Touring Greenwich Village and lunch with Adriana Trigiani

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)30 Comments
Me and Adriana
Me and Adriana

Throughout the week I have been sharing with you moments of last weeks BEA.  I probably could have bunched them up into fewer posts, but each topic I have posted on has required more of me than a few descriptive words.  I think even with this being my second year attending BEA, I have trouble believing such an event exists, as this is truly what I would have envisioned Heaven to be like….. books, books everywhere :D…

That said – forgive me as I gush out even more BEA posts….

On Thursday May 26, I had a wonderful opportunity to go on the tour of Greenwich Village as invited by one of my favorite authors, Adriana Trigiani.  Our event started with a taxi ride to Greenich Village (apparently called “The Village” by New Yorkers) where we met Nikki, who was our tour guide.  What was super cool is this is Adrianna’s own tour – Called Adriana Trigiani Tours.  The tour(s) is centered around places she mentions in her books and for a book lover and a big fan of Adriana Trigiani it is beyond AWESOME! 

There were 10 of us on the tour and it was so much fun.  Nikki was amazing and I soon learned she knew her stuff.  As we walked we learned not only the connections of the places to the books, but also the history they held in New York, as well as the history of Greenwich Village.  Our tour took us to the Church that is mentioned as a place you may have found two of Adriana’s favorite characters, Lucia Sartori and Valentine Roncalli (Lucia Lucia).

Gorgeous isn't it?
Gorgeous isn't it?

The oldest house in the village built in 1799, updated and expanded in 1836, and a third floor added in 1928 still remains at 77  Bedford Street.  The skinniest home in New York (I believe it was all of New York) is also in the Village, notably 9 1/2 feet on the outside, 8 1/2 feet wide on the inside and 32 feet deep. 

*groan* Where would I put my books?

We walked on and seen gorgeous homes and gardens, at one point our guide pointed out an apartment and said that we may recognize this as the outside of Monica’s apartment from the show Friends.  (I LOVED Friends!!!)

Monica's Apartment from the sitcom Friends

As we walked and took in the sights and learned the facts, we stopped at McNulty’s Rare Teas which was a delight for the senses!  Walking inside there were rows and rows on assorted teas with incredible names like Apple Pie, Cinnamon Stick, etc… I just INHALED. 

MMMM..... smelled delicious inside and out!

Of course there is so much more to this walking tour and I know I am not doing it justice but trust me – this is an experience you will not want to miss.  Check out Adriana’s Tour site and learn more AND for those of you going to Italy (I am jealous…. but that’s beside the point :D) be sure to see Adriana’s Italy tour as well which I here is just as divine!

As if that was not enough of a treat, we were then escorted into the Standard Grill which has a gorgeous floor tiled in pennies…. I kid you not.  PENNIES.  Check it out here.  We all sat at a long table in a room all set up for us and while we chatted with our group… in walked the lady we had all come to see…. Adriana Trigiani. 

“Hello Ladies!” she exclaimed and we instantly greeted her.

Adriana is always so down to earth and real.  She treats us like old friends, and once I stop pinching myself, I believe I am.  As the bread is passed around the table and the water glasses filled, Adriana starts sharing stories – which I LOVE to hear, from her early writing days, to how she came to live in the Village…  I could listen to her for days….

When it came time to order, we had little menus placed in front of us as and we chose a soup or salad starter, a main dish, and dessert.  I went with the orange squash soup, as I was intrigued that it said it had Yogurt in it.  It came served chilled and it was delicious!

Then came my main dish – I chose the grilled egg plant and I was so pleased I forgot to take a picture of it.  It was fantastic and I would definitely have that again and highly recommend it.

In the end came a lovely dessert, I went with the raspberry topped cheese cake that was… oh my gosh…. words can not describe but I can tell you my mouth is watering right now as I think about it….

