Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Top Ten Books on My TBR




Today I'm linking up with The Broke and the Bookish and participating in their weekly Top Ten Tuesday feature post. (To learn more about TTT, click here.) This week's theme is -

TOP TEN BOOKS ON MY 
TO BE READ LIST
  1. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid - Why?  Well, because I have yet to read anything from TJR that I didn't like.
  2. My (Not So) Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella -  Why?  Because so many people I know in the blogosphere has really enjoyed it and I think I will, too.
  3. The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls* - Why?  Because the author spent part of her childhood in Welch, WV, which is approximately 20 miles from my hometown and where my paternal grandparents once lived.
  4. Wonder by R. J. Palacio - Why?  I want to see the movie, but I want to read the book first.
  5. The Sentry by Robert Crais - Why?  Because it is the next one in the series that I've been reading for the past three years.
  6. Little Fires Everywhere by Celest Ng - Why?  Because I loved Everything I Never Told You and though the writing was superb.  I've heard nothing but good things about this one, too.
  7. Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows by Meera Syal - Why?  Because it sounds cute and funny.
  8. Eat Pray Love Made Me Do It by Elizabeth Gilbert - Why?  Eat Pray Love had a significant impact on my life many years ago.  I'm just interested to read how it impacted the lives of others.
  9. The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan - Why?  Someone within the past couple weeks, probably for the mostly Show Us Your Books linkup, had read this and shared her thoughts on it.  I immediately added it to my TBR list on Goodreads and I bought it.
  10. Every Anxious Wave by Mo Daviau - Why?    Because I got it cheap and the premise has me intrigued.

*Already in progress. 

What are some books on your TBR?  Have a great day!

Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Tuesday Topics - Two Holiday Flicks and One Favorite Thanksgiving Dish

I must admit that I do love me some Christmas movies, which I'm assuming today's topic, Holiday Flicks, is inferring to.  After some careful contemplation, I've whittled down my favorites list to two.  Basically, I asked myself, "If I were stranded on a deserted island but had access to a device that would allow me to watch movies, which two Christmas movies would I want on the island.  I chose:


I know most people find A Christmas Story annoying, but I absolutely love it.  I love the simplicity of it, the nostalgia, and it reminds me of when I first saw it when I was a kid.  As for Home Alone 2, I think NYC at Christmas is absolutely stunning with all the decorations and lights, so I thoroughly enjoy the New York scenes in the movie.

As for my favorite Thanksgiving dish, it is hands down, no contest, my grandmother's turkey and dumplings, which I don't have a picture of so I'm improvising with these:





What are two of your favorite holiday movies and your favorite holiday dish?

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!


Linking up with Jenn @ Quirky Pickings (even though she's on hiatus at the moment)

Sunday, November 19, 2017

Thoughts On Being Authentic - Friday Reflections (Not on Friday)


As I prepared for this prompt about authenticity, my mind was flooded with numerous examples of inauthenticity from my life and from that of my friends. 

A male friend told me once about how his first wife acted differently before they married.  He is convinced that she was a mission to marry a "good man" (apparently her first husband was abusive) and therefore was on her best behavior throughout their courtship, never allowing any of her flaws or bad habits to be seen.  But, as it often goes, keeping up a facade is exhausting and about a year into the marriage, unable to maintain the pretense any longer, her true colors started to show through.  Unfortunately, this version of herself, her real self, was not what my friend thought he had married. They divorced two kids and seven years later.  He once said that he wished she would've been herself from the beginning, that way they could've saved each other a lot of time, money, aggravation, and disappointment.

Recently, another friend of mine echoed similar sentiments about his wife, saying that she behaved in a certain way just to "get him."  Apparently when they were dating, she pretended to enjoy many of the outdoor activities that he enjoys like camping and fishing. But, once they were married, she disclosed that she didn't like doing those things after all. My friend has eluded that he feels swindled because he thought he was getting a companion with similar interests, someone to do things with, but that isn't the case.  He's married to someone with whom he has little in common and with each passing year, the distance between them gets a little larger and the marriage gets less satisfying.

For my next example, I dug deep, going way back into my single days when I was online dating.  I met this guy whom I liked, but he and I lived about an hour and a half apart, so we spent a lot of time chatting online and talking on the phone before meeting in person.  We knew what the other looked liked, for I had a picture on my profile and he had emailed me a picture that he had scanned and uploaded that was 2-3 years old.  (Remember, digital photography was still relatively new.) My profile picture was about a year old and I disclosed that my hair was shorter and highlighted, but basically everything else was the same. He never I mentioned any changes in his appearance, so I just figured that probably looked the same.

When he and I finally met, had he not shared what kind of car he'd be driving and had I not seen him getting out of the silver Pontiac, I don't think I would've recognized him.  You see, in the 2-3 years since his picture had been taken, he had doubled in size.  

