Hatchette USA 10 Book Giveaway

Who doesn't love free books? Literary Feline is hosting a ten-book giveaway over at her blog and the books look great! I'd especially like to get the one about the library cat. Cats and books just go together, don't they?

Anyway, if you'd like to enter the contest, go here.

Labor Day

I spent yesterday reflecting on two things: my own labor day five weeks ago and my return to work. May 18 seems like a LOONNNGGG time ago. I can't believe my baby is almost four months old. I am so blessed that I got to have the time off to spend with him. But I am really sad to have to leave him behind to go to work today. I have a good job with great benefits and I work with really nice people. I'd love to only work part-time however. Being a full-time working mom is going to be really really hard. I am lucky to have my mom nearby to help take care of the baby.

I had a nice weekend. Princess Genevieve came to visit which was fun. I haven't seen her in about two years. I have been doing pretty well with my book-reading and movie-watching. Last movie seen: BOTTLE SHOCK. (I recommend it!) Last book read: MORE THAN IT HURTS YOU. (Not crazy about it...reads like a Patterson "ripped from the headlines" book) Now that I'm back to work, I'll try to blog more often. Hope you are all well!!!

Yikes!!!

My beloved computer is dead. We had a good run, though. I've had it since 2001. And I didn't even start blogging until 2003. So, I'm sorry for my lack of posts. Hopefully, I'll get a new computer soon. Until then...

Do You Have Obama Fever? (FREEBIE)

I don't want to get too political here but I don't see how there is any choice between Obama and McCain. Can we REALLY see McCain as President of the United States?

Anyway, if you are interested in getting a FREE Obama button, follow this link:

LINK

Good Night Sweet Prince

I started attending Renaissance festivals when I was a teenager. My favorite was Scarborough Faire right outside of Dallas. Every year, I looked forward to eating my favorite "faire" foods (such as fried ice cream) and seeing my favorite entertainers. No matter what renaissance festival you attended, you were likely to see the same entertainers since they all worked the same circuit. My personal favorite was the Torysteller but I also dearly loved Puke n' Snot. My good buddy and fellow festival-lover, Amy, sent me an article a few days ago announcing the untimely demise of our beloved Snot.

ARTICLE LINK

We always thought he was so handsome and dashing! Way getter than the jousting knights that most women seemed to go gaga over. This really makes me sad. It's as if part of my youth has gone away. It has been awhile since I've been to a Renaissance festival. I guess I went to one about five years ago in Colorado. I miss it. It was a chance to eat, drink and be merry and even get dressed up occasionally. I need to find one here in California so that I can take my baby someday. But it won't be the same without our beloved Snot.

New TV Watching

With the late-night feedings, I have been discovering new television shows to watch. Gary and I have gotten addicted to two show in particular: "Mad Men" and "Swingtown." I think that I especially enjoy the attention to detail in both of the shows. "Mad Men" is an AMC show and takes place at an ad agency in 1960. I love the clothes! However, the sexism (and smoking!) can be hard to take. "Swingtown" is a network show on Friday nights and takes place in 1976. The writing is clever and I find it hard to believe that I was one-year-old when all of that was taking place. Both are terrific shows!

We are also anxiously awaiting our Netflix of the second season of "Dexter." Who knew a show with a serial killer protagonist could be so compelling and enjoyable?

(By the way, I just finished TEN DAYS IN THE HILLS by Jane Smiley. She is a terrific writer. I was pleasantly surprised. The book takes place over a period of ten days following the beginning of the current Iraq war. I had lots of thoughts about "if we knew then what we know now..." Good read.)

LBC Freebie of the Day

Join the Cheerios Challenge and get a free box of Cheerios!! (hurry---supplies limited)

LINK

July Reads (so far)

Baby keeps me busy but I try to get a little reading time in each day. I find I am attracted to "chick lit" having to do with suburbia and motherhood these days.

TEN-YEAR NAP by Wolitzer
SISTER -Adams
STORY OF A MARRIAGE -Greer
BELONG TO ME -de los Santos

Both the Wolitzer and de los Santos books fall into the suburban motherhood category and I enjoyed both. The SISTER was a gothic tale that offers a VERY ambiguous ending. It reminded me a bit of the THIRTEENTH TALE. If anyone else reads this, please let me know! I need to discuss it with someone. STORY OF A MARRIAGE was an interesting perspective on marriage in the post-WWII era. Not my favorite book but interesting nonetheless.

LBC Freebie of the Day

Get a free sample of Oatmeal Crisp Cereal:

LINK

Back and Reading!

I can't believe it has been five weeks since baby was born. Hard to believe!!!

Obviously, there isn't much down time. My husband will usually take over for awhile so I can have a nap but I also love soaking in a tub. That is where I am getting some quality reading done.

Since mid-May, I have read the POTLUCK CLUB TAKES THE CAKE by Shepherd, CHASING HARRY WINSTON by Weisberger, ENCHANTRESS OF FLORENCE by Rushdie, GIRLS IN TRUCKS by Crouch and CANDY GIRL by Cody, and EMBRACE ME by Lisa Samson. Whew!

The POTLUCK CLUB book and the Lisa Samson book are both Christian fiction. I have a pretty low tolerance for most Christian fiction but I find the Potluck Club series delightful. Sort of a Christian version of the JANE AUSTEN BOOK CLUB or DIVINE SECRETS OF THE YA-YA SISTERHOOD. I also love Lisa Samson's books and EMBRACE ME was no exception.

ENCHANTRESS was my first Rushdie read and I was disappointed. The writing is amazing but I found the story tedious. CANDY GIRL was often laugh-out loud funny but the subject material could be eyebrow-raising.

Trying to get in as many books as I can !