The food and the company – SUPERB!  We talked and laughed and had pictures taken.  I adore my time with Adriana and this group of fantastic bloggers.  I can not wait for her next book to come out!!!

Left back: Julie (Booking Mama), Candace (Beth Fish Reads),Dawn (She's Too Fond Of Books), Reagan (Miss Remmers Reviews), Me, Adrianna Trigiani, Alison (Alison's Book Marks), Nikki our wonderful tour guide, Front left: Diane (BookChickDi), Lenore (Presenting Lenore), Kathy (Bermuda Onion), and Tanya (Dog Eared Copy).

As we gathered to leave, Adriana handed each of us two of her books, signed to each one of us. 

Hopefully I did not overdose on the pictures here but this was such a visual experience I had to share it.  😀

Morning Meanderings… Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)24 Comments

Good morning.  This is an early one today as Wendy and I are on the road at 6:30 am to get to our bike ride – The Tour Of Lakes by 7:30 am starting time.  30 or 60 miles…. we have not decided yet.

Yesterday afternoon I sadly had to return many (MANY) library books unread.  *sigh*.  I had renewed them on-line twice and then finally it came down to who was I kidding… as much as I wanted to read them… it wasn’t going to happen in the time frame I needed to read them, and really…. has it come to this?  Book hording?  Really Sheila?  Holding books for my own selfish reasons making it impossible for others to read them…

What am I?  Two?

SO back they went.  As my habit would go – I had two to pick up that I had on hold.  Of course I am not so cured that I left them behind… oh no, I hauled home the copy of Discovery Of Witches I have been so curious about and the audio of Every Last One by Anna Quindlin.  What?  Did you expect me to be cured overnight?  Please!  This will take YEARS of practice….  😛

What I Learned at BBC (Book Blogger Convention)

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)56 Comments

The Book Blogger Convention (BBC) for the last two years has followed the excitement of the Book Expo of America (BEA).  When the expo ends on Thursday, Thursday evening has been a Book Blogger Reception and then Friday is the BBC, a day committed to Book Bloggers connecting with authors, publishing houses…  it is a Book Blogger work shop and well worth attending.

After a delicious breakfast served at 7:45 am and a chance to build your own swag bag, we all settled into a large room to listen to our Keynote Speaker, Sara Wendell.  Sara is a fellow book blogger and if I remember this correctly (it was early after a crazy busy week) I think an author too.  Sara was funny, describing the first time she was offered a galley…

“What’s a galley?” she had asked.  When they said it was a book sent to her for free to read and review she was shocked.  When a large box a short time later “THUMPED” on her front step she was beside herself….  FREE BOOKS.  MY PRECIOUS!  (picture Gollum here).  When Sara had finished reading the books she called the company and asked where to return them.  They laughed at her and told her to do what she wanted with them – the lady on the phone told Sara that she burned her copies…

“Burning BOOKS?” Sara had cried out in disbelief…. no, “I will keep them.”  The lady had laughed and explained that the books tend to accumulate…. (as a two-year book reviewer… *looking around reading room* I can not agree more.)

Besides being funny Sara also had great advice for taking your blog to the “next level” which means something different for each of us. 

I really enjoyed listening to Sara.

Picture by Meg from "Write Meg!" as she was awesome enough to get pictures! (Click on it to go to her wonderful post about BBC)

Next up was Ask A Publisher or Publicist session and I took a lot away from this.  A great panel led by Jennifer Hart (Harper Collins).  We had on the panel:

Lydia Hirt (Penguin Group)

Kelly Leonard (Hatchette Book group)

Lucille Rettino (Simon and Schuster)

Allison Verost (Harper Teen)

Ksenia Winnicki (Macmillan)

Here is my take away:

  1. You may have heard of some of the big promotions around the blog when they chose blogs to represent Districts for the release of Mockingjay by Susanne Collins and again when they chose blogs to represent courts for the release of the latest Iron King book.  These promotions generate excitement and the panel encouraged us as reviewers if we have ideas to feel free to share them by emailing the publishers.  (They graciously gave us lists of contact emails)  

  2. Galleys cost more than the actual books (I did not know this and this was really a wake up call for me).  In respect of this new-found knowledge I have been taking all the books as they come into my home and adding their release dates to my Google calendar so I can better watch when i should be reviewing these.

