Member: Gingersnap000

Just a short note to wish you also a blessed Thanksgiving. I will be thinking of you. Tonite I finally have all the pies baked and the salad made, thank-goodness! I guess I will be going to bed here pretty soon so I can wake up in time for the parade, Macy's of course.
I came across a cute little Christmas book set in Boston I think you would like. It's called 'Home in Time for Christmas' by HeatherGraham. I'm reading it now. Take care, Ronda

posted by madforbooks at 11:51 pm (EST) on Nov 25, 2009

Happy pre-Thanksgiving weekend! My son Ronnie and I are going out shopping for the big feast today. We are having Thanksgiving at his house but still I will be doing a lot of the cooking. And I will be making pies and salad the nite before. My daughter will not be there as she has long standing planswith a group of friends but everyone else will attend. I am trading my daughter pecan pie for sweet potatoes this year. So that is one dish I won't have to fuss with. I love Thanksgiving! This year I am going to try a new dish, candied butternut squash. I am making it tonite for dinner to try out the recipe before serving it on the big day. What are your plans for Thanksgiving? I have to work until 8 Wed night but then am off Thursday and Friday. Our Joslyn museum is open for free all holiday weekend, we may go there Friday. I haven't shopped on a day after Thanksgiving in years, probably won't this year either. Do you have to work at Macy's? I hope if you do you aren't too harried!
I am reading The Christmas Cookie Club. It is really good! It is set the day of the cookie exchange and you are introduced to each character individually and their issues all within one day. The recipes for their cookies are given and even little bits of information about the ingrediants and their histories. Did you find some Christmas books in the catalog? Yesterday Last Night in a Twisted River by John Irving came in for me and so did A Seperate Peace for the second time. I don't know where to begin after I finish The Christmas Cookie Club. And then there are my Christmas books waiting to be read also! I am so lucky all at once.
Last night my son had a big party for watching Ne. win the Big Twelve North. I went to it but with trepidation as I knew he would be drinking . I left at half-time with my other son before I got uncomfortable. I am really hoping against hope that there is no alcohol at Thanksgiving dinner but it will not be my choice since it is not at my house. I will be praying for us both to have peaceful Thanksgivings without ill effects of alcohol.
Well, it is almost time for me to get going so I will say til later, take care Ronda

posted by madforbooks at 1:42 pm (EST) on Nov 22, 2009

Sorry to hear of your husband's drinking again and how it has upset you.I am so glad you can at least talk to me about it. It is terrible that you have to bear this basically on your own.It is so awful to be judged by those close to you, I know. It is good that your son is supportive. You should listen to him, he is right, there is no need to be hard on yourself. You have to be your self's best friend, always. Try hard to do that everyday and I promise you will see a difference in how you feel soon. And at the same time it will bring out the best in you in every situation. I started doing that shortly after I got my new boss and it has been a tremendous help. I don't know where the idea came from but it is a good one. Maybe I picked it up at AlAnon.
Enjoy your light reading and good luck finding holiday books. There should be some good ones still out there yet.I will likely read another one when I finish When Autumn Leaves.
A lot of my shopping is being simplified this year, I've decided to give the kid's gift certificates. Luke needs clothes, Kholls: Ronnie thinks the hardware store is one giant toy store for adults, Loews: Lori wants music, Best Buy: Rachel is a bookworm, B&N. That leaves just a handful to buy actual presents for. At work I am giving homemade fudge and holiday bookmarks. I'm not surprised Macy's isn't too busy yet, with this economy it may be slow quite a while.
Take care, let me know how things are going. Til later, Ronda

posted by madforbooks at 5:29 pm (EST) on Nov 17, 2009

I am now reading When Autumn Leaves. It is the story of a magical little town called Avening where ' the shoes in the window always fit, where you can buy a love potion at the corner shop and where local lore seamlessly mixes with the supernatural."It begins at Winter Solstice when Autumn a member of the Jaen sisters is told she has been promoted within the order and must choose her replacement within the town in one year. It is a really enchanting story and I am enjoying it very much.
Well, call me crazy but I allowed Robert to put up our Christmas tree this evening. He is decorating it as I type. He has wanted to do it since Halloween but until today I have held him back because my tradition has always been to set it up Thanksgiving weekend. I really don't understand his rush rush this year but maybe it has to do with being unemployed, maybe he feels like the song says, 'we need a little Christmas, right this very minute'! He has an important interview next week. Anyway, the tree is surely beautiful again this year. And I firmly told him no other Christmas decorations are going to be put out now. I want it to at least look like Thanksgiving when it is Thanksgiving. I'm not putting away my Autumn things yet.
I have decided what my New Year's Resolution is going to be this year, I'm going to become a vegetarian and then work my way toward becoming a vegan. I have thought about this for a long time. I know a lot about the horrors of factory farming and that is my motivation. I hope you don't think I'm some kind of a nut but knowing what I do already makes eating meat fairly unpleasant. Not all the time though. Turkey is a staple of my diet. So it will be a challenge to become a vegetarian. I haven't told anyone yet, I know they will all be negative about it. I think Nebraskan's consume more meat than any other state in the nation! And my friends and family are no different.
Not much going on around here, weather turning colder again slowly. I just wanted to finish up the post I started Sat am. Hope your weekend went well and that you're enjoying your book, Ronda

posted by madforbooks at 11:08 pm (EST) on Nov 15, 2009

So glad to hear your husband has has stopped drinking for now. You are so strong with your positive attitudeof seeking peace and a change of luck. Hang in there, I am sure you will see your hopes manifest someday in a reasonable amount of time. We never know what form our desires will take when they come to us, always be open to surprises!
I finished Good Harbor yesterday, a very interesting book. I enjoyed it, thanks for the reccomendation. The unconditional positive regard the women gave each other was refreshing, I wish there were more of that in this world. There were so many themes going on in the story all at once, I thought the author did a beautiful job of weaving them all together. My reaction to Patrick and Joyce was a positive one and then when I found out what distress Frank had been in, I felt terribly guilty as if I myself had betrayed him! Isn't that funny? And I could relate to Kathleen's panic attacks except I have Xanex to take if one comes upon me, which isn't very often these days. There was just a lot I could relate to in the story. Mostly however, I see you and I as the kind of friends Joyce and Kathleen were, there for each other without judgement in any situation.
I came across an interesting non-fiction book called The Anatomy of Evil in which a forensic psychiatrist explains the actions of sociopaths according to the differnt degrees of their actions. It looks fascinating but Lord knows when I will get to it. My books on hold are coming in one after another and I have to give them priority. Last night we went to Borders and B&N because we had coupons but there were so many books I wanted I couldn't make a choice! I almost bought Nigella Lawson's Christmas cookbook but didn't.
OMG, I just looked at the clock, have to rush if I am to make my Al-Anon meeting before work. Will have to write more later. Take care, Ronda

posted by madforbooks at 11:29 am (EST) on Nov 14, 2009

Just a note to wish you Happy Veteran's Day! I get a day off in the middle of the week (very rare!) and am so delighted!
I checked out Good Harbor yesterday and am going to begin it today. I am really looking forward to it.
Keep thinking positive and know you are in my heart and prayers everyday. Will write at more length soon, Ronda

posted by madforbooks at 12:15 pm (EST) on Nov 11, 2009

It is great to hear you are staying positive in spite of your husband's drinking. My heart goes out to you. My son had decided to take a break from drinking until Thanksgiving but he got drunk Sat nite. I don't know what good just taking a break would have done but I was disappointed all the same. Of course, your situation is much more difficult to bear as you actually live with your alcoholic. I got the book One Day at a Time and have begun reading it everyday. It is quite helpful. I want you to know that I include you in my prayers everyday.
After reading your comments about Good Harbor I looked it up in the catalog right away and ordered it. I will certainly make time for it as soon as it comes in which shouldn't take too long. There are 4 copies available. I also saw that she has a new 2009 release called Day After Nite which is a true story about 4 young women forging relationships while recreating thier lives after rescue from an internment camp. There are 31 requests for that one. Thought you might be interested in it.
Right now I am reading a funny non-fiction book about how not to act old. It is about half serious and has some good ideas along with great humor. One piece of 'advice' is not to wear sunglasses over your bi-focals. Guilty! I wear sunglasses over trifocals! The author has lots to say about texting, thongs, how not to work old...and on and on. I'm almost finished with it. My Christmas fiction is coming in fast this year, I really need to start reading some of it already. It's just that there is so much other stuff I want to read at this time too.I'm considering maybe not just reading Christmas stuff alone between Thksgvng and Christmas this year. That would be breaking tradition but you have to do that once in a while. I have to think about it some more before I can plan and decide.
Robert has taken up breadmaking (just what my diet needs). One day white, one day cicc raisin, 1 day pumpkin. I love to dip raisin bread into hot chocolate but have thus far avoided temptation. It's not really hot chocolate weather now as finally we have been getting some of what we missed in Oct. It's been truly beautiful.
On a sad note, one of our librarians, at another branch, died from the flu, H1N1. He wasn't even in a risk group, he was entirely healthy before he caught it. We recieved more vaccines but still it is only going to health care workers, the pregnant and a few others at high risk.
I too have been interested in sociopaths, in fact, I think I may have been married to one! Maybe just a latent one. There are lots of non-fiction books about them in most library collections and I have read a few. I like Ann Rule too for true accounts of crimes.
How is your nose? I hope you're back to feeling pretty normal. Will write again soon, keep those spirits up! Take care, Ronda

posted by madforbooks at 11:41 pm (EST) on Nov 8, 2009

Glad to hear you had your app't with your therapist just when you really needed it. It sounds like you are feeling a bit better. It is just so darn sad that your holidays have to be impacted with this particular problem. My heart goes out to you. I went to the mall after work yesterday to get my favorite seasonal bath product (Twisted Peppermint) and now , after Halloween, it is all Christmas, no holds barred. Of course I thought of you.
I see you rated Widow of the South 5 Stars, Yippee!!!. I knew you would love it as much as me. I FINALLY finished the Marilyn Monroe book. I now need something , not fluffy but light, not dark. Maybe one of my Christmas books or maybe a book about an elephant called Hannah's Dream I have been trying to make time for.
My youngest son Ronnie has been out of town all week working on a job and I sure miss him.
My wieght control has not been going well at all. In Oct people started bringing in quick breads, donuts, candy etc. to work and while we were moving we ate quick food more often and I am paying for it now. Gained 5 lbs in Oct.!!! Am stingently dieting up until Thanksgiving Day.
Enjoy your Anne Diamont novel, she is excellent! I read one of hers long ago but can't recall the title. Well, I am off to work. Take care, Ronda

posted by madforbooks at 8:40 am (EST) on Nov 5, 2009

Just a note to let you know I am thinking of you. And I hope today has been a little easier than yesterday was.
I am still reading the Marilyn Monroe biography but should be finished soon. Haven't decided what to read next yet, I have so many good choices! Will let you know.
Not much else to speak of, all in all a pretty insignificant day. Hope to hear from you soon as I am very concerned over your well being. Your true friend, Ronda

posted by madforbooks at 5:32 pm (EST) on Nov 2, 2009

I am so sorry that you had such a rough day with your husband. Thank God you have Al-Anon. If he is drinking already before the holidays really start, I fear you will see a lot of it when they actually begin. Could you possibly find time for a few extra meetings during these trying times?
I too know what it is like to feel like a prisoner in a marriage. Besides suffering there is a lot of pent up anger. So don't be so hard on yourself for what you said to him about the nails in the coffin of your marriage. Sometimes that anger just has to come out.
I am an actress too. My children have terrible problems I can't reveal to anyone who knows me. And Robert and I are not the perfect couple we appear to be. I think to a degree, everyone is acting a certain amount of the time. We would all probably be shocked if we knew all of each other's secrets.
As for staying in your marriage because he cannot support himself, look at what compassion you have! He is weak and you are strong! Use that strength for yourself and your wellness as well as doing what you feel is right towards him.
I am always here for you, willing to listen and hopefully find a few words to make you feel better. You could even call me if you liked, anytime, day or nite. My # is 402-590-9887. I really care. Will write more tomorrow, Ronda

