Grid Lock by Sean Black

Grid Lock is an fast-paced, action packed murder mystery chock full of mayhem and twists and turns.

Raven Lane, one of the porn industries premiere girls, is being stalked and the most recent threat to her pushes her to seek more protection that just what the police can offer.  She hires on Lock and Ty, who make it their business to provide protection to those that can afford their services.  What starts out as a pretty run of the mill job, quickly takes a turn.  They will be battling a serial killer with a grudge to settle, as they are in the way of his prize.

Throughout Los Angeles they will battle papparazzi, traffic, time and lies until the killer is captured or killed as the threat to Raven extends past herself and becomes more personal for one of the guys.
If you are not offended by some unsettling graphic details and unsavory language, then this page turner should be on your list.  Grid Lock will keep you glued to the pages as the story moves a mile a minute!

This book was a gift through a giveaway offered at Goodreads.com.

Operation Napoleon by Arnaldur Indridason

This was a really good book!  What does a German plane painted in allied colors carrying Germans and Americans reveal about WW2? Back in 1945 just prior to the end of WW2 this plane carrying seven high ranking military individuals from opposing sides comes into some horrendous weather over Iceland.  Due to massive icing the plane just can't make it and crashes into a glacier.  Fifty plus years later we come into the krux of the story as only a handful of American military know what damning cargo was aboard that downed craft.  An all out mission to recover this plane is launched and nothing will stand in the way of recovery. 

This story has it all! Intrigue, plot, conspiracy theories, "good guys" and "bad guys".  This book would make a great movie!  Be ready for some thought provoking possibilities about government cover-ups.

The Radleys by Matt Haig

My first "vampire book" ever! :)  On that note and perhaps thankfully so, I have no comparison at all that I can make.  Having seen many books in this genre and the apparent blood lust going on, I can say this one may be a bit different.

Primarily a story about a family of abstainers, well at least the mother and father.  The two teenage children have no idea they even are vampires, until the sister crosses path with an unsavory young man who has other plans in a darkened field. 

What kind of tickled me was the fact that in the story all mention of vampires seems a quite normal happening.  Police are aware and have made deals with certain members in that society, people have seen killings, and there is even mention of Neckbook (a play on Facebook) for those that partake.  It all seems a perfectly normal part of society. 

Even though this is a book about a family of abstainers, there is still quite a bit of tasting and thirst going around, towards the end of the book I felt I was reading the word "blood" at least every sentence and I was getting a bit worn out by reading it over and over.  Despite that, it was an interesting read and quite fun for my first introduction into this sort of story.  Now all other vamp books will be compared to The Radleys.

This book was a gift through Goodreads.com, to read more about the author and his works visit www.matthaig.com

The Crossing by Serita Ann Jakes

The Crossing is a surprising read. Upon reading the book jacket I was anticipating not much more than a murder mystery with a few possible twists.  What I wasn't expecting was a Christian murder mystery. 

This story is told from the voice of several different characters and flashes back and forth between the time of the murder and present day, I actually like this style of writing.  It gives us a bit more indepth feel for what is happening and why.

While at a train crossing, a bus loaded with football players, cheerleaders and teachers is the scene to a terrifying event that haunts two of the main characters to this day.  An unknown man enters the stopped bus and starts shooting.  Among the chaos a young teacher is fatally shot and here the story begins.  One of her students (and best friend) Claudia is by her side until her last breath.  The unusually long train seems to never end and because of this the young teacher really stands no chance of surviving but during this time we experience the last thoughts of a dying person and the uncanny realizations that come too late to act upon.  The beginning of each chapter captures these moments of clarity 10-years ago as BJ Remington's life is fading away.

In present day, Claudia is now married to an up and coming ADA, she is a mother and a woman going through the nightmare haunting her to this day of the unsolved murder of her friend BJ.  Through a series of happenstance meetings, the three students most involved on the bus long ago are reunited and as a result the process of opening and solving this cold case comes to fruition.

Along the way, we follow these characters seeing their good side and not so good side.  Each follows paths that will either lead them to happiness and faith or to the depths of despair. 

This story has a number of twists and will keep you guessing (or at least in my case) up until the end when the final "ah ha" is revealed.  Although I would definitely classify this as a Christian fiction it is not filled with a preachy style, it would be appealing to a wide variety of readers.  One of the bonuses to having a faith based novel, is that a lot of the "fillers" some authors tend to use to fatten up their stories (unnecessary expletives, graphic scenes of a sexual nature, etc) just are not here and instead you get more of a storyteller version of a good story.

* This book was a gift through Goodreads.com giveaway.  Thank you!

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

Historical fiction may not seem like a fun subject, but I have to say, reading stories such as "Between Shades of Gray" are worth our time and effort. To imagine and get into a character and experience just some of what others truly lived through and managed to survive is an incredible journey.

This story follows three members of the Vilska family; a mother (Elena), her 15-year old daughter (Lina) and her 10-year old son (Jonas) on what begins a 12 year imprisonment in a labor camp in Siberia. The Vilska family, in part, are gathered up one night and wisked away with only the clothes on their back and what they had an opportunity to pack in a single suitcase each in less than 20 minutes. The timeframe is early 1940's and the Soviets are on a mission (just as Hitler is at the same time) to purge itself of people's who they deemed 'criminals'.    During Stalin's reign he was responsible for over 20 million deaths.  The happenings in this fictional account were taken in part from interviews the author had with actual survivors.

The Vilkas, an educated and beautiful Lithuanian family, were crammed into cattle trains and hauled across Russia over a manner of 12-14 months until they reached their final destination. The father, Kostas, had been separated from him family and likely died in a slave camp, the rest of the family went to labor camps.  Along the way, many died, families were separated, they were forced to work and live in deplorable conditions with no medical care, little to no food, housing which was barely above living in a cardboard box at times.

Despite horrific happenings, we read a story that is sad, scary, moving although the writer kept much of the graphic horrors off her pages. You will be left realizing that irregardless of what is going on the human spirit can still survive and smile and find hope. If you are even remotely interested in the history during this timeframe, you will want to pick up this book.

http://www.rutasepetys.com/ for more information about the author and this book.  There is a 11 minute video on the author's website that you may want to view.

The Terror by Dan Simmons

What I liked and didn't favor about this book: the story is based upon the failed Franklin Expedition to find and navigate the Northwest Passage in the early-mid 1800's. The captain's and crews of HMS Erebus and HMS Terror (Her Majesty's Ship) set forth and quickly find themselves trapped in ice in the Arctic. Brutal weather keeps them virtually locked in place for years, with ever increasing disease, dwindling stores of food and medicines and no rescue in sight.

The author takes this horrific tale and weaves a "what could've happened" scenario and overlays a creepy element of horror on top of that. Be prepared to be immersed though! At nearly 800 pages this book goes into detail at times that although sets a tone of accuracy and historical relevance, can sometimes wane on being excruitatingly tough to plow through. By page 150 or so I finally became hooked into the story, up to that point it was tough for me to feel like I knew or cared about the characters. For me it was similar to reading the first couple books of the Old Testament, a lot of names and not a lot of "meat and potatoes".

The entire middle portion of this story is in depth, you can nearly feel the horror and pain of the men who made this type of journey and wonder how on Earth anyone could have ever survived such an ordeal back in the days when this type of exploration was all the rage.

During the last 75-100 pages or so, the book moves from the story line in a huge leap. Once I traversed the complete change of story and got on board with the new direction, I liked it as well but it almost seemed like a "sequel" portion to what had transpired previously. All in all, I enjoyed this historical fiction. I think I learned a lot on my journey through this tale both in terms of exploration, survival, and eskimo life and folklore.

