hoochee book club review - the letters

This is a true statement (as written in my profile):

"Unfortunately I didn't inherit the "Loves to Read" gene from my family. Unless it's really good (which is anything by Francine Rivers) then I usually don't read it."

Until now.

I have branched out and decided to join my friend Ainsley's on-line book club.

Our first assignment was to read The Letters by Luanne Rice and Joseph Monninger.

Here is the description of The Letters as found inside the book jacket:

Sam and Hadley West are both trying in their own ways to survive after the unthinkable loss of their only son in Alaska. For Sam, a sports journalist, acceptance means an arduous trek by dogsled across the bleak and beautiful arctic wilderness to find the place where Paul died. For Hadley, it means renting a benignly haunted, salt-soaked cottage off the Maine coast, where she bgins to paint again.

Now at opposite ends of the country, waiting for their divorce to be finalized, they begin to exchange letters by post, missives filled with longing and truths they've never before voiced, as they recall their marriage - its magic moments and its challenges - and begin to redoscover the reasons they fell in love in the first place.

As Sam risks his life to reach the remote crash site, Hadley begins an equally hazardous inner journey to a rendezvous with the mad grief of a mother's heart. At the place where all else is lost, they will meet again...


My Review...

For me, having just come off the euphoria of "The Twilight Saga", The Letters was hard to stomach. It moved along rather slowly and I personally found it a little boring. The story line - a couple struggling to communicate following the death of their child-was very true to life and I appreciated how Sam and Hadley were able to express their deeper feelings and hurts through their writing. At first it seemed as if Sam were much more interested in reconciling their marriage than Hadley, but as the book progressed and I read more of their letters, I could understand that she too was looking for reconciliation - a lot of which came through their writing.

Luanne Rice made a good choice in having Joseph Monninger write from Sam's perspective. I thought it was interesting how differently Sam and Hadley processed their grief. He pursued closure in a very tangible way by going to the crash site, while she expressed a lot of her feelings verbally through her letters to Sam (in addition to her painting).

I found myself wanting more substance, more drama out of The Letters. I also caught myself wanting there to be more characters to follow as Sam and Hadley seemed a bit melodramatic at times.

The ending proved to a be the only curveball thrown in this very predictable read. That's all I'll say in order not to spoil it for anyone who hasn't read this book.

The Letters was an easy read (even when I did have to force myself to keep reading) and a good choice for the first book of the Hoochee Book Club. I can definitely say though that I am very glad I didn't fork out the $22 Books-A-Million was asking for it.

Even though this wasn't my favorite book, I am looking forward to growing as a reader and can't wait to see what Ainsley comes up with next!

christmas hoedown

We've been practicing for weeks to get this right. Merry Christmas Ya'll!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

dear santa,

You are totally real. I still believe in you, even though I am 31 and now have a child of my own.

And I was ROBBED, I tell you - years of innocence, awe and wonder, violently flushed down the toilet I was delicately perched upon.

Its all her fault, Santa - the all-knowing older sister who executed her most sinister undercover operation to date. Her powers of deduction were unparallelled - how mom and dad used the same wrapping paper you did, and how you and dad had the same handwriting.

The evidence mounted and she felt compelled to report her findings to me, an unassuming five year old. Not only that, but she could not wait for me to exit the bathroom before she spewed forth the "truth" of your non-existence.

I will tell you Santa, I was more than shattered.

I mean, what kind of a world is a world with no Santa? And I ask you, who finds out there "is no Santa" whilst seated upon the porcelain throne?

If you ceased to exist, that would render null and void all of my most favorite Christmas programs...

* Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
* Frosty the Snowman
* Christmas Vacation
* Christmas Eve on Sesame Street
* The Grinch Who Stole Christmas

...and I'm just not having that, no siree.

Despite what some grown-ups might say, I know you are real. And I know Mrs. Santa is real - I spoke with her on the phone one Christmas Eve many years ago.