posted by madforbooks at 11:53 pm (EST) on Nov 1, 2009

I understand about finding time when you are not tired. I often take a 40 minute nap after dinner to recharge me so I can get some things done in the evening hours. However when working a double shift I just come home and get nothing significant accomplished. And that is ok. I can also understand how working retail could diminish one's holiday spirit.Your situation reminds me of a quote by Edna St. Vincent Millay that may cheer you a bit: " My candle burns at both ends;
It will not last the night;
But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends-
It gives a lovely light! "
I know you will love Widow of the South. I am still reading the new biography of Marilyn Monroe. It is very detailed and will doubtless take a few days to finish. Joyce Carol Oates wrote a fictional account of Marilyn's life called Blonde which I read and loved and accounts for my interest in this new book.
To answer your question, yes I do have thoughts that come to me that turn out to be true. And sometimes I can have strong thoughts about wanting something and then it suddenly appears. I don't know if that has anything to do with being caring though. As long as I can remember I have felt the pain of others, even as a child. I have always been told I am highly sensitive as though it were some sort of disorder or something. But I would not choose any other way. I am certainly no saint though! I get crabby and selfish like everybody else, maybe more so. I have to start everyday off by reminding myself through the chanting of kindness/unconditional positive regard what life is all about and how to manifest it. Thank you for your kind words about me. I will always be your good friend.
You didn't mention how your recovery is coming along. Are you healing pretty well?
I made pumpkin pies last night so we would have a treat for Halloween. I had a slice for bkfst this morning! All we are doing is handing out candy tonite but I can't wait to see the little ones. Tonite we turn back the clock, I am so glad for the extra hour of week-end. Except for working 2-6 this afternoon, I am off. Speaking of work, I better start getting ready. Take care and enjoy your reading, Ronda

posted by madforbooks at 2:05 pm (EST) on Oct 31, 2009

Another person at work succumbed to the flu so I have been working doubles again. That with the extra shifts I have taken on at the other libraries have really kept me hoppin'. It was sheer pleasure sleeping in this morning since I didn't have to be at work until 1. And tomorrow I am off entirely. Our high today did reach 63 as predicted and it was so nice. We even had sunshine!!! Tomorrow is supposed to reach 70. Then it goes slowly downhill. I think there is going to be plenty of snow for everyone this year.
Thanks so much for sending me that link to the Danver's website. It was fascinating! I am going to send it on along to my friend in Ca. She will love it!
I read your review of Deliverance Dane, it was a good one, you could tell how well thought out it was. I am still reading a Separate Country. It is a good story but does not move along as easily as Widow of the South did. It goes back and forth in time and has many twists and turns.
It turns out that I am glad Robert messed up the order of my books in our move. In reorganizing them, I am being much more precise. For example, now I don't just have an animal section, I have an animal section alphabetized by author. And my history section is now chronilogicaly perfectly correct. There are no memiors accidently sitting in with the fiction etc. etc. I could go on and on. It is just a beauty to behold. I still have the cookbooks and the paperbacks to go. I had forgotten what fun it was to arrange your personal library. Until now, I have been doing it non-stop for about 2 days on all my off time.
Your shawls sound like a wonderful project. I wish I were talented in some sort of craft but I'm not unfortunantly. Guess I will have to fall back on my fudge making. I don't know what I will do for the kids this year. They are used to pretty substantial gifts but this year with Robert looking for work it will be difficult to meet the standards of yesteryear. They are considerate kids though, they probably already understand. I know as long as we all get together for Christmas dinner that will be the important thing. And maybe Santa will bring Robert a job this year for Christmas! We are actually doing pretty well considering. He gets a good size unemployment check and with my extra hours and his classes being paid for we are a lot better off than some. I thank my Higher Power every day for all we have. And pray for those who don't
Mon. Am- I got too sleepy last nite to finish...wanted to tell you about my great find in the thrift store. I already owned a book by Dear Abby from 1958 and then while I was looking at the bookshelves in one of my favorite thrift shops I found 2 more, one from 1962 and one from 1981. It is amazing to read the old advice and then see the change in the 80's. I am shelving them with my sociology books. And they were so entertaining to read. That Abby really had a quick wit! Her column was never printed here in Ne, we got Ann Landers who I enjoyed over the years. Now I read Dear Prudence on Slate magazine and the questions she gets would have Abby and Ann rolling over in their graves!
Made some yummy pumpkin bread yesterday and enjoyed it with hot cocoa this morning. Haven't had such a good, leisurely bksft since I can't remember when. Usually it's just tea and juice for me.
I hope you had a great time at the Wedding Singer. I remember the movie, I watched it at one of the kid's places.
Well, I better get started on my day. There is sunshine again! I am going out to lunch with one of my best pals, wish I could talk her into a picnic but she's not much of an outdoorsy type. Take care and enjoy that light reading, Ronda

posted by madforbooks at 11:42 am (EST) on Oct 19, 2009

Well, our snow disappeared quickly as hoped but the cold temps have remained behind. And it has been raining. I have been wearing hoodies on top of my clothes and underneath my raincoat every day. By Sunday however we are supposed to see sunshine with a high temp of 63! I will take it! So far it has been as if Sept turned right over into Nov, skipping Oct altogether. And of course, Oct is my favorite month. There is no more beautiful blue than that of a clear Oct sky, which we have yet to see this year. I hate to hear the cold is moving your way. Hopefully, it will only be for a short spell. Our adult hayrack ride has been rescheduled for the 7th of Nov. Who knows what it will be like by then???
I finished South of Broad and what an experience that turned out to be! I was totally shocked at that ending. I had absolutely no suspicions about the priest. And I was surprised that Toad's mom went back to being a nun. I wasn't surprised Sheba died, I fully expected 1 or more of the group to be gone by the end of the story. As I predicted, I needed something light to read after that so I chose the supernatural story before I moved on to a Separate Country. I am not yet far into it but I like it pretty well though it is too soon to know if I will like it as well as the Widow of the South. The story is set in New Orleans, shortly after the war and features General Hood and his wife and the life they make. The book starts at the ending, which is tragic, and then proceeds to work backwards. I'm glad you are enjoying your book. I talked to my friend in Ca. who just read it and loved it! She was quite interested to hear about you and Danvers.
Are you doing anything interesting for Halloween? I will be working. We are encouraged to wear costumes but I leave that to the younger staff members. I will though wear a homemade Halloween vest over a black turtleneck and Halloween earrings. At night, we will stay here and hand out candy as we have really decorated this year. At the front of our apt we have 3 oblong panels of glass, 7ft long and 2 ft wide. They are seperated into frames on a 18 in high sill. We have a string of pumpkin and witches hats lights around them with Halloween window clings of The Peanuts gang. From the top hang 2 long skelatons. On the sill are a large ceramic pumpkin, a teddybear in a spider costume, a black cat, a ceramic skull& a witch doll with cauldron and besom.(magical broom) So I am sure we will get a lot of trick or treaters. For our treat, I am going to make pumpkin pie the night before.
How intuitive you are! I have been already sitting back and drinking hot chocolate and reading by the fireplace in my rocking chair. Sweet surrender!
It's great to hear your visit with your sister went so well.
My boss has made a chart where all the duties are split up and specified to certain people. I was really proud to get the job of being in charge of and directing all the activities of the volunteers. I also got the hardest section in the library to keep shelf read, the Spanish collection. None of us speak Spanish. In the meeting she thanked and complimented me for always being early to work and willing to get things started. I think she is beginning to appreciate me and what I do. You were right, I just needed to hang in there and prove myself, thanks.
In addition to our quarterly book sales, we are having an extra sale this month where all books go for between 50 cents and a dollar. We are expecting a huge crowd for this one! We get the books to sell from what we withdraw and what people donate to us. That is a lot with all the libraries combined. Of course, I am working this sale also. I always go early before my shift and have found some excellent books that way. A lot of my Kennedy collection has come from there.
Am going to bed early tonite. Worked a double yesterday and was shortstaffed today and very busy. Hope you like your early reviewers book, keep reading and take care, Ronda

posted by madforbooks at 9:56 pm (EST) on Oct 14, 2009

Thought I would make you laugh---got to work today and found out I wasn't on the schedule. I do indeed have a 3-day week-end!Yea for me! And just to update you, the snow did indeed stop and now the temp is up to 38 so it will all probably melt very soon.Have fun! Ronda

posted by madforbooks at 5:12 pm (EST) on Oct 10, 2009

So glad to hear how your books are coming in! I looked up Pysick Book in our catalog and there are 54 requests for it. Both the Library Journal and Publisher's Weekly gave it great reviews. I bet you will love it. It is terrible though to only be allowed one week to read it! How stringent! I also looked up Angel Lane and it was described as 'self-realization in women'. We don't own it yet, it is on order. It was not reviewed by the Library Journal but Publisher's Weekly said ' it is full of relentless cheer that will warm more than a few hearts'.
I am getting down to the end of South of Broad. I was, as you know, planning to read A Separate Peace right after but might take something shorter and lighter first as I think I need to wind down a little from the intensity of South of Broad. One of my Christmas novels has come in already, I might read that. Or, more fitting to the current season, I have a supernatural novella that just came in too called Isis about a girl in an ancestral home who learns she can speak to the dead. Definantly spooky and is reccommended by blurbs on the back by Peter Straub, Dean Koontz and Christine Feehan.
Congrats on getting a 3 day weekend. We too are closed for Columbus Day but I will be working today. Have fun at the Fair. I haven't been to one in years and years.Thinking about it, I can almost taste the caramel apples!
Here this morning I am facing 5 inches of snow to go out into on my way to Al-Anon and work. And it is still coming down. This is the earliest October snow I can recall. The library staff had planned an adult hayrack ride in the country for tonite, I am guessing that is not going to happen. The snow covered pumpkin on my patio looks very poetic! The snowflakes are very big and pretty but the tree branches are becoming so heavyily laden that we are concerned they could break off and possibly cause power outages. I so hope it stops soon! Take care and enjoy this weekend! Ronda

posted by madforbooks at 10:38 am (EST) on Oct 10, 2009

Well I wish I could write and say I was all settled in but I am still decorating and still have a few things to unpack. And my books, Robert just threw them into boxes when I was at work and then put them back onto the shelves in any old order! All the work it will take to get them categorized again to my liking. I was so angry when I saw what he had done, it took all my Al-Anon skills not to blow a gasket! He said he thought it would be no big deal to put them back the way they were. He just had no idea how long it took to get them into the perfect order they were in. I just can't even imagine how long it will take.
I am sorry about the stress your sister's visit and possible move back may cause you. Being an only child, I probably can't even imagine! Hopefully, it will turn out to be a bit easier than you anticipate. I will send you good thoughts.
I will for sure let you know how a Separate Peace is. I plan to read it right after South of Broad which I am halfway through now. I like Leo, he reminds me of an old boyfriend I once almost married.I don't think the story is quite as poignant as Prince of Tides but the writing is rich and the character description superb. Of course the description of the land is most beautiful, sometimes I feel transported to a particular scene or setting.
Omaha too is ready for Halloween. Not to the extent of your town I'm sure, but signs of the holiday are popping up everywhere. We have a pumpkin farm with lots of attractions we like to take Audrey to, but this year it has been too cold. The children's museum does a great haunted house for little ones and one year they did a build your own scarecrow which was so fun. I don't keep up with all the events going on like I used to but there are tons of them. Last year Audrey dressed up as Scarlett with the parasal and hat and everything. She was so cute it was heartbreaking. Also last year we had a party. I have an antique cauldron and we filled it with dry ice and it looked like I had a real brew simmering in there. This year we are going to take it easy and just see if anything comes along. Most likely we'll stay home and pass out candy. That's if the weather permits trick-or-treating. Already we are supposed to have our first freeze Friday night. Our Huskers have a big game Thurs nite, I am glad it's not at home as we will be having cold rain all day and night.
I ran across an interesting book in B&N yesterday. It was called 'Write it Down, Make it Happen: Knowing What You Want--and Getting It' by Henrietta Anne Klauser. It's about writing your intentions and seeing them matierialize. Since I like to write, I thought I'd give it a try. The library has the book and I've requested it. Thought it might interest you too. I see you finished PP&Z, hope you are liking the Time Traveler's Wife. I have heard so many patrons at the library talking positively about it. I think you made a great choice.
We are having a flu epidemic here. So far I have been lucky and am keeping a positive attitude that I will stay healthy. Two people at work last week were out and yesterday the boss had to go home sick. My son had it on Monday, his b'day. They are coming to work tomorrow to give us flu shots but I can't take them as I am allergic to them.
Not much else is happening, will let you know how I like the second half of South of Broad and how I am doing getting my books put back in order. Take care, Ronda

