Tuesday Review Announcement

I miss Funny Bone Monday. Sadly, it was no longer sustainable. I burned out. I fizzled and died an un-funny blog death. How horrid. And now I want my funny back. It doesn't seem to be coming when I call. Hmph.

What to do? I've decided (I think - please bear with me for a couple of weeks) to start a new regular feature here in Flea's World. Maybe y'all can help me tweak it some, get it right? Maybe you'll all vote to scrap it and do something different. But it runs on a similar principle to FBM.

I started Funny Bone Monday because I was sleeping all day Monday and still wanted to post. Hence, I'd set up the funnies days, sometimes a week or two, in advance. Now I find myself working all day on Tuesdays, yet wanting to post consistently again.

Here's the idea: Reviewing a book every Tuesday. Or maybe reviewing an author. Not for any monetary gain. Some of these books have been around forever and I'm just now discovering them. But I spent much of my summer reading novels, and the trend seems to have carried itself into my fall schedule. Some weeks I read as much as a novel a day.

My other thought is that in reviewing a book a week, maybe I'll have to read other genres. I've read nearly all of Jonathan Kellerman's Alex Delaware series. Have been reading Kathy Reichs. Harlan Coben. Coban. I don't know. Most of the Scarpetta series, till Cornwell changed point of view in her books. Three or four more of those and I was done. Jeffery Deaver was awesome in the beginning, but grew formulaic. Steven James only has four thrillers out, dang it.

Anyway, murder mysteries galore. And I don't want to give them up, but I think it's time to.

So. Next week will be my first review. Probably a Kellerman, since he's my current favorite.

Oh. And? My favorite used bookstore recently had a tent sale. All books a buck, paperbacks fifty cents. I spent way too much money padding my library. Who knows? I might also give away the paperbacks I really like.

Let me know what you think of this idea. Anyone interested? I'd also love suggestions for a name for this feature. I figure I should put all this reading to use somehow. It's that or I need to commit the perfect murder. And no one I'd want to kill lives in Tulsa, so that's out.

Until I write again ...

Flea

Weekend Catch Up

What a fun weekend! Our weather has finally turned for the better. Wanna see what we did this weekend? I know you do.

My Hunny ran - er, walked - to support boobies, as he so delicately put it. I think he looks faboo in pink.

We had lunch with the Colonel, though I'm not sure what nutritional value my Hunny found in this side dish:

I hadn't eaten KFC in ages, so this was a real treat. I loves the Colonel. See?

He's my bud.

And for a nice change, Maybelline was the only kid along for the ride. Oatmeal Head had to work (his first day on skates at Sonic), and Goof Ball just stayed home. Maybelline and the mom haven't had a photo together in ages:

And then ... I went to work. Yes, I'm working childcare now, playing with 9 and 10 year olds on Sunday nights. I have a great co-worker, though. He keeps the boys in line. And the girls swarm him. Isn't he darling?

Life is good. Here's to Monday.

Until I write again ...

Flea

My Goof Ball

Y'all are familiar with my boy, youngest child, Red Rocks. Er, Little Guy. Y'know, I've forgotten what I call him here. He's thirteen and 5'8". Seventh grade. I have no idea what to call him now. How aboooouuuut ... Goof Ball? I mean really ...

Yeah. That's a stretchy book cover on his head

So Goof Ball (it really works for him, I think) was homeschooled until he was ten years old. He learned to read just before he turned nine and was reading at a high second grade level when he went into fourth grade at the public school. I went through the proper channels and had him tested, got an IEP. His vocabulary was that of a 25 year old - he just can't hear phonetically, so he has to memorize words. Weird, but that's what it is.

The IEP has been great. I've worked with his teachers all along, they've gradually weaned him from all the extra help, he's memorized a lot and learned how to work in the system. Goof Ball seems to love school - especially the social aspect - and is a hard worker. In fact, every one of his teachers has commented on his work ethic at school. Especially once he started meds for his ADD a few years back (you see why I stopped homeschooling? Vocabulary of an adult, arguing technique of a lawyer, ADD - it's a wonder I'm still alive and sane).

Check out the bat utility belt

This week his English teacher tested all the kids in his class to see what their reading levels are prior to assigning books for book reports. Don't want to have them reading kiddy books if they read on a high school level, but also don't want to frustrate a fourth grade reading level with Middlemarch.

Goof Ball (I'm really liking this name!) tested at an eleventh grade reading level. A little more than three years after going into public school. WHAT?!? Okaaayyy ...

