Happy (Belated) New Year and the first book of 2011!

Happy Belated New Year to everyone! I was going to make the lofty goal of 200 books for 2011 but after it took me forever to finish my last few books I decided to reel that goal in a bit.

So my goal for 2011 is to read 111 books. That's 11 more than last year for those who have trouble with math like me.

The first book I finished in 2011 ... "Matched" by Ally Condie.

Cassia Reyes is a model student, daughter, and citizen. How could she not be when the Society has everything planned and functioning perfectly? All of her needs are met: food, shelter, education, career training, and even her future husband are selected by officials who know what is best for each individual by studying statistical data and probable odds. She even knows when she will die, on her 80th birthday, just as the Society dictates. At her Match Banquet she is paired with Xander, her best friend and certainly her soul mate. But when a computer error shows her the face of Ky, an Aberration, instead of Xander, cracks begin to appear in the Society's facade of perfection. A series of events also shakes her dedication to Xander and puts her future in jeopardy.

Most of the reviews I have read talk about how Condie basically ripped off the plot of "The Giver" by Lois Lowry. I haven't read Lowry's book (though I have since purchased it and will read it) so I can't speak to the plagiarism claims. With that in mind, I really enjoyed the book. Its very reminiscent of "The Hunger Games" and other dystopian teen novels.

The puppy doesn't want me to finish this post so I will have to try again later. Apparently, she's not much of a reader. Or panda lover.

Up next is "The Secret Daughter" by Shilpi Somaya Gowda which I have actually almost finished. So look for the review soon.

This pretty much sums up Molly's personality ...

Token cute puppy picture ...

And last but not least ... Babysitting Bement style! Call if you are interested, I think we can squeeze a few more into the cage.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care ...

Even the puppies have stockings for Santa to fill. The humans have stockings made by a friend of ours - Jake's was the first one which is is why his is slightly different. He just realized that this year. I told him his is just that much more special.

Alli was jealous

Alli, our 12-year-old dog, heard I posted pictures of Olive and got mad. Alli (pronounced "alley") wants everyone to know she is just as cute and cuddly as any whippersnapper. Of course, we agree.

I can't even begin to explain what a perfect dog she has been since the moment we got her at eight weeks old. She has never shown an ounce of aggression, never snapped at any person (or any animal) and tolerates a lot of crap from kids (and adults). She is in stage 4 kidney failure (which basically means her kidneys are functioning at 25 percent) so she requires thrice-weekly (is that a word?) subcutaneous fluids and daily medicines. She's also showing some seizure activity which we hope to stop with a tweak in her medicines (specifically her phosphorus binder). Now it sounds like she is decrepit but you'd never know she's sick 99 percent of the time. In fact, people at PetSmart were asking if she was up for adoption. She still loves her walks and her treats and saying "Hi" to everyone she meets (with the occasional lick).

So here is our sweet girl Alli (aka Kelsey's Midnight Alibi) lying on my stomach on a rare occasion when she actually slept in bed with us.

She also loves the snow. While it looks like she is dangerously close to eating some yellow snow, its actually just the bottom of my bird bath that is yellow. Only freshly fallen snow was used in the making of this picture.

Alli knows she is the true Queen of our house.

I can't resist another picture!

Or maybe two picture ...

Merry Christmas to me!

Introducing Olive Bement ...

She's an eight-week old Beagle/Lab/?? mix that we adopted from Lake Haven Animal Rescue out of Newaygo, Michigan. Isn't she adorable? The kids are pretty smitten with her too!

BOOK #100!

I met my goal for the year! I finished 100 books in 2010. This last one has taken me a lot longer than normal but I finished it last night.

"Haunting Bombay" by Shilpa Agarwal.

Thirteen-year-old Pinky Mittal lives with her obese, matriarchal grandmother, Maji; her alcoholic uncle, Jaginder; bitter aunt Savita; and three teenage male cousins. Taken in as an infant by her grandmother after her mother died, Pinky knows she's Maji's favorite, even if her aunt despises her. Driven by adolescent curiosity, Pinky unlocks a door in her family bungalow that has been bolted her entire life and unleashes the ghost of an infant girl and her midwife, sending her whole family into a tailspin. Surrounded by superstitions and spirituality, Pinky tries to unravel a past rife with pain and deceit as three generations of her formerly stalwart family crumble around her.

