the Shack

The Shack by William P. Young


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
the Shack is a book that i had heard a lot about but hadn't had a chance to pick up. went to the beach with my folks last week and mom brought it along for us to read. finished reading it today and i think this is a book a lot of people need to read. the main character in the book, Mack, is a father of 4 children, one of whom is abducted on a camping trip before school starts. the police never find her but are led to believe that she was murdered based on evidence found in a shack in the woods. following the abduction, mack is a changed man with a constant Great Sadness hanging over him. four years later, Mack receives a letter in his mailbox that takes him on a journey back to the shack. here he faces a black woman, a middle-eastern carpenter, and a sparkly young woman in conversations and experiences where he learns a lot about what God is to him. the journey is an amazing one and this book can take misperceptions about God and turn them around.



i believe you can't take the book word for word as definite ways to imagine god, but i do believe the experiences told in the story are great explanations of how god works, at least how i've experienced him.



read this book, it's a great story and it's one you will learn so much from.


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we set a date! :)

we're getting married!

saturday, july 10th, 2010.

yipee!

the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is a good but not great book. Written in letter form, it tells the story of Juliet, a writer from London just after World War II. She reeives a letter from a reader in Guernsey, one of the Channel Islands (located in the English Channel) who is looking for books. The Channel Islands were occupied during the war and a relationship forms between Juliet and the people from Guernsey who continue to write to her. All of this occurs as Juliet ponders her next book topic through letters with her publisher, Sidney. When she finally decides that she wants to go to Guernsey to meet the people whom she is falling in love with, she's in the midst of a love battle with a man who wants to marry her. The story continues with Juliet finding out and researching about the people of Guernsey. A good book that has love, mystery, and tragedy all wrapped together. Easy to read, but not a knock your socks off book.


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first they killed my father

First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers by Loung Ung


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
First They Killed My Father is an honest, harsh, but redeeming story of Loung Ung and her family in Cambodia during the Khmer Rouge invasion in the 70s. Loung's story is heroic and gripping. This memoir is definitely worth reading.


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the glass castle

The Glass Castle: A Memoir by Jeannette Walls

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Glass Castle is a memoir about Jeannette Walls' crazy, mixed-up, confusing, and disenfranchised family. It's a story about Jeannette's relationship with her father, Rex, who is a very intelligent man, but also an alcoholic full of unfulfilled promises. Jeannette's relationship with her dad is one that is hopeful and always believing until she grows up and realizes that his "Glass Castle" dream isn't going to happen.



Jeannette's story is almost unbelievable, but her storytelling ability is so strong and so captivating that I just couldn't put this book down.



I think everyone should read this book. It's an excellent memoir.


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sarah's key

Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
Sarah's Key is a double-perspective WWII story about a much-neglected event within Paris in 1942. it's interesting that the vel d'hiv (the velodrome was an arena in Paris used for sporting events) is often overlooked when one speaks of the Holocaust. the main character, Sarah and her present-day counterpart, Julia Jarmond, are both telling the story from their perspectives in 1942 and 2005, respectively.



i enjoyed the relationship that Julia establishes with the history of Sarah and the apartment and the key, but at times it seems a big manic. i was happy to see that Betrand's father wasn't as crude and cocky as he seemed or as Betrand.



in the end, the book had some strong points and an alluring story that made you want to find out more.






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the Friday Night Knitting Club

The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
The Friday Night Knitting Club is definitely not a work of literary genius, but it provides you with such a warm, happiness that it's definitely worth the read. Dakota, James, and Georgia are such an important rekindled family...Anita is a woman I would want to spend time with, and Walker and Daughter is a shop where I'd want to visit, even if I didn't knit. The stories for other characters, like Darwin, K.C., and Lucie could be more developed...but the overall story was very engaging...very warm...very snuggly. I wish it would've ended differently, but I'm still very happy I read the book.


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the Bell Jar

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
I think The Bell Jar is a very interesting novel. It plagues me in a way because it is a somewhat autobiographical account of what was going on in Sylvia Plath's life. I feel sad that the answer to her desparation was to attempt suicide and then eventually kill herself. She was an excellent writer. Just wish she was still alive today so we could've enjoyed more of her writing.


