Some New Friends

I made friends at the bookstore the other night. It was the perfect setting too. Cool spring night, Grimaldi's perfect pizza for dinner, Old Town Scottsdale, and a breeze coming through the bookstore's open door. It was the perfect place to talk books, share ideas and make friends. Author CJ Box told great stories, applauded US as readers, and made me feel like we could be buddies! CJ Box writes a mystery series based in Wyoming featuring a game warden, Joe Pickett. I have never read any of his books but I'd heard lots of great things about him and figured that Rich would like him too, so off we went to meet a new friend!! The crowd was full of questions and CJ Box catered to us all. Wyoming, as a setting, actually becomes another character in his books, and those from Wyoming seemed to flood the audience. It seems that everyone there had either been there or was from there. (We had traveled all across it two times this summer so we felt like experts ourselves!) I loved the story that he shared about a comment that he got on his blog one time from a woman who ended up being Gary Cooper's (the actor)daughter! She had been introduced to CJ Box's books and felt that the main character, Joe Pickett, was a lot like her dad; a man's man and one of intelligence and integrity. She had just figured that no one wrote about guys like that any more. His publicist contacted her and they ended up meeting. Chuck (we're friends now, ya know!) said that he sat in awe of her the whole meeting! What a personable guy! I can't wait to try his books now.
I also met another friend; the woman sitting next to me. We talked forever. I loved learning about her journey to Arizona and her discovery of self. I left the store wishing we had exchanged phone numbers. Next time I will follow that inspiration!! I went out to the bookstore with my best friend and came away with even more friends - and a few books too!!!!(don't tell!)

Happy Easter!!

(Artist - Liz Lemon Swindle)

I Know That My Redeemer Lives

I know that my Redeemer lives.
What comfort this sweet sentence gives!
He lives, he lives, who once was dead.
He lives, my ever-living Head.
He lives to bless me with his love.
He lives to plead for me above.
He lives my hungry soul to feed.
He lives to bless in time of need.

He lives to grant me rich supply.
He lives to guide me with his eye.
He lives to comfort me when faint.
He lives to hear my soul’s complaint.
He lives to silence all my fears.
He lives to wipe away my tears.
He lives to calm my troubled heart.
He lives all blessings to impart.

He lives, my kind, wise heav’nly Friend.
He lives and loves me to the end.
He lives, and while he lives, I’ll sing.
He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King.
He lives and grants me daily breath.
He lives, and I shall conquer death.
He lives my mansion to prepare.
He lives to bring me safely there.

He lives! All glory to his name!
He lives, my Savior, still the same.
Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives:
“I know that my Redeemer lives!”
He lives! All glory to his name!
He lives, my Savior, still the same.
Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives:
“I know that my Redeemer lives!”

Text: Samuel Medley, 1738–1799. Included in the first LDS hymnbook, 1835.

Music: Lewis D. Edwards, 1858–1921

Mystery Madness or Spring is here!!

The Book Group theme was "Mystery Madness" again this year. Each member reads any mystery book they want and then we all gather for a bunch of "book - commercials" and tell all about what we read. It's fun to watch as each member writes down new titles and we pass around books!! Yippee for me - I read two different ones.


Nevada Barr's ,Firestorm, features Forest Service Ranger Anna Pigeon as she labors to fight both crime and a forest fire in Lassen Volcanic National Park in California. Barr's description of the landscape and feel of the forest gave you the feeling that she's really been there and experienced just what the characters have. She has!! Barr is herself a Forest Service ranger and writes what she knows. The "firestorm" descriptions were downright scary but the solving of the mystery dragged and plodded more than I wanted. I just wanted more. Barr writes about many of the National Parks around the country and my book-buddy, Rich, bought one of her books about Glacier National Park this summer when we visited Montana/Canada on vacation. I do believe I'll be tempted to try that one too!This was the first time I'd read any of Nevada Barr's work but I was glad to recommend it to the group!

