Updates - Further Thoughts From My Review

While I did enjoy the memoir, I often was frustrated at reading about the suppression of the women. I used to be a member of the Feminist Majority Leadership Allianace (FMLA) at Hunter College, which is part of the Feminist Majority Foundation (FMF). I had joined this group as an undergrad about a year and a half before 9-11. The first thing I had learned via the group was about the atrocities that was occurring to women due to the Taliban. To raise money for awareness, we sold pieces of burqa with the net. I remember students stopping by the table, putting the net to their eyes, and being in shock over the situation occurring. What I learned has affected me to this day. My hope is that women who are fighting to build a better life can do so that they will be able to attain peace and gain back what was taken from them.

In the memoir, Ms. Rodriguez is able to connect with the women, and in doing so, we learn that some of them had your average life - a working family, a nice home, and most of all, a reason to smile. Imagine if everything you knew was taken away from you because one group decided that they knew what was best for society. Imagine if these same people who had promised a better life instead took away a child's laughter, art, the basic beauty of life, and instead murdered and caused havoc. The Taliban promised to make things better, but instead stole husbands, wives, sons, daughters....

My family was also affected by the actions of those who wanted to destroy just to prove a point. I was still living in NYC when the attack occurred. Just writing this makes me shake. So much to remember. What I can say right now is that my father was one of those who went downtown to help with the recovery. He was a Correction Officer at the time and his department was asked for volunteers to help. I remember him coming home with such a stench that I cannot describe, his face drawn, weakened by what he saw. There are things he saw, he recovered, that will haunt him for life. Of course now he is suffering from the aftereffects. He has some sort of mass growing behind his eyes. He had to get an operation on both his eyes because one day they just swelled shut. He has just been sick since that time. One of his fellow volunteers died because his health rapidly deteriorated. The attack not only killed thousands but also destroyed families, and the repercussions to this day are unfathomable. Every time I hear a plane that sounds too close for comfort, I freak out inside. My husband saw one of the towers collapse. He does not talk about it.

Sometimes I get so stressed over the most mundane things, such as running out of butter or not being able to buy a book. Then I open my eyes and realize how lucky I am to be able to just live. It may not be perfect, but I can smile, I can dance, and I speak my voice. I reflect and I understand that what I take for granted is another's treasure. And a treasure is worth keeping.

Ten Books I Can't Live Without

Kailana has asked us bloggers to post the Ten Books You Cannot Live Without. I have been thinking about my list for days. It's just so hard to narrow it down to ten. I kind of tweaked my list to include series and short stories. I hope that is okay. Here goes.....

1. Rappaccini's Daughter by Nathaniel Hawthorne - I heart this short story big time. I can read it over and over again, which I do. I think it's just so beautifully written (as well as many of his other works). Pure perfection.

2. A Book of Dwarfs by Ruth Manning-Sanders - My favorite short story collection as a child. Each story is about mythical dwarfs, good and bad. I love the illustrations that accompany each story. I used to get lost in my imagination each time I cracked it open. I still have my copy, although it seems that I pilfered it from my elementary school library (I really don't think that I intentionally kept it). Shame on me!

3. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott - My mother bought me a beautifully illustrated unabridged edition when I was around 8 or 9 years old. I remember how excited she was to have me unwrap it. I also remember not being as eager to read it, but once I finally decided to I just fell in love.

4. Bruno the Pretzel Man by Edward E. Davis - This book was given to me by my "aunt" when I was in the single digits (I believe around 6 y.o.). I remember salivating over the description on how perfect pretzels were made and tasted. I think this was my first cozy read. I also remember it making me feel all gooey inside.

5. The Birth House by Ami McKay - I heart Ami McKay. I heart The Birth House. Read my review here. And go out and buy a copy RIGHT NOW!