To learn more about this story or other's that Dan Simmons has written, visit www.dansimmons.com

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman

I closed my eyes and opened them in a world of Georgian charm.  This story transported me into the heartbreak and wonderment of a 12-year old girl. 

When do you know that an author has crafted a story so well written?  For me it is when I am seeing or feeling the story through one of the characters and am so invested in the "what's next" that I just cannot put the book down.  That is exactly how I felt while reading "Saving CeeCee Honeycutt".  I found myself with tears streaming down my face in sadness, in happiness; I laughed out loud; I was angered and a page later touched by the raw emotion of kindred spirits.

There are just not enough good things to say about CeeCee and the journey she finds herself on.  What begins with the burden of a young girl trying to manage and live with a mother who is spiraling hopelessly into psychosis while her father all but abandons the family to work, alcohol and implied marital infidelities; turns into a tale of emotional healing. 

The road is bumpy getting there and along the way we are introduced to memorable characters who, like a beautiful lace pattern, surrounds a young girl and allows her to blossom into what she was always destined to be...happy.

Pick this one up!  To read more about this book or the author visit http://bethhoffman.net/

The Last Jew of Treblinka a Memoir by Chil Rajchman

Let's face it, a book about the Holocaust and it's survivors are grim. It is a period in our world's history that is so undeniably wrong and filled with horror that to read any account is heart wrenching.

This is a very short read and I completed it in less than two hours. However, unlike other stories told on this subject this one did not bring me to tears, it is told in a pointedly direct manner and almost devoid of emotion. I dare not suggest that the experience was less emotive, it's just the way the story is told. In all fairness, I would expect any survivor of Treblinka, as there were very few, to process their time spent at this slaughter camp in a way that no other human who has not experienced the same atrocities could probably imagine. So to have the story (which was originally written in Yiddish and subsequently translated) to be blunt is almost welcoming. I am not sure if this particular account was shared more deeply on a different level if reading it would not leave the reader with nightmares.

If you are interested in the history of this general time period in Germany and the leadership and actions during that time, it is well worth adding this to your library.

Stories like this become embedded in your person and part of the learning experience then becomes part of you. Perhaps I am fascinated with this as I come from some German heritage, I joined the military and specifically asked to be stationed in Germany; it is part of my "cleansing of guilt" for the behaviors of those who shared some of what my ancestors may/may not have agreed with?

The Ice Queen by Alice Hoffman

This is one of those books that I loved the way it began and loved the way it ended, it the middle I was wishy-washy at times, but as I said the ending pulled it back up into one I like and would recommend.

Accepting blame for what there is no blame to be had, making wishes and having them come true, living in despair over one's life; these are the makings of this story.  But this is also a tale woven with hope, triumph, and a little bit of that "happily ever after".

One of the sentences that summed up this whole book to me is found on the very last page, "The best way to die is while you're living..."

I don't like giving reviews with all the spoilers, a story is to be read and experienced for the first time by each reader, anything less makes it not worth the time to dive into in the first place.  I will say, if you like a book with a little magic - a bit of the unbelievable intermixed with a heartfelt story about the relationship of friends and family then you will be delighted to invest a few hours with this in your hands.  Enjoy!

Here is a link to the author's website if you are interested http://alicehoffman.com/

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

I started reading this book and realized about 10 pages into it that I have read it before in the past.  Having no recollection of what happened in the book other than knowing it was familiar I continued on.  Maybe logic should have told me, if it were a story I liked particularly I would have remembered it? 

What drew me in?  The front jacket.  Highway 66 sign with the Arch in the background.  I'm a Missouri girl and the cover is what got me. 

This is a dark tale about three women, a mother and her grown daughter and teen daughter, all of whom are quite disturbed in different ways.  If you are pulled into what is dark and bad in life, by people who self-hate and abuse their bodies and souls, then this is a great book for you.  I, however, found it wrought with deep seated issues that sometimes were completely unnecessary for story development. 

As I said once before, I don't like writing a CliffNotes version of ta book as proof that I read it, I don't want to give the story away and ruin it for another reader - I prefer impressions and how the story made me feel.  With that said, it's a good story about all that can go wrong in mother-daughter relationships, with a small town double murder as the main story line.  I wouldn't recommend this for a young adult though (someone under 16) as there are quite a few adult moments and situations.

If you'd like to visit the author's website here is a link http://gillian-flynn.com/. 

Miracle in the Andes by Nando Parrado

Gripping!  I cannot tell you the emotions this book will bring you.  This is a true story, an emotional account written by one of the survivors of a plane crash back in October 1972 in the Andes Mountains.  Honestly, I had never heard of this before?  Granted when the story unfolded I was merely 6 years old and even if over the many years that have transpired, if mention of it was on the news of an "anniversary", I had no recollection of the initial happening to make it memorable for me.  Now...now, I will remember this story for the rest of my life.

Just a quick sentence or two of the overall tragedy.  A plane, mainly carrying passengers that made up a Rugby team from Uruguay, was heading towards Chile.  The weather conditions where not ideal and perhaps they shouldn't have taken off, either way, while over the Andes Mountains in literally blind conditions the unthinkable happened.  The plane made contact and the tragedy quickly unfolds, this was October 13, 1972.  There had been 45 passengers on the plane, 29 survived.  There were varying degrees of injuries, some mere cuts and bruises, others had injuries so severe it was a waiting game until their final breathe. 

The plane had been torn in parts, the weather at 11,000 feet was inhumane and unsurvivable, these people had no provisions.  Their hopes were that rescuers would find them and soon.  Days turned into weeks and as circumstances grew more dire so did hope of rescue.  Seventy-two days later due to the determination of two men, Nando and Roberto who traversed time and distance as a last resort to either help rescue themselves and the remaining survivors or die trying, the sixteen remaining men were all brought to safety.

What this book details is from the perspective of one of those men, Nando Parrado.  It is more than a factual account of what happened and how they survived, although you will be transported into some of those grisly and unimaginable details as you read.  This is true human fear, despondency, hope, anger, drive, determination and all those things that when you have nothing else you still have love and that may be the last and only thing that you are living for - and it pulls you through.

Would I recommend this book!  A definitive YES!  It will leave you speechless and in awe.

Read more about the author on his webpage by clicking the photo of the front cover of the book to the left of this posting.   

Rooms by James L. Rubart

Wow, not sure what I want to say about this book that I just finished up?  I guess I will start with my first anticipation....

Rooms was toted as being similar to "The Shack".  I loved "The Shack"!  In fact I think during the time that book was in my hands all I wanted to do was read it and nothing else.  It was fantastical (fantastic, fantasy, mystical - all rolled into one word).  When I happened across Rooms at the bookstore, it was the cover that first drew me in.  Yes, I am one of those people who judge books by their cover! :)  The cover appears that the story will be foreboding, possibly filled with turbulence.  After reading the backcover and reading over the "Praise for Rooms" contained in the first couple of pages, I was anxious to open the book up and dive in.

The story line  was intriguing, it captured me fairly quickly.  However, somewhere midway in this book the overwhelming preachiness and really hard to believe types of  things going on in the story started irking me a bit.  By the time I was finishing the last 100 or so pages, I just wanted to finish reading the book and be done. 

There are aspects about Rooms that I really enjoyed, but it is so overwrought in what I think of when I think of crazy tele-evangelists that it lost a whole lot of glamour the longer the story went on.  This is just one for you to decide for on your own if you want to pick it up.  I'd advise to read online reviews prior though.  You will find 5-star raving reviews and 1-star critiques, whichever your heart leans more towards will decide if you want to read Rooms.  I'd say both the 5-star and 1-star type reviews are accurate, it's just a preference to what extent and lengths you want to have Christianity in your fictional literature.  For me this was too much.

