My son reading...well, he can "only read in his head" right now, but tomorrow starts kindergarten so I am sure he will be reading out loud soon enough.

This week my daughter started high school and my baby (pictured above) leaves me for school too. Granted he has gone to daycare every day since he was 6 weeks old, but school is different. He is growing up. Oh boy, mommy has been faking how excited she is so he he doesn't freak out, but my heart is breaking. I know this should be very exciting and it is -mostly. Sons really love their moms and mine is no exception.

I do know this. He is smart and funny and makes friends easily. I think he will do great. Let's just hope he learns quickly when to stop talking and being silly. LOL

Can't wait to get him ready and walk him in...gee I guess part of me really is excited.

I can't wait until we hang out and he reads me a story.

Update: My son LOVES school. We both did really well and there were no tears. I can't even tell you how excited he was about telling us all about his day when he got home.

Today - his second day - I almost cried when I wanted to walk him in to show him where to go for breakfast and he told me he knew what to do and didn't need me. OUCH!!

Here he is sitting at his desk and starting his first assignment!!

Sugar Time - Jane Adams

A Great Summer Read from Best-Selling Author Jane Adams
What if you got what might be your last chance at both love and success -but getting one meant giving up the other? Charlotte "Sugar" Kane hasn't produced a hit TV series in years, so when her kids left home and her lover moved out, she left L.A. for New York, where a woman over 40 doesn't have to file an environmental impact statement to go out in public. Then the network green lighted her new show and she's back in Hollywood, older, wiser, and ready to prove she can still deliver a hit. Suddenly without warning, she's struck by a crisis that threatens everything she holds dear - her career, her health, and the unconditional love she's finally, unexpectedly found. Sugar Kane, the irreverent narrator of this smart, resonant novel about love, sex, work, money, family and friendship, marks the return to fiction of Jane Adams, a writer and psychologist whose expertise on women's lives finds its liveliest, warmest and wittiest expression in a unique heroine in the prime of her life.

Sugar Time has been optioned for a major motion picture by John Morrissey, the producer of "American History X," "Booty Call," "Havoc" and other hit films.
Bostick Communications

Most people think that only actresses over 40 have to worry about their age and looks, but if you ask Sugar Kane she tell you that isn't the case. EVERY woman in Hollywood has to be concerned about aging. Sugar hasn't written a hit show in over 20 years, but knows she still has what it takes. Her latest venture looks promising and is getting serious consideration by the execs. Out of nowhere her fear of not being able to keep up with the young go-getters hits her in the chest - literally. While sitting at home enjoying a sitcom and some Chinese take-out she suffers what seems to be a heart attack. Time in the hospital makes her realize she needs to hide her condition from the possible producers of her series or they may find her too big a risk to keep on board. Not only that, but while she is away her young assistant seems to have taken WAY TOO MUCH credit for what Sugar has done.

Sugar also decides to keep her health a secret from her son and daughter. Her daughter is a new mother and her son is very sensitive to the conditions of those he loves. Add in Alex, a new love interest, and Sugar is keeping the secret again. Her thoughts - why would a man want a woman on the edge of a major health crisis. Little does she know Alex has his own secret and is living life to the fullest so as not to miss a moment.

Sugar's decision to keep her health issue a secret is stressful as is the ungodly amount of time she must devote to getting her pilot rewritten to meet the execs demands. As she grows closer to Alex and overworked from her career, Sugar must make the decision to throw in the towel on something. Can she give up the career she has worked had to prove she is still capable of? Should she let go of the man that quickens her pulse and makes her feel alive in every way?

I found this to be an entertaining read, but also thought provoking. There is so much chick-lit focused on the twenty-something or even someone in her thirties, but women over 40 or 5o get lost. It's as if society forgets that women that age have desires for family, work, and men. Jane Adams takes that to task with Sugar Time. What she writes isn't a sweet little story about your grandma. She makes Sugar Kane a real woman. A woman that most of us can probably relate to. I happen to be in my thirties, but started my family young and feel much older than others my age. I also talk to my mom a lot and know that being in your fifties doesn't stop you from living a full life. Heck, fifty really isn't old. Face it- now that is only half of a life for many people.

I did have an issue with this novel, but it may just be a personal thing. I do not mind sex scenes or crude talk, but I can not stand to read the "p" word (describing female anatomy) in novels. To me it takes away from the story every time. I have not read a Jane Adams novel before to know if it is her typical lingo. I felt like it was an attempt to really show Sugar as a woman with a sexual side, but I thought that was easily seen without going there. Like I said that is probably my personal thing and may not bother any of you.

