Here’s the Deal Don’t Touch Me by Howie Mandel
While They Slept by Kathryn Harrison
The Help by Kathryn Stockett

With no hesitation I can say that my favorite was Kathryn Stockett’s The Help . What an amazing story! I anxiously anticipate Ms Stockett’s next book.

We finally managed to get the tree decorated on Friday. Yes, two days before Christmas. Afterward, we placed the presents under the tree.

Then we discovered that our dog Haley remembers what Christmas is all about. She got all kinds of excited about the presents under the tree. She even began whining for the fun to begin.

Little did we know the entertainment Haley would provide through out the weekend.

On Saturday, Haley had had enough. She helped herself to one of the presents. Apparently, she learned to read somewhere, as the chosen gift was one of her presents. After a couple tries of taking it & placing it under the tree, we had to put it completely out of reach.

By Sunday morning, Haley’s excitment had grown. She started nosing through the presents. She came across a gift bag that looked good. Then stuck her nose inside. Amazingly, this was one of her presents.

She was the first to be given permission to pick a present. It was the gift bag. It contained a sheep’s wool toy. She had a hole in it within 5 minutes.

After opening our Pomeranian Griffon’s gift–an appropriate sized dog bed–Haley claimed it as hers. Griffon wanted nothing to do with it. Why would he when he had a lap? So, Haley stretched herself across it.

Next up was the present she was so adamantly wanting on Saturday. She tore the wrappings off that one herself…Thank you very much! This was a soft racoon that had no stuffing. But, it did have squeakers in the head and tail. Challenge accepted!

Haley was even excited about the appearance of the stockings in the festivities. My silly girl!

All in all, Hales destroyed 4 toys within the amount of time it took for the family to open all the presents. Maybe 30 minutes.

Haley’s antics did not end there. After we were done openning our presents, Haley worried her self silly over the remaining gifts under the tree. Whining and looking for all the world as if she were thinking ‘But there’s more. Aren’t we going to see what’s inside those boxes, too?’

As for the two legged family members, I’d say they enjoyed the Christmas goodies they received as well.

Jay was given a band jacket, amongst a few other small things. But, the best gift came as a complete surprise to him. He has been asking for a laptop computer for a couple of years. While he hadn’t asked this year, circumstances were such that we were able to surprise him. He was totally surprised & absolutely thrilled. He couldn’t get enough of his new laptop, today.

My favorite moment came when I was able to surprise Tim with a weed whacker. He had been wanting one for some time, but other things always took precedence. With the help of Dad, I was able to pick out a weed whacker earlier this month. Dad had been hiding the surprise at his house all this time.

We had it all planned out. After all the presents were openned, Jay was to ask Pap for some pie, as an excuse to get Dad into the kitchen. They were then to retrieve the weed whacker from it’s hiding place. Mom was to keep Tim’s attention. And, I was to stealthily get the camera ready.

What really happened was Tim needed to go to our house for some reason. Dad suggested to surprise him with the present when Tim returned. Great suggestion, Dad!

Tim came into the house, through the kitchen and around the corner to the living room. Jay was standing there holding the weed whacker, while we all said ‘Merry Christmas.’

Surprising the two of them was such a thrill for me. Particularly Tim, as he is so hard to surprise. He always finds out his gift some way. Not this year!

Later today, we have discovered Haley curled up in Griffon’s dog bed. I don’t know how she managed, but she had everything in but a leg. That is one photo op that we unfortunately missed.

Plus, Griffon has finally warmed up to his new bed. He is sleeping in it right now.

It’s been a lovely Christmas day surrounded by family, love and laughter. Couldn’t have been better!

Honestly, I can not tell you why I kept reading it. The main character was bland. The story was pointless. Yet, it was an award winning book. Boggles my mind!

Before one thinks that this was a long book, it wasn’t. It likely didn’t hit the 200 page mark. It was just so dull that it took an entire month to complete.

Forever by Maggie Stiefvater
The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore
Pet Sematary by Stephen King
Love is a Mix Tape by Rob Sheffield
The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen

Very good reading month. I’m quite surprised that I read that many books, considering how busy October kept me.

My favorite has to go to Maggie Stiefvater’s Forever though. I love that series! Was I ever disappointed to read that this book was the last of the Mercy Falls Werewolves.