The Thursday Club by Lee Martin was book #13 by an author I read a lot of about 10 years ago. When I found this elusive title a few years back I was excited but truly ran out of time to read it and it got shoved to the back of a shelf. When I culled my shelves this spring break I was thrilled to "discover" it again. I loved reading about the characters again, it was like meeting friends at a high school reunion. But like a reunion, you often find that you've outgrown the friends and you're glad that the reunion is a short one. You say all you need to say in a few minutes and then the silence is awkward. The book felt a little bit the same. Deb Ralston is a Fort Worth detective still trying to balance a growing family, private life and career. This time crime hits close to home when her "Thursday Club" jogging buddies come home to find one of their husbands murdered. Deb comes to comfort and help and is dragged into the investigation in more ways than one. I enjoyed the books for a few hours and then was ready to be done. It was nice to tie up some loose ends but I do believe as "friends", we've outgrown each other. Again, it was easy to talk about this book with others at book group, maybe they're ready to start a friendship with the book, but I'm ready to move on.

Now my nose is right in this book....truly quite addicting.

This Easter weekend is already starting out to be a beautiful one.

General Conference!!! Watching in our living room and in our jammies!! Yippee!

super-de-dooper Spring weather....
&&&

chocolate bunnies......mmmmm (need I say more?!?!)

Tucson Festival of the Book

"Take gorgeous weather, add 50,000 passionate readers, and stir in 450+ authors and you get the Tucson Festival of Books -a large-scale event that still feels personal and intimate - I was honored to be a part of it."

— Jamie Ford, "Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet"

What a great time I had at the Tucson Festival of the Book with my best reading friend and buddy!! Rich and I divided up and we each enjoyed authors to our hearts content. I heard Jon Scieszka, Terry Brooks, JA Jance & Janis Ian (yes, the folk singer I loved on "At Seventeen" fame. She interview Judy Jance and even sang!! I did too!!) I also met a few new authors and loved Craig Johnson. He was larger than life and CJ Box was a total gentleman. I now have new authors to read!! (Like I was hurting for books.... "Houston, we have a problem!") Rich and I rendezvoused only once - at the end when Rich helped me find a few books to call my own!! Great weather, great authors and even some terrific gelato. We ended the evening at Molina's Mexican Restaurant where we met our son and his family. Great memories!!! Thanks Tucson, I can't wait to come back next year!

Spring Break - Beginnings

The first evening of Spring Break & a I don't want to think about anything. It seems the perfect time to pull out a meme and play a bit.

What do you usually have for breakfast? Special K cereal or Dannon Vanilla Yogurt...mmmm. Of course what I really want is pancakes!!!

What are three characteristics in others that you appreciate? A great sense of humor, honesty, and reliability

What are three characteristics in yourself that you appreciate? I think for the most part I am pretty easy-going, I like to laugh and I am really interested in people

If you could visit any period of history for one month, which one would you definitely NOT choose. I am glad I was Not a pioneer!! That was hard work and you were always bone-tired, hot or cold and hungry! I'll just read about it, thank you!

What was your favorite toy as a child? My teddy bear or my football

What is one of your little talents that has given you big rewards? Teaching

What fruit describes you best and why? Cutie mandarin oranges!! Small, chubby and sweet. Everyone say "awwwww....."

What do you think would improve your country? Cooperation and thinking of others.

When you’re shopping are you most like a skunk, whale, bear, or eagle? Why? Eagle. I fly over the whole store to get the layout and see what's where, then I fly over again to see if I really want it, then I fly over again to swoop down and make it mine!!

When you’re working are you most like a mountain, river, ocean, or meadow? Why? Ocean. There's an ebb and flow. I work hard for awhile and then I drift a little and absorb what I've done. There are also times of tremendous activity and force and then there are quiet days!! Gosh, I'm feeling like I want a day at the beach...

What do you most appreciate about your family? Their love and respect for me.