6. Archie Comics - I know, they're not books. But how can I not mention them! I love Archie comics. To this day, whenever I see a new digest out, I buy it. I love the fact that my local supermarket stocks them. Yes, I get the occasional weird "are you kidding me??" look, but I really don't care what people think. They're fun. Here's another embarrassing confession - I had a crush on Jughead. I kid you not. I also had a crush on Lion-O from Thundercats. There is no shame in my game! ;)

7. The Casteel Series by V.C. Andrews - I've read this series three times. V.C. Andrews just does it for me.

8. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer - I gulped this one down in a few days (in between work and school). Read my reviews here and here.

9. Forever Amber by Kathleen Winsor - Amber is a naughty, naughty girl. This book is huge in size and yet I wished it went on a bit more.

10. Slammerkin by Emma Donoghue - Another naughty, naughty girl. If you haven't read this, then what are you waiting for?

Okay.....that was really hard. I have so many more that I can't live without, such as Yo! , When I Was Puerto Rican, An O.Henry Reader, Fruits Basket, High Maintenance, Diary of a Manhattan Call Girl, Something Borrowed, The Ramona Series, anything by Judy Blume, The Crimson Petal and The White and, of course, the Harry Potter Series. They're probably going to get mad at me and disappear deeper into my piles for a couple of years :)

Kabul Beauty School by Deborah Rodriguez

I am so grateful that Kabul Beauty School was one of the non-fiction books sent to me by Elle Magazine for my June Juror reviews. The following is the book description that can be found on the Random House website:

Soon after the fall of the Taliban, in 2001, Deborah Rodriguez went to Afghanistan as part of a group offering humanitarian aid to this war-torn nation. Surrounded by men and women whose skills–as doctors, nurses, and therapists–seemed eminently more practical than her own, Rodriguez, a hairdresser and mother of two from Michigan, despaired of being of any real use. Yet she soon found she had a gift for befriending Afghans, and once her profession became known she was eagerly sought out by Westerners desperate for a good haircut and by Afghan women, who have a long and proud tradition of running their own beauty salons. Thus the idea for the Kabul Beauty School was born. With the help of corporate and international sponsors, Rodriguez founded the Kabul Beauty School and welcomed the first class in 2003. Well meaning but sometimes brazen, she stumbled through language barriers, overstepped cultural customs, and constantly juggled the challenges of a postwar nation even as she learned how to empower her students to become their families’ breadwinners by learning the fundamentals of coloring techniques, haircutting, and makeup.Yet within the small haven of the beauty school, the line between teacher and student quickly blurred as these vibrant women shared with Rodriguez their stories and their hearts: the newlywed who faked her virginity on her wedding night, the twelve-year-old bride sold into marriage to pay her family’s debts, the Taliban member’s wife who pursued her training despite her husband’s constant beatings. Through these and other stories, Rodriguez found the strength to leave her own unhealthy marriage and allow herself to love again, Afghan style.With warmth and humor, Rodriguez details the lushness of a seemingly desolate region and reveals the magnificence behind the burqa. Kabul Beauty School is a remarkable tale of an extraordinary community of women who come together and learn the arts of perms, friendship, and freedom.

Here are my thoughts:

At first glance, I made the very poor assumption that this was probably a self-congratulatory memoir, one that was focused on a woman humbled by her surroundings and whom thereby becomes the heroine of the group. What an ill assumption on my part. Ms. Deborah Rodriguez, an American woman, finds herself in Afghanistan after reaching a crossroad in her life, built by the demands of a domineering husband and her need for fulfillment beyond what her present life could never provide. We the readers follow Ms. Rodriguez as she works to open a beauty school in Kabul, which will allow the women to make money, to learn and practice new and safe beauty techniques as well as how to successfully run a beauty shop. Alongside Ms. Rodriguez, we learn about the culture, the lifestyle, the emotions, the mindset, and the beauty of the heart-warming women of Kabul. While Ms. Rodriguez finds her inner peace and accomplishes her main objective of meaningfulness and therefore fulfillment and happiness, she also learns valuable lessons in the women’s struggle to maintain a good life amidst the turmoil of a feuding nation. Ms. Rodriguez never comes across as self-congratulatory but rather as the woman one wishes she/he had as a friend, a confidante of great strength and hope through good times and through bad. I only wish that the memoir was longer so that I could learn what became of the beauty school at present time as well as the women who made it happen. I hope that Ms. Rodriguez continues sharing her stories and particularly those of the women of Kabul. And I do hope that there is the intention to follow-up with the women of Kabul who shared their stories for this memoir.

