The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake ~ Book Review

I loved this book! I heard about it on one of Oprah's reading lists from a while back, and so I thought it'd be a fun read. I suggested it to my book club group, and they thought so, too, so we read it for April.

Aimee Bender is a true talent in my opinion. She's got a way of capturing your mind and holding onto it in a huge way. She grabbed me and pulled me in and I really wanted to know more.

Rose, our main character, is an interesting girl. We grow with her. We watch her overwhelmed with emotion as she tastes the feelings of others through her food. She experiments, hides, explodes. She watches those around her, oblivious to all she is experiencing and decides to hide her talent. She succeeds, for a while, anyway.

It was so interesting, odd, quirky and fun. It had a very Sarah Addison Allen feel to it, and I absolutely love her books (which reminds me that I need to get my hands on a copy of The Peach Keeper sometime soon!). The characters Rose interacts with were sometimes simply background noise, and sometimes completely front and center.

Rose's parents were somewhat transparent - odd, but transparent - throughout, but I absolutely loved the scene where she opened up to her father and he to her. That may have been the most important part of the book, in my opinion.

The only questionable part of this book for me was Rose's brother, Joseph. I enjoyed his character throughout, but the culmination of his odd behaviors was almost too far-fetched for me, even though I suspended my disbelief for this entire novel and devoured (forgive the pun sounding word) it. I did love Joseph's friend George, and from the get-go enjoyed the relationship between him and Rose.

Overall this book was a fun read, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in a little fantasy that isn't too out there (no pixies, fairies or people who turn into werewolves in this one!). It's a perfectly light and interesting summer read.

** I was not compensated for this review in any way. I bought this book a while back and decided I enjoyed it so much that I would write a review about it. **

Love Hurts ...

This was absolutely the last time I would read this letter. I mean it. I'm done. I don't know why I keep reading it. We're over and yet I think that reading what he wrote to me when he meant these words is going to help. Do I think it's going to ease the pain I'm feeling?

Sigh ...

Emmalyn,

You know when I call you that I have so much to say. You know how much you mean to me, but I just feel, right now, for some reason, the importance of putting it into words. Maybe it's because of losing my dad. I don't know. All I know is that I need to tell you how thankful I am. How grateful I feel to have had you here to support me through this. To tell you how much it means to me. How important you are to me. How much I truly love you.

Em, you've touched me in a way that no woman ever has. *snort - sorry, you know I'm a child at heart.* I can't imagine my life without you and I can't imagine I'll ever have to know. You've found a small space of my heart that was open and raw, and you moved on in and took it over. You've become a part of me and my family in a way that words don't do justice. For that, I thank you. I'll never be able to repay you enough for being who you are for me.

I love you, Emmalyn. I'm so blessed to have you in my life. I know you think my mom is a touch of crazy, and she may be, but she told me, after the funeral, after you went home and I stayed at the house with her, how lucky I was to have you. She told me to never let you go. She told me she looked forward to seeing our future together and she knew my dad would be so proud. You should have seen her, Em. You should have seen the twinkle in her eyes as the tears rolled down her cheeks. She knows how much I love you. How much you mean to me ...

I stopped there. Tears rolling down my own cheeks. So much for a forever love. So much for meaning so very much. So much for his mom's predictions.

She was wrong.




Write a short piece - 600 words max - that begins with the words, "This was absolutely the last time" and ends with "She was wrong."

Donate to Tornado Relief ...

Did you know that you can donate your Swagbucks towards tornado relief efforts?

Swagbucks members helped raise funds for Disaster relief in Japan by donating their *Bucks* via the Swagbucks website, and thanks in part to your efforts, donations totaled at over $20,000 to All Hands Volunteers.

Now they've turned attentions home, where the Southeastern U.S. was hit with over 250 tornadoes in the span of 24 hours. They are currently collecting Swag Buck donations through the month of May that will translate into a donation for United Way of Western Alabama.


The damage is impossible to imagine. Don't you want to help? Swagbucks has found a way to help YOU help those in need without ever actually opening your wallet. Can you imagine a more simple way to not impact your own budget than donating some of your Bucks? I mean, you know you're going to search some more, you're going to play games, you're going to earn them again in an instant! So share the proverbial wealth and pass along a few to help support the relief efforts. You'll feel really good once you do!

Here's the link to the donation page: DONATE NOW!