I would recommend Sugar Time to others for sure, but I wouldn't call it my best read of the summer. However, I am excited to think about it becoming a movie. I think it would translate well, and it would be nice to see the lead role as a beautiful, older woman.

I am excited to read more of Jane Adams novels. She has 3 fiction novels and 8 non-fiction. She is a social psychologist who has covered many different topics, but most focus on women coping with family or change.

To gain more insight on Sugar Time go to the blog. Or you can visit the book website.

NEW MEME SHOW ME 5 SATURDAY

Today I have decided to start a new MEME. This meme will give each blogger an opportunity to give a brief description of a book they have read or reviewed during the week.

It will work like this:
Each Saturday You will post the answer to these questions. The number indicates the number of answers you will provide.

1 Book you read and/or reviewed this week
2 Words that describe the book
3 Settings where it took place or characters you met
4 Things you liked and/or disliked about it
5 Stars or less for your rating?

After each of you complete the meme on your blog add a comment here and I will put a link on my post.

Here is my first post

1 Book Read: He Who Sings Last by Lisa Laird DiRosso
2 Words to Describe it: Obsessed Mystery
3 Places and/or Characters: Miranda the obsessed fan, Jimmy the washed up rock star, New York - the setting of the murder (one of them at least)
4Things I liked or disliked: I liked the background each character was given so you really felt you understood their actions, I liked the surprising twists, I liked the cliffhanger letting me know that there would be another book coming, I disliked Jimmy (not him being in the book as a character but him as a person)
5 Stars or Less? I would rate this at 4 stars

If you would like to read my review go here

Here is the link of the other participants:

Kelly
Kristen
Linda
Valerie
Melissa
Pixie
Faye
Alex
Melanie
Julie J.
Gwendolyn B.

Thanks so much to each of you for participating. I was afraid it would just be me this week so I am very excited. I think this is a great way to give a brief blurb to a book and generate some interest!

Word Verification Balderdash

A new weekly meme hosted by Sheila at One Persons Journey Through A World of Books.

The idea is to take all the word verifications you get when posting to blogs and make up your own definitions.

Here is my first crack at it!

Doggaz: I think we all know what this is...and we don't like it when it is in our face

Scrum: the tiny bit of rum left at the bottom of a glass. BTW, this is an actual word used at Sprint where my boyfriend works. It means an ad hoc project you get to complete without going thru the necessary resources

Cophrump: You know when you see a butt on someone and it chokes you up because you can't believe it is so big...there you have the cophrump (pronounced cofrump)

Airdimis: When the air gets knocked out of you. I.E. I got hit so hard in the gut by the ball I had total airdimis.

Nomessea: A disease I wish I had. Sort of like OCD but it is related to messes only.

Thesti: thirsty with a southern accent. Well, I do declare I am rather thesti.

Nowelo: that moment when you answer a question no and realize right away it could possibly be true. I.E. Do you like reality television? Nowelo I do watch it every single day and laugh my cophrump off.

The BUTLER BAG - SO AWESOME!!

I can't even begin to tell you how awesome a butler bag is. My Aunt June sells them in her boutique and I saw it for the first time when she came to town for my grandma's funeral. I knew I had to have one! Basically, if you look at the picture you will notice that it has compartments in the bottom. It keeps your purse very organized. Also there is room to the side to put in papers or in my caes books and/or my kindle. Just yesterday I carried 2 publisher catalogs, a book, and a notepad in mine.

I am not known for having a clean purse and usually I can't find anything in it. Since getting the butler bag in the beginning of July I do not have this problem.

For some the price might seem high, but if you tend to buy a name brand purse/bag it won't. I can tell you it is well worth it's price.

Classic small bag is $125

Hybrid large is $165

They can be ordered through my aunt for those prices.

check out the website at

http://www.butlerbag.com/ - Don't accidentally add an s to bag or you will get a camping gear website

Thurday Thunks - Who's Got Time For Crazy?!

Questions About This And That And That Other Thing

Welcome to the August 13th version of Thursday Thunks!

(which we always seem to post on Wednesday)
Where we make you think a little bit before you blog!

This week we will answer some crazy questions brought to you by

Kimber, the number 4812 and the color of storm clouds.

