I just finished reading My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult. By far the best book I have ever read (yet).
This is a story about a 13 year old girl who files a lawsuit against her parents for the rights to her own body. You see, she was genetically engineered just to become a donor to save her sister that is diagnosed with leukemia.
Each chapter is narrated by a different character from the book. This book really makes you think. What would you do if you were in this situation? It was such an easy read and has an unpredictable ending.
I love this book.....one that I would read again (never thought I would say that)
5 of 5 stars
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Book Review
I finished the book Little Children by Tom Perrotta about a month ago and just realized that I never commented on what I thought about it. Not a favorite but it was entertaining.
This was a story about a suburban neighborhood and the interaction of the adults in the neighborhood.
The main character, Sarah, is not like the rest of the adults in the neighborhood. She ends up having an affair with a stay at home dad (who is also married) during the summer. Most of the book is about their relationship and 'sneaky' adventures. A registered sex offender moves into the neighborhood, just to confuse things.
I liked this book, I am glad I read it.
3 of 5 stars
This was a story about a suburban neighborhood and the interaction of the adults in the neighborhood.
The main character, Sarah, is not like the rest of the adults in the neighborhood. She ends up having an affair with a stay at home dad (who is also married) during the summer. Most of the book is about their relationship and 'sneaky' adventures. A registered sex offender moves into the neighborhood, just to confuse things.
I liked this book, I am glad I read it.
3 of 5 stars
Thursday, September 07, 2006
I am not going to lie....I am nervous
I can't believe I am actually going to write this. I am actually going to document this somewhere that ultimately could be traced back to me. But, I have to admit it.
I only have one unread book left in my house. It is killing me! I am going to apply for a library card online and this weekend I am going to go and stock up.
Will it ever sink in that I actually have found a new hobby?
I only have one unread book left in my house. It is killing me! I am going to apply for a library card online and this weekend I am going to go and stock up.
Will it ever sink in that I actually have found a new hobby?
4 down, 1 to go
I finished the book Midwives by Chris Bohjalian tonight.
Wow, it has left me speachless. This is a very good book. Very interesting and thought provoking story. It left me craving more.
For those of you who are not familiar with this book, I will give you a short description of what it is about. This story is told by a daughter who has a mother that made her living as a lay Midwife. During one of the deliveries, something goes wrong and the laboring mother ends up dying...the baby is saved. The cause of the mother's death is unknown, but believed to be from the emergency C-section that the midwife performed once the laboring mother died....or was she really dead before the C-section? Was it the C-section that killed her?
During this book you will read excerpts from the midwife's diary, you will hear phone conversations and late night conversations that were overhead by the storyteller (daughter). You will experience the courtroom antics and at the end you will find out if the midwife was charged with murder.
The only thing that was hard for me was that the story was being told by a female and the author of the book was a male. Being a new reader, this is something that I will need to learn to adjust to. I need to realize that these books are not always real-life situations, they are stories. Up until now, I wouldn't read a book unless it was a true story. No time for tales....not anymore....I am addicted.
4.5 of 5 stars
Wow, it has left me speachless. This is a very good book. Very interesting and thought provoking story. It left me craving more.
For those of you who are not familiar with this book, I will give you a short description of what it is about. This story is told by a daughter who has a mother that made her living as a lay Midwife. During one of the deliveries, something goes wrong and the laboring mother ends up dying...the baby is saved. The cause of the mother's death is unknown, but believed to be from the emergency C-section that the midwife performed once the laboring mother died....or was she really dead before the C-section? Was it the C-section that killed her?
During this book you will read excerpts from the midwife's diary, you will hear phone conversations and late night conversations that were overhead by the storyteller (daughter). You will experience the courtroom antics and at the end you will find out if the midwife was charged with murder.
The only thing that was hard for me was that the story was being told by a female and the author of the book was a male. Being a new reader, this is something that I will need to learn to adjust to. I need to realize that these books are not always real-life situations, they are stories. Up until now, I wouldn't read a book unless it was a true story. No time for tales....not anymore....I am addicted.