But that's not all! This week in the mail he received a letter from Duke University. Evidently they send out invitations to seventh graders who have tested at 95% on one of their 6th grade state tests and have been recommended by a teacher for the program. The program? A talent search. The kids are asked to take the SAT or ACT early. This semester early. As a practice test for taking it again in high school. But it's the real thing. It's supposed to give the kids an idea of what they'll have to expect, what they'll need to work toward, as well as letting their teachers know that they're already tracking for college and to pay extra attention to this kid.

What. The HECK?!?

So yeah, I'm bragging. But I'm also a little dazed. Surely not my child. In my head he can still barely read. And I'm so proud of him and all his hard work.

It almost makes his being thirteen tolerable.

Almost.

Until I write again ...

Flea

Her Daughter's Dream

Friends! I'm again taking part in a blog book tour! This is the second half of the epic saga written by Francine Rivers, Her Daughter's Dream. I hope each of you can get your hands on copies of both books. In fact, there's a giveaway here for three copies of the second book, so head over to sign up!

I found the following interview with Mrs. Rivers interesting and inspirational. Honestly? Not a huge fan of her style, but the woman knows what she's about with writing, and the two novels did make me cry like a baby throughout. I hope, especially if there's conflict between you and your mother or daughter that you read this. I've certainly reevaluated my own relationships as a result of reading both books.

How has exploring the relationship between your mother and grandmother helped you understand yourself?

This is a question I would love readers to ask themselves at the end of Her Mother’s Hope. I realized early in the story that I have many of my grandmother and mother’s character traits, both good and bad. They both had tempers. So do I. They both had low self-esteem. I’m always striving to “measure up”. They both chose spouses who respected them. So did I. Both women had strong faith and servants’ hearts, something they encouraged in me. My mother extended grace to others -- a trait I want to cultivate to the end of my days. By holding onto her anger, Grandma lacked the peace and joy she could have had in her last years. I tend to relive past hurts. Writing about Marta made me decide to let go, forgive and move on. For whatever reason, Grandma couldn’t and missed out on so much joy in her last years. Sometimes people deeply hurt as children take offense where none was intended. Holding a grudge causes suffering, especially for the one who won’t let go. Jesus said to forgive one another as He has forgiven us. Forgiveness frees us, even if the other person refuses to join in the process of reconciliation. As I examine my own life, I see how much I’ve been forgiven.

How can I not extend God’s grace to others? The best way to experience the fullness of God’s presence in my life is to surrender it to Him. And in that surrender, we are made more complete and joy-filled.

Mother-daughter relationships are often complicated and fraught with emotional land mines. What was your approach to exploring the complexity of those relationships in a fictional setting?

Questions, lots of questions! Every time I told someone I was working on a book about mother-daughter relationships, people wanted to share their family stories. As I wrote Her Mother’s Hope, I wanted readers to see through each woman’s eyes, and understand how the past shaped each in the way she responded to her mother. Hildemara doesn’t believe her mother loves her, but it is out of Marta’s pain and loss that tough-love techniques were forged. Marta wants to strengthen her daughter for whatever lies ahead. Sometimes what we view as rejection can actually be an act of sacrificial love. We seldom know the experiences that shaped our mothers, the deep hurts, traumatic events, broken relationships. I hope women who read this book will want to share those things with one another.

Writing a novel is not for the faint of heart. What was the most difficult part of writing this family saga? What came the most naturally to you?

The most difficult part of writing any novel is getting out of my own way. I have to get rid of preconceived notions about themes and characters and plot. The first draft of this novel came in at over 1000 pages and was too biographical. I wanted the story to shift back and forth from present to past, trying to show what happened to create the rifts and valleys between Hildemara, Carolyn and May Flower Dawn. I was too cautious, too afraid to harm to my grandmother and mother’s memory.

A wonderful editor wrote me an insightful letter in which she listed what she wanted to know about each the characters. Her letter got my creative juices flowing. She helped me look at the story in a new way. I set the first manuscript aside and started over. I found it better to move from one generation to the next in a linear story. This time the characters followed my grandmother and mother’s timeline, but took on a life of their own. They became unique individuals rather than the shadow of real people.

After readers finish this series what do you want them to remember? What questions and feelings do you want it to provoke on a spiritual and emotional level?