posted by madforbooks at 12:40 am (EST) on Oct 8, 2009

You are so right, the writing of South of Broad is so excellent, so beautiful...I had forgotten how enraptured I was reading Prince of Tides. I haven't read very far yet but I am most pleased. I even checked out a book about So Carolina to familiarize myself with the setting. I just can't thank you enough for sending it to me.
I am so glad to hear how well your event at your day job went! It sounded Fantastic! Maybe it will get you a raise? How fortunant you are to have a job where you are given opportunities to Shine. And now comes holiday time at Macy's. Until I got the extra hours at the library I was thinking of getting a holiday job this year. I always loved to work retail at Christmas but I suppose for you having done it so long it is just extra labor. I hope at least they hire some extra people to help you out!
I know how you feel about being nervous doing the early reviewer thing. I was almost petrified because I had not written any reviews previously at all. I even checked out a book about how to do it. However the book didn't help me that much as it was aimed at more detailed works. You though have written reviews before and that's the kind of thing they want, nothing extra special. Read others early reviewers stuff and you will see, most of the reviews are garden variety. You will do fine! You'll probably outshine them all!
That Party with a Purpose sounds wonderful! And how great you have such a major role in it. The library does something every year in which we all have a chance to contribute but there is no event like yours to attend. That sounds so fun.
Our move is almost completed. I traded days with someone so I could be home today and tomorrow to finish up and unpack. I am writing you now on a break after just having moved the cats over to the new place. They were not happy! I guess I wouldn't be either if I had to stake out new territory.
That YA novel I picked up out of curiosity was so socially relevent. It was about a girl raised by a single mom who was neglecful. The girl becomes pregnant but denies it in her mind until one night she goes into labor and delivers all alone, panics and puts the baby in a dumpster. She gets arrested and the story goes on from there with her in the system and in the court. It was powerfully moving.
Hope you are enjoying your New England Autumn. All we have had here lately is cold and rain, no beautiful colors yet. People are beginning to fear that we are going to skip Fall and go straight into Winter, which actually has happened a time or two in the not so distant past.
Well, it is time for me to get back to the moving chores. Soon it will be time for Sunday dinner which we are going out for. No time to cook and all the pots, pans and dishes are in the new place where the gas doesn't get turned on until tomorrow anyway.
Oh yeah, I wanted to ask you, I get a lot of book reviews in my e-mails. Would you like me to send on the ones I think might interest you to your e-mail? I ask first because you might not want anything like that crowding up your inbox. Let me know what you think. Til Later, Ronda

posted by madforbooks at 2:46 pm (EST) on Oct 4, 2009

Hi, want to let you know South of Broad arrived! I have been running around like crazy, working double shifts because 2 people at work are out sick and doing the moving thing and then last night the waitressing fundraising event. I have barely had a moment to take a breath!
I hope your customer appreciation day went well altho I am sure it did. I am so glad to know writing me helps you with stress. I always feel good writing to you too. I would write more tonite but to be truthful, I can barely hold my eyes open. Hopefully will have time to start reading South of Broad tomorrow, just have to finish up a short YA novel I picked up out of curiosity. Will be glad when the people at work get well and our move is completed so I can get back to a normal paced life. You will hear from me again soon, take care, Ronda

posted by madforbooks at 9:18 pm (EST) on Oct 1, 2009

Thanks for mailing South of Broad to me but sorry it was such a harrowing experience! Sounds like just how I would do something. I see you wrote a review of it and I am dying to read it but hesitating to until I have read it myself.
The name of the book I was reading was Hypocrite in a White Pouffy Dress. She was referring to her getting married in a traditional bride's dress when she is an ardent feminist. The book was a memior of her life from 5-35 years old. She reminded me a lot of Laurie Notoro and her action adventure Idiot club books. The only parts I didn't enjoy was when there was too much emphasis on sex and that was a lot of the time. But there was a lot of good matierial in there that made me both think and laugh.
We are busy sorting and packing and getting ready for the move. What a lot of work it is but Robert is doing the lions share of it, thank goodness. I have a lot of stuff I don't need, Robert and Ronnie are having a garage sale at his house next Saturday. So I have to work on that too. At least all my fall and winter stuff is now out, I don't have to worry about that. Our morning temps are supposed to dip into the 40's this week
The book I want to read next has been in transit for 5 days! It is A Seperate Country by Robert Hicks who wrote that book I mentioned to you, Widow of the South. This new book is about John Bell Hood, one of those eccentric Confederate generals, and it tells about his life settling in New Orleans after the war. Hopefully, I will get it tomorrow. In the meanwhile I have been finishing up Last Lion and I read a short tribute book about Elvis that was notable for it's pictures and his cousins recollections.
Thank you for clearing up for me what the Rainbow girls were. All my life I have wondered because about half of my girl scout troop one year began going to Rainbow meetings but they couldn't tell me what they were doing. The other half of us girls never did figure it out. And now I finally know after all this time!
Well I guess between all your shifts at Macy's and my added shifts at the Main and Swanson libraries, we are really going to be busy bees. I am so grateful for the going back and forth time reading. The other 2 libraries I'll be at are fairly far from me. I'm just so glad I love my job so much and that time never drags at work. Do you work all over Macy's or are you in one specific department all the time? Have they put up Christmas decorations yet?
I went to one of my favorite stores today to get a b'day present for my son. It is called Husker Hounds and they have everything Ne football there. They had a special on socks and I had a 50% off coupon. I bought us both team socks and him a hoodie and me a new pair of earrings. Ne stuff is the only clothing I can purchase for the boys, otherwise it has to be a gift certificate as they are both very picky.
Last night we got to hear some good blues music by a band called North Duck. They are local but just released their 3rd cd. I know one of the guys as he worked at the library a few years ago before turning professional. You may hear them someday, they are that good! It was a beautiful night out in the downtown park, Autumn, the blues...it was almost just too perfect if you know what I mean and I bet you do.
Take care, will write again soon and will keep a close watch on the mail. Thanks again, Ronda

posted by madforbooks at 10:16 pm (EST) on Sep 28, 2009

I understand how you want to appear perfect to everyone and not be percieved as a whiner. I put my best foot forward all the time too, confiding in few. My youngest son (Ronnie)however can read me like a book. There's no getting anything past him. Anyway, I don't think you should think imperfect is so bad. No one is perfect all the time, believe me, I spent a lot of time trying and know how impossible it is. You need to love yourself especially with the imperfections you percieve. And please feel free to tell me anything and complain all you like, I am honored to be considered your confidant!
I am sorry you didn't like South of Broad much, it sounds like it kind of depressed you. I still am intrigued by it though, dark novels sometimes appeal to me on the level of the human condition thinking. I experienced a lot of the dark side of people's lives when I did my social work internship and can stand pretty much since then. Not that I think that is the kind of darkness in the novel.
I was able to pick up another shift at a another library so now I will be working 2 shifts on Tuesdays starting Oct 6th. This with what I am picking up on Sundays should make a good difference. Next week one of our local restaurants is handing over their days profits to the libray to buy children's books so after work some of us are going there to waitress. I have never been a waitress (too clumsy) so think good thoughts for me. I sure would rather be watching baseball!!!
I would never laugh at what you read! You didn't laugh at me reading Shiver after all!I am just finishing up Hypocrite in a White Pouffy Dress. Then it's back to The Last Lion until I finish that. I'm glad that you, like me, have a waiting list. It makes life so much more exciting!
Time to get ready for Al-Anon and my afternoon work shift. My team plays tonite at 6 which is when the library closes, I will get to watch a game for the 1st time this season!!! Take care, Ronda

posted by madforbooks at 11:11 am (EST) on Sep 26, 2009

Wow!, it is so difficult to imagine something darker than Prince of Tides...maybe Sophie's Choice...but still! I am excited to read it anyway, thanks so much!
I am glad your vacation went well and that the weather was good. Right after I last wrote you we got rain and unseasonably cool temps so I was not able to have fun in the outdoors on my day off.
Have been reading the Ted Kennedy biography Last Lion which is very interesting. Tonite I am going to start Hypocrite in a White Pouffy Dress, tales of growing up groovy and clueless. The Seattle Post Intelligencer said of it, " Publishers' frantic search for the 'female David Sedaris' may have finally come to an end."
Went to see my psych nurse practictioner today. He could tell I was more depressed than usual and increased my meds a bit. As hard as I try I can't get into this new work scene properly and it is getting me down. And I'm worried about my son who is thinking of going back into the reserves to have a better income for the baby on the way. And Ava, my other son's ex, is refusing to honor thier custody agreement anymore saying he is too irresponsible to care for my grand daughter. I put that situation in my Higher Power's hands and now my son (Lucas) is going to court to fight her over it. As far as I know, Luke never drank when he had my grand daughter (Audrey). But how sure can I be of that?He is an alcoholic....anyway, I know it would do me good to say the serenity prayer more so I will. I also know I will be ok if I just live in the moment, taking one day at a time.
Am looking forward to hearing from you again, til' later, Ronda

posted by madforbooks at 10:11 pm (EST) on Sep 23, 2009

Hi, I got caught up on my unread book reviews this evening and came across 2 Irish novels to tell you about. Even though I don't have a particular interest in Ireland, they both sounded so good I placed them on hold for myself!
The first is 'John The Revelator' which I found in Bookpage Extra. It is the story of a son raised by a single mother in the small town of Kilcody on the southeast coast.It is contemporary fiction, a coming of age tale. Publisher's weekly gave it a starred review and the Library Journal called it 'essential reading'. It is written by Peter Murphy.
The second is 'Darling Jim' written by Christian Moerk who was raised in Denmark and moved to NY when he was 18. The novel is modern gothic, a tragic love story and a mystery. I read the review in Powells and the reviewer said the story ' unfolds like a hothouse bloom, lush and pungent'. Publisher's Weekly gave it also a starred review.
You can probably look them both up in your library's catalog and read more about them to see if they might intigue you. Just a suggestion.
I imagine you are on vacation now, relaxing, reading and spending quality time with your son. I must admit I feel a slight pang of jealousy! Mostly though I just wish you the great time you so richly deserve! And of course I hope you have the kind of gorgeous weather we are enjoying here. Tomorrow is the first official day of Autumn, I can hardly believe it. Our high is forecast to be 70. I am off tomorrow and plan to do something outdoors. Perhaps a walk and a picnic lunch. I want to go to our Borders bookstore, they are selling Ted Kennedy's biography True Compass for 40% off, I would like to add it to my collection. I also have to get my eyebrows waxed. My eyebrows grow so unruly, plucking is not an adequate option for me. Anyway, keep having a good time and take care, Ronda
I just have a few pages to go in the Wednesday Sisters. I have really enjoyed it. It says on the cover that if you have a best friend, give her a copy. I feel as close to you as I do to my best friend so I am giving you both a copy for Christmas! Please send me your address.

