Member: madforbooks

I forgot about Mama Makes up her Mind! That was a hilarious book. I see that you own it too.

posted by ElizabethPotter at 12:29 pm (EST) on Nov 7, 2009

Spend a very quite Halloween but watched the festivities on television; too many vampires for me. In addition to all the vampires; David Lettermen and Billy Mays were extremely popular. My husband was being his morose self and did not want to give candy out to the masses so we retired to our bedrooms. I must confess to you that life with him is so difficult at times, especially during the holiday season.

He does use the holiday time as an excuse to drink and it takes all my wisdom of AlAlon to keep me sane. Today I dedicated to my best friend because we have not been able to schedule a day together for almost 6 weeks. He punished me by sneaking a drink or two and he truly believes that I would not notice. I did lose it and told him that every time that he drinks especially since he promised to stay sober, he puts a nail in the coffin of our marriage. Truthfully if it was not for our financial situation, I would be out of this marriage. I realized today he realized that if he was gainfully employed, I would be out the door. I am sad for our marriage but it could be better if he was a stronger person but he is weak.

Sorry to make you a sounding board but I know that you understand. Some days I feel like I am in prison and he is the warden keeping me behind bars. I am such an actress to everybody except my son. I can not be overly honest to anyone who surround my life because I am so miserable.

Regardless, I will keeping pray and asking my higher power to please help me live through the next few years. I am challenged but other people have lived through worst times so I must let go and let God help me again. Thank you for listening.

Bev

posted by Gingersnap000 at 9:14 pm (EST) on Nov 1, 2009

Good Morning and my stress is running high as it is the day of my company's Client Appreciation Event, The Red Sox vs. Toronto Blue Jay. I planned the majority of the event and I believe everything is on track...Nay, I know it is.

I did purchase in paperback, The Widow from the South and it will be read after Time Travelers Wife. While on vacation, I bought some chick-lit books at the Bargain Book Store so they will be added to my list. My time is limited so hoping to get through the Zombie book by end of this week or beginning of next.

For about 3 years Boston has become the spot to film movies as our state government are giving the production company tax breaks. I have run into a couple of the last few years but have never seen an actor that I admire. Now Tom Cruise is filming right down the street from the building I work in but probably will not be seeing him. The autumn in New England is so beautiful so it will make a great back drop for any movie.

Sending the book was no problem, I create all my own problems by not thinking ahead. The box could have been purchased before going to the P.O. and taped at home where I have scissors but did not think ahead. After I read all my books at home still have one on hold but it is popular, it is the historical fiction based on the witch hysteria era in Salem and of course Danvers (where I live). I do enjoy reading books where you are familar with the surroundings. In one of Pat Conroy's novel, the main character lived on Fripp Island and my sister in law had a condo there. I was able to visualize the surrounding while reading the book. Many of Stephen King's books are written about Maine where he lives and it is up there in the woods. While reading Cujo I was on vacation in the town of Paris, ME and it was local and it was a scary feeling. I do scare easily too!!!

While off to work I go but need a stress relief and writing to you always does it for me!
Bev

posted by Gingersnap000 at 11:12 am (EST) on Sep 29, 2009

I am just home from vacation and read your posting and did want you to know that I will soon return them...but I am back to work tomorrow. I did finish South of Broad and will mail it out on Saturday. It is a dark novel, darker than Prince of Tides. Pat Conroy must have a very dark past to be able to bring out such horrid moments which are written down in his novels. The weather was excellent on vacation and just relaxed and was able to do some Christmas shopping in tax-free New Hampshire. Working two jobs does not allow me much time to shop. It is easier to spread my shopping for holidays for budget purposes. The rest of my shopping will be done at Macy's or online. Well, until tomorrow.
Bev

posted by Gingersnap000 at 7:58 pm (EST) on Sep 23, 2009

Happy Labor Day weekend! I just came from the library with my large print version of The Help!! Half way through The Irish Country Christmas and love the descriptive prose and the cast of characters. Will finish Country Christmas this week as the book is due on next Saturday, then The Help and will read South of Beach, so I can mail it out to you...finally finish up Guernsey Literary Society.

Also discovered through my facebook page that a former high school and Sunday School classmate who also appeared in all the theater productions with me in high school now lives in Omaha, NE!!! Can you believe what a small world we live her. Wanda is recovering from brain surgery and moved from Chicago to Omaha to be near family.

I am off to take a short nap before I go into work from 6-10 pm.

Bev

posted by Gingersnap000 at 1:29 pm (EST) on Sep 5, 2009

Twice in one day plus my emailing the first chapter of my fictionalized memior is a bit much but only you a lover of literature would appreciate this thought. During the service of Senator Teddy Kennedy, one of his sons spoke of his love of literature and how he would take his children to visit the homes of his favorite New England authors so as to walk in the footsteps of these great writers.