And if you haven't yet signed up for Swagbucks, what better time than today? I even have a special code for you just for signing up, and you can immediately donate those Bucks to the relief efforts after you receive them:

Sign up through my referral link and enter the code MEMORIALDAY when prompted - it'll pad your account with an extra 50 Swag Bucks on top of the 30 that everyone starts with. Get started earning your reward points today!

Swagbucks, the best place to get free stuff from searching and more is celebrating Memorial Day this week with a special promotion and tomorrow there will be a huge Swag Code Extravaganza, a day filled with fun, games and the opportunity to snag over 40 Swag Bucks worth of codes throughout the day. Be sure to visit Swagbucks all this week for opportunities to win big, and after you do so you'll have even more Bucks to donate to this worthy cause.

I've already sent in 100 bucks, and plan on donating again later this week after I make some more. Thanks for taking the time to help. And thanks to Swagbucks for continuing to support our friends in need.

** I was not compensated in any way for this post. I have included my referral links so that if anyone reading decides to sign up I can obtain some Swagbucks myself for referring them and their completed registration.**

Five Kid-Friendly Summer Getaways!

Looking for ideas on how to keep your children busy this summer? Looking for extravagance or something that costs close to nothing? Looking for something sentimental? Or something that just gets you out of the house?

Here's a list of my top five hopes and dreams for my daughter this summer ... consider it my travel bucket list for the family!

#5. Go for a ride. You don't really have to go anywhere specific, but your local parks, playgrounds, pretty much anywhere that isn't home - that's the best way to get yourself going and take a mini-escape, or as they're now being called? A stay-cation! We have a Jeep, and all we need to do is take the top down and hit the road and she's thrilled with driving through wooded areas, or just some bumpy roads. Even the nearest playground becomes an adventure when we take the long way there, and with any luck taking the long way home will knock them right out!


#4. Get thee to the beach. It's almost always free, it's probably not THAT far away, and it's instant entertainment. Whether your little ones are swim-savvy or just prefer to run along the edge of the ocean, you are sure to find yourselves busy and having a blast. Pack up a blanket (chairs if YOU really need them, but don't expect to actually sit in yours!), a few bottles of water, some sunscreen and your hats. Flip-flops and two-piece bathing suits for quick changes and potty breaks are perfect beach wear, and be sure to have some clean towels in your trunk at all times. The first time we took my daughter to the beach was a few years ago on our way home from the aquarium. It was quite a drive, and so just passing by the water was not acceptable for us. She loved it, and so did we. You will, too! There's nothing like watching your child first experience sand between her toes.


#3. Go to a farm. Whether you head off to pick berries (strawberries are a personal favorite around here), go for a hay ride or find a local place that lets your lil ones play with their lil ones. Goats, horses, baby chicks - kids love animals of all kinds, and the closer they can get to them the better! So find yourself a map of the area, maybe drive a bit farther than you normally would, and head to the hay!


#2. Get them swimming. Whether you take them to a pool or a lake, take them somewhere besides the beach where they can feel steady in the water and either learn to swim from scratch (see image below from last summer!) or get their sea legs steady, or enhance their abilities of jumping off a dock, diving board or testing out their new floaties. Get them to the water and let 'em swim. It's a must. An absolute must. And consider how much cooler you'll all be once you've dipped yourselves in there, as well. Ahh. Pure heaven.


And the #1 place to take your child for the summer ...

Well, I'm actually torn on this one as number one is a tie. I was going to be all creative and say take them to their minds and read them a fantastic book. And then I was honestly going to say take them to get ice cream, because sometimes there is nothing better on a summer's day.

But I changed my mind. And the #1 place to take your child over the summer is ...

A baseball game.

End. Of. Story.

There is no greater pastime. Nothing that represents the summer more. And no cooler experience for a kid than being at a stadium, eating popcorn, cotton candy, ices or ice cream. Making a total mess and trying to watch and focus on the game. Cheering for a team - even if they're not "yours" - is a thrill, as is the wave! So trust me on this one. And if there are no baseball teams nearby then pick another sporting event. It's a must. Teach your kids the importance of team sports, the importance of being active and moving, and the fun of it all whether you're in the stands or on the field! Get out there and

Take them out to the ballgame!

** I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Alamo blogging program, for a gift card worth $25. For more information on how you can participate, click HERE.**

Novica Giveaway!

