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What I’m Reading Wednesday – Wartime Stories
Reading is a great form of escapism for me, and sometimes, when the world seems too complicated, I reach for historical fiction – particularly fiction set around the first and second World Wars, because life at that time seemed simpler. Love wasn’t over thought and life was about family and faith. Well, sure, that is a generalization, and every generation had its share of problems and conflict, but life in general was simpler, and romance was sweet. So for What I’m Reading Wednesday, I’m sharing two books set in and post-wartime. Hope Rising, the second book from the “Of Love and War” series by Stacy Henrie. While part of a…
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Anxious Much?
If you know me well, you know I am a nervous talker. I’ve always been a bit of an anxious person. I was an anxious child, a perfectionist – I was more than the usual nervous about saying the wrong thing, putting my foot in my mouth…embarrassing myself… Yikes. I think that is why I so greatly enjoy writing. Two words: Self. Editing. I remember shortly after graduating from college being in that place of unemployment where I needed to bring in my resume to various companies. Pressure was on to find a job – I’d been working retail part-time since graduating – and I spent one afternoon driving past…
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Exploring the Perot Museum
The countdown for all parents is on! You know…that countdown to when our wonderful, darling kids go back to school. Oh, don’t get me wrong, I love having them home, and we have had a lot of fun over the past two weeks playing board games and hanging out once the unpacking was complete! But as more cold rain fell and the bickering amped up this morning, we knew that, despite the weather, it was time to get out of our pjs and out of the house. Thankfully, I had in hand four tickets to the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, courtesy of a giveaway by Courtney from My Crazy Savings. It…
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My One Word: Thrive
Hello, friends, and Happy New Year! We rang in the new year in our new home here in Texas – a new home, new school, new start. I’m happy for fresh starts, you know, despite how I usually drag my feet at the idea of change. Think of that pristine spiral bound notebook at the start of the new school year, writing your name across the clean cover, envisioning all the potential that it invites – there is something about the idea of getting a clean start that fills me with hope. Because I’m ready for a clean start. As much as I had planned on blogging my way through our recent move, the…
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NaBloPoMo November was a Bust
I think it is safe to say that signing up for NaBloPoMo last month – in the middle of trying to sell our house and plan and out-of-state move – was not the sanest of my decisions. I was hoping that it would give me a reason to sit down and write when I have so many other things that would nudge their way into my line of sight and distract me. You know how it goes. Poke, poke went that box of miscellaneous china pieces that my husband inherited and have been gathering dust in the attic for two years. TWO YEARS. “You don’t want to move me again,…
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No Grudges Here
There are many things you can say about me, but one thing you’ll never say is “Boy, can she hold a grudge.” I’ve never been able to hold a grudge, not even when I am really, really mad. Not even when I’m never going to speak to them again, not ever mad. Seriously. I once worked for a manager who was infuriating. He was pretty belittling, always second-guessing me in front of senior managers, and when I was right, he would make it sound like I was the one who was doubtful of the issue/question/answer. I worked in a position where I had constant client contact on the phone, and as it could…
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It’s Official. I’m Old. Technology said so.
I will be the first to admit that I’m not up on the latest technology present in television sets. Oh, sure – I was quick to try out the iPod, the iPad, the now gone Flip camera (which I STILL use, mostly because I misjudged the amount of storage needed on my iPhone so I can barely have memory for a photo let alone a 2 minute ballet performance.) But I am not an aficionado when it comes to televisions. Once upon a time, I was proud that I kept up with technology as a whole. I’m an early adopter – I had a Palm Pilot when they first came out (do you remember those?) even…
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Prayers on a (Not so) Silent Sunday
This picture was intended for a “Silent Sunday” post. But it spoke to me, and honestly, Silent Sunday posts that aren’t , well, silent – I have no patience for that kind of thing. I mean, just a picture? Silent. Picture and WORDS: not silent. But patience? Well, lately, that isn’t my strong suit. Or is holding my temper. It isn’t my daughter’s strong suit, either. Actually, everyone in Momma’s house has been a bit shouty lately. Granted, there is a lot going on around here, and we’re all a bit on edge. And cranky. But my little one – she can be deep and thoughtful, too. Our church provides a…
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What I’m Reading Wednesday: Books for A Cold Day
Brrrr! Fall is slipping away quickly here in Chicagoland and winter is tiptoeing in! I don’t know about you, but when the weather starts to turn, all I REALLY want to do is curl up in my favorite chair under a cozy blanket with a hot cup of tea and a good book! Lucky for you, I’ve got three really great mysteries that are recent releases – no waiting! So let’s get started: it’s time for What I’m Reading Wednesday and the “Books for a Cold Day” edition. There is something about Tana French’s style of writing that is instantly identifiable. Her books have a very distinctive feel –…
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The Morning I Won the Sweepstakes.
The number came up as “Unknown”. It was 7:20 in the morning and I was packing lunch boxes. Normally, I wouldn’t answer while I’m trying to get the kids out the door to school, but as I’m fielding calls from various people with regards to our upcoming move and home sales/purchases, I answered, cautiously saying hello. A voice far too chipper for early o’clock replied “Hello!!” After some prompting, the voice enthusiastically bellowed “This is Vincent! I’m the [VP/President/Head of Marketing] of Publisher’s Clearing House. Your phone number was on a postcard given to me this morning!!!!!” [crickets] “I’m excited to announce that YOU have won the Publisher’s Clearing House Sweepstakes!!! You have…