I am a true lover of history and literature and often found myself on vacation seeking out the homes of authors who touched my life with their characters. I have walked through the homes of Nathaniel Hawthorne, Louisa May Alcott, Ernest Hemingway, Edith Wharton or walk the street where Ann Rice lived in New Orleans, the street of the towns of which Stephen King lived and wrote, the historical streets of Atanta and Savannah imaging what the street may have looked to Scarlett and Rhett. I have always been inspired and felt the presence of the author and their characters. It was a bit selfish to think only I would find pleasure in my visits.

Just a thought that I wished to share. Thank you for reading. Bev

posted by Gingersnap000 at 9:41 pm (EST) on Aug 29, 2009

Thank you for the suggestion of the book, you have been spot on all your suggestions to me. I do apology for my delay in responding to your last posting. This economy needs to get better, I attempt everyday to be positive and thankful to have two jobs, my health and family but the news all around us is depressing.

Most of this week, I have been working at a client site which processes unemployment claims for large corporations and small. There are so many claims that need to be validated under a time deadline. Fortunately, I am a quick study when it comes to software so in a couple of hours I was helping process new claims. It has been so depressing perusing the claims. Back to work tomorrow into Boston and then working the entire weekend at Macy's. This week is one of my tiring weeks in my 3 week rotation at Macys.

Last night, visited a former coworker/friend who has a backyard pool, had fun catching up with her, drinking wine, swimming in the pool. New England finally received the hot and humid weather and I am basking in it for the few remaining days. Really hoping that next weekend will also offer up warm weather. My best friend Anne and I are traveling to Newport, R.I. for a girls weekend to celebrate my 61st birthday. We plan to R&R mostly but who knows we may even visit one of the historical mansion on cliff walk or at least walk around the ocean.

My husband will be spending that weekend helping my brother and family moved to their new home in Maine. My hubby and brother both love to fish so after the move is complete, fishing will be the highlight of their days. My son is excited to be able to have the house to himself for two days.

My daughter did call today all excited to invite me to a taping of Wheel of Fortune who will be visiting Boston, it is to be part of her celebration for my birthday. I am a big kid when it comes to my birthday, I do not even care that I will be 61. I do not always feel 60 but today when I had my photo taken for the renewal of my license, I saw how old I am really him.

Told my husband that I was hoping that the photo did not make me look fat but instead my age was showing. When I look in the mirror, I don't look that bad but then I may see myself differently. After my visit to the registry, went to have my passport photo taken as mine is expiring this year...that picture was worst!!

I am still slowly reading the Midwives which has become a tooth pulling read but never give up on a book. I can look foward to five books looking in the wings in addition to the Help. I will research the book that you suggested.

Thank you for being so kind to listen and understand this eccentric old lady..:)
Bev

posted by Gingersnap000 at 10:39 pm (EST) on Aug 20, 2009

Yeah!! I day off from both of my jobs. My day job, bread and butter, is as an office administrator for a Dutch company in a small Regional office located in Boston. Promised myself when the children were grown that I go back to work in Boston. I had attended college, work and lived in Boston for seven years.

I had forgotten that Boston was truly a city for the young where they attend college and work until they move to the surburbs where I do reside now. I left the city when my first husband's abuse got even worst after the birth of my child so I ran to Denver where a friend was living as a single Mom. So I found myself a poor single mother in a strange city. I did last a year and returned home to my parent's new suburban home.. and here I stay married to another man in the suburbs for 29 years.

Boston is certainly not that of my youth but my feelings of noslagia is often present while walking the same streets had walk over 40 years ago. At 60 years old, nostalgia may provide one with a positive view of the past and this could help to you a greater sense of continuity and meaning to your life. My returning to Boston stirred up a desire to write my memoirs.

Trying to reminisce about memories of overr 40 years has been difficult. I am using my best friends from my youth to snap more memiors. I was extremely fortunate that my friend Gayle kept the letter which I wrote to her during the summer of 1965 (the year my story begins).

I am sorry that I have digressed from my lovely day off. It was a perfect summer New England day; bright sunshine, no clouds in the sky and not humid. I was able to R & R for part of day after visiting my parents, grocery shopping and laundry. I finished Bulls Islnd which I found enjoyable for the mere fact that the story revolved around Charleston and the island surrounding the bay. The story was pure chick lit but the twist at the end made the story a little less chick light!!

I am now onto Midwives and my paperbacks have arrive so I will have 5 weeks of reading hopefully in time to get the call from the library about The Help.

