Dear Blog..

I miss you.

I promise I've not forgotten about you, but I have gotten a little busy.  Who woulda thunk that having an almost 4 month old and a part-time job would hinder your blogging time so much? Ha.

Maybe one day, when your almost 4 month old remembers how to take a morning nap, you can catch up on writing some posts.  Perhaps about the book you just finished, or posting photos of that cute almost 4 month old.

Maybe someday, I will get all caught up on reading other people's blogs and know what is going on in their lives. 

Maybe, some day, I'll sleep all night again.

Maybe, some day, pigs will fly.

Love,
me

P.S.  How do I have an almost 4 month old?

P.P.S. Why am I still awake at almost 11 pm?

Still Missing - Discussion 2

Welcome back to the second discussion of Still Missing by Chevy Stevens. This week we are covering Sessions 9-15. Fill free to jump on in, respond to each other in the comments and ask your own questions!

My stomach turned a lot turning this section. Especially when she plays nice with him trying to find out information and it just seems like he is able to twist everything back on her and make her feel crappy. He would win an award for making people feel like crap about themselves! I really could hardly even feel bad for him when he talked about his horrid childhood.

"Most people assume the guy had me at gunpoint the whole time, and I don't tell them different. How could I explain? How can I tell them that when he told me about places in the world like the Rock of Gilbraltor, where all those monkey's are, I found him interesting and articulate? And that sometimes when he rubbed my feet, they were so damn swollen, I liked it. Or that he could be so enthusastic and funny during book-reading time, or when he was cooking- he had this one stupid dance he did every time he fliipped an egg and he'd talk in different accents --I'd see the guy who first stopped at the open house. How could I ever tell anyone he made me laugh?" pg. 99

I think that this would be the hardest part of her 'after.' The trying to explain her survival to someone who had never been in that exact situation. No one KNOWS what they would do or would be capable of until they are there. It's easy to judge/second guess when you aren't there be raped/mind-farked and beat every day in a cabin in the moutains where you are locked in with no end in sight.

The whole time I was reading her labor part / right after with the baby I about had to skip it because I was so nervous/anxious with her every time he freaking got near the baby. And then after the poor baby was dead he tried to make it better by offering extra chocolate at dessert?? OMG. I would have probably gotten myself killed at that point.

1. Do you think The Freak needed Annie's help with the deer or that was part of his mind-farking?

2. Do you think The Freak's adopted mother was in a situation like Annie's where the man was abusing her or do you think she was just sexually liberal and a freak herself?

3. At some point during captivity, Annie begins to almost like The Freak. She goes to far as to admit that "sometimes he's kinda sweet." Although identifying with a captor is a known phenomenon—referred to as the "Stockholm Syndrome" in psychiatric parlance—how do those feelings develop in Annie? (from litlovers)

4. Chevy Stevens has written her book as a flashback, the present peering back into the past. We know at the outset, therefore, that Annie escapes her ordeal. Why might the author have structured her book in such a way? (from litlovers)

5. How did you react to the gruesome/sadistic scenes that were in this section?

Next week we will talk about Sessions 16 - 22!

Wine and Love vol. 5

It's that time of week again.. Unload your loves and wines of the week, and check out Nora's site and link up with others who are just as love and wine filled.

Wine:
- Kids that come to school reaking of smoke.  I get really mad at parents/grandparents when darling children come to school REAKING of smoke.  Yay asthma, emphysema and other health problems put upon defenseless children. Way to go!

- I think there is something wrong with my lap top. Boo.

- When people try to hard with their writing in blogs.  Just write like you, don't go overboard trying to be something you are not.

- Isla, while sleeping a bit better, has insane trouble falling back asleep and is sooo close to rolling that it keeps her awake at night. Also, it makes her trying to nap in the swing that much more difficult as she tries to launch out of it.

this lovebug is 16 weeks now!

- People whose only advice for parenting seems to be just let your baby cry.  Yeah, cuz that'll teach her! There is a bit more to it than that, thanks!

- It's farking cold!

Love
- Coffee.  Especially coffee with creamer.  I used to be a straight up black girl but pregnancy (ZOMG I DRANK COFFEE WHILE PREGNANT) made me into a creamer loving gal.

- Oatmeal cookies. mmmmm

- COLLEGE FOOTBALL!!! So excited for MSU vs. ND and OSU vs. Miami this weekend.

- Meal planning/couponing.  The nerd in me adores it.

- Talking about planning a trip to Florida in March/April. Woot!

- My pretty girl!

What's on your lists this week?

Suggestions for October Group Read!

It's that time again. What shall we read in October? Shall we read another classic like Pride & Prejudice or The Color Purple? Shall we read a chick lit like Sammy's Hill or Something Borrowed? Give out your picks!

