Meanderings – Page 8 – Book Journey

Morning Meanderings…. From My Very Real and Raw Heart

Published on February 24, 2016February 24, 2016 by Sheila (Book Journey)28 Comments

Yesterday I took a call.

A good friend was asking my opinion on what I would like to do as the one year anniversary approaches.

One year?

My tummy got that sick feeling – you know the one, where you are seized with fear or anxiety. How can it be getting close to one year? It’s not like I don’t know. I do. I know every single day and it amazes me how much today… is a lot like day one. I am trapped. I am at a loss for which way to turn or what I should do doing or how I possibly find a solid way to go on.

My eyes are constantly filled with tears. I have cried more than I have ever thought possible. I look around and think everything has changed.

And it is true. Everything has.

I don’t talk about it so much out loud any more because I know people have no idea what to do with someone who is still at this level of grief all of these months in. I don’t blame them…. I have to wonder what I would do for a friend if I was on the other side of this. I have some ideas, but I had to walk this side of the road to know.

I would say if you know someone going through something like this here are some things to maybe do:

Invite them to something low key to get them out of the house. By low key, I don’t mean a party, or a place with lots of talking happy people – but maybe take a walk together, go to a movie, have lunch in a quiet restaurant, take a little road trip, invite them to help you with a project OR offer to come over and help them with a project (painting a room, planting flowers, etc…) Spend a little time with them.
Call or send the occasional card. One of my big fears is that as time has stopped for me… it hasn’t for the rest of the world and I do not want my son to be forgotten. Let them know you are thinking of them. It is still appropriate and appreciated to ask how the person is doing today. 10+ months in, I still can not answer the how am I doing question but I can say how I am doing today. Knowing that people acknowledge (not ignore) that you still hurt means a lot.
Understand that if that person says no to do something with you do not take it personally. For myself, it is hard to put myself back out there. I prefer things that I can do in a few hours and then return home. I prefer the sanctuary of my home. Meet them where they are at, they will appreciate it.
If you are a praying person, please pray for them. It is indeed the power of prayer and friendship that has brought me this far.

For myself, I guard my heart. I have learned what situations will bring on waves of grief so I need to watch what I take on and what I should at this time avoid. Everyone’s situation is different. 10 months for me is nothing. I am still very raw. No one has to understand this, they don’t have to. I have to.

A sweet package came in the mail yesterday from a girl I know who lives out of state now.

The book is Through The Eyes of A Lion: Facing Impossible Pain, Finding Incredible Power. In the early days and weeks I was sent quite a few grief related books. Most of them I was not ready for and I put them on a shelf to look at later. There were (and are) some steps I just find too hard to take; certain situations I know will overwhelm me with grief so I am careful how much I take on.

This book however, seems like perfect timing. I mentioned above I am in this internal struggle of grief and trying to take a positive step forward. There is something about still being on this earth and he is not that breaks me every day. It is so difficult to try to BE and DO when I still so clearly can see what we had BEEN and what we had DONE together as mother and son. It zaps my energy. A new friend told me a few months ago that I wear an incredible mask. I took offense to that thinking I am about as real as they come… yet in recent weeks I think perhaps she is right. I have to put on a mask to go and be outside of these walls. I have to smile and talk and push ahead so they do not see the underlying depth of grief. And maybe that is how people do it. Maybe as self taught as I am in this new world, I am only repeating what those who have gone on this path before me have already done. Perhaps… it is time to open up a book. This book. Thank you Wanda.

And thank you readers of Book Journey. This space is like an online home to me. I feel safe to speak here. If you came to this site, you came to visit me and for that I am forever grateful.

♥

Morning Meanderings…Book-A-Mania

Published on February 21, 2016 by Sheila (Book Journey)12 Comments

Sunday.

*sigh*

The weekends go so fast.

I have made my hubby peanut butter french toast, painted my toenails, stacked up the books of the week for this post, and am now sitting at the kitchen table with COFFEE CUP and watching the snow fall gently outside the window. This season always makes me sad. I long for spring.

Books.

