Saturday, Jun 6, 2009

The Sunday Salon: Books Have Arriveth

I had pretty much caught up on my ARC’s with just a couple to finish up in June.  My desk and credenza, where I keep my TBR books, were looking way too neat and organized.  The only books that remained were the ones that I bought which didn’t excite me plus my few remaining ARC’s.  It’s time to RE*UP!

Now, this thought process is scary.  I remember in the beginning of the year when I was overwhelmed with the books that I had to read.  Except for a couple of interesting titles and selectively chosen Hachette-published books, I didn’t want to take on any more ARC’s unless they absolutely interested me.  I didn’t want that “I’m behind in my reading” feeling anymore.  I told myself, “never again.”

I don’t know how I can expect my kids to listen to me when I don’t even listen to myself.  Like a moth to a flame, I bought a stack of books, happily accepted a bag-full from a family member, and went in search for some new ARC’s.  Be careful what you wish for…  So, in today’s Sunday Salon I am going to share my book addiction with y’all.  You are going to see exactly how gung-ho I went and then you just may shake your head and say, “GIRL!  Tisk Tisk!”  

Side Note:  For all of you lucky dogs that went to BEA, my stacks probably aren’t too frightening for you as you probably share my “decorating my house with books theme.”  But, for me… this is a lot!  Thank God that it’s summer and I’ll have time on the beach to read more than usual (fingers crossed).  Check out my favorite post of the week regarding books galore!

This Week’s Reads

This week, I read and reviewed: 

In My Mailbox for Review

A few of these didn’t come in the mail this week, but they are in my “TO REVIEW” stack:

And, I’m expecting 3 more review books in the mail that I’ve requested.

These are my purchases, loans, and gifts (and, I’m still not showing 15 more that I’m somewhat putting off)…

{Darn!  I forgot to add Still Alice  and  The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society  to my “purchase” pictures stack.} 

So… you see… I went a little hog-wild.  *blush*  But, I do hope that I will have a TON O’ FUN reading them all.   If you’ve read any of them and want to share your reviews with me, please leave me the link in the comments section below.  I’d love to cross-link you in my up-coming reviews. 

You may want to check out my revised sidebar.  In addition to publishing a revised book review policy, I have added 3 new features to my blog…

I have added a Christian Reading Page:

… a Mother Approved Page:

 … a Guaranteed Good Book Page:

Contests 

I’m giving away a copy of Sunnyside Blues by Mary Carter and will be giving away a copy of The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff in on June 11th!

Reading Challenges 

On J. Kaye’s 100+ Reading Challenge…  I’m at 77 books done.  Therefore, my statistical update for this challenge is that I’m 77% completed with 43.61% of the year completed.  This puts me ahead of schedule by 33.39%.   

I completed my first book in the The Classics Book Challenge (Pride & Prejudice) and my first book for the Book Awards III Challenge (My Sister’s Keeper).

Lainey Grace Update

Lainey Grace and Lori are back home as of Thursday.  YEAH!  Only one more round of chemo and then, hopefully, she will go into remission and NO MORE HOSPITAL!  I’m praying and praying.   Since I really enjoyed Lori’s Caring Bridge Journal Update yesterday, I thought that I’d give you a snippet of her post.  For those of you who have absent-minded hubbies, one part of this may give you a giggle!  And, for all of you who have included this precious family in your prayers, I wanted to share her personal “thanks” with you, as well!

We finally escaped our room around 2:45 pm after waiting for our nurse to give meds to another patient. We headed off to the pharmacy to pick up our refill that was supposedly “all ready”….it wasn’t. By this time, the migraine that I woke up with is pounding since my medication didn’t work. All I want to do is go to bed but I have an hour’s drive ahead of me. The pharmacy was very quick in processing our order and we were out the door in 10 minutes.

We get loaded into the car and are ready to flee the parking lot. I try to pay the parking attendant with my credit card because, someone whom I love dearly, which will remain nameless, forgot, four separate times, to put cash in my purse. The attendant tells me that they only take cash or checks. I back up, re-park, and go into the ATM located in the cafeteria where they charge me $2.50 to get my own money. Patience, what’s that? I’m all out!

We finally make it home and get settled in. I bathed Lainey and then get clean myself and take my migraine medicine. Kevin and the boys got home from guitar lessons just then and we had a mini reunion. Kevin made dinner and we picked up, unloaded, put away and tried to get organized.  It was a long day and that’s why no update.

We are settling in today and doing laundry. I’m feeling better but my headache is still dull.  Lainey is enjoying being home and is following her brothers around like a puppy dog. Whatever room they’re in, she’s in.

