Banana Blurbs

 Today my creative development class started. When I took my first look at all of the assignments for the class I had a moment of panic wash over me. However, after reading about all of the assignments, I began to get a little excited. I will actually be doing some writing in this class. Real writing. Not essays or evaluation papers but writing from within myself. I am super excited about that. I guess this class will really test whether I can push out my creative vibes based on a deadline. I am a little nervous about that. I am not used to having to force finding inspiration and creativity. I am used to taking my time and feeling “the moment.” I believe this will be great for me though. In any case, wish me luck, people. 

My first assignment is due tomorrow. I have to take a favorite song and create a short story that goes along with it. Having a hard time picking a song. I have a general story line that I am thinking of. So, I think I might just find a song that would suit it. I have over 13 gigs of music in my itunes… I should be able to find something lol 

Okay, well I am out for the night folks. 

Until later… Can you believe it’s June already? wow. 

One life. One love. One God. 

P.s. Remember a while back I told you when I went back and got that awesome audiobook company name I would post it? Well, I did. It was HighBridge Audio. They are amazing. Like listening to a movie. 

I’m not going to say too much here about this book. Yes, it is my embarrassing indulgence. Whatevs people…whatevs LOL. It was good. Didn’t end how I expected or wanted but I was content with it. This is the third novel in Lauren Conrad’s L.A. Candy series. Once again, it was like immersing yourself into the world of Hollywood and gossip. If you are one of those people who can’t avoid trying to read those gossip headlines at the checkout line, then you will no doubt enjoy these books. Definitely not a first class read, not a classic and not a book that will be remembered through time…but interesting none the less. 

This book however is wonderful. I love Betty White. Anybody who loves Betty White will love this book also. I dare say that even if you don’t love her or really don’t know much about her, you will love her after reading this. Betty is an amazing person. If you know anything about Betty than you know two things at least…one being that she is an animal lover and two, she is funny, more so hilarious. She refers to interviews on the red carpet as “It’s all seat-of-the-pants” and says “I would rather go to the dentist for a root canal.” Betty is so laid back and personal with her fans, she refuses to allow someone else to handle her fan mail. 

In this book there is a chapter called Writer’s Block. In this chapter we learn that she writes everything in longhand and talks about paper that can ease a simple case of writer’s block. “Certain common cliches maintain that most men love hardware stores, just as women dote on shoe stores. I have no idea how accurate that is, because personally, I am strange for stationary stores. Not for the fancy writing paper-it’s those tablets and packs of lined three-hole notebook pages and those packs of typing paper that turn me on.” 

She goes on to speak of missing a flight due to spending too much time with her “fans” and her constant stage fright. Betty assures us she is not a “cougar” and of how much she loved her husband, Allen. She even surprises us with some information about stuffed animals and tells us all about her wonderful animal companions and animal encounters. There is one quote that I personally related to. Not too many people really get us “chicks” that have more male friends. “My closest friends have always been boys or men. As a kid, I wasn’t interested particularly in what the girls were talking about. I had to watch myself. I didn’t want to get a reputation that I don’t like women, because thats not true at all. I just like guys best. That’s not politically correct these days. But it’s still fun.” <—Well Betty, I’m right there with you. However, my favorite quote from Betty’s book was “You don’t just luck into integrity. You work at it.” 

This was a wonderful read. Betty White, you are a wonderful gal, the world needs more of you. :-) 

Until Later… hold yourself accountable, no one else should have to. 

One life. One love. One God. 

This was my first time reading any book by Kristin Hannah. After reading it I only had one question, Why did I wait this long to pick up this book? This book was like a poignant life story. It consisted of 479 pages full of life. Firefly Lane tells the story of Kate and Tully who are best friends throughout their entire life. There are bumps and roadblocks along the way but they always find their way back to each other. In the background of the stories there are actual historic events going on, the war, September 11th, Iraq… all of it. While reading this you will find your way through the 70’s, 80’s,90’s and all the way up until the present. 

At first I was thinking to myself how the storyline was seeming to drag on and then somewhere around 200 pages I realized the presence “life” itself had in this book. It was a truly amazing story. We get to follow both girls as they become women, fall in love and just “be.” 

Well my friends, this is where we part off…the rest of this review will be chocked full of spoilers and I am sorry. However, feel free to read on if you don’t mind or if you have already read it :-) 

Tully, at first I grew to really not care for her at all. She is selfish and arrogant and quite frankly narcissistic. Tully is always taking over everything, leading Kate into trouble and everything always has to be about her and what she wants. This character carries over into adulthood and takes its peak when you realize how jealous she seems of Kate and her family. You realize that Tully acts as if she is the mother of Kate’s daughter and appears to continually undermine Kate. There are too many occasions to list but through all of this I actually found myself rooting for Tully to fail. She is aspiring to be a television reporter and is really doing well at it. She tries to drag Kate along and make this Kate’s dream too but Kate had something different in mind. 

