tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89624910352006874232023-11-16T08:47:36.767-05:00Talking In SpaceI want to share great books, life lessons learned, and the completely ridiculous with anyone willing to listen.Carrie from Talking In Spacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14116475814229641069noreply@blogger.comBlogger109125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962491035200687423.post-38219783491682822542015-01-06T22:11:00.001-05:002015-01-06T22:11:48.649-05:00Clean SlateIt feels like I waited so long for the year to change over to 2015 and now six days have already flown by! Today was my first day back to work (and school for the kids) after 17 days off. Kind of sort of glad to start a routine again, but the "routine" of sleeping in and watching hours of "Doctor Who" on Netflix was pretty nice too. <br />
<br />
I made an effort to knock out some small projects over the break. Little things like cleaning out my dresser and side tables and setting up an organized jewelry table made me feel very productive. A friend and I were talking about how the start of a new year feels like you are being handed a clean slate. I can be more organized this year! I can make healthier choices this year! I can be happier this year! Isn't that what we are all really looking for? More happiness? The truth is any day can be a clean slate, but if the new year gives you extra motivation like it does me- go for it! Carrie from Talking In Spacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14116475814229641069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962491035200687423.post-50319318830941942942014-12-31T20:07:00.001-05:002014-12-31T20:07:55.514-05:00The 13th Gift- Book review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img height="320" src="http://images.randomhouse.com/cover/9780553418552?width=1000&alt=no_cover_b4b.gif" width="212" /></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<i>The 13th Gift: A True Story of a Christmas Miracle</i> is Joanne Huist Smith's recounting of how her family was deeply affected by the kindness of strangers. Getting in the holiday spirit was at the bottom of Joanne's priorities the first Christmas after her husband unexpectedly passed away. From Joanne's description, her husband was a huge force in her family, especially during the holidays. Without him, Joanne wanted to curl up on the couch and wait for Christmas to pass by. With a daughter desperate to come together as a family and celebrate and a son desperate to escape all things family related, Joanne's family seemed to be failing apart.</div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
Twelve days before Christmas, a gift is left on their doorstep from their "True Friends". The Smiths, even Joanne, become intrigued with who could be leaving these presents. As the family tries to figure out clues and stage an occasional stake out, they slowly regain their footing. </div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
I found this to be a charming story about the kindness of strangers and how even small gifts can have such a large impact on someone in pain. It was a quick read, largely in part because I found myself reading in bed saying "Just one more chapter then I'll go to bed" and then reading five more chapters. It is great story to read during the holidays, but it would have held my interest even outside of the holiday season. </div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">I received this book for free from Blogging For Books in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own. </span></div>
<br />
Carrie from Talking In Spacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14116475814229641069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962491035200687423.post-9893679744100087542014-11-03T06:00:00.000-05:002014-11-03T06:00:06.069-05:00The Big PictureLast week, instead of the typical boisterous talking and skipping/running down the sidewalk, E trudged from the bus stop to our house. When asked how her day was, she said, "It was terrible and my teacher hates me." Well. Probably not true but it seemed true to her. (Sidenote: her "real" kindergarten teacher has been out on medical leave for the last several weeks and I have not met the substitute teacher. Regardless, I doubt she is a hater of children.)<br />
<br />
When we sat to talk about it, E explained that after she completed one of the centers in class, she went to color at the coloring center and was told that the rule is they can only color on Fridays. She was then told to "pull a strip", which in her class is their system of discipline. E claims she didn't even know this was a rule. When she pulls a strip, the only thing that really happens is the teacher writes "S" in her folder with the number of the strip pulled (#2), I look on the list of strips that #2 means "did not follow rules" and then it is up to E to convey to me what happened. It is usually a reasonable explanation, we talk about how to do things differently next time, and it isn't that big a deal. <br />
<br />
Well, it isn't that big a deal to me. I know that E is a great kid and generally doesn't do things to be naughty on purpose. But this was a big deal to her. So big she thought her teacher didn't like her as a person. As an adult, I can see the big picture that this isn't a big deal and her teacher probably won't even remember that E pulled a strip last week. But E is only (almost) six. She can't see ten years in the future- things that happen now are a big deal. It made me think how often I have the same mindset. I have a bad day at work, and I feel like a failure. I have a bad day as a parent, and I put more money in their future therapy fund. It can be very easy to let a little blip in my day to blow up in my mind. I have a feeling God looks at me frequently and wonders why I let such small matters color my outlook on my whole life, just like I view E's problems.<br />
<br />
I sat E down with her folder and we looked at how many days she pulled a strip and how many days she did not. While pulling a strip was such a day destroyer to her, she has not pulled a strip on over 95% of her days. She seemed to feel better looking at the big picture and went skipping off to play. Maybe the next time I have a bad day, I'll remember to look at the big picture and say, "It's just one day." Carrie from Talking In Spacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14116475814229641069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962491035200687423.post-69299134899913659052014-10-22T06:00:00.000-04:002014-10-22T06:00:02.343-04:00Fifteen Women Walk Into a Cabin...And leave as friends. The end. Just kidding! Well, I'm not kidding about the friends part. Sigh. Let me start over. <br />
<br />
Madison of <a href="http://www.wetherillssayido.com/">Wetherills Say I Do</a> and Rachel of <a href="http://www.ohsimplethoughts.com/">Oh Simple Thoughts</a> hosted the Renew Retreat this past weekend in Tennessee. When they first announced their vision of a retreat for bloggers who are Christian, I thought it sounded like a lot of fun and also something I would never do. I am really introverted and the idea of spending a weekend with a bunch of people I didn't know was so intimidating. My thought process was, "What if I don't have anything to say, or worse, say something crazy? What if they hate me? What if I hate THEM?" Then my sister (Lisa of <a href="http://lisarwatkins.wordpress.com/">Life to the Full</a>) said she was interested in going. I started thinking maybe it being something I normally wouldn't do was exactly why I should do it. Get out of my comfort zone. Meet some people in real life, not just on the computer. You know, actual human contact.<br />
<br />
The retreat was in a cabin in the woods of Tennessee. Isn't this view from the balcony gorgeous?!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfLurdJTcSj5LV3Don-q9VaWWH8AID8RUKyyjYfN2x2c6qwhuP1yBQAu3EWsWsJC50finazHfg2MjuB5hyphenhyphendsXbqQDrPeWJ7FEfjj_SsvRWlrxOl-e-6zk3TyOmzN0d_cug1SLGKuge5M4/s1600/View+from+cabin.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfLurdJTcSj5LV3Don-q9VaWWH8AID8RUKyyjYfN2x2c6qwhuP1yBQAu3EWsWsJC50finazHfg2MjuB5hyphenhyphendsXbqQDrPeWJ7FEfjj_SsvRWlrxOl-e-6zk3TyOmzN0d_cug1SLGKuge5M4/s1600/View+from+cabin.JPG" height="260" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
The leaves were starting to turn and it was wonderful to be reminded of how beautiful our world has been created. (The baby bears we saw outside the cabin Friday night were less beautiful and more terrifying.) We were even treated to a fantastic swag bag with super cute things to bring home. Rachel has a great post detailing what was in the swag bag <a href="http://www.ohsimplethoughts.com/2014/10/this-right-here-is-myswag.html">here.</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTUd4RtdfHsDho_U4t0sNECc6tHeIzM7uR8Uw9LHN5imthiadRkO7Nln7p97fDxgyFAvjvdWqE8YwS9XyxHPHO0F9LUh7UQarXFLAJlKqRMGxTgJfLyY8ZlKJXDag5DNVEB05RMQXa5co/s1600/Trees.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTUd4RtdfHsDho_U4t0sNECc6tHeIzM7uR8Uw9LHN5imthiadRkO7Nln7p97fDxgyFAvjvdWqE8YwS9XyxHPHO0F9LUh7UQarXFLAJlKqRMGxTgJfLyY8ZlKJXDag5DNVEB05RMQXa5co/s1600/Trees.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