The fact that it took me longer to read is not a critique of this book. It is a well- written and engrossing tale of a family in 1960s India who are haunted by a tiny - but revengeful - ghost. But maybe worse than the ghost is the lies, lost love and other secrets inside their bungalow. The author subtly and expertly weaves in information that will be needed further along in the story. The ending was very satisfying while not completely shocking.

Up next is "The Doctor's Wife" by Elizabeth Brundage.

Rejected

I am not sure how to take our local library system KDL's (continual) rejection of my application(s) to be a book shelver at various branches. Their form letter answer is always the same: because someone has more credentials than I.

To stack books. 

Really?

I love books. One might even say I am obsessed with books. I can alphabetize. I can lift my arms in an upward shelving motion. I even have a college degree with the intent to get my masters in library science.

So what gives? Do I need to perfect my snarly, disinterested library worker attitude prior to employment? Or perhaps there is a special group out there - the Alphabet Elitists - who know the alphabet better than average citizens. They can easily say it forward and backwards without missing a "p"or missplacing a "q".

Perhaps one day my book shelving dreams will come true. Until then I will just keep organizing my own books.

Why haven't I been reading?

Because I have been sucked into the world of "Glee".I know I am late to the bus on this TV phenomenon so instead of reading before bed I am renting episodes on iTunes trying to catch up.

Happy Veterans Day

To all who have served and will serve ... especially my brother Staff Sergeant Derek Golec ... thank you!

This picture was taken at the send-off for my brother's unit before an 18-month tour of duty in Iraq. Jacob and my niece Grace were two-years-old.

Katy Perry - Firework

I love the message in this song especially in light of all the recent teen suicides.

Book #99 ... FINALLY!

It only took me two weeks to finish a book that should have taken a day.

Book #99 of 2010 was ... "Mini Shopaholic" by Sophie Kinsella.

Becky Brandon thought motherhood would be a breeze and that having a daughter was a dream come true: a shopping friend for life! But it’s trickier than she thought. Two-year-old Minnie has a quite different approach to shopping. Minnie creates havoc everywhere she goes, from Harrods to her own christening. Her favorite word is “Mine!” and she’s even trying to get into eBay! On top of everything else, Becky and Luke are still living with her parents (the deal on house #4 has fallen through), when suddenly there’s a huge financial crisis. With people having to “cut back,” Becky decides to throw a surprise party for Luke to cheer everyone up. But when costs start to spiral out of control, she must decide whether to accept help from an unexpected source—and therefore run the risk of hurting the person she loves. Will Becky be able to pull off the celebration of the year? Will she and Luke ever find a home of their own? Will Minnie ever learn to behave? And ... most important ... will Becky’s secret wishes ever come true?

If you like the other books in the series you will like this one as well. This book features typical Becky behavior - she has the best intentions but they always lead to near disaster. This time she has a partner in crime - her three-year-old daughter Minnie who might be just as addicted to shopping as Becky. This is light-hearted chick literature at its best.

Up next is "Haunted Bombay" by Shilpa Agarwal.

Another diversion for you to make up for my lack of reading ...

John Mayer is a tool but I love this song ...

I miss reading ...

You know I am sick when it takes me forever to finish a book ... No new books to update because I just haven't felt like reading. So instead her is a picture of Molly to placate you in the meantime.

On a brighter note ... Happy Birthday to Miss Molly!

Six years ago today at around 10:46 a.m., I gave birth to a four pound, six ounce little girl named Molly Elizabeth.

If you didn't guess based on her size, Miss Moo was a tad early (eight weeks to be exact - she was due on Christmas Eve). I spent two weeks in the hospital before I had her and then she spent two weeks in the hospital after she was born.

The first year was a little rough but now she is healthy and happy. She is just as stubborn and impatient as the day she was born and I wouldn't change a thing about her. Love ya, sweet Molly Moo!

My health or lack thereof ...

I found out today I have a very rare form of psoriasis called von Zumbusch Pustular psoriasis. It's a red rash-like mess covering my entire torso. While most forms are not serious (I have had the non-serious type for 20 years) this is the one that can be life threatening if not treated. I am going on a weekly dose of methotrexate (6 pills on one day) and folic acid on the other days. I will have to go in for weekly blood tests and weekly visits to my doctor. The drug can reek havoc on your kidneys and liver and cause anemia and all other sorts of fun stuff (hence the weekly blood tests). I absolutely cannot get pregnant unless I want a three-headed armless baby.