SOLAR SYSTEM

WEATHER

The Return Of The Witch

I’m Glad About You

River Road

Hundred Year Walk

The Tree In The Courtyard

MOONHORSE

The Opposite Zoo

BIG book week!

I have been receiving many beautiful children’s books that I need to start being better at reviewing. Perhaps today will be one of those days…. the snow… the warm house. Definitely a book day.

Morning Meanderings…. Training To Be A Hooker

Published on February 20, 2016 by Sheila (Book Journey)21 Comments

Saturday! Have I mentioned before it is my favorite day of the week? Here this morning with COFFEE CUP on the front end of the weekend. So much I like about that.

For this weeks Saturday Snapshot I thought I would share with you my experience this week of taking the steps to be a hooker. Leather knee boots optional.

Oh wait – no no no. Not that kind of hooker.

This kind:

I have girls in my book club that are amazing crocheters, or hookers, as I am learning they are called. Some of the items they have worn to book club (scarves, hats…) things they have made for Wine and Words or for our Christmas exchange (gorgeous blankets, throws…) This hat is what I received at our last Christmas party:

Anyway…. I sooooo wanted to know how to crochet. Last fall, I won a crochet starter kit at the Wine and Words auction. I joked that I would not open that package unless I had a chance to learn, otherwise the gift basket was going back to be auctioned at this year’s event. It was nice that on Thursday of this week I was able to open that basket.

In the basket was a wonderful assortment of yarn in beautiful colors. There was also a book called My First Crochet Book, scissors, a set of crochet hooks with a holder, and some tags to put on my masterpieces (those I will save for later. WAY later).

We gathered at Sharon’s house from our book club and she and Lori taught me the basics. I was the only one in the group this time that was squeaky new to this. I thought for sure I would have Mickey Mouse hands and not be able to do a think but I actually did ok when I made my first chain of 100 stitches. (Note the concentration)

Our trial session was two hours long. The goal was to make a cozy for a coffee cup as my first project but we (I) did not get that far. By the time I left I had this:

A work in progress? Yes. Or…. a completes yarn mustache which I believe are all the rage in Europe. 😉

The verdict: I am willing to keep going. I hope I will learn to at least make scarves, maybe baby blankets. On the bright side… it was a bucket list item I can scratch off – I am doing it.

Huh.

How about that?

My Great Grandmother would be proud.

Linking this up to Saturday Snapshot where we share what is happening in our lives. Check it out – it is kind of cool to see what everyone around the world is taking pictures of this week.

Morning Meanderings….. Ahhhh SHOOT! I Missed It!

Published on February 19, 2016 by Sheila (Book Journey)34 Comments

Need coffee. Hang on a sec.

Ok back. MMMMM better.

I used to be soooooooo good at going out and visiting my fellow bloggers. I prided myself on visiting twenty blogs a day minimum, reading reviews, checking in…. and now, sadly not so much. I mean to. I want to. And then I write a review. Read a book. Listen to audio while cleaning the house. Work on Library projects. Go on coffee dates. Meet friends for lunch. Connect with my son. Spend time with my hubby. Work on business connections. Write proposals. Create events. Reflect on what I am going to do with my life….

I am the queen of the time suck.

SO… this morning it surprised me as much as it probably surprises you that when browsing my email (pre-coffee…. maybe that is the trick) I spotted a post title from my good blogger friend Care about Book Blogger Appreciation Week. I LOVE that week and I clicked to read when it would be only to find out that this is actually the last day of it.

Wait….

what?

Yes. That really is how out of the loop I am.

I would have loved to participate but because I am now a blogger with my head in the sand I am missing stuff.

Poo.

So this last day of BBAW I am going to quickly catch up on what I have missed and give you my “pretend I have been doing this all week” post. Ready? Here we go.

Day 1: Introduce yourself by telling us about five books that represent you as a person or your interests/lifestyle.

Well ok… hi. My name is Sheila and I have been blogging here at Book Journey since June 2009. CRAZY right? And let me just say…. TOUGH question. Let’s see how far I get.