We spent part of Saturday in Gatlinburg. We split into smaller groups for lunch and sightseeing or shopping then drove our caravan back to the cabin for dinner. My family went this candy shop when we were in Gatlinburg last summer, so I was glad to visit it again. I wisely (or sadly?) avoided buying candy this time. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXV_iloes_qA-uz89PCx9TMNhkQgd4u-UQHNq7BoYc4wCD6UA6kQn88s9wsVryQH8i8WR8rL2Y0KKB2upTo3KlboODj_74ELmusOh1Cb5mYo0z1Qqac_4cH-rMtLwGtRLJms84CqfWaI8/s1600/Candy+shop.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXV_iloes_qA-uz89PCx9TMNhkQgd4u-UQHNq7BoYc4wCD6UA6kQn88s9wsVryQH8i8WR8rL2Y0KKB2upTo3KlboODj_74ELmusOh1Cb5mYo0z1Qqac_4cH-rMtLwGtRLJms84CqfWaI8/s1600/Candy+shop.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Now, it made it a lot easier that Lisa went too, but I am SO glad I went. I met thirteen other women who are all so amazing in their own ways. Each one of them inspired me, whether they were relatively fresh out of college, well established career-wise, newly married or single, raising kids or birthing a new business. And such talent! An unbelievable number of fantastic photographers (not me) and bakers of delicious biscuits, makers of all manner of delicious food, creative minds, kind hearts and super funny people. Every single woman there had something wonderful to contribute, and I truly believe we all placed there together to lift each other up. I feel a connection to these women, and have prayed for many of them specifically and all of them generally since I came home. <br />
I'm already looking forward to next year's retreat!<br />
<br />
<br />Carrie from Talking In Spacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14116475814229641069noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962491035200687423.post-43766952489412081932014-10-15T06:00:00.000-04:002014-10-15T06:00:05.968-04:00The Wet and the Dry- Book Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlBqFI-9Ux5BDq00sHD0Y4ReDs_JFrTUkcCoyNvxQtN8mSfVyMFtLg62a3pOQDw99DjIJM1nJp9T-YxNQ9BZYyGa1sqdi0pgsk6JrdyYoEFwwFQzfR8VGIVUMaQDvViCKshTOePpvMv9U/s1600/Wet+and+Dry+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlBqFI-9Ux5BDq00sHD0Y4ReDs_JFrTUkcCoyNvxQtN8mSfVyMFtLg62a3pOQDw99DjIJM1nJp9T-YxNQ9BZYyGa1sqdi0pgsk6JrdyYoEFwwFQzfR8VGIVUMaQDvViCKshTOePpvMv9U/s1600/Wet+and+Dry+cover.jpg" height="320" width="208" /></a></div>
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>
<i>The Wet and the Dry </i>by Lawrence Osborne is a nonfiction "drinker's journey" that is not exactly the story I expected. The
description on the back of the book reads:<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Drinking
alcohol: a beloved tradition, a dangerous addiction, even “a sickness of the
soul” (as once described by a group of young Muslim men in Bali). In his
wide-ranging travels, Lawrence Osborne—a veritable connoisseur himself—has
witnessed opposing views of alcohol across cultures worldwide, compelling him
to wonder: is drinking alcohol a sign of civilization and sanity, or the very
reverse? Where do societies fall on the spectrum between indulgence and
restraint?<br />
<br />
An immersing, controversial, and often irreverent travel narrative,<i> The Wet
and the Dry</i> offers provocative, sometimes unsettling insights into the
deeply embedded conflicts between East and West, and the surprising influence
of drinking on the contemporary world today.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Based on this description, I was expecting an Anthony Bourdain-style
travel monologue with tales of Mr. Osborne’s drinking escapades woven into a
larger discussion of how various cultures view drinking. Perhaps I expected a more historical
explanation of how alcohol has become part of a country’s identity or how religious
practices influence the role (or lack thereof) of alcohol in a particular
area. The book does address the context
of drinking within various countries and cultures, but is largely a retelling
of Mr. Osborne’s specific drinking escapades. As in, having a no recollection of where he
was or what he did the night before hangover. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Something about this writing style just didn't click with me
and I had a difficult time getting through it.
(I’m sure it did not help that my sister passed on a large stack of
books that I was really eager to read.) It wasn't for me, but some readers will
enjoy the drinking-related anecdotes. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I received this book from <a href="http://www.bloggingforbooks.org/">Blogging for Books</a> for this review.
All opinions expressed are my own. <o:p></o:p></div>
Carrie from Talking In Spacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14116475814229641069noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962491035200687423.post-29647635387516698162014-10-01T20:47:00.000-04:002014-10-01T20:47:25.890-04:00Fall-ishSeptember seemed to drag on forever, didn't it? Maybe it was just me being in a bit of a funk or the never ending 80 degree weather but I am soooooo glad it is finally October. It is still in the 80's here, but the weekend forecast is for highs in the upper 60's. Yay! The lack of autumn weather has not deterred me from enjoying pumpkin spice everything or viewing approximately a hundred pairs of boots online. It can be fall in my mind, right?<br />
<br />
I'm really looking forward to this month. I'm feeling much better emotionally, my sister/BFF and I are going to a blogger retreat in a cabin in a couple of weeks, and soon to arrive cooler weather means breaking out all the cute sweaters! I'd like to find some fun fall activities to do this year. We went to the most awesome pumpkin patch/corn maze/kid activity place when we lived in Virginia and every place we have been since then just paled in comparison. If anyone knows of a super pumpkin patch in the northern Atlanta area, let me know. If it is really awesome, I'll send you some pumpkin butter. Or a thank you note or something. I plan to fully enjoy the fall, because I know in a matter of weeks I will be grumbling about how unbearably cold it is. Happy October!Carrie from Talking In Spacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14116475814229641069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962491035200687423.post-8336753549344438202014-09-01T22:38:00.000-04:002014-09-01T22:38:05.758-04:00It's September! (Somebody tell the weather.)Can you believe it is September? Here in Georgia, we celebrated Labor Day with a high of 93 degrees so the first kiss of fall hasn't <i>quite</i> made it here yet. I actually found three sweaters I loved at TJ Maxx this weekend (my buying clothes is a miracle unto itself) but I am assume they will hang in my closet mocking me for the next several months. I can't complain too much because I HATE being cold more than anything and I will be begging for the heat of summer come January. However, I wouldn't mind the comparatively chilly highs in the 70's. I'd even take low 80's. Despite the lingering summer heat, I have enjoyed a Pumpkin Spice Latte on two occasions already. (Don't judge.)<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This was the first weekend the kids spent the night at their dad's apartment. I tried to keep myself busy in a possibly manic sort of way (see my shopping above). I also went to IKEA in Atlanta, Wal-Mart and the grocery store on Saturday and was gone from my empty house most of the day. Avoidance, anyone? Some thunder storms rolled through Saturday night and E's <strike>demon</strike> Furby was woken up twice by the noise or vibration. The second time I was woken by that evil furry monster, I decided removing its <strike>soul</strike> batteries was the prudent thing to do. E is still waiting on me to put the batteries back in. Good luck with that, E. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I had the girls back Sunday and today. To give you an idea of what goes on in this house, both E and S separately asked me if the dogs pooped or barfed in the house while they were gone (no). Did a dog poop in the house today? Why yes, yes he did. Welcome home, kids! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I'm really proud of myself that I figured out how to fix the garbage disposal today without a) paying for repairs and b) chopping my fingers off. All the instructions online said never put your hand down the drain to mess with the blades. Um, sure. I did ultimately do it correctly- I turned off the breaker and everything- and still have ten complete fingers. I did, however, call in a professional for wasp and wasp nest removal tomorrow. I've never been stung by a bee, wasp, yellow jacket, etc. so I'm not really scared of them. BUT, those little jerks are apparently short tempered and like to swarm. No thank you. Plus, not having been stung before, I always wonder in the back of my mind if I will turn out to be allergic. Is it really worth the risk of anaphylactic shock? I think not. All in all, not a bad way to spend Labor Day weekend. </div>
<div>
</div>
Carrie from Talking In Spacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14116475814229641069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962491035200687423.post-42585056657651572582014-08-22T06:00:00.000-04:002014-08-22T22:28:48.792-04:00No Place to Hide- Book Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://booklookbloggers.com/art/_240_360_Book.1196.cover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" src="http://booklookbloggers.com/art/_225_350_Book.1196.cover.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<i>No Place to Hide </i>is the true story of neurosurgeon W. Lee Warren's deployment to the biggest Air Force hospital of the
Iraq War. Dr. Warren details the stark differences between performing brain surgery in a state of the art San Antonio trauma center and in the middle of a war zone. While surgeons in the U.S. may refuse to use an instrument they don't like (or throw it across the room), military surgeons in Iraq may have to wait hours for a set of instruments to be sterilized. Dr. Warren had to adapt to an environment where supplies are in short demand, surgery may be performed while missiles are landing 100 yards away, and medical personnel must treat soldiers and terrorists with the same level of care. <br />
<br />
Dr. Warren describes the stress and fatigue of his 120 days in Iraq so clearly that some readers may feel some stress just reading about it. Aside from the challenges of being in a battle zone, he describes his personal struggles as well. Facing divorce as he was deployed, Dr. Warren shares his disappointment with a failed marriage and fear of separation from his children, the testing of his faith, and the effect Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) had on him after his return to the States. <br />