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the Last Lecture

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
I loved reading this book. My mom had followed his last year of life because my parents live outside of Pittsburgh, so he was in the news often. I remember her calling me to tell me that Randy had died, and I was like, "Who?" She went on to explain that he was a professor at CMU (Carnegie Mellon University) and that he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.



Nonetheless, it wasn't until I went to Jersey with Gregg to celebrate at his brother Don and sister-in-law, Rose's home, that I found out about this book, The Last Lecture. Rose read the book and passed it on to me, and then book club selected it to read for February.



I wasn't sure what the book would be like, and was hoping that it wouldn't be too sad, so when I read it, I had minimal hopes.



Much to my amazement, the book is an excellent read. It's not something that's going to give you divine points about life that you've never heard before. It's more about how Randy Pausch says the things we've all heard in our lives from our parents and from those wiser than us.



I recommend this book. It's a great passer-on.


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The Jungle

The Jungle by Upton Sinclair

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
I have wanted to read The Jungle by Upton Sinclair for a LONG time. I remember back in the 90s when my older sister read it in high school and she talked about how gross it was.



Anyway, when my book club decided that everyone was to pick an American classic to read for the month of January, I knew I would finally have the chance.



This book isn't really about the disgusting meat-packing industry's unbelievable conditions. It's more about the life of a man, Jurgis Rudkus, who is a Lithuanian immigrant to Chicago, or Packingtown, as he calls it.



The story is more about the Rudkus family's struggle to survive in a capitalist society that was ruled by just a few on top.



If you've never read this book, it's definitely a book worth reading. You'll become attached to Jurgis' attempts to make it when everything is against him.


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The Ring.

I said, "Yes!"

the nutcracker collection begins

without further ado...i present to you, my beginnings of a nutcracker collection...

with fair hopes of becoming just like my friend sarah (see bottomest photo)

the photo below is just a small sampling of the amazing nutcracker collection my friend sarah possesses. i want to be like her someday and have the coolest collection. for now, i'll just be satisfied that my collection increased 500% this year (from 1 to 6!)

sicko

i did everything you see in the prior post up to and including Christmas and took care of Gregg and then...

I GOT SICK!

Surprise surpise. So while i've been nursing myself and my sick boyfriend back to health, i've totally neglected my blogging duty. here's to getting back on the blog-wagon this 2009 and reviving my writing...err...typing fingers.

If i don't say so myself, my fingers are looking especially divine because while i was sick, i did manage to hunker down, watch some movies, and give myself a good nail-filing manicure, complete with the color of the above cough syrup polish. yay!

I've been disgustingly busy...

so i haven't posted in about a week, and even then, i was only copying/pasting my goodreads The Book Thief review...so i feel kinda guilty because i know all of my many followers are waiting anxiously to hear what i've been up to.

i have a whole slew (sp?) of photos i want to post, too, but i left my camera at a friend's house and am trying to pick it up from another friend's house sometime soon...but you'll understand why i haven't after i explain the following...

so last sunday i finished reading The Book Thief and before that i was posting about Christmas decorating. since then, in a somewhat chronological order, i've been:

• Tuesday, 12.09.08: Wake Up @ 5:30 and Run, Riverside Runners Woke up early and ran with Kelly at the YMCA. Treadmills suck, but we ran 5 miles in 45 minutes. Decent.
  
• Wednesday, 12.10.08: Gold's Gym Health Fair for Riverside Runners This included set up and tear down of a table that held a bazillion shoes that i brought from the store, some other products (sox, SuperFeet, goggles, free keychains) as well as conversing with gym members about their feet, and measuring and checking lower leg mechanics. It was fun to be there, but traffic for the Health Fair wasn't particularly high (possible location problem--in a room where none of the gym-goers really go regularly?). i informed several folks about footwear and what we do at Riverside Runners, so that was good for us. Hopefully some of them show up at the store and we get some business.
  