I realize there's not much time left before Christmas and you're bound to be busy, so I'll get right to the point. Here's my wish-list for this year:

* Addison Road CD
* Running Shoes
* Wii
* New Baby (I realize you aren't really the one who should help me out with this, so can you pass on a good word to the stork for me? Thanks!)
* Bras/underwear (it is WELL past time for some new unmentionables)
* clothes (I won't disclose what size because you already know that)
* Pocket-Sized Bible
* Newsies DVD - so I can watch Christian Bale dance around and sing his cute little heart out. He was at least 18 when that was filmed right?)
* Tae-Bo DVD's or new Firm workout program


Thanks Santa. I know you focus on getting presents to children for Christmas, but I'd really appreciate it if you could make a special stop for me. I'll leave you a little money with the cookies, milk, and carrots to offset your traveling expenses. With the current price of sleigh travel, no doubt you could use it.

See you next week!

Caroline

P.S. Please bring a Milkbone with you so Lijah doesn't bark and wake the redhead up when you arrive.

an early and unexpected christmas gift that needs to be returned to the place from whence it came...and my prophetic gifting

We had a full weekend.

Friday night, the redhead and I ventured over to the retirement center our church founded for crafts and caroling with the residents. Later that night, as I was putting a sleepy redhead to bed, I started thinking about how thankful I was that he hadn't been sick - as in the stomach virus that's going around everywhere right now...

Saturday night I was singing in our church's Christmas cantata.

Sunday was of course more church, to be followed by an afternoon with my parents, sister, and brother-in-law - all coming to Sunday evening's Christmas cantata, which I was again singing in.

For lunch we fed the redhead one of the greatest comfort foods of all time - mac and cheese, along with some fruit to throw in something healthy and nestled him snug in his bed a few minutes after his meal.

He only slept MAYBE 30 minutes as opposed to his usual 2 hour nap. I was a little annoyed, but figured he was excited about seeing "Nona" and "Papa".

I ran out to do a little errand and came home to find Mr. Baseball with the redhead in the rocking chair. MB said the redhead had been crying, so he was just spending some quiet time with the boy. JUST as I was about to leave the room, the redhead started in on his schpiel of "ahh done" (all done). This proclamation was followed by not a trickle or a flow, but rather a CASCADE of vomit. I was so horrified I didn't know what to do. Mr. Baseball took the brunt of it, followed by the redhead's clothes, his books, rocking chair, and floor. I ran to get towels, grabbed the redhead (who was now sobbing hysterically), and took him to the bathroom. We got everything cleaned up and my redhead, bless his sweet little heart, kept repeating, "mess, mess, mess, mess...". Poor little dear was more worried about the mess than the fact that he had recieved some terrible stomach virus. We assured him that the mess could be cleaned up and I went to sit with him on the sofa to watch Noggin. A few minutes later, I called my parents (who were about an hour away at this point) to tell them that there was vomiting. The redhead was sitting with Mr. Baseball watching tv when all of a sudden...another round...and another change of clothes for Mr. Baseball and son.

My sister and her husband arrive to find a puny redhead snuggled up in my lap. At this point, I had managed (somehow) to avoid becoming the target. I needed to get some laundry in, so I said, "Mr. Baseball, will you take the redhead while I get some laundry started - and so he can throw up on you again?"

Redhead went to sit with daddy and a few minutes later...prophecy fulfilled.

Mr. Baseball changed clothes a grand total of 4 times yesterday - the redhead was changed 3 times and threw up a total of 6 times. He slept 12 hours last night without waking up and asked for juice this morning. I'm still a little on edge and trying not to eat too much just in case this Christmas "gift" decides to visit my innards. I, however, do not want this "gift" and will promptly return it. The only problem is...I don't know where it came from.

Fortunately for us, Wal-Mart will take anything back.

"Dr." Caroline will not be with us today as we don't want to give her this priceless "gift", but I could sure use her medical expertise as demonstrated here - I think she was "removing" the redhead's tonsils.

silent night

October 3rd, 2008 - the day the redhead turned two. Also the day that the floodgates of his vocabulary opened. Mr. Baseball and I welcomed this flurry of new words with excitement. We "oohed" and "aahed" at his sweet little voice saying things like..."Mama, hug", "myrrh joof peas" (more juice please), and "tay too" (thank you). But nothing could have prepared me for how my heart would melt when he finally said, "I wuv you". I was butter in his sticky little palms. Pure butta.