<br />
I have no background in the military as neither I nor anyone in my immediate family has served in the military, and I selected this book in part to stretch my usual reading selections. I did not expect to be as taken with this book as I was, but I read it voraciously within a couple of days. I highly recommend this book as anyone can relate to his struggles with faith and overcoming challenges and the depiction of life in a war zone is so insightful. Some of the content may be disturbing for people who also struggle with PTSD or those are upset by descriptions of violence or serious injuries. There are also eight pages of color photos from Dr. Warren's deployment with two photos showing injuries or surgery. <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>This book was provided to me for free by BookLook in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. </i></span>Carrie from Talking In Spacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14116475814229641069noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962491035200687423.post-47804885977614227772014-08-12T08:58:00.003-04:002014-08-12T08:58:35.510-04:00The Birthday Weekend SpectacularSaturday was my 38th birthday, and Sunday was S's 8th birthday. The benefit of having birthdays back to back is the extended period of celebrating. The downside of having birthdays back to back is the extended period of celebrating. I was the only one awake at 10:30 pm Sunday night staring at a chocolate cake <i><u>and</u></i> a cookie cake- not cool. <br />
<br />
For my birthday, I saw "The Hundred Foot Journey" and really liked it! First of all, it stars Helen Mirren- love her. Second, it is set largely in France, which is always a winner for me. I haven't been to France (yet), but it is a biggie on my bucket list. Third, the movie centers of a young chef, AKA delicious food is shown. Again, a winning topic for me. It also doesn't hurt that star Manish Dayal is pretty easy on the eyes. <br />
<br />
I went to a theater that lets you order dinner or drinks and they deliver it to you during the movie. This may be old hat to some of you, but this is the first time I tried it and it was just as good as I expected. Relaxing in a big comfy seat, watching a movie while a server brings you hot food and a glass of wine- perfection. I ended up chit-chatting with the women sitting next to me before the movie started. (Apologies to her husband who was largely ignored.) We had a lot in common and she was really nice. Plus, she has the same name as my BFF and sister, so that is a good sign, right? At the end of the movie, the woman handed me her phone number and said to call her sometime. Since I am trying to make and take new opportunities in life, and it is the complete opposite of what I would <u>normally</u> do, I think I will see if she wants to meet for coffee or something. <br />
<br />
For S's birthday, she wanted a manicure and to have lunch at Cheesecake Factory. She very specifically told me not to tell the server that it was her birthday because she didn't want them to sing to her. She did not, however, pass this information on to her dad. Can you see how thrilled she was to get all that attention?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV0NuvBk8Otko6ir5sFJKwJTjYgzMCmXQzyC6XB6w_ZyJbPdE3qgHWFddkPq9dlVhjBdMMlsMiTqx1s2lfjEbxiWE6K_zjvNj_4ILugZDfbs0WxNE23JxblqxU9wktCtqsE86eOPO6tc8/s1600/Sophia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV0NuvBk8Otko6ir5sFJKwJTjYgzMCmXQzyC6XB6w_ZyJbPdE3qgHWFddkPq9dlVhjBdMMlsMiTqx1s2lfjEbxiWE6K_zjvNj_4ILugZDfbs0WxNE23JxblqxU9wktCtqsE86eOPO6tc8/s1600/Sophia.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
HAHAHAHA! Once she was eating the chocolate pudding cup they brought, she was all good again. It was a great birthday, but I will not be sad to see all this extra sugar in the house go away. <br />
<br />Carrie from Talking In Spacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14116475814229641069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962491035200687423.post-55435538855222058032014-08-04T06:00:00.000-04:002014-08-04T06:00:00.196-04:00Happiness- Found or Made?When I am going through a tough time, it is very easy for me to not see anything positive or happy. I have a tendency toward depression that I have struggled with for years, with varying degrees of seriousness. If you have ever experienced depression, it can be difficult just to get out of bed and eventually make yourself shower- looking for the upside was not a high priority to me. I'm going through one of my lowest points in life right now, but I've been thinking a lot about happiness. As in, I want happiness. : ) I mentioned some marriage trouble in a previous post. Well, Hubs moved out of the house Friday, our deceased son's birthday was Saturday and Sunday was the anniversary of his death. I really expected the weekend to suck, but it was surprisingly okay. Not great, but okay. Here are some reasons I think I'm doing better than expected.<br />
<br />
1) I hate chaos and the unknown. It makes me crazy. To counteract the chaos, I've started taking control. There is still a lot of uncertainty in my life, but rather than sit back and see what happens I've starting taking the reins. Some actions are concrete, like opening my own bank accounts and finding my own therapist; other things are a conscious change in perspective. It has helped tremendously to talk with other friends who have gone through similar situations and have every single one say "you'll be a better and happier person when you get through it." It's happening anyway, so I might as well figure out what about it will bring me happiness. <br />
<br />
2) Skinnymom.com had this article on <a href="http://www.skinnymom.com/2014/07/29/find-the-perfect-feeling-in-a-less-than-perfect-world-no-frills-ways-to-be-happy-today/">five ways to get happy</a>. I've been especially working on the being thankful part. I've started praying again after a nine year absence, and since this marital mess started happening I've been telling God three things I am grateful for every day. Now, some days I was just grateful that the day was over but I was able to come up with three things every day. I can usually come up with more than three now.<br />
<br />
3) A very wise friend sent me an Elizabeth Gilbert quote that contained the words "Ruin is a gift. Ruin is the road to transformation." How awesome is that? I'm looking at the "ruins" of my life as a chance to change things and be a better and happier person. I went on a tour and wine tasting at a local winery I have wanted to visit for years. I've started visiting a church with the girls for the first time in a few years. I'm more open to expanding my circle of friends and experiencing new things than I was before. I also starting looking at what relationships are complete downers and cutting those out of my life (thank you, Facebook unfriend button).<br />
<br />
For a lot of years, I based happiness on circumstances and waited to find happiness, like it was a magical unicorn you just happen upon in the forest. I'm starting to feel like happiness is something you pursue or create for yourself. And I fully intend to have it.<br />
<br />
How about you? Are you a generally happy person? Do you think your happiness (or lack thereof) is circumstantial or more an issue of perspective?Carrie from Talking In Spacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14116475814229641069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962491035200687423.post-55408769479189710572014-07-29T06:00:00.000-04:002014-07-29T06:00:01.099-04:00The Divorce Papers- Book Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img height="320" src="http://www.randomhouse.com/images/dyn/cover/?source=9780804137447&width=1000" width="210" /></div>
<br />
<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>The Divorce Papers</i> is a novel by <a href="http://www.randomhouse.com/author/177749/susan-rieger">Susan Rieger</a> about criminal law associate Sophie Diehl. Sophie is happy to represent criminals as it limits her face-to-face contact with clients (I totally get that), but is stuck doing intake on a big client's divorce case when all the partners are out of town. Having no experience in divorces and seeing this case as particularly nasty, Sophie wants nothing more to do with it. Against her will (and better judgement), Sophie is pressured by the client and her boss to stay on as lead attorney in the divorce case. As she works through the case, Sophie examines the complicated relationships in her own life and reevaluates whether she is truly happy. <br />
<br />
I was partially drawn to this book because I am an attorney and the inner workings of a law firm are fascinating to me. However, I did not anticipate that I myself would be faced with the prospect of divorce when I selected this book. The irony is not lost on me. : ) These factors may have contributed to how much I enjoyed the book, but Sophie is a very likable character. She has a sarcastic, frantic nature that I relate to and she is genuinely concerned about doing a good job. This novel is written entirely in the form of emails, office memos, personal correspondence and legal documents, so if you really like a flowing narrative, you may have to get used to this style. Some of legal documents are a little tedious but the relevant portions are highlighted in gray. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in a story about the nastiness of divorce, the struggles of a young lawyer or the story of a young woman figuring out her complicated relationships with parents, friends and co-workers. <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">I received this book for free from Blogging for Books in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own. </span>Carrie from Talking In Spacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14116475814229641069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962491035200687423.post-68188557045338501452014-07-14T06:00:00.000-04:002014-07-14T06:00:02.433-04:00I Don't Think That Means What You Think It MeansAnyone who has spent more than 10 minutes with children knows that you absolutely cannot use the bathroom without interruption. If it were a once in a while occurrence, it might be tolerable. When it is every single time, it becomes much less endearing. <br />