The Harry Potter series. These books are a household staple around here. My boys grew up on them and my son Justin and I really bounded over these books. We started a tradition of going to Harry Potter world in Florida every November and we were able to do that three years in a row. These books will always be a big connection to my son for me. They are a part of my heart.
The Three Sisters Trilogy by Nora Roberts. Yes Nora Roberts. The book, Dance Upon The Air was the first book my book club read in August of 2001. We all loved the magical aspects of the book and the magic must have worked on us too because that same book club is now 16 members strong and has been meeting every month now for 14+ years.
READY PLAYER ONE. OMG I LOVE this book. I have listened to it on audio three times now and EVERY time I talk about it I want to read/listen again and NOW it’s going to be a movie! SO EXCITED! This book brings out the gamer in me. Yes, I am a girl who loved playing Nintendo, Xbox, Play Station with my kids. AND….. without my kids. I mastered all of the Zelda series and still years later find myself drawn to strategic game play.
Hunger Games Trilogy. Ok not sure if I would say these books define me….. but they are kick a**. I love strong characters. I love survival stories, fiction and non fiction.
The Bible. My faith does define me.

Ok…. I wish I could honestly add an impressive title like “Ulysses changed my life” (In truth I have never read it), or “If I could only take one fiction novel to a deserted island it would have to be Gone With The Wind”, uh…. no. Read it, liked it…but Harry goes to the island with me. HARRY POTTER.

SO basically what I see here in my choices is that I am a faith driven person who LOVES to read about magical worlds, the “what if’s” in life and strong female protagonists. And I also love gaming.

Day 2: IT’S INTERVIEW DAY!

Missed it! Love this part. Ahhh well 🙂

Day 3: Blame a Blogger

Have I ever read a book because of a blogger recommendation? You bet! Do I remember those recommendations? No way. I can recall a couple big genre moves I have made though because of bloggers.

Kim at Sophisticated Dorkiness hooked me on non fiction. When we were roommates at BEA in 2010 she told me about the book The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks. That was it. I was sold. Non fiction became a big part of what I read.

Candice at Beth Fish Reads, my BEA roommate for 2014 and hopefully 2016 loves to review foodie books and cook books. Her enthusiasm and great reviews pulled me into finding it hard to resist a good foodie book and I love to make recipes I find in books, especially fiction books.

Day 4: Staying Connected

I used to be so good at this as I mentioned above. When I first started blogging the rule of 20 blogs a day is how I grew this blog. I would make a goal of visiting 20 blogs a day and not just my faves. I would click on bloggers who commented on my favorite blogs. I would always leave a comment and watch to see if they visited me. Most did. I made sure once they got here, I had something interesting up so they would want to come back. It worked. I have a twitter account for Book Journey but I rarely use it. I do not have a Facebook page for Book Journey…. just seems like a one-more-thing. Basically what you see here is what I do. I talk books, life, food, and try to keep it real. I do hope to get back to reading more blogs. I do enjoy it.

Day 5: Blogger Burnout

It is true. Some of the rock star bloggers that were my blogging idols when I started have dropped off. I was sad to see them go but understand that life happens, jobs change, babies are born, interests change… This past year for me I thought there was a good chance I was done. We took a huge hit this past year and it blew my life wide open. It still does. What I found for myself is that once again Book Journey changed a bit. I felt safe here to share my heart and my heart ache. I talked about what was happening. Honestly – I have met many of you through the book expo. Others of you from our talks here and reading your blogs, I feel as though I know you. Book Journey for a while went away from book reviews and instead became a place I could just talk it out. Honestly when I look back at the things that have helped me get this far, this blog would be one of them. I don’t want to let this connection go.

My suggestion to those feeling blogger burnout is if it starts to feel like work you either need to change up what you are doing or walk away until it feels right. It’s your blog. If one day you feel like writing about burned toast instead of the latest hot read – do it. If you no longer find that you can post 4 times a week like you used to, change it to what works for you. It is your corner of the internet. DO what works for you 🙂

In closing, I wanted to be a part of BBAW because you all matter to me. It is hard for me to put into words what this past year and your generous outpouring of love for me and my family has meant. And to think… it all started with a book review and one girls desire to connect beyond her life circles. Thank you all for being a part of my online book friends life circle.

