Sammy's Hill: Discussion #4

Happy Friday everyone! Kelly is hosting this week's final discussion for Sammy's Hill! Thank you so much! I enjoyed the recap because it reminded me of things that irritated me that I wanted to talk about! ;)

Hi everyone, I’m Kelly from She Wears a Red Sox Cap and I’m guest posting here to finish up our discussion of Sammy’s Hill. Thank goodness!

When we left off last week, Bramen was taking credit for RG’s health care benefit package but also speaking out against it, which caused RG to really turn against him and endorse Wye for President. When this happens, Sammy meets Bob Espin, who she remembers from her blackberry snafu. Bob and Sammy start to date (sort of), but nothing really comes of it, and it’s clear Sammy is not all that emotionally involved.  Other notable things that happen in this section include:

-Charlie writes an article bashing Bramen and Bramen drops out of the presidential race after losing several states
-the Ex-Secret Service guys question Sammy about her relationship with “Mr. Lee” who is apparently an agent of the North Korean regime
-Aaron starts working for Wye and telemarketers drive him crazy
-Sammy ends up in the hospital with IBS and Charlie stays with her (I did laugh at this whole section- as someone who suffers from this, I TOTALLY agree with her that giving it a better name would be awesome)
-Charlie broke a story that Wye’s speeches were plagiarized, by none other than Aaron (it also came out that Aaron was a compulsive gambler-WTF?)
-Wye wins the election, Charlie and Sammy get together and Sammy sends out an e-mail where she says the greater “pubic” good instead of “public”

Wow, just reading all these things I can see just how many UNBELIEVABLE and ridiculous things occurred in this book, just in this section! Here are my questions:

What changes would you make to Sammy’s character in order to make her someone that her target audience would relate to, rather than be annoyed by?

Do you feel the kind of passion towards your job/boss that Sammy does? Why or why not?

Although we don’t plan to read the sequel, what do you predict will happen next for Sammy?
What was your favorite thing about this book? (I thought I’d be positive, it’s the kindergarten teacher in me)

37 weeks!!!

side view of my cheeky little girl..

How far along? 37 weeks! yay i've made it to term! bring on the baby at any time now!

Weight gain/loss: up 17 pounds
Stretch marks? I found a matching pair on the other side of my belly to the ones I got a few eeks ago .. ;( hopefully they shall fade away.
Sleep? I've stopped drinking as much at night but I am still peeing like crazy.  But I sleep hard when I do sleep so that is good!
Best moment this week? I got a surprise ultrasound because the midwife couldn't tell if she was head down still or not.. and she may have told me the little lady had "buns of steel"
Food cravings: Chocolate
Gender: Girl
Belly button in or out? In
Movement? slowing down a little but it's getting uncomfortable
What I miss? 'normal' hormones
What I'm looking forward to: the little lady's arrival! which means i should work on that list of stuff that we need to buy/need to do before she comes.. umm eek.
Milestones: made it to term!

ok if you look in the middle of the shot you can see her face.. the closed eyes, nose and chin..

ahhhh

It was so cool because we could see her blinking on the monitor and sucking and she had her hands up by her face! Can't wait to meet her.. ooh and good news is that she is head down! the bad news? still nameless!

May's Group Read: The Blue Orchard by Jackson Taylor

From goodreads..

On the eve of the Great Depression, Verna Krone, the child of Irish immigrants, must leave the eighth grade and begin working as a maid to help support her family. Her employer takes inappropriate liberties, and as Verna matures, it seems as if each man she meets is worse than the last. Through sheer force of will and a few chance encounters, she manages to teach herself to read and becomes a nurse. But Verna’s new life falls to pieces when she is arrested for assisting a black doctor with "illegal surgeries." As the media firestorm rages, Verna reflects on her life while awaiting trial.

 

Based on the life of the author’s own grandmother and written after almost three hundred interviews with those involved in the real-life scandal, The Blue Orchard is as elegant and moving as it is exact and convincing. It is a dazzling portrayal of the changes America underwent in the first fifty years of the twentieth century. Readers will be swept into a time period that in many ways mirrors our own. Verna Krone’s story is ultimately a story of the indomitable nature of the human spirit—and a reminder that determination and self-education can defy the deforming pressures that keep women and other disenfranchised groups down.

I am really excited to read this one! I believe I shall be starting tonight!

