Tuesday Tunes - 10/30/12

A great lyric is like a good book...

Posting early, in case we lose power...

The Change
Garth Brooks, Artist
Tester, Wayne & Arata, Tony, Writers




One hand
Reaches out
And pulls a lost soul from harm
While a thousand more go unspoken for
They say what good have you done
By saving just this one
It's like whispering a prayer
In the fury of a storm

And I hear them saying you'll never change things
And no matter what you do it's still the same thing
But it's not the world that I am changing
I do this so this world will know
That it will not change me

This heart
Still believes
The love and mercy still exist
While all the hatred rage and so many say
That love is all but pointless in madness such as this
It's like trying to stop a fire
With the moisture from a kiss

And I hear them saying you'll never change things
And no matter what you do it's still the same thing
But it's not the world that I am changing
I do this so this world will know
That it will not change me

As long as one heart still holds on
Then hope is never really gone

I hear them saying you'll never change things
And no matter what you do it's still the same thing
But it's not the world that I am changing
I do this so this world we know
Never changes me

What I do is so
This world will know
That it will not change me


I welcome comments and suggestions.

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Surviving Sandy...

Life is funny sometimes. Sitting here as the storm rages outside, I find myself surviving Sandy.

Twenty years ago, I wasn't sure I could...

I fell in love in college, but as often happens it didn't last. I was heartbroken, but wanted him to be happy more than anything. He was as kind and understanding as he could be, given we lived two doors away from one another in the same dorm and he had started dating another girl who lived downstairs, Sandy.

Valentine's Day that year was going to suck anyway, so I offered to cover the dorm door-watch shift. He had come in from his night out and was sweetly wishing me a happy day. He innocently leaned over to hug me...and SHE walked in.

Immediately, she began screaming and ranting. Violent, trying to reach me. B-tch, c-nt, she would kill me if I didn't stay away from him.  I was horrified, speechless. He had hugged me! He was being kind, nothing more. We were over and that was that.  After several seconds of complete disbelief, he responded with appropriate embarrassment and managed to drag her away. I was shaken, terrified. I had done nothing wrong other than love a guy.

She spent the remainder of my time in the dorm ensuring that their time spent together was obvious to me. She poked and prodded the wound, and enjoyed it. Cruelty as an art form.

I graduated and moved away. Life goes on.

He married her.

About a year or so ago, twenty years later, I had my only "run-in" with her. I was working on a show and a shared friend was in the show. It got back to her, and she made snide, childish remarks on Twitter.

I weep for their children...

But not for me. I survived Sandy once before and with any luck, I'll do so again.

Hope everyone is safe!
S

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The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake - Bender

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender is a beautifully written, though dark, story about a not-so-normal family. Rose Edelstein is nine years old when she sits down for a piece of her mother's chocolate lemon cake. What she tastes is not what she expected.  Rose discovers that she has been cursed (gifted?) with the ability to "read" food, to know exactly where food came from and to taste the feelings of those who contributed to the making of that food. Her childhood is essentially over.

As Rose matures with, and because of, her ability she is faced with some sad and surprising truths about her family. With one taste of cake Rose discovers too young that her smiling, happy-go-lucky mother is in fact sad and unfulfilled, flitting desperately from activity to activity looking for fulfillment she can not find from her husband, until she settles on a long-term extramarital affair.  Her father is distant and focused on his work, likely due his own childhood dealing with the possibility of his own gift/curse. Her older brother seems to have a special kind of gift/curse all of his own.

Like its characters, this book left me unfulfilled and empty. After the initial discovery of Rose's gift, and the slow realization of her brother's special ability, you just sort of wait...and wait...and wait....for something to happen. What happens is the book's end.

What happened to climax and denouement? Perhaps I am too traditional in my reading? Maybe the future of writing and the "story line" is changing?  But, I was just left wondering, "That's it?!"  From what I've seen from other readers, I was not the only one left out in the cold.

Despite that, it really was a well written book and quite beautiful. The extra-ordinariness of this family, juxtaposed with their actual normalness, was very well presented.