Tomorrow, I will be baking blueberry buckle one of my summer must have. Monday is set to be hot and humid so after work taking hubby and my dog to Salem Willows for another summer favorite; a chopsuey sandwich from a Salem Willow Chinese takeout. Only one more must and that will be fried clams. I did have another summer favorite today, native corn from a local farm stand...so sweet!! Summer took more time than usual to arrive but nothing like a New England summmer.

I do know that you would love this area, The North Shore of Massachusetts, who know may one day you can make it here. Have a great rest of the weekend and let you know how I enjoyed Midwives.

Until the next time,
Bev

posted by Gingersnap000 at 11:05 pm (EST) on Aug 8, 2009

I went to the library today and check where I am #202 on the list to take out "The Help". The libarian asked me if I did not mind reading LARGE PRINT books and of course I don't. She told me that she would place me on the LP Edition of The Help and I am now #5! Yeah. The two books which I picked out today were "Bulls Island" and "The Midwives" (it was on my recommendation list here at Librarything).

I am looking at your recently added and the title Waltzing at The Piggly Wiggly and the title is enticing. Did you enjoy it? My paperback books have not arrived and I finished the Virgin Queen's Lover, another novel by Philipa Geogory.

Again you surprise me with are similiarities, I am taking Effexor for my anxiety and Wellbutrin for depression. I have always been a worrier but after my husband's drinking became out of control, I was wreck and start having panic attacks. Finally, I thought that I was becoming a crazy woman because my husband was telling that my ranting were fairy tales. I did not grow-up around alcholics and had no idea how much drink can change your personality and mood. I talked my family doctor and she suggested that I go to a therapist.

My therapist finally opened my eyes and told me that I not crazy and suggested AL Alon. After a year, I became the chapter Chair and my self-esteem started to come back. I am a woman who is comfortable in her own skin (of course would love to lose 15 pounds):)

I do enjoy working at Macy's and it helps my finances in two ways - I make money and save money on clothes and items that I could no longer afford. We had the Colin from "What Not To Wear" at the store last year and one great piece of advice to told the audience is buy traditional clothes to build upon a wardrobe that can be mixed and matched. He did suggest that you purchase one of two trendy items to match with traditional pieces. I wear a good deal of black to slim me and black is part of the uniform for Macy's.

Your tarot card reader sounds very interesting because she was picking up your surroundings. Some just interept the cards. I have been told on several occasions that I have a purple aura = Purple is the color of warmth and transmutation. It is the color for the blending of the heart and the mind, the physical with the spiritual. It reflects independence and intuition, as well as dynamic and important dream activity. It can reflect one who is searching. The purple shades often reflect an ability to handle affairs with practicality and worldliness. The paler and lighter shades of violet and purple can reflect humility and spirituality. That is me for sure!!

I have a few good friends but no one who mirrors my interest as you do. I do look forward to your correspondence because I feel like I have found a kindred spirit in you. You would understand when I hold up in my house and just read a book, write, cook/bake or crochet because I do not want to face the world but on other days want to be among people and be extremely friendly chatting away on some of my favorite subjects. I have lost friends who can not understand me standing by my man...I do not understand either.
Till next time!!

posted by Gingersnap000 at 9:02 pm (EST) on Aug 4, 2009

As sweet as you sound in your emails, I am not surprised that you are an animal lover. We have always had animals in our households but now only a rescue dog. He is a mix of Havenese and Tibitan Terrior who was rescued from Puerto Rico. PJ greets me every night with one of his favorite toys and we practice his tricks.

I have been researching for more books to read and with help of Library Thing reviews and you; I bought four paperbacks including The Widow of the South. I will let you know how I enjoy it. The other three are Time Traveler's Wife, The Other Queen and "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. The Other Queen is another Historic Fiction Novel the Philippa Gregory. It will be 4th novel about the Tudor Family from her.

When you wrote adding Helter Skelter by being reminded by your daughter. My daughter helped me remember some also as I lent them to her and know the old adage, out of sight, out of mind. I wish that the names of books will come back to me. I was actually reminded of a book that I read when a tee-shirt worn by the Harvard Professor (Inkwell) Inkwell is a section of Martha's Vineyard that was the black only section. I remember most of the book but the name. It is easy to remember the one you read for school because you either did a book report or analyze them... gee just thought of one now Red Badge of Courage!! Some of the books in my libary, can not even remember what the book was about...tough getting old.

I have a busy weekend ahead; working my second job at Macys 8 hours on both days so rest for the weary. Last time I had a reading the reader told me that finally I will be getting out my years of bad luck...I hoping and a praying.

posted by Gingersnap000 at 11:27 pm (EST) on Jul 31, 2009

Unbelievable, another aspect of your life is similar to mine. I am a practicing member of ALNON as my husband is an alcholic. My saving grace over the last 6 years is the belief of Let Go, Let God. When I am so stress, I think positively and ask my highpower to take my problem and handle it for me.