Discussions for The Blue Orchard will be:

Discussion 1 (Prologue through chapter 24) pg. 96 – May 6th

Discussion 2 (chapter 25 through Book Two’s Chapter 18) pg. 192 – May 13th

Discussion 3 (book two chapter 19 through book three chapter 15) pg. 290 – May  20th

Discussion 4 (book three chapter 15 through the end) – May 27th

If you would like to guest post one of our discussions this month I would really appreciate it! The little darling's due date is May 18th so it may get a little dicey if I go into labor early/before I finish the book! If you would like to, all I ask is that you leave a comment here and if I don't have your email, leave that here as well.  I would need your post at least by the Wednesday before the Friday we are to discuss it.  That way, if I do go into labor/have a baby I will have plenty of time to get it posted, hopefully.

Happy Reading! Who plans on joining us this month?

Ice Cold - Tess Gerritsen

Synopsis from goodreads - In Wyoming for a medical conference, Boston medical examiner Maura Isles joins a group of friends on a spur-of-the-moment ski trip. But when their SUV stalls on a snow-choked mountain road, they’re stranded with no help in sight.
As night falls, the group seeks refuge from the blizzard in the remote village of Kingdom Come, where twelve eerily identical houses stand dark and abandoned. Something terrible has happened in Kingdom Come: Meals sit untouched on tables, cars are still parked in garages. The town’s previous residents seem to have vanished into thin air, but footprints in the snow betray the presence of someone who still lurks in the cold darkness—someone who is watching Maura and her friends.

Days later, Boston homicide detective Jane Rizzoli receives the grim news that Maura’s charred body has been found in a mountain ravine. Shocked and grieving, Jane is determined to learn what happened to her friend. The investigation plunges Jane into the twisted history of Kingdom Come, where a gruesome discovery lies buried beneath the snow. As horrifying revelations come to light, Jane closes in on an enemy both powerful and merciless—and the chilling truth about Maura’s fate.

My thoughts: I've noticed I really enjoy the books that focus more on Maura than I do the ones that focus on Jane.  I think this is because Jane's holier than thou attitude has gotten to the point where I want to smack her.  She doesn't know everything, her way is not always right and she is not the moral authority over everyone. 

I also really liked this because it mentions the resemblance to the family that gets lost in Oregon and the dad wanders off after a week to try to find help.  Totally true story that was featured on Dateline.  The episode was called "Wrong Turn."  And we may mention it on a weekly basis in our house because we are horrible people who may have made fun of the episode. 

I also liked the religious sect aspect to the drama.  I find it fascinating that people fall into these cults that no normal person would follow.  But then again, I don't understand people who allow others to make all decisions for them. 

Anywhoo, yet another installment in the Rizzoli & Isles series! I am now all caught up until the new book comes out this summer.  Oh, and the show starts back up July 11th on TNT!

If you have ever made a spur of the moment trip with friends, did you let others know where you were going?

May's Group Read..

Hey all.. just wanted to let you know today that our book for May will be The Blue Orchard by Jackson Taylor.  I did not get a chance to pick this up from the library today before it closed and it is closed tomorrow for the holiday.  Soooo... Monday I will let you all know what the discussion break downs will be.

Just wanted to let you all know today so you have time to get the book!

Have a great rest of the weekend!

Sammy's Hill: Discussion #3

Thanks to Lisa for providing today's discussion for Sammy's Hill! And don't feel bad about it being a doozy, we've all suggested/read some doozies in the past!

Good morning & Happy Friday!

First off, for those of you reading this month’s book club selection, I offer up my sincerest apologies for suggesting such a horrendous book! If you want to ban me from suggesting books for the coming months, I completely understand. I feel like I should be punished somehow for selecting this book!

Moving on. It’s been awhile since I finished the book as I finished it on April 1st. And I can’t bear to re-read the section I am responsible for guest posting on, so pardon me for being a bit foggy on the details!

In this section, the wheels totally fall off the relationship between Sammy & Aaron (no surprise there).

Without further ado, here are some questions to ponder:

1. Did you find it odd that Aaron didn’t call Sammy on Thanksgiving? What did you think of his stand-by excuse of forgetting his cell phone charger?
2. Liza calls Sammy out as being obsessed with Aaron and Sammy vehemently denies this and tries to defend their relationship. Have your friends ever disapproved of the person you dated – and told you? Have you ever voiced concerns over a person a friend was/is dating?
3. What did you think of Sammy ability to hack into Aaron’s voice mail? What did you think of the 2-on-1 New Years Eve between Aaron, Darlene, and Sammy?