Overall, this was a fantastic read! I am so grateful that this was sent to me. I definitely recommend it!

To learn more about the Kabul Beauty School, please click here.

The Great American Book Give-Away

I learned about The Great American Book Giveaway via Nancy's site. I entered and won The New Yorker Book of Teacher Cartoons for my brother, who recently started teaching. They also sent me an extra book that they thought I might like! The concept of this giveway is cool. Click on the image above and check it out for yourself. Yummy, yummy....free books!!

Currently Reading.......

R.O.D. by Hideyuki Kurata

What's better than a manga series filled with book lovers?! The story revolves around three sisters who run a a detective company for books named Paper Sisters Detective Company. Their motto is "Protectors of books and all those who love books!" Michelle is the romantic sister and a bookworm, Maggie is quiet and completely shuts the world out when she is immersed in her reading, and Anita does not like to read. So far, Maggie is my favorite.

Here's a quote from Michelle, who spent their food money on books much to Anita's chagrin: "...But...but books are nutrients for the soul". I love it!

The Post-Birthday World by Lionel Shriver

This is my first venture with this author. Although I've heard much praise about We Need To Talk About Kevin, I haven't felt the urge to read it just yet. Not to say that I don't think it would be good.

From what I learned, the premise revolves around the "what if" scenario. Who hasn't wondered this? What if you made that fateful decision? What would your life be like now? The main character, Irina, makes that fateful decision, and thus the author provides us with two different scenarios for this one character. I think this will be an intriguing read.

Oh Persephone! Persephone! How Do I Love Thee?

I love thee so much that I must buy you ALL!!!!

As you can see, I have found a new obsession - Persephone books. My first two books arrived today and I am in love. I had been reading about Persephone books all over the place, from BookGirl's Nightstand, Random Jottings of an Opera and Book Lover, Too Many Books and A Work in Progress. After going through the catalogue for a month, I finally placed my order for Someone At A Distance, They Knew Mr. Knight and Mariana last week. Despite my choosing the least expensive shipping available, two out of the three came pretty quick.

The jackets are so simple yet elegant. Really. I love the endpaper for They Knew Mr. Knight. After touching them, smelling them, petting them.....I decided that I must purchase the whole set! That's right! I don't know how I am going to to do it, but I will. I can just picture a chocolate-brown bookcase filled with all 70 Persephones......delicious.

I perused through Mariana to get a sense of what I have to look forward to. Here is what I opened up to:

' I live at Sheen. My father's a doctor there, you know.' Mary thought it was a pity he didn't do something about his daughter's breath. (96).

Ha ha! That's funny! I can't wait to read this one. I'm seriously tempted to put aside what I'm reading to start this one, but patience is a virtue.

Oh Fairy BookMother - please buy me the whole set! Won't you? :)

Currently Reading...

I was selected to be a June Juror (huge smiles) for Elle Magazine. While my May Juror duties involved three fiction novels, this venture involves non-fiction titles.

I have chosen to start with If I Am Missing or Dead: A Sister's Story of Love, Murder, and Liberation by Janine Latus. The memoir begins with a heart-wrenching phone call involving the disappearance of Janine's sister, Amy. Janine immediately proclaims, "He killed her....that bastard killed her". And thus we move into Janine's past. Janine takes the reader on a journey into her childhood, where we meet her family and slowly piece together the experiences that are soon to shape her.

Janine's memoir thus far is heart-wrenching. She is brutally honest with her thoughts and experiences. From what I know of the premise, the memoir delves into abusive relationships, particularly the survival from one and the ultimate result of those who stay.

I honestly cannot put this memoir down. I will post my final comments once I have finished. As of now, this is a captivating read.