I will include a link to the author's webpage that you visit by clicking the photo of the front cover to the left of this blog post. 

The Line by Teri Hall

Can you believe it, I have finished the book I just started yesterday!  This was a really short book (at least for me) about 225 pages and thankfully the sequel "Away" is to be released on September 15th so that will be forthcoming on my reading list.

The Line is categorized as a YA (young adult) novel.  With that being said my qualifications on the content are less critical than a book that is geared towards a more mature reader.  However, I really don't have any criticisms of this book other than the slower start to lure me in.  I'd say I wasn't fully invested in the story until page 70 or so, which was about a third of the way through.  But from that point on the story kept building, the tension continued to mount until the final page that left me wanting to know moreand to go further on this journey with the characters.  Luckily there was a 7 or 8 page 'tickler' of the next book included.

Although on a different scope, I consider this book a combination of a dystopian society following a mini post-apocalyptic event.  Government is in control to the extreme for the U.S. (now referred to as the Unified States), news and propaganda are filtered and changed before being fed out to society.  DNA is recorded at birth as a means of keeping track of people.  The list of government rules goes on and on, however there is a region of people who are not under this control.  They are the Others who inhabit the land on the other side of the Line.  They are Away.  The Line is a means of border control, keeps people out and keeps people in.  The people the Line is keeping, or kept, out though were it's own citizens.  Now after many years of being cut off, barely surviving, a young boy makes his way to the Line in order to see if he can communicate with someone on the other side in order to get medicine for his sick and dying father.  That's where this story takes off.

Barriers have always existed in our past, continue in our present, so this barrier in the story isn't hard to believe there is a sense of reality.  The Berlin Wall, Japanese segregation camps after the Pearl Harbor attack, apartheid in South Africa are all examples of barriers.  They seem apalling to us, but at one time they made perfect sense to someone otherwise they would not have existed.  And so the Line exists too.

The Line in my opinion represents fear.  Fear then builds upon itself and becomes an entity.  What would happen if one of the Others crossed over or vice versa?  You'll have to read to find out for yourself. 

This is Teri hall's debut novel.  Again, I have linked the authors webpage to the photo of the book in the post. 

Books along the same genre that I have read of recent would include "1984" by George Orwell, "The Year of the Flood" by Margaret Atwood, "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy and "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" by Ranson Riggs.  If you have read and enjoyed any of these, then you will undoubtedly want to read The Line.

My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares

Despite the fact it took me nearly two weeks to read this rather short book, I can say that it really is a lovely read full of hope, dreams, eternal love and hopefully a sequel.

My Name is Memory is a take on the human soul having the ability to live many lives over the centuries.  This is an idea that I had read before a long time ago, not in a book of fiction but in some metaphysical mumbo jumbo back in the 1990's I believe.  Sometimes reading about the possibility of having 2nd, 3rd or more chances to make something right is appealing to ponder.  What if?

What if the soul was born many centuries ago and in that life it found a true love that was unrequited or the fates had suddenly ended a life?  Perhaps that soul could be reborn in another body and live again.  I think we've all had dreams or the feeling of deja vu and couldn't remotely explain how something we have never seen before seems familiar.  What if those glimpses are left over imprints, or like a tattoo on the old soul, that is carried with it and manages to make it's way into our present?  Perhaps you are born with a birthmark on your shoulder and think nothing of it.  What if in a past life you were shot in your shoulder?  Could it be that the birthmark is a way for the body to recognize it's past as well?

In a nutshell these are the ideas that this story is built around.  However in this story the main character Daniel has the gift of memory.  He remembers his past lives, he recognizes the reborn souls of people in his past lives in his present life.  During the span that starts roughly 400 to 500 years after the death of Christ up to present day, Daniel seeks a certain soul.  She is now known as Lucy, but in the past she was Sophia and Constance.  She was a child who died in his arms, an old woman he sat next to in church, a beautiful woman of priviledge that he could not get close to as he was just a young boy. 

This story goes back and forth in time to weave a tale and build the characters so that we not only know them now but then as well, and perhaps why they do the things they do and feel the way they feel.  One of my favorite passages in this book reads like this....

"God, Sophia.  You aren't anyone.  Haven't you heard anything I've said to you?  You might think I'm another pathetic boy in your care, and I am.  But you are everything to me."


I was sitting up and flushed, and so determined I could barely feel my lungs or any other part of me.  Sophia had dropped my hand, and she looked as though she was going to cry.


"Please try to believe me." I said. "This didn't happen by accident.  You have been with me from the very first life.  You are my first memory every time, the single thread in all of my lives.  It's you who makes me a person."


Taken from pages 166-167. 

When I read that it gave me something that kinda felt like hope.  I know this is just a fictional book and that there is no proof that souls actually move from life to life, transcending time, but what if?  What if the person we meet tomorrow at the store, who becomes our best friend because it feels so natural was our sister in a past life or our grandfather (souls apparently don't have to follow gender specific guidelines, as suggested in this story). 

This is a book I would definitely recommend.  It's thought-provoking, well crafted and leaves room for the reader to make his/her own assumptions and fill-in's along the way, it gives the reader an opportunity to imagine where parts of the stories untold may have led.

Ann Brashares may be a name that is familiar to you, she is the author who penned the "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" books.  While this post is displayed, if you are interested in learning more about Ann and her books, you may click the photo of "My Name is Memory" and it will take you to the author's webpage.

Hmmmm....started this a long time ago

Gosh, to say I started this blog with excitement and anticipation would have an understatement.  Soon though my excitement waned, then it fizzled and eventually it was snuffed out.  Why?  Not sure, perhaps I chose the wrong type of format.  I was trying to emulate a blog which I really enjoyed, one that touched on the day to day happening and how it affected you, how you thought it over, the conclusions that came about.

Well by trying to do what I enjoyed reading of someone else's led to two things happening. First, I felt my blog was just another thing on my "to do" list and it became more of a burden than an outlet of expression.  Secondly, by trying to come up with this blog it sucked the time I had normally allowed to visit another blog out of my day.  Now I could have simply allotted more time, but I spent way too much time online as many of my Facebook friends may know.  Sometimes hours a night after coming home from work instead of other things which I know I should be doing.  It's double-edged sword.  I enjoy the computer and being online and all that comes with that but...I enjoy all the other stuff that happens when you are not clued with a laptop on your lap and keys rapidly pressed under your fingertips.

So that brings me to why am I blogging again today all of a sudden?  Last night it came to me what I should have always used my blog for!  I am an avid reader and enjoy all sorts of genres and writing styles and that is something I could share.  I am not talking about book reviews per se, but maybe more along the lines of what I am reading, what I think about it, what I like and don't like in the book.  Are you thinking, "That sure sounds like a review?"  With a chuckle, I agree.  But here is the thing I hope not to do...

I don't want to give a Cliff Notes version of the book I read, I don't want to fill a few paragraphs with all the nuances of the book or the spoilers that may ruin the whole reading process for another person.  This isn't an assignment, I don't have to read a book and write a report in proof that I did read it, like we had to do back in school.

With that, you may notice my blog posting again.  The frequency will depend on the book I am reading, some books I rip through because they are awesome and hold my attention and I simply cannot put them down.  Other times, a book may take me a month or two to plow  my way through.  Some people may put a book down if it feels like pulling teeth, but for me I just can't.  Once I dive in it feels like an obligation to finish.  Ya just never know maybe a story that starts out slow, has weak characters will end with something monumental and life changing. 