I have to close by saying that I heard there was a sequel to this book called Sammy’s House. What. The. Eff. How the heck did she get another book published????? \

Don't forget to vote in the poll to pick a read for May! Selection will be announced tomorrow!

36 weeks and Baby Shower Pictures...

 the gorgeous cake!

 cute little chocolate owls that were on the tables

 beautiful hat and booties that my husband's aunt knit for us!

 the wagon my husband was drooling over, for the baby of course. hahah he may need lessons in sharing!

 love this blanket that my husband's cousin made!

 okay, can we aww over the cuteness of this??? love the diaper cover!

I only shared pictures that I liked, not the crazy pale pink explosion.. but I do have some of those to share in perhaps a later post haha.. You will not believe the amount of laundry I have to do for this little one already!

and the blurry 36 week belly picture! total klassy outfit today.. ;)

How far along? 36 weeks
Weight gain/loss: up 13 pounds
Maternity clothes? for things that i venture out of the house in yes.. i am starting to HAVE to put a tank on under some of my shirts so they are long enough..
Stretch marks? just the same two that have been chilling there the last 2 weeks..
Sleep? I have been waking every hour/ every 2 to pee, but I mostly get back to bed right away..
Best moment this week? Baby shower and realizing all the great stuff we got for our darling daughter.. and I can't wait to have her in her room and wearing all her cute stuff!
Food cravings: eh, I am eating to eat at this point but ice cream is always a winner.
Gender: Girl
Belly button in or out? In
Movement? all the time.
What I miss? being able to go long periods of time without peeing!
What I'm looking forward to: meeting my daughter!

Still looking for names... I checked out 3 books from the library and will be searching through them in the next few days!

Confessions from a Pregnant Lady..

* I just ate an entire Tostinos Pizza.  Yeah, I feel as gross as the face you just made.  I don't even LIKE them.

* I may have also eaten just the frosting off of the delicious cupcakes my cousin's girlfriend made for my shower.

* I have not uploaded any shower photos because after I saw the hideous ones my mother-in-law posted on facebook, I am afraid to see how I look in them.

* My house has exploded into pale pink ridiculousness and I am scared.

* All I want to do today is sleep, eat and pee.  Well not so much WANT to pee, but my bladder has become reduced to the size of a peanut, I swear.  I don't drink ALL that much but I'd have to say for every 12 ounces I drink I pee like 4 times.  Well, maybe not 4 but I HAAATE that I go and it's like drip drip and back I go in about 30-90 minutes later.  And I normally can hold the urge for awhile, but the size has been diminished.  Touche, baby, touche.

* I was supposed to start writing my thank yous and organize the bags my husband brought upstairs for me to go through today.  I have not really gotten off the couch.  But at 3pm, I WILL put away the baby gifts.  So my husband doesn't think I am completely nutso.  I have so much baby laundry to do but I am not done sorting everything yet!

* As much as I dislike waking up to pee all the time, I really don't have any urge to hurry this child along.  You will know I hit my breaking point when I start obsessing over Old Wives Tales.

* Easter dinner sounds delicious, but the thought of making a dish to pass and socializing makes me tired thinking about it already.

* I wish my husband's new grill came this weekend so that he could grill tomorrow's dinner instead of me making something.  Speaking of, what the heck SHOULD I make for dinner tomorrow?

* I have not packed my hospital bag because I can't even fathom life with a baby yet.

* I also haven't read in any of my pregnancy/labor/infant care/breastfeeding books for awhile.  I really need to catch myself up on some stuff and make sure I am organized for when baby arrives.  But, I am kind of in denial that I am due ONE MONTH FROM TODAY. HOLY SHIZ BALLS.

* My husband is so good to me and I'm glad that I have realized this more and more throughout this pregnancy, even when he irritates the crap out of me over small things.  Like, WHAT THE HECK ARE WE GOING TO NAME OUR DAUGHTER.

* My mom is starting to annoy me with constantly asking if we have a name for the child and are just keeping it from them.  No I assure you all, WE DO NOT HAVE A NAME.  But even if I did, I wouldn't be telling her bwahahaha.  Also, her judging my food choices is starting to annoy me too.  I have only gained 15 freaking pounds and I will eat what I want.  Thank you very much.  I know my body image will be horrendous this summer and yeah, she can be helpful and supportive of healthy eating choices then, but now.  I am enjoying the last hurrah of chocolate/ice cream/frosting before I self impose myself to a lifetime of veggies and fruits.  And who am I kidding? I can never give up ice cream.

