Morning Meanderings… Vi-Shape. Hmmm…. Here We Go.

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)10 Comments

 

Good morning.  What’s up?  😛

Two, three… (when was it?) years ago when I started the Morning Meanderings there was a little bonus to it that hasn’t been around for a while.  That “bonus” was I would talk about my work outs, what I was doing to keep fit and where I fell short.  It was pretty much a part of the meandering culture…

So…

what happened?

Many things.  Life for one.  And about a year ago when we put our dog down I kind of hit a funk throughout most of last winter.  I lost my desire to work out and keep up the healthy patterns I had once as part of my life.  I didn’t want to do anything.  I was content with just going to work and going home and lying low.  It has been a real struggle to break these poor habits.  Throughout the spring through fall of this year I did a lot of bike rides but hardly any roller blading which I love, and I haven’t been to the gym since June.  😯 

Last week while spending time with both of my sons in Florida and Georgia I had a little wake up call.  College son does these shakes that his roommate got him hooked on, Vi-Shape.  Navy son works out 5 times a week and keeps track of calories using My Fitness pal – which is awesome and easy and free.  It was weird being on vacation with two guys who are both watching what they eat.

HELLO….. It’s called vacation….. 😆

Anyhoo…. I have always believed that each of us know our bodies and what feels like the right weight and what does not for us.  You can still be small built like myself and not feel you are at a healthy weight.  That is where I am at….

and I am ready to fix it. 

I hope.

I mean, I am. 😀

I signed up to do the Vi-Shape (which my son swears by) and my first shipment came in yesterdays UPS delivery.  It’s two shakes a day and a healthy dinner.  I am going to combine that with using My Fitness Pal again because it really is an eye opener as to how many calories you are eating in a day as well as what kind of calories.  I am also going to get my hiney back to the gym.

If you have looked at my friend Reagan’s posts lately at Get Fit 2.0 she can be a real kick in the pants too.  I am so proud of her and she has inspired me big time to get my fitness blog back up and running as well.

My goals:  Back to feeling good and looking good by my birthday in February.

 

So there you have it…  that’s me – a new beginning that I am excited to jump on.  Tomorrow I will let you know how day one has gone and maybe (maybe…) have a post on Kickin’ It, my neglected work out blog. 

Tonight book club at my house and the review of Language of Flowers.  I think its going to be great!  😀

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)50 Comments

Welcome to It’s Monday!  What Are You Reading!  This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from!

I love being a part of this and I hope you do too!  As part of this weekly meme I love to encourage you all to go and visit the others participating in this meme.  I offer a weekly contest for those who visit 10 or more of the Monday Meme participants and leave a comment telling me how many you visited.  **You do not have to have a blog to participate! You receive one entry for every 10 comments, just come back here and tell me how many in the comment area.

 

Last weeks winner: Lori From Escape With Dollycas!!!!

Congratulations!  Please choose a book or bookish item from the Reading Cafe!

Email me your choice at journeythroughbooks@gmail.com

 

I had a glorious productive weekend at home.  Key words “at home”.  It seems like I never have weekends without commitments and I just had one!  I was able to read a book, listen to audio, work on blog posts, go out to dinner with friends, and today I cleaned out our storage room, filled a dumpster, shampooed our carpets, swept and mopped all floors, cleaned up my kitchen, fixed a plugged drain, and gave all three dogs a bath.

Yup.  I am a rock star.

😛

LOL

Ok, enough about my tired head… here is what went down here this week:

Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith

Late, Late, At Night by Rick Springfield (ummmm… yeah.)

Charlotte Street by Danny Wallace

Movie Review:  The Raven (OOH!  Loved this!!!)

As for this week, its a busy week but here is what is currently true:  (click on covers to go to more info)

Leave it to me to find an audio really interesting only to find out it is tenth (yup tenth!) in a series!

I am on part two of this three part audio and really enjoying it.  I am learning  a lot!

This is a short 3 cd audio but very interesting!

That’s all audio.  As far as books I have a few to clean up so I am going to work on that this week. 😀  I am looking forward to seeing what you are reading!  Ass your what are you reading link below where it says click here!   And if you chat about this meme on Twitter be sure to use the hastag #IMWAYR

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and those of you who read mainly children’s through YA reads – please also link your post here:

 

 

 

 

 

The Raven Movie Review (See This Movie!)