  3. We can post a  review for an upcoming release at the point it is available for pre-order.  We do not have to wait for release date.

  4. Posting your review to other sources besides your blog is important.  I currently always try to also put it on Amazon, but learned that when the Publishers were asked, they really would like to see it on Good Reads as well as Good reads apparently connects to other sources.  (I did not know this!)  I am a member of Good Reads but terrible at posting my reviews there as the time spent writing the post, adding it to Amazon… but knowing now that this is important I am going to make the time to do this.

  • They also said that we save them time if we also send them a link to our reviews when they are up, as they like to let the authors know.

  • Also – they do appreciate it is we also let them know of reviews we do to older titles as well.

5.  When requesting a book for review – be polite.  (I would think this is a given, but apparently it is not.)  Explaining which blog you have, traffic, etc… is helpful if you do not already have a relationship with this publisher.  Do not demand a book – in one case the blogger apparently said they needed the book by the weekend…. wow…. uhhh…. *delete request*.  Also helpful is to include your mailing address at the time of the ask.  This saves them the time of having to connect with you again and request it.  *I have a separate email I use for my bookish side and I have added my address to my signature so it shows up on all emails.

I then went into the author Speed Dating event with Reagan (Miss Remmers Reviews) and Alison (Alison’s Book Marks)  *waves*.  I really enjoyed this session where we (bloggers) sat around tables and a different author came to our table every 15 minutes to discuss their book  and we had opportunities to ask questions as well.  This idea was BRILLIANT!  (Yes I quote Harry Potter….)  .  I had a lot of fun meeting authors that were new to me, as well as a few that I had previously met and it was so fun!!  Of course this also added to my “must read” list.  *sigh – but a happy sigh*

The final session I went to Technology For Blogging because seriously – I need all the help I can get.  I went into this blogging gig hardly knowing how to make a post.  Everything else I learned by visiting blogs, seeing things I liked, emailing the blogger and asking how they did it.  Another reminder that book bloggers are incredibly generous and helpful people. 

What I took away from this session was:

  1. Do NOT automatically connect your blog to Twitter and Facebook.  *Guilty as charged*  I think it was Anna Moore who said this (Blog Graphic design).  She said that we should only connect to other social media with our “best of the best” posts.  I agree and disagree… I believe I will keep my posts connected to Twitter as they are all bookish people there – the only twitter connections I have.  I do however agree on the Facebook part as that is everyone from family, friends, co workers, bookish types… some of my posts do not need to go there.  I have not decided at this time to open up a blog page on Facebook and do not think I will.  One more thing to try to keep up with 😀
  2. Connect connect connect… we talked about Tumblr which I know little about – but also other ways to connect with others which in turn will create relationships that in turn will (possibly) become readers of your blog.  

By the end of BBC I was full of information and chalk it up as a successful and fun day.  I learned a little, made many connections with bloggers and authors and publishers and say hats off to the hard-working behind the scenes bloggers who pulled off a successful event!  😀

Morning Meanderings: Is It Possible To Be More Of A Book Addict Than I Already Am?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)50 Comments

Good morning! 

*fumbles for COFFEE Cup*

I keep thinking I am over the tired of last week and then suddenly I feel wiped out again.  I passed out in the recliner yesterday at about 5 pm and slept until 6:30….

WHAT IS THAT ABOUT? 

Anyway… I am still soaring high from BEA and just in awe of everything book related, the new people I met, the emails I am getting, the organizing of books, the choosing what to read first out of these lovely works of art….

books are my form of art….

