Coming Soon — Another FirstReads Review

I found out I won The Last Bridge: A Novel from a recent GoodReads FirstReads Giveaway.

Below is the blurb — I can’t wait to read it!

For ten years, Alexandra “Cat” Rucker has been on the run from her past. With an endless supply of bourbon and a series of meaningless jobs, Cat is struggling to forget her Ohio hometown and the rural farmhouse she once called home. But a sudden call from an old neighbor forces Cat to return to the home and family she never intended to see again. It seems that Cat’s mother is dead.

What Cat finds at the old farmhouse is disturbing and confusing: a suicide note, written on lilac stationery and neatly sealed in a ziplock bag, that reads: Cat, He isn’t who you think he is. Mom xxxooo

One note, ten words–one for every year she has been gone–completely turns Cat’s world upside down. Seeking to unravel the mystery of her mother’s death, Cat must confront her past to discover who “he” might be: her tyrannical, abusive father, now in a coma after suffering a stroke? Her brother, Jared, named after her mother’s true love (who is also her father’s best friend)? The town coroner, Andrew Reilly, who seems to have known Cat’s mother long before she landed on a slab in his morgue? Or Addison Watkins, Cat’s first and only love?

The closer Cat gets to the truth, the harder it is for her to repress the memory and the impact of the events that sent her away so many years ago.

Taut, gripping, and edgy, The Last Bridge is an intense novel of family secrets, darkest impulses, and deep-seated love. Teri Coyne has created a stunning tapestry of pain and passion where past and present are seamlessly interwoven to tell a story that sears and warms in equal measure.

I will surely post my review here when I’m finished.

Remember When

I really don’t have anything profound or useful to say today, but I did come up with some stream of consciousness ramblings if you are interested in that!

Events in the newsmedia lately have left me feeling very young.  I encounter this in my daily life a lot.  I know I will regret saying this one day, but it will be nice when I’m not the “baby” anymore in all manner of situations.

During the 2008 election, I had a rousing (and by rousing, I mean one-sided) conversation with an older coworker after one of the debates.

“Oh, did you see the Reagan/ Carter debate?!”

[silence]

“There was a moment last night where we thought it was just like that debate.  They were tense but not talking about the issues and the live audience was SO enthralled.”

[silence]

“So what did you think of the Reagan/Carter debate?  You saw it right?”

“Umm.  That was four years before I was born.”

_____

I remember being sad when Jackie O died because my mom was sad, but I don’t recall the particulars, and she had no real impact on my life at that point or at any point previous.

Princess Diana was the first famous person whose death shocked me.  Prince Harry is my age and it changed the way I thought about death because I thought about losing my mom.

And 9/11 will always be on the list of  things I tell my kids about the notable events in my life.

I feel terrible for Michael Jackson’s children.  But I’m left with a sour taste in my mouth because I wonder if his death is drug related.  Seems like that’s all we hear these days.

And I didn’t grow up listening to MJ like so many around me.  He’s not “my Elvis.”  My earliest prominent memories are of him married to Lisa Marie, performing comeback duets with Janet Jackson, creating a fantasy ranch and being served with child molestation charges.  I remember having to be told he was once black.  I don’t recall the one white glove, or the pepsi hair fire incident, or “We are the world.”  Michael is undoubtedly a part of our modern culture but I don’t feel like a part of my world is missing.  So I guess feeling young isn’t such a bad thing.

However you choose to remember him, I believe he was truly a tortured soul and I am glad he is finally at peace.

Happy Trails

A fellow Weim lover introduced us to a great new running spot recently.

The pups are smitten.

Does life get better than this?

Oh so scenic – wild & wonderful.

There are also great views of downtown.

And plenty of time for some photography fun.

I can’t get enough of the plain white T-shirts.  There’s something for everyone, I tell ya.

;)

Maybe the recent unbearable 95% humidity has finally gone to my head?