Sheila

PS Thanks Estelle for putting this together. Thank you Care for posting about it so I seen it. I hope to get around to those who participated so I can read their great posts this week.

Morning Meanderings… The Wine and Words 2016 Line Up

Published on February 17, 2016February 17, 2016 by Sheila (Book Journey)8 Comments

meme

Wednesday and I just keep adding to my “to do’s.” It is for that reason, I am always excited when I check a big task off and I can d that now with the 2016 Author Line Up for Wine and Words. It is our 4th year of doing this event and I enjoy the little details of making this work SO MUCH.

When it comes to finding the author mix I use several different methods to choose who to invite:

Watch best-selling book lists
Watch sites like Goodreads and Amazon for reviews
Recommendations from people in our community
Our local Book Store. I speak with the employees about what people are asking for.
At least 2 of the authors we try to be Minnesota authors.
YOU. My trusted book loving friends who review some pretty sweet books.

Next I am looking for a diverse genre mix. I want the authors to appeal to different people. For instance, perhaps the North shore mysteries that William Kent Krueger and his protagonist Cork do not speak to you, but Kathleen McCleary’s women’s literature does. In many of the cases, at the time of lining up the Wine and Words authors, I have not read them myself. It is always fun to introduce even myself to new authors.

So…. here they are. 2016 Wine and Words:

Brian Freeman is an international bestselling author of psychological suspense novels. His books have been sold in 46 countries and 20 languages and have appeared as Main Selections in the Literary Guild and the Book of the Month Club. His seventh novel SPILLED BLOOD won the award for Best Hardcover Novel in the annual Thriller Awards presented by the International Thriller Writers organization, and his fifth novel THE BURYING PLACE was a finalist for the same award. His sixth novel THE BONE HOUSE was a finalist for Best Audiobook of the Year in Thriller/Suspense.

“This guy can tell a story,” says bestselling author Michael Connelly.

Helen Klein Ross is the author of What Was Mine, a novel published in January by Simon & Schuster/Gallery Books, a People magazine pick for “Best of 2016”. Her novel Making It: A Novel Of Madison Avenue (Gallery Books, 2013) is an e-book that experiments with digital epilogue. She is the creator and editor of The Traveler’s Vade Mecum, a crowd-sourced poetry anthology forthcoming in September from Red Hen Press. Her poetry, essays and fiction have appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times and in The Iowa Review where she won the Iowa Review Award for Poetry in 2014. Helen spent decades as a writer/creative director at global ad agencies on both coasts. She graduated from Cornell University and received an MFA from The New School. She lives with her husband in Manhattan and Salisbury, CT.

New York Times Bestselling novelist Joshilyn Jackson is the author of six novels: Someone Else’s Love Story , gods in Alabama, Between, Georgia, The Girl Who Stopped Swimming, Backseat Saints, and A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty. Her books have been translated into a dozen languages, won SIBA’s novel of the year, three times been a #1 Book Sense Pick, twice won Georgia Author of the Year, and three times been shortlisted for the Townsend prize.

A former actor, Jackson reads the audio versions of her novels; her work in this field has been nominated for the Audie Award, was selected by AudioFile Magazine for their best of the year list, has made the 2012 Audible All-Star list for highest listener ranks/reviews, and garnered three Listen Up Awards from Publisher’s Weekly. In 2012 Jackson began reading the audio versions of books written by other novelists, beginning with Shine Shine Shine by Lydia Netzer.

Allen Eskens is the award-winning author of The Life We Bury, published in October of 2014. It was named one of the best books of the year by Suspense Magazine and MysteryPeople and was named a finalist for six different awards including the prestigious Edgar Award. His second novel, The Guise of Another is out in October of 2015.

Allen Eskens grew up in the wooded hills of Missouri and, after high school, migrated north to pursue his education. He acquired a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from the University of Minnesota, and a Juris Doctorate from Hamline University School of Law.