Remember Novica?

If you don't - let me tell you a bit about them ... from their mission statement:

We want to give artists and artisans around the world a global platform to express their true artistic talents and to spur their creativity. And, we want to provide you with access to unique, hard-to-find items at great values that only the Internet infrastructure can allow.

Isn't that a novel idea? Working for the consumer AND the creator to establish an incredible shopping experience? I know it touches me, so when they reached out to me again to ask if I was interested in doing a giveaway for my readers I couldn't pass it by.

Novica is a wonderful shopping experience, even when what you're ordering is traveling across the world to get to you.

The last purchase I made with them was a gift for my mother-in-law's birthday. A beautiful amethyst pendant that is both her and my daughter's birthstone. She loved it. I loved it (the chain was a little bit short for my style, though, but perfect for her). Wanna see?


I already know what I am getting myself this time. A silver elephant ring. There's a story behind that and I'll get into it when I post my review, but here's a sneak peek at the ring for you:


On top of all of that they currently have a new cool campaign looking for consultants. So if you're looking for one of those home party jobs, but just aren't feeling the general companies, look no further! Novicalive is perfect for you.

Novica also has an incredible Microfinance program where you can make a loan to someone starting their own business. From their site: We are proud to have launched the first-ever microfinance website where customers can purchase products and lend money directly to artisans, with loans at 0% interest! Check it out!

So I'm lucky enough right now to have a Novica code for YOU to buy yourself something special. Enter here by first heading on over to their fair trade corporate gifts and let me know ONE items you'd love to buy yourself.

Extra entries:

* Tell me something *special* about one of Novica's green gifts.

* Follow me on #GFC.

* Follow me on Twitter @goodgirlgonered

* Tweet about this giveaway:

I just entered to win a $50 @Novica GC over @goodgirlgonered -- Enter here: http://bit.ly/lSECoX #Giveaway

Winner will be chosen on June 1st. Picked by using Random.org. Thanks and good luck, everyone!

** I was not compensated for hosting this giveaway, but I was given a GC to give to one of my readers. I was also given a GC for myself (not for the giveaway) to choose a product and post a review - to come at a later date. **

Congrats to the NOVICA WINNER: Commenter #8: Daffy!!!!

The Beach Trees ~ Book Review

I first read Karen White over a year ago when I had the chance to review her book On Folly Beach. I hadn't realized that I had one of her other works in my *to-read* pile until I finished and looked up some info on her.

So when I had a chance to read and review her latest novel, The Beach Trees, I couldn't pass up the opportunity. And then I received the my copy. Just look at the cover:


Doesn't it just pull you in completely? It's so beautiful. The colors and the water. It's so intense that I can almost smell the fresh air. Ahhh.

Julie is our main character in the present day. We meet her and she's grieving over the loss of her closest friend, Monica. She also finds herself in custody of Monica's son Beau. A little boy holding onto one small red hat and sucking on his thumb as if it were the only thing to soothe him.

We take the journey with Julie as she heads to Biloxi, Mississippi to find Monica's family. The family that Beau should know. As she comes to know them we meet Monica's brother, and Beau's uncle, Trey. The buttoned-up lawyer who is ready to fight her for what he claims is rightfully his.

We also meet Aimee, the boy's Great Grandmother. Her role in the family is puzzling, and her history intertwines with Julie's as the story unravels. Aimee tells Julie her life story, her memories, and her love for two brothers as we turn each page.

We are often brusquely brought back to the present without a finished note of Aimee's story. Julie doesn't like it any more than we, the readers, do, but it forces us to turn the page.

We watch as Julie develops a love for the memories Monica shared with her. A love for her family, friends and the place she called home so long ago. We observe as her connections to Biloxi and New Orleans strengthen and she helps Trey to develop River Song as it stood in his sister's and his memories.

We observe as Julie learns to let go of the past, let go of the things she hung on to and move ahead, strong enough at last to live her own life. And we're thankful that the small smile on a little boy's face is enough to get her started and shove her in the right direction. Then we're grateful for Monica, and all she did to get her friend to this point - despite the unexpected mystery that unravels surrounding that, as well.

And lastly, we learn about the beach trees. I won't touch on that too much as I don't want to give away what the title actually represents. I think it's important to just find that as you turn each page on your own.

