  She's one of the HIGH risk people--if she gets Corona virus-it's all over. It's a STRANGE trade off. Sit home alone--SO you don't DIE--But what's the point when all you do is SIT HOME ALONE. LIFE IS UNFAIR. I know many people are in the same situation right now. Hoping that things get back to--SOME KIND OF NORMAL--sooner than later because it's not easy to be home alone. Many elderly people were lonely BEFORE social isolation hit. Hopefully they have family stepping up to help them through this difficult time.  Happy Easter 2020 style--here's to a better one next year. In the meantime, I just finished a psychological thriller that will definitely help you forget you're alone called You Are Not Alone by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen.
Shay Miller is a lonely woman living in New York City who witnesses the unthinkable. One day while she's waiting for the subway, she sees a young woman commit suicide by jumping in front of a train. After the accident, Shay becomes fixated with the dead woman, Amanda Evinger, and even attends her memorial service where she meets the Moore sisters. Jane and Cassandra Moore, friends of Amanda, become interested in Shay because she was the last person to see Amanda alive. They are concerned that Amanda may have given Shay evidence to connect them to a crime. As Shay tries to put the pieces of her life back together, the Moore sisters work to unravel it and send her over the edge. Did Amanda leave anything for Shay? Will Shay get her life back or will the Moore sisters be successful? Find out when you read this 350 page--4 mile run- suspense filled page turner for yourself. Enjoy.

April 9, 2020 ACCENTUATE THE POSITIVE

Sometimes it's difficult to keep a positive mind set. With worrying about family, friends, rainy days and lack of toilet paper--somethings gotta give right? Seriously, I have to work REALLY hard to remain optimistic. When I start feeling down--I immediately STOP and think about all the things I'm grateful for-- And that usually sets me straight. I also try to surround myself with positive people because negative people suck the life out of me. A sense of HUMOR is SUPER important right now too--so I always have time for funny people . Been trying to stick to my routine as much as possible too. Up and out of the house bright and early for a run--Fresh air and sunshine make everything OK. Trying to stick to my regular eating routine too because it's WAY TOO easy to fall off the FOOD wagon  and that would send me into a purple funk. Hope you are finding ways to stay positive too. Remember--the only thing we can control is ourselves. 

 If you're looking for something positive to do this afternoon, then pick up a copy of J. Courtney Sullivan's family drama  Saints For All Occasions. Nora and Theresa Flynn, the two protagonists in the story, live with their family in a small village in Ireland.  After Nora's fiance, Charlie, leaves Ireland to settle in America, he invites Nora and  Theresa to join him.  Nora is the shy, practical, responsible sister, whereas, Theresa is the social, outgoing sister who just wants to have fun. After settling in Boston, Nora questions her decision to marry Charlie while her sister gets pregnant. Nora is then forced to take charge as Theresa is sent away and their once close relationship is forever changed. Fast forward fifty years. Nora is now a widow with four grown children. After tragedy strikes, Nora and her sister are forced together again to face secrets from the past and try to reconcile their relationship. This lovely novel is told through alternating voices with wonderful, interesting characters. Sullivan is spot on with her characterization in this Irish immigrant/Irish Catholic family saga. This book is about 350 pages or a 4 mile run that will get you through a rainy afternoon. Enjoy. 

April 4, 2020 LEARN THE HARD WAY

Teaching through Corona virus. It ain't easy. I've learned the INS and OUTS of Google Meet. I've learned to teach lessons via Screencastify.  I've Zoomed--Loomed--Doomed. You name it- I've done it.  I've learned to be EVEN more flexible, creative and understanding too. BUT-- the most important thing I've learned--Teachers will NEVER be out of a job. It is impossible to replicate the classroom via computers. Relationships CAN NOT be formed virtually. The teacher/student relationship has to be formed in the classroom. It is the KEY to successful students. When students know their teachers support them--they want to succeed. They become more self-confident--willing to take  the risks  necessary to blossom and grow. I love getting to know ALL my students. I love helping them reach their goals.  I love to joke around with them--tease them--sing with them--whatever it takes to get them to know that I CARE. That's why I teach. I miss my classroom, my students AND our camaraderie. Hope to see you--IN PERSON--real soon.

It going to take a special kind of person to get through Nicole Krauss' novel Forest Dark. I decided to read this book because I've read her previous novels and really liked them. I especially LOVED The History of Love--so read that instead. Forest Dark is a tough read. Set in New York City and Israel, the story is about two people, Jules Epstein and Nicole. Jules is a a wealthy, retired, troubled man. After the death of his parents, three months apart, he decides to divorce his wife of thirty years and give away all his money and possessions. He also decides to go "home" to Tel Aviv on a sort of pilgrimage, and later goes missing. Nicole (can't help but think this is autobiographical) is a famous author, with two children and a failing marriage. In an effort to revive her career, she is suffering from writer's block, she decides to go to the Hilton Tel Aviv where her family frequently traveled in her youth. During her visit, she meets a literature professor who tries to convince her to finish  some of Kafka's work. The story flips back and forth between the characters but it is ultimately about the two characters and their metamorphosis (Kafka's short story) and  journey of self-discovery. It's about 280 pages or a 6 mile run with many hills. Good Luck.

March 30, 2020 DANGER ZONE

The Twilight Zone--Created in 1959 by Rod Serling--is still important today--because it addressed many controversial issues--THAT ARE RELEVANT in 2020. When I taught English--I always found a way to weave an episode in now and then. The KIDS LOVED THEM--I'm pretty sure I single-handedly created a whole new generation of fans. HA!  Since we're living in The Twilight Zone right now--I thought I'd share some of my favorite episodes with you. They are all free on Netflix or watch them on youtube. Without further ado--My Top 10 Episodes of The Twilight Zone:
"To Serve Man", "The Obsolete Man","Deaths-Head Revisited", "The Monsters are Due on Maple Street", "Eye of the Beholder", "Time Enough at Last", "Back There", "The After Hours", "Where is Everybody", "Nightmare at 20,000 ft". We ALL have too much time on our hands--might as well spend some of it "In a dimension as vast as space and timeless as infinity............." And when you get sick of watching television you might want to read  In the Midst of Winter by Isabel Allande.

In this lovely novel, three very different people's lives become intertwined after a minor accident during a major snow storm in Brooklyn. Richard Bowmaster is a lonely professor at NYU. While trying to drive home during a storm, he back ends a vehicle driven by Evelyn Ortega. Evelyn is an undocumented immigrant from Guatemala who doesn't speak. After Richard gives her his insurance information, she turns up at his house looking for help. In turn, Richard enlists the help of his tenant, Lucia Maraz, a fellow teacher at NYU. After becoming snowbound, the trio begins to open up about their lives before coming to America. This book explores many issues including human rights, immigrants, and refugees and it's  also a love story. It's about 350 pages or a 4 mile run well worth the effort.