First, you must read what my friend Margo wrote to understand my post!

“I’m incredibly flattered to have received my first blogging award from my new friend, Sheri, of A Novel Menagerie.  I’m not a book blogger (today, anyway; probably not tomorrow either; but SOON, maybe?), but Sheri has welcomed me into her part of the blogging world and provided much needed acceptance and advice. 

In this drama, where for time’s sake, I must whittle us down into stereotypes (which we definitely ARE NOT), Sheri is the pretty and popular prom queen, while I am the troubled, but pretty darn nice new kid. The quirky perky and expansive heroine (Sheri) constantly surprises herself and the reading audience with her confidence, intelligence and actions that make life better for all those lucky enough to cross her path (especially for conflicted new kid, who can’t decide on her major) Prom queen shows her how to do cool thing called the “Bend and Snap”, flirt with cute UPS man, and rip ex husband a new one… oh, sorry that’s Legally Blonde.”

Now, I know she didn’t literally mean that I am that pretty, popular type… because GOD KNOWS I’d be the last person who’d be lucky enough to be that!  But, the visual she gave me with the comment got me started… Anyway, I’m replying to Margo about how she couldn’t be more wrong about me… and, I felt the inspiration to share with all of my millions handful of readers how much of a total NERD I really am!  

First, let it be known that I was a very tiny person growing up.  I was always the shortest in my class, which is what makes being a mother of tall girls so totally bizarre.  I skipped some grades in school and hence was never at the same age as my classmates, until high school.  Because my parents finally caught on that I would be graduating high school entirely too early, they had me repeat the 6th grade. During that repeat year, I worked with ESL (English as a Second Language) Students who were mainly from Vietnam and I traveled to the junior high campus for harder math.  The only friends I made were the ones who wanted me to ”help them” with their homework.  All of the popular kids teased me and taunted me.  One time, they surrounded me on my way to the bathroom.  They wouldn’t let me in.  I peed my pants in front of all of them… which led to unrelenting taunting for years to come.  I was also the last to be picked to play on a team in our PE classes (nobody wanted me on their dodgeball team).

When I hit junior high, I was the tiniest and most flat-chested girl in school.  On the contrary, my only classmate who was nice to me had the largest breasts of the grade.  So, she was donned “Miniature Dolly Parton” and I “Flat Chested Woman.”  The boys put on RayBan Sunglasses, acted like The Beatles and sang… “Flat Chested Woman, Whoooo…” when I walked by.  I was mortified.  At graduation from 8th Grade, everybody got to vote for the formal dance for “cutest couple,” “best smile,” “friendliest,” “biggest flirt,” “best looking,” and “coolest.”  Oh, how I longed to win one of the voted awards.  After all, I participated in  government, yearbook, sports, newspaper, chorus, drama, and any thing else available to me at the time… I should win an award.  I did.  “Most likely to succeed.”  I was mortified.  The boy that won it was like some super genius who was the biggest NERD ever.  Ugh.  Now, that meant I was DEFINITELY a nerd too.  I wanted to die.  At the beach-day that we had to celebrate our graduation, I sat alone on my towel doing my homework.  Nobody came and talked to me at all.  At the graduation dance, all I wanted to do was dance with James to “Open Arms” by Journey… but nobody asked me to dance.

I couldn’t wait to graduate from this school.  I very much looked forward to it!  For graduation, each teacher awarded a “Best Of” award for each class.  So, there would be two best math students, social studies students, etc.  I was a straight A student, no problem… I’d cinch math for sure!  So, at the graduation ceremony, I sang in the choir and I gave a speech from our graduating class.  I couldn’t wait for the awards! One by one, the class awards were announced.  I didn’t even win one!  Until finally they announced the award for ”perfect attendance.”  I won that.  Yippee.  I never felt so betrayed and disappointed.  I sat, fuming in anger… exacting my revenge.  I mean… how much worse could this experience get?

Then, the Principal got up and spoke with the VP on the microphone to the families and friends in the audience.  They went on and on about how one student won the “Best of” award in every class!  This then prompted the teachers to have a discussion about this student, including the extra-cirricular participation this student exhibited.  They decided that since this student exemplified what a ”Best All Around” student should be, they decided to come up with a new “valedictorian” award in honor of this student that would be honored to all other students who followed in these footsteps.  Now, I’m FUMING!  Could I quickly whip up a bomb?  I stared at Patel… she was going to win it for sure!  She knew everything and was a genius.  Or, Yee… he was a math and science whiz kid.  I suddenly hated them both and shot darts out of my eyes at them.  When they announced the winner, I wondered why Patel wasn’t getting up to go the podium.  The crowd clapped and whooped.  Damn people… hate them all.  I glare at Yee… no movement there.  What?  Then, one by one, all of the students in my class turned and started looking at me.  Did my tissue come out of my training bra?  Could they feel the darts?  Did I fart?  NO!  I bet you can put 2 and 2 together… it was me.