Oh, and let me not forget that there's murder and mystery in this thrilling read, as well. Perfect (if not frustrating, upsetting and sometimes disappointing - in the characters, not the book itself!) way to spend your summer - at the beach or not - The Beach Trees is an excellent and worthy read. I hope you grab yourself a copy and enjoy it!

**I was not compensated for this review in any way. The publisher did provide me with a copy of this book to facilitate my review. **

Wordless Tuesday ... Just 'Cause

Stream of Consciousness: Who am I?

I'm ready. I haven't done a post for SOC for a while, as Sundays are family day for us, and so I honestly just sort of go with it and forget to blog. But since blogger was asleep on Friday when I would normally post, and I have been under the weather these last few days I figured it was time.

I think about what blogging means to me and I have been saying to myself that what I really want to do is get back to talking about me and my family. And motherhood. What's wrong with being a mommy blogger? After all, isn't that what I am? A mom who blogs?

I'm always so intrigued about the labels and niche that women put themselves in. I don't ONLY talk about motherhood, but lately I don't seem to talk about it that much at all. Interesting how that works. I've shifted to fiction, which I love and am grateful to the #TRDC ladies for prompting me to get back into. Prior to meeting them I had actually started writing a story of sorts for myself, to see what happens to it.

But then I realize when I find myself pressured to maintain a weekly post, or two, or ten, that's when I lose track of me. Lose sight of who I am and why I blog. So I write when I want to, and about what I want to, and support those that do whatever it is that they do.

So even if I come by only once in a blue Sunday. Fadra knows I love her "meme" and enjoy it. Just as much as I enjoy The Red Dress Club, and Capturing the Everyday with Adventuroo, and Muffin Tin Mondays which I rarely get back to anymore. Same with Pouring my heart out with Shell. It's got to be about me, and when the mood and timing is right, the memes work for me. And the prompts. And when it's not - well, I'm still here - supporting and writing and just being ME.

And would you look at that? My five minutes are up. This may not have appeared to be a stream of my consciousness, but I can honestly say I did not sit down with the intention of writing about this. I honestly was about to say how our regular Sunday was on hold while my husband was off to pick up a free Queen-sized mattress for our guest bedroom that someone was giving away. The saint that he is. While I sit here and can't breathe and my child is playing Christmas games on the iPad. Fun times. Thanks for reading. And now I'm over a minute - but I kind of had to go there. Couldn't help myself!

Enjoy your Sunday, bloggers!

The Lost Girls ~ Book Review

I am totally and completely loving this book. If you've ever had a dream to travel the world, and like me, never had the chance to truly do so, you'll find yourself living vicariously through Jen, Amanda and Holly. Obviously I'm on a first name basis with these ladies, there's no need for their last names at this point (all you have to do is click the image of the book cover above for more details).

We meet them in NYC, which, right off the bat, is a joy for me. I'm homesick - what can I tell you? They are my complete opposites as I read this. They want to escape the big city, I long to return to it. (Only for a brief while!) They're single, child-less and working like fiends, I'm married, a mother and a stay-at-home mom. They're approaching 30. I've been there and done that.

In fact, skimming some of the reviewers who also read this book for TLC book tours, I found A Bookish Way of Life, who has prompted me to create a 40 before 40 list! I'm excited! This book has spurred motivation in ways that surprised even me.

The "girls" - who are truly women and strong ones at that - have a plan. Their plan is to travel around the world over an entire year and do all the things that they have wanted to do. We join them as they trek through the country-side, dance the night away, share their beds with chickens (literally), volunteer their time, and motivate young girls.

We are riveted as they manage to engage with people who don't speak their language. We are emotionally overwhelmed as they lose jobs, lovers and realize just how much they have left behind. We find ourselves touched by the connections they make as they move through their days, and the bonds they strengthen between them.

These three women are not lost. They're doing something many a woman and man have longed to do. Obviously by now they have "done' this already. And because of that I had to move along and dig around and find out more about them. What are they up to now? Well, take a peek [I promise that even though you might start feeling annoyed with them when they're all together it's really just envy. Or maybe it's awe? Sigh. I know I want to hate them because I'm somewhat jealous of their experiences, and, well - don't. Or try hard not to!] ...



Video embedded from the Lost Girls website.

So, in summary, if you're prone to sitting on your @$$ and wishing you had motivation, money or inspiration, look no further. The Lost Girls is the book for you. These women will help you find it. Or at the very least remind you that anything is possible.

