Review - Throw a True Blood Party: An Unofficial Guide to Partying with Your Favorite Vamps

It's appropo today, of all days, that I decided to finally write the Blog post on this book.

It's fun! Why wouldn't it be? True Blood is fun.

Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse series was fun, but really ran out of steam by the end of the series and many people were disappointed with the ending.

The HBO series True Blood is fun...but has gone off the deep end from the original premise and has some really whacky plot twists and storylines.

Still...they are addicting....just like they are supposed to be. And, they are escapism in its truest form.

The ideas, the concepts, the tchockis, the costuming...everything in Throw a True Blood Party: An Unofficial Guide to Partying with Your Favorite Vamps will help you throw a bash that has all the undertones, and over-the-top tones for a night full of laughter and mayhem!

The only downside of having the products in the book is that there were coupons attached to several of them...but the majority of them expire at the end of 2013.

But, the Holidays are coming up & this would be a great gift for any friend or family member who is even the slightest bit obsessed with the books or show, throwing theme parties, or like an interesting array of books for their shelves and coffee tables.

Why...because it's FUN!

Happy Halloween!



Throw a True Blood Party: An Unofficial Guide to Partying with Your Favorite Vamps
Paula Conway

Published June 13th 2013
Riverdale Avenue Books
 
Disclaimer: This book was provided to reviewer from the publisher, Riverdale Avenue Books through NetGalley for the sole purpose of reading and review.

Review of My Brief History by Stephen Hawking

I had heard of Stephen Hawking, just the name, but really didn’t know who he was and his remarkable path and contributions until I started watching “The Big Bang Theory”.  See! The “Boob Tube” does have some redeeming qualities!

I didn’t even know his condition is Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (aka ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease). He mentions his condition throughout the 75-page.

The book is truly a “brief” history of Stephen Hawking’s life, but encompassing a life lived and full of love, fun, humor, self-deprecation, honesty, determination, genius, bravery, science, questions, answers, accomplishments, inspiration, black holes, quantum gravity and the universe.

It’s simply written…for the most part except when he goes off explaining some of his research and theories in depth. I just read through those parts a few times, trying to understand an overview of the subject matter and Hawking does a great job of presenting these highly technical concepts to the general public.

The brilliant thing about Stephen Hawking’s work and life, is that even without this condition he would still have made the contributions he has to the world of science and physics, BUT because of the disease and his public persona, he shows the world how it’s possible to overcome limitations and what seems like insurmountable obstacles and come out the better for it – all the while inspiring others and contributing to both the scientific community as well as the “general public”.

More than once on “The Big Bang Theory”, Howard has done his impression of Stephen Hawking’s electronically produced voice. The fact that the man has been on the show in person, has been mentioned several times, as well as was in one episode playing “Words with Friends” with Sheldon shows us that he has an immeasurable capacity to find the humor in the hand he’s been dealt.

He explains the process he went through and the rewrites he undertook when writing the bestseller, "A Brief History of Time” which presented complex physical concepts, but made them accessible to the general public. I can’t wait to read it!

Even though the book is literally “brief”, it is overflowing with a plethora of a rich, full and amazing life and I pray he continues to contribute and inspire for a long time yet to come…because there is no such hope as time travel.  ;)

 

My Brief History
Stephen Hawking

Random House Publishing Group - Bantam Dell

Publication Date: September 10, 2013

Disclaimer: This book was provided to reviewer from the publisher, Random House Publishing Group – Bantam Dell through NetGalley for the sole purpose of reading and review.

Diving In...

I tore out some pages from an old Notebook. I do not know when this was written, but the page after it is dated 12/1/2002...I've transcribed directly from the written page. Apparently I wrote from a flow of consciousness & in the moment because there are not line or paragraph breaks.


Tear - A tear is something that comes from the heart - it has 2 meanings - to break and also a release. When I cry, I'm usually releasing something - guilt, guilt, anger, anger, anger, upset, angry, overflow with emotions because everything gers caught up inside and sometimes I just need to let it all go. I really like meditation and yoga classes because they are a release of stress, anger, sadness, happiness - all sorts of emotions come to the surface and I usually shed some tears - of happiness, joy, sadness, lonliness, longing, fun, endurance, stress. Tearing somthing up can be a release a also. To let go of something, to destroy so something can be created again - anew.Release sadness, lonliness, happiness - breaking my heart because it is so full and I want to give so much to someone - I'm tired of being lonely. Crying tears of sorrow.