BTW,
Danielle & Judytta - you had both asked which books I read for the May Jury. I responded in the previous post's comment section.

I'm a Very Bad Blogger and Now I'm Being Punished For It!!!!

I admit it - I'm a very bad blogger. I'm so sorry for not being able to update as often as I should. I've learned my lesson now that I've been de-linked by some bloggers. Yes, I shed some tears, screamed, threw myself on the floor crying out "Whhyyyyy!! Whyyyyyyyyyyy!!", and then sniffled myself to sleep. I'm better now ..... not!!

I have been busy, busy, busy! Let's start with where I left off, shall we? Right after my last post, work grew hectic, my schoolwork became more demanding, and the holidays came full force. I had non-stop quizzes and assignments in Anatomy & Physiology, so a majority of my time was spent studying. In the midst of this, I learned that we were going to have out-of-town guests drive in for Thanksgiving. This meant that I could not spend Thanksgiving at my parents' because there were too many people to fit into one house. So, in the middle of exams, I had to hunt for a new dining table (as the one we had was strictly for newleyweds and not suitable for guests), dishes (serving platters, goblets, new wine glasses to match new plates, etc.), decor, food, etc. The food came out to over $400 - you calculate the rest. I passed out several times, as did my husband. I ended up making a 10-course Thanksgiving dinner all by myself (okay, so the hubby pitched in by cleaning). Needless to say, I did not make for good company come dinnertime. I'm surprised I held my head up that night. I did feel bad and was pretty sure I came off as a bitch as I had to force myself to stay awake and be a good hostess by laughing at appropriate times. It was worth it as they were great company. BTW - my food came out great! Too bad there weren't any left overs, though. As we watched everyone go for thirds, and then come back the next day for more, we suffered while they ate through what was supposed to last us for over a week in place of grocery shopping. It sucks trying to scrape meat off the carcass in the hope that maybe, just maybe, a chunk of white meat will come out. Sigh....

After Thanksgiving, I threw myself right back into studying. I have to say, it was very difficult to get a grasp of both the Urinary and Digestive System. Most people think, hey, one is for caca and one is for piss, right? Nope, there is soooo much more involved than you know. Take care of yourselves, people! EVERYTHING you take in counts! So, in the midst of this manic studying, I had to go over all of our accounts with the accounts manager. Who is in NY. I am in Arizona. We dealt with everything via IM. Get the picture? I gulped down some serious Advil during this time. The most important thing was to get all of our expenses together so that everyone in my office could get a bonus. I frickin' fought hard for our bonuses!! I should get a bonus just for the stress that I was under!!

We finally got our bonuses and then came the mad rush to buy Christmas gifts. BTW - I finished my A&P course right before this and got an A. Go me! Go me! I LOVED that course. My professor rocked. She is such an inspiration. She is a Naturopathic Physician, takes A&P courses just for fun, took a BioChem course just for fun while teaching and working, and homeschooled her kids. I saw her just the other day and she told me that she was in a Clinical Lab Program at ASU to keep busy while she prepared for her boards. Superwoman, I tell ya.

But all of this doesn't excuse why I haven't been blogging. I have been busy, in a tremendous reading slump ( I have literally picked books up and thrown them across the room), and soooooo homesick for NYC. February 16th make two years since I made the big move from NYC to Scottsdale. I feel sick. I miss NYC like crazy! I need to go visit. Soon. I have been seriously depressed over this. I take walks in my head all through the city....up Lexington, down Park Ave, along 5th Ave, down Union Square into the West Village, around midtown.....I miss the food, I miss the culture, I miss the open atmosphere, I miss the ability to be by yourself and yet have a fantastic time, I miss the indie theaters, I miss all of the bookstores, I miss seeing people reading on the train/bus/while walking down the street, I miss the mix of people, I miss me. I think that my homesickness has affected me in more ways than I know...I haven't been able to write, read, nor had any interest in trying to. So I'm hoping that I can get my act together and start blogging again.

To all of my new visitors - WELCOME!!!!!! I will be sure to visit each of your sites and leave a comment. And thank you for leaving comments for me - I love reading them! Seriously - please don't stop!