I'm starting to sound like a keynote speaker at a college graduation, aren't I? Come to think of it, if you know a young girl about to graduate, do her a favor and buy her this book. I wish it was something I'd read back in the early 90s. Ehem. What? I told you I'll be 40 soon!

Enjoy!

** I was not compensated in any way for this review. I was provided a copy of the book to facilitate the review by TLC Book Tours. All opinions expressed are completely my own.**

Mother's Day Weekend ~ 2011

It's been a while since I got personal, I mean, I'm pretty personal here every day with you readers, but I haven't done an update, a family post and what better time to do that than after Mother's Day weekend, right?

On Friday the kiddo and I went strawberry picking with my mother-in-law. Here are a few shots from that fun experience:


And what's bizarre is that the child actually picked the same dress she wore last year to go pick strawberries. I have a feeling it isn't going to fit her for much longer, though. She's getting crazy tall.

We went out to dinner on Friday (I still have leftovers - yum!) and Saturday was kind of mellow. But then on Saturday night the husband and I got out for our first "date" since last April. And we decided to go enjoy a movie. We went to see Fast Five. Ah, hotness.


I couldn't find one of Paul Walker by himself, or close enough up from the movie (thanks Swagbucks and Photobucket for these pics) so I had to go old school:


I'm sure you forgive me ...

Anyway, yesterday we took the ILs and the kiddo swimming, and then grabbed a late lunch for Mom's Day. We spent the rest of the day at home, hanging out, and hubby determined that the kiddo has a killer swing and is a natural athlete. Seriously. He pitched and she actually HIT the ball. Amazing! Pics of that to come another day. Maybe even a video if I can get them on the site clearly enough.

So, that's that. Hope you all enjoyed your weekends. Whether you're a mom or you have one, Mother's Day is a special day (Hallmark Holiday or not!) to remind the women in your lives how special they are to all of you!

Her Green Eyes ...

I watched her as she sat, still, focused, unflinching.

She stared right out the windows and didn't move.

Did she even notice the way I was watching her?

She tilted her head a bit, popping her neck in that odd way she always had.

Was I even allowed to notice those things anymore? I had given up all rights to her and her eccentricities months ago. When I opened my mouth and said those stupid words. 'I don't think this is working,' my mind wandered back briefly.

I can remember watching her mouth moving and not truly hearing what it was she was saying. She seemed so ripped open. Shredded raw. That was then. Not now.

Did it even matter how much I regretted those words? Surely not. She had moved on. Look at her. How strong she is. How unmoved by my presence. If I weren't stuck here she wouldn't care. She'd be going about her business as always.

But I'm here. Why can't I just look at her simply, the way she looks at me now? Turning, pushing her hair behind her ear. Smiling, simply smiling.

"Matty?" she whispered.

"Uh, yeah? What's up?" I responded, clearing my throat mid-sentence.

"Are you okay?" I suppose I nodded. She smiled again. How I envied those who got to see that smile every day. The twinkle in her eyes. That deep and bright green all at once. "Okay, good." She seemed to be swallowing. Was that a tear? She wiped at her eyes. Wait, what was happening here? Was there a chance? Ah, she must be thinking of something. Or someone. Someone else.

Holy shit, she met someone else. She's thinking about him right now, isn't she? I hate him. I hate that bastard. Where is he, anyway? Why isn't he here while I am? How much can he even care about her if he's somewhere else when she needs him?

Damn.

How stupid am I? How could I not think someone like her would move on?

Pretty freakin' stupid. Geez. She is so beautiful. Is she glowing? She might actually be glowing.

"Em?" She turned. Looked right at me. "What are you thinking right now?" She opened her mouth. Closed it. Shook her head slowly.

My throat burned. My heart felt like it was going to leap straight out of my chest. Of course she won't tell me. It's not my business. What an ass. I'm such an idiot. I took a deep breath and started towards her. "I'm sorry, Em. I'm so, so sorry."

** This post is in response to the Red Dress Club's Jealousy prompt. To find out more about this story, please click here and read up on these characters. As always, constructive criticism is welcomed. **

I AM a Real Housewife

I was sitting here thinking to myself that I would possibly take the next few days off from blogging.

