Lisa Ann Writes

At the end of 2008 , I think, our litle church group started a book club.  These are some of the books I remember reading from this year. Not sure Igot them all-

Last October-(I think) we read

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then I remember reading

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Christmas Carol. (This is a picture of the books original cover. Wish I had that copy!)

Then I am pretty sure we did some Dr. Seuss. I missed that one because I was traveling at the time. BUT- strange enough on my layover in the airport I found some paintings of his book covers that I would have LOVED to get to hang up in my grandbaby’s room- but wayyyyy toooooooo much money!  At this book club meeting they all picked their favorite Dr. Seuss boook to share and we had to explain why it was our favorite. Sorry to have missed that one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next few might be out of order- but we read

I really enjoyed this book. I don’t think I would have ever picked it up to read if it hadn’t been for book club. I didn’t think I was a scify fan. But, because I read it and enjoyed it so much I realized there are a bunch of Science Fiction stuff I like. When I took a trip to WA this past spring I made it a point to go to the Science Fiction Museum in Seattle WA. That was such a cool place.

 

 

 

 

We also read…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 and…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 and……

The Graveyard Book. I found two different book jackets- I know from watching a video of Neil Gaiman that in England they published the book in both and “adult” version and a “children’s” version. I guess this is an example of the two different covers.

 

 

 

 

The last book we will be reading for this years Book Club is…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hinds Feet in High Places. I have not read this one yet- but I have some time. In December our book club will be meeting to set the list for this upcoming year. I am hoping to get some great books on the list!

So, I just wrote this amazingly long blog all about what I have been thinking and doing and why I have been so busy….I posted it- then went to the site to check it out. I tried to edit a word I had put in by accident and poof… like bad magic it was all gone. So I hit “refresh”- really bad move. I don’t know where in the WWW all my ponderings have landed but I don’t want to write it all over again. He is the condensed version.

Been really busy at work- was promoted to “sales lead” or “part time assistant manager” which ever you want to call it.   I really like retail- I like helping people and enjoy learning new things – like how to fill a dumpster in ten minutes or less….

I have been looking forward to the up coming book club meeting next week. We read The Hunger Games and I really enjoyed it. I liked it so much that I bought the set for my son- my favorite son- I sent him Hunger Games and the second in the series Catching fire. He read them both- loved them both- and I did too. Can’t wait for that group meeting!

Also…. my friendship quilt is just about done and is supposed to be completed by the first weekend of October. I have to check in with the three other friends that are working with the same fabrics to see if they are close to done. I hope I finish it on time….since it was my idea.

Yah…. I think that was about it. I just hope that this gets posted and not sent off into the great can’t find that post.

Oh- one more thing. I do want to try to blog more often.  I miss it. And I miss the comments I had been getting. So keep checking again….

 

I am back!

So, I was just thinking how sometimes life gets so busy that I forget to blog about what is going on when it is going on. So this is sorta a list of things I forgot to blog about last week.

1. I went to my book club meeting and had a great time! The book we read was  The Persian Pickle Club by Sandra Dallas.  I really loved this  book. I got to sorta “run the meeting” . I tried really hard to keep the group on topic and think I did an ok job. We also had yummy goodies to eat after. (Thanks Robin!)

2. I have been having weird and or scary dreams for weeks now. I don’t know why, but if it isn’t some weird dream about someone random becoming the Bishop in our church ward then it is just scary hard to describe dreams. Which ever the case I am not feeling rested when I wake up. I some think I need a sleep number bed or something.

3.  I finished reading the next book for book club- The Hunger Games….loved it. Can’t wait for the next one to get here. One of the sweetest things my husband did for me….he saw my list of books for the rest of the year for book club and went to the bookstore with me and we got them all! (Thanks Erin for finding them so fast for me!)

4. I keep saying I will work on my quilt but don’t get to it. I just have to put on the binding. I want to finish this one so that I can start my next one!

5. I looked up when the next shop hop will be! Paulette get ready! Oct 18th (I think) that few days around there anyways.

6. Everyday I want to write about the amazing things that my Grandbaby does. He is so amazing. I love seeing him growing and getting big! He is talking more and reminds me of his mom when she was a baby- the way he takes in everything around him- and my son when he was a baby- the way he loves to laugh and play. I wonder what my daughters husband was like as a baby- but I do see a lot of his dad in him. In fact, one of my favorite things is to watch the baby get so happy and excited when dadadadada comes into the room! He sure loves his dad.