Here's what we've read in the past...

Still Missing
The Sandalwood Tree
Major Pettigrew's Last Stand
Something Borrowed
The Blue Orchard
Sammy's Hill
In the Woods
Shanghai Girls
The Weight of Water
Water for Elephants
The Color Purple
The One That I Want
The Secret Garden
House Rules
American Wife
Firefly Lane
Middlesex
The Reader
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
The Awakening
Pride & Prejudice
I See You Everywhere

Suggestions will be taken until September 18th and then I will add a poll up on the side bar! Hope you will join us!

I've been meaning to, but....

We all have things we keep saying we are going to do, and then we don't.  It could be just something we brush aside or think we can do later, or we say it and don't really mean it, but hey it sounds good, right?

So, I want to know.. what three authors have you been meaning to read or keep saying you are going to read, but you haven't? Why do you want to read them and why haven't you? And then I want to challenge you to READ at least one of them by December 31st! YOU CAN DO IT! ;)

Here is my list..

1. Hemingway - I have checked out multiple books of his from the library and have never read them.  I think I'm scared that I won't like it, but I really really want to like it.  I want to read Hemingway because I feel like I should at least read one of his books, and he reminds me of my grandpa! ;) Real, good reasons I know.

2. Charlaine Harris - Yeah, we just jumped from Hemingway to vampires.  I bought the first book in the Sookie series 2 years ago and have not read it.  I think I'm afraid I'll hate it, even though I love the tv show when I remember to read it.  I also think I haven't read it because I think, vampires? Come ON.  I want to read it because it would be another mindless series to get started on, since I am 1 1/2 books away from catching up on the Tess Monaghan series.

3.  Agatha Christie - This is one that I am utterly shocked I have not tried yet.  I mean she is referenced in so many books I like and yet, I have never picked anything up.  Overwhelming? Afraid, I'll think it's stupid? Who knows, but I would probably enjoy one or two!

So, who is on your list?

Still Missing - Discussion 1

Still Missing is our September Group Read.  Feel free to join in in our first discussion over Sessions 1 - Sessions 8.  Next Friday, we will talk about Sessions 9 - 15.

Okay, so this book is freaky.  It gave me two nights of nightmares where I woke up sweating.  I blame this on Annie's pregnancy and how he treats her/the baby.  I can't imagine being in that situation.  How strong you must be to try to rationalize everything to stay somewhat sane yourself and at the same time not risk your life.  I also don't know how you wouldn't go INSANE in a house where you could never see outside. 

What a total mind-fark that guy played on her too... "But, what if The Freak wasn't lying?  What if they really weren't looking for me anymore? What if they'd all moved on?" pg. 86

The last sentence in this section got me too. "I hoped they put Bubbles to sleep before he finally figured out no one was coming for him." pg. 87. Yikes.

To me it also seems like Annie has almost a split personality when she is talking to the therapist she sounds super pissed off at the world, mean and angry, and who would blame her? In her every day life and her remembering of her time with The Freak, she sounds pretty normal, if not a little anxious and OCD.

1. Do you think it was a coincidence or a calculated move that The Freak told Annie his name was David? (the same name as her dad)

2. Why do you think The Freak is so rigid on the schedule and times for certain things?

3. Why do you think The Freak has Annie read to him?

4.  Are the early parts of the novel, the sex scenes, too lurid for your taste—do you consider them sensational. Or are they an integral part of the plot, necessary for us to grasp Annie's tormented state? (from litlovers)

5.  How do you think you would react if you were in Annie's position?

Thanks for participating! See you back next Friday to talk about Sessions 9-15!

Wine and Love vol. 4

Joining up with Nora again to share this week's wines and loves!

I will forewarn you I have a lot of wine this week.

- People who act like they know more about my kid than me or try to 'fix' our problems by doing things we've obviously tried already.  I'm not an idiot.

- The word dapple.  It annoys the crap out of me.

- The phrase like a champ.  "She eats like a champ." "He sleeps like a champ." REALLY? And how exactly do champs eat and sleep? Nails on a chalkboard.

- Letting your kid sleep in a few extra days before they go back to school.  YOU HAVE HAD 3 FULL MONTHS OFF. ALL OF JUNE, ALL OF JULY AND ALL OF AUGUST.  You should be caught up by now.

- My baby has decided that she likes to wake up frequently at night again and nurse a bit but then wakes up instantly when you set her down.  She also likes to party at 5 am.  She gets to go hang out in her swing when she does that.  Mama can not survive on hourly wake ups.

- The weather is freaking cold.  I AM NOT A FAN OF COLD. My toes are numb.  It is not time to retire my flip flops yet.  I haven't bought fall shoes yet!