We need to go back for labs on Monday to check her counts. They are preparing to have to give her blood products as a side effect of this new medicine that she’s on is that her counts drop quicker and more severely.

We are just praying that we can stay home as long as possible. I’m quickly repacking as her counts drop to zero between days 7 & 10 and today is day 8. By Monday, we will probably already be at a zero ANC count which is when she usually spikes a fever.

We’re so close to being done, and that helps. Lainey’s attitude was GREAT this visit. I was so proud of her. She was polite, fun, and even “giddy” at times.

Thanks to everyone for your love, prayers, and support. When I get a chance, I’ll download more pictures so keep an eye out. 

For all of you who have kept this family in your prayers, I personally want to thank you, again!  In case you haven’t read Lainey Grace’s story, you can access it by clicking  HERE. 

On TV 

Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood

This week’s episode was way more fun than last week’s.  I thought it was a total crack up when Tori was afraid of being assassinated while being the Grand Marshall to the Mother Goose Parade in San Diego.  Classic!

So You Think You Can Dance

2 more nights and 3 more hours of Sher’s guilty pleasure just weren’t enough.  I’m sayin’… let’s air this show every night!  Well, I’d love it but maybe Fox wouldn’t!  Speaking of airing shows every night, what’s up with that I’m A Celebrity Get Me Outta Here  show?  I watched it one night and they said that it would be another week that the stars would be in the jungle, but then it was on again the next 2 nights.  I’m confused.  Anyway, on SYTYCD… they have finally chosen their Top Twenty for the season which starts next week.  I’m just warning you guys… expect snippets of my favorite dances on my blog.  It’s an addiction to dance; what can I say?!? 

The Bachelorette 

Jake is holding the lead in my weekly polls for the hottest guy.  Although, I may say that Kipton is getting a lot of internet attention!  Here’s my post on this week’s episode and please continue to visit me on Tuesday for weekly updates!

At Home 

So, a little birdie mentioned that she missed my “happs at home” part of my Sunday Salon post.  I never knew that she really liked that part. *gush and feeling warm all over*  I better insert it this week… *smile*

Well, I will start off by sharing that an unexpected family member came into town from Wyoming.  She is the twins’ father’s great niece.  What does that make them?  Second cousins?  She is just a bit younger than the twins andmy girls just love love love this little gal.  I would have taken a picture, but the camera died.  I did, however, buy a new one (for a steal of a price), but more on that later.  So, last weekend was filled with sleepovers with makeovers and my refrigerator and pantry being raided beyond belief.  How these girls put away that much food is completely beyond me!  After surviving that, during the midst of a migraine nonetheless, I was happy to go to bed on Sunday night. 

I got all signed up for my accounting classes this week and I officially start school tomorrow.  But, my books haven’t arrived and I’m super bummed.  I’m behind and I haven’t even started yet!  I’m sure that my book reviews will be reduced by at least one review a week while I am attended school. 

I exercised on Thursday night with my friend Danielle.  I had like 5 things to tell her, but over the course of 75 minutes, I end up spilling my guts about family stuff and never get to share with my B.F. all that I wanted to tell her.  Sad, but true.  But, she said that we can go and grab drinks that this local dive bar that I like very soon.  TG! 

The twins are on restriction, yet again!  I swear to you that I just don’t get it!  I was terrified of my parents while growing up.  Now, that’s not to say that I didn’t give them more than my share of grief (in fact, I’m sure I did), but this payback thing isn’t supposed to be double!  The twins outright disobeyed a house rule (and, it was a biggie) AND then, atop of that, broke a 2nd one.  I think they heard me yelling in Cincinnati!  I went APE and I mean BEEEZERK!   My friend Lori was trying to get me to calm down and be rational about it, but I don’t know how well I did after talking to her.  With my girls, it’s all about diverting the attention off them when they’ve done something wrong.  Example:  “You broke my glass,” I exclaim.  “But, she  turned the music on and I was distracted by the song.”  What?  What does listening to a song have to do with you being rough in the dishwasher by slamming it shut and breaking a glass?    Do you get my picture?  It’s so frustrating.  It’s like… take responsibility you little scallywaggs!  Parenting is hard.  Some days I just don’t want to do it at all. 

Other than that, the twins have been reading up a storm because they are on restriction and they are counting down the days until summer break.   They will be going to Girl Scout camp this summer, however the rest of the time they are stuck with me until I get a job.  Well… I will have to come up with some creative ideas to keep THE MENAGERIE occupied. 

As always, my thanks to all of you for reading not only this post, but the others as well.   Your readership means the world to me!  AND, your comments are invaluable to me!

15 Comments