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)18 Comments

Fact:  Edgar Allen Poe was found walking the streets on October 3, 1849 in clothes not of his own, delirious and calling out the name “Reynolds”.  He never became coherent enough after being found for anyone to know the cause of his distress or to even know what had made him this way and he died on October 7th – one of the sad and unsolved mysteries of our time…

The Raven:

Edgar Allen Poe.  The poet.  The writer of Gothic Fiction, deep and dark and appealing to the public masses.  A man tortured by his own soul and the hot pursuit of the love of his life, Emily. 

Meanwhile, gruesome, unthinkable murders are taking place in the town and Police Detective Fields is finding a familiar ring to the way the murders are taking place, the way the crimes are being set up… they are as Poe has written them in his fictional stories, down to the last detail.  Edgar of course is shocked and mortified that someone has taken his dark writings and created true crimes out of them, he agrees to help the Detective try to solve the crimes and capture the killer by deciphering clues that are left either with victims or delivered mysteriously into the hands of the detective or Poe.

As each clue is unraveled Poe’s inside track on the stories help the police move into the next spot quickly but only to find yet another clue.  The murdered is quick and knows Poe’s work well creating a fast paced and heart pumping mystery that will keep you guessing until the end.

John Cuzak Then and now.
L: Better Off Dead 1985
R: The Raven 2012

John Cusak has come a long way since the first movie I remember him in, Better Off Dead.  He has really grown into his characters and his role as Edgar Allen Poe is brilliant in The Raven. 

I have to say going into this movie I did not know a lot about Poe’s life or death for that matter, never a big fan of poetry although familiar with his work of course, I admit to never having read it.  I do love it though when fact meets fiction and when I discovered the opening lines of the movie are actually factual regarding how Poe had died in such a mysterious way, I had a good (and turns out accurate) feeling that this movie was going to be a good one.

Fast paced, I love how the move took pieces of Edgar’s work and wove them into the crimes.  It reminded me a bit of Copycat, another amazing movie of crimes being copied, in that case it was a serial killer copycat. 

I really was impressed how this all came together, I did not have a clue who did it although now after having read a bit today about Poe’s real life and death I think I may have been able to have made an educated guess. 

HIGHLY recommended to those who love a good mystery to solve.  I was very impressed with the entire movie. 

Sunday Check List… Heading Into CRAZY Week Head First!

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)13 Comments

 

Good morning and happy Sunday wherever you may be!  😀  Today is another stick close to home day for me.  After church I plan to be here the rest of the day doing a little cleaning out of the storage area, reading the book club book, and hopefully catching up on the challenges I set for 2012 as that was the plan this weekend and I have yet to get started.

Starting tomorrow life gets a bit…

nuts.

Monday – work during the day, evening small group study

 

Tuesday – work during the day, book club at my house at 6:30 potluck

 

Wednesday – work during the day, work with the students in the evening

 

Thursday – work during the day, Pampered Chef party at my house at 6 pm, possibly going to the midnight showing of Breaking Dawn Part 2

 

Friday – leave at 8 am for the Cities for the next part of our Bremer Literacy Institute stay overnight in the cities

 

Saturday – Bremer Literacy Institute until 3 pm and then drive the 3 hours home.

 

 

Mmmmmm hmmmmmm.  A little busier then I like life. 

 

Today I am reading The Language Of Flowers.

I am listening to Steve Jobs on my IPOD, Abraham o my kitchen CD player and The Quilters Homecoming in my car

I am planning a healthier life style… food wise, work out wise

I am hoping today I will complete cleaning out the storage area and be able to start moving things from the spare bedroom that I am storing into the right area.  😀

I am working on my blog updates

I am looking forward to Tuesdays book club AND the new chairs arriving for the book room on Tuesday.  SSSQQQQQUUUEEE!!!!!

Don’t freak out on the prices on them – I paid no where near that, they were on clearance. 🙂

I need to get the books I owe people out of my house and to the post office.

I want to relax tonight with hubby after a busy and hopefully productive day while watching Amazing Race and eating the new steak recipe I got from my friend.

I am watching the dogs play.

The books that entered my house this week are:

 

Charlotte Street by Danny Wallace

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)11 Comments

 

Jason Priestley’s life is somewhat…

dull.