And then. Then I stumbled across Mama Kat's writer's workshop prompts for this week and I decided I had to play along. Because if there were ever a prompt I would want to respond to and have up for a few days, this, my friends, would be it:

** 10 reasons why you could not be a real housewife from any county. **

Bwahahaha! How perfect is that, right?

So, here you have it. Here are the reasons why I cannot be a Real Housewife ... on Bravo!

#10. I could never, EVER wear this:

Because pink? Pink is totally NOT my color. (Yeah, that's my reason and I'm sticking to it.)

#9. I don't walk around the house in heels. Why? Because I just don't. I don't have Barbie feet that are permanently set to wear shoes that put my heels so far above my toes that I'm bound to wind up with foot problems in a few years. Been there - done that. No thanks.

#8. My dishes ... are NEVER done. I don't watch these shows, but I'm guessing (and totally stereotyping) that these ladies and their beautifully manicured fingernails never sit with their hands in a sink filled with dirty, grimy dishes.

#7. My laundry is never done, either. And my next guess is that they don't scrub at stains, or feel like they're living under a pile or two, or ten, of laundry. Dirty, clean, it doesn't matter. It's there. It's in our room, the child's room, the guest bedroom (that's where the clean stuff goes until, like today, my ILs are coming to visit for a few days) and so forth!

#6. I only have one home. All of these ladies seem to travel between their beach houses and their apartments and whatever other options exist for living arrangements. Me? Not so much. One home. Our house. It's littered with toys, papers and other necessary and unnecessary items daily.

#5.I cut coupons. And I use them. Seriously. Can you imagine any of these ladies doing THAT? GASP!

#4. I would never dress like this:

Yeah, sure, some aspects might be pretty. Like the shoes (see #9, though). And that aqua dress is kind of cute. But that silver one? And the hair? Negative.

#3. I have no reason whatsoever to wear the amount of jewelry these women wear on a daily basis. None. Nada.

#2. I don't "jet-set" anywhere. Our version of jet-setting is hopping into the Jeep as quickly as possible so we can make it to __________ on time. [Fill in the blank with one of the following: Doctor's appointment, start of a movie (rare), swimming lessons, or well, that's pretty much it!]

And the #1 reason I cannot be a Real Housewife on Bravo is ...

I have a four-year-old daughter and a menagerie of animals who would destroy my attempt at that in a heartbeat. Can you imagine my walking into or trying to walk out of my house in a dress like these women wear when I can't even put on a pair of black pants until I'm halfway out the door to avoid pet hair attaching itself to me? And I rarely wear earrings anymore because, well, I stopped when she was a baby and used to tug them out of my ears. And I can't wear bracelets because she steals them. OK, borrows, but STILL. So I'll skip these shows and enjoy reading great books about real moms who know what it's like to battle with laundry, dishes, potty-training and bedtime, and are surrounded with Goldfish cracker crumbs and crusty old sippy cups!

p.s. One extra reason I just had to add ... I have not and more than likely will not ever do a Playboy photo shoot. 'Nuff said.

Husband and Wife ~ Book Review

Husband and Wife, a novel written by Leah Stewart, was an odd read for me. I had high hopes for the story of Sarah (sad, that I literally finished this novel a few hours ago and I didn't remember the main character's name) and hoped to see her recapture the supposed spirit she had when she was younger.

As a mom, and one who is not working, I had empathy for Sarah for giving up her dreams to become a mother and support her family. My story is a bit reversed, though I'm not doing what I want to do when it comes to working, either. See, for me, I'm not working at all outside my home. For Sarah, she was working in a field that just about bored her to tears.

I felt the search she was on for herself. For her younger self, for the person she had become, I felt all of that and think that those scenes were the strongest of Ms. Stewart's writing. But I never felt FOR Sarah. I never felt like I knew her. Maybe I wasn't supposed to, as she really didn't know herself throughout this story, but I knew her husband, Nathan. I remember his name. I remember her friend, Helen, and even her husband Daniel - who was more of a name than a character at all. I can conjure up an imagine of the two men we watch her interact with who are not her husband. Smith [boy - he was pretty yummy. Can we get a book completely about Smith, please?] and R. So why is it I can't really feel Sarah?

I think that somewhere at the mid-point of this book I tuned out some of what she had to say. And because of that I'd have to add that I think some of it could have been left out. As I fumbled through the pages with her, as she reassessed her relationship and looked at herself a bit, I did, too, and while I'm not sure what it was, I felt like something was missing.