Anyway – last night I came upstairs to see that when Al came home he had brought up my BEA box #2 and put it on the counter.  What a man to carry that all the way up from our business (which is behind the house quite a ways back) as that box was 46 pounds.  I was excited – but it was almost midnight so I decided until this morning to dig into it…. it kind of is like Christmas as this box was packed on day one of BEA and I had no idea any longer what was in it…

This morning, I opened it up (sorry… I had no clever idea for a book spoof so you will have to live through yesterdays for a while longer… :razz:)

Secret Legacy and Dark Legacy by Anna DeStefano (I spoke with the publisher on this one and they put them in that cute little bag you see behind then.

First Drop Of Crimson by Jeaniene Frost (I am curious, not sure if it a fit for me – but it is audio and that is something I am always looking for!)

Witches Of East End by Melissa De La Cruz (Gorgeous cover!!!)

Sleight by Kirsten Kaschock (curious about this one!)

5 Love Languages of Appreciation In The Workplace (well who doesn’t like that?  LOL)

Following Atticus by Tom Ryan (look at the puppy!)

An Uncaged Eagle by Richard Toliver (wow.  I wound up talking to this author for about 15 minutes about his book.  It sounds really powerful).

Life Is Not A Stage by Florence Henderson (curious about this one… I do like the occasional memoir)

Oh Beautiful by John Paul Godges (This author tells me there are some Minnesota moments in this one!)

Living Beyond Your Feelings by Joyce Meyer (I will admit – I am not a big fan, but I have a friend who is that I can pass it to – or to my library)

Nazareth Child by Darrell James (This one looks good and had peaked my interest!)

Tuesdays At The Castle by Jessica Day George (I like the occasional middle grade and this one looks good!)

Escape From Zobadak by Brad Gallagher (another awesoem looking MG)

Agent 6 by Tom Rob Smith (author of Child 44 – what a writer!)

One Day I Will Write About This Place by Binyavanga Wainaina (I could not pass up such a cover…..)

Forbidden by Ted Dekker and Tosca Lee (this is actually a read a long book I am doing later this year!)

Coffee Talk by Morton Satin (all about coffee.. what’s not to love?)  😛

We All Wore Stars by Theo Coster (Memories of Anne Frank by her classmates)

Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler (VERY curious about this one – reading the back it has a 13 reasons Why feel to it)

Vampire Empire by Clay and Susan Griffith (I talked tot his couple at BEA)

What Happened To Good Bye by Sarah Dessen (I have read and enjoyed this author before)

Pure by Julianna Baggott (wow what a cover – and 429 pages!)

OOH!  Audio!  And SWAG! (I am getting lazy writing all these titles out, so if you have questions about these ask me in the comments.  😀

Fury by Elizabeth Miles (wowza…. cover love!)

GLOW by Amy Kathleen Ryan (I have heard good things about this one!)

The 39 Clues – Medusa Plot (Had to grab this one – the whole 39 clues concept I think is brilliant and fun for young readers)

The Art Of Fielding by Chad Harbach (no idea what this one is about but people seemed excited about it…)

The Ambition by Lee Strobel (I have not read Strobel in a long time and I am curious about this new to me title)

The Maid’s Daughter by Mary Romero (interesting… looks to be a true story and was categorized under the genre social sciences) 

Until There Was You by Kristan Higgins (looks like a fun rainy day read!)

After Obsession by Carrie Jones and Steven Wedel (loving this crazy cover…. wishing I could do that….LOL)

The Soldiers Wife by Margaret Leroy (looks good!)

The Orchard by Theresa Weir (oh I like the looks of this one too!)

