Wednesday, September 30, 2015

On my nightstand

The reason I share ‘what’s on my nightstand’ every now and then is because of how much I love getting good book recommendations – it’s as simple as that.  Do I always enjoy the same books my friends or other bloggers do?  No but there are usually one or two I find that way and it’s worth starting a few that don’t appeal to me to find that one I can’t put down.  Because I’m a library girl, I can check out a whole stack of books and maybe only end up reading a couple of them all the way through – and it doesn’t cost me anything!

I do like to read reviews to get an idea what the book might be like before I reserve them at the library but sometimes I know I like an author or it’s one I’ve been waiting for a long time… like this first one on my stack today:




Come Rain or Come Shine by Jan Karon
The latest in the Mitford Novel series just came out this month.  It’s a wedding!
(Don’t start with this one… be sure to read the whole series!)




The Wright Brothers by David McCullough
I learned a lot about something I knew nothing about. 
Where was my head during history class?




Nobody’s Cuter Than You by Melanie Shankle
I’ve read Mel’s blog for years and didn’t want to miss her latest book.  Not as good (for me) as her previous books on parenting and marriage but full of her characteristic humor!





Go Set A Watchman by Harper Lee
This is the much-anticipated and much-maligned sequel to “To Kill A Mockingbird.”  I’d like to sit in on a book club discussion of this one.  I just don't know what to say about it.




For The Love by Jen Hatmaker
I thought the premise of the book was really good – giving grace.  I’m not sure how all the chapters fit under that topic and my outline-oriented self found it was confusing.  The chapter on church was really good and the chapter on what tweets would be back in the 70’s was funny.





Life and Death in Shanghai by Nien Cheng
This Chinese woman was put under house arrest in 1966 at the beginning of the Cultural Revolution and ended up spending years in prison under incredibly difficult circumstances after being falsely charged as a spy.  Again, because I somehow failed to retain one iota of information I read in my history classes, I learned so much about communism and socialism through her experience, as well as what impact the cultural revolution had on that enormous country.  Very good.

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

The other vitamin C




Happy International Coffee Day!

Did you know you can get a free cup today at Dunkin’ Donuts, Peet’s, Krispy Kreme (+ free glazed donut!) and a few others that I’m not familiar with (Wawa and Sheetz Bros. aren’t in the NW where I live).

My love of coffee began when I was in high school.  I took one of those tiny school buses to a student aide position at an elementary school several days a week and the bus driver was a coffee drinker. The wonderful smell of her coffee filled that little bus and made me wish I liked it.  She told me she drank only 'good' coffee (I can't imagine what that was back in a time when MJB and Folgers were pretty much the norm).

I wanted to be just like her, holding a hot mug of coffee with long painted fingernails.  Well, not just like her... I didn't want to imitate her excessive make-up or jewelry but those were requirements for every female who drove a bus, right?  That and a loud-voiced, take-charge personality.

I started out like most people do, I'd guess... with lots of milk and sugar.  Somewhere along the way I cut out the sugar and have had my coffee au lait ever since.  Then Starbucks came along, capitalized on our obsession with caffeine and coffee became the expected ingredient in our meetings, business appointments, social gatherings and get-to-know-yous.  Now we have an International Coffee Day.  Who knew?

Make a coffee date with someone you haven’t seen in a while.  Maybe they need your listening ear or encouraging words.  Or just a good laugh together over a cuppa Joe. 

A joyful heart is good medicine… and coffee is a wonderful way to enjoy it!

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

SMPD

I know.

It’s inching close to two months since I’ve written anything on here.  And while I’ve been tempted to just insert about 327 links to other people’s blog posts that I know you would love, I decided to explain what I’m going through.  Get yourself a Kleenex, okay?

Listen, I am suffering from SMPD – social media phobia disorder.  This is a condition where you start questioning why you would EVER post anything online.  It’s obvious that other folks are clever and funny and creative but you are not so what do you even think you are doing with a blog?  Or a Facebook page?  You worry about not ‘liking’ or commenting on all of your friends’ posts because you can’t possibly spend the time necessary to respond on everyone’s page so you decide not to click ‘like’ on anyone’s page.  You resort to being a stalker.  Until, in a weak moment, you ‘like’ someone's photo.  Because you are so self-focused you're sure that all the folks whose pics you haven’t ‘liked’ feel slighted.

I haven’t met anyone else with SMPD but if there’s a group I would feel so much relief.  If I’m going to live in 2015 I’ve got to get a grip.  You think I am joking but this is real, people.

Thus, I have been absent from the blog.  I really thought of calling it quits.  But the thing is, I really do enjoy it.  So, for now anyway, I am hanging in there with Have A Cup and we’ll see what happens.

We had all three of our girls home this summer, though not all at the same time unfortunately. 






  
We celebrated Miss Hadley’s birthday…





and got some baby time too!



We’ve weathered the hottest summer in Oregon ever.  I think the only thing that equipped me to handle it were my years in Palm Springs.  The lawn is dry as dust but the flowers are thriving and the tomatoes are sweet!

And now, it is officially pumpkin candle/soup/football/sweater season, even though the thermometer says otherwise.  If you’re looking for a wonderfully scented pumpkin candle that doesn’t cost $12, look no further than your local Walsmart.  That 'easy peel' label means it can almost look like a premium brand!



Thanks so much for stopping by the blog today.  If you too suffer from SMPD, let me know and I’ll meet you for a cup of coffee.  We need to stick together.
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