If you happen to drop by and see my take on a book that you've read and your take on it was entirely different, or deeper or whatever please comment and let me know.  Perhaps a story I will read will open a door to one you may not have picked up on your own.  This will be my very own one person book club and I welcome you to join if and when the mood hits!  Happy reading!

Finally!

Tulips at Missouri Botanical Garden

As I have mentioned time and again for about a month, I have been in the duldrums of winter and feeling pretty blah about most things.  Hardly on the computer, no reading, no journaling, etc.  I think (am pretty sure) that it has lifted!  The weather has changed, warm days will become more frequent, things are blooming to include my spirit.

Did a little bit of yardwork over the weekend, couldn't really do a whole lot as my yard is a sponge (literally) and when you walk on it, water just squishes out from under your feet.  But I did what I could.  Planted a few azaleas for color near my bench swing in the backyard as well as a few Karl Foerster grasses (the ornamental type that get about 6' tall).  Sprayed the far back fenceline of my yard as I am trying to kill the poison ivy, honeysuckle (not the good kind) and other assorted weedy plants.  If I can get these yucky plants under control, I hope to change that area into more perennial type native plants that will provide flowers for butterflies and bees and hideaways for bunnies and squirrels.

Spring is just a time of renewal all around.  I am welcoming it with open arms!

March 6-12 Weekly Recap: Gratitude!

What a week!  To be completely honest, my desire to get up and do anything other than go to work was limited.  I found myself daily just exhausted in the evening so much that I really felt ~blah~.  With that being said it's a new week!  However, there are always things to be grateful for and here we go, March 6-12, 2010:

First and foremost, I had three family members with medical issues this week and all three have fared well and are in the midst of recovering!  My brother Gregory has been battling Crohn's disease for seven or so years and underwent yet another surgery.  This one put him back to the use of an ostomy bag and hopefully in a few months they (the doctors) will be able to fix him up and reconnect what he has left and get him to a state of "normality" so he can live pain free.  My sister Jennifer had a scare as well that landed her in the ER and then a two day stay at the hospital.  Although I can't recall the name of what they discovered (something I had never heard of before) she was released on a super strong antibiotic for a week or so which should clear up her issue and that'll take care of that.  Then my dad (John) went in for eye surgery.  Although I haven't spoken to my mom or dad since his surgery on Thursday (I know!  Very bad of me but I was in my ~blahs~) I have heard through the grapevine that he is recovering well and hopefully his vision will be greatly improved!  Now if we can get him to get his hearing and dental taken care of !  Of course, it had been probably 30+ years since my father had been to a doctor so the chance of him going back is really about 1 in a million.  So my collective Gratefulness for all of this = that my family members are all well and that there are good doctors out there who help make peoples lives (from a medical standpoint) better!

Being as that really is the most important thing to me (family), that is all I want to mention this week.  When you have family, you have what is really the most priceless thing in the world.

From funk to funkadelic

For the past couple of weeks, I have felt like I have been knee deep in  muck.  Just slowly dragging myself forward but not really able to pick up the pace.  My only thoughts on this self-imposed rut is the lack o' sunshine shining down on me.  Cloudy skies, rainy and drizzly weather, cold temps have me wanting to do not much more than come home from work and crawl in bed. 

Saving grace?  Spring forward time!  Daylight savings is this weekend!  Hallelujah!  Being an early bird it doesn't matter to me if it is still dark in the morning for a while longer or not. 



Adam Levine of Maroon 5
(He just looks yummy here)

 One nice reminder of summer being on the way was delivered to my email inbox today and I got immediately excited!  Celebrate St. Louis, our 4th of July fair down at the Arch grounds music lineup was announced!  July 2nd is Steve Miller, July 3rd is Montgomery Gentry and July 4th is Maroon 5!  Whoo Hoo!  I love love love watching live music and St. Louis has some big events during the summer all at virtually no cost!   A bit later this spring Celebrate St. Louis will be announcing their Live On The Levee music artists.  For the entire month of July on Friday and Saturday nights (also at no cost) there will be opening acts which are generally local and regional artists, then a featured band.  Then there is the Whitaker Music Festival hosted by the Missouri Botanical Garden on Wednesday nights (I believe 8 in a row) featuring all sorts of musical types. 

I will plan all my summer outings around these nights of music!  Generally I fly solo to most of them and that does not bother me a bit.  I can sit where I want, take photos and some video, whatever!  Not sure if anything brings me more joy in an instant besides music?  So one thing this blog will be used for once the summer music scene starts up for me is my post-concert reviews/highlights and photos!

Sofa Scrutiny

Have you ever been in the market for an item, be it small or large and know exactly in your mind what you want but can't find it?  That is me!

For the past 10 years I have had a red sofa and a blue loveseat, both the same style and make, same everything just different colors.  They used to have those overstuffed pillows for the back, but those are long gone!  I have learned over the years that the furniture that comes with those pillows are not a great idea.  Sure they look comfy and pretty in the showroom, but wait till you get home and are constantly straightening out those pillow or after some years those once full pillows have become flat - lost their lustre and look ridiculous.  If you are like me you tried adding more pillows but that ends in the same way.  Pillows just simply flatten out over time.  So now there are no pillows at all, just the less than comfy back (that was meant to support pillows).  Also somewhere about 2004, I removed all legs from the furniture as two little doggies of mine found it a good idea to pull down the bottom fabric and tunnel into the couch.  Thus we flipped the furniture, took off the legs and just sat it straight on the floor.  It sits a bit low now and somewhere along the way the legs of the furniture have gone MIA.

Which brings me to my endeavors to search out the perfect new sofa and loveseat.  I wrote on my Facebook status today what I was not looking for and the list was pretty long and even so it wasn't my entire list of "not wants".  NO: floral, plaid, patterns of any sort.  NO: tan, brown, country blue, forest green, goldtone.  Also left off no black or white.  Because of pets with fingernails...NO leather or faux leather.  NO: skirting around the bottom, wood inlays on the arms, loose pillows that make up the back.  Whew!  I am sure there are more mundane things that I do not like either.  But what do I want?  That is easy! 

Clean lines, simple style, metal legs in either silver or nickel coloring.  Colors?  Honestly I prefer a teal or burnt orange!  After searching three of the larger furniture showrooms in St. Louis today and leaving without finding my ideal, I came home and did a search on couch styles.  Low and behold I find that what I like is called Mid-Century Modern.  I found a photo of a couch that is exactly what I want.  I downloaded it into my photo editing program and "colored" the once cream colored couch in the photo to a shade similar to what I would like.

So this is the couch I am searching for!  If you see it, let me know.  I am looking to "adopt" this couch and show it a good home.  He will live in a smoke-free environment, be vacuumed of pet hair once every other week, will be warmed by the westward setting sun through a picture window every afternoon and will likely be my Saturday afternoon napping partner on occasion. 

Happy Sunday friends!

Feb 27-Mar 5 Weekly Recap: Gratitude!

Here I am on another Saturday evening, counting my blessings this past week.  Let's jump right in, here we go: February 27 through March 5, 2011:

I love Sunday mornings at 5:30am!  Yep, I get up super early each day of the week and Sunday's hold one special 30-minute treat that I really enjoy!  At 5:30, P. Allen Smith's show is on and I sit with my cup of coffee each week and enjoy this man's soothing country voice while learning a little about caring for my yards, perhaps a craft or recipe or just whatever it is he is talking about that week.  I am just thankful for P. Allen Smith!  Love him!

Stray Rescue of St. Louis, a non-profit animal shelter that rescues animals off the streets of St. Louis and gives them a chance at finding a loving home, is led by Randy Grim.  We, the general public, should be grateful for this man and others like him.  They do such great work!  Kudos to Randy and his efforts, I appreciate all he does on behalf of all those who don't have a voice of their own....rroof!