4.5 of 5 stars
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
In memory of Back to School
I remember the days leading up to the first day of school. Our parents would take us clothes shopping a few weeks in advance and we were forbidden to wear our new clothes before that day. I often remember my sister and I trying on our clothes for each other over and over just for an excuse to put them on. We would even hold our new notebooks (or TrapperKeeper) to see how we would look waiting for the school bus.
I remember the year that button up shirts and ties were the style. I was in third grade and my sister in 6th. My tie was blue and pink and I would wear it loosely tied with a white button up shirt....cute!
I remember one year I was actually able to talk my parents into letting me wear my new tennis shoes to Carbone's. They were white shoes, white laces, with one purple and one pink heart on the outside of the shoe. I swear when I put those shoes on that I could run faster and jump higher. I am sure that I probably even gave it a try and convinced myself right then and there that these shoes were going to change my life. I remember walking out of the pizza place and looking down at my new kicks. The sun was hitting them just right and I can still feel the burn in my eyes; the reflection of the sun mixed with the whiteness of my shoes was lethal.
To this day I still get a little nervous when Labor Day approaches. I get nervous that I will oversleep and miss the school bus. I get nervous that I won't be able to open my locker or find my class schedule. I get nervous that my clothes will be out of style. I get nervous that the boys will be cuter and I will be too nervous and shy to talk to them. Nervous that my friends won't remember who I am.
Silly how those things stay with us....even 12 years after I have graduated high school...the same butterflies come back every year.
Thank goodness for the Class of 1994!
I remember the year that button up shirts and ties were the style. I was in third grade and my sister in 6th. My tie was blue and pink and I would wear it loosely tied with a white button up shirt....cute!
I remember one year I was actually able to talk my parents into letting me wear my new tennis shoes to Carbone's. They were white shoes, white laces, with one purple and one pink heart on the outside of the shoe. I swear when I put those shoes on that I could run faster and jump higher. I am sure that I probably even gave it a try and convinced myself right then and there that these shoes were going to change my life. I remember walking out of the pizza place and looking down at my new kicks. The sun was hitting them just right and I can still feel the burn in my eyes; the reflection of the sun mixed with the whiteness of my shoes was lethal.
To this day I still get a little nervous when Labor Day approaches. I get nervous that I will oversleep and miss the school bus. I get nervous that I won't be able to open my locker or find my class schedule. I get nervous that my clothes will be out of style. I get nervous that the boys will be cuter and I will be too nervous and shy to talk to them. Nervous that my friends won't remember who I am.
Silly how those things stay with us....even 12 years after I have graduated high school...the same butterflies come back every year.
Thank goodness for the Class of 1994!
My Vision Award and how it will affect my weekend
August 21st, I received a Vision Award at work. This award is public recognition and a monetary amount for a job well done. The HealthEast vision states: Partnering with our patients and each other, creating superior health through clinical and organizational excellence.
I was presented this award in front of my team of peers (8 people). The award states that I was recognized for demonstrating superior skills in the areas of customer service, quality, stewardship of resources, and exemplary service. Word for word it states "You epitomize the phrase 'lead by example'. You embrace every new roll with passion and enthusiasm. The HealthEast Clinics Vision is front and center as you partner with your team members as well as the clinic staff to implement this EHR. Thanks for your dedication, commitment and leadership!
$350.00 paid to the order of ME
WOW-to re-read that compliment after a few weeks....how nice!
I will be staying overnight in a hotel room across the street from the Mall of America this weekend and I plan to spend my award on new fall/winter clothes. I am excited to have some money that I can spend 'guilt free'.
Thank you to my teammates for recognizing me! (and thanks for my new clothes)
I was presented this award in front of my team of peers (8 people). The award states that I was recognized for demonstrating superior skills in the areas of customer service, quality, stewardship of resources, and exemplary service. Word for word it states "You epitomize the phrase 'lead by example'. You embrace every new roll with passion and enthusiasm. The HealthEast Clinics Vision is front and center as you partner with your team members as well as the clinic staff to implement this EHR. Thanks for your dedication, commitment and leadership!
$350.00 paid to the order of ME
WOW-to re-read that compliment after a few weeks....how nice!
I will be staying overnight in a hotel room across the street from the Mall of America this weekend and I plan to spend my award on new fall/winter clothes. I am excited to have some money that I can spend 'guilt free'.