• Thursday, 12.11.08: Wake Up @ 5:30 and Run, Riverside Runners Woke up early and ran with Kel again. Good run, sprinted at the finish...5 miles, 45 minutes. Worked at the store after Jeff called to tell me that he was locked out. Turned out to be a busy day. Had plans after work to go to Sarah's and hang out for one last time with Emily still in town. Gregg had a work party at Perky's in Altavista. Went to Sarah's and then to La Caretta for dinner, came back and watched The Holiday and fell asleep on the floor. Loved spending time with my 2nd family here in L-burg. Sarah even gave me a lovely nutcracker ornament complete with a turquoise glitter suit!


• Friday, 12.12.08: Day Off, Run with Joel, Bunko Christmas Party Spent the day lazing in bed and baking, then Joel came over around 3:30 and we ran from my house to Huntingwood Apartments and back (7.5 miles). Cleaned up and rocked the Bunko Christmas party with Gregg...had lots of fun and WORE OUT the karaoke machine.
  


• Saturday, 12.13.08: Riverside Runners, AREVA Christmas Party Worked from 12-6:15 (learned how to close the store for the 1st time) and then went home and cleaned up for the Areva Christmas Party at Cattle Annie's. Met up with Todd and Tracey, Jimmy and Ashley, and some others. Had a good time...photos to come.
  


• Sunday, 12.14.08: Church & Food Donation, Lasagna, Run, Eat Woke up and went to Holy Cross with our Jessie Tree food donation. Saw Sarah and Ryan after the service (we had to sit in the front row!) then went home, ate lunch, and made 2 lasagnas for dinner. Went out to Timberlake for a run with Stacey and Gregg. Came home, sat by the fire, watched football, and ate lasagna with Stacey and Gregg.


• Monday, 12.15.08: Riverside Runners and Baking Worked from 11-4, came home, relaxed, baked, and worked on newsletter for Christmas cards.


• Tuesday, 12.16.08: Riverside Runners and Sick Man Worked from 11-4, came home and found Gregg home with the sickness. Tried to take care of him and finish newsletter and do some baking. Worked on Gregg's mom and David's Christmas present: a Snapfish photo album.
  
• Wednesday, 12.17.08: Babysit, Riverside Runners, Sick Man, Book Club Christmas Babysat Ella in the morning...she cried for a steady 3o minutes and told me she didn't love me and wanted her mommy. Ed woke up and had to help with the rescue efforts, but she finally calmed down. Got her dressed and was on my way to meet Meghan at Kindermusik when she called...met her at the BP instead and then worked from 11-4, got new Asics socks at the store (LOVE THEM!), met Patterson for the first time, and came home to still Sick Man. He was running a 102 fever still. Feel sad because he's sick. Made Buffalo Chicken Dip and got ready for the Book Club Party. Got gas cause I was on empty. Went to Jody's for the party, spilled dip en route to the party, cussed before I went in her house with 1/8 of dip left on my car seat. Party was excellent, dip was a hit, rest of the food was delish. We enjoyed a Grinch's Christmas Martini and shared Christmas memories. Very worthwhile.
  
• Thursday, 12.18.08: Library, Riverside Runners, Sick Man Ran to the library because my books on hold were about to be returned to their libraries, made it just in time to see Ella and my sister (by chance!) pulling in as well. Picked up my books, got to work in the nick of time, then worked from 11-4. Came home and worked on Christmas cards and baking and took care of still 102 fever man. He won't go to the doctor.
  
• Friday, 12.19.08: Day Off, Worked for VMFA, Baked, Christmas Cards, Store, Etc. Didn't work at RR, but worked online for VMFA (it's nice to be in bed and do that). Baked cookies, made a bazillion Christmas cards (of which I'm pretty proud) and took care of STILL Sick Man. Went to Walgreens and Food Lion for important baking needs. Looked for paraffin wax but couldn't find it. Called Kroger when I got home and they said they had it. Good news.
  
• Saturday, 12.20.08: Jingle Bell Fun Run, Riverside Runners, Post Office, Kroger, Bank, Baking, Sick Man, Dinner, Etc. Woke up early and helped set up a little for Fun Run. Met Stacey there and ran with her for a 4.75 mile run. Worked the rest of the day til 4, then rushed off to the post office to mail the 80 cards I made yesterday. Postage on 59 of them was $0.63 and 28 of them was $0.83. Remind me not to use things with lumps on next year's cards. $55 is too much for sending Christmas cards. Stopped at Kroger to pick up paraffin and Andes mints, then deposited checks in the bank. Came home to sick man (getting better man) and made dinner, finished my buckeye cookies (that's what the paraffin was for) and finished up baking other stuff. Finally sat down to blog...and we're back to being caught up...