<br />
This is why parents establish rules about interrupting their bath, shower or other bathroom time. I've told my children repeatedly to not bother me when I am in the bathroom unless it is an emergency. By "emergency", I mean someone is bleeding, someone has passed out, or something is on fire.<br />
<br />
Here are examples of what my children thought constituted an "emergency" this weekend during my bath or shower:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>"G has the iPad and I want it."</li>
<li>"The TV is saying there is a new version of Netflix ready to download. Can I click "okay"?"</li>
<li>"Biscuit (the dog) coughed but he's okay." </li>
<li>"Can I ask you something when you get out?"</li>
</ul>
<div>
These "emergencies" may explain the current popularity of dry shampoo. </div>
Carrie from Talking In Spacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14116475814229641069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962491035200687423.post-60195107937688823412014-07-11T19:31:00.000-04:002014-07-11T19:34:23.428-04:00Love Skip Jump- Book Review <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWTz7S8PW1suyhMrJBUqIFF8Rhnw_hHFjRND0dvgxL4eGbwjw5IpEf8URbmr-oHyjgRRqArAgTXcJFYsPsjf7JlBNsTSz-a6SpRh056vNCuo-85y-GqpT0mGmpySi_KYH_91uxmhjCH8A/s1600/untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWTz7S8PW1suyhMrJBUqIFF8Rhnw_hHFjRND0dvgxL4eGbwjw5IpEf8URbmr-oHyjgRRqArAgTXcJFYsPsjf7JlBNsTSz-a6SpRh056vNCuo-85y-GqpT0mGmpySi_KYH_91uxmhjCH8A/s1600/untitled.png" height="320" width="210" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I don’t personally know Shelene Bryan, but she seems awesome
and inspiring and a little bit crazy! In
<i>Love Skip Jump: Start Living the
Adventure of Yes</i>, Shelene encourages us to say yes to God and experience
what great plans He has that we might otherwise miss. Shelene said yes to traveling to Africa to
see where exactly her charitable contributions were going. That trip inspired her to form her own
charity, <a href="http://skip1.org/">Skip1.org</a>, which provides food and clean water to children around the
world. The book chronicles the numerous
times Shelene said “Yes!” and how it has changed her life and many other lives
in response. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Shelene makes many wonderful points about how much richer
life can be when we say yes and jump in.
I was completely on board with working in impoverished communities or
feeding starving children. Putting your
house up for sale by God (chapter 15) just to prove you’re willing to sell your
house is where it got a little crazy for me.
However, I still took away her point about our own openness to God’s
will. (But I’m not putting my house on the
market.)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One passage that really made an impact on me was when she
said sometimes God wants us to go through a process without ever achieving what
we thought was the goal and that the journey can be more important than the end
result (page 134). I tend to be very
goal focused. I like marking things off
a to do list, so the idea that we may go through things to get a completely
different result than we wanted is something I grapple with. This book encourages me to look for more
opportunities rather than challenges, and to really listen for what God is
asking us to jump into. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">This book was provided to me for free by BookLook in exchange for my
honest review. All opinions stated are
my own. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
Carrie from Talking In Spacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14116475814229641069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962491035200687423.post-5362354196627983092014-07-09T06:00:00.000-04:002014-07-09T06:00:05.330-04:00Accepting HelpI like to think of myself as a generally helpful person. I don't think twice about helping a stranger pick up things they have dropped or pushing rogue grocery carts over to the cart corral in the parking lot. Of course I do all sorts of things for my kids and would be glad to help family and friends if they needed it. <b><i>Accepting help</i></b>, on the other hand, is not my favorite thing. It may be a sort of pride or determined independence, but I hesitate to accept help when offered and would almost never <u>ask</u> for help (shudder). <br />
<br />
I'm going through a personally difficult time that is just so emotionally draining, I have almost nothing left to give. However, I still have to work 40 hours a week. I still have three kids that need love and reassurance and attention and, you know, expect dinner every night. It's been tough. And still, my first instinct was to act as if everything was okay. To just carry the burden myself and stuff it down. It really made me feel better. <b>Just kidding- it was awful. </b> Keeping these major distractions inside made it so much worse. As I have started sharing my situation with friends and family, my load has felt a little bit lighter. It is still there, of course- but it seems a little bit more manageable.<br />
<br />
Accepting help reminds us of how loved we are when we feel unlovable. My dear sister has listened to long, tearful phone conversations, numerous complaining emails and has repeatedly offered to come visit or have me visit her. I have spoken with two friends who have previously been in a similar situation to mine and their advice has been golden. One has exchanged numerous, lengthy Facebook messages with me offering support and tons of things to consider I had not thought of yet. Another sat with me for over three hours in Starbucks Saturday listening to me cry and say all the things I needed to say (probably more than once). She also offered fantastic perspective and texted me Sunday to say "Hey, I'm making you and the girls dinner tomorrow night. Is 5:00ish okay for delivery?". If she had asked what she could do, I'm sure I would have told her nothing, I'm fine. I'll admit I hesitated a moment before texting back that 5:00 was fine. I ended up feeling really grateful that she took something as simple yet overwhelming at the moment like making dinner off my plate. The girls and I enjoyed a delicious hot meal that I didn't have to think about, and I felt like special. <br />
<br />
If you need help, please don't be afraid to ask for help or to accept it when offered. People genuinely care about you. If you are the one helping, please know that it is appreciated. Any small gesture may be the one thing that person needs most and will remember for years to come. Carrie from Talking In Spacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14116475814229641069noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962491035200687423.post-29226553949284409952014-07-02T06:00:00.000-04:002014-07-02T06:00:03.413-04:00Recent DistractionsIt has been rough going in my house the last several weeks. They are the sort of issues I am not yet comfortable posting for the world to see, largely to avoid any pain or embarrassment for those of us wrapped up in it right now. Maybe I'll be ready to share more in the future, but just know it will be tough for weeks or months to come. <br />
<br />
I've spent an obscene amount of time mentally reviewing all that is happening and sometimes I just need a good distraction. Don't we all crave a little escape when times are challenging? In fairness, I could read or watch TV every day if I was happy as a clam but it is especially welcome when a little gray cloud hovers above my head. Here are some books and shows I have enjoyed over the last few weeks.<br />
<br />
<i>Last Tango in Halifax</i>- This BBC romantic series centers around Alan and Celia, childhood sweethearts (now in their 80's) who have been apart for the last 60 years. They find each other through a social networking site, realize they still love each other, and decide to get married. If I have a little crush on Alan, I think you'll understand once you watch- he is so sweet and adorable! The lives of their children and grandchildren also come into play and it is a really interesting dynamic of blending a family that late in life. Personally, I think it is awesome to see older characters are the leads, not just the grandma that guest stars in an episode here or there. They face realistic issues, and all the characters show some interesting flaws and redemptive qualities. Netflix has season 1 (or series 1 as the Brits like to say), but will hopefully add season 2 soon. I understand the series has been signed on for a third season yet to be filmed.<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><i style="font-family: inherit;">Girl Most Likely</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">- This 2012 movie (on Netflix) stars Kristen Wiig in a more serious role of Imogene. The Netflix description reads "</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">After staging an unsuccessful suicide to get her boyfriend's attention, a struggling playwright moves back home to live with her mother and two men." I feel I must warn you that this movie has received generally poor to average reviews on Netflix and Rotten Tomatoes, so it is clearly not everyone's taste. I like kind of quirky </span></span><span style="line-height: 20px;">movies</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">, so I enjoyed it even though it wasn't the most deep or exciting thing I have ever watched. Imogene (and her brother) appear to be kind of losers in the beginning of the film, but by the end I thought they showed much more complexity than I expected and </span></span><span style="line-height: 20px;">vulnerability</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"> in a </span></span><span style="line-height: 20px;">relate-able</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"> way. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><i style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;">Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown </i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">(2 seasons on Netflix)- Most people either love or hate Anthony Bourdain, and I apparently love him. I enjoy his general disdain for...everything and I love to new places so this is a sort of heaven for me. Having never seen this show before, I didn't realize how much of the show was not just food, but history and culture and talking with people who are living in these environments every day. I have three personal favorites episodes. First, Libya (season 1, ep. 3) showcases some revolutionaries that helped overthrow Qaddafi. When I think of revolution, I tend to think of 1950's Cuba or earlier, but these guys are younger than I am and were fighting just a couple of years ago. Their struggle really touched me. Second, Copenhagen (season 2, ep. 4) just for the food. Chef Rene Redzepi's method of sourcing local ingredients (including moss) is showcased, and I loved the scene of his staff presenting dishes they have developed to everyone else on staff for criticism or applause. Every bit of food in this episode looked delicious or </span></span><span style="line-height: 20px;">intriguing</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"> (or both). My final favorite was Peru (season 1, ep. 7) for one reason: guest star Eric Ripart. Do I need to say more? : ) </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><i>Hello Goodbye Hello</i>, by Craig Brown- I borrowed this book from my library to read during the drive to vacation last week. It is a collection of 101 meetings between famous people of varying backgrounds. Each story connects to the next, for example, the story of when Frank Lloyd Wright met Marilyn Monroe, then the next story is when Marilyn Monroe met Nikita Khrushchev, and on. This is written by a British writer with a fair number of British "well knowns", but there is a handy note to the U.S. edition explaining who some of these people were or some facts about them to help explain the context of the story. Some of the stories were less interesting to me, but others were really fascinating. Plus, I now feel secure in thinking that Phil Spector has been a crazy little man for a very long time and Madonna is probably every bit the jerk I always suspected. Isn't learning fun? : ) </span></span></span>Carrie from Talking In Spacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14116475814229641069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962491035200687423.post-24630442151060739672014-06-04T06:00:00.000-04:002014-06-04T06:00:04.229-04:00The Harm in Asking- Book Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipP4QzhPZMsCjv5A6Kr3XeNa59ndAKA2rWevNtSd30Fe2frY2CaGG67dFKjRvjBMRjsiguLJpw-qGVOKWRKN9JoOTQODFNRTRnGsVFPlOOkWJgLaXViYPOJgmhT-gRESBfn5P5Z5LT-Nw/s1600/cover%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipP4QzhPZMsCjv5A6Kr3XeNa59ndAKA2rWevNtSd30Fe2frY2CaGG67dFKjRvjBMRjsiguLJpw-qGVOKWRKN9JoOTQODFNRTRnGsVFPlOOkWJgLaXViYPOJgmhT-gRESBfn5P5Z5LT-Nw/s1600/cover%5B1%5D.jpg" height="320" width="207" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I admittedly went out on a limb in selecting this book. I was not at all familiar with author Sara Barron, and comedy-type books are tricky. Some people you think are funny in stand-up are not that funny in print, or an unknown comedian turns out to not be your type. Sara Barron is just not my type.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Let me put it this way: I am on page 116 of 306, and I will have to force myself to read the rest of it. I am all for weird humor, and I am not of a conservative nature that finds cursing or </span>ribald<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span>humor inherently unfunny. This book has both, which may turn some people off, but this entire book just misses the mark for me. <span style="font-family: inherit;"> There are nineteen chapters (essays?) that are </span>vaguely<span style="font-family: inherit;"> connected in that they chronicle Sara's life in a generally </span>chronological<span style="font-family: inherit;"> order, but address various issues or events. Her essays largely focus on her voracious need for attention since childhood and the myriad ways in which she attempts to gain such attention (forcing herself to attempt lesbianism is one example). There are a few </span>anecdotes<span style="font-family: inherit;"> that I found funny but they were few and far between. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
Some of the stories seem forced, like the only way to be funny is to be provocative, but the provocativeness is of the more desperate for attention variety. Maybe I'm wrong and this book is a perfect reflection of Sara's personality and life. Even if that is true, there is little about this book that is appealing to me personally.<br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">This book was provided for free from Blogging for Books in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own. </span></i><br />
<br />
<br />Carrie from Talking In Spacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14116475814229641069noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962491035200687423.post-11328020633951531702014-06-02T06:00:00.000-04:002014-06-02T06:00:04.204-04:00The Nesting Place- Book Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiocESFGk6uZF_ssjhBwwGnadjbrSk350RWJjRdmA8USZbSOm6TvAuuwnz1WPU1dMLECMraWT4Czk8Wm706Qy57nM8fHtpD2KOd6rd2J1a3ss8RKkerOAn8cJDPhBW36lZdOlWOAwvt1sc/s1600/The+Nesting+Place+cover+image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiocESFGk6uZF_ssjhBwwGnadjbrSk350RWJjRdmA8USZbSOm6TvAuuwnz1WPU1dMLECMraWT4Czk8Wm706Qy57nM8fHtpD2KOd6rd2J1a3ss8RKkerOAn8cJDPhBW36lZdOlWOAwvt1sc/s1600/The+Nesting+Place+cover+image.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
The Nesting Place blog has been on my daily blog feed for a while, and the site's mantra "It Doesn't Have to be Perfect to be Beautiful" captures blogger Myquillyn Smith's decorating style perfectly. Don't misunderstand: every luscious scene of a living space or bedroom is in fact beautiful. I would say gorgeous. But it isn't a study in perfection. Myquillyn believes a beautiful space can (and should) also be comfortable and inviting. With chapters on giving up perfection and "the gift of messes", she makes you believe a beautiful, yet "yes, children live here" home is possible.<br />
<br />
I really appreciated chapter 5: "A Place of Peace: Embracing the True Purpose of Your Home". Personally, I frequently think things should be a certain way because, well, that is how people do it. Mind you, these "people" don't live in my home and understand how we need it to function. It is just a knee-jerk reaction that certain rooms have a purpose and you should make your home fit that purpose, rather then making your home fit what you really need (or want). How many people have that formal front room where no one is allowed to sit on the furniture? A whole room just waiting for someone who might, but most likely will not, one day possibly use it. I think Myquillyn would advise against that. From this chapter, I am thinking more of whether I would actually benefit from a more formal sitting room, or if a second home office is more useful. (Hint, both adults in my house are currently working 40+ hours a week from home.)<br />
<br />
This book largely addresses broad ideas of decorating, such as don't be afraid to try new things or put nail holes in your wall. It is not going to provide you specific decorating advice, like pairing stripes with patterns, etc. Given the frequent change in what is considered current or stylish, this is, in my opinion, a better way to go. There is also loads of advice on how to make your rental place a home where you may be limited in what permanent changes you are allowed to make. A paperback copy of this book was not available for my review, and I really dislike reading books electronically, but even on my tiny iPhone screen the photos were beautiful. It was a quick read, but made many good points about finding your own style and I would recommend it to anyone interested in design and home decor. <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the
publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <<a href="http://booklookbloggers.com/">http://booklookbloggers.com</a>> book
review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The
opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with
the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <<a href="http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html">http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html</a>>
: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in