posted by madforbooks at 11:18 pm (EST) on Sep 20, 2009

That was so cool you e-mailed your friend after reading The Help. I bet he really appreciated that. I wonder too what I may have to apologize for that I wasn't aware of years ago.
Thank you for telling me how you appreciate my support, it really makes me feel good to think I make a difference...and you are so right, I do sustain myself through memories of my true love often. I know how very fortunant I am to have been given that season. What they say is so true, it really is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all. I'm glad I told you about him.
All I have been doing besides working is reading. I had 6 books come in on hold for me all in one day! So I finished up the paramedic book and dug in! I am now reading The Wednesday Sisters, a book about a group of women in the 60's who form a writing club. So far it has been very interesting as it has shown how the events of the times effected their lives, like Bobby Kennedy's death and the walk on the moon. Also, these women are just beginning to question their roles in society, seeing themselves as more than wives of somebody. After I finish this I am going to read Amy and Isabelle, an earlier book from the author who wrote Olive Kitteridge. And inbetween those books, for my non-fiction, I plan to start Last Lion, the other new Ted Kennedy biography. Those alone should keep me busy for a good while. I see that you finished the Guernsey Literary book already. How was it?
We have decided to move but to stay within the complex here. We are simply taking a smaller apartment. There are a lot of advantages, saving money, being closer to facilities, being in a more quiet area and being on ground level ( no more icy steps in winter!). We move in October 1st.
Well, time to get ready for Al-Anon and then on to an afternoon at work, will write more soon. For now I have taken on Sunday hours at the Main library downtown which is open 7 days a week. You take care, Ronda

posted by madforbooks at 11:03 am (EST) on Sep 19, 2009

I'm sure your son did a lot better with an alcoholic parent than other kids in his situation because of your guidance and support. And he is fortunant to still be gaining from your wisdom and spirituality now. I am a Leo but on the cusp, almost could have been a Cancer. I am super-sensitive and struggled with self esteem issues for so long, perhaps it was not all a symptom of my upbringing but the position of the stars. Also, my mom was sort of demented so the damage from her and the damage from my dad is hard to seperate out. I'm sure you have done a wonderful job with your son and should not compare my feelings about my dad to his experiences. Does your son go to Al-Anon?
I completely understand about you being empathic toward your husband. I'm not even sure there is such a thing as being 'too' empathic. Of course you have to take care of yourself first, but after that, there is nothing wrong with compassion. As long as you can handle your life being difficult I think it is your right to choose to live it that way if you want to. Your friends are being judgemental and that is too bad. Friends are for support in my book. However I know that's often not the case. I talked to my friend in Ca. this weekend and told her about the situation with my 2 new bosees and she was scornful telling me it sounded like I was sucking up.
Also, I can understand what your husband meant to you in the beginning and how it would feel to just throw him out after he had once led you out of that very dark place. I am sure that you sense beneath his present facade there is still some essence of the man you married. I believe in karma too and wouldn't be surprised if he isn't experiencing the effects of his already.
Your vacation sounds like it will be wonderful, what a great time of year to go. I kept thinking we would have a real blistering heat spell before Autumn really came but the leaves are falling, the colors turning, the squirrels gathering and the calender says only 7 days to go before it is official. I love this time of year more than any other. I can just sit outside the library and watch nature and be so contented. I do a lot of my reading at the picnic table there as well as eat lunch.Pretty soon now I will be making peach cobbler and apple crisp.
Today at the library I was able to snag a copy of Olive Kitteridge and I started it right away on my way home on the bus. So once again I am reading 3 books at 1 time. I have the feeling though that I will stick with Olive until I am done. I couldn't put it down when I got home until I had read 3 whole chapters and hunger drove me out to the kitchen. I love it when a book does that!
Well for something new to tell you about me I will relate the tale of the love of my life. About 5 years after my husband left I met a young man and fell in love for the first time. Honest to God, I did not know what loving a man was until then. I have never felt the same since or ever expect to. I was 32, a mother of 3 going to college. I didn't know how old he was and was scared to ask! It turned out he was 21. We lived together 12 deliriously happy years. He asked me to marry him many times but I never would not wanting to take a chance on marriage spoiling things. He died in the 13th year from a rare blood disease. So, my best years were spent with a much younger man.
You are probably right about some spirits getting stuck between earth and 'heaven'. I hope that is a temporary state of being for them. I do indeed dream quite vividly of the dead but I have never got the feeling they have not gone into the light. I do try to derive meaning from my dreams though and can imagine the dead sending me a message in that way. Yet I believe in reincarnation too. If I ever stop having dreams of the dead I will likely assume they have reincarnated. I also dream of people I have been seperated from in life by circumstance, not by death. It makes me wonder!
Well, I have much to get done before I can call it a nite so I better get moving. Keep in mind you have at least 1 friend who doesn't think you are crazy at all and admires you very much! Take care, Ronda

posted by madforbooks at 7:56 pm (EST) on Sep 14, 2009

Now I find out I have TWO bosses! A woman has been assigned to oversee my boss and our branch. She came in yesterday to interview each one of us asking what we felt about working at our library, what changes (if any) needed to be made, what we expected from a supervisor and many other well thought out questions. She was very nice and I felt interested in me as a person as well as a worker. I think I made a good impression and was able to communicate clearly what I felt and was able and willing to do as a member of the team. I kept in mind your advice all through the interview and especially made my value as a worker bee apparent. Thanks for your support.
I wrote a letter to my dad. It was half making amends and half being angry. He was an alcoholic and I could almost never be good enough for him. I was so grief stricken when he died, way beyond what is ordinary. Having been in Al-Anon I now understand that part of my grief was losing my chance to ever be perfect in his eyes. He was a functioning alcoholic for all my life. For many years he only drank beer but he drank daily. As he got older he drank harder liquor. Now I have to write my mom.
Kudos to you for your newsletter, that is such a positive thing you've done! And you get to use your writing skills! I am sure you are much valued at your job.
I understand about the flowery language thing, I enjoy real language more too and The Help is as real as real gets. And I definantly think blacks are more careful around whites yet today. Not only careful but inclusive. At least that is true here. Of course there are exceptions made today that never would have been dreamed about 40 years ago. For awhile I had a regular black bus driver who persisted in complimenting me on my butt and issuing sexual invitations to me. One afternoon he showed up at the library and waited until I got off work to tell me he had not been joking, did I want to go somewhere with him? (I said no). So that kind of thing does happen and even without me giving any signs of encourgament. But then that also is a man thing.
I read We Are Their Heaven and to be truthful, I was a little creeped out thinking about the dead hanging so closely around me. I would rather believe they reincarnate or just glance down once in a while from 'heaven'. Even so, the book was interesting and had some good things to say. I'm going to skip reading the second one however. Now I am starting a medical book, En Route a paramedic's stories of life, death, and everything inbetween. It's been a good while since I enjoyed an exciting medical read.
Hope you get some pleasure out of the week-end in spite of working most of it. Take care, Ronda

posted by madforbooks at 9:54 am (EST) on Sep 13, 2009

Thanks for the good advice about my job and the new boss. I can certainly tell you understand my situation. I am a worker bee if ever there was one and I need to be confident in my knowledge of that. Today was better at work although I did make one stupid mistake out of sheer nervousness but it was no big deal. I got a lot accomplished today and my boss commented on that positively. I will take your advice and ask my higher power to guide me as I walk through the door tomorrow. I will also try to see the whole picture like you. Thanks for sharing your experience with me, I feel encouraged.
I also encouraged my daughter to make better choices than I did. When she did marry, she did it for the right reasons. However , they have decided to not have children. What that says about me I'm not sure???
Now our lives have another similarity, I was once involved with a black man. He was a librarian, I met him through work. We were together about 2 years. He was sober in the beginning but began to drink again after about 6 months. And with the drinking came a gambling addiction. First he became emotionally distant and then, predictably, abusive. By that time in my life I was a bit emotionally healthier and was able to leave him. That was my last relationship before meeting Robert.
I know you will really like The Help. When I was born, Omaha was truly a segragated city and though the blacks have moved a little bit into white areas now there is still a truly deep social divide. My father was prejudiced all his life. It was an issue of deep contention between us. My oldest son and daughter are color blind like me but my youngest son is prejudiced, he even says the n word of which I totally disapprove and let him know everytime he says it in my presence. He needs to read The Help. And watch Roots while he's at it. Personally, I have had and continue to have several enriching relationships with black people, which is difficult in this city as so many blacks are distrustful of whites and their motivations. One of my closest black friends has told me flat out that she told her children never to trust their well being with a white person. I can't fault her for that. I'm sure your daughter is very beautiful as are all mixed people getting the best of both races. My daughter's face and hair is beautiful but unfortunantly she is a compulsive eater and weighs 295 lbs. Her husband is the same way, they are 2 peas in a pod. He is a gourmet cook and they eat fabulous meals daily.
The library is having another book sale Friday and I am working it. It is at one of our largest locations and I am excited. After my shift I get a coupon for free books. So I go early and pick out what I want before I begin working. Last time 2 other workers gave me their coupons and I really came away with good stuff!
I,m so glad to hear that your confidence level is high and that your abuse issues have been worked through. I have worked through a lot of mine also but still have unresolved issues from childhood I need to deal with. This month I am writing letters to my parents. Dad is dead but mom is alive. She has Alzheimer's and lives in a 'cottage'. Obviously, I won't be sending her any letter. I hope this project works as well as my therapist thinks it will.
Well, it's after midnite, better think about getting some sleep. I sure could be a niteowl if my schedule allowed it. Til later, Ronda

posted by madforbooks at 1:50 am (EST) on Sep 10, 2009

Just a short note, I remembered I forgot to ask you how the visit to the set of Wheel of Fortune went?
Today was my first full working day with my new boss. I am not happy with her. She made a new schedule out for everyone and mine is quite inconvenient. She also made a lot of un-necessary changes and some disparaging remarks about the order of things. She is not subtle or sensitive to anyone's feelings. She is the complete opposite of my old boss in every way. I am used to being respected for my life experiences and the wisdom that came from them but I think all she sees when she looks at us ladies over a certain age is "old". I know I need to focus on my skills and not be so upset. It certainly is a challenge for me at this point in time.Tomorrow I will try to be more positive. Thanks for 'listening'.
If you have any words of wisdom, I'd love to hear them! Til later, Ronda

posted by madforbooks at 12:43 am (EST) on Sep 9, 2009

While looking through my books for a fiction title to read along with the non-fiction DuBois books, I discovered a book due back tomorrow so I started it right away.I generally do not like fantasy but I remember ordering this one because of a YA library journal review I came across at work. It is called 'Shiver' and it is fantastic! It is the story of a young man who changes periodicaly from wolf to human and the girl who loves him as a wolf even before she knew he could be human. The writing is simple and straight forward but heartbreaking in it's purity. Here's an example of the young man's (wolf's)narrative:'And then I opened my eyes and it was just Grace and me---nothing anywhere but Grace and me---she pressing her lips together as though she were keeping my kiss inside her, and me holding this moment that was as fragile as a bird in my hands.'Ah, first love! Is there anything like it? It's been forever since I have read anything so romantic, but then I don't read romance. Somehow I don't think adult romances are this charming, maybe because of the sexual emphasis which is so far missing in this book. I am so happy to be reading it, just had to share with you. Might even write a review of it.
I am thinking of entering all my Kennedy books into my LT library. I have hesitated before now because I haven't read each one entirely but I have read some of each and all of some. Same situation with my favorite cookbooks and cat books. I think I will enter them but not rate the ones I haven't finished entirely.
I have started listening to the cd that came with the wieght loss book I Can Make You Thin and it is really working! I am eating less and making better choices. You have to listen 2 weeks before you can wiegh yourself so I won't have any real results for another week and a day but I can tell I will see pounds lost.
Well here we are at the end of the Labor Day weekend. Back to work tomorrowOn Sat I caught a fantastic clearance sale at Sears and bought 2 new outfits for work so I will have something new to wear to start the week. I went all Spring and Summer without purchasing anything new so that shopping trip was quite a treat. Anyway, it's getting late and I want to try and finish that novel tonite so I will stop writing til later, Ronda PS I almost forgot to tell you something new about myself...in college I majored in social work but never passed Speech. I signed up for it many times but always dropped it out of pure fear. ( I'm not that timid anymore!)That and Statistics kept me from getting my degree. I was 9 hours away when I took my job at the library and I never went back.