Even with all the preciousness, there does happen to be a downside. That would be that he REPEATS EVERYTHING...about a million times...even when I acknowledge what he is saying. I try to respond to him quickly, and take care of his need or continue the conversation - and that usually works.

Last night, after we read the plethora of bedtime books and were rocking, the redhead spotted a block on the floor behind the rocker and stated his findings to me. "Mama, block!...block...block...

Something in me just snapped.

I don't know if it was the fruity pebbles I had for dinner talking back or just the demented curiosity of a mother pushed to the edge of the cliffs of insanity but...

I said nothing.

Instead, I decided to count how many times he would repeat "block" if I stayed silent.





Yeah, um...NINETEEN times.




Then he started again..."block".




Nineteen more times.




That's thirty-eight times the word "block" was proclaimed into my right ear within a two-minute time frame.


I think Guinness needs to be notified. Either that or I should call the doctor to make sure there isn't some lasting brain damage from all the head trauma he's suffered at my hands (that's for you Lula).

No matter.


I just know at 7:30 every night, its gonna be a silent night and all will be calm.

my early morning gal pals

Meet Allie,




Annie,

and Alison (she's great for the self-esteem) from The Firm.

I have a standing appointment with them in my living room on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays around 6:30am. Yeah, its early. Yes, its hard to get out of bed. And yes, I try to talk myself out of it every time the alarm goes off.

However, they kick my butt, and its THE BEST feeling to know that at 7:30am my workout for the day is OVER.

I'm thinking that with my rave reviews of the workouts, I might be slated for a spot on the newest infomercial, whaddya think?


** This is where it would have been really funny to paste a picture of my head onto one of their bodies. Unfortunately that requires a program my computer lacks. And there is no way I'm taking a picture of myself at 6:30am in workout clothes. You would probably be able to smell my morning breath through the computer. So I'll spare you. But hey, maybe you'll get lucky enough to see pictures of my guns after I've worked on them a little bit longer.

cookie capers

Tracy P. at The Journey is having a Cookie Exchange today. I thought I'd pass along my No Bake Chocolate-Peanut Butter-Oatmeal Cookies. They are to. die. for. Melt-in-your-mouth deliciousness.

You will not be able to resist the goodness of these morsels. Truly.

I thought I had pictures from making a previous batch, but alas, not a pic to be found.

Darn. I guess I'll just have to make them again.

After all, a cookie post without pictures just isn't a cookie post.

Chocolate No-Bake Cookies

2 c. sugar

1/2 t. salt

1/4 c. cocoa

1/2 stick butter
1/2 c. milk
2 c. oats
1/2 c. peanut butter
1 t. vanilla

Mix sugar, salt, and cocoa in a medium saucepan.

Add butter and milk; bring to a boil, stirring continuously

Boil for 1 min 30 seconds
(this is very important and will affect how the cookies set up).



Remove from heat and add remaining ingredients, mix well.
Drop by spoonfuls onto wax paper. Allow to set in refrigerator.

These cookies make a simple but yummy treat to take to a Christmas party or special event. They taste so good, people will think you slaved away making them when all it really took was about 15 minutes and ingredients you already had in your pantry!

Enjoy!

q: what takes an hour, is very hot, tastes better than it looks, and leaves you wanting more?

Hey, get your mind out of the gutter...


a: a trip to get these bad boys...

fifteen

Amy over at Where Rubber Meets Road tagged me for a meme.

The rules are:

1) Link to the person who tagged you.
2) Post the rules on your blog
3) Write 15 random things about yourself (see below).
4) Tag 6 people at the end of your post and link to them.
5) Let each person know they have been tagged and leave
a comment on their blog.
6) Let the tagger know when your entry has been posted.

