Wednesday Book Blog: Eight Days To Live

Eight Days To Live

Iris Johansen

Eve Duncan Series #10

As stated above this book is #10 in the Eve Duncan series however it focuses more on Jane, the adopted daughter of Eve and Joe. It also brings back Jock, MacDuff and Caleb from past books that focused on Jane. The book was good, a quick read a bit of the supernatural and a bit of the past as the book focuses on the Judas coins.

Jane did annoy me a bit as she is pretty bull headed, but I guess that is her character. I think I do enjoy the books about Jane better than I like the ones about Eve and Joe but as always I did enjoy an Iris Johansen book. Not one I would say run out and get and read, but worth the read if it comes across your path as it did mine.

Wednesday Book Blog: Savor the Moment

Savor the Moment
The Bride Quartet Book 3
Nora Roberts

I took a break between the first and second book but went right from the second book into the third. I knew what I was in for, much of the same but I just could not help it. I had to read it right away.

As assumed, the book was predictable and pretty much the same story as the 2nd book, just focusing on cakes instead of flowers. This disappointed me as the title character in this book had the same situation as the title character in the 2nd book and pretty much even had the same dialogue with her friends and the man she ends up with.

There was a fun change of scenery in this book which changed it up a bit so that was nice. Of course I again I would recommend this book to read especially if you read the first 2. I mean really we have come this far so we must be enjoying them. LOL.

Wednesday Book Blog: Heat Lightning

Heat Lightning
Virgil Flowers Series Book: 2
John Sanford

I don't usually like to read books in a series out of order, but this book had been passed along to me and I picked it up without realizing it was a series. Luckily it was only book 2, and luckily I liked it so of course I went on to paperbackswap.com and ordered book 1 and 3

This book is about detective Virgil Flowers, a very interesting and smart character. I like the way he thinks and the way his character is written. He has very many facets. He is a specialist in solving murders, especially ones that have lots of possible bad guys and reasons, or I guess I should say motives. I can usually see where a book is going and I did not figure this one out for quite a while, which is a good thing.

Great character, good read I look forward to reading the first book and then the next one. Too bad I found this series when they just started and have to wait for the 4th book to come out. Would love to just plow through as many as I can. Sort of like hanging out with a cool friend.

Wednesday Book Blog: Bed of Roses

Bed of Roses
The Bride Quartet Book 2
Nora Robert

So I was of course eager to read this book, but to make sure I did not get burn out from the series, I read a book in between. Of course as expected, this book was much the same formula as the first, and I expect the 3rd and 4th to be the same. But nonetheless, I still enjoyed it.

As the name implies this book focuses on Emma, the florist of the group. I knew by the end of the first book, who she would end up with in this book and I figured out the 3rd book as well. But that really did not take anything away from this book. So being about the florist their was of course beautiful descriptions of all the flowers, and arrangements and bouquets, which of course got this bride thinking of flowers, which of course led to budget - which is definitely not of issue in this book- but I digress, this book is fun and somewhat fantasy so budgets be gone from the brain!

Although predictable and not much of surprise it was still fun and easy to read. A great beach read or comfy couch read now that in the Northeast it is no longer beach weather.

Wednesday Book Blog - Vision In White

Vision In White
The Bride Quartet Book 1
Nora Roberts

Okay, I admit it. I fell for it. Being a Nora Roberts fan and being a bride to be, I fell head and heart first into the first of four books in the The Bride Quartet books. I resisted at first - only a little, I have to be honest - to get into books about brides and weddings but then gave in and picked up the first book. Done in 2 days. I kid you not. The books follow 4 life long girlfriends who started an wedding planning business, yup appeals to the event planner in me. Each book follows one of the girls as they fall in love and get engaged, okay so I am in that same stage of life. It takes place in Greenwich, CT and it is by one of my favorite guilty pleasure authors. See had a quartet of my own for this book. The first book, Vision in White, follows Mac, the photographer of the book. That is all I am going to say about that, you can read the book to find out more. And true to Ms. Roberts' books, a quick, easy and entertaining read that speaks to the bride in all of us no matter where that bride is in the stages of life.