7. My husband is officially in the Bishopric of our ward. He was called to serve as the second counselor. He is really excited – except for the wearing of the suit thing. LOL

I can’t think of much else. This week is about over and the only things I can think to write about is that finally we are having nice weather, I am enjoying my job and get to meet with the Regional Manager on Friday to see  about being an assistant manager. I haven’t been there long and to already be asked if I would be interested in the job is excitingI think this is a pretty good update for right now. I am gonna go look for something to read.

Hey Sally, if you are still reading my blog…. I am back at curves and everytime I go I think of you! Hope you are keeping busy but not so busy you can’t give me a shout back. It would be nice to see you again.

Sally is the friend who got my interested in working out a few years ago. Since then I lost 70 pounds- stopped working out and put some back on, not all of it, but some. So now I am back on the wagon again. Or rather, running next to it. LOL

I feel so much better when I make the effort to work out. It is so much more than a weight loss thing, I just feel happier. I believe I need it for my piece of mind. The last time I went to the Dr. he encouraged me to workout and said curves was a good place- to get back to going on a regular basis. What I like about it is the social part. It helps to have people say hello and to tell me they are glad I am back. I love the smart workout system they have too. I started to use that when I was in Utah with my daughter at a curves there. It makes my work out more effective.

So, back to working out. Thats a good thing.

It looks like it will rain more today, and if that is the case I have a plan….quilting. I want to boarder one that I am working on, but also, I found a pattern to make a bag. I have been thinking about how to make it a bit better. Adding inside pockets-quilting ect.. so I think I will work on those two things today. I will need to run out and pick up so interfacing I think but other than that I should be set for  things to do today. 

I was thinking of seeing how hard these bags are to make and if I like them maybe I could sell some. I still dream of having a qult shop- rainy days are always a good day for dreamin.

 Also, I won some kind of thing from taking a survey on line a million years ago and got a book in the mail! That was a fun surprise. The title is Becky by Lenore Hart.  It is the story of Tom Sawyer’s sweetheart. It is a cool idea for a book and so far it is a really good story. I love the way I am drawn in and want to “see what happens next” as I am reading. One thing I was worried about was I don’t really remember reading Tom Sawyer or Huck Finn…. whatever- and I thought I would have to have more of a background in that story or this one wouldn’t make sense- but it stands on it’s own so far. Ties that need to be made are clear and yet you don’t feel stupid for not remembering the other story. I am only in the beginning so we will see.

So, I sent off the fabric to three friends- and I heard back from all of the already!  A new quilt is about to be born! What is exciting to me is that everyone will send some fabric that we will each work into quilts in different ways.  The end result should be fun! The fabric I sent has a black background with two shades of green- light and lighter and a smidge of white with swirls behind the flowers- so far  one person has sent a light green fabric with what I would call a vine pattern. They look great together! I can’t wait to see the other two choices. I think I will try to post a picture of what we are starting with- but how pretty the fabrics are together you just can’t capture with my camera!

In reading news… I am now reading And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie. That was the next one selected for the book club. I think It will be good. I have to admit- at first I was lost but then I reread the first few pages and realized there is no “main character” just lots of people- once I figured them all out I was good. So far anyway. I have never read any Agatha Christie books- we will see.

I am also still working on putting what I have for my family history onto ancestry.com- that keeps me busy- not to mention the top of my desk a mess. I bought a thing to put the files in while they are in use- so I don’t have to keep going back and forth to the filing cabinet- but as of yet it sits empty and stuff is everywhere. True to my nature.- there I just took a minute and put them all in their little place. Now I just have fabric laying around. It never ends…..

I have to check out my books page I think I have a suggestion for  another book to read. Stop on over at the library page if you have a minute!