Kate, is quiet, smart and laid back. She goes off to college with Tully to become television reporters but discovers that this is not her dream. While in college Tully begins an affair with her professor, which later turns into an actual relationship. Kate falls in love with her boss (a job that Tully had gotten them both). Tully ends up sleeping with him (this broke my heart). Kate says nothing because she never can. Skipping over some time… Kate finally makes her move and Johnny (her boss) is finally hers! 

*I am going to skip over a lot of things here… you must read the book. 

By closer to the end of the story my feelings for Tully COMPLETELY changed. SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!!!!!!…….. Kate ends up having cancer and catching it too late. Their friendship was truly not in a good place but once Kate needed her, Tully’s true colors flourished. At this point I could feel their love for each other and I found it very difficult to read on and not cry. Also, if you ever doubted Johnny’s love for her through the book, you will find that it is now solidified for you. I cried A LOT while reading the final 3 chapters. In closing, it was like watching two lives, beautiful and real… all the way till the end. (DISCLAIMER: The Author said her own mother had passed from breast cancer and I believe this is what gave those last few chapters there true power. Kristin knew and felt those very things.) 

Now onto the typical part of my reviews… quote time!!!!

“…remembering a hundred moments in the space of a heartbeat.” (I LOVED this. I read it over about 10 times. It was so beautiful to me for some reason.) 

“…the bags under her eyes were carry-on sized” 

“…fear was a crack in the road that tripped her up.” 

“Besides, she had little enough life left to her, what was the point in sleeping?” 

“Surgery- sure cut me open and take my breasts, Radiation- Absolutely. Burn me up., Chemotherapy- Another dose of poison, please., tofu and miso soup- Yum. May I have some more?” 

“Those memories would be painful, both the good and the bad would wound her.” 

“A lifetime ago, and an instant.” 

“…there was no way to avoid the ugly truth: she was fading.” 

Last but not least… the good, the bad and the ugly. 

The Good: The storyline behind it all, life. This isn’t a book about a marriage or anything in particular. It is about life and the choices you make and the way you live it. Poignant and just plain wonderful. I loved it Krisitin, I can’t wait to read your other books. 

The Bad: GRAMMAR ERRORS. On many occasions there were stupid grammar errors.. past tense verb in a present tense sentence, etc… 

The Ugly: The life within the book. However, life is like that…beautiful, tragic, ugly, wonderful… Also, don’t wear mascara (of the non-waterproof kind) or your reflection might match this category lol 

Until Later… Live life to the fullest, you never know…

One life. One love. One God. 

*Clears throat* I am trying a new layout here on great ol’ Tumblr. It is similar to the one that I liked but the difference is $49.00. Yep, you heard right. There is a theme that cost $49 buckaroos on here. So clearly, I chose to go with the similar FREE one. YAY! Everyone loves something free (kind of like my never-ending opinions-woo). That being said, let me know what you think of it. If it is a major clustered mess or just a plain old eye sore, holla at a girl and lemme know, yo.

  I finally finished reading Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah. Let me tell you right now, I sobbed and not just cry sobbed, sobbed like a little girl whose brother set her barbie doll on fire sobbed. It was SO GOOD. This was my first book by Kristin Hannah and I will be reading every single book she has written. Yes sir, mmmm hmmmm. I will be writing my review on this most likely this evening. I will warn you now and also later, there WILL be spoilers. I loved this book so much that I want to write about it all. If you haven’t read any books by her, do it and do it now lol. Might I suggest Firefly Lane? Haha…

until later… seriously, thoughts on the layout/new theme are wanted.

One Life. One Love. One God.

 Sometimes I can stare at my screen and keyboard for what seems like hours, just looking for something to come out. Other days it seems to flood. The draughts are dry and filled with thoughts…lots of them but just no words that go with them. I don’t know what to do when I don’t have words to go with each thought. My mouth can speak but it’s not my mind and certainly drained of my heart. 

 Isn’t is funny how life never works out the way you spend all of your time trying to make it? Maybe if we just quit trying and allowed ourselves to drift we would somehow end up beached along the bank we have tried so hard to paddle towards. I pride myself in the belief that people can change. I changed. I spent early years just paddling away into the current that only drug me farther and farther away. One day you look into the mirror and you see the dark circles under your eyes and the life around you and you just move on. That’s what I did, I moved on. I changed. I evolved. I watched my father change into the man that I always knew he was. I have watched many a people change. However, some people just can’t seem to do that. Is it simply because they are afraid or because they just don’t believe they can? Maybe they just can’t change. I don’t want to believe it but at this junction I am left thinking it’s a possibility. Maybe I will surrender and quit placing my hope in an always empty basket…probably not, my heart never seems to allow me to do so. 