I’m loving every minute of watching Jay’s band perform. Even love watching the other marching bands perform.

Martinsburg High School’s band is my second favorite. The black & orange of the uniforms & capes is postitively stunning. The colors of the flags are breathtaking. Don’t forget the sparkly silver sequins of the Color Gaurd outfits. Fabulous!

Anyway, we got home shortly before midnight, after a perfect day for competing. Five hours total on a school bus designed for elementary students. (Where on earth did the designers expect the teenage set to put their legs?) After sleeping for twelve hours last night, I’m still exhausted.

I did manage to get the sheets changed on our beds this morning. But, I’m ignoring the load of laundry waiting to be transferred to the dryer. I’m also ignoring my thirst. Both things require standing up & walking, which is a daunting task at present.

How long before I can go to bed?

Sleepwalking in Daylight by Elizabeth Flock
Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger
Snowflower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See
Talking to Girls About Duran Duran by Rob Sheffield

My favorite by far was Talking to Girls About Duran Duran . I could not put this book down!

Day After Night by Anita Diamant
The Murderer’s Daughters by Randy Susan Meyers

Enjoyed both selections. But, The Murderer’s Daughters came out ahead. One of the characters relationship with her father resonated with me. Finding forgiveness & offering kindess freely, despite a terrible past and opposition from family members, is not an easy thing to do. However, these selfless acts offer a peace that can not be described.

Knowing what I know now, I would make the same choice to offer forgiveness, kindness and understanding to my own father. In the process, unfortunately my relationships with other family members have been harmed. But, that’s on them. I know in my heart that my actions were right & honorable. I can lay my head at night & sleep well, because my conscience is at peace.

While I do struggle with the idea of what family loyalty means, I can not believe or accept that family loyalty requires one to participate in hatefulness & cruelty. Particularly, when the person who taught me about kindness, forgiveness & love is the one expecting me to be cruel & hateful. Regardless, my love for them remains, even if they think differently.

August’s Book List

The Last Child by John Hart
The Bone Garden by Tess Gerritson
The Bride Collector by Ted Dekker

My favorite of the three was John Hart’s The Last Child .

May 2011 Book List

**The Book of Joe by Jonathon Tropper

I enjoy Jonathon Tropper’s writing. Look forward to reading more of his works.

**The Gift by James Patterson

The first book in this series Witch & Wizard was entertaining enough. I was looking forward to seeing how the story played out. However, this particular installment was just dreadful.

**The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton

I couldn’t enjoy this book because most of the characters were hateful & cruel.

June 2011 Book List

**Tallgrass by Sandra Dallas

For the content, I much prefered Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford. All in all, it was OK.

**Full Dark, No Stars by Stephen King

First Stephen King I’ve read since shortly after graduating high school. Found the stories quite interesting. The only book of the last two months that drew me in & couldn’t put down until the end.

I own a hair dryer, which I only use on the rare occasion. I also own a curling iron, which I think I tried to use once.

Years ago, I realized it was a good thing that my child was indeed male. There were a number of times I forgot to brush his hair before sending him off to school, for pity’s sake. Didn’t matter as his hair was so short you couldn’t tell.

Fast forward eight years…How things have changed. The beginning of the week, I bought a Flat Iron…for the boy. We have been trying to figure out how to work the thing. After the first attempt, one of his friends sent tips home on the use of the flat iron. The second day, she showed up at school with a flat iron so she could fix the boy’s hair. Upon the 3rd attempt, she told the boy to just wait until he got to school and she would fix it.

Wonder if she would give me lessons? LOL!

I’m completely perplexed & amused. Buying hair styling equipment was territory where I rarely ventured . Buying hair styling implements for my son sends me into fits of giggles.

Who’d have thought?

Over Her Dead Body by Kate White
Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things by Randy Frost
Witch & Wizard by James Patterson
Think Twice by Lisa Scottoline
Every Last One by Anna Quindlen

My favorite was Stuff , about compulsive hoarding. The hoarding shows fascinate me, because I am terrified that I will become a hoarder. I struggle terribly with letting go of sentimental things, particularly my son’s baby things.

The book was enlightening and sad. It also left me with a greater understanding of the grip that this condition has on it’s sufferers. It also left me feeling more at ease with my sentimentality.