- My house needs someone to clean it.

- Oh yeah.. also the phrase "dear readers" sooo annoying.

The sad thing is, I think I have more, but I forgot them.  I had a running list in my head yesterday.

Loves

- My class is filling up and I have a lot of cute/fun characters.  It's going to be a fun year.

- Planning for the first week of school.  Love looking at teaching blogs and getting ideas.  Even if my art abilities are sorely lacking.  Love preschool/kindergarten ideas!! My current search is on circle time ideas.

- Isla is smiling and laughing and talking up a storm.  Sadly, she likes to really do this at 5 am.  Girl needs to learn how to sleep in.

- I don't have to be at work until noon most days.  Wooot.

- Chili.  We've had it two weeks in a row and hmmmm I love it.

- Pinterest.  Getting so many ideas for the house/dinner.  I am going to start some decorating this fall.  Only took me 5 years in this house!

- College football.  LOOOOOOOOOOOOVE that it is back.

What's on your lists this week?

Back to School..

In honor of the first day of school around these parts, I came up with some back to school questions and hope you will play along as well!

senior pic..



1. What was your favorite grade and why?
I would say junior year because I had the BEST schedule ever, easy classes, awesome grades and basically no homework and hung out with my friends all the time.

2. Who was your favorite teacher?
My life science/anatomy physiology/ physics teacher.  She was amazing.

3. What subject was your favorite?
English and Social Studies.  But I had some pretty bad social studies teachers in high school.

4. What was your best summer and what did you do?
hmm.. probably the summer between high school and college.  I worked a ton but I also played a ton. ;)

5. If you could have studied anything with no worries of a future job, what would it have been?
I would have taken tons of English and History and Law classes.

6. Did you prefer assigned seats or picking your seats?
Depended.  If it was in high school and I had friends in the class, picking.  If it was college and in my major, picking, but if it was outside my major, I hated the uhhh where do I sit.  Especially when I got stuck in a class with tons of sorority girls.

7. What was your most awkward year of school?
Probably 7th grade.

8. Did you have classes with many of your friends?
In high school, almost all of them.  In college, not until I got into my major.  Before then, I was a lone duck in most of them at MSU.

9.  Did you have a job in high school?
I always babysat, but I also worked at Sears and at an after school program.

10. What extra-curricular activities did you participate in?
I was a big ole nerd. Student Council (secretary), National Honor Society (prezzzz), softball, basketball, track, Quiz Bowl, Foreign Language Club and lots of other random crap.

some friends and i dressed as teachers for Halloween senior year..

Hope you will play along!

August at a Glance...

Books Read

36. The Sandalwood Tree – Elle Newmark (August 18^th)

37. Smokin’ Seventeen – Janet Evanovich (August 21^st)
38. No Good Deeds – Laura Lippman (August 30^th)

I think my favorite was Smokin' Seventeen mainly because it was freaking hilarious and I flew through it.  The other books were good too. ;)

Currently Reading: Still Missing - Chevy Stevens.. which is the book club pick of the month! Join us!

Fave Recipes Posted:
Beef and Rice Enchiladas
Nacho Chicken Enchilada Casserole

And two others I haven't posted about were Chipotle Burrito Bowl and this Mexican Black Bean Casserole that I got from Amber that I made unhealthy ha.

Movies Watched
The Lincoln Lawyer
The Social Network
The Help

They were all fabulous!

Fave Photos

What were your favorites in August?

 

Wine and Love vol. 3

Joining in with Nora again for Wine and Love this week.  What's getting your knickers in a bunch and what's putting the smile on your face?

Wine
- My daughter and daycare seem to not agree with each other.  Lots of deep breathes and hoping it gets better.
- I wish my daughter wasn't as stubborn as parents and would just give in ,when it comes to the bottle and naps.
- I'm eating my feelings again.
- I stopped running because I need new shoes and have no plans on when I'm getting new ones. eeek.
- I got my hair cut this week and it is once again shorter than I wanted.  I need a new hair person.
- My toes need a pedicure.
- I'm sad that the month of August just has not been as hot as July and I haven't been in my pool once.
- I bought a size of pants that I never ever ever ever ever thought, I'd see.
- I am having uber anxiety and it's freaking me out.

Love
- The belly laugh I got out of my sweetie this week.
- That my daughter is a fighter and won't take crap from anyone.
- My husband got me a new MP3 player and it's orange.
- I got 2 shirts, a pair of dress shorts and a pair of pants for 3.68 after using coupons and merchandise credit.
- Making dinner.
- Feeling like I am doing something positive.
- That my Buckeyes are on THIS WEEKEND!!!!!!!!

What's on your list this week?