I hope and pray readers who have had difficult relationships with their mothers or daughters will let go of the pain and anger and allow God to work in their lives. God can work all things together for good for those who trust and love Him. Following Jesus’ example changes the way we see people. It changes the way we relate to one another. Even when the chasm is too deep to cross, we can decide to forgive. Some people wear grievances like a dirty coat. With God’s strength, we can strip it off and be free. When people finish reading Her Daughter’s Dream, I hope they will want to extend God’s grace and forgiveness. I hope they will tear down their walls and use their life experiences to begin building a bridge.

Who do you see as the audience for this story, and does that differ from your previous readership?

I am fortunate to work with Tyndale House. If a writer does well in one genre, publishers encourage the writer to continue in the same genre. Tyndale has given me the freedom to go wherever the story leads. I have done historical as well as contemporary. This two-part saga was intended to be one LONG book. Splitting the story into two parts made it more affordable for readers, and eliminated the need to delete entire sections. Hopefully, both women and men will enjoy Her Mother’s Hope and Her Daughter’s Dream. Men play a strong role in the lives of all four primary characters: Marta, Hildemara Rose, Carolyn and May Flower Dawn. And both books have much to do with faith, how it presents itself, how it grows, often under difficult circumstances and in unexpected ways.

Where may we connect with you further or to purchase a copy of HER DAUGHTER'S DREAM?

I would love for you to visit my web site at www.FrancinceRivers.com, browse through the various events and other resources available, as well as sign up for my mailing list. You may also join me on my Facebook page, please click here.

Until I write again ...

Flea

Perchance To Dream

A while back I started dreaming again, not having dreamed at all for a couple of years. It was pretty exciting.

Oh hush. Dreaming can TOO be exciting.

Lately my dreams have been all over the map. The last couple of weeks I've been dreaming about people I know peripherally, who aren't usually in my thoughts, much less dreams. So I do what comes naturally when I wake from those dreams - I pray for the people in them. Last week I dreamed about my pastor and his family several nights in a row. You can never pray enough for a pastor.

Last night, however, was a different animal.

Last night's dream was about my boss. I work child care part time now (I love holding babies!), and I like my boss. I do. Really. But in this dream I was required to kill my boss, along with some other women.

It's remarkably hard to 1) kill people in a dream; 2) kill dream people with your bare hands; 3) kill dream people when there's no motivation to do so. Bizarre. I kept trying, to no avail. I guess my heart wasn't in it.

So what's the moral to this story? (Yes, there's a moral to this story.) Don't exercise on the Wii Fit right before bed.

Until I write again ...

Flea

Transitions

So I was at work last night (my weekends are busier than weekdays), and was surrounded by ten and eleven year old girls. They're such cuties, not yet boy crazy, dancing and climbing things. Trying to decide if it's okay to still be a tomboy, or if it's time to grow up, wear makeup. They want both.

One of them asked a question about my hair. I've been quite unhappy with my hair lately, letting the grey grow in, itching to color the ugly grey. My own version of remaining young or aging with dignity. I don't do much with dignity, so this is a surprisingly difficult decision.

Loud enough for all of them to hear (20 kids in a small room), I said, "I'm thinking of shaving my head."

Twenty pairs of eyes fixed on me. I swear I heard leaves rustle in the trees outside. No one moved. I was expecting at least one girl to burst out laughing.

Finally I relieved them with, "I'm just kidding."

But I forget sometimes how fragile girls can be. How gullible. How fragile and gullible we all can be. I saw myself, for a fraction of a second, through their eyes. An adult. A woman. With thick wavy hair and cool barrette. Contemplating the unspeakable.

I really was considering shaving my head. It would be cruel, though, to do that to those girls. Maybe I'll take a friend's suggestion and color with wash out till I can get the permanent color cut off.

Odd, isn't it, how being an adult means not doing things for yourself, but for the people you love. Even when they're not your kids.

Until I write again ...

Flea

Chronic Headache Cure

WooHOO! The internet is back in my HAWSE! And it ROCKS!!!

So. It came back yesterday and I didn't go online at all. That's a good thing. Mostly because I had a migraine. That's a bad thing. It seems to be gone now. That's a good thing.

I need to give a shout out to the doctor who's gotten rid of all but my hormonal migraines. Yes, I'm recovering from two days of migraine. But the tension headaches which were slamming me two, three, four days a week? Completely gone.