BTW - great news....I was selected as a May juror for Elle magazine. I'm in the middle of reading three books right now while studying for Micriobiology, so here's hoping my reviews come out good! I believe it was Danielle who had posted the link last year regarding the application - thanks Danielle!!

I hope everyone is well! I can't wait to visit your pages and see what you all are reading, too. Until next time, my fellow readers.....

Updates Coming Soon!

Hello there! Updates coming soon.......well, as soon as I can get my frickin' computer to work (I'm on a borrowed computer right now)!!

I did want to say THANK YOU SOOOOOOO MUCH for ALL your awesome comments and thank you for checking in on me! You guys are AWESOME and I can't wait to get back in touch with you!

I've Lost Control

Costco is a black hole. It will suck you in and spit you out dry, especially their book section. If you've never shopped there before, I warn you not to go on payday. I've given you fair warning!

I've purchased an exorbitant number of books over the past few months from all venues (i.e. online, school bookstore, Barnes and Noble, etc.). Booksobuyase overload. I thought I'd share some of my purchases:

The Ghost at the Table
Wicked
Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister
A Peach of a Murder: A Fresh Baked-Mystery
Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia

Baker Towers
The Hudson Series
Alias Grace
The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories
Pledged: The Secret Life of Sororities
The Apple: New Crimson Petal Stories
The Bookshop
Frangipani
Something Wicked This Way Comes
The Devil and Miss Prym: A Novel of Temptation
Fahrenheit 451
Girls in Peril
The Myth of You and Me
The Tortilla Curtain
Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder (New Hardcover Edition)
If You Lived Here, I'd Know Your Name: News From Small-Town Alaska
Gals!
How To Prepare for the Nursing School Entrance Exams
Black Swan Green
The Secret River
The Emperor's Children
Lisey's Story
Carry Me Down
The Woman in White (Modern Library Classics)
Crow Lake
Too Beautiful For You: A Novel
The Founding
Stardust
Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic
Fables Vol. 1 - Legends in Exile
Garner
The Historian
Looking For Alaska
A Gracious Plenty
The Mermaid Chair
Frida: A Biography Of Frida Kahlo
The Screwtape Letters
Charlotte Temple
Life and Death of Harriet Frean
Butterfield 8
The Red and The Black
Private Entrance
The Tea Rose
The Picture of Dorian Gray
Hotel Paradise
The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop
Class Mothers
Silk
The Beach House
A Primate's Memoir: A Neuroscientist's Unconventional Life Among the Baboons
Our Inner Ape
The Dancing Girls of Lehore: Selling Love and Saving Dreams in Pakistan's Pleasure District
Murder of Bindy Mackenzie
Uglies
The Goose Girl
Elsewhere
New Moon
How I Live Now

Purple Hibiscus

And this touches on just a smidgen of what I've purchased, which includes a slew of graphic novels and manga whose titles I can't remember. I have three more bags and two bins (of new books) waiting to be looked through. And yes, those bags are so full that they keep falling over. BTW - The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories has illustrations in it (and the cover is really nice). I'm a sucker for illustrated novels. Of course, I have yet to finish Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norell, but I have absolutely loved what I have read so far. I'm actually half-way through, so I just need a couple of free days (an exam-free week) to buckle down and finish it.

Now please excuse me while I stick my head in the toilet bowl and flush until I drown.

Updating Links

I've begun the tedious process of updating my links. This means trying to remember all of the blogs that I adore but forgot to link.

If you would like me to add your blog to my blogroll, or would like it removed, please contact me either via e-mail at TerracottaTurtle@hotmail.com or post a comment below.

Thanks!!

Ami McKay Book News

As you all may already know, I cannot praise The Birth House enough. Kailana was sweet enough to post comments about Ami McKay's upcoming new book. Yep - she's working on a new novel! Apparently, it's titled The Virgin's Cure. Hmmm....I wonder what she has in store for us?