3/5- Good. Read it, have a good time and move on. Or not.

Katie's Book Blog
Everyday I Write The Book 

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Tuesday Tunes - 10/23/12

A great lyric is like a great book...

You will find that my taste in music varies greatly! I find many country songs that have great lyrics (and folk, obviously), but that could get boring for non-country fans. So, I will try to mix things up somewhat...

Stan (Eminem, ft Dido, Artist; Marshal Mathers, Writer)

[Chorus: Dido]
My tea's gone cold I'm wondering why I..
got out of bed at all
The morning rain clouds up my window..
and I can't see at all
And even if I could it'll all be gray,
but your picture on my wall
It reminds me, that it's not so bad,
it's not so bad..



Dear Slim, I wrote but you still ain't callin
I left my cell, my pager, and my home phone at the bottom
I sent two letters back in autumn, you must not-a got 'em
There probably was a problem at the post office or somethin
Sometimes I scribble addresses too sloppy when I jot 'em
but anyways; fuck it, what's been up? Man how's your daughter?
My girlfriend's pregnant too, I'm bout to be a father
If I have a daughter, guess what I'ma call her?
I'ma name her Bonnie
I read about your Uncle Ronnie too I'm sorry
I had a friend kill himself over some bitch who didn't want him
I know you probably hear this everyday, but I'm your biggest fan
I even got the underground shit that you did with Skam
I got a room full of your posters and your pictures man
I like the shit you did with Rawkus too, that shit was fat
Anyways, I hope you get this man, hit me back,
just to chat, truly yours, your biggest fan
This is Stan

[Chorus: Dido]
 
Dear Slim, you still ain't called or wrote, I hope you have a chance
I ain't mad - I just think it's FUCKED UP you don't answer fans
If you didn't wanna talk to me outside your concert
you didn't have to, but you coulda signed an autograph for Matthew
That's my little brother man, he's only six years old
We waited in the blistering cold for you,
four hours and you just said, "No."
That's pretty shitty man - you're like his fuckin idol
He wants to be just like you man, he likes you more than I do
I ain't that mad though, I just don't like bein lied to
Remember when we met in Denver - you said if I'd write you
you would write back - see I'm just like you in a way
I never knew my father neither;
he used to always cheat on my mom and beat her
I can relate to what you're saying in your songs
so when I have a shitty day, I drift away and put 'em on
cause I don't really got shit else so that shit helps when I'm depressed
I even got a tattoo of your name across the chest
Sometimes I even cut myself to see how much it bleeds
It's like adrenaline, the pain is such a sudden rush for me
See everything you say is real, and I respect you cause you tell it
My girlfriend's jealous cause I talk about you 24/7
But she don't know you like I know you Slim, no one does
She don't know what it was like for people like us growin up
You gotta call me man, I'll be the biggest fan you'll ever lose
Sincerely yours, Stan -- P.S.
We should be together too

[Chorus: Dido]


Dear Mister-I'm-Too-Good-To-Call-Or-Write-My-Fans,
this'll be the last package I ever send your ass
It's been six months and still no word - I don't deserve it?
I know you got my last two letters;
I wrote the addresses on 'em perfect
So this is my cassette I'm sending you, I hope you hear it
I'm in the car right now, I'm doing 90 on the freeway
Hey Slim, I drank a fifth of vodka, you dare me to drive?
You know the song by Phil Collins, "In the Air of the Night"
about that guy who coulda saved that other guy from drowning
but didn't, then Phil saw it all, then at a a show he found him?
That's kinda how this is, you coulda rescued me from drowning
Now it's too late - I'm on a 1000 downers now, I'm drowsy
and all I wanted was a lousy letter or a call
I hope you know I ripped +ALL+ of your pictures off the wall
I love you Slim, we coulda been together, think about it
You ruined it now, I hope you can't sleep and you dream about it
And when you dream I hope you can't sleep and you SCREAM about it
I hope your conscience EATS AT YOU and you can't BREATHE without me
See Slim; [*screaming*] Shut up bitch! I'm tryin to talk!
Hey Slim, that's my girlfriend screamin in the trunk
but I didn't slit her throat, I just tied her up, see I ain't like you
cause if she suffocates she'll suffer more, and then she'll die too
Well, gotta go, I'm almost at the bridge now
Oh shit, I forgot, how'm I supposed to send this shit out?
[car tires squeal] [CRASH]
.. [brief silence] .. [LOUD splash]