I grow-up in a family who drinking was very rare so I thought that I was going crazy instead of my husband becoming a monster from drink. It has been extremely difficult living with him but my compassion has kept me in the marriage.

I see that you recently added Helter Skelter to your catalog. Besides being a book who spurn my interest in the criminal mind and socipaths, it was the catalyst that spark the first conversation between my husband and I. I am a sucker for a man who can carry on an intelligent conversation.

With your interest in the occult, you would love the occult. The few witches that I know practice the religion of Wicca and would not do harm to anyone. My interest in the occult has been in tarot cards and astrology. I studied for two years with an astrologist, Isabelle Hickey and she said that the mechanics of the science of astrology is important but the aura of a person is more important. When she read my chart she told me that I am extremely perceptive and it has helped in my readings. I have not done a reading in many years because it takes a great deal out of yourself.

One's taste in books must really reflect their similarities as it has been for us. I am currently reading The Virgin's Lover about Queen Elizabeth I and her assumed lover, Robert Dudley. I will seek out The Widow of the South. Thank you again for allowing me to get to know you better.

Beverly

posted by Gingersnap000 at 9:23 pm (EST) on Jul 29, 2009

My 23-year son, Travis also wishes he lived during the 50s and 60s because life was simpler. Told him it was not simpler but families and neighbors were closer. I grew up in a seaside community which was situated east of Boston. As children, my sister and I could not wait until morning during the summer so we could run out and play with the neighborhood kids. My Mom stayed at home and we always had a feeling of security because she was there. I did rob my children of that because of financial difficulties. My mother helped raised, Charity, my 36 year old and Travis was so close to my mother-in-law because she helped raised him.

It was wasn't much different years ago within my family. For my Mom's 80th birthday, I gave her a family tree 13th generations back. I went to Maine to find out a missing piece of her family and found out my great-great family was raised by his mother's mother. I have still have not found what happened to my great-great-great father because his wife shows up in Lowell, MA census as a mill worker and her children with her mother in Maine. This is my only stumble block. My mother's ancestors on her fathers side has been here in America since the Pilgrims but her mother's side was from Ireland but was able to trace them back to their family village of Rossemore, Cork, Ireland. I have found it fascinating to now walk in towns and cities where my ancestors walked and lived over 375 years ago.

Did I mention that I live in the town where the Salem Witch Incident took place? Danvers was named Old Salem Village and the church where Richard Parrish was the minister stands in the same spot but has been destroyed 4 times and rebuilt. Across the street from the church, the foundation of the house were the girls fell under their trance. Our town library had a lecture last week from Katherine Howe who wrote the newly published novel,Physick Book of Deliverance Dane. While she was researching this book, she discovered that not one but two of the women accused being witches were her ancestors.

I live with history all around me so it is no wonder why I love Historic Fiction so much! It is Friday night so I am catching up on correspondence since I worked my second job two nights in a row. I so enjoy our correspondence as you have so much common which does not happen to often because I am a traditionalist who is a bit eccentric. In my only spare time, I read, crochet, research my families genealogy and love to travel but believe it or not I can be silly and love to laugh.

If you hear about any Historical novels Southern, New England and English or Irish, please let me know. The book that I am reading presently, Honk and Holler Opening Soon is a very folksy and tells the story of real people. I thought it might be funny like a Franny Flagg's novel but it is more realistic and a very good read. Hope to hear from you soon. Bev

posted by Gingersnap000 at 9:18 pm (EST) on Jul 24, 2009

Rhonda:

Back from vacation but unfortunately it was not the best as I was sick the entire week but read two books in between sleeping. You may enjoy Elizabeth Berg's Home Safe which is a story of a 59 year old writer whose husband dies suddenly changing her life. The other book which I read was Savannah Blues by Mary Kay Andrews...mystery and humor.

You will not believe the fact but I have slowly been writing my memiors as a fiction because parts of my early years are a blur. I have had assistance from my Mom and two of my best childhood friends. One of my friends had kept letters that I wrote her when she was away at camp. The letters were extremely useful in regards to a summer love. Strange how you can remember some incidents in life more than others.

I read some of the letters to my children and they were roaring with laughter...I may inject more humor into the novel. When I can not remember exactly how an event happens, I improvise. The writing has helped to sharpen my mind and bring back manyt favorable memories...funny I do not know how a number of my relationships ended...selective recall.

I have been meaning to read Bull Island as I love her low country stories. My town's library is online with all the other libraries on the North Shore of Boston. I can request them to search for a book and then pick it up at my library.

Thank you for your reply and will let you know how I enjoy Bull Island.

Bev

posted by Gingersnap000 at 9:44 am (EST) on Jul 6, 2009