Mrs. Kimble by Jennifer Haigh

Last weekend found me studying for a HUGE Anatomy & Physiology exam that I had the following Monday evening. In the midst of studying the anatomy and physiology of the heart and blood vessels, the lymphatic system, the immune system, and the respiratory system, I picked up Mrs. Kimble. This novel was so good that I finished it on Sunday afternoon, while reading 5 chapters of my text. It was that good!

First, I really love the cover. I also had a bookmark with ribbons and such that matched the colors of the front cover, which made it all the more appealing. Every time I had to close the book, I would admire how nice my bookmark looked. I showed it to my husband 5 times, so he got the hint. Yes, I am a dork.

When this novel was first released, I have to be honest and admit that the premise noted on the back cover did not appeal to me. The plot revolves around three women who marry the same man, how it affects their lives, and how they move forward with the decisions that they make. It sounded like a light read, so I decided it would be the perfect distraction during my studying. It came to be SO much more.

I highly recommend Mrs. Kimble. The version I have is the P.S. series edition, which has a helpful interview with the author at the end that sheds light on Ken Kimble. I have since added Baker Towers to my TBR tower.

I am truly honored!!

Imagine my surprise when upon perusing through Ami McKay's website for The Birth House, spotting an excerpt from my review linked there. Well, my jaw just about dropped to the office below mine. I printed it out so that I can pull it out and stare at it when I'm feeling down. I also offered to autograph it for my co-workers, but they didn't bite. Player haters!! heh heh :)

I also had a very well-known author contact me (Yay!!) but first I have to find out if it's okay for me to post about it. If not, then I will relish in my secret!

I hope everyone had a great day! I'm off to study for A&P, which includes a quiz, two essays, and an exam.

Also, stop by The Written World. Kailana posed a great question that is sure to make you all salivate!

By the way, if you haven't read The Birth House yet, please do so. It truly is fantastic!

The Departed

When The Departed was first released, I was not sure if I was going to enoy it. My husband finally convinced me to see it, particulary after my parents and sister raved about it. I am so glad that I saw it. I can honestly say that it was fantastic! And the beginning of the film was well-done.

The cast is rife with well known actors, including the one and only Mr. Nicholson, Matt Damon, Mark Wahlberg, Alec Baldwin, Martin Sheen, Vera Farmiga, Anthony Anderson, and the scrumptious Leonardo DiCaprio. Prior to this film, I knew that Leo was a great actor, which I can attest to after watching the heart-wrenching film The Basketball Diaries years ago. But, I always thought of him as a boy-man. Well, boy-man no more - he's manly and quite lovely ;) My new crush ***blushing***

It's a Scorsese film so expect some violence, strong language, and controversial themes. I don't want to give anything away in regards to the plot as I do not like spoilers and I feel that should you choose to watch it, it's better to let the story unfold by surprise. I do want to add that the violence should not deter you from watching this incredible film. I left the theater with a severe tension headache. Later that night, my husband had a dream that he was part of the New Jersey mob. Plus, if this might influence you at all, People magazine gave the film four stars and stated that this is what a great movie is all about.

Now I'm off to fantasize about Leo....

Currently Reading

Since so many books I want to read reference Jane Eyre (i.e. The Eyre Affair and The Thirteenth Tale, to name a few), I thought it would be a good idea to read this classic first. I thought I had read this when I much much younger, but I might have confused it with Daddy Long Legs. It is pretty good so far but it's taking me a long time to finish it, which is driving me mad. I keep glancing over at all my TBR books...

Moving Forward....

I want to thank you all sooo much for all your kind words. You don't know how much they meant, and still mean, to me. I actually reread your comments several times and they did put a smile on my face because of the sincerity and overall compassion in your words.