posted by madforbooks at 11:22 pm (EST) on Sep 7, 2009

That is so interesting about Ted Bundy. Since you mention it, I remember reading that book too. How eerie for you! My second (and last) husband was probably a sociopath too. He abused me emotionally and physically. After we had been married about 6 months he told me he had been in prison for car theft and that he had robbed a bank and had the money buried somewhere which he could not touch for a certain number of years. I should have taken that as warning but I didn't. While I was pregnant with my first son the real abuse began. In the end, when I was 7 months along with my second son, he diappeared, never to be heard from again. A year to the date of his disappearance some FBI men came looking for him. They wouldn't tell me why they wanted him but instructed me to call them if I had any word of him! Later on I did get a letter from a woman he had married and left who found a letter addressed to me in some belongings he left behind. She was a salvation army worker in Las Vegas. But what is really bizarre about him is this: One nite I came home from work early to find my husband dressed up in my clothes, wearing make-up and applying nail polish! He was a big guy with a beard, you have to know that to imagine how he looked through my eyes. I was dumbfounded! I had never heard about cross dressers before, lol! Today it probably wouldn't faze me. He wanted me to get into it with himsince I had found out but I just couldn't. He really began to disparage me then. So that's my piece of info about my life for this posting.
How cool that you wrote a cooking column. I love to read columns! Do you have a sample of one you could send me? I bet you miss doing it. As a teenager I daydreamed of taking over Ann Lander's column someday. To this day I read Dear Abby just so I can make up better answers. My favorite is Slate magazine's Dear Prudence. She is right on 99% of the time and there seems to be no subject she will shrink from.
I am sure I will like the Irish Christmas too. I have no idea what my heritage is. I asked my mom once and she said she had no idea and didn't want to talk about it. I know my father's father's family was English but that's the extent of my knowledge. Still, Christmas and dr's are favorite subjects for me so even though I'm not Irish I will probably love the book. I haven't read many Irish stories, maybe this will start something for me.
Today I finished Ted Kennedy The Dream That Never Died. So now I am ready for We Are Their Heaven. I have to pick a fiction book to read along with it. Will let you know what I pick and how I like the DuBois books.
I will write more later, my son just called and is coming over to pick me up for a bbq he had a last minute idea for so I better get ready. I have pretty much been lounging all morning. Take care, Ronda

posted by madforbooks at 12:58 pm (EST) on Sep 7, 2009

Happy Labor Day weekend to you too! I am not doing much to celebrate it, worked today and things were really slow, a lot of people must have had plans. Robert is going on a fishing trip tomorrow, the weather is perfect! The house I go to for my Al-Anon meetings is an official AA-house, they are having a cook-out and party Monday, I may go to that. Otherwise I will be reading.
I am so glad you are enjoying The Irish Country Christmas! And now you have The Help, how exciting! Don't rush through the Conroy novel on my account, I am perfectly content just knowing it is coming. I am reading the Ted Kennedy biography now and I have another one on order plus his autobiography. After you wrote me about Allison Dubois I ordered 2 of her books and they came in today so that is what I will be reading next. That dream you and your sister both shared was a trip, do you suppose that was an experience from another life? If so, how horrible! I think I do believe in reincarnation, it makes sense. It reflects the order of the seasons, the rebirth of the earth each spring. I doubt a person reincarnates forever though, probably after so many times you have learned enough. After that, I don't know or can't imagine. Maybe I'll get some ideas from those books.
Today is a big day in Nebraska, our Cornhuskers are playing their season opener. Ne Fans are a species all of their own. And yes, I am one of them. In fact, I was raised on Ne. football. My dad coached Tom Osborne in high school. Ne. is the only team I follow, I'm not a big football fan otherwise. I've never been much of a sport's enthusiast other than liking to watch figure skating. But I go all out for The Huskers. Go Big Red!
It is a small world. You say your friend Wanda was in high school theatre, does she go to our Community Playhouse? We have a really good one that is well known.My son was in all the productions at his high school and was in the elite musical group. He got into some plays at The Playhouse but it did not work out as he was drinking too much. He's never found anything else that he's been so good at since, it's part of why he's been so unhappy. He goes from job to job, partly because of not being able to find anything he likes and partly because of the alcoholism. Al-Anon has helped me so much in that situation. I remember at my first meeting when they read 'we keep the focus on us and not the alcoholic', I was so stunned thinking how can that be? Now I understand and have the peace to show for it.
I am sorry your alone time is so short. It is very good of you to be such a support to your husband as he is depressed. Robert is content to be on his own for hours at a time watching the history channel and science shows and listening to books on cd's. I am happy with that. My areas of interest have changed over the years too. I went through a phase after I saw Oliver Stone's The Doors where I had to read every book about or by them and listen to all their music.I too used to concentrate on self-help and Stephen King books. What is your favorite King book? Mine is The Stand. I love all his early stuff I want to read Lisey's Story because a reviewer said it made up for all the bad stuff he hadwritten lately. And for periods of time I have been intrigued by and had to read everything about Marilyn Monroe, Elvis, Gary Gilmore, The Kennedys, all things magik and medical...so I know what you mean even though your interests have been broader than mine.
Last nite we had our retirement party for our boss. We went to a very upscale Italian restaurant, I had shrimp ziti which was very good but overpriced. I actually felt my heart breaking when my boss hugged me goodbye. I was the only one who got teary and I was so embarressed. I thought I could only feel that sad over my kids, but there it was, that awful pain! I feel like an era ended, a time has gone away for good.
I had kind of a fun idea! To get to know each other a little better, why don't we tell each other a little fact about ourselves in each posting? Like I will tell you now that I wear wigs sometimes. I have really thin hair and a wig really makes a big difference for me. I used to wear them all the time but lately have not as much. Anyway, thanks for writing twice, I had been meaning to write you tonite for sure, sorry it took so long. Take care and enjoy those books! Ronda

posted by madforbooks at 11:42 pm (EST) on Sep 5, 2009

It is too bad your weekend didn't go quite as planned but it sounds like you made the best of it anyway, good for you!
Well, unbelievably, I have MORE news about the library. Two anonymous donors each gave $100,000 to the libraries and in 4 days we (the libraries) were able to raise another $100,000 through booksales and pleas to the public. The mayor has another meeting Monday and depending on what he does or doesn't do, we will determine what services and jobs we can restore with the $300,000. Hopefully, everything can go back to the way it was :) Except my boss will still retire :(
I did not see the beautiful church you described as I had to work yesterday and missed Senator Kennedy's funeral. I wish I had been able to take it all in. Robert watched it and learned that the senator regularly read to inner city children. Literacy was something he cared about passionatly. Have you ever read the childrens book he wrote? I can't recall the name of it but it was about a day in his life as a senator and included his dog. He will be greatly missed, his death is the end of an era. I have the latest biography about him checked out, I plan to begin it as soon as Robert is finished reading it.
Glad you are getting The Irish Country Christmas. It is on my list for after Thanksgiving. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas I usually only read Christmas books, I put myself on hold for the new ones coming out in August and September and usually I get them just in time for my Christmas reading.Of course I find older ones to read also. If you know of any especially good Christmas books please suggest them to me. Everyone thinks I am crazy just to read Christmas books alone during the Christmas season but I really enjoy doing it. Anyway...I am still reading Calla Lily Ponder, it gets better and better the further along I read. I am in the last quarter of the book now. I don't know yet what I'm going to read next, I have to take a look at what I have available and what is coming up due soon. I was in B&N today and saw Pat Conroy's new book, South of Broad. It isn't nearly as thick as I expected it to be. I am 76th on the list for that so I won't be getting it anytime soon.
Thankyou so much for sending me the beginning of your fictional memoir! I am honored! I admire you so much for how far you have come along in it. I can totally get into Barbara's head, you have made her easy to understand and empathize with. All your characters are colorful and interesting as is the locale and background info. Kudos to you! I can't wait to read more.
You are so fortunant to have walked in the steps of so many writers, it gives me goosebumps to think about it! Maybe someday you and I can go to a famous writers residence together, who knows? I understand completely how you feel about being inspired and sensing the presence of the author's and characters. I also would like to visit a few really great and big libraries someday. Thanks for sharing those thoughts, I love to hear them.
We have been getting a taste of Autumn this weekend, it feels like the end of Sept instead of August. I am loving it! This very strange for us, usually we are close to 100 degree temps this time of year and we have been barely making it into the mid 70's. I have my windows open and the cats are really enjoying laying in front of them.
Thanks for reminding me to let go and let God. In my mind's eye I wrap my problems in a pkg and set them down and send them to God. As soon as I do that I get a overwhelming feeling of peace. As I get farther along in the program I probably won't need the visual aid but it sure works for me now. I have done that with my fear of working for a new boss and although I am still sad about losing my current boss, I am not obsessing over how things will change with a new one, one day at a time.
Well, I hate to stop writing but I have to get a load of clothes in before the laundry room closes, busy day tomorrow. You take care and keep writing! Ronda

posted by madforbooks at 9:43 pm (EST) on Aug 30, 2009

Am glad to know the photo crisis is past and that I put a smile on your face. Your words meant very much to me. Thanks for sharing how you felt.
The big news here is that my boss is retiring, effective 09-04. The city decided to combine our library staff with the staff of another library and they demoted my boss in the process. She simply did not want to have to answer to the woman put in charge, so since she had turned 62 in April, she went and signed up for social security. I am really dismayed, our staff has functioned as an incredible team up until now. I don't know what to expect from the library we are being paired with. Or who will be taking my bosses place. We are all kind of functioning in a state of shock right now with all the changes of the past 2 weeks. We are having a big goodbye party for the people leaving a week from Friday. I am really going to have to cultivate a positive attitude for that!
I am now reading the 'Calla Lily Ponder' novel. It does not take up with the same characters. It is a good story, with a little bit of magic in the form of healing in it. It takes place in Louisiana. It is a long book and I've just started it because I took time to sneak in a couple short reads before I began it. One was a fictionalized acc't of Nov 23, 1963 that read like non-fiction, it was obviously filled with tons of facts but seperating out the truths was challenging. Then I read a book about preserving memories called LifeCatching. Mostly I just paid attention to the word techniques.
I imagine you are getting ready for your b'day trip. That's mainly why I wanted to write, to tell you again to have a wonderful time, don't think about anything but having Fun and Relaxing. Wishing you the Best Ever, Ronda

posted by madforbooks at 9:09 pm (EST) on Aug 27, 2009

PS Just finished my review of Tusa's book, Man!, did that take forever for such a simple couple of paragraphs!!! I think it sounded a bit more positive than I felt but I don't know, maybe it came out right. Just thought I would let you know in case you wanted to read it.
Also, about appearances, I forgot to tell you how much I admire the way you do your make up. Til Later...