Once again I am thankful for being able to pay my bills online free through my bank account.  At this rate I may never have to buy checks again!   Stamps may be a thing for greeting cards only!  Well I am still mailing my mortgage the old fashion way for now...why I am not sure, this is the only bill I am still paying by check and it is my most important one.  I am sure that will change in the next month or so as well.

Although our weather has been up and down the past couple weeks, this past week we had a couple nice warm days!  To be able to roll down those car windows was awesome!  Wind in my hair, music playing, the smell of the early birds lighting up the grills.....I love it!  In fact, I have heard several Bob Marley songs on the radio this week and usually I will bust out my "Best of Bob Marley and the Wailers" CD to get into my Springtime mood.  Something about singing along to a little reggae that just feels like good times!

Every now and again someone will pay you such a sweet compliment that you can almost not believe it is directed to you, well that happened this week as well.  An email from a friend was just chock full o' niceties and the only thing I can say to that is "Thank You".  When I said it was probably the nicest thing said (or written) to me, that was in all honesty and I am still glowing from your words.

Some people walk around with their eyes straight ahead and only see what's right in front of them, I tend to look around a bit and often am looking down when I am in the company of rocks.  I am a rock hound, if I see a rock that is sparkly or an interesting shape or color, I pocket it and bring it home.  Some rocks are in a pot by my bird bath (a.k.a. the rock pot), some I put in potted plants to keep the plant company :), others I simply toss in the area by my back door.  This week I found one little gem with yellowy sparkles and it now resides at my address! 

Those were just a few of my grateful "take for granted's" this week.  Keep your eyes open, special things are always before you waiting to be recognized.  Have a great next week!!!

Feb 20-26 Weekly Recap: Gratitude!

Already this is my 5th weekly recap and although five is not a lot, it means that five weeks have gone by in a blink of an eye!  Time waits for no one, time doesn't say "hold on Melissa needs to _______", we don't get second chances for 'do overs' if today isn't what we wanted it to be, if what we are doing or who we are doing it with isn't making us happy and moving us forward...what are we doing wasting that time? 

This is something I have been trying to learn over the years and have taken it a step further this year by paying special attention to the little things that bring me moments of gratitude.  Here we go, Feb 20-26, 2011:

Over the weekend I started a tiny bit of spring clean-up in my yard by cleaning up some of the dead perennials so that when the weather warms up the yard is ready for a new season of growth.  With that being said, I was not wearing my work gloves and wound up getting several stickers in my right thumb.  Most were sticking out that I could get hold of, but one was under the skin and not being left-handed I was having difficulty working it out.  After about three days I went over to my mom's house and had her do what mom's do...dig splinters out of their kids!  So thanks Mom, I am grateful you can still skillfully work a needle without causing too much pain! :)

I believe it was Monday although it could've been Tuesday I received a call from Nathan.  Our conversation lasted about an hour and a half and was the source of so many giggles (for me).  Who knew my bestest friend  was a danger to society?  Ha ha ha, Canada!  Oh, this just tickles me to death.  Nathan, you are just a gem and I wouldn't know what I would do without you?  You, my dear, I am thankful for more than you will ever know!  'Cause apparently we don't talk about those sorts of things.  ILY

One big ticket item that I am super enthusiastic and grateful for this week is my trip to Seattle that has been planned, scheduled, and airline tickets secured that will be taking me to see my best friend the second weekend of September.  Can I get a whoop whoop....

This may sound a bit Sesame Street-ish, but I am thankful for the letter "Q" this week!  My first Q was a dear dear friend, Quentin, who I reconnected with this past week.  The sheer joy that filled my heart was overflowing and I cannot wait to build on that friendship again!  My second Q was the Panera Bread employee, Quanita, who asked me just today, when I gave her my phone number to look up my Panera Bread Card account, if I was Victoria's sister?  My daughter, Victoria, frequents this Panera daily as she works just next door, since we both use the same phone number on our separate cards, we always have to specify the card the purchase is to be credited to, whether Melissa or Victoria.  Well, Quanita knows Victoria from her frequent visits and when she pulled up our number and saw her name there with mine, she assumed we were sisters!  It felt good to say "Nope, I am her mom."

A big thank you shout out goes to Peyton and Sasha who left me a gift card on the kitchen counter of their home in appreciation of my efforts in the arena of food, water, kitty box clean up and play time.  Not sure how you two knew I was wanting to visit Hobby Lobby again, especially you Sasha!  But again...thank you and I will see you tomorrow - same time - same place!

There were lots of little things this week and could go on and on, but will leave it at what is above for this week.  Pay attention and acknowledge your own 'thankful' things, it will change you attitude in ways you won't believe. 

Sleep: Where Art Thou?

I am an early bird by nature.  Generally up prior to 5:15 in the morning with no help from an alarm clock, although it is set for 5:20 just in case.  However...for the past several weeks I have been in a battle, albeit a losing one, with my feline companion Puff. 

Puff....what can I say?  He will not and I repeat not stop pawing at doors at night.  Won't do it!  I have looked into this problem that others have had with their cats as well.  General consensus is one of two things, 1. It's a scratching issue and a scratching post should be used.  Well let's just say, my cat hasn't had nails for over 13 years and doesn't walk around scratching anything.  I see him stretch his fingers on my front door rug maybe once a day.  Or the other popular reason for this annoying behavior is 2. Territorial.  They (the cats) want into a room for no other purpose than because it is their territory and they want access.  Okay, I can buy into that.  Honestly I can!  We are all territorial creatures by nature.  My only issue is that my cat, the beloved Puff, paws at a door that is open.  Well he doesn't just paw at that door but it's been his favorite the past two weeks. 

He goes into our third bedroom, which is by and far unused although furnished, and sits in front of the open door  and paws it!  This doesn't just go on for a minute or two, that I could deal with.  This goes on for 1/2 and hour or more before my sleepy aggravated self starts to get frustrated.  As soon as he hears the squeek of my bed frame, knowing that I am going to get up, he waltzes into my bedroom smug as a bug and sits down or jumps up on my bed for a bit.  I fall back to sleep and we play this game all over again.

He has been known to paw at my daughter's bedroom door at night as well, which she keeps closed, but for whatever reason he gives up after 10-15 minutes and that is it for that door for the night.  Puff has also learned to be really funny (not) by closing my bedroom door which always remains open.  He will grab the door with his hand to close it and then nudges it till it is nearly all the way closed, then will sit there and paw at the backside of that door as if he now wants to get out.  Here comes the "funny" part.  As soon as I would sit up to open the door to let him out, he will grab the door with his paw...pull it open enough and slip out.  Ha ha ha!  He is a funny funny cat!

My patience is wearing thin and my sleepiness is getting the best of me.  If I could pay someone to keep him awake all day long while I am at work it may well be worth it, just so he knows how it feels and then is forced to sleep at the same time of day that I do.

Anyone have thoughts or suggestions?

Aluminum Rectangle

This past week I have started trying something a bit new for me; preparing my lunch in the morning, packing it up and bringing it to work with me instead of eating out each day.  In all honesty, even though I have packed nearly the identical lunch each day, I still enjoy it more!

This evening after I got off work, I headed to the grocery store and stocked up on some items that could easily be taken for lunch and am feeling a twinge of excitement (how odd that the thought of lunch possibilities is my Friday evening excitement) about trying to eat a bit healthier and saving money at the same time.  Win-Win!