It wasn't easy but I believe that I got through it. It was extremely difficult because it happened when my husband was away on business. I went through all the phases - denial, anger, sadness, bitterness, and now, peace. I have a strong faith in God and I believe that when the time is right, it will happen. And Joy, your comment did give me hope - thank you!! :)

Like Maggie noted, it happened for a reason. I truly do believe that. And I will take this time to better myself so that when it does happen, my body will be ready. Besides, the practice isn't so bad ;) heh heh

My Heart Hurts

Having a miscarriage can break your heart, your spirit...it broke mine

Birthday Birthday Birthday

So this past Saturday, 9/16, was my 28th birthday. All I could think about was, Holy Cow, I am TWO years away from the big 3-0. I used to believe that I would not live to see the age of 30, so I guess I better start living life right now!! Yes, I know, how dramatic...

After spending half the day completing some homework and other studies, I got dressed up and headed out with my husband. He decided that he would take me wherever I wanted, so you can only guess where that might have been!

First, we had a late lunch at Benihana's, a great sushi spot. I had the Shrimp Lover's Roll with extra eel sauce (which is delicious) and a Rainbow Roll.

Next stop, Barnes and Noble in Kierland Commons, which I frequent often and is really very nice. Now, my husband hates taking me to Barnes and Noble because: 1. I spend money that I do not have and then proceed to ask him for money when suddenly, to my amazement, my account is negative and banks are such a rip-off!; and 2. I tell him I am ONLY going to take 10 minutes and then miraculously stretch that to an hour and then proceed to blame the slow or understaffed cashiers. After depositing him into one of their truly scrumptious armchairs, I proceeded to browse at my leisure. Now I must stop and tell you about these chairs. My Mom brags about them; so do my sister and Dad. When I finally sat in one, I understood why they loved them so much. You just sink into them, and not in an uncomfortable, please-help-me-out-of-this-chair sort of way. Apparently, they're very popular and you can always catch someone there just for a nap. Which is what happened to my husband. He grabbed a couple of architecture/interior design books and found that he had knocked out for a while; when I finally came back to him, his face was all red and confused :) As usual, I piled my arms with all the books that captured my interest so that I could sit with them and make my pick. After pulling up a seat next to the hubby, he put out his hand to me, which I assumed meant that he would hold them for me as I perused through them. In actuality, his intention was for me to pile as many books as his hand could hold up and that would be my purchase. Hel-lo!! If I had known this was going to happen, then I would've grab a basket and loaded it!!! LOL! My purchases were as follows:

The Meaning of Night by Michael Cox (looking forward to this one)
Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes (loved the movie!!)
Gossip Girl #10 by Cecily Von Ziegesar (yep, not ashamed of this either!)
A Year By The Sea: Thoughts of an Unfinished Woman by Joan Anderson
She's Turning Into One of Them: A For Better or For Worse Collection

Journal: The Short Life and Mysterious Death of Amy Zoe Mason Found by Kristine Atkison and Joyce Atkinson (this one is really cool! It's formatted to look and feel like you're reading a journal. The cover is even a bit squishy. According to the back cover, the journal is rife with secrets and the "storytelling relies equally on visual and verbal clues". Sort of satisfies the voyeur in me)

I also purchased two very lovely cards (one of a trendy girl outside of a bookstore), a bookmark, and butterfly stationary that was labeled as notelets. Plus, he had also ordered The Thirteenth Tale for me, which I received the day before my birthday.

Next stop was Entertaining the Idea of Tea, which is a beautiful little tea shop in Old Town Scottsdale. Every time I enter this store, I feel so quaint. I'm actually a clutz so I have to watch myself in this store. Purchases included a sugar cube picker upper (have no idea what it's really called), a really nice mug w/lid, tea, and biscuits (for the hungry hubby). Now I have to buy some sugar cubes so that I can feel like an official tea drinker (did you really think I had sugar cubes in my house?! lol)

Next stop was Harkin's Theaters, where I saw Little Miss Sunshine for the second time (my husband's first). VERY funny movie!!

Next stop was Earl's, located right near my home (I forgot to mention that my parents had taken me here to dinner the night before, after which we headed to a casino where I won some cash and then proceeded to lose it all - this is why I do not gamble, but like I stated above, I need to start living!)