Wait a second!  I have never cared if a man was overweight because I've been overweight all my life.  That was not the problem.  My problem was that the man I sat across the table from during dinner that evening didn't match the mental picture of the man I had chatted with and talked to on the phone for two months. There was a weird disconnect between what I had been led to believe and what was real and I had a hard time reconciling the two.  Anyway, the date was weird and I believe he felt it, too.  He never asked me out again and I wasn't disappointed that he didn't.  

I wish that he had just been upfront about his weight when we talked about our pictures.  I still would've gone out with him because I enjoyed talking with him and he made me laugh.  Had I not been caught off guard, I think I would've acted less weird and the date might've turned out better than it did.

Despite all the obvious ramifications that can result from being inauthentic, why do we struggle so much with being ourselves?  Why do we put so much energy into pretending when we know one day the truth will eventually come out?

I know firsthand how hard it can be just to simply be yourself, especially in a world that is constantly trying to change you.  I was a teenage tomboy in the 1980s and 90s.  Although tomboys were not completely uncommon at the  time, they weren't as mainstream as they are now.  I spent the majority of my teen years battling and resisting the relentless pressure to be something I wasn't, which was an awful experience.  I truly believe what got me through those terrible experiences was the steadfast belief that pretending to be something I wasn't was worse than enduring society's pressure.  

Yes, I know, I make it sound like I was the Gen X poster child for being yourself, but I assure you, that's not the case. I had some moments of weakness when I caved under the pressure and most of them involved boys.

Case in point: I liked this one guy in high school.  One day he and I sat together in the bleachers in our gym and talked. In an attempt to be more "girly," because that's what guys wanted in terms of girlfriends after all, I had on a terrible pair of flats that hurt like hell and a trendy outfit that made me look ridiculous. They guy was droning on and on about something and I was pretending to be completely enthralled in what he was saying, which was inaccurate by the way. I didn't want to correct him because I didn't want to show him up. My paternal grandfather's words, "Don't get too smart because boys don't like girls that are smarter than they are," ran through my mind. So, I sat there trying to look interested, resisting the urge to tell him he was wrong, trying to be doting and flirtatious, and feeling like an absolute idiot. It was miserable. 

That evening, once I returned home, I kicked off those damn flats and threw them in the garbage. That's when I asked myself, "What the hell am I doing?" 

It that moment, it finally occurred to me that if that guy didn't like me, the real me, the smart me, the tomboyish me, the me that didn't wear uncomfortable shoes to school, the me that wanted to join in the softball game rather than watch from the fence, the me I was day in and day out, then he wasn't the guy for me. You see, I may not have been the pretty, feminine, doting co-ed, but I was loyal, understanding, adventurous, intelligent, kind, and fun to be around. I learned that the real me was by far and away more interesting and had way more depth than that phony, silly girl I was pretending to be.

So, I don't know if there is an easy answer to my earlier question. We struggle to be ourselves for many reasons, each reason as personal and varied as the next. For me, I pretended to be something I wasn't because I wanted to be liked by the boys I had crushes on.  In the end, I discovered that liking myself was more important. 

In closing, I leave you with two quotes:


- Oscar Wilde



Why do you think we (collectively as humans) struggle to be authentic?  

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a wonderful Sunday!



Tuesday, November 14, 2017

Recently Read - Vol. 22 (Oct. '17)


Ah, October.  I had such high hopes of reading more in October, but, as it so often happens, life had other plans.  Oh, well.  'Tis okay.  The important thing is that I did read some last month and that I'm pleased with the books I read overall.

So, without further ado, here are my thoughts on the three books I read in October:


Destroyer by Brett Battles
Read October 7-14 | Format: Audiobook | My Rating: 4/5


Think: What if the world you were responsible for creating was in jeopardy of being altered or even destroyed by someone with a score to settle?  What would you do to preserve the world you had come to know and cherish?

I find it hard to discuss books that are part of a series, especially where the story is continued in each following book.  I'll just say this, I enjoyed this book probably just as much as the first one.  But, keep in mind that these are not stand-alones, so you must read them in order.

Final Verdict: Recommend 


The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
Read October 15-16 | Format: Audiobook | My Rating: 5/5

Think: A poignant first-person account of gorilla living in a cage who dares to dream of a better life for a young friend.

I can't say enough good things about this book.  It was a short, yet very charming read. It was funny and poignant and utterly delightful.  

Final Verdict:  Highly Recommend


Nature Girl by Carl Hiaasen
Read October 16-29 | Format: Audiobook | My Rating: 4/5

Think: Impassioned, possibly bipolar Floridian schemes to rid the world of dinnertime sales calls, one telemarketer at a time.

This was not my favorite Hiaasen book by far.  It was average in my opinion.  The noir humor wasn't as funny as in his other books, the plot was a bit slow, and the characters were, frankly, annoying.  

