One More Page...Things That Go Bump in the Night

I've been totally lax with sharing the books that I've been reading on the blog. My apologies as I have finally been dipping into that pile of books that I got from PLA, the book buzz back in December and have been back to the Free Library of Philadelphia (I'm no longer a fugitive from the library!) and I have been reading, reading, reading!

That's a whole heap of books!

I think part of my reading binge is because in the next few weeks my time won't be my own. Summer Reading (dun, dun, dun!) is starting and I will be busy as all get out. (Visions of the library over run with kids...books everywhere...come back Rachee! Come back!) Plus I am going to Book Expo America and will be getting so many more books and well, I don't really have room for all of them and, well it's me so I was feeling a tad guilty at my book hoarding.


So since The Bee has been at her dad's and I've given up all pretense at cleaning my house or folding the laundry I've washed (or being social...I'm going through something and books are totes my escape). Instead I grabbed a couple of piles of books and have been picking up some of the books that I had picked up.


Here it goes:

Gone Girl by Jillian Flynn

From Kirkus:
“A perfect wife’s disappearance plunges her husband into a nightmare as it rips open ugly secrets about his marriage and, just maybe, his culpability in her death… One of those rare thrillers whose revelations actually intensify its suspense instead of dissipating it. The final pages are chilling.” —Kirkus (starred review)

I loved Gillian when she wrote for Entertainment Weekly and her first novel was a weird wild ride. Her newest book, Gone Girl, kept me guessing,. Each time I thought I had figured out what the characters were motivated by or where she was going with the book I was wrong and pleasantly had my mind blown.


It's hard to believe that people like Nick and Amy (the characters from the book) exist but Gillian fleshed them out and made me reexamine my relationships with everyone.




Into the Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes

From The Guardian:
"From its uncompromising prologue – a young woman being bludgeoned to death in a ditch – Haynes's powerful account of domestic violence is disquieting, yet unsensationalist."
I've just started this book and already on edge. I'm breathless as I await the violence, the abuse and the damage that will happen to the obsession that is disguised as a relationship.

The Talk Show Murders by Al Roker and Dick Lochte
I've reads the first two Billy Blessing books and feel a bit obligated to read this one which is actually pretty decent. It's familiar enough without being (as) repetitive and it's kinda fun. I don't know all of the television mediums so I worry that Al and Dick may not have enough types of TV show types to go around for murdering.




I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga
From Jenn's Bookshelves:

Jazz isn’t your typical teenager. His father, Billy Dent, just happens to be an incarcerated serial killer, one of the most prolific killers of modern times. As a child, Jazz was immersed in his father’s sick obsession so now as a young adult, he’s desperate to prevent himself from becoming the man his father wants him to be. Every little urge has Jazz wondering if this is how his father started out, if they are the early warning signs of his evolution into a sociopath.

My list servs at work was all abuzz about this one but I found myself wanting this thing to be over. (Yes, yes I could put the book down but something compelled me). I don't know. The book just got on my nerves. Main character Jazz was so arrogant in knowing more than the cops that he broke basic lessons people watching Law & Order learn. This book was totally written for a teens and my adult brain couldn't turn off. 




What are you reading?
Double checking the locks,
-r

Home is Where the Mess is

So.
Lately I'm all about lists.
Lists to pull me out of that funk that I've been lingering in.
Lists to try and get stuff together as we hurtle towards summer and a little thing I call "Ahhhh!"
There is something so satisfying about a list. You can cross things off to show that it's done, it's (in theory) a way to keep things in order and lists always represnted something  that I was working towards.
Which is why I was stoked to see this blog meme/hop/tour (it's really is all of them!) hosted by Stasha, from The Good Life, and FINALLY be able to link up.

This week, Ten Words to Describe Home

1. Messy (As I type I'm pretending not to notice the three baskets of laundry I've been folding all day)
2. Yarn (I am ashamed to say that I have yarn everywhere)
3. Shoes (The Bee and I wear the same pairs of shoes daily yet they cover many more places  than they should)
4. Cat (Cause Lil is like the anti-Visa...everywhere I don't want her to be!)
5. Water Ice (We keep what seems to be an endless supply)
6. Comfortable (The couch has some awesome butt grooves)
7. Progressive (It's a work in progress as we STILL move in. Two years later.)
8. Freedom (I've lived with someone all of my life. This house is my first time living alone)
9. Loud (Neighbors, the prowling neighborhood cats, those motorbikes ripping back and forth through the street)
10. Loaded (We've got a lot of stuff. I need to work on that)

Source: etsy.com via Rachée on Pinterest

What words describe your home?

-r

They Like Me! Get the Skinny Scoop on Mommy Bloggers

I won't lie; when I was first notified that I was in the running for being one of the top mommy blogs for The Skinny Scoop I thought there was a mistake. But nope, there is lil ole me hanging in the list with some other bloggers that I read and follow!;
So, here is the beg time...can I get a vote please?

Need more info? Check it; the Skinny Scoop is a site that, well, gives you the skinny on the things you love. Make a list and see what other women are digging. Not sure where you fit in? Check out the lists created by other users. The site is free, easy to navigate and pretty cool.