posted by madforbooks at 5:59 pm (EST) on Aug 23, 2009

I find it interesting and admirable that you never give up on a book! I wish I could say the same. Most of us at the library will stop after a certain number of pages if a book isn't working out for us because we have so many backed up waiting to be read from what we got off our hold lists. As staff, we don't incur fines and can keep books out for up to 4 months but it is almost a kind of honor code to return them, especially when others are waiting for them. So we try to weed out the ones that aren't worth the time considering what is 'up' next. I in fact did give up on the life of Vranna Davis. It is now on my list to get to someday when time allows whenever that would be, I can't imagine! Right now I am reading the book I recieved from EarlyReviewers, 'Weekends at Bellevue'. It is really good, I love medical books and this one is about the psych ER, very fascinating. Last nite I finished a novel a guy e-mailed me and asked me to review called 'Dirty Little Angels'. It was about a girl with mental illness and her tragic family, very grim. I'm having trouble writing the review. I liked and disliked the book at the same time. I am sorry ' The Midwives' isn't as good as you expected. Working a long weekend and not having something enjoyable to read to come home to must be awful! I didn't work today but I checked my acc't online and saw that 'The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder' by Rebecca Wells is in for me! I loved the YaYa books and it has been so long since a new one...
With the changed hours at the library I am now going to be working on Saturdays but that is good because it will make up for the hours I am losing on T & Th mornings. It works out so that I can still attend my Al-Anon meeting on Sat. morning and have 30 minutes left to get to work. I have enjoyed Saturdays off for nearly 5 years but I will just have to adjust. I shouldn't complain as I am guarenteed every Sunday off as the library is closed that day.
It is good to hear you are enjoying your weather. Ours has been fluctuating but overall pretty nice. Ronnie and I went garage shopping and we drove by a private pool and I was looking in on it with longing. I too hope your weather stays nice for your b'day weekend. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! The taping of Wheel of Fortune sounds fun. Ronnie loves to watch it and when I am at his house I see it once in a while. I also see Jepordy when I am at my one girlfriend's house sometime, I really enjoy that. I hardly ever see tv, it makes me nervous for some reason so at home I avoid it. Robert has one in his den but I rarely go in there. I have only had this problem for about 10 years, I used to enjoy tv like everyone else. Once in a while I will check out a dvd from the library, usually a documentry, and that is enough for me.
Don't feel bad about how your photos came out. Just like reflections in windows you pass by, they never represent how you really look. Trust what you see in the mirror, that's what I do. And I project what I have seen in the mirror. When you believe you look good and present that attitude other people catch that and see it also. Everday when I leave the apt I say to myself I am pleasantly plump and projecting beauty, inside and out. Then I step on out into the world and try not to give it another thought all day.Besides all that, you are a pretty woman. And although there's nothing in the world wrong with looking your age, you truly look younger. And not fat at all. You may be eccentric but not old!
It sure must be depressing processing unemployment claims. Robert starts school the 31st, he has been looking for partime work but cannot find anything that would pay more than the unemployment he would qualify for. We are still living on his severance pay and and my pay but have put ourselves on a strict budget for when the severance pay runs out and he has to take unemployment while getting more education. I have cut out for frills save my manicures. We may take in a boarder instead of moving to a more reasonably priced price, we have a person in mind but it is a big decision we are still mulling over. I am thinking about checking out the bookstores in the area for possible part-time work, it's been a long time since I did retail but think I could get back into the swing. Before long, places will be thinking about temporary seasonal help...well, I am going to get to work on that book review I guess so I will say bye now, again, have a wonderful time celebrating, Ronda

posted by madforbooks at 3:18 pm (EST) on Aug 23, 2009

Came across a book today at the main library downtown that I have to tell you about before I forget. You mentioned looking for Irish novels, this one is called 'An Irish Country Christmas'. It is written by a doctor, Patrick Taylor, MD. On the back of the book it says the author's voice is authentic Northern Ireland. The story is about yuletide merriment in the cozy villiage of Ballybucklebain in Ulster. Thought you might be interested.
I have been reading non-stop!I put the Vranna Davis book aside and in the last 3 days I've read 2 novels, 1 self help and 1 cookbook. I just couldn't stop! Of course, not much else got accomplished, but oh well! Til Later, Ronda

posted by madforbooks at 12:14 am (EST) on Aug 18, 2009

I have just been crazy the past 5 days! Last Fri evening the mayor announced there were to be 130 jobs eliminated from the libraries. We had to wait until Tues AM to learn specifics. Thankfully, my job was spared but others I am close to were not. And my library's hours of operation have been cut back. These things have been so difficult to deal with, the staff, the public, the whole city is up in arms at the reduced services. I have found myself brought to tears frequently. The hours we have lost at our branch are going to prevent us from having storytimes. Our branch manager is trying to come up with an alternate plan...those poor little children! The mayor is trying to push through more taxes to keep the city from going bankrupt but people believe he is a crook...it is a long sad story. Anyway, that is why I have not written, my nerves have just been frazzled. Hopefully, any day now, things will start to calm down a bit.
Your day off from both jobs sounded so nice! What enegy you must have to get so much done and enjoy RR also all in one day! I'm glad you enjoy Boston so much, I know what you mean about the nostalgia. I get those feelings too when I go into the old neighborhoods I grew up in. I know I certainly would enjoy the North Shore and I do hope to see it some day. I brought the whole area up on the computer so I could get a sense of where you were describing. Do you ever fish or swim in the bay? My significant other (Robert) fishes all the time but I don't go as I can't bear impaling worms OR fish, I am so tender hearted it is ridiculous,LOL! I sure would like to swim though even though I can barely float. Our weather has been hellish hot and all our pools closed 3 weeks ago due to budget cuts. Of course I don't have a swimming suit I can fit into so I shouldn't complain...At least by Fri we are supposed to be dropping back down into the 80's again. If the humidity leaves along with the 90's we'll really be in for a treat. Speaking of treats, I sure would love a taste of your blueberry buckle, I've never had it. And as much Chinese as I've eaten, I've never heard of a Chop Suey Sandwich. Is it regional? Now sweet tender corn I can relate to. Our football team is the Nebr Cornhuskers.
I finished a book called 'Sleepwalking in Daylight' by Elizabeth Flock. It was very grim and had a gruesome ending. I had read her other book 'Emma and Me' which was why I picked up "Sleepwalking'. Actually both books were grim but the first one was more redeeming. I had read a review on LT that said the second book was better than the first but I just don't agree. Right now for fiction I am reading 'Property' by Valerie Martin. It is a story about a woman in the south whose personal slave becomes her husband's mistress. The woman hates being the property of her husband but cannot see how her slave being her property is a comparison and that they are both captives. The theme is how the oppressors come to hate those they oppress. Kind of complicated, but a very small book. As for my non-fiction, I am still struggling with the life of Vranna Davis. It is somewhat interesting but very dry. I am tempted to put it on the back burner as I checked out a book about journal writing using the Tarot cards. I could use a new style for journaling. I have also been flipping through my how to change your aura book but since I'm not reading that page by page I'm not counting it.Glad to hear you enjoyed 'Bull's Island'. I know what you mean by the ending, I would have liked a few more chapters myself explaining more in detail how she got past the resentments of her boy and his father regarding keeping the secret all those years.I see you added The North and the South. That is one of my son's favorite books, he got me to read it when he was in the Navy. He read so much then. He has been home almost 3 years now and almost only reads about sports and politics these days. I miss sharing fiction with him. Did you see I got another Early Reviewer's Book? I am so thrilled! I haven't gotten it yet, I can't wait. It is 'Weekends at Bellevue'.
Not much else happening now, will write again soon. Hope you are enjoying 'The Midwives', can't wait to hear. Ronda

posted by madforbooks at 11:02 pm (EST) on Aug 12, 2009

I finished Hangover Soup and I am not sure if you would like it or not. The main character is 29. She writes about longing for her husband to be sober and what happens after he has a car accident and goes to a place like prisonrehab. The story is interesting and the girl has feelings I am sure you could relate to. However the generation difference is quite out there. I did enjoy it though. It is short and easy to read, could be finished easily in a day. Just thought I would let you know what it was about since I told you about it in my last post. Wish I could be more specific on the reccomendation, if you do decide to read it, you won't have to be on a waiting list, the book is from 2000.
We are sweltering in heat today, after my Al-Anon meeting I came straight home to read and write in the cool air conditioning. I'm not planning on anything that takes physical effort. Hope your weekend is pleasant, Ronda

posted by madforbooks at 4:08 pm (EST) on Aug 8, 2009

I simply am astounded at how similiar our dream experiences are!!! I wake up screaming too. I can't even count how many times in a dream I've struggled to no avail to make a phone call. I am never old in my dreams either and all my old boyfriends appear in them looking just like they did when we were in love. I dream about being back in college and not being able to find my way around the campus and sitting in class taking tests and getting stuck in an elevator. These kinds of themes repeat over and over. How amazing we even dream alike! I do have in addition 2 complete dreams that reoccur 3 or 4 times per year. Some dreams are pleasant but most are stressful. I wonder what their purpose is? And what they mean precisely. I may check out a book about dream interpretation if I can find a good one.
I'm glad of what your therapist said. And I hope you continue to feel comfortable enough to keep opening up.
I started a book last nite called Hangover Soup. It is the story of a woman who stays with her man through alcoholism. It came through our library on it's way back home and I happened to be the one who checked it in. Maybe it will turn out to be worth reccomending to you. Maybe that's why it was put on my path. I will let you know more about it as soon as I'm finished. Anyway, mostly wrote just to tell you about the likeness of our dreams, I was so impressed and wanted you to know right away. More later...

posted by madforbooks at 4:28 pm (EST) on Aug 6, 2009

hi, am so glad to hear you are close to getting The Help. I read a lot of books in LP for the very same reason. I should have thought to mention it to you. I like the LP, even though I wear trifocals I appreciate the lesser eye strain. I can see pretty well at a distance but cannot read at all without my glasses.
I have had The Midwives on my list to read someday forever. You will have to let me know how you like it. Waltzing at the Piggly Wiggly was cute and I enjoyed the southern setting (Miss.) but all in all it was too fluffy for me. It is about a group of widows (wealthy), trying to save the Piggly Wiggly from closing down after a Walmart moves in. They do a promotion with a local ballroom dancer and make quite an event of it. There are several interesting characters in and along the way.
I just finished Honk & Holler this afternoon. Wow, talk about realism. It is a book I am glad to have read. It's the kind of story that encourages hopefulness. Thanks for telling me about it.
You really did good becoming a chapter chair in just 1 year! I am still just learning how to express myself without becoming self conscious. Sometimes I am so shy and then other times I am almost open. So I certainly do understand how somedays you want to be at home and otherdays socializing. I also feel we are kindred spirits. I have 2 close friends but they are not very spiritual and niether one understands what I get from Al-Anon. I have another close friend who is spiritual. She however is battling cancer right now and all our times together are spent being courageous. I am doing everything in my power to keep her vital. And then I consider some of the people I work with friends. You though are very special, I feel kind of like we were brought together for a purpose.
I see my counselor, actually a nurse-practitioner who specializes in psychology, every three months. He is a great guy who makes me laugh and says my depression is the hardest to treat he's ever had. I think he's kidding!
It's sad that some of your friends deserted you for staying with your husband. I can't guess what your motivation is but I know whatever it is, it must be giving you something that you want or need. You are taking care of yourself so I don't see how you could be criticized. Besides, plenty of people in my Al-Anon group stay with their husbands. You have to do what you feel is right for you. I support you unconditionaly.
That fashion advice from Colin certainly rings true. I like to wear black also for the slimming effect. However the library is a cheery place and the others wear bright colors so sometimes I do to but more often pastels like lavender and pale pink. On Fridays and Saturdays we can wear jeans, I have a tailored pair I wear just for that. Talk about needing to lose 15 lbs, I would be so happy if that's all I had to lose!!! I could stand to shed 35 at least. I am only 5'1" and every lb shows big time.
Your aura sounds super cool. I share with you the intense dream activity. My dreams are very vivid, nite after nite. I have reoccuring dreams too. Every once in a while I think about keeping a dream journal but have never gotten around to it.
I hope your paperbacks arrive soon! Take care, Ronda