Review of What's So Funny?: My Hilarious Life

Tim Conway is one of the funniest people to even grace us with his gifts.

In What's So Funny?: My Hilarious Life we are taken on a short breeze of a ride and learn a bit about Tim’s colorful parents, some outrageous stunts while growing up in Ohio, his stint in the military and enjoy a few stories and anecdotes of his professional career…thus far.

There are a few surprises along the way. For one thing, his real name isn’t Tim… ;)

I was genuinely disappointed because it was so short. I would have no problem reading a 400 page tome written by this man. I know I would be laugh until my sides hurt and I couldn’t keep the tears from rolling down my face.

Personally, I think entire books should be written by the players of wonderful shows and movies some of us have had the privilege to watch and be entertained by and loved. Because unfortunately, a lot of these wonderfully talented people have left this world and we won’t see the likes of them again. It’s a blessing that we have the technology to see them in action on DVDs, Internet Video, and TV stations dedicated to reruns of the unforgettable programs my parents grew up enjoying, and I was able to enjoy in my childhood.

He also only added a few stories and anecdotes about his kids & his wives which I really wanted to know about, but he left them out of the book in deference to their private lives which is commendable.

He’s a memorable character creator, and can throw a line without cracking a smile (although those of us who have ever watched him play off of Harvey Korman know that everyone around him breaks down first), and doesn’t mind playing “second fiddle”.

Even if you aren’t a reader of biographies and auto-biographies, I highly recommend this book to anyone who has ever seen Tim Conway on lovable shows and movies like, “McHales Navy”, “The Carol Burnett Show”, and “The Apple Dumpling Gang” movies.  And for those who haven’t been as fortunate yet – look them up, watch & laugh!

Only then will you know the brilliance that is Tim Conway and want to read about how he got to be the hilarious “straight” man we know & love him to be!



What's So Funny?: My Hilarious Life
Tim Conway, Jane Scovell (With), Carol Burnett (Forward)


Howard Books
Publication Date: October 29, 2013

Disclaimer: This book was provided to reviewer from the publisher, Howard Books through NetGalley for the sole purpose of reading and review.

Rose Harbor in Bloom – Review

Rose Harbor in Bloom is the first Debbie Macomber book I’ve ever read…I do not know why.  

Even though this is the second book in the series, Ms. Macomber gives us enough of a glimpse into Jo Marie Rose’s background that you can get into the characters and the story right off the bat – even if you haven’t read the first installment. That is not always the case with series books.

The Inn itself is a character. It has its own place in the storyline, I see the entire Rose Harbor Inn as a quiet corner window seat with plenty of light, comfy cushions and warmth – wrapping its arms around you - a place of beauty, contemplation and healing.

I can visualize the characters and their stories as being real – not just characters made up in a piece of fiction. And, even though these characters visit the Inn and their storylines become the main focus of the book that is built around the ongoing story of Jo Marie and the citizens of Cedar Cove, once these characters leave the Inn their stories are well-rounded enough and come to an end at the conclusion of the book so you don’t feel cheated, but their conclusions are also new beginnings and you are invested in these characters enough that you want the book to be longer and branch off and pick up on the storylines so you can see what the future holds for them – hopefully, we’ll get a snippet or 2 in future books.

I am definitely going to find the first book in the series, TheInn at Rose Harbor, as well as make sure other Debbie Macomber cooks are on my “To Look for List” when I’m out & about.

 

Rose Harbor in Bloom by Debbie Macomber

Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine
Publication Date: Aug 13 2013

Disclaimer:This book was provided to reviewer from the publisher, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine through NetGalley for the sole purpose of reading and review.

Review of Lowcountry Bombshell (A Liz Talbot Mystery, #2)

I was fortunate enough to win a free copy of Susan M. Boyer’s first Liz Talbot Mystery, Lowcountry Boil last year from Goodreads. This year I am a member of NetGalley and have had the privilege of receiving an electronic copy of Ms. Boyer’s latest Liz Talbot Mystery, Lowcountry Bombshell for the specific purpose of reading and reviewing on my Blog, Living Life by the Seat of Your Pants.