Understand why I haven't posted?
I'm also:

• Reading The Jungle by Upton Sinclair
• Interested in the Chicago Stockyards at the turn of the century
• Wondering about other uses for paraffin wax
• Hoping that the cards make it through the mail before Christmas Eve
• Stretching my Achilles tendon
• Wishing for a Christmas wish
• Dreading the laundry
• Cleaning up the kitchen
• Making about 5 more types of cookies
• Knitting a scarf
• Shopping for friends/family

Photos will be up soon!!!!!!!!!

the Book Thief

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
Liesel Meminger is a very strong character. Her relationships with Rosa, Hans, Rudy, and Max are very likable and interesting. Definitely a good story and great for Nazi Germany interests.


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the Christmas Decoration Saga...Rules #3, 4, 5, 6, & 7

as i continue through the Christmas Decoration Saga, you'll get to enjoy some of the most important features of a properly decorated Christmas. in this post, i'd like to share:

Rule #3: Ornaments Mustn't Rest on the Branch Below

Rule #4: Rough Ones in the Back

Rule #5: Tinsel No-No's

Rule #6: Properly "Lit" Ornaments

Rule #7: Stars are for the End

To be able to properly finish your Christmas decorating, make sure to follow along.

• Rule #3: Ornaments Mustn't Rest on the Branch Below
  I think it's very important to place ornaments on the tree and make sure each individual ornament has a happy home. Ornaments should not be placed so that they rest on branches below. If the ornament hangs really far down when you hang it, so much so that it rests on the branch below, then you need to find a stronger branch above to hold that heavy ornament.
  
  
• Rule #4: Rough Ones in the Back
  If you owe it to certain ornaments to make it on the tree, even if they aren't in the best condition or aren't the most beautiful, the back of the tree is the perfect place. Now, all trees have a side to them that's near a wall, unless of course, your tree is in the center of the room, and the wall side of the tree still needs ornaments too. Rough ones can easily be hung in the back of the tree with no questions asked.
  
  
• Rule #5: Tinsel No-Nos
  Sorry to those of you who use tinsel on the tree, but according to my decoration saga, this substance should absolutely NOT be used on a Christmas tree. It's just a no-no. It's unruly, clingy, messy, and annoying. It doesn't look good. It's a waste. Don't use it. Pretty simple.
  
  
• Rule #6: Properly "Lit" Ornaments
  Ornaments with a special ambience, clear glass, and transparent ornaments should be placed so that light comes through them. This is easy to do with the help of strategically placed Christmas lights. Just make sure they are hung so that a light shines behind them. Pretty easy.
  
  
• Rule #7: Stars are for the End
  Prior to this year, I was never taught the "put your star on the tree last rule." I don't think my mom and dad ever followed this rule, as far as I know, and they just put the tree topper on when it was convenient, be it in the beginning, middle, or end of decorating the tree. I saw the movies where the star was the crowning touch of the tree, added only at the very end when everything else was finished. I guess I just never had anyone to enforce the rule. This year, when I was about to put the star on the tree while we were decorating, Gregg stopped me and said, "No!" I wasn't sure why, I thought I had done something wrong, but it turned out that he just wanted me to wait until the end. Now that I've been introduced properly to the rule, it will become a tradition for years to come. We'll top the tree at the very end of the tree-decorating. You should too.

Now that we've covered all the ground for the Christmas Decorating Saga, go out there and make sure you do your very best decorating if you haven't already.

You'll be sure to have
a gorgeous tree.

the Christmas Decoration Saga...Rule #2: Ornament Collectors

if you haven't yet read the Christmas Decoration Saga...Rule #1, then please do so before reading any further.

the extravagance of decorating for a new, exciting Christmas season comes with several rules. we've covered the major steps about lighting the Christmas tree with Rule #1 (click above) and can now move on to some other important details.

once the tree is lit, it's usually a good idea to stand back and check your work with the rest of the lights off. if satisfied with your lighting performance, you can begin to look at the ornament possiblities.

now, many people, young and old alike, are probably the kind of ornament collector i am:
Type D: Preferential and Non-Preference Multi-Collector.