So I am left staring at this never-ending cursor and my draught, my own personal draught.  

They say that the opposite of love isn’t hate, it’s indifference, I believe this. Sometimes I pray for indifference…I pray for water for my draught. 

Until Later…

One life. One love. One God. 

Okay, okay … So I have finally gave up reading The Carrie Diaries, at least for now. I will finish it. I promise. I never completely set aside a book and give up on it. I am only around 4 chapters into it but I just can’t get my mind off of Firefly Lane. Therefore, I give in and I am finally reading it right now. It consists of 479 pages. That being said, it may take me a week or two (depending on how deep it takes me into my rabbit hole) because I have been quit busy getting things together around here. I am very excited about it though. Today I made a trip to Hastings. They had a sale, two used books for $12, no matter the price. I could not pass this up. Soooo what did I get? Two books off my list of course. I purchased Summer Island by Kristin Hannah and then I purchased the third book in my embarrassing indulgence, Sugar and Spice by Lauren Conrad. I know, no comment please. I can’t not finish the series though. I mean I’ve already read the first two. Okay so this is not helping my argument at all. Oh well. Moving on. I got a wonderful email from a classmate this week. The email was telling me how much that person enjoyed my “imaginary how to” paper that I had to write this week. They said mine was their favorite, it was very imaginative and they really enjoyed it. My paper was titled “How to Grow a zombie in 30 days.” It just so happened that I really needed that confidence booster. I might have finally found my niche and be right on the path I should be. Maybe I am really a writer afterall, people. Whelp, that’s all I got for the day. Until later… I sure am glad you people stop by to read my rambles. I may share a poem with you all, if I can pep talk myself enough to put it out there.

Toodles!

One life. One love. One God.

P.s. yes, I gave up on the 30 days of Texas awesomeness. Sorry people there is just not 30 days worth (for me, right now.) I miss you Cincinnati. GO REDS!!!

Random list of books on my “To Read” list. If there is a specific one you would like to have reviewed let me know. I will bump it up on my list. Here they are in no particular order whatsoever:

Firefly lane (Kristin Hannah) My horizontal life (Chelsea Handler) True colors (Kristin Hannah) On mystic lake (Kristin Hannah) Best friends forever (Jennifer Weiner) Salem falls (Jodi piccoult) Mothers & other liars (Amy bourret) The mysterious Benedict society (Trenton Lee Stewart) The mysterious Benedict society and the prisoners dilemma (Trenton Lee Stewart) Wicked (Gregory maguire) Sugar and spice (Lauren Conrad) Angel falls (Kristin Hannah) Winter garden (Kristin Hannah) Sing you home (Jodi piccoult) Decision points (George w. Bush) Magic hour (Kristin Hannah) Devils food cake murder (Joanne fluke) I’m over all that and other confessions (Shirley maclain) The Friday night knitting club (Kate Jacobs)

There are many others but this is a small list for now. Just to let you all in on what’s coming up. I’m currently reading The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell. Its so-so. I’m struggling getting into a little. It may take me a while to finish it. Michael has two long training days this week so I may try to finish it then. Ok, that’s it. Until later… remember Drew Carey in all his chubness (shush it is a word) he was much better then.

One life. One love. One God.

Only fair to follow up one book with it’s continuation. There is not too much to add here. I don’t want to give away the previous book by adding too much here. So instead, I am going to apologize in advance for the way this review is gong to go. I am going to list quotes I really enjoyed out of the book (in list form) and then I am going to conclude with some things I really enjoyed and some things I may not have. There will be no spoilers here. 

Now, the list… 

“She was always there with her “What’s the matter?” followed by her “It’s going to be alright,” delivered in a competent tone that made me feel sure that she was right. Rachel could fix anything.” 

“…anniversary of my birth.” (<—just liked the way that was put instead of just using birthday.)

“My hatred for them was growing faster than the fruit flies had multiplied in our peanut butter jars in biology class sophomore year.” 

“…”a daughter will end up looking like her mother” notion.” 

“Beach photos taken of lost loved ones always seemed so much more poignant than other photos.” 

There were some other’s but I had to omit adding them because I don’t want to give away too much. 

What I liked: The fact that everyone can have a happy ending. The lesson that nothing is perfect and everyone is flawed. 

What I didn’t like: The lack of information about Darcy and Rachel’s friendship towards the end of the book. Read it and you will understand what I mean. 

Whelp, th-th-th-thhhats-thats all folks. 

Good books they are. Read em. Yeah. 

One Life. One Love. One God. 