[Chorus: Dido]

[Eminem]
Dear Stan, I meant to write you sooner but I just been busy
You said your girlfriend's pregnant now, how far along is she?
Look, I'm really flattered you would call your daughter that
and here's an autograph for your brother,
I wrote it on the Starter cap
I'm sorry I didn't see you at the show, I musta missed you
Don't think I did that shit intentionally just to diss you
But what's this shit you said about you like to cut your wrists too?
I say that shit just clownin dogg,
c'mon - how fucked up is you?
You got some issues Stan, I think you need some counseling
to help your ass from bouncing off the walls when you get down some
And what's this shit about us meant to be together?
That type of shit'll make me not want us to meet each other
I really think you and your girlfriend need each other
or maybe you just need to treat her better
I hope you get to read this letter, I just hope it reaches you in time
before you hurt yourself, I think that you'll be doin just fine
if you relax a little, I'm glad I inspire you but Stan
why are you so mad? Try to understand, that I do want you as a fan
I just don't want you to do some crazy shit
I seen this one shit on the news a couple weeks ago that made me sick
Some dude was drunk and drove his car over a bridge
and had his girlfriend in the trunk, and she was pregnant with his kid
and in the car they found a tape, but they didn't say who it was to
Come to think about, his name was.. it was you
Damn! 

I welcome your comments and suggestions.

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Mondays - 10/22/12

This meme is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.

Currently Reading: 
Adrift: 76 Days Lost at Sea (Steve Callahan)

Just Finished:

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake (Aimee Bender)

On Deck:
So many great choices...

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My Boyfriend Wrote A Book About Me - Winston

Let me clarify that this is NOT A BOOK FOR EVERYONE!!  Definitely rated R!!  

But the average American gal, especially one who has spent many years looking for Mr. Right, or guy will find this book quite funny...if you can get past all the discussion of B.J.s, H.J.s, and other sexually explicit stuff (need I say "broken vagina"?).

If you are still reading, you must be able to get past that, so...

It may not be obvious in my writing, but I have a great sense of humor. Granted, it's a bit of a warped sense of humor...but it is there (thanks to my Dad)! It was no surprise therefore that I loved Hilary Winston's memoir My Boyfriend Wrote A Book About Me.  

Hilary is the typical American gal, who just happens to be a professional sitcom writer (My Name is Earl, etc.). She spends her life as many young women do, looking for Mr. Right. Her first "real relationship" (in high school) ends when she finds her guy in a trailer, naked, with another girl...yep, like I said, typical. 

A flurry of men pass by her as she tries to find "the one". Then, one day she meets the man she can see herself marrying. And they live happily...for about five years, and then he breaks up with her because she is more successful than him. More men pass. Until one day she enters the local Barnes & Noble to discover Mr. (not-so)Right wrote a book about her in which he relives their relationship nearly word-for-word and calls her "my fat-assed girlfriend" hundreds of times. She is floored. She is angry. She is hurt, but ultimately she is able to use the experience to mourn their relationship and discover that maybe what she's been looking for was there all along. Maybe it's not about finding Mr. Right but about accepting Ms. Right, and then Mr. Right will have no option but to love her.

As noted, I loved this book but it certainly is not for everyone!  So, in my humble opinion:

4/5- Great. 

But, 

2/5- Choose with extreme prejudice!

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Tuesday Tunes - 10/16/12

A great lyric is like a good book...

Sad, but powerful...

She Thinks His Name Was John 
Reba McIntyre, Artist
Knox, Sandy & Rosen, Steve, Writers



She can account for all of the men in her past
Where they are now, who they married, how many kids they have.
She knew their backgrounds, family and friends
A few she even talks to now and then.