Now there are those out there packing their lunch in a brown paper bag, a small cooler, maybe just bringing in a microwave meal each day...there are those who may carry the classic "construction worker" lunch box, or maybe the trendy Bento Japanese style stackable lunchtrays (which I not so secretly long for), but for me...I am carrying my 1985 Aladdin brand Care Bear Cousins aluminum lunch box with original Thermos.

Yes my co-workers have commented!  I just smile!

Ear to Ear

Cows just remind me of college.

Tonight was a night of surprises for me.  Over the years, I had lost touch with so many friends and with the help of technology have managed to reconnect with some of the most special.  Not meaning to diminish any relationship I have had over the years but there have been a handful that were "moments" for me when the reconnection had been made.

Today was another connection that was special.  This one goes back to college.  Preferring not to give away information that this person may not want posted on the World Wide Web, I shall keep all things nameless and discreet.  Let's just say, I had sent message to this person 6 months or so ago and had not heard back.  My initial reaction was that the person preferred not to acknowledge the past.  Although that was sad for me to consider, I can understand that and harbored no ill feelings at all.  Lo and behold, I come home this evening, fire up the 'puter and wham bam!!!  There is a reply! Smiles as big as the East is from the West expand over my face and I read my mail.  I am overjoyed to learn my friend has enjoyed a happy life, is married, has a daughter, and has great grammar. :) 

Anyone who has received an email from me in the past may realize that when I sit before a blank page and have things on my chest, I let it flow and words and sentences turn into paragraph after paragraph and before ya know it....there's a novella in works!  This is what I did this evening!  Hopefully my long windedness (this may not be an actual word) doesn't discourage a second reply.  But when 26 years have gone by there is so much to catch up on, you can't possibly do it under a million words or so. 

Yay, that's all I can say!  What an awesome way to end my day!

Feb13-19 Weekly Recap: Gratitude!

Sometimes finding gratitude in your week is easy and other times you have to really search.  Sure we are all grateful for family and friends and all the "big stuff" but my weekly recaps are for the littler items that so often go by the wayside and get forgotten after a week or month passes by.  This week found me with lots of tiny seeds of happiness.  Here we go, Feb 13-19, 2011:

*I am so grateful for "Charles".  Charles is the name I have given to the British male voice I have chosen on my Garmin (GPS).  So often I have sat at home trying to plan my day and crossed things off my possibility list because I didn't think I could find my way there and back.  With the assistance of "Charles", I can now go anywhere and even if I still take a wrong turn...well, he just starts ~recalculating~!  Thank you Charles!

* After weeks and weeks of snow cover, the thaw happened and lo and behold, I was able to see my grass again.  Bonus to the thaw and snow melting, my daffodils and other bulb flowers are beginning to push up.  Spring is on the way!

* For nearly a year I have been scouring antique stores trying to find the perfect bedside lamp for my room.  This week it was found.  Although not a true antique, the strongly patina'd bronze lamp with interesting shade made a perfect find. 

* Monday and Tuesday nights this week was the annual Westminster Dog Show.  Watching this 6-hour event has become a tradition that I enjoy so much.  So even though my Valentine's Day seems to always be lacking in one area, I always have the dog show to look forward to! :)

* What's better than sunshine?  Well, I know lots of things are just as nice, but I received lots of sunshine this week via Mother Nature and also a little sunshine from my friend Jennifer Williams.  Jen went on vacation to Florida last week and she brought me back a trinket.  A stuffed sunshine with a sweet smiling face that I have sitting in my area at work.  It is amazing how one brightly colored and happy item can transform your whole space.

* This past week I purchased a handmade hobo bag from Affordable Bag Designs.  Anticipating it's arrival, I tracked it online and was more than pleased when it arrived.  The quality of this purse was just fabulous!  Having an original purse that is so brightly colored for Spring was the perfect way to get all organized in this area.  With the help of three small bags that were gifted to me a few weeks prior, I have a totally cool purse with nothing out of place, no digging or cursing as I search for the phone ringing in the bottom of my purse!  Definitely recommend taking a peek on Etsy if you have never visited there before. 

* Grateful for a peaceful week at work was a big highlight!  Maybe it's the fairy dust I have been sprinkling???  So grateful for that and also for being able to get caught up with everything that had been piled in my to do pile. 

* Lastly, I spent Saturday morning doing a little shopping with my sister, Jenn.  We visited Hobby Lobby and Home Goods.  I could have gone hog wild!  There were so many things that I could've purchased even though I didn't need any of it.  So many great things in those two stores.  That was my first ever trip to Hobby Lobby and second visit to Home Goods.  Whenever I plan to redecorate or spruce up any room or corner...these will be my first stops and most likely my last.

Well, that is it for my recap this week.  Notable mention, if you haven't tried keeping a list or journal of things during your day/week that you are grateful for, I would highly recommend it.  Why?  Sometimes we get so bogged down with the things that tick us off or put us in a funk.  When you make note of the little things that are nice and you can look back over them, it brings things back in perspective.  By finishing up my Saturday's focusing on the positive parts of my past week, the not so good things take a back burner and quite frankly don't play as big of a part as they used to. 

Wishing you all a wonderful week ahead with many things that you will be thankful for!  Thanks for visiting!

Being a Survivor

Many seasons ago, television changed when Survivor entered and helped pave the way for all these "reality" shows.  For the first few seasons, I was a die-hard Survivor watcher but after some time I faded to a casual watcher, only catching an episode when nothing else on tv caught my fancy.  Some seasons I just couldn't get into any of the players and skipped it altogether. 

Tonight begins a new season of Survivor.  The players are in Nicaragua and it's Redemption Island and for two past players it's another shot of surviving 39 days at camp and trying to take the prize!  The all-time player, Boston Rob, who you love or hate...not much middle ground; and Russell, who I think everyone just hates :).  I'm gonna watch the show tonight and see how it "feels" before making a commitment.

One thing that has perplexed me over and over again, is the attire some of the women players show up in to go live on an island primitive style.  Why would I choose to wear a low-cut dress, jewerly and heals?  Makes no sense to me unless your only game play to to play the female sex object card.  But honestly you only have a limited amount of clothing and supplies and I would think wasting even one article of clothing from the beginning is not playing the game smart. 

Isn't life kinda like the Real Life Reality Survivor? There are the players you love; the ones you hate; you show up in the wrong clothes totally unprepared.  Sometimes you are left out in the cold (or heat) with nothing to protect you - you are exposed to all the elements.  You need to trust someone but may not know who.  Perhaps you are hungry for something (either food or information) and you only have the bare minimum for long periods of time.  You tire, you become grumpy, you are scared, you search, you "play the game" the best you can and still come up short over and over.  Somehow some succeed, some fail, but what are some of the things that keep the strong  in the game? 

Teamwork.  Maybe our real life survivor team is our family, friends, co-workers, schoolmates; whoever they are we need to work together with them on the common goals that will help all of us.  If we work against any of the people in any of the individuals teams we have how can the outcome be anything but good?  Sure in the end things may end in the expected manner, but if people aren't happy getting there, was it really a success or was it "just the way it is"?

Patience.  Perhaps in real life survivor if we learned to sit back, access a situation, see problems or opportunities from many different angles or perspectives maybe we could make better decisions.  How many times do we speak or act before we really know what's going on?  Maybe we are being 'romanced' by someone who is a good talker but the words they speak are lies or just uninformed?  Is there something that is sparkly or shiny and we are lulled into a sense of seeing a thing that looks good but it's really just a facade?


Well this season looks like it could prove interesting, I think I am in!  I think we'll be revisiting this topic of real life survivor again!