If a movie were being made of your life, what actor/actress would you like to play you? Come on, wouldn't Sandra Bullock be great for the part?!?! She'd make me look good, be funny, and awesome all at the same time!!

We're off to the Tucson Festival of the Book tomorrow. What a great way to start Spring Break!! Wahoo...

Sunday Rambles

I'm in a sugar coma...still.....

• Chocolate chip cookies and milk at a friend's Memorial Service (& leftovers!)
  
• Dinner out with good friends (& leftovers!)
  
• Break-the-fast with young single adults - good desserts with friends to eat with!(Thank goodness there were no leftovers!)
  

We've been partying for a while here now. I'm good all week long so I can party down on the weekends!! But I've got to learn some real restraint!!

I'm counting my blessings...and they number at least 6!!! Ooops...7

On this stormy Sunday I got some good reading in. I finished the dead and the gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer. It's the sequel to Life As We Knew It and still has me checking the moon and pondering if I could survive a calamity. It's startling to think of all the daily conveniences that we take for granted...shelter, food, electricity, running water, abundant food. Why am I drawn to this dystopian YA fiction? Does it make today's traumas and dramas less fearful? Is it just good writing and creativity? Interesting ideas? I am ready for a little lighthearted reading however. I have plenty on the TBR pile but I will definitely read book #3 when it comes out to see what happens to these characters. I feel like I'm watching a car accident and I can't help looking.

It's coming.....it's right around the corner and I can't wait.....report cards, lesson plans, meetings, final projects for my Thursday night class - nothing will deter my enthusiasm!!! You can feel it, can't you?!?! I'm counting the days. Spring Break, you are a welcome sight.

What a random Sunday post....it must be the sugar!

Weekends are Wonderful

The last two weekends have been so much fun. Dinosaurs and cars with a little Dan Brown mixed in on the side as my grandson and I made french toast for breakfast ... it was a Valentine adventure.

This weekend I am Delta-watching as Jennie and Kyle celebrate their first year anniversary in San Diego!!! We've gone exploring the neighborhood, chased our cats and cuddled during rainstorms. She's a great reading buddy!!

I finally finished Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol. That was no easy task when you have to drive cars with your grandson and protect the world from dinosaurs that like to go "shopping." No really, I just had trouble becoming invested in the book. It must have taken me almost 100 pages before I really cared about what was happening. I kept reading as everybody told me to keep with it. Good ol' husband had read it non-stop and was quite frankly amazed that I was not racing through it - but dinosaurs and cars were more important!! I love having my grandson around. We visit the library, sing songs, sort laundry and play in the backyard. That's when I can read because my eyes are very sneaky...he thinks I'm watching!!! But finally finish, I did!!

The 12 hour timespan of The Lost Symbol reminded me of the TV show 24. I don't know that it really hit me until I was finished, but that was one action packed day! (I think I'll stick with saving the world from "shopping" dinosaurs!!) Set in Washington DC, Robert Langdon, has to find his friend who has been kidnapped by a zealot named Mal'akh all while being pursued by the CIA. I loved the location of the book as we had visited Washington DC three summers ago. I just wish I could return and see all the 'out of the way' locations and uncover the symbolism for myself. When I finally finished the story, Rich had the perfect show to watch on the DVR - Hunting the Lost Symbol from the Discovery channel.

Currently reading -
Devil's Cub by Georgette Heyer - insipid Regency romance that I can hardly understand or have the patience for. It's a book group read and I've made a commitment to read them all this year or else I would have thrown it aside from page 5!! Oh well, I can hope it gets better, I'll have a lot of negative things to say, or maybe, just maybe, book group night will get here before I'm done and then I can just count it as a DNF!

The Dead and the Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer - now this is one I really want to finish. Falling into it is easy. It's a companion book to Life as We Knew It and I loved that one!!

It's been a wonderful rainy weekend. Calm, peaceful and relaxing. I can't believe that one year ago we were doing this.....

It's gone so fast....