Laura Childs is the New York Times bestselling author of the Tea Shop Mysteries, Scrapbooking Mysteries, and Cackleberry Club Mysteries. Devonshire Scream, her 17th Tea Shop Mystery, releases March 1, 2016. Little Girl Gone, the first book in her Afton Tangler Thriller Series written under her real name of Gerry Schmitt, releases July 5, 2016. In her previous life she was CEO of Mission Critical Marketing (with offices in Minneapolis and Austin, TX), authored several screenplays, and produced a reality TV show. She is married to Dr. Bob, a U of M professor of Chinese art history, enjoys travel, and has two Chinese Shar-Pei dogs.

There they are! Glad to have the line up in place! Thanks to a great team and a great venue to work with, the rest of it comes fairly easy.

Morning Meanderings…. SPOILER Alert

Published on February 16, 2016 by Sheila (Book Journey)9 Comments

The older posts that seem to create the most attention here at Book Journey are the SPOILER pages. I created SPOILER pages back in 2010 when I wanted so badly to talk openly about a book experience but could not put what I wanted to say in a review for fear of ruining the book for someone who had not read it. I even made a Sample Spoiler Page so those who were choosing to read a spoiler page knew EXACTLY what to expect.

I don’t use it often, only when I absolutely have more to say about a book and want to be able to talk about it freely with those who have read it.

On February 6th of this year, my Spoiler Page for Me Before You by JoJo Moyes received 3,978 views. It is not unusual for a spoiler page to pick up interest when it is going to be a movie, but this still surprised me. When Gone Girl first became a big deal with the movie following, that spoiler page was receiving close to 5,000 views a day for close to a month.

Recently the ROOM Spoiler Page had a rise in views as well which makes sense due to the upcoming release of the movie. Hot topic on that post? Breast feeding. Always has been.

I love spoiler discussions because they are kind of like a book club. You all have already read the book. There is a good chance in a great read that you have an opinion. It is fun to vent, share, show your love or hate for a book. Strong emotions are what drives a great spoiler page.

Come to think of it, I am due for a read like that. Have you read anything lately that is Spoiler Page Worthy? A book that you just want to talk about?

Morning Meanderings…. Weekend Project and Thinking about BOOKS

Published on February 15, 2016 by Sheila (Book Journey)15 Comments

Monday! In an odd way, I have been looking forward to this one. In the past weeks, months, I have felt like I have been moving through pea soup. Everything seems to take twice as long to accomplish. My brain has felt foggy, it has been hard to hold a thought and while I had ideas and plans, they tended to fizzle out and I would easily lose the desire for them.

For someone who has always thrived on ideas and making things happen… this has been concerning.

Yet – something has always remained true throughout all my life trials. I always seem to dig up that desire to DO again. It crinkles up in the corner of my brain, ideas… projects…. ways to connect people….

Even now. This time around when I was not sure what would become of me as I battle through day-to-day fighting off depression and debilitating grief…

the ideas are itching at the corners of my vision and I feel as though I now can start to grasp them and MOVE. In a way it is a sigh of relief.

I have not reached this alone, nor do I think I would have. I have been blessed and surrounded by many friends, family, and a community that has wrapped its arms around Al, Brad, and I and helped us. I have had so many opportunities to be with people and cry and be sad and share this deep sadness. It is through that, that I have began to maybe not heal – but level out somewhat. I know my limitations, and I stick with them. I do not put myself in situations that I know will be hard on me. It means saying to things that at one time I would not have missed. I know this will be a lifelong healing process and I am ok with that. My kid is worth every tear.

And that I have learned, is ok.

Ok – if I keep going this direction I will have to change the post title 🙂

Over a nice fairly quiet weekend I worked on a project for our home.

I found the pieces on Amazon. The 12 picture frames, the clock piece, and the vinyl saying. I picked out the pics from the stash I have and used the top of one of our 20 gallon crock nightstands to make the circle.

Then….

it all went on the wall.

It was fun to do and I LOVE it.

On the bookish side of this post, I have been working on Gatsby things, finalizing Wine and Words author line up, book sale in March prep, and that inkling in my head? It is bringing out plans for an Edible Book Fair, Harry Potter event plans with the new book, A fall book club in a bar called something like Books and Brews, a possible Author breakfast…..