Westminster Dog Show: Melissa's Calls Night #2

Cocker Spaniel (Black)

Here we are anticipating night #2 of dogs galore!  Only three groups are showing tonight and then the final judging with Best in Show. 

They are bringing out the first group of dogs tonight and that will be the Sporting group:
- due to a phone call during this group, I only noted my faves as they were being shown. 1. Brittany, 2. Gerrman Wirehaired Pointer, 3. English Setter, 4. Clumber Spaniel, 5. Spinone Italiano, 6. Parti-Color Spaniel, 7. Sussex Spaniel, 8. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon.

Winner of the Sporting group was the Cocker Spaniel (Black).  Always a good little doggie, I just love some of the larger dogs in this group a bit more.

Getting ready to bring out the Working group, here is my play by play :)


Portugese Water Dog

 1. Alaskan Malamute - What great coloring and face, a true beauty.
2. Great Dane - Awesome looking, very tone.
3. Komondor - Just love the whole package, although I would never want to deal with the upkeep!
4. Leonberger - Wow, love this new breed introduced.  I may need one of these?
5. Saint Bernard - One of the most gorgeous dogs!  She may be my pick for this group!
6. Standard Schnauzer - Oh my, love the coloring. It's getting tough!

Hmmmm....gonna go out on a limb and choose my pick as the Leonberger.  Well I am not starting off good again!  Looks like the Portugese Water Dog has taken top dog!

Last group for the night is the Terrier group.  Let's see who the last winner is before Best in Show!


Fox Terrier (Smooth)

 1. Border Terrier - Just a great looking little guy, have I mentioned I love a scruffy dog?
2. Dandie Dinmont Terrier - I so much love this dog!  I can see me with one of these dogs!  How cute can you get???
3. Lakeland Terrier - Think this dog had a pretty nice showing, I'm buying what he is selling!
4. Parson Russell Terrier - What a great little dog, he is just perfect.
5. Welsh Terrier - Picture perfect.
6. West Highland White Terrier - Always a cute dog, especially when they are in their show cut.

If I called this by my favorite in this group I would say the Dandie Dinmont.  Here it comes...the verdit is...Smooth Fox Terrier.  I stink at calling winners!

I have managed one correct "pick" out of the seven groups.  I am prejudice though, some breeds will always be my favorite even if they aren't the closest to their breed standard.  After looking over the seven dogs that will be in competition for Best in Show, I am sticking with my early pick and calling the Bearded Collie as my #1. Man this is gonna be hard though, all the dogs are so wonderful (I would say that if it was a show of mutts as well). 

Westminster 2011 Best in Show winner is...Scottish Deerhound!  Awesome!  Congrats to the owner, handler and breeder and biggest congrats to the lovely lovely Hickory.  On her last year of competition she won the big one!

Westminster Dog Show: Melissa's Calls Night #1

Every year I watch the Westminster Dog Show and love every minute! 

First group tonight is the Hound group.  And my faves tonight are.....

Scottish Deerhound

1. Basenji - Looked great tonight
2. Bassett Hound  - Adorable
3. Borzoi - Absolutely gorgeous
4. Dachsund (wirehaired) - Very cute expression, watch those feet go!!
5. Greyhound - Always a favorite!  As a past Greyhound owner I am always rooting them on!
6. Irish Wolfhound - He looked just beautiful
Okay, there they were, now before they come back and announce the Best in Group, I would have to say in my opinion the Basenji was shown very well.  Let's see....Well the Basenji wasn't even called out for the final cut!  First Place goes to the Scottish Deerhound!  That was nice, it is this dog's final year of competing!


Next up the beloved (and one of my favorites) the Toy group!  I may have a long list of faves :)

Pekinese

1. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - What is ever wrong with a Cavalier?  Nothing!
2. Chihuahua (Long Haired) - What a cutie in this breed being shown, loved it!
3. Havanese - Looked very nice as well.
4. Japanese Chine - Probably the 2nd cutest Chin I've seen (I own the cutest!)
5. Maltese - Always just a beautiful dog, but who keeps their dog like this unless it is a show dog?
6. Papillon - Great showing with those ears!  Just a gorgeous dog!!!
7. Pomeranian - They have the happiest faces ever!
8. Shitzu - Loved the coloring of this one, just flowingly gorgeous.
Now that all the Toys have been shown, my personal fave was the Papillon!  Of course the Poodle and Pekinese are essentially shoe-ins every year, but ya never know.  Let's see....and the Pekinese grabs the win again. Who'd of guessed? :)


Next group tonight is the Non-Sporting group:

Shar-Pei

1. Bishon Frise - Cute just wraps it up in one word.
2. Dalmation - Good looking dog, just wish he had a few more spots on his forehead/face.
3. Lhasa Apso - Great looking Lhasa.
4. Tibetan Spaniel - I love this breed, just looks like a little fiesty dog!
5. Tibetan Terrier - My favorite breed in this group, just a beauty.
The Lhasa Apso would be my pick in this group.  And the winner is....the Shar-pei.  Wow!  I am not doing very well now am I?  


The final group to be judged this evening is the Herding group:
1. Bearded Collie - Wow, he is just stunning!  Love love love!

Bearded Collie

2. Belgian Malinois - Great looking.
3. Bouviers Des Flandres - Just something about a scruffy big dog that makes me want one!
4. Old English Sheepdog - Love the roundness and softness of this breed.
5. Pembrooke Welsh Corgi - Just a terrific, happy-go-lucky pup.  Love those huge perky ears!
6. Polish Lowland Sheepdog - Another great looking dog!
7. Shetland Sheepdog - All around gorgeous dog, love just about eveything about 'em.
After looking over the dogs I "liked" there seems to be an abundance of sheepdogs!  Even with that said, I have to make my pick for this group the Bearded Collie.  They are getting ready to announce the group winner and it is....the Bearded Collie!!!  My first good call of the night!  I might jump ahead and pick this one as Best of Show for tomorrow's night finale. 

Well if you have actually read down to this last sentence or two, I will presume you are my mom!  Until tomorrow night's show....

Little Sprinkles of Sunshine

What a difference a little sunshine and warmth can do for a person!  The past month or longer, the Midwest had been in the grip of some pretty nasty weather.  We've been the lucky winners of snow, sleet, freezing rain, blizzard, a few small earthquakes, and a tsunami (ha ha ha, not really but we get everything else).  Anyway...more than any of the other elements that we've faced, we really haven't had sun or a warm day in so long that this weekend was a treat to be savored!  In fact this Monday morning it is not even 7am and it is over 40 degrees.  Heck, we hadn't seen 40 degrees as a high since who knows when! 

So when I woke up this morning and got all my household chores done before work, straightened my hair (which I rarely do before going to work) and still found enough time to get in here and write....well, something has changed and all I can think of is the weather!  The mini blinds are open today instead of closed to keep out the cold, I am not going to wear a jacket today, I have on a skirt and not corduroy or wool pants. 

Hoping Spring is on it's way to stay, and Winter waits to come again until next December!

Feb 6-12 Weekly Recap: Gratitude

Whatta week!  This has been a hard week for me, lots going on that left me mentally and emotionally exhausted each day.  In fact most days, once I got home from work I didn't bother making dinner even.  Just did a little computering and went to bed.  Because of that, each day I was searching literally for something to write down on my "gratitude list" I keep on my laptop desktop.  Luckily, Saturday saved me!  Here we go February 6 - 12, 2011:

* Sunday, I did as many others, and was tuned into the Super Bowl.  Couldn't tell you what happened as I really didn't watch a minute of the game, just tuned in to catch the commercials.  But one thing I took out of the football game is being thankful for the "Underdogs".  The Packers took the ring home and for me having the team that people didn't expect to win, do so, is priceless.  No matter what the occasion, I always root for the underdog!