Thank you to my teammates for recognizing me! (and thanks for my new clothes)
Future Blogging Topics
Here are a few things that I plan to blog about in the near future;
My fascination with primates
My personal goals
Personal reflection
My struggle with starting a family
Booklist
Concert list
Things I must do before I die
Things I will never understand
My fascination with primates
My personal goals
Personal reflection
My struggle with starting a family
Booklist
Concert list
Things I must do before I die
Things I will never understand
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Slight detour
This weekend after I finished the third book on my list of 5, I found myself taking a small detour. My friend, Karri, borrowed me a book earlier this summer. I saw it sitting on the table and decided that I would read it next.
My Friend Leonard by James Frey is the sequel to A Million Little Pieces. I read A Million Little Pieces earlier this year. I was on a business trip to Chicago in January and woke up one morning to a news report about Oprah and a man named James Frey. Oprah had chosen the book A Million Little Pieces for her book club. After reading this book, which was believed to be a true story, it was discovered that the author had embellished some of the details of the story.
Oprah was furious! She confronted the man on her show and it wasn't pretty....Oprah is someone that you don't want to get mad. I am not a huge fan of Oprah so I decided to see what upset her so much. In my mind, if the story is mostly true, then who really cares if the author embellished it a little bit....life is full of embellishments.
The book was awesome! I loved it. The story was believable and regardless of whether or not everything in the story was 100% true to how it happened, it was a great story.
The sequel is just as good. I read this book in 1 day! What is happening to me?! I am enjoying reading a lot! A hobby that I never thought that I would ever enjoy...and here I am reading a book within 24 hours!
I would recommend both of these books to everyone!
4.5 of 5 stars for each one! (alert: the book contains very foul language and graphic situations)
My Friend Leonard by James Frey is the sequel to A Million Little Pieces. I read A Million Little Pieces earlier this year. I was on a business trip to Chicago in January and woke up one morning to a news report about Oprah and a man named James Frey. Oprah had chosen the book A Million Little Pieces for her book club. After reading this book, which was believed to be a true story, it was discovered that the author had embellished some of the details of the story.
Oprah was furious! She confronted the man on her show and it wasn't pretty....Oprah is someone that you don't want to get mad. I am not a huge fan of Oprah so I decided to see what upset her so much. In my mind, if the story is mostly true, then who really cares if the author embellished it a little bit....life is full of embellishments.
The book was awesome! I loved it. The story was believable and regardless of whether or not everything in the story was 100% true to how it happened, it was a great story.
The sequel is just as good. I read this book in 1 day! What is happening to me?! I am enjoying reading a lot! A hobby that I never thought that I would ever enjoy...and here I am reading a book within 24 hours!
I would recommend both of these books to everyone!
4.5 of 5 stars for each one! (alert: the book contains very foul language and graphic situations)
3 down....
I finished my third book (from my original list of 5). Sunday I finished Many Lives, Many Masters by Brian Weiss, MD.
This book was the shortest so far of all of the books that I have read, but it took me the longest to get through. The book was pretty good. I was not blown away by it and had a really hard time getting in to it. This book told a true story of a girl who was undergoing therapy for some panic attacks and anxiety issues that she was having. During her talk therapy sessions, Dr Weiss discovers that his patient has be reincarnated 85 times! Within the 200 pages, we are taken through some of these lives and lessons.
It was a pretty interesting topic and overall the book really makes you think.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a different type of story.
2.5 of 5 stars
This book was the shortest so far of all of the books that I have read, but it took me the longest to get through. The book was pretty good. I was not blown away by it and had a really hard time getting in to it. This book told a true story of a girl who was undergoing therapy for some panic attacks and anxiety issues that she was having. During her talk therapy sessions, Dr Weiss discovers that his patient has be reincarnated 85 times! Within the 200 pages, we are taken through some of these lives and lessons.
It was a pretty interesting topic and overall the book really makes you think.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a different type of story.
2.5 of 5 stars
Monday, August 21, 2006
Things that happen when you get older
I realized the other day that certain things in your life happen that make you stop and think "wow, I actually am getting older!".