So that is the end of the BEA books.  Both boxes made it safely and intact.  I have been trying to capture their release dates to try to read them around that time but wow – many of them release on the same day (and I wonder again – how important is sleep?)  😛

I still have BEA posts to write – I will be working on that a bit this morning as it really is one of the highlights of my year.  This afternoon my friend Wendy and I are joining in on the Twin Cities bike club ride in Nisswa for 30, maybe 60 miles, we will see how we feel as we are planning to do the Tour Of Lakes tomorrow too and that one is a 60 (hopefully).  I need the exercise – I have had a three-week sabbatical and man…. I feel it.  (Probably why I keep snoozing…)  😀

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)36 Comments

Welcome to Lena Halloway’s world.  Lena lives in a society that is carefully managed and monitored by the government.  Long ago this society came up with a cure for deliria (love) and feels that their world is better for it.  After all deliria (love) is nothing but a discussing disease that affects the brain…. it causes you to be unable to sleep, have anxiety, irrational thoughts, and do things you would normally never consider doing if not for the deliria.

Oh – I remember the first time I had deliria…I think I was 15 and the symptoms listed here are right on…. that inability to sleep, irrational thought, and I may add the need to speed dial said boys phone number at least 20 times a day and at inappropriate times at night…

~Sheila

And when you put it that way, Lena has to agree who would want to go through that?  The society “cures” you when you turn 18 by running an operation that leaves you no longer desiring love.  After the procedure is complete the government will line you up with someone who they feel will be a good match for you and you will be married and live happily ever after with your X number of children, all without the annoyance of deep emotion.  Why would the government steer you wrong?

Lena has 95 days before her cure and she ready to move into her future, counting down the days.  After all everything she needs to know is in the book of Shhhhh, and all the warnings she needs is in the banned book called Romeo and Juliet which is not a love story at all but an example and a warning as to what happens when you are infected with deliria.

Then one day everything changes when Lena meets a boy named Alex.  Alex is mysterious and self-confident and when Lena is around him she feels her heart race and her and her skin turn hot…. surely this is the start of the fever that infects a person with deliria!  As Lena spends more time with Alex, carefully dodging the ever watchful eye of her aunt and the others who have been “cured”, she starts to wonder what really is true, and what will be the ultimate cost of freedom in a society that does not believe in choices.

Me and Lauren Oliver

Laurel Oliver has done it again.  Delirium is a story that I was not sure about picking up (much like her first novel Before I Fall).  I didn’t know if I would like the subject matter and when i first heard about this book I felt it had a techy feel to it that I was not sure was for me.  Yet I had to admit that it took me a while to pick up Before I Fall as well, and I came out of that read gushing about the inner story line and deeper meaning of the book. 

While Before I Fall and Delirium are too very different novels, I felt the same about them.  Yes they are YA and I can see how they would really appeal to the YA ‘s out there and that can be enough – but in each book I ended up finding something deeper within the story.  In Delirium I am thrust into the knowledge that some day society may try to control that in which we now count as rights and freedom. 

I enjoyed Lena for her strong will and her “succeed or die trying” attitude.  Even when Lena is trying hard not to love (oh by the way – that word is a banned word!) it still shows through in her friendships and of course, eventually with Alex. 

I closed this book knowing there was more to be said.  And thanks to Twitter, I quickly learned that yes, Pandemonium (scheduled to be out Feb 2012) will be the title of the second book and this series will end with Requiem.

Amazon Rating

Good Reads

I have updated the 2011 WHERE Are You Reading Map to include Delirium

I received this book through Netgalley and I am

thrilled to say it is the first book I have read on my NOOK

Morning Meanderings…. The Crocodile Hunter Meets the Arrival Of The First BEA Box!

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)47 Comments

Good Morning ! 

*sips coffee… slowly.. stalling…*

Ok.

So – the good news is my first box arrived from BEA yesterday afternoon.  Super SQQQUUUEEEEE’s heard throughout Brainerd Minnesota. 

And uhhhh… the bad news, or perhaps I should say super geeky news… is that I had an idea to announce it’s arrival.  Bear with me while you watch the short video:

and as if that wasn’t bad enough…. I did it a second time….