In the spirit of rebelliousness, I am NOT going to tag people at the end of my post, but I'll be glad to entertain you with 15 more random things about me.

1. I get these little shivers every now and then that make my body shake for about a second. Its really funny and catches people off guard when it happens. And I don't need to be cold for them to come.

2. I am very stubborn when it comes to taking medication or treating illnesses and just about have to be on my deathbed before I will take something.

3. I do not enjoy cleaning my house, but if I start to clean, something happens to me and I want to continue. I guess I like the feeling of clean.

4. I will make a to-do list just so I can cross things off. I love crossing things off.

5. I once forgot the entire verse to a song I was singing at church. Oops. If you must know it was Twila Paris' "The Warrior Is a Child".

6. I have never tried pickles and ice cream and have never known anyone else who has either.

7. I have been hit by a softball twice, by the same batter each time, during one game of softball. I should not have been pitching.

8. My first kiss was at 18 years old.

9. The second guy I kissed was Mr. Baseball. We're still kissing to this day.

10. I would rather be cold than hot and sweaty.

11. My mom made me start wearing a bra when I was in the 5th grade. On the FIRST day of school a guy made fun of me because of it and so for the next few weeks (during the Aug/Sept heat) I would wear a sweatshirt over my shirt. On the sweatshirt was written..."I don't want to grow up".

Cruel irony.

12. Every winter since I have been married, I have gotten a little rash under my wedding rings. I think it comes from washing my hands so often and not getting my fingers completely dry before putting my rings back on.

13. I am currently re-reading Twilight to erase the terrible memories (except for Rob Pattinson) I have of watching it in the theatre.

14. My favorite restaurant as a child was McDonald's (whose isn't), and every time we would travel to my grandparent's house, I would always "be hungry" on the way there just so I could get a cheeseburger from the coveted golden arches.

15. I wore braces twice and had major jaw surgery when I was 17.

(cue Looney Tunes music) Aah-bee-dee, aah-bee-dee...That's All Folks!

foot fetish

The redhead has become fascinated with his feet as of late. More specifically, he is fascinated with the lint that collects between his piggies. We call it "toe fuzz" and anytime he can get his socks off, he's on the hunt for some.

Really, it borders on obsession. I'm not sure this is healthy. See for yourself.

Don't let the cute little voice and the red hair fool you. He's capable of brainwashing anyone in order to get them to join forces with him. Case in point...

Lock your doors. Keep your socks on. Heck, keep your shoes on (he can't untie laces yet), but know this...

No one is safe.

this gives new meaning to black friday

This morning I picked up the paper to read a story about investment fraud (nope, not kidding) and my eyes caught a headline reading...

Shoppers trample worker to death

I was immediately curious, so I began reading. Here's a little of what the article said.

New York - A Wal-Mart worker was killed Friday when "out of control" shoppers desperate for bargains broke down the doors at a 5 am sale. Other workers were trampled as they tried to rescue the man...

Honestly, I have absolutely no words. I am shocked. I am angered. I think its UNACCEPTABLE and unbelievable that people can have such a lust in their hearts for material possessions that the life of another person would come second. The article goes on the say...

"...and customers shouted angrily and kept shopping when store officials said they were closing because of the death, police and witnesses said...Shoppers stepped over the man on the ground and streamed into the store. When told to leave, they complained that they had been in line since Thursday morning."


Here are just a handful of the great deals that shoppers were waiting for:

Samsung 50-inch Plasma HDTV - $798
Bissel Compact Upright Vacuum - $28
Samsun 10.2 megapixel digital camera - $69
Various DVD's - $9

I hope they enjoy the great deal on these items, because it cost them someone's (priceless) life to get them.

jack-in-the-belly

While our family was together for Thanksgiving, we told the redhead about "Baby Jack" being in Aunt Sarah's belly (my sister is 5 months pregnant) and not only was he interested, but he went as far as to plant a sweet little kiss on her baby bump. (can you hear the collective "Awwwww, how cute..."?)