There was an open house at the Maplewood Clinic last Thursday. This is a clinic that I worked at for 8 years as a Certified Medical Assistant. I spent the last 6 of those years in a leadership position. In the 8 years that I worked in the clinic, we were told that we would be getting a new building 3 seperate times and it never happened. Our old office space was old and we were running out of space. I left the clinic in November of 2005 and the new building was being built (and designed by me) up until the day I left. July 2006 the new clinic opened its doors. It is beautiful!
My sister, Kim, worked at the clinic during the summer and winter breaks. It was fun to work with her when I was still there and it is nice to have her working there no that I am gone so that I can still 'keep in the loop' with everything that is happening there. It helped me to feel that I left a part of me back at the clinic.
Last Thursday, I walked into the front door of the clinic. I was greeted by tons of balloons and old familiar faces. I had such a rush of emotions come over me....I felt sad, nervous, happy, excited, overwhelmed.
I saw my sister Kim and she informed me that she signed herself up to give tours to the public during the open house. WHAT?! My sister Kim, giving tours to strangers!?
This is the same sister Kim who would not even order her own food at McDonald's---giving guided tours.
I felt so proud of her at that moment. I really realized then that she had grown up. I knew that it had happened...I have seen it before but to experience it first hand.
I was speechless.
There was an open house at the Maplewood Clinic last Thursday. This is a clinic that I worked at for 8 years as a Certified Medical Assistant. I spent the last 6 of those years in a leadership position. In the 8 years that I worked in the clinic, we were told that we would be getting a new building 3 seperate times and it never happened. Our old office space was old and we were running out of space. I left the clinic in November of 2005 and the new building was being built (and designed by me) up until the day I left. July 2006 the new clinic opened its doors. It is beautiful!
My sister, Kim, worked at the clinic during the summer and winter breaks. It was fun to work with her when I was still there and it is nice to have her working there no that I am gone so that I can still 'keep in the loop' with everything that is happening there. It helped me to feel that I left a part of me back at the clinic.
Last Thursday, I walked into the front door of the clinic. I was greeted by tons of balloons and old familiar faces. I had such a rush of emotions come over me....I felt sad, nervous, happy, excited, overwhelmed.
I saw my sister Kim and she informed me that she signed herself up to give tours to the public during the open house. WHAT?! My sister Kim, giving tours to strangers!?
This is the same sister Kim who would not even order her own food at McDonald's---giving guided tours.
I felt so proud of her at that moment. I really realized then that she had grown up. I knew that it had happened...I have seen it before but to experience it first hand.
I was speechless.
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Spell check anyone?
I am sorry about the errors in my past blogs. I will try to remember to use spell check. :-)
My sister Kari
There is something about having a big sister that is hard to explain. You big sis will teach you things as you grow up and I have to admit, sitting here at 30 years old, I thought I was pretty much done with learning from her. Once again, I am wrong.
My sister has taught me how to take a chance. How to live your life to accomplish what you want, not what someone else had in store for you. In 1995 my sister was married to her 'foreign-exchange student boyfriend from highschool'. This is how we described how my sister ended up calling Quito, Ecuador her home. Kari and Andres moved to Ecuador where they have since bought a house and started a beautiful family.
I will be honest, when she first moved I felt abandoned. How could my sister leave me? Didn't she know that she was leaving us? Didn't she know that she was going to miss everything? What was she doing? Over the years, I have not written. I have not called. I have not emailed her. I have only visited her twice. (What kind of sister am I?)
Andres is an amazing person. He is brillant, funny, kind, has an incredible ability to share information and to keep you interested in learning from him, he is a father, friend, son, brother, and husband. My brother-in-law is the best that I could ask for. He has taken care of my sister and has taught her so much about life. He has inspired her to do things that she was always capable of doing, but he gave her a reason. I love him for that. I love him not only for who he is but for who he has made my sister become. How he has supported her.
Now that I am married I understand how you could leave your family, the family you knew for 18 years to start one of your own. Your husband becomes your family, your children make your house a home. Your mother, father, sisters, grandparents, etc...this famiy is important in your life. They will always be there. They will always love you but they judge your actions. It is not fair of them to 'clip your wings' so that they can keep you close by. It is too bad that those in life who love you most have no way of showing it.