And yet, to somewhat contradict myself, after those sections I decided to skim through, the story picked up again. I started getting into it. I had hope -- however brief it was.

On the back cover of the book the last line of the description states:

"an eye-opening journey that leads Sarah hundreds of miles away from her marriage and back to herself."

Sadly, I didn't feel it. I don't think she found enough of herself for this book to end as it did.

But I'll say that I don't think every book is for every reader, so if you find the info on her website intriguing enough - then go for it. It just might be the right read for you.

** I was not compensated in any way for this review. I was given a copy of the book to facilitate my review and all expressed opinions are completely my own.**

Done. D-O-N-E. Done.

I sat there, clicking and reading, reading and clicking.

The room was small. I was shielded from being able to view the people around me, but I could sense them. I saw them when I walked in, and totally knew that they were there. I mean, even without seeing them you knew. You couldn't see them, but you couldn't not see them, ya know?

And the cameras. Was anyone actually watching us?

I'm the kind of person who often looks up when I think. I don't know what I'm looking at, or looking FOR, but I look up. I look around. I look like I'm trying to cheat, I suppose. I know I've been told to "keep my eyes on my paper" more than once in my school years.

So looking up and seeing those cameras a part of me wanted to wave. Make a face. Say hi. Pretend I was at my wedding, my sweet sixteen, even, and my father was encouraging me. 'Hey, you, you out there! Hi! I see you seeing me.'

But I didn't. Of course I didn't! I couldn't do that.

I reviewed page after page by clicking the mouse. I looked at my supposed scratch pad of notes. Counted questions. Which - I must clarify - is nothing like counting cards. But I digress ...

I suddenly realized I had to pee. Must have been my nerves, because I'd been in there about four hours and hadn't had a drop to drink. No food or beverages allowed inside. I honestly didn't even realized how much time had gone by. I just knew I was cold, or sweating. Or both. And now I had to pee.

A quick trip to the bathroom, and then back to the room. A deep breath as I walked back in.

I was ready.

One more glance through. I'm ready.

A few deep breaths. Putting my head in my hand. Resting. Shutting my eyes for a split second. I'm ready. To myself. To everyone else. To anyone who could hear my thoughts ...

And I clicked the button.

One ... two ... what? What's that? Ah, great. A short survey while we process your responses. Fantastic. Seriously? Click - was the room too cold? Click - was the facility easy to get to? Click - click - done. Done.

Click.

Oh. I really AM done. It's processing. It's truly processing.

Do I look? Do I not look? When will it ... I passed. Oh my G-d, I passed!

I PASSED!!!!

This post is in response to the Red Dress Club's RemembeRED prompt this week: "Tell the story (without any trivialization or modesty) of something in your life that you are proud of." This memory is mine from a few years back, when, after being in NC for a while and not working for an even longer while, I sat down to take my LCSW exam for the state of North Carolina. I walked in a bundle of nerves, and walked out a licensed clinical social worker. I PASSED!

Summer Reads ...

So, what's on tap for you this summer? Lots of adventure? Loads of days on the beach? Travels to foreign lands? I'm hoping to do all of the above!

Yeah - you got me - through the books I read. (As if the title didn't give that away!)

I figured I'd list a bit of what I have in store for myself this summer. Some of them are carried over from last summer, but this year I plan to dive into them and devour.

What's your idea of a good summer read? I think I'm going to get my planned book swap going for the summer. Maybe a Sweet Summer Things kind of thing?

Anyway, here's some of what I plan on sinking my teeth - eyes - into as the weather warms up:

* Ten Beach Road, Wendy Wax
* Life's a Beach, Claire Cook
* The Wednesday Sisters, Meg Waite Clayton
* The Beach Trees, Karen White
* The Peach Keeper, Sarah Addison Allen
* South of Superior, Ellen Airgood
* Hello, Goodbye, Emily Chenoweth
* Saving CeeCee Honeycutt, Beth Hoffman
* Little Bee, Chris Cleave
* Bossypants, Tina Fey
* The Opposite of Me, Sarah Pekkanen
* The Girls, Lori Lansens
* Flirting with Forty, Jane Porter

So, what's on tap? Are you a mystery fan? A put your feet up and lay back in the sand kind of reader? Is it all about turning the pages or have you switched to a Kindle or Nook? (More on my confusion about that decision later ...)

Let's talk books!