These mysteries are like so many others that I have read lately, and have become a favorite distraction of mine. They are light, fun, set in small towns that are full of quirky, and also dangerous characters – a great, short time distraction for all that ails us in our stressful, hectic everyday lives.

In Lowcountry Bombshell, Private Eye Liz Talbot has recently moved back to the North Carolina Island town of her birth, Stella Maris. Her new client is the doppelganger of a certain 1950’s Blond starlet who died too early surrounding mysterious circumstances that to this day still baffle us.

Coming upon the 50^th anniversary of said starlets’ death, Liz’s client, whose life has run a close parallel to the Blond Bombshell – at the beginning we don’t know if it was patented that way or fabricated, hires Liz to “…keep me alive.”

I do like how Ms. Boyer gets right into the flow of the issues – starting with the first chapter – right off the bat. The story is full of twists and turns, touches on crazy family members and unsavory characters, murder, attempted murder, and even a bit of romance and rivalry.

Unlike her counterparts in this genre, such as Janet Evanovich, Lorna Barrett, Joanne Fluke, and even Charlaine Harris (her lesser know characters – Harper Connelly, Lily Bard and Aurora Teagarden), I’m hoping Ms. Boyer presents more scenes and background on the quirky cast of characters of Stella Maris in future books.  

I look forward to reading more of Liz Talbot’s adventures for many years to come!

Lowcountry Bombshell (A Liz Talbot Mystery, #2)

Henery Press
Publication Date: September 3, 2013

Disclaimer:
This book was provided to reviewer from the publisher, Henery Press through NetGalley for the sole purpose of reading and review.

Home Is Where the Heart Is...

I haven’t lived in Massachusetts for almost 19 years. Yet, as I sit in my parent’s kitchen I know that this is home and always will be…even if they are the ones to move.

I still tell people when I leave San Diego to come to Mass that, “I’m going home.” Whether it’s for a week, a month or longer – time does not matter.

It’s possible that I may never come back to live….or, I could, who knows? I don’t.

Mom asks me every time I get laid off (which for those of you who know my track record, is about every 3 years), “So, are you moving back?”

This time, I told her I’m waiting for divine intervention, whether it’s for a job or just because it’s time for me to leave SoCal…or stay in California. I don’t know. And that’s okay with me…for now.

Massachusetts is where the highest concentration of my family is, even though some have left – to Texas, New Hampshire, Florida, New Jersey, North Carolina, Virginia, New York, California, and others have never lived here – Hawaii, Pennsylvania, Maryland, this is still Home - to me.

People ask me why I moved to San Diego and I tell them the story of how my Mom’s best friends’ daughter who used to babysit me and who we’ve known since I was four (basically my big sister), was living in San Diego and she tried to urge me to come out there – maybe go to college there. I didn’t.

But when I was in my “first real job” after college for about a year, I finally made my flight plans in April to go to San Diego in June, and the next the day there was a reorganization at my work and I could have been laid off, but they kept me on until June and then laid me off – so I took it as a sign that maybe it was time to venture out into the world - divine intervention mingled with me making a choice.

So, I went to San Diego for a few weeks, came back & in September drove with “big sis”. Figured I’d be there for a year or two…Alas, it’s been almost 19 years.  Talk about time flying!

I have never had tons and tons of friends (although you wouldn’t know it by my 1050+ Facebook friends ;D ) – but Social Media has done wonders for connecting with old friends, family, business associates, classmates who weren’t so friendly (but I guess time and maturity heals those wounds), family you’ve never met, and starting relationships and maintaining them with new people you meet.

Now, I have connected with people and when I’m home I try to see them, and when I’m 3,000 miles away I miss them but can still stay in touch.  It’s very amusing when I think of it, that if I chose to move back I will have a larger group of friends to see and hang out with than when I left!

So I sit in my parent’s kitchen - watch Dad eat lunch and read a book, wait for Mom to come home from the grocery store, anticipate seeing my sister and cousin tonight, and hope to see my adorable niece, and brother and sister-in-law again before I leave, I finish this post and think about moving back and what that would bring. I still have no idea one way or another, and am waiting for divine intervention to step in and pinch me – with me having the choice. But, I’m glad that for right now - I Am Home.