Yup.  I did that.

Anyway…. lets forget about the box.  Let’s talk about what was in the box.  😀

Smart Pop Preview is a book about

The Taker by Alma Katsu (I met this author and the book sounds wonderful!)

Fare Forward by Wendy Dubow Polins (this is an info postcard about the book – with an email to request a copy)

The Revisionists by Thomas Muller (part of the BBC make your own swag bag)

Something Inside Of Me by Chitoka Webb (I me this wonderful woman and wow does she have a story to tell!)

Kite Runner By Khaled Hosseini – graphic novel sampler

Lot’s Return to Sodom by Sandra Brannan (I met Sandra last year, and again this year and the woman amazes me!  I am so excited to check out her new novel and she handed it out with chocolate rocks….. got to love that!  :razz:)

Icefall by Matthew Kirby (part of the BBC build your own swag bag)

The Maid (A Novel of Joan Of Arc) by Kimberly Cutter – more BBC Build your own swag bag!

The Winters In Bloom by Lisa Tucker (I got this one at the Atria blogger reception)

Bobblehead dad by Jim Higley (BBC Swag Bag!)

Who What Wear by Olivia Bennett (BBC swag bag!)

(I think this picture is a little blurry because I was shaking at the sight of Forever :D)

Lost Angel by Javier Sierra (from BEA)

Between by Jessica Warman (BEA  – doesn’t it look good?)

Forever by Maggie Stiefvater (OOOHHH!!!! Off the BEA show floor!)

Bloodspell by Amalie Howard

Little Women Letters by Gabrielle Donnelly (I thought I had missed out on this one and then there it showed up in the BBC swag bag!)

The Unbecoming by Mara Dyer (this is that book you see on the blogs with the awesoem moving graphic like they are under water!)

Lethal by Sandra Brown (would you believe I have never read Sandra Brown?)

Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey (Hmmmm… not sure where I picked this one up and now wondering if it is Reagan’s?)

Murder On The Oriental Express by Agatha Christie (SSQQUUEE!!! Picked up at the Harper Collins book blogger reception!  I have never read Agatha Christie either….)

Stupid fast by Geoff Herback (BBC swag bag)

Verso is a light for your e reader – woo hoo 😀  I am excited to try this!

The Beekeepers Lament by Hannah Nordhaus (Harper Collins BBR and wow does this one sound good!)

Martin Misunderstood by Karin Slaughter (oooh audio!!!!!!)

Fallen by Karin Slaughter (I am dieing to know if she was born with that last name!)

So there is the first box in…. this is actually the second box shipped… the other one was sent UPS.  Honestly, I was not expecting either of them until the end of the week at the earliest. 

Anything is this group that peeks your interest?

Almost Home by Mariah Stewart

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)17 Comments

 

When she was young, Steffie Wyler always knew exactly what she wanted to do with her life: 1. Make ice cream. 2. Marry the coolest boy in town. 3. Live happily ever after. These days, Steffie is the proud owner of One Scoop or Two, a wildly popular ice cream parlor. But the cool guy left town right after high school, before they could scratch the surface of their mutual attraction to see what, if anything, lay beneath. Steffie’s made a great life for herself in St. Dennis, but true love has never come knocking.

Wade MacGregor left for college in Texas and remained there to start a successful business with his best friend, Robin Kennedy, but he’s always felt something was missing. Then life throws him a curveball: A third partner has robbed the company blind, and Robin has died—but not before entrusting Wade with a precious secret. Now back in St. Dennis, Wade’s determined to do whatever it takes to protect his friend’s legacy—and to figure out, once and for all, if the sparks that fly whenever he’s with Steffie are just temporary fireworks or the lights in the window leading him home.

 

Here is why occasionally it is a good idea to try stepping out of your genre.   You will not find many romance novels here.  I just don’t read them.  Yet here I am.  Admitting I read this book… and I enjoyed it.  