My parents beamed with pride… for like the ONLY time in their lives.  They even took me to The Ritz for a very fancy lunch. I remember my meal to this day:  Cold poached Salmon with dill sauce and cucumbers.  I had a wonderful piece of dessert pie that was to die for!  Hans, the owner of the restaurant, came to our table as he knew my father through the real estate business.  My father shared with him my award celebration.  Hans asked me about my meal, which I raved about.  I told him how amazing the pie was (as it should be at $10 a piece – which, back then was A LOT!).  Hans added to my celebration by sending an entire pie home with me!  Cool, huh?  My parents presented me with a topaz ring, my birthstone.  I felt proud.

My transition into high school was a difficult one.  During the summer in between, I prayed nightly for boobs.  Surely, they would come.  Over this summer, I finally did get my period, got those big boobies, and had my first kiss.  The braces came off and my hair stopped frizzing from the horrible permanent that my mom gave me.  In next week’s Sunday Salon… I’ll share the joyous and wonderful (RIGHT!) beginning of my high school life in which I was anything BUT the prom queen, pretty or popular.  I was a walking disaster.

OK… time for THE SALON…

 This week’s reads

This week, I read and reviewed The Life of Pi , Breathing Out The Ghost and The Nearlyweds.  I have been reading The Vigorous Mind for the TLC Book Tour on the 26th and I just finished Snow Flower and the Secret Fan.  Lisa of Books on the Brain got me interested in purchasing the Lisa See books… so I did.

 In my mailbox for review

I received The Triumph of Deborah by Eva Etzioni-Halevy and Edgewise by Jan Stites.  I bought a ton of books for my new book club meetings!  Here are a few:

 

Patterson’s View by Cliff Cardin
Harry S. Truman by Margaret Truman
Tara Road by Maeve Binchy
EdgeWise by Jan Stites
Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi
The Brief Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz
The Invisible Wall by Harry Bernstein
Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates
Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
Snow Flower & The Fan by Lisa See
Peony In Love by Lisa See
Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult
The Triumph of Deborah by Eva Etzioni-Halevy
Second Glance by Jodi Picoult
Loving Fank by Nancy Horan
The Wednesday Letters – Jason F. Wright
Such a Pretty Fat or Why Pie Is Not the Other Answer by Jen Lancaster 

 

 

 Challenges & contests

THURSDAY’S THOUGHTS

We got a winner of Who’s Coming to Dinner, Carrie of Books & Movies.  She has presented a question for the next Thursday’s Thoughts open topic which is January 31st through February 5th.  She’s picked an intriguing question and I’ll tell you more about it next week.   

This week at Thursday’s Thoughts, we have a tribute to Edna Parker.. Your Family’s Favorite!  It’s a blog MEME about the eldest person in your family.  I hope that you find it’s a great thing to share.  There is a copy of Breathing Out The Ghost, written by Edna’s grandson Kirk Curtnutt as the winning prize.  Please join us by posting any time between now and Thursday and participating in the MEME.  Thursday’s Thoughts needs your thoughts!

Anyway, Carrie won that fantastic dinner party cookbook from Amazon.com and I did post the results of the comments/entries that were received.  President Obama made top of the list.  Please check out this POST to discover who else made the list and received the most votes. 

OTHER GIVEAWAYS!

I’m hosting two giveaways in addition to Thursday’s Thoughts this week.  First, you can win your copy of Breathing Out The Ghost by Kirk Curnutt.  The copy you will win will be a signed one (I just love those!).  Also… I’m thrilled to announce that I’m hosting a giveaway of The Makedown by Gitty Daneshvari.  I’ve already lent out my copy to my sister in law.  I hope y’all love it as much as I did!  Both of these giveaways will be entered into the Bloggy Giveaways Carnival starting 1.26.09.

JUST FOR THE LOVE OF IT READING CHALLENGE

Just a reminder to the participants to enter your January book reviews on Mr. Linky on this post. J

At home and etc.

I received flowers this week from the MAN IN MY LIFE… Baby Aaron.  He asked me to be his Valentine this year.  So, the twins and I have a date with him.  His mommy and daddy are going out to do “grown up stuff.”  Aren’t these flowers just gorgeous!  I told my sis-in-law that it wasn’t necessary to send flowers, that I would babysit just if she asked.  But, she reminded me that it’s always nice to get flowers every now and then… YEAH… it is.  When I first saw them I thought they must be at the wrong house!  You should see the tulips in full bloom now.  GORGEOUS!

The twins have a basketball game today. For those of you keeping track of their progress, they did win again last week against the other first place team (who only showed up with four players… hence we had to play with 4).  My daughter, Nicole, was the top scorer of the game with 8 points!  I think we won like 32-16 or something close to that.  Her twin was just one point lower with 7 points.  I couldn’t be more proud of their defensive skills.  But, they can’t dribble well and I have no idea how to teach them.  Any pointers?  Ask your hubbies for me… I’m a single mom! 

BookCharming.Com is receiving all of it’s official paperwork this week.  So proud!  I made some lovely keychains for my friends.  I’m turning into such the little crafter.  I got all of my Valentine’s stock in to do some special bookmarks for the holiday.  I’ll be making them next week and posting photos if you want to pick one up for yourself or a girlfriend. 

I’m still behaving myself and reading my Bible.  I’m feeling very chubby, so I started my walking again.  Didn’t help when I ate In N’ Out tonight. 

As always, thank you to each and every reader who takes the time to read my posts. This is one of the greatest things in my life and it’s because you read it that I find this joy!

Toodles!

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