Advertising.”</span>Carrie from Talking In Spacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14116475814229641069noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962491035200687423.post-35840795753744998292014-05-30T06:00:00.000-04:002014-05-30T06:00:05.284-04:00The Start of Summer This is the first summer I have looked forward to in a long time. I usually prefer the organized structure of the kids being in school, having homework, going to bed earlier. : ) But something about warmer weather and a looser, more relaxed lifestyle sounds so appealing. Unfortunately, my office still expects me to work 40 hours a week, so "more relaxed" is going to be a relative term. <div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We spent Memorial Day watching S and her Girl Scout troop walk in a parade. Poor S (and poor me) had to wake up at 6:00 am for a 6:30 am pickup by her troop leader. Her troop leader deserves the most sympathy for hanging out with nine 7 & 8 year olds from 7:00 a.m. until the parade started at 10:00 a.m. We were very lucky to find a nice, shady spot under trees to watch the parade. The troop was handing our candy down the parade route, and I told S it would be nice for her to try to give some candy to her sisters as she walked by. As she walked past, S smiled and waved at us and then immediately walked to other side of the street! It was so funny and so perfectly S. She said later that she was told to stay on the other side of the road to keep the girls from clumping up together. E & G got plenty of candy of other people in the parade, so don't feel too bad for them. This is the best picture of S I could get. Do you see the girl on the left in a white shirt and brown sash who looks like a street lamp is growing out of her head? Yep, that is S. I know, I should be a professional photog. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz19oM-e2_im8kVJai_rShWr7OQl_onIEfIKac-EEkVoo6DA86xnuyf6kUHlYwDu88RS0xcRwKOxyaf1tz1hKUhSgwH85Aont-GkLyfT7zz6HUDIa2eCsivqkxZJ0Ppx2qmQAwTOJjHL8/s1600/Parade.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz19oM-e2_im8kVJai_rShWr7OQl_onIEfIKac-EEkVoo6DA86xnuyf6kUHlYwDu88RS0xcRwKOxyaf1tz1hKUhSgwH85Aont-GkLyfT7zz6HUDIa2eCsivqkxZJ0Ppx2qmQAwTOJjHL8/s1600/Parade.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
Here are G and E enjoying the parade (and the shade). G is on her phone- shocking.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcipJfcbgDKNHdh4Pf195CNdO2gccxv-XZ5z-lsJod0vbxRj4haUEMK35UIywHzx6XMaw_L66Am25LvCEeyGTWxECy1iF1iZ49sjQT83IdeM9qxjW537Am5mr3-t30UVlI1Dt8tOHBwqk/s1600/G+&+E.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcipJfcbgDKNHdh4Pf195CNdO2gccxv-XZ5z-lsJod0vbxRj4haUEMK35UIywHzx6XMaw_L66Am25LvCEeyGTWxECy1iF1iZ49sjQT83IdeM9qxjW537Am5mr3-t30UVlI1Dt8tOHBwqk/s1600/G+&+E.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
S saw a couple of school friends she knew in the crowd as she walked the parade route, and I think it made her feel extra special. She said they were yelling and waving at her and she liked it. She's already a pop star in her own mind, so she should really be used to the attention. : ) And side effect of waking a kid up at 6:00 a.m. and having them walk over two miles in the heat is they tend to fall asleep on the couch pretty early. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
S & E started summer camp on Tuesday and have field trips every week. Just this week, their field trips have been playing in the park and jumping on trampolines. Maybe if they keep this up, we won't have later bedtimes this summer after all. </div>
Carrie from Talking In Spacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14116475814229641069noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962491035200687423.post-17363638795331965322014-05-15T06:00:00.000-04:002014-05-15T06:00:02.562-04:00No Rest for the WearyI came home last Friday night after spending two of the last three weeks out of state on work trips. My first trip was to Miami, where I greatly appreciated the 80 degree weather and incredibly delicious Cuban food. It was also a (rare) treat to a) travel with other people, and b) travel with people I like. Like, enjoy having lunch and dinner with them kind of people. I took one solitary picture while I was in Miami from a moving car (no, I was not driving at the time). Actually, the prettiest view I saw of Miami was on the Miami people mover train thing that carried me from the terminal to the rental car center. I would have taken a photo there if I wasn't afraid of looking like a tourist (horror). <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEejMvHa8ndLkR9O5zNrQL884_ofdzKeGeRwKn6m0KoRefjsvmx3DBXnR_WSEiRQTWjiFtMS1NUTskduG9rff8zFpSQeMJIvSQTls18QkpOPWfirjUw4jlnhSimMobIHn1E-PyxjEvD6Q/s1600/Miami.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEejMvHa8ndLkR9O5zNrQL884_ofdzKeGeRwKn6m0KoRefjsvmx3DBXnR_WSEiRQTWjiFtMS1NUTskduG9rff8zFpSQeMJIvSQTls18QkpOPWfirjUw4jlnhSimMobIHn1E-PyxjEvD6Q/s1600/Miami.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
I was home for a week after that, then went to White Plains, NY. I was extremely lucky to take the train into NYC and have dinner with one of my favorite people, who happens to also be my aunt. We celebrated Cinco de Mayo at a Mexican restaurant with the most amazing taco sauce. They also served fantastic watermelon basil margaritas, of which I may have had more than one. I took this photo of Grand Central Station on my way home to dazzle my kids. They were duly dazzled. I even overcame my fear of looking "touristy" as I figured most New Yorkers are not impressed by anyone anyway. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4xVPlZIs8gUGFJT_Y-4sNH2XKNAxcsftwohkv4DBqry1IcCJ3VvwtI9aMuhJTFL55Uz_0pR5ciD_7luYSkdlyxdcseEjmCFSiKYf4FdHEEnjYgkMWGQ09Dkb080iEjkkbcHuAaU7gjgU/s1600/Grand+Central+Station.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4xVPlZIs8gUGFJT_Y-4sNH2XKNAxcsftwohkv4DBqry1IcCJ3VvwtI9aMuhJTFL55Uz_0pR5ciD_7luYSkdlyxdcseEjmCFSiKYf4FdHEEnjYgkMWGQ09Dkb080iEjkkbcHuAaU7gjgU/s1600/Grand+Central+Station.JPG" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
My flight home on Friday was cancelled due to low lying thunderstorms. Ordinarily, I would be very upset about a last minute change in plans, but considering my plane in and out of White Plains was of the 17 row tin can variety, I was fine with it. I was able to get a later flight out of LaGuardia and switch my return of the rental car there. Unlike typical heavy and slowed down Atlanta traffic, the drive to LaGuardia was heavy traffic but still speedy. Even going through the toll booth was...efficient. One fabulous thing about LaGuardia was their gate areas. Every little table had an iPad with free (free!) Internet access and plugs to charge up your phone. There was even a a credit card swiper to pay for food and drinks if you wanted to order something off the iPad. It was probably the nicest gate area I've occupied in quite a while. <br />
<br />
Upon coming home, little kids wanted all my attention and Hubs wanted some peace and quiet (ha!). As school comes to an end, there is a constant stream of pre-K graduation, awards night, field days, final exams, and trying to cram every last bit into the year. It also happens to be my absolute busiest, most time consuming project time of year at work. I'm very happy to be home, but I will be even happier when I can take some time off. There is a massage table just waiting for me. : ) Carrie from Talking In Spacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14116475814229641069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962491035200687423.post-60337860419074159072014-04-28T06:00:00.000-04:002014-04-28T06:00:01.155-04:00A Table by the Window- Book Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ozKlbgANbVMli4xn-9hB8d_vCnJzcoVqbzr3NlKvrvC0SljDfqLDcTBX2uw9WeEK7tEmInd0N4P9XnTzZkzYO8Hql8SiuTUTKgdv4shVJ6lo7rMNbtgu2c8Ha-GNfMZ9RzIejXWs6fs/s1600/Table+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ozKlbgANbVMli4xn-9hB8d_vCnJzcoVqbzr3NlKvrvC0SljDfqLDcTBX2uw9WeEK7tEmInd0N4P9XnTzZkzYO8Hql8SiuTUTKgdv4shVJ6lo7rMNbtgu2c8Ha-GNfMZ9RzIejXWs6fs/s1600/Table+cover.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<i><br /></i>
<i>A Table by the Window</i> by Hillary Manton Lodge combines a few of my favorite things: food, non-cheesy romance, and a bit of mystery. The book follows food writer Juliette D'Alisa as she navigates an increasingly stressful career, contemplates opening a restaurant with her brother, tries to solve a mystery surrounding her beloved late grandmother, and oh, begins a long-distance romance. If her life was not complicated enough, she must also manage her large, incredibly nosy (and opinionated) family of restaurant owners.<br />
<br />
I liked that Juliette is a successful and independent woman but struggles with realistic self-doubt. She is part of a large, close-knit French-Italian family that have a lot to say about her job, her love life- just about everything. While her family is in everyone's business and a couple of siblings really push Juliette's buttons, it is clear the family acts out of love and truly cares for each other. Their nosiness came across as endearing rather than annoying. I enjoyed the bit of mystery involving the possible romantic past of Juliette's grandmother, and the romance angle for Juliette developed nicely. Three possible suitors appear throughout the book, and while none were terrible choices, I was rooting for one relationship in particular to blossom (and it did!). <br />
<br />
I hate when you already know where the plot is going in chapter one, and this book was <u>not</u> one of those books. While there were no huge plot twists, it kept me guessing and changing my mind throughout the romance and mystery story lines. Food does play a role in the book as Juliette's family has always revolved around running restaurants and sharing great meals. Luckily, the author previously interned at <i>Northwest Palate </i>magazine and, knowing a thing or two about delicious meals, includes multiple recipes throughout the book. I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a somewhat light read with romance and a bit of mystery. And food. <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">A copy of this book was provided to me for free by Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own. </span>Carrie from Talking In Spacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14116475814229641069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962491035200687423.post-39184455426573655282014-04-04T06:00:00.000-04:002014-04-04T06:00:07.751-04:00Let Me (Okay, Netflix) Entertain You!There are certain times of the year when there are so many excellent shows on television, I can go weeks without watching Netflix. Now is not one of those times. <i>The Walking Dead</i>'s season is over, <i>Scandal</i> is losing my attention, and <i>Mad Men</i> isn't back on yet. I've dropped <i>The Americans</i>, <i>Hannibal</i> and <i>The Following</i>, so all I have left is <i>The Good Wife</i> and <i>The Blacklist</i>. This leaves me plenty of time for some Netflix entertainment. <div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In case you are looking for some recommendations for your weekend (and I know you are), here are some things I have enjoyed on Netflix over the last few weeks/months. Warning up front: I tend to like independent, quirky things, and I am not at all bothered by cursing or most violence. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Movies:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><i>Mud- </i>Two Mississippi teens befriend a peculiar drifter named Mud (Matthew McConaughey) and get caught up in his tales of lost love, crimes of passion and bounty hunters. McConaughey gets top billing, but the movie really revolves around the life of one of the teens, Ellis. I thought it was a poignant story of young boys learning about hurt and loss of trust that all of us experience growing up. If you like quirky, emotionally challenging movies with more dialogue than action, you may like this one. Rated PG-13, I assume primarily for language and some violence.</li>