Was the draw the ice cream parlor?  Certainly…. that is interesting, who wouldn’t want to own an ice cream parlor? And I liked Steffie, making it on her own and doing fine, but of course…. she misses Wade who moved away some time ago.  Upon his return to town, Steffie is turned upside down trying to decide what to do…. and while the romance part is ok, I prefer the mystery and suspense in the story that kept me interested in knowing more.  There are plenty of twists and turns along the way that kept me engaged.

Almost Home is actually the third book in the Chesapeake Diary Series.  The first two being Coming Home and Home Again.  While the other two books build on this one, it is not necessary to read them before Almost Home. 

I think the moral of my review is that when we know what we like to read and stick to only that we are doing ourselves a disservice.  Occasionally we as readers need to read out of the normal habits.  Not only should we not judge a book by its cover, we also should not judge a book by its genre.

Mariah Stewart was a wonderful author to take that genre leap with. 

 

 

 

About Mariah Stewart

Mariah Stewart is the award-winning New York Times bestselling author of twenty-nine novels of contemporary romance and romantic suspense. A native of Hightstown, New Jersey, she lives with her husband and their dogs amid the rolling hills and Amish farms of southern Chester County, Pennsylvania, where she gardens, reads, and listens to the voices in her head. She is currently working on the next book in her bestselling Chesapeake Diaries series.

Connect with Mariah:
On her website
On Facebook

 

There are a few more stops on this tour:

Thursday, June 2nd:  A Cozy Reader’s Corner

Monday, June 6th:  Colloquium

Wednesday, June 8th:  A Chick Who Reads

I read this book as part of a TLC Book Tour

Morning Meanderings…. Some Days My Dogs (and my hubby) Are Like Children

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)25 Comments

Good morning.  Can you smell the fresh brewed coffee?

MMMMMMMMMM

Take a moment and smell it. 

Mmmmmmmmm……

Yesterday afternoon I came home with a plan.  My hubby on Monday evening was scrounging around the house for something sweet.  Cake is actually what he was craving.  Cake.  We never have cake in the house but apparently he had been watching some tv show that had cake and now he too wanted cake.  All I had in the cupboards was a brownie mix, but no eggs in the frig as I forgot them when I went shopping.  Disgruntled… sweet tooth unsatisfied he went to bed.

So on Tuesday I came home from work armed with the missing eggs, a lemon cake mix and cream cheese frosting.  I also picked up a couple of steaks and shrimp (shrimp was on sale – woo hoo!!!) for dinner.  I was planning a special dinner since I was gone in New York all last week.  So I came home and I baked not only the cake, but the brownies.  I doctored up my steaks – tossed the shrimp on top and put them in to broil, feeling a lot like Betty Crocker as I never put this much effort into cooking.

Yay, I thought…. me time!  I text Al (hubby) to let him know when dinner would be ready, and grabbed Laptop and got comfy in the recliner in the reading room.  I was going to catch up on emails before dinner.  That is when Bailey (see exhibit A) decided he would like to go out.  Ok.  Out of the recliner I get, Laptop carefully to the side and let Bailey out.  I see it looks like he is going to stay outside awhile so I get cozy in the recliner again, and just get emails opened when…. Bailey wants in.

Of course he does.

Laptop carefully to side…. out of the recliner, let Bailey in and then back to the recliner wondering if I still have any time before dinner.  I think I do…

Then comes Elmo… he looks at me.  He wants to go outside.  (See Exhibit B)

Now, I can not deny Elmo anything.  Elmo is my dog.  We have had him since 1997.  He grew up with our boys, has been lost (and found) three times in his life, hit by a car 2 years ago and dragged (gah – awful story) and has just been through the ringer.  He is blind in one eye, has loss of hearing, and the early stages of dementia.  Needless to say – I get up and let Elmo out.

Ten minutes later, I get up and let Elmo in.