Wednesday Book Blog - Knock Out

Knock Out
Catherine Coulter

Ooh I love this series of books and I loved this one. I am always excited when a new one comes out in this series of books. I love to follow the Sherlock and Savich, married FBI agents and their cases. I also like that there is a bit of the other worldly in these books as Savich has a bit of special senses and abilities. I don't have much to say about it but I just enjoy diving into their world once in a while with these books. Racing through streets, saving the day, the little bit of romance. What more could you want in a book and a little bit of escape time.

Wednesday Book Blog: North River

North River

Pete Hamill

One of my all time favorite books I have ever read is Forever by Pete Hamill, and yes I kept that book on my bookshelf. Knowing that I enjoyed the book, and Pete Hamill being a favorite author of my fathers, he recently gave me the book North River. Of course I raced through the book I was reading to get to North River. It was nothing like Forever except in the fact that it takes place in New York City and yes there is one quick reference to Cormac, the title character from Forever. It is a sweet love story, it is a fast read but a slow paced book, there is not much action or really much that takes place in the book and while it could be considered a sad, heavy book to read, one reason being it takes place during the depression, I did not find myself sad at all by the book. I enjoyed it very much and even passed it along - as a borrower only, this will live on my bookshelf - to my Aunt who also enjoyed it.

me and my books

I try to write about the books I read on this blog, sometimes I am more consistent than others in writing about what I have read, but I am always consistent in my reading. I read every day. I love to read and I love to keep my books. I don't keep every single book I have read but I like to keep the ones that were special to me or my favorite reads. I don't typically re-read a book so I am not keeping it to read again, just keeping it because books are like friends to me.

But since I have moved, I am limited for space - not that I was not before, but this is a different type of limited - so the other day I had to go through my books and decide which to keep and which to not. It was not an easy thing for me, but I had to do it and I did. I kept my special friends that I like to see on my bookcase and I chose to pass along my friends that I know others would enjoy. The process started with lots of piles. A pile for what I am going to keep, (inevitably, the biggest pile) a pile for www.paperbackswap.com, a pile to bring my my mom's salon and random piles for friends who I thought might enjoy a particular book.

Once my piles were arranged, I put my keep books in my bookshelf in the order I have envisioned in my head for years. It was hard to give away some of my friends, but I know they will find good homes and when I look at my bookshelf, proudly displayed in the entrance hallway or our place, I have a warm, friendly comforting feeling from my friends on the shelves.

Me Time with Me

Lately I have found that I have been wanting more me time and taking it, but I find that I want my me time alone. I have a desire, and one that I give in to, to huddle up in a corner (yes a comfy one) with a nice cup of tea and a good book, or I want to sit on my couch and watch DVR and knit, knit knit away. I have always found pleasure in doing these thing, and have made ample time for them in my life, but I have always been more of a social person so for me these days to want to stay in and do solitary things has surprised me. And lately I have given in to it. I think it is important to do what feels right for yourself and I always feel so good after taking that time.

However, I know for me, and I believe for all of us, this cannot be the only type of me time in our lives. I believe that we all also need social me time with good friends and new friends, doing an activity that you enjoy and look forward to. I am looking forward to my dinner planned with the girls next week (the first time I am entertaining them at my new place!!!) , and the MTFM event for October (ooh a make-up make over and free beauty treatment!) and all of the other fun social events on my calendar but I do find just as much excitement over the nights I have nothing planned or the all day Sunday when I can be lazy with my books and my bamboo needles.

Blogging

Jeez who would have thought this would have been so hard to do. I mean I am a talker you would think I would be able to write stream of conscience much easier. But it seems not so much!



I want to write about more and I plan it, I even jot down notes about things and experiences I would like to write about but it does not happen as easily as I would think. It does seem that in the minutes in the morning between sleep and wake I have great ideas and come up with great, flowing and inspiring prose to write but I just don't get out of bed and do it. Like most I think oh that is good, I will remember it when I get up, it's only in a few more minutes. Then I hit snooze a few more times, and then I am running with just enough time to get ready and no time to write that awesomely beautiful blog I had in my head. Grrrr.