As I promised, here it is. This book went beyond the surface for me. Sure, it’s a comedic twist on some romance. However, it really caused me to think. In the storyline a manhattan lawyer begins a relationship with her long-time best friend’s fiance. Now in normal circumstances we would all instantly dislike that character. Right? It’s true. BUT I found myself rooting for the “other woman.” This is very out of character for me. In fact, I am known to be very passionate concerning my feelings on affairs. The thing is, this book made you really think about whether you just want a relationship to prevail or TRUE love. Darcy, the one who was engaged, was flawed, as we all are. When the book starts drawing to a close you get a glimpse into how flawed she truly is. At that point I realized that there is love that is meant to be regardless of the “situation” and love that is “made” to be. Which would you prefer to have? Exactly. So, there were a few notes I made and memorable lines. I will share these with you. 

In the beginning of the book the two girls are young and they say “We’ll be old by then. Birthdays don’t matter when you get that old.” I loved this because it is so accurate. That is exactly how children think of age. I should add that they were only talking about their 30th birthday! The book also goes on to say “I realize thirty is just a number, that you’re only as old as you feel and all of that.” This was my sentiments exactly. I dread 30. I don’t think I will be old, not even hardly. It’s just a milestone I have not been looking forward to. I have five years left but “oh no, not 30!” has still crossed my mind. 

“Like New Year’s Eve, tonight is an ending and a beginning. I don’t like endings and beginnings. I would always prefer to churn about in the middle.” This is precisely how I feel. They are bittersweet. For something to begin, something must end. I prefer a constant plane. 

There were some comedic random interludes that consisted of things like bikini waxes and such. I giggled. Also that quote “I don’t break up, I trade up” made it on my list. It was kind of funny. The writing flow was just sensational. The way that the author would randomly place little humorous pieces in the middle of seriousness was delightful. 

“All right then. I’ll wing it,” he says, flashing me his “I never skipped a night wearing my retainer” smile.  <—- Love this writing style. 

There was a particular part of the book that really gave the perception of the “other woman,” I loved it. It really made you think of the pain and anguish bestowed on both sides. Here it is folks. ” I think of all the other women who get the random Thursday nights, but never the holidays or the special family occasions or the important work dinners. Excluded when it really matters.”  

Okay, I am just going to list some of the other quotes that I liked. 

“Bend me over a chair and bust out the whipped cream.” 

“I remind myself of a woman on the wagon, dragging herself to an AA meeting in a last ditch effort to resist her urges.” 

“The opposite of love isn’t hate, it indifference.” (I LOVE THIS- IT’S SO TRUE)

“Songs and smells will bring you back to a moment in time more than anything else.”

“And when the stakes are high, the losses can be that much greater.”

Alright, this has been quite long. I apologize. However, I also read the follow up of this book, Something Blue, which tells the continuing story from Darcy’s point of view. These books were very enjoyable. I loved them. Would I recommend them? Absolutely. Clearly, you are aware of the good. Here is a short bad and ugly. 

Bad: It makes you stay awake until four in the morning reading because you can’t put it down or you completely pass out and smack your head into the book itself. 

The Ugly: The dark circles left under your eyes the next day. :-) 

LOL… okay people. Hope you didn’t fall asleep while reading this. Long story short, read the book(s). 

Until later… recycle. 

One Life. One Love. One God. 

This is probably going to end on a much different note then I normally write on here. However, I am quite irritated today. Nothing about this day has gone well so far. I am tired of WASTING my energy on useless things. What exactly is the point of spending your time, emotions and cares on someone who is never going to change? My entire childhood I spent being my own parent. EXCEPT FOR MY DAD. Let me clarify, I did not go to live with my father until a few months before my 15th birthday. I wish that I had always lived with him. However, this was the courts decision and not my mother or my own. My life would have been so different. I live my life with no regrets. BUT this is really getting to me right now. I am half hesitant to put this out here right now. How many people honestly read this anyway? I am so tired of being the parent in this relationship. Just for once I want to be the child. I am exhausted honestly. I wait. I wait and I wait. For what? Change. I don’t get a replacement. I want things to change. I am so tired of feeling like the crazy one. I am tired. I am being redundant. I know. I have nothing else to say, really. Maybe it’s just wanting something so bad… maybe that’s why it doesn’t change. Why can’t I just have a normal conversation without her flipping out and crying and yelling and stomping her feet like a 5 year old? We are trying to help her out and she takes advantage. That’s how we feel anyway. I am aware that if she read this it would cause a world war in my house but what else is new? Nothing. I guess I might as well just come to terms with it and stop wasting my energy. Nothing has changed. It never will. 

Yep, I know this was a lousy post. Sorry to disappoint. I will take a moment and try to breathe and bounce back with my “normalness.” Also, an update on the 30 days of Texas fun stuff… I am running out quickly. LOL and I know I owe you a book review. I PROMISE it is coming soon. 

Until later… I am sorry for my rant of a blog. (Which possibly could be deleted by me shortly or not even published.) 

Oh yeah… forgot Mother’s day was Sunday. 

One Life. One Love. One God.