Later in the day, my entire family is sitting, deliriously stuffed, in the living room following our eat-a-thon and we ask the redhead who is in Aunt Sarah's belly.

He promptly responds in his cute as pie two-year-old voice, "Jaaacckk" and proceeds to lift Aunt Sarah's shirt to see her belly. We watch as he plants yet another kiss on Baby Jack and exclaim our oohs and aahs at how cute he is.

The redhead then climbs off the couch, goes straight to my mom, his "Nano", lifts her shirt and inquires in the same cute as pie two-year-old voice..."Jack?"

We peed our pants laughing - well maybe just Sarah since she's the only one with a "Baby Jack" in the belly.

i wanted music, but got cheese instead

Mr. Baseball and I bought tickets to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO) several weeks ago and this past Thursday was the big night.

I must say that I was looking forward to the concert. I have really liked all the TSO songs that I've heard on the radio at Christmas time and this gave Mr. Baseball and I a good excuse for a date night/late birthday celebration for him.

The concert was half an hour late getting started which wasn't really a big deal since we weren't paying for babysitting. The people watching was really good, so I didn't have much to complain about...yet.

Our row quickly filled up and I was astonished that the couple several seats down from us had brought their 6 month old baby, complete with his very own set of (big) headphones to drown out the eardrum-shattering decibels that we were certain to encounter. I guess they weren't completely clueless to the fact that TSO is not your run-of-the-mill orchestra. Take an 80's big hair rock band with their flashy guitars, add 4 scantily clad females who can actually sing (but not dance - we'll discuss this later), lots of lasers and lights, and then throw in a small, yet highly talented section of violinists and cellists and there you have it.

Here's my summation:

The music - Excellent, however it DID start to all sound the same after a while.
The show - well, let me break it down like this...

• If we're talking about lighting/lasers/technical elements then it was good albeit for the lights that were so bright and strobing that I seriously thought I was going to seize. There were moments where I had to look away.
• If we're talking about the dancing (if you want to call it that) - I felt like I was watching an advertisement for Velveeta. See for yourself (you only need to watch about 30 seconds to see what I mean)...
  
  

See what I mean? Yep...total cheese.

I also felt uncomfortable with all the head banging/hair slinging escapades that were happening onstage. I really thought someone might snap a vertebrae - and seriously...head banging to Christmas music really doesn't look all that cool. I mean, I know their serious musicians and stuff, but it was a little over the top.

Mr. Baseball and I decided that it wasn't worth the money we paid (over $100 for tickets, gas, and parking) and that we wouldn't be seeing TSO anywhere live again. Amen.

the 8:50 showing

Saturday night, my friend Emily (Chatting at the Sky) and my new "bloggy friend who is now my friend in real life" Sissy (Out on a Limb) went out to dinner and then went to see..........you guessed it, Twilight.

Dinner was great. The movie...notsomuch.

Now I'm no movie critic and movies that the critics pan I sometimes like and vice versa. I had heard mixed reviews about Twilight, but I have to admit, after reading the book, I had high expectations for the onscreen love affair between Bella and Edward.

All my glittering expectations of Twilight greatness were dimmed as soon as I saw Edward as "a killing-machine" shimmering in the sunlight, his body sparkling as if he had doused himself in gold glitter from the craft section at Hobby Lobby. I almost laughed out loud at that one. PITIFUL. What happened to the million sparkling diamonds? Anyone?

Let's talk Bella for a moment. Even though she said that she wasn't scared of who Edward was (once she discovered his little secret), she looked TERRIFIED throughout the entire movie. She totally made me tense.

Now Rob Pattinson on the other hand, he was good, intense, but good. Once he got over all the "I look like I'm gonna blow chunks all over the biology desk" scene where Bella walks into Biology class.

While the movie wasn't a total bust, it definitely WASN'T the best part of the evening. After the movie was over, we were headed to our cars when we realized that we hadn't gotten a picture together. After all, I had to prove I was actually with the girls. We sat in Emily's van and took several timed pictures. We tried brooding faces, we tried normal smiles, I attempted a vampire crouch and spring, but we just ended up laughing hysterically so all the pictures are of us laughing.