After giving up a teaching career, he now writes restaurant reviews for a free newspaper that nobody seems to read.  He lives in an apartment above a video game store.  His ex girlfriend has just announced her engagement and the most exciting thing in Jason’s life is his last Facebook update “Jason Priestley is eating soup.”

*Sigh*  Something needs to change.

Then, on a chance encounter, Jason helps an attractive young woman get herself and her multiple shopping bags into a taxi on Charlotte Street.  When the taxi pulls away Jason discovers that the girl has dropped a disposable camera.  He picks it up, hoping that this bit of “opportunity” that has dropped at his feet will give him an excuse to find her and perhaps get to know her.

This one idea consumes him.  Before you know it, Jason is scanning Charlotte Street any chance he gets to hopefully spot her.  When this seems to be a colossal waste of time, his roomy and buddy Dev talks him into developing the pictures to see if they left clues to her hangouts.  What ensues is a comic of errors including an encounter with a free-spirited gal named Abbey, a hot-tempered ex- student of his goes postal, and many blunders when it comes to moving on from his ex.

Yet slowly, steadily, despite the life mines (my term for land mines) Jason is moving towards the mystery girl one photo at a time…

 

So kind of fun…. this book is set in London and there is a Charlotte Street in London.

I thought the idea behind this book was a smart one.  Take a camera dropped by a “ooh I would like to see you again” stranger and try to make the encounter happen by following picture clues.  Meanwhile, the mystery woman starts a blog which pops up not in alternating chapters, but sporadic chapters building on the story line.

Ummmm….

sort of.

While I loved the idea and a lot of where the story was going (yes, I had several laugh out loud moments), overall this book reminded me a bit of one of those crazy rides at an amusement park… you know the ones, you are going full speed one way and then you abruptly stop and either go backwards just as fast freaking out because you do not know where you are going, jerk sideways, or you free fall into darkness.

*whew*

Yeah, I think that sums it up. 
The  book was not what I thought it would be and that is not a bad thing, it just wasn’t all I had hoped (also, not necessarily a bad thing).  I guess since the main point of the book was boy meets girl… boy tries hard to meet girl again, I thought that would have a bigger bang to it then it did.  While funny and interesting, over all the book felt choppy, many different stories within the story and that did not work so well for me.   And, I just have to say while the play on the name Jason Priestley (“no, no… not the one who was the actor on 90201 – ha ha”, was funny – it wasn’t that funny to keep being mentioned over and over and OVER in the book.)

Alright.  Enough snarky.  😀

While yes parts annoyed me – it wasn’t a bad read.. you know how I like witty books and there are some good moments within which would cause me to give author Danny Wallace an “I would read another book of yours” partial thumbs up. 

 

Morning Meanderings… Looking Back

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)15 Comments

 

As I sit here this morning looking out the window at a dreary drizzly day, it is hard to believe that a week ag0 at this time my College Son Justin and I were driving a rental car through Florida into Georgia to stay the weekend with Navy Son, Brad.  The weather was in the high 70’s and the sky was clear. 

Good times… Good times. 

SO… for today’s Saturday Snapshot (go see Alyce at At Home With Books who is the master mind behind this fun meme) I thought I would post a couple of pictures from that trip that I did not post last week, as well as a bonus one from a previous event. 

 

Navy Son Brad and I, St. Mary Georgia November 2012

 

Me and The Lorax at Universal Studios…. love this Banned Book character!

 

Hogs Head Pub in Harry Potter World Universal Studios… where of course we had to stop in and have a drink.

 

and a fun bonus pic…

 

My friend Amy (Wonder Woman) and I running in the Monster Dash in late October.

 

So that’s my post.  😀  I have written a movie review this morning and I am not going to write a book review of Charlotte Street.  Then I am going to drive t St Cloud (an hour away) to look at an ottoman set for the book room…. I am hoping my road trip will be fruitful as that is the final piece I am looking for. 😀

Once back home I will need to dig into the book club book and tonight we are going out to dinner with friends.  That sounds like a pretty awesome Saturday to me. 