Some days…. I think I am the pet.  😛

Ok off to work.. later I return to kickboxing class where I have been MIA for three weeks now and am probably going to be hurting in the morning.  Oh well…. it’s all good for me.  😀

Have a lovely LOVELY day everyone!

Dinner with Beth Hoffman – author of Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)43 Comments

There are moments in my life that are so wonderful I have to pinch myself to make sure they are real. 

On Tuesday, May 24th, I had the privilege to join a group of wonderful book bloggers and have dinner with the amazing Beth Hoffman.  We were to meet at 7:15 pm at Mercer’s Kitchen, in Soho New York. 

I experienced my first subway ride which I caught with Candace from Beth Fish Reads, Dawn from She’s Too Fond Of Books, and Swapna from S. Krishna’s Books.  We arrived early and waited at the bar for the rest of the bloggers and for Beth.

I met at the restaurant Lydia from Lost Entwife and she brought her sister Candace too.  Shortly after Nicole came from Linus’s Blanket, and then Julie from Booking Mama and Kathy from Bermuda Onion.  Two new to me bloggers were Stephanie from Steph The Bookworm and Mandy from The Well-Read Wife.

And of course, there was Beth Hoffman.  Beth may as well have walked right off her website as we all knew her right away – she looks exactly like her picture!  Sweet and friendly she came in and hugged each one of us, calling us her girls and escorting us to a large table for our reservation. 

She had flown in the previous day just to meet with us.  The dinner was lovely and the conversation just as lovely.  It was so interesting to listen to her talk about the characters she brought to life in Saving  Cee Cee Honeycutt as well as the one character in the book that is requested time and again by her fans to make a come back, Oletta.  (I would have to agree)

I ordered the halibut which was so amazing, and a raspberry wafer dessert that was melt in your mouth delicious. 

What a great evening!  As we talked Beth shared what was next on her agenda and I am excited to share that it is another book (SSQQUUUEEE!!!) called Looking For Me.  Beth shared that Looking For Me is going to be quite different from Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt. I am sooooo excited!

A sweet little notepad and a bookmark. The notpad says "What would Oletta Say?" - a gift from Beth Hoffman (so sweet!)

After a wonderful meal and good byes (and a few tears shed), I made it back to the hotel at 11:30 p.m.  Thrilled with a wonderful evening and the excitement of a second book by this incredible author.

Morning Meandering… Why am I still talking about how awesome it is to be home?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)25 Comments

Good morning!

Wow.  This morning is a BIG dose of normalcy here.

AND uh huh…. I like it.  😛

It has been over a week since I have sat down at my kitchen table in the morning having  a cup of coffee and tapping at my keyboard a message out to the blogosphere. 

It is GOOD to be home.

Brainerd Minnesota…. is quite the opposite of New York. 

Mmmmmm..... coffee

I love taking my time in the morning with my coffee.  I love looking our my window and seeing blue skies and a yard that has been a part of my life since I was 3 years old. 

I love my deck… and that it is finally time to sit on it and read – my absolute favorite place to read!  😀

This morning.... after a storm last night

No rushing in the early hours, fast walking down busy New York sidewalks, crowds of people everywhere, the smell of donuts on one corner, hot pretzels on the next, and something greasy and fried on the next.

(I had some  really good food in New York and I had some really bad food in New York.) 

Anyway…. I drift.

I am off to work here shortly and even that feels good and normal.  I am hopeful the day turns out to be a nice one so I can ride my bike this afternoon…. (it has been 2+ weeks since I have worked out and I feel a bit sluggish…..)  I have kickboxing and group power on Wednesday and I am soooo looking forward to getting back at it.)

Ok… so this post really was just a ramble and gushing of how good it is to be home… putting images of Dorothy clicking her red (totally outdated) pumps together saying, “there is no place like home…. there is no place like home”. 

Oh… it is good to be home. (I should be over this melancholy by tomorrow…. really)  😛