The plan was for us to look brooding in this picture - you know, like Edward. Emily and Sissy look the part, but I got cracked up about something and ended up looking like I was about to throw up!

Emily, it was good to see you again and Sissy, I'm so glad I got to meet you! I feel like we've been friends for a long time! We definitely must get together again!

for discretion's sake

The following story is true. Names have been changed to protect the innocent guilty.


I may have mentioned before that Mr. Baseball is the manager of a bank that happens to be inside a certain infamous super center that shall remain nameless. (Let me just say it's not even close to his dream job, but it pays the bills for now.) Fortunately the job is not without its - how shall I say this politely - "perks".

A woman (we'll call her "Miss Show-em-off") came into the bank yesterday with her 2 year-old daughter to open an account. One of Mr. Baseball's associates sat down at the desk and proceeded to help her. Since the bank is not large, Mr. Baseball could overhear the conversation and see exactly what was going on the whole time. He said that while Miss Show-em-off was seated, her little girl kept saying "Boob" and was attempting to get under her mother's shirt. Miss Show-em-off laughed it off and prevented her shirt from coming up over "the girls". Then, Miss Show-em-off told the bank associate, "She really wants the boob."

At this point, it is getting a little awkward, but you know toddlers, they'll do and say just about anything. Mr. Baseball is still watching from the sidelines, saying nothing. Then, Miss Show-em-off is finished at the desk and approaches the counter where Mr. Baseball is ready to cash her check and send her on her way with her money.

As he is counting out her bills, she (along with her daughter and the shopping cart) steps away from the counter. Mr. Baseball finishes counting the money and says, "Miss Show-em-off", you're all set."

Her response, "Oh, can you just bring it over here please?"

Mr. Baseball thought that was an odd request, but he obliged. As he gets over to Miss Show-em-off and her cart, he realizes a moment too late what she is doing. She totally has her shirt pulled up and is proceeding to lean forward and NURSE HER LITTLE GIRL WHILE THE CHILD IS SEATED IN THE SHOPPING CART!!!!

Yes, Mr. Baseball saw the boob and I am totally not happy about it.

According to another client of the bank, this is not an uncommon sight in this "super center".

Um.................I have never seen this with my own eyes and I'm there (*cough*) like every other day!

So, in efforts to avoid therapy and keep my marriage intact, I have decided to write Miss Show-em-off a letter to express my feelings about "the girls" showing up before my husband's very eyes.

Dear Miss Show-em-off,

First of all, let me say thank you for giving me some great blog fodder. You probably don't even know what that is, and will probably never read this post, but please know that I and my readers are grateful!

Now that that's out of the way, I have a few things thing to "get off my chest" (pun intended).

I totally didn't realize "the mart" had another eatery - a mobile breastaurant!

I am TOTAL proponent of nursing your children. I understand some women can't and/or don't want to, but I'm all for it. I for one, nursed my son for a year and had a wonderful experience.

HOWEVER, if I was ever in a public place when my child needed to nurse, I always did so with discretion (i.e. in a fitting room, restroom, or in a corner while covered with a blanket). Allow my friend, Mr. Webster to define the word "discretion" for you.

discretion - "The quality of showing good judgement; prudence (sensible in judgement)

So, as you can see, this definition is the exact opposite of what you did by raising your shirt in a public place and allowing everyone in "the mart of wall" to see your ta-tas, especially my husband, who unbeknownst to him, entered your personal space while the girls were just hangin' out.

Do you not see anything wrong with this picture?

Please, for the sake of your dignity/reputation and for the sake of the public at large, please save the ta-tas for a more discreet location. Its not like your daughter would starve if she didn't get "boob" right at that moment. The worst she might do is throw a temper tantrum and none of us have EVER been witness to one of those while in "the store" before.

And besides, the only breasts I want to see in "the store" are those of the chicken I'll be eating for dinner tonight.

Signed,

A Protective Wife

P.S. Pictured below is what you should wear the next time you go out in public and need to nurse your child.