My sister Kari is a teacher, a writer, a mother, a daughter, a friend, a granddaughter, a sister. I love reading my sisters emails and blogs. She has a way of writing that makes me feel that I am in the story with her. I can read her expression and her feelings. I can see the expressions on her face. I can imagine the points in the story when her hand itches her nose and then she adjusts her glasses. The way her eyes get huge when she is telling you something scandalous.
She loves secrets and even though I am sure that it hurts, she loves to hear about what is happening 'back home'. What is the weather like, what did you do this weekend? What have you bought recently? All of these little pleasures in life that we take for granted are the very things that she will return home for.
It is easy for all of us to think that Kari is missing out, not being 'home'. What I realize is that we are missing out. I have two nephews that don't even know me. I have a brother-in-law that I don't get to spend time with. I have not seen my sister's new home or furniture. I haven't babysat my nephews.
My sister has taught me to take chances. Do something that you want to do. Get married and move to Ecuador--how brave my sister is.
I am also a big sister. I hope that I am a good one. Since my sister Kari has been out of the country, I have assumed the role as the 'second in charge'. Our parents seperated and later divorced and I felt as though I needed to hold everyone together. Keep everyone on good terms. On holidays, I try to assure that my little sisters are buying gifts and that they have what they need to contribute to the festivities. When there is a family outing, I am 'in charge' of organizing everyone together. I especially miss Kari in these moments.
My sister has taught me a lot about life and about who I am. I am envious of her and I am glad that she is who she is.
I have not done the best job of keeping in touch with my big sis but I hope that I can get better at it. I miss her everyday.
My sister has taught me how to take a chance. How to live your life to accomplish what you want, not what someone else had in store for you. In 1995 my sister was married to her 'foreign-exchange student boyfriend from highschool'. This is how we described how my sister ended up calling Quito, Ecuador her home. Kari and Andres moved to Ecuador where they have since bought a house and started a beautiful family.
I will be honest, when she first moved I felt abandoned. How could my sister leave me? Didn't she know that she was leaving us? Didn't she know that she was going to miss everything? What was she doing? Over the years, I have not written. I have not called. I have not emailed her. I have only visited her twice. (What kind of sister am I?)
Andres is an amazing person. He is brillant, funny, kind, has an incredible ability to share information and to keep you interested in learning from him, he is a father, friend, son, brother, and husband. My brother-in-law is the best that I could ask for. He has taken care of my sister and has taught her so much about life. He has inspired her to do things that she was always capable of doing, but he gave her a reason. I love him for that. I love him not only for who he is but for who he has made my sister become. How he has supported her.
Now that I am married I understand how you could leave your family, the family you knew for 18 years to start one of your own. Your husband becomes your family, your children make your house a home. Your mother, father, sisters, grandparents, etc...this famiy is important in your life. They will always be there. They will always love you but they judge your actions. It is not fair of them to 'clip your wings' so that they can keep you close by. It is too bad that those in life who love you most have no way of showing it.
My sister Kari is a teacher, a writer, a mother, a daughter, a friend, a granddaughter, a sister. I love reading my sisters emails and blogs. She has a way of writing that makes me feel that I am in the story with her. I can read her expression and her feelings. I can see the expressions on her face. I can imagine the points in the story when her hand itches her nose and then she adjusts her glasses. The way her eyes get huge when she is telling you something scandalous.
She loves secrets and even though I am sure that it hurts, she loves to hear about what is happening 'back home'. What is the weather like, what did you do this weekend? What have you bought recently? All of these little pleasures in life that we take for granted are the very things that she will return home for.
It is easy for all of us to think that Kari is missing out, not being 'home'. What I realize is that we are missing out. I have two nephews that don't even know me. I have a brother-in-law that I don't get to spend time with. I have not seen my sister's new home or furniture. I haven't babysat my nephews.
My sister has taught me to take chances. Do something that you want to do. Get married and move to Ecuador--how brave my sister is.
I am also a big sister. I hope that I am a good one. Since my sister Kari has been out of the country, I have assumed the role as the 'second in charge'. Our parents seperated and later divorced and I felt as though I needed to hold everyone together. Keep everyone on good terms. On holidays, I try to assure that my little sisters are buying gifts and that they have what they need to contribute to the festivities. When there is a family outing, I am 'in charge' of organizing everyone together. I especially miss Kari in these moments.