This is in addition to having strep. Which may or may not have caused the issue. And it's Molly's birthday today.

Needless to say, I am overwhelmed and scared and tired. Prayers or good thoughts are appreciated. I'd say alcohol but I can't drink while on this medicine.

Jen - the itchy one

Book #98 of 2010

Book #98 of 2010 was one I snuck in because I had to return it to the library (no more renewals). The book was "Wife Goes On" by Leslie Lehr.

After years of plodding through a not-terrible-terribly humdrum marriage, all the while feeling that life - real, exciting, satisfying - was out there somewhere, Diane is finally free to explore what's next, even if it means starting over with a mountain of debt, tw kids, and an inexplicable sense of optimism...

Beautiful Lana came to Hollywood to make it as an actress. Instead, she found a role as arm candy for a movie star husband - until his very public affair made her fodder for every gossip rag in town. Playing the humiliated spouse isn't Lana's idea of a career, and there's no place like Hollywood for staging a dramatic comeback...

Back in High School, homecoming queen Bonnie and football star Buck were the golden couple everyone envied. Now, as Buck walks out the door leaving Bonnie with two young children, her storybook marriage is in tatters, and she's not at all certain of the next chapter.

Hard-edged divorce lawyer Annette knew the odds going in, but once she fell for Jackson, she closed her eyes and took the leap. She always hoped they'd make it, but some secrets can't be ignored, no matter how much Annette wants to try.

A raunchy twist on the "First Wives Club" with a dash of "Sex in the City" set in California. The plot was often scattered and unbelievable. Plus the ending was saccharine sweet and Hollywood perfect.

So back to "Adam & Eve" which is proving to be a more involved read.

Book #97 of 2010

Book #97 of 2010 was "The Quickening" by Michelle Hoover.

From the time Enidina Current and her husband, Frank, move into the hardscrabble farmhouse a day's wagon ride away from Enidina's family, their closest neighbors, Jack and Mary Morrow, perplex them, though their proximity and shared farm work often bring the two couples together. Sharing the narrative, stoic Enidina struggles through several miscarriages before finally bearing twins, while the more delicate Mary reels from disappointment, most of all in her volatile husband. Moving through the Depression, the families are driven farther apart from each other, even while Mary's youngest spends most of his time in the Current household, until an accident and a betrayal drive the final wedge into their lives.

This is a very gritty and raw novel about the ugliness of being human - the jealousy, the anger and all of the darkness. Hoover does a great job of contrasting her characters against the harsh Depression of the 1930s. The decisions made in this novel will linger in your mind long after you finish it.

Up next is "Adam & Eve" by Sena Jeter Naslund.

Book #96 of 2010

Book #96 of 2010 was "The Other Family" by Joanna Trollope.

When Richie Rossiter, once a famous pianist, dies unexpectedly, Chrissie knows that she must now tell the truth to their three daughters: their parents were never married. Yet there is one more shock to come when Richie’s will is read. It seems he never forgot the wife and son he left behind years ago—Margaret, who lives a quiet life of routine and work, and Scott, who never knew his famous father. Now two families are left to confront their losses and each other, and none of them will ever be the same.

I don't know that I have ever read a book so chock full of unlikeable characters. I found myself aghast at the behavior of Chrissie and her daughters (save for Amy who seemed to have some heart). I will give Trollope credit for leaving the book open-ended so the reader can make their own assumptions. Unfortunately, I don't have much hope for any of them.

Up next is "The Quickening" by Michelle Hoover.

Pregnancy and Baby Loss Awareness Day

Today is Pregnancy and Baby Loss Awareness Day - a day we surround our loved ones and ourselves in love as we remember those babies whose light faded too quickly. I hesitated to post anything about it because I always fear people think I should be over losing my pregnancy last year. And for the most part I have let go of the grief and - admittedly - the jealousy I felt towards other people (the latter being the harder of the two). But you know what? I don't need to justify my feelings to anyone nor does anyone else who has experienced a loss. If I still cry when I think of Myrtle Bean in 5, 10 or 20 years so be it. How do you forget seeing a tiny beating heart - the heart of your child to be?

You don't.

So to all those who have loved and lost and continue to remember ... I send you my prayers, my love and the light of God to shine in your heart.

To Myrtle Bean, my love forever and a day.