Yes this was one of them and yes in the wee hours of the morning sleep fog it sounded so much better. Hmm maybe if I force myself at the same time everyday to write something I will get more into the habit and the flow. I guess we will see, keep checking back to see my progress :)

Andrea: Best Conversation With A Stranger

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure and the honor of having one of the best conversations I have ever had with a stranger. (Yes I know a few weeks ago and I am finally writing about it now......)

The conversation started over greeting cards and the different types with local and beach scenes. I am not sure how it happened but soon we were talking about the state of the World today and how we both felt that if people tried to look at the glass half full more often and appreciate what we do have and who we have in our lives, it could make a difference in the World. We both seem to have the same outlook on fun, and finding the good and enjoying the day and the moment that you are in and compared notes on how we both do that.

This lovely women had a wonderful and infectious smile, a warm and open personality and a vibrancy about her that made you want to spend more time talking with her.

I then found out that her and her husband had lost their home to a fire in March during those crazy storms. They lost every single thing that they had but were both lucky enough to not have been harmed. She said to me, "you can replace your things but not people". And instead of being down and beaten by the loss of their home, memories and things to the fire, she was so excited for their new home and the new location and all that these things offered to them. It was so uplifting and refreshing and really a great way to get perspective!

At the end of our conversation she thanked me, shook my hand and said she looked forward to seeing me again (we frequent the same store so it is possible and probable). I told her it was my pleasure and I looked forward to it as well.

As I mentioned this was a few weeks ago and I still can't get that lovely women or the wonderful 15 minutes I spent chatting with her out of my mind. It was such a great reminder of how to be positive and enjoy life and enjoy the strangers you meet throughout the day.

Being Me and a We 8/19/11

This me recently moved in with my he so the we are now living together in engagement bliss. The other night however I found myself unexpectedly home with the new place to myself. It was great! I caught up on a little DVR that the does not watch, I did a little research for some projects I am working on. I read a book for a little while and thoroughly enjoyed the night by myself in our new place.

I had not had a night to myself yet in our new place and really had not been feeling the pressure to have one, but it was so refreshing and in hindsight so needed. I also have to admit, I was happy to know I still had that me in me, to reassure me that I am still able to find and enjoy that part of me that I once had more often. It is good to know I can still enjoy me and that I have not gotten so consumed in the we that I don't have the me anymore. Those few hours to myself were great and when he got home I enjoyed the we even more!

watching the clock

We have all had it happen, we have something that we have to do, somewhere we have to be, yet don't want to be there so we watch the clock, willing it to move faster so we can do something else, be somewhere else.

Quite a few years ago I found myself in this situation on a daily basis, at the start of the morning, I could not wait for the end of the day. Then one day, I realized I was willing away precious time each day, willing away my daily life. I did not like this conclusion at all so I decided to make a change so that I could enjoy every moment and not be in a place that I would be wishing away precious moments.

Yes we all have things we don't want to be doing, and we all have times of wishing the clock to move faster, but those times are not on a regular basis for me anymore. And when I find myself in those times, I pull myself back into the moment at hand and find something good about that moment and that time to focus on, so I am not willing away time, but embracing and enjoying the moment.

So today or tomorrow when you find yourself in one of these moments, find something in that instance that is good and something to enjoy. Even just the sun shining on your face through the window, or a good song on the radio. And if you find yourself in that way more than you don't, you have the power to change that and make every moment in your life count.

There might be an M

but there is no me time in moving! We moved into our new place last week and let me tell you, it is lots of work. Especially in 90 degree weather with 90% humidity. But thanks to a great and very helpful friend we were able to get most of our big stuff moved in earlier and more quickly than expected. That was a huge help. There are still things that need to be moved, sorted, unpacked and a spot found for. And in the coming days the majority of that will be done but wow the last 2 weeks has been nothing but moving, I am lucky I have even found a few minutes to finish my latest book.

Looking forward to taking some me time in my new place, once it is unpacked and we are settled in.