A Favor

I have loved books as long as I can remember.  As soon as I finish one, I find two more I want to read.  When I was younger, I devoured books in the summer while most kids were playing outside.  In my defense, I was outside too, but instead, laying in the hammock in the shade.

During college I fell away from my reading for pleasure habit since I didn’t have much time for anything outside of schoolwork.  I read a few books here and there but nothing like I used to.  It felt strange at first, but then I quickly remembered I didn’t have TIME to stress about what I wasn’t reading.

After college, I never jumped back on the reading train, so I decided my New Year’s Resolution for 2008 (the ONLY one I’ve EVER kept) was to read more.  At first I just picked up books we had lying around that I’d been meaning to read.  Before our honeymoon, we splurged on a trip to Border’s to keep us entertained during the 9-hour flight.  I was SO excited to lie on the beach all day and read.  With enough SPF 9000, I could spend all day outside, too.  If someone asked me what I did on my honeymoon, I told them I caught up on my reading.  This was not well-received, obviously.  We didn’t read ALL the time, but we did read quite a bit.  I’m positive the honeymoon inquirers didn’t want me to answer truthfully anyway, so I figured my reading answer was a good one and wondered why they bothered asking in the first place, but I digress.

Around that time, Aimee sent me the link for GoodReads and I found the solution to my previous book tracking problems.  I’d see a book and make a mental note to read it one day, but 5 minutes later it fell off the shelf and I never got to it.  GoodReads has lists!  And reviews!  And I can see what others are reading!  It’s fabulous, but it exacerbates my as soon as I finish one, I find two more I want to read problem.  I guess it’s a good problem to have.

When we got back and I realized I’d read nearly a book a day (we made 2 bookstore trips, one on each island), and my wallet DID have a bottom, I decided that the library was my next best option.  Since then, I haven’t looked back.

The news I heard yesterday that library funding is going to be cut by 50% is devastating.  I go to the library at least once a week, and it’s my main source for books.  For a city of our size, Columbus has one of the best library systems.  I have never had trouble getting anything – they seemingly have it all.

To think that the wonder and amazement I felt as a child at the endless possibilities of stories and adventures contained within ONE place will not be as accessible to others is heartbreaking.  I ♥ the library.

Please help out if you can by following the link below and sending a message to our state representatives.  The branch on my way home is one in danger of closing.

http://www.columbuslibrary.org/save_our_library

You should have seen me in the diaper aisle

I recently went to my second ever baby shower for my friend from High School, Leslie.  I stole the cutest idea for a present from Shannon and I’ve been waiting to make one for almost a year.  A WHOLE YEAR!  I have been giddy about Leslie’s shower before her feet even thought about swelling.

I must confess, it was a strange feeling, too.  I knew friends or relatives that had been pregnant, but they were either quite a few years and half a generation older than me, or extremely young, single, and scared.  Never before had a classmate of mine that I was close with or someone MY AGE and at MY SAME STAGE in life had a baby.  It was like all of a sudden the alarm clock in my uterus turned into a deafening screeching noise and I could not manage to find the snooze button.  Seemed like just yesterday she invited me for a sleepover and said she was behind on her summer reading; she popped in the movie, painted my toenails, and asked me to explain the book to her.  And now I’m going to her baby shower?  She let me keep that bottle of nail polish — perhaps I should wear it for posterity.

So there I am in the middle of Target, clueless what to get for this diaper wreath I’m making.  I was overwhelmed at all the colors and almost fainted from the lavender and baby smell.  I’m looking left and right, trying to figure out what kind of diapers to buy.  I want white ones.  Do they make plain white ones anymore?  I see Tigger, Elmo, Circles, Dora, baby Snoopy….