* Nothing says yummy breakfast more so than Honey-Butter melted into a Biscuit.  Mmmmmm Good!  Now don't mistake this for a homemade biscuit, 'cause this girl can barely cook....but a Pillsbury Grand Flaky frozen biscuit is just fine by me!  Top that with equal parts of creamy butter mixed with a creamed honey (you may find creamed honey at Trader Joe's-fyi) and it is deliciouso!

* Had a situation this week where a friend stepped out on a limb and spoke up about something that was going on (sorry I cannot elaborate anymore out of respect for all those involved), but I am so very grateful to this person.  She is a little dynamo and because of her bravery and hutspah, my week ended on a much higher note than it had started on.  I am so grateful for new friends and old friends who make my life so special.  Thank you!!

* SUNSHINE!  Thank the Lord!!!  St. Louis has finally broken out of the cold temps and duldrum grey skies; the sun has broken through and the melting of snow/ice has begun!  This morning as I looked up to the sky, I saw what I thought was a part of a rainbow but it was just one little circular spot on a cloud that must have been refracting the sun's rays and there was a prism of color that seemed to brighten as I gazed.  Sun glorious sun! 

* Got myself a new hairdo today and topped it off with a fresh new shade of Golden Blonde!  Have yet to style it to see what it is I have, but my asymmetrical one-length swing bob has been replaced with a just above the shoulder long-layered bobbity do-hicky cut :)  Not sure exactly but I had layers cut in and some length cut off and a bang cut in although my bang length is down to my lip so I am not really sure why I or anyone else bothers to call it a bang? 

* I was the recipient of a Valentine's gift today from my friend and cousin Robin.  Three little handmade pouches to use in my purse and they are just spectacular.  The colors are springy and the prints are fun and a little bit funky!  I adore them and plan on having them help organize my purse and keep me from the daily digging to find the things that get hidden on the bottom of a purse.  Thank you so much Robin, I love them!!!

It's now dinnertime on my Saturday, fixing to just "chill" for the evening and start a spectacular week tomorrow ... hope you will be joining me in doing the same!

Being Bigger

Sometimes friends are found in the most unexpected places (and people). 

Sometimes the fear of competition or a threat of our own security will dissuade us from seeing that other person as just another person who is trying to get along the best they can too.

Reaching out and saying "Thanks" or just simply letting someone know you appreciate their efforts makes that person feel great and does alot for raising how you feel yourself.

That's all I have tonight...and it's enough.

Realizing Blessings

This past week as I have read other friend's Facebook posts, have listened to other people's conversations, and have just pondered the BIG picture, I keep coming back to the thought of how we don't appreciate what we do have as a true blessing enough.

We all have our ailments that we complain about, be it a headache or creaky bones, perhaps a disease or some calamity that has afflicted our being that doctors do their best to just control so we can get through the days in as much comfort as possible.  Not meaning to diminish these aches and pains, but there are people who do have it worse and even those who have something curable (in our culture) but tonight they will lay down to sleep and just not wake up tomorrow because they simply do not have access to healthcare at all. 

Speaking of laying down, I am thankful to have a warm house that is safe for me to live in, with a bed and blankets to comfort me while I dream of sugarplums.  How hard it is for me to imagine those who search for a shelter with an open bunk to sleep in at night and perhaps not finding that empty bed and having to curl up under boxes in a darkened corner of an alley. 

While my refrigerator and freezer and cabinets are full of a variety of foods, some of which I will not eat before they spoil and have to throw out, there are children, elderly and entire families that have nothing.  Some wait on the government red tape process in order to receive assistance with EBT cards or through the WIC program, while others proceed to their local food bank in hopes that those who are able to give have done so, so that they may bring home a box of foods to last them the next week. 

These are just three things that most people take for granted, how often do we think about how blessed we are to just have what we do have?  Speaking personally, not often enough.  All to often, I complain because my health insurance rates keep going up but cover less, or that I turn my heat down to 66 degrees because the cost of keeping the house any warmer makes the bill even that much more, or that a 1/2 gallon of the good ice cream is $6.00 and it's not even a 1/2 gallon anymore anyway!  When I should be saying "I am lucky to have health coverage, so many people don't." or "Wearing my robe in the house to keep the chill off sure beats being huddled in a corner outside in 12 degree weather."

Thank you to all my friends and strangers out there who help me realize that the things I take most for granted should be appreciated more.  Nothing is guaranteed.  Hopefully by taking the time to think about these things, I will be able to show more compassion and help others in need.  If we all do one small thing for just one other person think what could be accomplished?  We could transform our cities, our states, our country, the world.  The worst that could happen?  We could make one moment in time for one person a bit brighter.  That is a blessing in itself.

Jan 30-Feb 5 Weekly Recap: Gratitude

This week I haven't had the energy to get in and blog much, in fact I think I shall blame it all on the weather.  The midwest is in the grip of a pretty firm winter.  With that being said, most of my grateful items this week were centered around the big topic of weather.  Here we go - January 30 through February 5, 2011:

* So thankful for products that melt our snow and ice!  I have gone through three or four 50 pound bags of product so far this winter.  Last year I think I only emptied one bag, maybe two.  I find it imperitive to keep my sidewalk and driveway ice free for both myself and daughter as well as the mailman and anyone wanting to pop over.  You will always find my area an accident-free zone.

*  Normally we all berate the weathermen and women when they get that all so important forecast incorrect, but this time....I am thankful that the entire St. Louis weather team to include The Weather Channel called it wrong this past week!  We were on the map as getting a triple punch:  freezing rain, sleet, blizzard.  Granted we got a bit of each condition, we did not get the 10-20 inches of snow (at least not at my door).  So thank you Weather-guessers for getting it wrong this time!

* Thankful that my electricity seems to stay "on" more than my last residence.  So Yay for that!  Being powerless in the winter is not a great thing at all.  Gonna keep my fingers crossed that thing continues in the future!

*  Cheese!  Thank God for cheese! 

* On behalf of my outdoor bird population, they would like to thank pig's for being fat!  Yep, I said it!  This past week as I was home for a couple of snow days, I prepared breakfast which included thick-slab hickory bacon.  I saved the abundant bacon grease, let it solidfy and then blended it together with other scraps and put it out for my fine feather friends.  It was like Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds in my yard for a while.  Apparently pig fat is a big hit amongst the flight crew!

* Thursday and Friday I had training away from my office which did not allow me my normal lunch time jaunt home to let my dog, Jing-Mei, out for her midday potty break.  She faired well both days, but the greeting I got upon entering each night was an overwhelming happy, kissy face welcome.  She's is not much of a "licker" so to be the recipient of her Puppy Dog Kisses was special.

 

* Friday I said "See Ya Later" to one of my dear pals at work.  Luckily my training class let go a bit early and I went back to the office instead of just heading straight home.  So I am very thankful that I was able to give my friend an "until we meet up again" hug goodbye.  Good luck JRob, I will miss our talks, "rock star" fist pumps, burping in your direction, telling you more than you always want to hear, and now that we aren't co-workers you may now kindly refer to me as nothing but a friend!  Hugs and kisses to you  my dear, stay outta trouble and I am so proud of you for stopping smoking this past year!

* Big boxes in the mail, twice in one week!  Isn't it great to get a package in the mail, kinda feels like a mini-Christmas!  One box merely stopped at my house and was redirected to another home (you should get it Monday - and you know who you are) and the other was two new books!  Like I need those???  I don't but my gosh, there are just so many great books.  I guess I should be thankful for all the prolific writers out there who keep  me mentally entertained and engaged!