My sister has taught me a lot about life and about who I am. I am envious of her and I am glad that she is who she is.
I have not done the best job of keeping in touch with my big sis but I hope that I can get better at it. I miss her everyday.
Two down, 4 to go
Today I finished The Dogs of Babel by Carolyn Packard
This book came as a recommendation from my sister, Kari.
It was a very easy read. The chapters were short so I was able to feel that I was accomplishing something as I was reading. The story was interesting. A woman named Lexy dies and the only witness of her death is her dog, Lorelei. Her husband, Paul, spends a year trying to reveal the cause of his wife's death. He was convinced that he could teach his dog to talk, in hopes to find answers. The book travels through time as you learn of their lives together, the success and failure of trying to teach a dog to talk, and what really happened in Lexy's death.
During the book, I found myself having trouble putting it down and when I was near the last few chapters, I actually sat at work trying to figure the mystery out. (What is happening to me?)
In the end, I was left happy and disappointed. The mystery was revealed but the ending left me wanting more. I gues that that is the sign of a good book, but I felt disappointed in the way the story ended. Even though I felt disappointed, I still find myself loving this book.
I would recommend this to anyone!
4 of 5 stars
This book came as a recommendation from my sister, Kari.
It was a very easy read. The chapters were short so I was able to feel that I was accomplishing something as I was reading. The story was interesting. A woman named Lexy dies and the only witness of her death is her dog, Lorelei. Her husband, Paul, spends a year trying to reveal the cause of his wife's death. He was convinced that he could teach his dog to talk, in hopes to find answers. The book travels through time as you learn of their lives together, the success and failure of trying to teach a dog to talk, and what really happened in Lexy's death.
During the book, I found myself having trouble putting it down and when I was near the last few chapters, I actually sat at work trying to figure the mystery out. (What is happening to me?)
In the end, I was left happy and disappointed. The mystery was revealed but the ending left me wanting more. I gues that that is the sign of a good book, but I felt disappointed in the way the story ended. Even though I felt disappointed, I still find myself loving this book.
I would recommend this to anyone!
4 of 5 stars
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
One book down, 5 to go
Parmley News
I have just finished The Dive From Clausen's Pier by Ann Packer.
Now, reading has never been a favorite activity of mine. I think in my whole life I have maybe read 30 books. (maybe!) I decided that this summer, I would try really hard to 'get into it'.
I received some recommendations from some friends and family and went onto Amazon.com where I purchased 6 of the books that were recommended.
Surprisingly enough, I found myself attached to this book. It was believable. The story starts out with two highschool sweethearts hanging out at Clausen's Pier with their friends on Memorial day. There is a terrible accident which leaves one of them paralyzed. The story goes on to talk about how they all adjust to the new lifestyle and where they end up within the next couple of years.
I found myself really upset and disturbed with the way that some of the characters acted during this tragedy. I think one of the things that kept my attention while reading is that you picture yourself in that situation and try to imagine how you would handle it.
Overall, I think it was a good book. I would recommend it!
3 of 5 stars!
I have just finished The Dive From Clausen's Pier by Ann Packer.
Now, reading has never been a favorite activity of mine. I think in my whole life I have maybe read 30 books. (maybe!) I decided that this summer, I would try really hard to 'get into it'.
I received some recommendations from some friends and family and went onto Amazon.com where I purchased 6 of the books that were recommended.
Surprisingly enough, I found myself attached to this book. It was believable. The story starts out with two highschool sweethearts hanging out at Clausen's Pier with their friends on Memorial day. There is a terrible accident which leaves one of them paralyzed. The story goes on to talk about how they all adjust to the new lifestyle and where they end up within the next couple of years.
I found myself really upset and disturbed with the way that some of the characters acted during this tragedy. I think one of the things that kept my attention while reading is that you picture yourself in that situation and try to imagine how you would handle it.
Overall, I think it was a good book. I would recommend it!
3 of 5 stars!
Monday, July 24, 2006
Trying this out
I thought that I would try this blogging thing out. It is always fun to have a place to 'check' for updates when I want to know what my big sis is up to.
I will try to get some pictures out here...stay tuned
I will try to get some pictures out here...stay tuned
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