posted by madforbooks at 8:51 pm (EST) on Aug 5, 2009

hi, Oh I remember the days when I went searching for books to read! I was really lucky though, the right books just seemed to find me at the right times. I would stumble across an author, find out they written previous books and before I knew it I was waiting for their new releases. I began reading John Updike, John Irving, Anne Tyler, Alice Hoffman and Stephen King just like that. Those were the days of endless finds and delights. I would go to a library or bookstore and just browse picking up books I knew nothing about. These days people tell me how lucky I am working in a library and so always having something to read. However there is a flip side to that, which is the painful aspect of knowing how many books I have to pass by because there is just not enough time in 1 life. Tonite I am going to start the Hoot and Holler book, I am so happy to have one you reccommended to me. I can't wait until you get The Help by Katherine Stockett, I can't wait to know what you think of it. Of all the review publications I read they are are all agreeing it is THE novel of the summer. Iread Powell's, NYTimes, Bookpage and a couple different library publications. I also get their some of their reveiws, new and old, by e-mail. I see you have read Couples by John Updike. I know nothing about it. Is it anything like the Rabbit books? I believe you will love the Guernsey Literary and Potatoe Pie Society. All the librarians have read it and told me it is a must read. One read it and listened to it both. One of our libraians, like you has read all of Philippa Gregory and she really enjoyed The Other Queen. You seem to have made some great choices! Enjoy!!! I remember reading that book about the black only section of Martha's Vineyard too! Darn if I can recollect the name but will search the catalog and let you know if I come up with it.
So you work at a Macy's, how cool. I bet you get a nice discount! Every Christmas when the kids were home with me I worked an extra job from Halloween through New Years, always in retail. For 5 of those years I worked at the same place called Christmas at the Mall, a seasonal store. I loved it the best. I also worked at Target and Sears for many seasons. I used to take delight in being extra nice to really nasy people. The thing is though, retail made me very tired, very fast. I know you really earn your money there, kudos!Speaking of retail, another of my hobbies I forgot to mention is thrift store shopping. I really get a kick out of it. I have my favorite stores, I rotate my visits to them and shop for 'treasures'. I am very particular about what I buy and have found real nice things. I also go to estate sales and garage sales. I collect elephants, cats and Kennedy memorabilia. And BOOKS! Sometimes I buy clothes but they have to be in unusually good condition. I am a yo-yo dieter, my wieght constantly fluctuates. I have clothes from size 6-18 in my closet, so supplementing my 'wardrobe' in this way is a big help.
My alcoholic son couldn't participate in my b'day last week so yesterday he took me out for lunch and after we went and each had a reading done. I chose the Tarot cards, he had a palm reading. The first thing the psychic told me was that my aura is brown. She thinks I have too much anxiety and some depresion. Well, I take Cymbalta for depression and Xanax as needed for anxiety! She said I am a sensitive soul who is overwhelmed by the problems of the world. She also said I will live into my late 80's. So anyway, today I went to the new age section of B&N and found a book called Change Your Aura Change Your Life A step by step guide to unfolding your spiritual power. So I will see where that takes me. I am glad you will be coming out of your bad luck, I am praying for you too.
Your dog sounds really neat. I so miss my last dog. The psychic told me I would be changing residence very soon. maybe we will go somewhere where I can have a dog again. My signicant other's co had to leave Omaha. They offered him jobs in 2 places out of state but I wouldn't move so he didn't take them. He will be collecting unemployment after the severance pay runs out while he goes back to school to finish his degree in computers. We have been talking about getting a more reasonably priced place for the duration so maybe I will actually get a dog.
Well, don't work too hard or too much. I will be getting back to you with what I think about Honk and Holler. Bye for now, Ronda

posted by madforbooks at 8:57 pm (EST) on Aug 2, 2009

Hi, I love Al-Anon, it has given me peace in so many areas of my life. I have learned to 'stay in the moment' and that has eased a great deal of anxiety out of my life. I have only been a member for about a year now, I began attending meetings when my son resumed drinking after he had gotten out of rehab. My dad was an alcoholic too but I never came to grips with that until later in life. As for myself, I don't drink unless it is a very special ocassion and then only minutely. On most holidays we enjoy sparkling grape juice which is probably why my son always leaves so early. I am sorry you have had a difficult time with your husband and I admire your courage. And again, you hit the nail on the head about how seductive a man who is an intelligent conversationalist can be! Add in a little charm and I am a goner!
I didn't just recently read Helter Skelter, it was a long time ago, my daughter reminded me of it and asked me if I had added it to my library. I hadn't so I did. I keep remembering books I have read in the past and entering them as they pop up in my mind. Speaking of the occult, I once had a reading done at a Labor Day fair and the warning I was given about a man I was dating was right on. Things turned out just exactly as they were told to me. Too bad I didn't take the warning more seriously, could have spared me a lot of discomfort. I love Wiccans, they are generally so kind and sweet. However I can't call myself a Wiccan because I don't believe in their Gods and Goddesses. I am sticking with my one higher power. It is so cool that you did readings. I had a friend who used to do readings, they drained her energy too. She practised magik also, sometimes for foolish reasons of which I didn't feel good about. She also conjured ghosts which really freaked me out. She claimed to have a spirit guide too. I met her when I was 5, her parents and mine were friends, we were both only children and got thrown together a lot. She died mysteriously at age 36, they never really determined the cause of death although being obese had something to do with it. The thing I have really missed about her over the years is all the books she would introduce to me. She was an avid reader with an unusually quick mind. I have a book checked out now about how to read the cards but I haven't found time to get into it yet. Do you think a person can do a valid reading for oneself? Anyway, back to spooky reading, today I got William Peter Blatty's new novel called Elsewhere in on hold. Reviews say it is The ultimate haunted house story. On par with The Exorcist. Aside from Stephen King, I don't much read horror but this intrigued me.
Right now I am reading Looking For Salvation at the Dairy Queen by Susan Gregg Gilmore. It is her first book, a good debut. It is set in Georgia, a story about a preachers daughter growing up in small town Ringgold and escaping to big city Atlanta. Characters and setting very realistic, tugs at heartstrings. After I finish it I will read Honk and Holler and then Elsewhere. For my non-fiction reading, I am about to start First Lady of the Confederacy: Varina Davis's Civil War. Do you read a fiction and non-fiction book at the same time? Everyday I like to read a snipet or 2 of childrens poetry which I do at work while shelving. Childrens poetry is quite good these days, much more readable than what was available to me when I was young.
You thank me for letting you get to know me but you must understand, the pleasure is mine. I LOVE writing to you and am so HAppy to receive a post. Another thing about me is that I love animals and stand up for their rights through the Humane Society of the United States and the Animal Rescue Site on the net and locally. I have 4 cats, they were all rescue kitties and have been spayed and nuetered. I love dogs too but it is not feasible to have one where I live now. The elephant is one of my favorites because they weep. I collect elephant figurines, many unusual and beautiful ones. So anyway, anything you wonder about me, just ask. I will be more than happy to answer candidly.Enjoy your new book! Ronda

posted by madforbooks at 11:42 pm (EST) on Jul 29, 2009

Hi, You sure are right on about neighbors being closer in the 50's and the sixties. I spent endless hours at other people's houses as a child and all the parents treated me like family. My mother was strange, for one thing, she couldn't keep a house clean. I was rarely allowed to have friends over. But that didn't matter to my friends, they were eager to entertain me even if I couldn't reciprocate. Even back then I was into tea parties. We played with minature dishes, used water from the hose and had grand times. We used to play King and Queen and have to bow 3 times with our arms outstretched saying, 'salami, salami, baloney!' I too would wake up every morning eager to get outside and find out what was going on for the day. Those were simple days for me but not for the adults around me. I think as an only child I was more attuned to the activities of grown people and understood a little more about their world than the other kids did. And then as soon as I could read I started staying inside more. With my kids, some of the years I was able to stay at home and some I worked so they got a taste of both kind of lives. You needn't feel you 'robbed' your kids of anything by working, you were actually providing. They just experienced a little differnt life style from the one we did as kids which is true of practictly our whole generation I think.
We have an author who volunteers at our library who has been working on her family tree so I understand the signifigance of what you gave your mother, Wow!!! And no, I didn't make the Danver's connection, how fascinating! You certainly are steeped in history.
Have you read Robert Hick's Widow of the South? He has a new book coming out this Fall titled A Separate Country. Look them up in the library catalog, you might be interested in those. Fiction but historical. Widow of the South was most excellent!
I too am eccentric. My kids really laugh at me because of my interest in magik and witchcraft. Yet they are not hesitant to ask me to do 'spells' for them. I don't really consider myself a witch, I just dabble and take advantage of the natural movement of energy, usually through candle rituals. As for religion, I believe the same God is within all religions. So I do not claim any specific one for myself although I do have a higher power I believe in and pray to. I go to Al-Anon every week like some people go to church. My father was an alcoholic and my oldest son is an alcoholic, sadly. As for hobbies I don't have many besides reading and writing. I do like to go bowling. I was really great at it for awhile in my past years but gave up leagues and tournaments in my 40's. Now I just do it for fun, mostly with my kids. I walk regularly for exercise as I hate any real exercise and won't go near a gym.
Honk and Holler sounds great, I will look for it in our catalog. Are you moving closer to getting The Help? I know you will love it!
Take care and don't work TOO hard! Ronda

posted by madforbooks at 10:37 am (EST) on Jul 26, 2009

Hi, I just now saw your post about your writing when you were 16. They put it on the wrong page, the one where you write replies, how strange! I don't know how long ago you wrote, forgive me if it has been a quite a while. And thanks for sharing the snipet. I didn't even think of laughing! I quite enjoyed it. You are so right that is important for our kids to know the differences between growing up in the 60's and today! My youngest son Ronnie thinks he would have liked the 50's. My early years in the 50's were pretty idyllic but in the 60's my family was very conflicted. The times only excelerated my desire to be free of them. I was 16 in 1971 and left home shortly after graduation in '73. I married in '73, became a mother in '74 and didn't go to college until I was 31. Lots of story matierial.
Wanted to let you know I did read Home Safe and pretty much liked it. It was the first of Elizabeth Berg's I've ever read, may look up another one. I related to Helen letting people do things for her, I tend to be like that myself. I loved her putting in the quote from A Streetcar Named Desire about the kindness of strangers. Reading it even made me think about maybe taking a writing class...Just yesterday I finished Richard Yate's Revolutionary Road. A very disturbing book. Think I will watch the movie. Now I am reading a book called Little Texas, a story about a 16 year old boy who is a healer in the South and his tent revival preaching family. It is fascinating so far.
The tea party went well and my friend has gone back to Ca. Things are pretty quiet. Our weather has continued to be unseasonably nice and we are really enjoying it. My b'day is next Tuesday, I suppose the kids will have something planned for the weekend. Other than that, not much is happening besides work which is still really hectic.
I am so glad to hear you are completely well, but sorry it took 3 whole weeks!
My signifigant other is job hunting. His company, Qwest, has shut down operations here in Omaha. They offered him a job in DesMoines, Ia but I was unwilling to relocate so he stayed here. For now he has severance pay and qualifies for unemployment, but he is out pounding the pavement everyday, so to speak. The state is willing to pay for him to continue his education, tomorrow he goes to a meeting about that.
About getting that book to review, the publisher sent me the wrong one! However, it was 1 of 4 in the same series and I just got the word from Abby at LT to go ahead and review it anyway, she will make sure I get credited for it. The one I ended up with is titled Cinnamon and the April Shower. I should put my review up in a day or two. I am thinking about ordering a book about how to write book reviews. I would love to review many of the books in my library but am not quite sure how to do the best possible job of it.
Well, nightfall is approaching, time to water the plants. And wind down. Keep writing! Ronda

posted by madforbooks at 9:09 pm (EST) on Jul 23, 2009

I have been too tired at night to write, even in my write.com account, I am actually finally feeling better after being sick for three weeks. In my life story, I trying to see how my correspondence from 1965 to my best friend, Gayle will fit into the fictional story.