Late, Late, At Night by Rick Springfield

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)20 Comments

 

Rick Springfield, pop star of the 80’s, actor in soap operas and movies.  People pictured him living the life of a king, huge homes and money to burn.  But that was not the truth.  Rick battled demons all his life – self-esteem, sexual addiction, lack of closure from his father’s death, and depression.  Instead of money to burn and big homes during his prime he was staying in seedy motels and wondering how he would afford to get to his next gig…

This is Rick’s story the good… and oh yeah, the bad… and certainly the ugly.

 

watch?v=u2T7wKdQsTo

If you were to ask my husband what my favorite song is, to this day he would answer “Jesse’s Girl” by Rick Springfield.  This… has never been true.  While I like the song, yes, very much – it was never my favorite song and I am not even sure where Al (hubby) gets that it was.  I have however always enjoyed Rick Springfield’s music and admit to finding him to be “hot” (80’s word) and sexy back in the day. 

I have listened to and enjoyed many memoirs over this past year and really like hearing the deeper, behind the scenes stories of the people who I admired from the speakers of my stereo (yup… again, 80’s) or from the screen of my tv. 

I think Rick’s story was good – but, and maybe this is because he is my first rock star memoir, a bit more language and the constant pursue of sex – whenever and whoever then I had anticipated or enjoyed listening about chapter after chapter after chapter.  While that was a large part of the memoir, if you can dig through the crud there is a good story there.  Rick does have one girl who he returns to time and again, eventually even marries and has two sons with.  While he is brutally honest about how many times he has cheated on her – before and after children and I appreciate the honesty, I would be lying if I said it didn’t affect how I felt about Rick as a person.  Rick himself says in the audio that if you are going to judge him for what he has done to her that we (I) was not an understanding person – but I think I am and I still don’t get the “Oh poor me… I cheated again” attitude. 

In Rick’s defense, it is true I do not know much about sexual addiction so maybe what he is sharing is spot on correct behavior and I struggle because I do not and not understand.

“nuf about that.

It was interesting to hear the stories behind the album titles (much more thought goes into this then I knew!) and even the story behind Jesse’s Girl (my – fo-favorite) which was never supposed to be a hit. 

In the end, I think fans of Rick will enjoy this memoir and if you go with the audio version like I did, you do have the privilege of having Rick narrate which is always a plus for me and I think you would enjoy it too. 

Morning Meanderings: Blog Projects and Low Key Weekend Plans (or… lack there of)

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)11 Comments

 

Ahhhh… good morning!

The weekend (for me) is finally here.  While my work week was a short one, my running around lately has been non stop for over a week so hitting the breaks over the next three days feels like…

BLISS.

Over the weekend I plan to do some blog work – catching up on my Where Are You Reading Map which is dreadfully outdated (ummm…I think I last updated in April) as well as update my challenges at the same time.  With a little luck I will post an update to all when they are current.  Last night I updated my embarrassingly outdated side bar to my current reads and projects.

I also plan to do some reading.  I have the book club read to finish, and a few books that I need to complete as well.  I am hoping this weekend will really be a great time to do some of that.  I may work in the storage room tomorrow if the weather works for me to clean and haul stuff out… in that event, audio will be my companion.  Whatever I do… I am trying to refrain from my usual “Yes” to everything ways as starting Monday I have something every day going on through next Sunday and I need to stock pile my energy now. 😀 

If I can find my missing IPOD nano I may go on a bike ride this afternoon if the weather agrees as well.  I will have a review up today as my time with Rick Springfield’s memoir has just about come to an end.  (I am thrilled about this 😀 )

I hope everyone’s Friday is WONDERFUL!!! 

What are you reading or listening to over the weekend?

Morning Meanderings: To Catch (and ummm… release) A Mouse

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)32 Comments

Good morning!  How ya all doing?

I had every intention of popping in with a meandering yesterday morning but circumstances did not allow such luxuries….

Let me explain.

Yesterday morning I got up and went downstairs to the laundry room to check the clothes I was drying the night before.  I noticed the mouse trap that I keep set in this room had been snapped and ugh…. I had a mouse.  (Our laundry room is the only part of our home that is old school basement).  I went to the dryer but then caught movement out of the corner of my eye…

the tail…

was moving.

😯

“Fresh kill!  Fresh kill!” And I run back upstairs…. whenever I see a mouse caught I have to wait to take out the trap (it is one of those snap open and reuse types) because I have to be certain the mouse is completely past tense.  I don’t like killing… but it is a necessary evil this time of year when the weather starts to turn cold.