I am in here – somewhere.

Saturday Snapshot and Weekend Cooking w/ The Bookies

Published on February 13, 2016February 13, 2016 by Sheila (Book Journey)17 Comments

Saturday morning. Saturday has always been my favorite day of the week. When I was younger it was the day of no school (and no school the next day to worry about!) and when I grew up (term used loosely) it was the day off of work, home with my kids, and no work or school the next day. Now I still like Saturdays. They have become the day that Al and I usually go out for a while in the late afternoon to a movie or for appetizers, or to some other adventure. I like that we take the time to connect when even now with me at home, we still are busy running in different directions during the week.

This past Tuesday our book club met for the review of The Life We Bury. There are many things I adore about our book club and the little extras we do really make me smile. With the protagonist being from Austin Minnesota, the home of SPAM, we had some fun. Here are a couple of recipes that you could use when you read the book, or just because you are fascinated with meat in a can like I am. 🙂 I am posting these recipes for weekend cooking.

SPLIDERS (SPAM Sliders)

You will need:

a package of Hawaiian rolls

a can of SPAM

a package of Swiss Cheese slices

butter

onion

a tasty mustard

Set over temp to 350 degrees. Open up each Hawaiian roll and lightly butter. Slice SPAM into 1/4 inch slices and place one slice on each roll. slice in half of fourths (depending on your cheese size) the Swiss cheese and place a slice on each roll on the spam. Add a little slice of onion, optional. Place all rolls in a 13 x 9 cake pan and place in oven until cheese is melted and sandwich is hot to the touch – 7 to 10 minutes. Serve hot with the mustard or mayo. Great for a movie night or any gathering.

I personally was surprised that I liked these. I have SPAM memories as a kid and I think that was the last time I ate it. SPAM today is not like SPAM was then, the jelly coating I remember around the meat that grossed me out is no longer there. The sandwiches were actually tasty and if I had not known it was SPAM I don’t think I would have guessed.

Cheesy Baby Reds (as found on the SPAM website)

Ingredients

1 12-ounce can SPAM^® Classic, diced
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 medium red bell pepper, diced
12 ounces whipped pimento spread
24 baby red potatoes, cut in half
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons chopped chives, for garnish
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Preheat oven to 400°F. In large skillet, in butter, heat the SPAM® Classic until lightly browned. Drain well.
Whip the pimento cheese spread in a blender until smooth. Place pimento cheese spread in a large bowl. Add the SPAM® Classic (reserve about 1/3 for garnish) and diced red bell pepper.
Thoroughly wash and clean the potatoes. Cut in half and scoop out the center of each with a spoon or Parisian scoop. Mix the olive oil, salt and pepper in a bowl. Coat the potato halves with the mixture and place on a baking sheet, cut side down. Bake at 400°F for about 25 minutes or until soft when pierced with a knife.
Remove from oven and fill center with the SPAMento™ cheese mixture. Garnish the filled potatoes with the reserves SPAM® Classic, chives and a dusting of cayenne pepper, if desired. Serve immediately. Makes 48.

These were so good and I would totally make these!

As for a little Saturday Snapshot, I thought I would add a picture of our dogs this past week. Bailey(the white one) is 18 years old. Really, the miracle dog. A couple of years ago he started having seizures and then after a month they went away and we did not see him have another one until last month. It is horrible to see, but remarkably he comes out of them and goes on like nothing happened. The vet says he is not suffering in any way, he is not in pain and lives for his age a healthy lifestyle. Sammy ( the black one) has just recently taken to hanging out with Bailey a bit more. This was a cute picture of sleeping close together. Almost like Sammy is protecting him or being supportive.

Morning Meanderings…. A New Harry Potter Book? I Am Not Sure…

Published on February 11, 2016 by Sheila (Book Journey)16 Comments

I swear some days my sheltered world surprises me.