Here is a snipet from the letter, promise not to laugh:)

...Friday when I came down the beach, everybody thought I was now going out with Kenny. When you walk down the street with Kenny you don't have to be afraid of little remarks because he is as collegiate as they come. Well, he calls it "Surfer". He surfs, did I write that to you. Kenny and I stayed at the beach for a little while thinking maybe Alvin and Richie would come but they didn't

First, Kenny and I went to the "Spray" and got a Coke. We have a blast on the way home, we both walked home barefooted and he told me about all the crazy things he did at school. ...

I certainly wrote poorly back then but the words are those of a 16 year old girl. Actually some of the events mentioned in the letter, I remember fondly and spot-on my memories. I do want my children to know how differently teens and young adults thought and acted back in the 1960s. Parts of my life, I rack my brain to remember. I continue to read hoping the author's style would inspire me. Not many adults can put their their teen memories into fruction.

This last week, I read another book by Mary Kay Andrews, real chick-lit but a fast read. I am now reading an olderbook. The Hoot and Holler Opening Soon by Bette Letts. Some on librarything recommended because they knew I like folksy story. The other book which I check out is "The Virgin Queen" about Queen Elizabeth I, fiction based on historical fact.

I love that you are having a tea party not that I have but my town's Historical Society did have them and volunteered to serve. Having the tea sets would add such flavor to a party. At the Historical Teas, the patrons would wear hats and gloves and tea was served in the Garden of one our elegants estates. You will have a fabulous time.

I will look for your review of the children books, your grandchildren are very fortunate to have someone to share their love of books. I read to both of my children and both of them are advid readers.

Well, it is late and should be heading to sleep. Thanks you so for sharing some of your very active life with me. I just saw a preview of the Time Travler's Wife, the movie. I must look for the book so that I can read it.

Bev

posted by Gingersnap000 at 10:28 pm (EST) on Jul 21, 2009

Hi, glad to hear from you. Sorry you were sick on vacation, what a bummer! But good you got to read. I just checked out Elizabeth Berg's new novel Friday and am looking forward to it as soon as I finish up 'Asta in the Wings' by Jane Elizabeth Watson. As for non-fiction, I am in the middle of 'Now the Drum of War' a book about Walt Whitman and his brother during the Civil War, very fascinating. Walt was like a nurse on the battlefield, his brother a soldier, survivor of many notorious battles.
I am so happy to hear you write!!! We really are alike. Hearing about your searching for details through stories inspires me. My mother is a hopeless Alzheimers patient, no help for me there. I was an only child of 2 only children, very little family. My dad is dead as well as all my grandparents so I have to make up lots of details as you can imagine. However I seem to have a much sharper memory for the past than things that happened more recently so I guess it will all even out.
Remember I told you my son was in crisis with his live-in girlfriend? Well, things happened quickly on that front. Last Friday they told me they are getting married AND expecting a baby in March. I am to be made a grandmother for the second time. Circumstances are a bit rushed so not ideal, but we are hoping for the very best.
Today I am having a Tea Party. I collect tea sets and some friends have expressed a desire to see them so we are having tea and cookies here today. I super-cleaned except the bedroom, that door will be shut. I feel like a kid playing house again! I used to have a little playhouse my dad built me (he was a carpenter) in the backyard and I would get it and my dolls and furniture all just so and then invite kids in to play. As you can tell, I don't get company often as I am excited. Normally I stay pretty much to myself. My 2 best friends are mostly unavailable, one living in CA and one having passed already. I love the people I work with but we rarely socialize outside being invited to the bosse's home once or twice a year.
I hope you like Bull's Island. I found it ok but would have liked a more detailed ending. I think you'll see what I mean as I feel the epilogue should have been 3 additional chapters to the book. And then an epilouge. Tell me if you agree or not.
I got notice that I was very lucky and was chosen to get a early review book! I was thrilled, particularly since it was my first time requesting. I got 'Mason Moves On' a children's book about creatures in the 'NorthWoods'. I have to admit, would rather have had an adult book, but am so happy nonetheless. It will be so fun to read to Audrey, my grandaughter and then she can keep it too. Also, it should be a snap to review and doing a review makes it more likely to get other books.
Well, you take care and I hope you are well now. And I hope the weather is nice for you. We had a few cool days over the weekend but are to return to the sweltering 90's this work week.I can stand the high temps but when combined with high humidity it wears me out! My son says it is more uncomfortable here with the humidity & heat together than it was with just the heat when he was in Bahrain in the Navy. I do love the rituals of summer though and it helps me bear the summer. Stuff like wearing shorts, splashing in the pool with Audrey, sandals with pretty pedicures, buying from the farmer's produce on street corners, the ice cream trucks and reading outdoors on a pretty day with a calm breeze. And then at work there is Summer Reading Club. We reach so many kids and provide activities for some of those long lazy afternoons when kids get bored. It is such a joy to see so many of them reading quite a lot. Of course, there is a downside, the noise, babies and toddlers crying, the rushes for help at the desk creating lines for service. Lots of our adult patrons hate SRC and can't wait to have 'their' library back come August. More later, enjoy your reading and writing. Ronda

posted by madforbooks at 11:16 am (EST) on Jul 6, 2009

Hi, Thanks for your lovely reply. Sorry it has taken me so long to respond, I have had so much going on! My dear friend from Ca. arrives today and I have been getting ready for her visit. Another friend had a b'day, the Summer Arts festival was in town and my youngest son has been in crisis with his live-in girlfriend!
'The Reliable Wife' sounds good. I noticed a few copies of it moving through the library last week, there are many hold requests for it. I am reading 'Bull's Island' by Dorthea Frank Benton at the moment. It is way too light of a novel for me but I am interested enough in the characters to want to know what happens to them at the end. I was at B&N yesterday, they had a 50% off sale of books that had alredy been considerably discounted and I bought 11 titles! Along with my hold requests that have all seem to have come in at once lately, I am swamped with reading matierial! I just don't know where to begin, not an unusual state of being for me.
I hope you really enjoy your work, having 2 jobs. Are both in the same field? At my library we have had a cut back of hours and a wage freeze. Our city budget is a shambles and our library unfriendly mayor has taken a $100,000 away from us in order to 'help' the city. If things don't get better with the economy I will be describing myself as living in genteel poverty soon!!!
I did read 'Rhett Butler's People' and enjoyed the descriptions and lore of New Orleans. I didn't rate it highly however because I just can't get over my feelings that GWTW shouldn't really be sequalized, even though I do eventually read the sequals. I am conflicted that way!
So you are a combo of Scarlett and Aunt Pitty-Pat! You're right, that is a difficult image to conjure but I think I get the drift. I know I sure would like to have a modern day Uncle Peter to cater to my needs and whims like Aunt Pitty-Pat had! Maybe something between a secretary and a manservent, someone easy on the eye and good at the art of massage too. Oh no, I just looked over your e-mail again. You are partly Ms Watling and Scarlett, not Pitty-Pat! How careless of a reader am I? Shame on me! Rhett commented on Belle's heart of gold, didn't he? And Melly was a friend to Belle. Not a bad choice. I guess there are aspects of all the characters in most of us in one way or another. Like you, I could never be a Scarlett. I am pretty much plain Jane although I do like to think I am clever.
Oh, and another thing about the sequals to GWTW. I just don't beleive Rhett and Scarlett would have gotten reunited in their lifetime.
I did not know that fact about the double staircases and ladies ankles. What a delightful piece of trivia! Thanks for sharing.
I hope you have a wonderful time on your vacation. By the way, Kudos to you for keeping up with your passions all the while working 2 jobs! Including reading. You are right, we have much in common. I don't cook much but love to read and savor the pictures in cookbooks. Nigela Lawson is one of my favorites. I also love jazz music although I am not much discriminating of it. And history! You just know I am a Civil War buff. Actually, I love to read about all time periods. Just last week we watched 'The Boy in the Striped Pajama's'. I had read the book so wasn't shocked but still was much impacted by it. Have you experienced it? If so, what did you think? If not, I must warn you, it is the darkest thing ever.
My oldest child is a daughter too, she is 35, childless by choice. What a coincidence. She is married though.
I am going to tell you a secret. In my spare time I am working on a memior that I am changing enough to be fictional. No one knows, they just think I journal a lot. It isn't put together into any kind of form yet, just a lot of connected stories. Unproofed. But I have a dream...Actually, I think most passionate raders eventually want to write, have you ever thought about it?
Well, my morning is slipping away, I have a million things to get accomplished. My library is closed Mondays, it is always a personally busy day for me. Take care. Ronda

posted by madforbooks at 12:30 pm (EST) on Jun 29, 2009

Hi Beverly, so glad to hear from you! I too believe I was a Southener in a past life.I am so excited! Yesterday while perusing a favorite used book store, I found a 1952 paperback by Frank G Slaughter. He is a doctor and writes medical stories, another of my favorites. ( I also think I was some kind of healer in a past life ) The book I found, to my delight, was about a doctor who is the owner of a southern plantation! The cover says " A doctor, his wife and his power-mad mistress; a stirring novel of betrayal and faith in the stormy South ". I can't wait to begin it. Thanks for telling me about Mary Andrews, I will be looking her up in the catalog.
I was always in awe of Scarlett, but aspired to be more like Melanie. Yes, alas, I have always been a goody two shoes! However, I generally strive to fight for what I believe in so have not been boring. And I have had Scarlett friends who have gotten me into many an adventure. As for men, there have been plenty of scoundrels. I once had the perfect Mr Rhett, we enjoyed 11 years together before a tragic, but predictable, parting of the ways. In spite of losing him, I consider myself to have been very fortunant in that relationship. It was True Love and not something I am sure everyone gets to experience in one lifetime. Besides, I am sure we will reunite under new circumstances someday.
I have not traveled much out of this dreary midwest. I am lucky to live in Omaha, the most exciting city in the Heartland comparitatively but too conservative for me. I have lived here all my life and stay because my children do. My finances have never allowed me much travel save a few visits out West where a dear friend lives. I so envy your experience and appreciate your description. I so hope to get to Atlanta someday. I always wanted to see the Old New Orleans too...
As for what I have been reading, I just finished a couple good books by Brad Watson. They were wonderful. One is ' The Heaven of Mercury ' and the other is ' Last Days of the Dog Men '. The first one is set in the South, covers the years 1900- the 1970's. It is the story of a small town during that time period told by a newspaperman narrator who is hopelessly in love with a local citizen. The book has been reviewed as similiar to Fauklner. The other is a set of stories that incorporate dogs in one way or another into them. Some of the stories are shocking, some very thought provoking and a few just entertaining. I highly reccomend both books, although I am probably prejudiced, loving Faulkner's works. I googled Brad Watson and was able to find an interview of him. Heis believed to be up and coming and has a new book scheduled for release within a year I think it said. Besides those, the most outstanding book of all this year I have found has been ' The Help ' by Kathryn Stockett. It is not to be missed, look it up! Today, because of our clerk at the library, I am reading the 2nd in the series of the Wizard of Oz books. She is a great fan of Jfiction and was horrified when she learned I had never gone further than ' The Wonderful Wizard of Oz '. So I am goofing off today and enjoying a light childrens book.
Well, I hope I have not written too much. You have fun whatever you are doing this day. I have plans with my middle son who is father to my only grandchild, hopefully I can get my book finished before that. Peace, Ronda

posted by madforbooks at 1:32 pm (EST) on Jun 21, 2009

Well, I guess they are not really historical, but I love the South Carolina writer Josephine Humphreys(Rich in Love is her bestand it is set in the Charleston, SC area) and Doreatha Benton Frank has novels set in coastal SC

posted by sherriwoodward at 9:06 am (EST) on Feb 29, 2008