So…. I wait it out.  I make coffee.  I shower.  I prepare for work… and then I head back down.  Good the movement appears to have stopped…. I could not stand it if it was suffering.

Oh, but wait.

Tail move.

GAH.

SO…. back upstairs I go and I grab an old towel and a spatula. Not exactly sure why but these were my tools of choice.  I go downstairs and scoop up the trap with the spatula and put the towel over the top.  I feel the movement…… eeeeep. 😯  I go upstairs and out the deck door where I hang the trap over the edge of the deck and hope hope hope when I hit the release button the mouse does not stick.  Ugh. 

 

Please don’t stick….

 

I release and the mouse drops to the leafy ground.  I can see its hind end it squished, but not hind legs and apparently no vital organs.  He looks up at me and runs.

Mission accomplished.

Of course, I have named him “Squish Butt”

 

Of course, I am hoping he does not get back in the house and fall for the trap  that I have now re-set.  If he does, I think I will recognize him.

 

Sometimes… being an animal lover (yes, all animals) sucks.  I can not do the things that other people can do…. like kill a mouse without feeling bad for him/her.  Like drowning a daddy-long-legs when he is in the shower.  (I actually carry spiders outside….)

Is anyone else like that?

 

In bookish news I should be finishing up Rick Springfield’s memoir soon here and thank goodness… while fairly interesting, a bit crude… it is definitely TMI and too long to my liking.  I should also (hopefully) finish Charlotte street tonight.

Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)16 Comments

 

 

Leo Demidov lives a life in Russia with his beautiful wife Raisa being loyal to the country he is a war hero of.  He wants to serve his country and serve it well.  But Leo is not without his secrets – both past and present… dark and far back into his childhood there was this time… with his brother… but that was then and this is now.  At times he looks upon his wife still a beauty and wonders if she has ever really loved him.

Loyal to a fault Leo goes about his days starting early working late.  And then a series of child murders start to happen and Leo, who has never had children of his own but has always wanted them can not imagine such a  hideous unthinkable crime.  When his very State seems to sweep these happenings under the rug looking at the fact that this could be happening as an embarrassment to their very country therefore it must not be acknowledged, Leo knows he needs to take a stand. 

When Leo starts to investigate these crimes further than his country would like he becomes a criminal against the state and before he knows it he and Raisa are running for their very lives, trying to uncover the truth before they are captured and killed.

Sometimes the truth is closer than you think.

 

 

Why did I want to read this book?  Many years ago a friend of my husband and I mentioned that this was a book he enjoyed very much.  On his recommendation I purchased the book but never a big fan of political issues or war type books I left it on the shelf for a long long time.  I knew I always wanted to read it, I just did not know when.  When recently I came into owning the second and third books of this trilogy, I felt it was time to begin. 

Child 44 reminded me a lot of a book I read when I was in my teens (and I read it to impress a boy I liked but well… you know) Gorky Park by Martin Cruz Smith which honestly surprised me how much I got into it, and really as I type this now think I should have that book in my collection just because it holds some pretty amazing memories for me. 

The beginning of this book captures you right from the start you get a piece of information that at first I didn’t connect it but later you will find in a mind exploding sort of way how that is so important to the story itself, it is moments like these that I really appreciate an authors talent to surprise and inform all at the same time.  Truly… awesome.

The story line never lags, there is always something going on weaving in and out of Leo and Raisa’s life to the mind of the killer himself.  When it switches to the killer stalking a child, planning the next move – I really got chills of anticipation of the capture…. certainly someone had to put a stop to this! 

In the end the book was really a pleasure to read and one I can not wait to share with our friend that I finally took the time and read it.  Child 44 has won many awards: 2009 Thriller Award for Best First Novel, The Strand Magazine 2008 Critics Award for Best First Novel, the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger Award, and was long listed for the Man Booker Prize.  It was released in 2008 and the second book in 2012, and the third in January of 2012.  It could easily be read as a standalone book, but I am curious of where it will go in the second book, The Second Speech.

 

Note:  I did wind up listening to this on audio as I have been traveling a bit lately and needed a good story for the car time.  Narrator Dennis Boutsikaris had a wonderful voice for this book.  I really enjoyed listening to him.