My eyes are shifty and my cart is in the way of the expectant moms shopping.  They smile at me.  I want to tell them that my gut is just a food baby from lunch and that I’m shopping for a friend, but I don’t.  But hey — what’s that silence?  I think I found the uterus snooze button!  The harsh reality of the baby aisle and all the DECISIONS promptly shut the alarm clock up.  It’s a good thing Joe didn’t go with me, because I think I would have had to prop his head up on a boppy and open a package of wipes to help with his potential baby aisle induced profuse sweating.

I called my mother-in-law to help me decide what to get to decorate the wreath.  They say there’s some truth to pregnancy brain?  Well friends, I think there is some truth to baby shopping aisle brain.  I was useless.  It’s so easy to get distracted by all the bright colors.  HOLY CRAP, the colors.

Eventually though, and luckily before my phone died, I found what I needed.  At home, I assembled it without much trouble.  Joe wasn’t AT ALL interested in how teeny tiny the diapers were.  Figures.  I think she quite liked the wreath, though, so the mission was a success.

It’s a good thing Leslie is going first and we’re planning to wait a little while longer.  She’ll be brutally honest with me about the whole childbirth thing.  Just like I was with her about how awful and stupid The French Lieutenant’s Woman was.

I think we’re official

Just before bed last night, I saw the most lovely surprise as it moseyed its way across my lap.  I was so googly-eyed I had to grab my cell phone and snap a picture.

It appears my husband, the one who works hard for the money, the one who had an unfortunate encounter with the toaster oven (toaster oven: 1, Joe: 0), the one who tans by THINKING about going outside, and the one who always reminds me that he’s part Lebanese and I’m all northern European…

He has a ring tan.  Can you see it?  I was (and still am) giddy with delight.

And then I think he realized what a nutjob his wife was.  But that doesn’t matter!  Because he has a ring tan!  He’s mine all mine and there’s NO getting rid of me now.  *cackles*

Is it possible for a hand to be cute and manly at the same time?

K9 Altercation

We’ve been having some trouble between our foster and Bella.  Mostly it’s because Bella is the alpha and D doesn’t always pick up on the social cues.  Tuesday night was the height of the problem.

Offending party #1 – most of the time, yes, she does look that innocent.

Offending party #2 – looking a little worse for the wear but also innocent.

Mooooomm, stop taking pictures and get this thing off my head.

D got a hold of Bella’s ear through and through, so she required some cauterization and skin glue, and of course, the usual head wrap and e-collar.

We were gone about two hours, and in that time, Buddy was very upset being without his best girl.

Innocent bystander?

More like nervous Nelly — he destroyed the dog bed.

They both are at fault (and we are too) but this just isn’t going to work long-term.  We’re arranging a doggie trade and won’t be host to any ladies anymore.  I am upset about uprooting her, but our kids dogs have to be number one.

Poor girls.  I feel terrible.

The Past

Can EXes be friends?

I’m on the fence about this.  I used to think unequivocally no, and then absolutely yes, and now I’m back to the grey area in the middle.

I was facebook friends with an on again off again college ex, and then mysteriously, two days after my wedding and a congratulatory message, he disappeared.  After some investigation and with the help of some friends, I determined I’d been blocked.  I wasn’t sure what to think at first — I’d never been blocked before.  At least, I didn’t think I had.  It was a strange feeling.

We were friends before facebook ever came about, and he was actually the first one to introduce me to it.  “Hey, there’s this great new site started by some kids at Harvard.  It’s for college students in Boston only [my how things change].  You should check it out.”

From the time we met until we called it quits for good, we went through a dance of not speaking, running into each other somewhere on campus, saying hi, casually dating, maybe serious/maybe not, not speaking — lather, rinse, REPEAT for close to 3 years.  In between, I had crushes / he had girlfriends, but we still had dinner together once a week, give or take.  I thought we’d successfully pulled off being friends despite our romantic differences.  So the block was a bit of a shock.  I guess he didn’t see it that way.  Or did the mantra of “the best revenge is living well” come true?