<li><i>Unfinished Song- </i>This movie made me cry like a baby, and I'll probably watch it again just to cry again. Arthur is a cranky old man whose wonderful wife, Marion, is terminally ill with cancer. Marion joins an unconventional church choir. Imagine elderly British folks singing "Let's Talk About Sex" a cappella. Yep. When the choir is chosen to perform in a competition, Arthur reluctantly joins. A surprisingly touching movie that shows Arthur struggling with the fear of losing his wife and alternately destroying and rebuilding a relationship with their son. Rated PG-13 for some sexual references and rude gestures. </li>
<li><i>Blackfish- </i>This do<span style="font-family: inherit;">cumentary made me extremely sad. I realize this is a very controversial movie and probably neither side is 100% accurate. However, the stories told by former trainers and the man that helped capture whales from the wild are very d</span>isturbing. There are also scenes in the movie that were difficult to watch because they showed injuries suffered by the animals as well as the trainers. Rated PG-13.</li>
</ul>
<div>
TV Shows</div>
</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><i>Lilyhammer- </i>Steven Van Zandt (of <i>The</i> <i>Sopranos </i>and<i> </i>the E Street Band fame) stars as a New York mobster who goes into hiding in Lillehammer after testifying against his former associates. <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">While I would personally hate the cold in Norway, the snowy landscape in this series is gorgeous. For a highly manipulative person, Steven Van Zandt's character, Johnny, is very likeable. There is a quirky cast of characters that are fleshed out enough to see the good and bad in all of them. There are some clever (and some obvious) nods to both Springsteen and </span></span><i style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">The Sopranos</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">. This was Netflix's first original series and they have renewed it for a </span></span><span style="line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">third</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"> season to be released later this year. It is rated TV-MA. There is a large amount of swearing, violence and more than one instance of nudity, just so you are forewarned. </span></span></span></li>
<li><i>An Idiot Abroad- </i>In this<i> </i>hilarious British series, Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant send their "idiot" friend Karl on a different adventure in each episode. He is completing an item off a bucket list in each show, though as Ricky frequently reminds him, this is not Karl's bucket list. Karl is a somewhat grumpy man who isn't too enthused with trying new things, meeting new people, experiencing new cultures- you can see where this is going. He expresses some viewpoint where I think, "Aw, Karl isn't so awful" and then he says something else to make me think, "Idiot". Ricky and Stephen really enjoy putting Karl in some very uncomfortable situations and I thought much of it was funny and interesting. There are two seasons, though I personally thought season one was a little bit more entertaining. Rated TV-14, there is frequent cursing, though some of it is British slang so maybe that doesn't count. FYI- the British use the F word too. There are also a few instances of nudity in a culturally appropriate way (native tribes in traditional dress), not in a sexually charged way. </li>
<li><i>Doc Martin- </i>I just started watching this British show about a grumpy surgeon who moves to a small seaside village with eccentric townspeople. Think Dr. House with less overt nastiness. Netflix has seasons two through five, though the details I missed by not seeing season one seem pretty small. I've been able to figure out some of the backstory and enjoy the episodes in season two. </li>
<li><i>Parks and Recreation- </i>I'm probably one of the last people in America to watch this comedy because I have never been a huge Amy Poehler fan. After it was recommended to me for the billionth time, I decided to give it a go. I watched all five seasons on Netflix and started watching the current season on TV. I'm still not a big Poehler fan, but the show is entertaining to me. I don't need to take one of those incessant Zimbio quizzes to know that while we aren't in sync on everything, I most closely identify with Ron Swanson. If you haven't watched it before, give it a good two or three episodes to see if you like it. </li>
<li><i>House of Cards- </i>Keven Spacey: enough said. Okay, if you need more, this is a seriously suspenseful drama of D.C. political maneuvering. There is something so deliciously evil about Spacey's character, Frank Underwood, that I couldn't stop watching. If you loved <i>The West Wing</i>, but wished it were darker, more sinister, more murdery, and generally made you uncomfortable, this is the show for you. Rated TV-MA for very good reasons- lots of cursing, sexually explicit scenes, drug use and violence. </li>
</ul>
I promise I actually do more than just hang out and watch television, though this list is a bit longer than I anticipated. Any shows or movies you would recommend? Do you like quirky movies too? </div>
Carrie from Talking In Spacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14116475814229641069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962491035200687423.post-43513291094072718972014-04-02T06:00:00.000-04:002014-04-02T06:00:01.985-04:00"Riley Mae and the Rock Shocker Trek"- Book Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4n8DWdHS6gyeE2_aRsFGzMD3GZTt8rdKyAoX-dJRza4ZBhbeq72GTAgALfT1feQhcGK2CuOJ7KHhIIe8VWX6CGAO1yt5NVh8mo1cQ2jR_L_Gd4EgSyeP7U4VZx1sXBWPgsjffDmAtJn4/s1600/_240_360_Book.1106.cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4n8DWdHS6gyeE2_aRsFGzMD3GZTt8rdKyAoX-dJRza4ZBhbeq72GTAgALfT1feQhcGK2CuOJ7KHhIIe8VWX6CGAO1yt5NVh8mo1cQ2jR_L_Gd4EgSyeP7U4VZx1sXBWPgsjffDmAtJn4/s1600/_240_360_Book.1106.cover.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">I thought it would be fun to let one of the kids review a book and S enthusiastically</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"> agreed. "Riley Mae and the Rock Shocker Trek" is the first book in Jill Osborne's The Good News Shoes series. In this book, Riley Mae becomes a Swiftriver Shoe Company spokesperson for their outdoor sport collection. Riley Mae's love of softball and adventure sound like a perfect match for this deal, until the responsibility of shooting commercials and attending promotional events takes up the whole softball season. She also suspects something isn't quite right at Swiftriver and aims to find out what is going on. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">I thought Riley Mae was a seven year old just like S, but she's actually a <u>seventh grader</u>. Oops. S still read it just fine, and said she would definitely read more books featuring Riley Mae. S actually wrote our her own book review and wanted me to post it here, but I had to explain what "spoilers" are and point out that her written review had two of them. Here is what I can share from her review: "I loved this book because there were some really shocking parts! For instance, SPOILER. And I was shocked when SPOILER. It was just shocking and that is why I liked this book." Well, there you have it. HA!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">I also read this book, and thought it was generally a pretty cute story about Riley's friendship with her BFF changing as she starts to miss softball games and let her friend down. She also makes a new friend, Rusty, whose family is struggling financially. I found this sub-plot a good jumping off point to discuss with S how some families don't have enough food every day, and how we should treat people kindly even if our other friends don't want to add new friends to the group. Riley Mae's parents are largely involved in her decision to become a spokesperson, and they emphasize throughout the book the importance of sticking with commitments. The ending of the book wraps up enough of the various sub-plots to leave you (or your child) satisfied, but also leaves some lingering issues I assume will continue to play out in book #2 of the series. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 18px;">Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <</span><a href="http://booklookbloggers.com/" style="border: 0px; color: #0c6bbf; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">http://booklookbloggers.com</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 18px;">> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <</span><a href="http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html" style="border: 0px; color: #0c6bbf; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 18px;">> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”</span></span>Carrie from Talking In Spacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14116475814229641069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962491035200687423.post-77510944214885820772014-03-26T06:00:00.000-04:002014-03-26T06:00:08.171-04:00A Stillness of Chimes- Book Review<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMkzbSlzRf0JPGPN0ICtEhTSHUqLF0QruBoGO1cbr9Lb9ajodDD-dkkXD-W4VCTo5GPAfwDVF6yIvD6d992W8wYs-aIj2nfzqG9IJ20YAMDER0NFjZeMgNs8mI8pzs7jmQ866zdqtxyXM/s1600/A+Stillness+of+Chimes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMkzbSlzRf0JPGPN0ICtEhTSHUqLF0QruBoGO1cbr9Lb9ajodDD-dkkXD-W4VCTo5GPAfwDVF6yIvD6d992W8wYs-aIj2nfzqG9IJ20YAMDER0NFjZeMgNs8mI8pzs7jmQ866zdqtxyXM/s1600/A+Stillness+of+Chimes.jpg" height="320" width="211" /></a></div>