Wednesday Book Blog: The Hunger Games

Well when I said I was back I guess I reallly am back and ready to write about the books I have been reading. So I just finished The Hunger Game by Suzanne Collins. It was reccommended to me by my friend who really enjoyed it. He was so eager for me to read the book, he enjoyed it that much. So on the plane ride home I opened the book, cracked the spine and started reading. After a couple of chapters I was thinking great, 4 - 5 more hours of flying today and this is the only book I have to read (which I never do, I usually have at least 3 books with me on any trip) Well for lack of anything better to do I just kept reading. I was on a plane my options were limited, there was not even a bad movie to watch.

To me the book started out real slow and uninteresting then the next thing I new I was up way past my bedtime that night to keep reading the book. I got hooked and found it so interesting I HAD to know what happened. It was one of those books I took everywhere with me in case I had a minute or 2 to read a page or 2.

It is a book for young readers but hey so is the Twilight series. It is also the 1st book in trilogy. The 2nd book is out and the 3rd comes out in August/September. I am saving the reading of the 2nd book until the 3rd comes out so I can read them together and not be left hanging like after the 1st book!

I am not going to do the story injustice by trying to describe what it is about so I will let you visit your favorite book site to read more about it, but I found it a great read even with the slow and strange start and am looking forward to the next 2 books. Hmm maybe on the beach.

Girl Time!

Last night I had dinner with 2 of my favorite girlfriends. Two people I trust the most with just about everything, 2 friends I know I can speak frankly with and who will be sympathetic but will also put me in my place when I need it.


It was such a great evening, it had been too long since we had gotten a chance to just relax and gab in only ways women can. We all have things going on in our lives at the moment (of course when do we not!) and we talked them out, listened, tried to solve all the world's problems, okay maybe not the whole world's but our worlds) and had such a great time.


I left there and felt such a joy and peace and light heartiness and while today things are not much different with whatever we have going on, I know I feel better for having shared it with my girls and having them in my life for the good, the bad, the ugly and the funny!

Being Me and a We

When MTFM started both Tracy and I were single 30-somethings looking to learn and try new things, spend time with girlfriends - both new and old and most importantly take time for ourselves. We are both still 30-somethings but are no longer single. But in no longer being single we both still make sure that we take our me time and do things for ourselves, and I don't have to tell you this, but it is quite a balancing act but one much needed and well worth it for ourselves and those around us.

So I plan to write about how I am keeping my me while also now being a we (as well as moving, planning a wedding, growing a business and all the other day to day stuff we all have to do.)

When ever anyone starts a new relationship of course that relationship takes precedents over all else at first, as it should. But we can't forget about ourselves and that we need to take care of ourselves and our other relationships. I love spending time with my fiance and want to spend as much time with him as I possibly can, but I found the mornings he leaves early for work - and I actually wake up with him- are so enjoyable to me. To have a few hours in the early morning all to myself has become such an enjoyable and important time for me. Sometimes I read my book, sometimes I catch up with my DVR, other days I lay lazy in bed in and out a light sleep just enjoying it. I allow no pressure on myself during that precious time to check email, do laundry etc. I just do what I want to do for me. I find I then can go into my day refreshed and light hearted. Of course don't get me wrong, the mornings I don't get up with him I enjoy those extra hours of sleep!

And really it is not that I don't want him there, I just want to be with me for a bit. And that is okay and good and I am going to keep doing it and enjoying it. After all it makes me a happier person with him and with everyone in my life.

Andrea is back again

Okay so I am going to try this blogging thing again. I did a good job for a while and then well, not so good a job, so here I go trying to do a good job at it again. Wishing myself luck!

Last night MTFM went to a Bridgeport Bluefish game. What a great time the game was. I felt bad because the stadium was pretty empty, of course the rain earlier in the evening may have had something to do with it. But what a great time a night at that ballpark is. They have tons of activities going on for kids, things going on on the field in between innings. The Bridgeport Bluefish mascot is all over the place taking pictures and hanging out with the kids (big and little ones)

The team played great, blew out the other team 13 -1. One thing I have to say for Bluefish fans, there may have not been a lot of us there at this game but we sure were a loud group!

Check them out and head out to a game, it's a great night out for the family or just with friends.