All in all, it was a great birthday! I sniffed my books, played with my sugar cube thingy by picking up imaginary sugar cubes (hey, this here clutz needs to practice), didn't win the powerball, and relaxed a bit.

BTW - Nancy celebrated her birthday on 9/17 (yay Virgos!) with a huge bash. She also had awesome "gift bags" for those who attended her "party". I myself found a David Yurman watch and a burgundy croc Kelly bag from Hermes. Isn't she the best??!!

Brokeback Moutain

**Spoilers Ahead**Spoilers Ahead**Spoilers Ahead**Spoilers Ahead**Spoilers Ahead**Spoliers Ahead**

Last night I finally saw Brokeback Mountain. I cried - twice. I have the theme song playing in my head right now. This movie is not action-packed, nor is it an edge-of-your-seat kind of film. Rather, it is a film that allows you to become invested in the characters, to think about their feelings and imagine "what if?" What if I were Ennis or Jack, or one of their wives? What if the person that I thought I was was just a facade, masking a person that I never thought was possible?

I was surprised that Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) engaged with Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhal) as quick as he did. For some reason, I had a preconceived notion that it would be a long fight before he discovered that he desired Jack. I really felt bad for Jack Twist. He knew what he wanted and went for what he desired- and that was to be with Ennis. Ennis, on the other hand, was very rigid and pretty much shut down. This could be due to his parents dying early and his being left to make his way in the world alone. After their summer ends, I was also surprised that Ennis moved forward with his plans to get married to Alma (Michelle Williams). From the get-go, I could tell that Alma not only loved her husband but truly desired him, as well. Which is why I could truly feel her pain when she saw Ennis and Jack kissing. Seeing your husband kissing anyone other than yourself has got to be unbearably painful, which is why I didn't understand why she stood with Ennis for so long. Was it because she thought that it was a one-time thing? Or was it a matter of letting go of the man that you love? It would kill me if my husband cheated on me, but I would never stick it out. I could not go through the pain of not trusting him anymore. Even though she does divorce him and remarries, the scene where she finally confronts Ennis was long awaited. I really thought she was going to stab him (lol). I'm glad that she let it out and I could tell that she was still in so much pain.

Jack, on the other hand, was stuck with an asshole father-in-law (and boy, was I glad when he finally told him off). His wife, Lureen, makes a comment about husbands never dancing with their wives. This made me think that she probably suspected something was off but did not have any evidence. I can understand her character. How many of us has had suspicions about someone we cared about but were not sure how to handle it? What about if those suspicions were just paranoia on your part and then you ended up destroying everything you know. This is sort of how I view Lureen's situation.

Back to Jack and Ennis - I really wanted them to just settle down together. I was a bit upset, though, that they had an affair while being married. This was really not fair to their families. I don't condone affairs, so I did not think that their carrying on every summer was a good thing. Jack should have given his wife the opportunity to find someone who would both love and desire her - so essentially, he cheated her out of a life. Ennis' adultery cheated his wife out of a trusting relationship and made her bitter. It did break my heart when Ennis and Jack broke up. They had sacrificed so much just to let it dissipate into nothing.

I seriously broke down when Jack died. Even though I knew this was going to happen because someone spoiled it for me a while ago, hence my spoiler warning above, that brief clip of what happened to him was awful. Things like this happen all the time. How can you kill someone just because you don't like their lifestyle? This scene actually made me think of the Matthew Shepard case, who was killed because he was gay. An evil act that cut a young life short.

Of course, at the end of the movie, I could not stop crying. My husband just stared at me (he also hugged me, too). To me, the movie was much more than watching one of the first commercially-promoted gay love stories - it was the questioning of who were are and a sort of "what would you do?" scenario. It was also about the choices we make and how those decisions shape who we are. Ennis made the choice to let go and for that, he would suffer a lifetime. Alma made the choice to hold on and yet move on. Lureen immersed herself in work. And Jack just wanted to be.

Wow - this is a loo-oong post. But this movie made me think...a lot, as you can tell. The choices we make are critical and therefore we have to be careful when and how we make them. Choices are to be made, but consequences are forever.