<br />
<i>A Stillness of Chimes </i>is the first novel by Meg Moseley I have read. If this novel is an indication of her work, I will definitely add her other books to my reading list. Meg is originally from California but moved to the south and worked as a journalist for the <i>Atlanta Journal Constitution</i> for four years. As a fellow Georgian, I appreciate that she sets this novel in our state and describes it full of southern charm (and doesn't make characters into a caricature of uneducated hillbillies and buffoons) - even the kudzu sounds charming! <br />
<br />
The plot revolves around Laura Gantt's return to Prospect, Georgia after her mother's death. As Laura stays in town to clear her mother's house, she is reunited with former sweetheart Sean and best friend Cassie. Laura's father, Elliott, was presumed drowned in a fishing accident twelve years before, but his body was never recovered. Rumors of Elliott sightings begin swirling around town, and Laura sets out to find out if her father could possibly have survived all those years ago. Sean tries to support and protect Laura at the same time, but he has his own reasons for keeping Elliott a ghost in the past.<br />
<br />
I really enjoyed Meg's storytelling in this book. There are threads of several stories woven throughout the book, and the last few chapters really tied all those ends together well. I liked that there were some resolutions spread throughout the book. I'm not a big fan of having a bunch of questions that carry on until the last page, and I enjoyed having some bits of information fed to me throughout the book. For example, you do not have to wait until the end of the book to learn Sean's secret. There are vivid descriptions of both Laura's mother and father, and even though they are dead (or are they?), you learn a lot about them as people from flashback scenes and descriptions from the other characters. The only tiny issue I had was a subplot involving Cassie and her husband. There seemed to be a build up to some relatively large plot point involving them, then it kind of petered out. I don't know if that was a casualty of editing, or if I placed too large an expectation on what troubles Cassie may be having. Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fiction surrounding relationships and mysteries.<br />
<br />
This is Christian fiction, so characters attend church, reference God and voice prayers. As you might expect, there is no cursing, little violence (not graphic), and no sexual scenes. You can read the first chapter <a href="http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/SneakPeek_StillnessofChimes.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>, and visit Meg Moseley's website <a href="http://megmoseley.com/" target="_blank">here</a>. <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">I received this book for free from <a href="http://www.bloggingforbooks.org/">Blogging for Books</a> for this review, but all opinions are my own.</span>Carrie from Talking In Spacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14116475814229641069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962491035200687423.post-3495465057780479932014-03-19T06:00:00.000-04:002014-03-19T06:00:07.978-04:00The Way In Which I Ruined My Kid's Life (this quarter)So, we are only in the third month of the year and I've already ruined G's life forever. Well, at least for the next two years. G was placed in an intro Spanish class last semester for one of her nine week "connections" classes. (They change out connection classes every nine weeks unless you are placed in one of the few semester long classes.) It was more of a study of Spanish culture and some basic language than a hard core learn to speak Spanish class. G said it was okay but kind of boring, and she was glad when it ended.<br />
<br />
A month or so ago, G brought home a letter explaining the school's two-year Spanish program. By completing this Spanish program in seventh and eighth grade, students earn high school credit. Students have to apply and (get this) fill out an essay on why they want to be in the program. When G showed us the letter, she said, "I didn't even want to show this to you but knew I'd be in trouble if I didn't." That should give you a clue of how thrilled she was at the prospect of applying.<br />
<br />
Hubs and I sometimes have differing opinions of how to handle what the kids want to do. I am much more soft and gushy in this regard and sympathetic to when kids don't want to do something. (Something voluntary or interest-based like this, not things like brushing teeth or going to school. I'm not a complete pushover.) I kind of sympathized that G adamantly didn't want to take the class. Plus, she was in Spanish before and didn't like it, the class is a two year commitment, and she is already in an all year connection class (orchestra), so she will not be able to take any other classes for the rest of middle school. Sad face. Hubs, on the other hand, is the Honey Badger in these matters. (Google "Honey Badger Don't Care" if you don't get the reference.) After much discussion, we agreed that this was a great opportunity, it is important for our kids to learn another language, and that she needed to apply. G was as excited as you might imagine. The first couple of essay drafts were, while hilarious, inappropriate. Getting a kid to explain why they want in a program they don't want in, with the stipulation that they try not to lie, is not easy. Ultimately, she wrote something we could all live with and turned it in, I'm sure hoping she wouldn't be accepted. <br />
<br />
So, of course she was accepted. It probably didn't help that G came out of Spanish last semester with an A. Or that her teacher probably liked her because she is generally quiet and does her work. I asked G how she felt about it a couple of days after she was accepted. She said, "I can't get out of it, so I've decided to accept it with as much emotional detachment as possible." Well, okay. She's twelve, so we're getting into that tough (for me) arena of what decisions do we still make for her and what kind of independence do we start giving in greater doses. I hope she ends up really enjoying the class and decides it was a good experience. If not, I'll just blame Hubs. ; )Carrie from Talking In Spacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14116475814229641069noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962491035200687423.post-6578617485327950052014-03-07T06:00:00.000-05:002014-03-25T18:59:31.381-04:00Sisterchicks Do the Hula- Book Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSOkl8g3P3VTBT7bYG3BpwI99mmb1bJRdc8g7bmM4Ey3fEqb05El2J1mQLruzGixCdyb9EP49j7PL5WUwfh1b8nc21TJ4EyJM8zU4juqAdUXlgCrEaKB_QtRMdcbCvfQiwPCqemTVSOaU/s1600/Sisterchicks+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSOkl8g3P3VTBT7bYG3BpwI99mmb1bJRdc8g7bmM4Ey3fEqb05El2J1mQLruzGixCdyb9EP49j7PL5WUwfh1b8nc21TJ4EyJM8zU4juqAdUXlgCrEaKB_QtRMdcbCvfQiwPCqemTVSOaU/s1600/Sisterchicks+cover.jpg" height="320" width="202" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<i>Sisterchicks Do the Hula</i> by Robin Jones Gunn is a Christian fiction book about long lost friends Hope and Laurie. Hope and Laurie were best friends in college but lost touch with each other over the years. They reconnect as Hope's fortieth birthday approaches and agree to take the Hawaiian vacation they originally planned in college. The book chronicles their (mis)adventures in Hawaii and highlights the value of female friendships.<br />
<br />
This book is a pretty quick read, partially because I didn't want to put it down! Overall, this is not a terribly deep book. It's more of what I can a "beach read", meaning the kind of fun, lighthearted book I would typically take on vacation with me. Some of the plot points a little silly, and some may find it unlikely that two friends would take off to Hawaii after not speaking for twenty-something years. However, the friendship between Hope and Laurie was really relatable to me. I could totally picture my sister (and BFF) and I taking off to the islands, enjoying a luau and discussing the appeal of traditional Hawaii cuisine. There are some tidbits of Hawaiian history thrown in, which I found interesting. It also doesn't hurt that I would LOVE to walk the beaches of Hawaii. This is a Christian book, so there are Christian elements thrown in, such as references to prayer and God but it doesn't hit you over the head. <br />
<br />
I enjoyed this book, and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys stories of friendship and a fun, light read about two women helping each other embrace the new phases of their lives. There are nine or so books in the "Sisterchicks" series featuring different female characters. Visit Robin Jones Gunn's <a href="http://www.robingunn.com/" target="_blank">website</a> for more information on her books or read an excerpt <a href="http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?work=72908" target="_blank">here</a>. <br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">I received this book for free from Blogging for Books. All opinions expressed are my own. </span></i>Carrie from Talking In Spacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14116475814229641069noreply@blogger.com2