I finally finished reading The Shack by Wm. Paul Young. It took me forever to read this book- It wasn’t long- I just have been sleeping more than reading this past week or so. I really don’t know if I liked the book or not. Weird I know. Maybe I will read it again sometime- I was hoping someone else would read it and tell me what they think. I also have been reading A Christmas Carol by Dickens. I have never actually read the book- and thought I would give it a try. I like it- it is really enjoyable. I have seen plays and movie versions and so far as I can tell there is much to be appreciated by reading the actual book. The book club I go to was reading it this month- but I am a bit behind – again- because I was sick. I did get a chance to talk to one lady in the group about the book however and it got me going again. I don’t know what they are reading for next month yet. I am working on developing a list of books that I would like to get for my own library. If any of you have a “must have” book on your list let me know. I might add it to mine. Maybe this is a list I will develop on my blog. We shall see….

Last night I finished reading Tears of The Giraffe by Alexander McCall Smith. This is the second book in The No. 1 Ladies’ Detetective Agency. I really enjoyed both books. I would really recommend this series to anyone who wants a good story line- a fast read and a type of story that just makes you feel good. I like that every once in awhile there is a character who will have something profound to say that makes me think. I have enjoyed these stories. I also worked out yesterday- pretty hard and I didn’t sleep well the night before so last night I was able to fall right to sleep and couldn’t believe it was 7:30 when I woke up! One more day gone and one more day closer to when Jim will come visit! I am so excited to see him again. I look forward to the day when we can just travel like in Stargate or Startrek….. It would be so nice to have that ability! Just be in far away places in a flash. I would go back and forth between home and here all the time! Last weeks book club was reschduled until today- so Erin and I will be going to that. I think we are also going to spend sometime at the library today. She needs to study for her GRE and it would be easier for her without the distractions of home. Maybe we will just hang out on campus and pretend to be students today. At some point I want to go around and look at all the condos that are up for sale. Not that I am buying one- but I just want to see what you get for the money around here.  I also really like to look at houses that are on the market and see what things I like and what I would change if I were ever to build my own house. Who knows someday I could come into millions and have that chance! I think I would just rebuild the house I have. It really has the perfect set up for me. Well- I guess it is just good to have a list of things to do and places to go…. so that is todays plan. I am pretty flexable though and would be willing to just hang out at the hospital should Camper decide he would want to be born today. Its all good!

It is almost noon and I am just getting my day going! I did wake up early and went to work out. Got home a little after nine- watched some morning tv while Erin and John got ready to start their day. I drove Erin to work and then came home and took such a hot bath I am still in the recovery process. I thought it would make my tired body feel better- I guess there is such a thing as too relaxed! This week has been moving along. Erin had her Monday morning Dr. appointment. Then she was home yesterday from work as she was not feeling well. She got in a nice nap in the afternoon and then when John came home I went to the temple for awhile. I love being so close that I can just drive to the temple, do a session and be home within two hours. At home it takes longer than that just to get to the temple! I love to go and sit and just feel such quiet and peace. It is a nice end to my day. I try to go every Tuesday. I spend most of the time there praying and praying that Erin’s health will keep getting better and that little camper will be born healthy and soon. Monday night Jon invited to take me to dinner. We all ended up going and it was going fine till Jonathan announced that he will not be moving back home after all. He really likes his jobs here, he has all good reasons for staying but it made me sad none the less. I cried right in Applebees- the waitress told Jon to say he was sorry! It was sorta funny. In reality I am very proud of Jonathan for deciding to do what is best for him and not coming home just to make me happy.  As his mom it is just my job to worry and want to be sure he is going to be fine. But really- even though my son-in-law doesn’t believe it- I do know Jon isn’t a little boy anymore. I guess I was just really hoping not to have to keep coming out here for visits! Utah has good points but I miss my home. I also went to visit new baby Spencer this week.  Boy- is he a cutie! When Robin and Peter come out to see their grandbaby his cute little face will get kissed to pieces!  Good news on the apricot tree front. The season is just about over and I am only cleaning the driveway every other day. I still don’t trust it enough to park under it again. I am just about finished reading another book- The No. 1 Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith. It has been very enjoyable- except for the visual of her running over a snake. I hate those things! I guess this is the first in a series so I am gonna check out what comes next. Today is the book club meeting for My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult. I look forward to hearing what others think of that story.  I guess if I don’t get myself together I will have to go in my pjs. Better go get my day underway. By the way- Sally- it is good to read your comments.  When I get back on that side of the world we will have to do lunch…. tell everyone at the curves there hi from me!