Final Verdict:  Skip it unless you are an avid Hiaasen fan.


~~~

So, what have you read lately?  Anything you'd like to recommend?  Please feel free to share!

Linking up with Steph and Jenn:

Tuesday, November 7, 2017

Tuesday Topics - Three Things for Which I Am Grateful



For an unlikely friendship that started around a year ago and continues today.



That the transfer to my new school went through without a hitch.  Seriously, I have been patiently waiting for the speech path who had been at that school to retire for about four years.  When she announced her retirement would be official one quarter into the new school year, I feared my chances of the transfer going through might be thwarted because the district I work for frowns upon transfers once the school year has started.

For the support of my friends and family as I've embarked upon this job change.  I'm not particularly a fan of change.  So, even though this transfer is what I wanted, leaving my old school was still difficult.  Without my support system, I'm not sure I would've fared as well as I have.  Thanks, guys...


What are some things you're grateful for?  Have a good one!


Linking up with Jenn @ Quirky Pickings (even though she's on hiatus at the moment)


Monday, November 6, 2017

Miscellaneous Monday - Random Thoughts

~ All last week, I truly savored the notion that I'd get an extra hour of sleep yesterday due to the time change.  But, as luck would have it, I found myself wide awake at 5:30am.  



~ I had two wonderfully blissful weeks off back in October, but (and I know how bad this is going to sound) I could really use a day off now.  For the past two weeks, I've been running around like a chicken with its head chopped off tying up loose ends at my old school, packing up all my personal belongings and moving it to my house, trying to get acclimated at my new school, and then moving my stuff there one painfully small carload at a time.  I'm exhausted and my poor house is a wreck. 



~ Because I was wide awake in the week small hours Sunday morning, I found myself perusing Facebook and I came across this meme:


First, I got tickled because the FB friend who commented on this (hence the entire reason it showed up in my feed to begin with) is a man.

Second, I got even more tickled when I started thinking about the last show I watched and who my birthing team would be:


Yep, the dysfunctional Gallaghers from Shameless, whom I had watched a rerun of the night before.  Lord help me if this situation ever came to pass (me being pregnant and them being my birthing team)!  As for who would catch the baby, I picked Veronica, the Gallagher's sassy, next door neighbor.


She, after all, was the one who helped deliver Debbie's baby on the kitchen table...  LOL!


~ Friday evening, I ate one of those Pull-N-Peel Twizzlers.  After swallowing, I realized that more of the sticky, gooey substance was remaining behind in my lower molars.  After clearing it with my tongue, I felt an open space that wasn't there before! That damned candy pulled off a dental crown and I inadvertently swallowed it!


So, tomorrow morning, I have an appointment with my dentist to get a temporary crown.  I've been examining my...  excrement for the past two days looking for any signs of the expensive dental work piece, but no luck.  Granted, I was  only willing to look from a far and not dissect the stuff, but still, I haven't seen any sign of it yet.  

I guess I have literally flushed several hundred dollars down the toilet.



~ I have discovered, much to my dismay, that I get absolutely no cell service in my new school.  And when I say no cell service, I mean none.  Zip.  Zero.  Nada.  Niete.  Nothing.  NONE.  It's a very weird feeling to be cut off from the outside world.  At least the WiFi works, although the sites I can access are extremely limited.




I hope this finds you having a great day and beginning to the work week!  As always, thanks for stopping by!

Thursday, November 2, 2017

Currently... (Vol. 22)


Starting...  a new chapter of my career at Simpsonville Elementary.

Bidding...  a fond farewell to the faculty and staff of Heritage Elementary, who have been like my family for the past 18 years.  (If you are reading this, I will miss you more than words can ever express.)

Overwhelmed...  by the outpouring of love, congratulations, and well wishes I received from the Big H staff leading up to my departure.

Learning...  a new (to me) building, a new faculty, a new schedule, a new principal, a new ARC chair, a new roommate, a new community, a new school climate, and new students.

Shocked by...  the mountain of boxes that is currently in my garage.  These boxes contain all the personal therapy materials I've accrued over the past two decades.  Lord only knows how much money I've spent!


(The wrapping paper boxes were already in the garage...  LOL!)

Singing...  "Closing Time" by Semisonic.  This song has been stuck in my head for the past 3 weeks after I used a line from the song in a Facebook post announcing my job change.



Enjoying...  the shorter commute already!  (I've gone from a 90 mile roundtrip commute to 56!)

Reading, well, listening to...  the audiobook Survivor by Brett Battles.

Anticipating...  the new season of Shameless!  I LOVE the dysfunctional Gallaghers!



Missing...  the blue water of the Caribbean.  Although it rained during much of our cruise last month and we weren't able to enjoy the water as much as we would've liked, it was still nice to see the blue hues that I love so much.




~~~~

What have you been up to lately?  Have a great day!


Linking up with:
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...