A roommate of mine who I lived with during the on-again-off-again times randomly ran into the ex recently in NYC.  This encounter was strange considering they both live in different (but still somewhat large and in charge) cities in the Eastern time zone, neither of which was NYC.  So I got to thinking about my previous dating life, how he was the first person I “dated,” how my life now is so much different better than I ever thought it could be.

When we broke up the last time it was on my terms, but I was still pretty upset — something happened that told me we were done for good.  I didn’t eat normally.  Friends, I DO NOT miss meals.  This was a huge deal in my world and I thought I would never get over it.  The getting over it happened much quickly than expected, which is perhaps a post for another day.

So, a few weeks ago, I joined the world of Twitter.  It has been a fun and enlightening experience, to say the least.  And after hearing my roommate’s account of their talk, I got some nerve to search for aforementioned ex.  Turns out, not only is he on twitter but he’s kind of a big deal in the professional sports blogging world for a particular team.  I was impressed.

I have decided not to pursue anything further, because at this point, I’m not sure that a friendship with someone I have nothing in common except a former shared zip code would be of any benefit.  I satisfied my curiosity.

But it got me thinking.  In my case, I guess EXes can’t be friends.  The hubz still keeps in touch says hi occasionally to women he dated before I came along.  Some may think that’s weird, but I don’t take issue with it.  He talks to me whenever he talks to them.  I know of so many divorced couples who can’t be in the same room, but others are amiable towards each other.

So does it depend on the degree of the hurt?  Or the circumstances?  Or the degree of the relationship – friends with benefits – dating – engagement – marriage?  Or what?

Food for Thought

Has anyone ever sent anything to PostSecret?

I have always wanted to, but never knew what to say.  But, it’s been an enlightening week.  Now I think I know.

So is it still a secret if you tell people you are thinking about sending one or two or five?

Really Great Message

What would you do if you didn’t have to work the rest of your life?

Like the guy in Office Space, for a long time I didn’t have an answer to this one.  Joe says he’d teach; my mom claims she’d be a National Geographic Photographer (I know she’s thought about that one).  Emmie would be a social activist take over the world; Vicki would experiment with cool science stuff…

But what would I do?  Read books all day?  Write my boring life memoir?  Drink vinegar?  If I’m being brutally honest here, I may just have a breakdown because I suddenly had no structure.  And realistically, I can’t live in a yurt and eat all day, as much fun as that would be.

Really though, if I think long and hard about this I might run a dog kennel / rescue operation.  There are so many pups falling out of the sky these days and the poor things just can’t help themselves.  Nothing feels better than placing a dog and seeing their smiles in follow-up pictures.

What would you do if you didn’t have to work the rest of your life?

Our pastor began his sermon yesterday by asking this question.  He then waited patiently while some folks shouted out their answers.  For a long time I was anti-church because I never found one I liked and could not relate to the message to save my life.  And church cliques are SO not my thing.  But now it seems like every week I grow and I am left with something meaningful and thought-provoking.  Even if I don’t realize it right away.

So the pastor’s answer was that he’d farm.  He’d work the land and watch his hard labor turn into something palatable.  And then he tied it in with his series on Moses, some seemingly random plagues, and how tilling the land is necessary for new growth.  The disruption is hard on the earth, the tractor, and the big guy sitting on it.  But looking back on your row and seeing what can come of the hard times makes it worth it.  Awesome.

Seriously, if you gave this guy 3 random topics: shaving cream, hot dogs, and stilettos, he’d tell you a hilarious story and relate it all back to Christianity in 30 minutes or less.  This is part of why I keep coming back — to see what he’ll come up with next.  Even if my thoughts are not “Sunday School” based, I think about myself and my current state of affairs, which is also valuable.

So…what would you do if you didn’t have to worry about money?  The dogs would never forgive me if I changed my answer, but in our fantasyland game I can have two careers.  Don’t worry, it’s Mando approved.  Should I be a vinegar scholar?  Does that even exist?!