C'mon; I know you're intrigued...it's LISTS!
Seriously, I'm asking for your votes and since you're there, check out the site.








r's note: No, I was not asked to write this; I am seriously asking for votes and suggest you make a list or two while you're there!

#SOCSunday: Making a List

Source: bing.com via Marisa on Pinterest

I haven't really participated in Fadra's Stream of Consciousness Sunday for a while. I hadn't really had the time; I was dealing with sick family members, not feeling totally myself, and quite honestly, just didn't feel like it. This weekend has been the first weekend in which there are no obligations, no kid and no plans. As I found myself aimlessly wandering not sure what to do with all of this free time I started to feel overwhelmed. I have plenty I *could* be doing but as I looked upon the piles of laundry to be folded, the dishes to be washed, the weeds to be pulled I found myself getting that sinking feeling that comes with that overwhelming feeling of helplessness. Putzing around on Twitter I came across Fadra's prompt and felt the urge to type. 


Once again I thinnk we are connected. Once again this is totally taking more than five minutes and I find myself wanting to share this answer to the prompt below:


Today’s Writing Prompt: What feels overwhelming to you right now and how are you coping?


I watched Friends with Money last night and found myself hating all of the characters but sorta relationg a bit to the Frances McDormand character, Jane. Oh Jane is just miserable and spreading her bile around her. Jane is angry, oh so angry and she can't even express why she feels this way. Nothing makes her see how this behavior is affecting her life, not even when she literally breaks her nose walking into a plate glass door does she get it. 


When her husband, Aaron, asks her what the problem is this exchange happens:
From Friends with Money (2006)
Jane: I'm just tired. 
Aaron: Of what? 
Jane: I just, guess I feel there's no more wondering what's it gonna be like. 
Aaron: Like what's gonna be like? 
Jane: My fabulous life.




I guess I'm feeling a tad like Jane, without  the so angry I walk into the door bit. I'm just tired and feeling overwhelmed by everything. The piles of laundry that seem to multiply (my God how does one woman and one girl child produce so much laundry?).  The dishes (see above but substitute dishes for laundry). Work, Mom, The Bee. I'm just freakin' done.


I know when I get like this I tend to lash out...my body is taking the brunt of my grumpiness. I binge, I deny, I feel bad.   My mental well being is affected...I avoid (sorry A and S for not making it over this weekend), I hide and it seems dark and brutal and hopeless. I feel sluggish, like I have lead weights around my leg and I'm in a pool and even the smallest acts feel like a major thing.


Since I have been blogging and sorta putting all of my business out there for y'all to read, I feel embarrassed to be writing about feeling overwhelmed. Again. Looking through my archives I have previously written about being overwhelmed and junk and well, who wants to read this old chestnut again? I can't lie; I'm down and well, y'all are gonna just have to bare with me while I work through it. 


I made a list of everything that has been bothering me, some huge, some not so big, some that only mean something to me. It helps to see them on paper because, while numerous, the somethings can get out of my head and when I do something with them I can then cross them off and that little act really means a lot. 

The leaden feeling still looms and it may be a few more days until I feel more like myself but its ok. I don't enjoy feeling like this but since I know that I'm feeling the way that I feel I rationalize that its not all bad. There will be a way from under the water and a way to lighten where I am but for now I have my list and that's good enough for now.






This was my Stream of Consciousness Sunday post. It’s five-ish minutes of your time and a brain dump. Want to try it? Here are the rules…

• Set a timer and write for 5 minutes. 
• Write an intro to the post if you want but don’t edit the post. No proofreading or spellchecking. This is writing in the raw. (See above)
• Publish it somewhere. Anywhere. The back door to your blog if you want. But make it accessible.
• Add the Stream of Consciousness Sunday badge to your post.
• Link up your post on Fadra's site.
• Visit your fellow bloggers and show some love.

The Little Blue Dress

Last week I went to a party for one of the social media groups I belong to. I was excited about the party, looking forward to hanging out "in real life" with folks I mostly interact with online. All day I made sure to stay on schedule so I wouldn't have an excuse not to make it to the party. I had an outfit planned and was feeling on cloud nine...until I actually got home and started to dress. I was totally having an "I hate me moment" and almost stayed home. Almost until I remembered "The Buffy Blue Dress"



I borrowed a dress from my sister a few months ago as we headed for some dressy thing or another and it has just found its way into my closet. It's been my go to and I just decided to go with it. After the reaction I got from wearing this dress I decided that it was time for me to stop hiding and feeling bad about the way I looked, do something about it and not have myself feel that way again.



I don't look bad, felt great and had a good time.

Thanks Little Blue dress!

Photo via Pam, the Unconventional Librarian

#vlogmom, These Three Things

Hi all! This week's #vlogmom topic comes from Megan at Sweet Sadie Marie. Megan asked, "Share 3 items from your junk drawer or car console." And since I missed last week's prompt I added it to this week's video.

Please to enjoy...These three things, a #vlogmom video.