* I have so many great ideas but I never put them into fruition.  But this week? I must get all the next few months birthday cards/shopping done.  So I do not have to worry about it again.

What would you like to confess today?

Discussion #2 Sammy's Hill

Welcome back to week 2 of Sammy's Hill.  Any and all are free to comment.

So, Aaron seems sketchier and sketchier. The plot seems more and more predictable and Sammy sounds like a girl I'd like to throttle.

Just one shining example of Aaron's jerkiness.. 

" However, when he'd complained about y going away with RG and I'd pointed out that he'd just gone to New Hampshire with Bramen, Aaron suggested that Bramen's trips were more important." pg. 111

SERIOUSLY???? And how about ignoring her when she got puked on at a bar? Dismissive of her roles. Ugh Ugh.  And it is so nauseating to hear her talk about their future daughter and everything.  Though, the few moments of her sanity when she mentions, how their future is somewhat cloudy, I'm like YES.  And why won't her friends just tell her he is fucking around?

Questions:
1.) Have you ever had an embarassingly blackberry/email whoops like Sammy does with her whipped cream summit message? Speaking of, what did you think of the article Charlie wrote about it and Aaron's reaction to the article?

2.) What was your reaction to Bramen's comment about RG and his staff not doing anything to help the bill they wrote? What do you think of Bramen? Do you agree with Sammy's assessment?

3.) Would you continually keep getting the same animal if you kept kiling it/it kept dying on you?

4.) When do you think Sammy will finally talk to Charlie about whatever he wants to talk to her about?

5.) Do you think Sammy's character is growing and maturing or do you think she is staying stagnant so far?


Next week we will discuss from Faded Luster to Breathe in Deep, It's all Fresh Air (pg. 299).  Lisa will be providing the post for us and I can't wait to hear what she has to say!  Don't forget to vote on a selection for the May Group Read.  I will be putting the poll up on April 17th!  If you would be willing to guest post in May let me know, and if a particular date works better for you let me know that as well!

Ten on Tuesday errr Thursday

Questions brought to you by the lovely Lisa via Chelsea's Ten on Tuesday..

1. If you work, do you drive to work or take public transportation?

Drive.. it is 10-15 minutes tops to whatever school I need to be at and public transportation here is so unreliable that they would either not pick me up or take much longer...

2. How often do you get your haircut? Do you go to the same person every time?
I basically get my haircut when it starts to annoy me.  I grow my hair out long and then the ends get yucky and I hack it off up to my shoulders.. repeat.. so sometimes once or twice a year.. my BFF is a hair dresser and since she moved I don't really have anyone I love or trust..

3. Do you read the newspaper? If so, a hardcopy or the online version?

I buy a newspaper every Sunday and read online news sources other days of the week.  I do occasionally pick up a paper when I am out and about.  Our local paper is horrid, so I only buy/read it if it has something I'm interested in, otherwise I find national news elsewhere.  We used to get it delivered on the weekends but like I said, the local  newspaper is horrid.

4. What is the best book you have read this year?

In 2011, I'd say The Mephisto Club by Tess Gerritsen.. haven't read anything yet that I am raving about..

5. What is the best movie you have seen this year?

No Strings Attached.. but I haven't really seen anything to give it a run for the money.. Can't wait for Hangover 2 and the new Pirates movie!

6. Do you tend to crave sweet or salty foods?

Both! I do believe I said earlier this week, give me my salt & vinegar pringles and a snickers bar please!

7. Do you eat breakfast every day? If so, what do you have? Definitely now that I'm pregnant.. and usually when I need to work.. Work days I usually do oatmeal or cereal.. weekends. fried egg sandwiches.. unless we go out to breakfast and then I get them over easy with texas toast to dip.. yumm..

8. If you celebrate Easter, what Easter treat/candy are you most looking forward to?caramel cadbury eggs.. yummmmmm

9. How late is “sleeping in” to you? anything after 8 am i will call a good nights sleep haha.

10. Where are you going on your next vacation? Sadly, we do not have one planned...

Is anyone else as bad as me as far as getting their hair done? I simply just don't care that much!