There are about 4 different types of ornament collectors in the world:
Type A: Preferential Ornament Only Collector
Type B: Non-Preference Ornament Collector
Type C: Multi-Tree Preferential Ornament Collector
Type D: Preferential and Non-Preference Multi-Collector

Type A ornament collectors buy and collect ornaments that go with only one type of Christmas tree with one theme.

Type B ornament collectors will buy and collect any and all ornaments that do or do not go with any type of Christmas tree theme.

Type C ornament collectors buy and collect ornaments that go with two or more types of Christmas trees with different themes.

Type D ornament collectors are a collaboration of having both ornaments for a theme as well as collecting ornaments for trees without a theme.

I am a Type D ornament collector. I've recently started my own Nutcracker ornament collection so that I too can have a nutcracker tree like Sarah. I also cashed on the jackpot of my Gram's vintage Christmas ornaments last year and am planning on starting a "Vintage Christmas Tree" every year. But, along with 2 "theme" trees, I also have a plethora of ornaments that i've collected that have no rhyme or reason and are just part of the main tree in the living room.

Figure out which type of ornament collector you are so that you make sure not to buy ornaments that don't go with your plan if you're a Type A or Type C collector.

Stay tuned.

the Christmas Decoration Saga...Rule #1

when Gregg and i got our tree yesterday, it was easy enough. we got a 7.5 foot Fraser fir from Lowe's for $29.99. i'm all about deals and coupons right now (since i'm trying to pay off my debt with 2 small jobs) so a coupon for Lowe's added to the savings. we ended up with a tree for $19.99 using a coupon for $10 off a $25+ purchase.

so, we brought the tree home, Gregg planted it firmly in the tree stand, and we put it in the living room.

i asked him if he'd put the lights on the tree while i decorated other things.

this is where Rule #1: Lighting the Tree comes into the picture.

Gregg, without any proper coaching, was un-complainingly stringing the lights from the top of the tree and in a sort of "wrapping" way, just circling them around the tree.

in no way was i trying to be a scrooge, but there's no way you can just string lights on a tree by wrapping them around by walking around the tree in circles.

so here it is:

Rule #1: Lighting the Tree If your hands aren't sticky and sappy after having lit the tree, you've not done it properly.

Why you ask? WELL, to properly light a tree, you must:

• Unpack the strands of lights.
• Plug them in.
• Check for burnt-out bulbs.
• Meticulously, (starting at the top), intertwine the light strands with the branches by wrapping and looping so that the strands are hidden to the best of your ability.
• Keep connecting light strands until you get to the bottom of the tree.
• Plug the final strand into a switch (either a foot switch or hand switch) and...voila!
• *If your hands aren't sticky from the sap from touching all those branches, then you mustn't have done it correctly.
  
  Your tree will be a lit masterpiece.

Stay tuned for more Decorating Rules, to be continued...

hot coffee and cream

it goes without saying that i am an official coffee drinker now. it's funny how a year of life really changes you.

prior to december 1st, 2007, i had never liked or drank a full cup of coffee-type product. i had your typical flavored cappuccinos before, but i always drank hot chai tea.

i never liked the taste of plain black coffee, and even just the taste of coffee once it was doctored was gross to me.

but then, Gregg broke me. he brought me a vanilla latte from Starbucks, and I've been hooked ever since. for awhile, i drank my coffee with vanilla caramel coffee-mate. but then switched to milk and sugar. when i realized that i think i was adding too much sugar to my coffee, i recently switched back to coffee-mate. now, with the holiday flavors arriving, i've picked up a few new favorites. if you're a coffee drinker and you haven't tried Peppermint Mocha or Caramel Apple Coffee-Mate, i suggest getting over to Kroger, buying a 16-oz. for $1.99 (on special) and using a coupon from the "Sign Up for Savings" area on the website for $1.00 off! That means you'll get 16 oz. for 99c plus tax!