But there is one she can't put her fingers on
There is one who never leaves her thoughts
And she thinks his name was John.

A chance meeting, a party a few years back
Broad shoulders and blue eyes, his hair was so black.
He was a friend of friend you could say
She let his smile just sweep her away.
And in her heart she knew that it was wrong
But too much wine and she left his bed at dawn
And she thinks his name was John.

Now each day is one day that's left in her life
She won't know love, have a marriage or sing lullabies.
She lays all alone and cries herself to sleep
'Cause she let a stranger kill her hopes and her dreams.

And all her friends say what a pity what a loss,
And in the end when she was barely hangin' on,
All she could say is she thinks his name was John
She thinks his name was John.


I welcome your comments and suggestions. 

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Mondays - 10/15/12

This meme is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.

Currently Reading: 
The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake: A Novel (Aimee Bender)

 

Just Finished: 
My Boyfriend Wrote a Book About Me (Hilary Winston)

On Deck:
No clue...again. The cool thing about a new ipad is you can make the decision at the last minute!

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We Bought A Zoo - Mee

Some books make great movies. Others not so much. Most often, the movie is just fine...but the book just brings something else, something special. We Bought A Zoo by Benamin Mee is one of those books. 

Benjamin Mee has always been adventurous.  Despite a newly purchased home (read project) in France, he finds himself with the ultimate opportunity: to purchase, refurbish and save a failing zoo. His family (wife, children, siblings and mother) agree to the adventure.  After a series of financial negotiations, licensing problems, and family conflicts they finally succeed and become the owners of the struggling Dartmoor Wildlife Park.

With no experience running a zoo, and the sad and untimely loss of his wife to cancer, Mee and his family must quickly educate themselves on zoo maintenance and finance and, more importantly, the care of exotic animals. He and his crew are determined to have the zoo up and running for the summer rush (a necessity to ensure they can continue to afford the zoo, the opposite of which is unthinkable involving lost jobs and "destruction" of any animal that might not be able to be placed elsewhere).  Mee jumps in with both feet first and though he makes mistakes, he finds that using his heart first and his head soon after is usually the best route to success. 

The movie, which I saw first, wasn't true to the book (from what I recall) and left much lacking. Mee is an animal supporter and plans to utilize the zoo not just as a source of entertainment, but also as an opportunity to provide a sanctuary to endangered animals. His book offers much information about the plight of endangered animals in our world, without being boring or preaching. I am very glad I took the time to read the book (as I usually am!).

4/5- Great. Push it on your friends and family.

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Tuesday Tunes - 10/9/12

A great lyric is like a good book...
 

Back For Good 
Take That, Artist
Barlow, Gary, Writer






I guess now it's time for me to give up
I feel it's time
Got a picture of you beside me
Got you're lipstick mark still on your coffee cup
Got a fist of pure emotion
Got a head of shattered dreams
Gotta leave it, gotta leave it all behind now

Whatever I said, whatever I did I didn't mean it
I just want you back for good
Whenever I'm wrong just tell me the song and I'll sing it
You'll be right and understood

Unaware but underlined I figured out this story
It wasn't good
But in the corner of my mind I celebrated glory
But that was not to be
In the twist of separation you excelled at being free
Can't you find a little room inside for me

Whatever I said, whatever I did I didn't mean it
I just want you back for good
Whenever I'm wrong just tell me the song and I'll sing it
You'll be right and understood

And we'll be together, this time is forever
We'll be fighting and forever we will be
So complete in our love
We will never be uncovered again

Whatever I said, whatever I did I didn't mean it
I just want you back for good
Whenever I'm wrong just tell me the song and I'll sing it
You'll be right and understood 

I welcome your comments and suggestions. 
 

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Mondays - 10/8/12

This meme is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.

Currently Reading: 
My Boyfriend Wrote a Book About Me (Hilary Winston) 

Just Finished:

Kisses from Katie (Katie Davis)
We Bought A Zoo (Benjamin Mee) 

On Deck:
No clue...again. The cool about a new ipad is you can make the decision at the last minute!