Who do I have to thank for that? Y'all, if you live in or near Tulsa and are in any kind of chronic pain, see Dr. Powell. I've only been going to see him since July, but twenty years of headaches are already just a bad memory. I've heard all kinds of stories about bad chiropractors, and honestly, it never occurred to me to see one about the headaches. But I can't say enough about not being in pain!

Sadly, he can't fix my hormones. Happily, the hormonal migraines are bad only every three or four months. This is my first ugly one since July, I think.

If you're a chiropractic virgin, like I was before this experience, let me tell you what to expect. Because I was terrified. I don't like to be touched. I don't like massage. I don't like those little electric pulsing pads put on my back. Don't touch me! It hurts! Not anymore. Yay!

Initially I was put on the traction table, a long padded table with a hollow center. At the push of a button, a wide rolling bar works its way up and down the spine, loosening it up. I always ask for the lowest setting, since I'm a wuss. For some reason it bothers me on anything but low. That takes about three minutes. Not long enough for a nap.

Next is face down on another table, electric massage pads put on my neck and shoulders (they put them on my Hunny's lower back, since that's where his pain is). This one freaked me out initially. I whined a lot. Wouldn't let the tech set it more than the lowest setting. I got over that pretty quickly. I love those little electric pulse thingies now. They REALLY loosen up the targeted muscles, zapping painful spots. This takes about ten minutes. DEFINITELY long enough for a nap. The bad part is facing the doctor with lines on your face and drool on your chin. Man, it feels great, though.

On your initial visit the doc will take x-rays. Only takes a couple of minutes, standing, no undressing (I don't think - I don't remember having to use a hospital gown). Easy and painless. He wants to see what your spine looks like before he adjusts you. My spine wasn't too bad, but my neck goes straight forward instead of gently curving backward. Something about years of reading, computer use, smocking and other hand work? Surely not.

Last, but certainly not least, it's into the doctor's office, where he explains the x-rays (just on the second visit), then asks a lot of questions about the pain, whether or not you've been in any accidents of any kind. After the first week he always asks about the pain, better or worse, what's going on with it.

Yet another table. For me it's face down first while he looks for tight spots, or whatever it is Dr. Powell looks for, then pushes those spots into obedience. This is the worst part for me. I have some pretty tight spots. They're getting better, but he'll often tell me that I'll need to ice for a day or so, since he's breaking up lactic acid build up in my muscles. Oh, and drink plenty of water to help flush it out. This part takes a minute or less. Just wincing on my part while he pushes knots on my back.

Last, usually, I flip over like a pancake and he adjusts my neck. This is my favorite part. He uses his fingers to find the tight spots, then cracks my neck nine ways to Sunday. I love that sound. If I could crack my own neck, I would. And I feel SO much better afterward. Totally rocks.

Go home. Ice the neck and shoulders 20 minutes at a time. Come back a couple of days later and do it again! Tension headache free for two months and loving it! Thank you, Dr. Powell!

Until I write again ...

Flea

Music

I'm using an app for the iPhone to blog. It's the free version, so no photos or anything. If this works well, I'll check out the one to pay for, see what features it includes. If anyone out there is using Blogger's iPhone app, please let me know how you like it?

Not having Internet in the house? Sucks. But it was all my idea. I have to keep reminding myself of that. Hourly.

A good friend of mine loaned me a CD by the artist Cindy Morgan. Title - The Loving Kind. I'm liking it muchly. Her voice is husky, but not too deep. Haunting, but not depressing. A liitle too pop for me with some songs, but the vocals are lovely. Reminds me a little of one of my favorite artists from the early '90's, Kim Hill, but not as throaty,

Speaking of music, the same friend recommended an author who's been around awhile, but who I've never read. I'm guessing quite a few of you have heard of Oliver Sacks. If you read his work, could you let me know what you think? I have his latest book, Musicology, waiting on my coffee table. It seems to be about the psyche, the brain, how and why music plays an integral part in the human existence. Looks fascinating.

Time to go to work playing with other people's wee children. Y'all have a good day!

Until I write again ...

Flea

It's Why Women's Minds Are Cleaner Than Men's

I've changed my mind. Again. True story.

That professional writing degree looks sooooo good. But the two hour commute each way looks so bad. So I'm talking to a friend who advises students here in town and she mentions that University of Oklahoma has a liberal studies degree - all online.

How cool is that? I can design my own degree! So tell me, dear friends, what I should study. There are so many options! I hate options. Help!

Seriously. Tell me what to do.

Until I write again ...

Flea