1. Hypothetical question- you are in a building with famous works of art, old manuscripts of famous novels, and original sheet music from famous composers. The building is on fire and looks to be completely destroyed. Do you grab any of the famous works before fleeing, and if so what?
I would grab whatever was closest and easiest to take. I'm not going to risk my life, but I would try to save something

2. In August 1969, the Manson family went on a 2 night killing spree. Do you think 40 years later they have paid for their crimes?
Hmmm...tough one. Definitely not Manson he is psycho. Unfortunately the others participated too. If they had killed my family I wouldn't want them free.

3. Power Outage! What's the longest you have been without power?
Maybe a day

4. Just bought a new tazer gun. Will you let it be tested it on you to see if it works, and how it feels to be tazered?
Heck NO!! You see people dying from being tasered and I have a heart problem. Not dying just so you can check out your toy!

5. A neighbor's mail was delivered to you. In it is a magazine not wrapped in plastic. Is it ok for you to flip through it before giving it to the neighbor? Do you tell them you looked through it?
I don't believe anybody who says they don't look at it. If I like it I definitely check it out and hope the mailman keeps making the same mistake. Seriously, I get the mail at my office and we always get the magazines for the doctor's office upstairs. I always check them out and then take them up. They are actually my doctor so I could check them out if I were in the waiting room anyway.

6. If I went through your purse/wallet right now, what all would I find in there?
Well, since getting a Butler Bag my purse is totally organized. You should totally look it up. If you want one I know where you can order it. Shameless plug for a family member, but it honestly is the best purse I have ever had.
Right now I have wallet, ibuprofen, tampons, 2 books, catalog of Putnam and Penguin 2010 releases.

7. Have you been living under a rock?
It is summer and it's much cooler under the rock. I do get tired of sharing the space with various 6 and 8 legged creatures though. Not to mention the worms...eewww

8. Tell us something crazy you did this week.
NOTHING! I am so BORING! Hey Thurs is my birthday so maybe I will get crazy tomorrow!!!

He Who Sings Last - Lisa Laird DiRosso

He Who Sings Last
by Lisa Laird DiRosso

"Just how far will one fan go to prove her loyalty? In her novel He Who Sings Last, Lisa Laird DiRosso expertly knits a blanket of obsession laced with suspicion and murder in a suspenseful crime novel centered on has-been celebrity Jimmy Covelli. He leads a quiet, post-fame existence until some ghosts from his past come back to haunt him after nineteen years, when an unsolved murder case is reopened by a zealous New York detective. Covelli charms and harms wherever he goes, and in his destructive path, he leaves behind a host of resentful family members and brokenhearted fans. Will the detective catch him and be able to prove his guilt? Find out in He Who Sings Last."

Tate Publishing

Miranda Madison was only fifteen when she attended her first concert. Watching Jimmy Covelli lead the Floating Hearts on stage took away her breath and set her imagination on fire. It was at that moment that Miranda knew that she and Jimmy were destined to be together.

Jimmy Covelli was an egotistical musician used to getting his way with not only women, but in life in general. He believed that "It doesn't matter what other people think, as long as you like yourself" is a foolish notion and that, "It is not who you are the deems respect and admiration; it iswho others think you are" is the way the world works.

Fast forward nineteen years and Miranda may be grown, but she still believes that she and Jimmy Covelli are meant to be together. She married another man to leave her dysfunctional home, but divorced him when she knew the only way to happiness was to follow her dream. Jimmy Covelli is no longer a famous musician with the good looks and money flowing. He now lives in a two bedroom apartment and works odd jobs to make ends meet. The one thing he has never lost, however, is his ego.

Detective John Vintoni begins to research a cold case - a brutal murder that occurred the very night after Miranda watched Jimmy in concert. His prime suspect - Jimmy Covelli. Jimmy was seen with the beautiful woman earlier in the evening and many believe they had gone to her home for a "rendezvous". Jimmy was never charged in the original investigation, but to Detective Vintoni the case seems clear.

Read along in He Who Sings Last as innocent victims are manipulated and more lives are lost. Miranda will stop at nothing to capture the man of her dreams, Detective Vintoni will stop at nothing to prove Jimmy is guilty of murder and Jimmy will stop at nothing to prove his innocence. Who will sing the last note of victory?

I really enjoyed this mystery. Lisa Laird DiRosso wove in many twists and turns that kept me guessing the guilty party. The narration of this story jumps from one character to another, and introduces not only the characters I mentioned above, but also all the friends and family still associated with them. You learn the back story of each character, and it helps you understand the reasoning behind each of their actions. There are definite surprises and a bit of a cliffhanger ending.

If you would like to read an interview with the author visit Jenni at Falling Off the Shelf here. She does a great job and gives a little background on the author as well.

Thanks to the author for providing me the book to review.