I am not a newspaper reader. I am not a news on TV watcher. I do not follow any website for the “happenings” in our world – either entertainment wise or real world stuff. I used to…. but now my world is all a little too real and raw and so I miss much of what is going on unless someone tells me. I like living in my Hobbit Hole.

And that is how I missed hearing about the new Harry Potter book.

and honestly, I am not sure how I feel about it.

Of course back when the books were coming out and we were drawing to a close in book 7….. I wanted more. Shoot – who didn’t? Yet as time went on it became a household discussion here. I still wanted JK Rowling to find a loop hole in her ending and bring the story back…. perhaps the rebuilding of Hogwarts and continue the story through the next generation, Harry’s, Ron’s Malfoy’s kids. I honestly wanted to keep the magic going…

and Justin did not.

When we talked here, Justin (wiser than me and clearly less muggle in him) knew that continuing the story would only create dissatisfaction. The books were too good, he would tell me. They are better off left as is.

And as time went on, as much as it pained me to admit it, I began to agree with him.

So here we are.

In case any of you were as oblivious as me (thank you for that if you were) here is the basics of what I know:

JK Rowling, after years of saying there would not be a continuing story, has indeed written an 8th book that will release as the others did, on midnight of July 31st. As I type this, there is a lump in my throat because it was Justin and I who would plan crazy things to grab the book hot off the shelves at midnight each release. I have to wonder, how I do it this year.

To my understand, as I try to catch up, there is a play in London with the same title as the book. The push was that HP fans who were unable to get to London to see the play wanted a book so they too can be a part on this experience. JK Rowling and the Publisher Little Brown came to an agreement to give the fans what they wanted.

The official synopsis is:

It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn’t much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband and father of three school-age children. While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places.

It’s new. Admittedly it is exciting. And of course for me, a bit sad. “It’s happening,” I think…. and I have to do this one alone.

What do you think of this new development? Are you YAY for it? Or NAY leave it alone? Is Rita Skeeter retired now? What ever happened to Hagrid? I would love to know your thoughts. 🙂

Morning Meanderings… Getting Through

Published on February 10, 2016 by Sheila (Book Journey)13 Comments

Coffee morning.

Or perhaps, they all are.

This one however is a reminiscent morning. I am sitting here quietly thinking over the last 24 hours. Yesterday was my birthday and another day to get through. This one had a lot of hold on me for two reasons…

This birthday would officially make me the oldest living member of my immediate family (mom, dad, sister), something that I have thought about for years.
This would be the first one without Justin.

Getting through it, defenses up seemed the way to go.

I had explained to friends early on that I did not have any desire to celebrate this birthday. I asked that they let me go through this as quickly and as quietly as possible. Just another day. I really struggle(d) with the thought that I was getting older, and my son would not.

However, friends, like loopholes…. and while they did not 100% follow my wishes, they were very sweet about it. As a “Valentines Gift” I received a “Dammit Doll” (a doll that you are supposed to use when you are frustrated, smacking her on the table saying… you guessed it, “Dammit Dammit Dammit.” I decided she looked a little like me and she had enough so she will not be beat by me…. instead she sits on a shelf in the book room.

My friend Gail sent me a “Happy February” card with a promise of a custom made rack to let beans grow on for my garden this spring. My friend Wendy had lunch with me yesterday and celebrated “February” by giving me a beautiful wine sign and a woozie, a wine cozy.

Then last evening was book club and we had an excellent review of The Life We Buried and fun with Spam (more on this later today so be sure to come back!), but they also had a little celebration of my birthday which was unexpected. There was cheesecake (really my favorite cake), and a few gifts. It was very sweet of them to do as I read cards through tears.

The little item on the black wrap is a charm for my Pandora bracelet… it is a clover which represents Justin and I and our times together. He had a tattoo of a clover to commemorate our annual trips to Florida (it is the symbol used at the Irish Pub we always stopped at), and this spring I too got the clover tattoo in memory of him and our times together.

So that was my day yesterday. Not quite as quiet and straight on through it as I had planned – but honestly, my friends were very sweet and while it was a hard birthday, the kindness of those in my life really helped me walk on through this too. Justin, I know would be cheering.