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Kisses from Katie - Davis

*This book was an advanced reading copy sent to me, free of charge, for my honest review and opinion.  All comments in this review are the honest opinion of the blogger. 

Kisses from Katie by Katie Davis is the story of an ordinary teenager from Tennessee who decided her senior year in high school that God was calling her to a greater purpose. A holiday trip to Uganda quickly showed her the way.  Despite her parents wishes that she go to college, her friends back home, and a boyfriend whom she loved dearly, Katie quickly found her place first teaching kindergarten and later setting up a nonprofit organization to help her provide for the poor and orphaned children of the country. Eventually, Katie discovered that her role was greater. She was to become an adoptive mother to over ten Ugandan children who otherwise would have been left in orphanages to suffer alone.

Ultimately, Katie discovered that her calling was to serve God.

This was a wonderful memoir of a girl on the edge of womanhood finding purpose in her life, a very different purpose than she ever expected. The stories she tells are as touvhing as they horrify and sad.  

i'm not a big reader of religious works.  But I knew going into this book that the religion theme would be strong.  and, though it does feel overdone at times, you never feel as if Davis is doing anything other than expressing her true and honest feelings. She is opening her heart, religion and all, to readers. and while I am sure she would love nothing more an to bring her readers closer to her God, this books didn't feel too "preachy" too me, which is frankly saying a lot.  

I enjoyed this book, which was well written and presented, but see that it likely has a limited market.

3/5- Good. Read it, have a good time and move on. Or not.

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September 2012 ReCap...

Courtesy ofhttp://www.chaoticcompendiums.com/

September 2012 Update

This month I read:

Total Read: 3

Adult: 3

YA/children's: 0

Abandoned: 0

YTD - 36

Including:

We Bought A Zoo - Benjamin Mee
Daydreams and Diaries - Tim Black
Cabin - Lou Ureneck

Abandoned:
Titanic Tragedy (I will return to this, it was just a bit...thick)

Favorite Book(s) of the Month:
We Bought a Zoo - Benjamin Bee

Challenges Update:

Memorable Memoirs = 17 of 10+ - SUCCESS!!!

Support Your Local Library Challenge = 28 of 37+

Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge = 36 of 50 (2011) + 15

E-Book Reading Challenge = 4 of 5

A-Z Book Challenge 2012 = 20 of 26

What's in a Name Challenge = 6 of 6 - SUCCESS!!!

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Tuesday Tunes - 10/2/12

A great lyric is like a good book... 

Ellsworth 
Rascal Flatts, Artist
Mobley, Wendell, Dulaney, Michael W., Thrasher, Neil, Writers




Grandma burned the biscuits
Nearly took the house down with it.
Now she's in assisted livin'
We all knew that day would come.
We knew she was to gone to drive
The day she parked on I-65.
Found her on the shoulder cryin'
She didn't know where she was.
Its like her mind just quit.
Oh but bring up grandpa- its like someone flipped a switch.

A front porch light and a blue Desota,
Couple a straws and a coca cola:
You can see it all goin' down.
A handsome boy in army green
A tear on his face- down on a knee,
Shaky voice- a diamond ring should put you in that town.
Tomorrow she won't remember what she did today,
But just ask her about Ellsworth, Kansas, 1948.

She takes out his medals,
A cigar box of letters.
Sits and scatters pictures,
Black and whites of days gone by.
We started losin' her when she lost him,
But to hear her carry on you'd swear she's seventeen again

Football games and leaves a'cracklin'
Walkin' her home in his letter jacket,
You can see it all goin' down.
A perfect night on a front porch glider,
Saying goodnight for the next 3 hours.
Her tired eyes glow wild and bright
When she talks about that town.
Tomorrow she won't remember what she did today,
But just ask her about Ellsworth, Kansas 1948.

While the world is fading all around her
Sharin' a sundae at the counter
He's goin' on and on about her
But she's right there right now
Tomorrow she won't remember what she did today
But just ask her about Ellsworth, Kansas 1948 

I welcome your thoughts and comments.

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