In 2012…

In 2012 –

Life changed pretty drastically for me, with my (wonderful) new job! Aside from having a lot to learn about social work in the hospital setting (specifically Emergency Department), the unpredictable and crazy hours have caused the need for creativity and flexibility in getting in the fun stuff! But, never fear. I still manage to find time for fun!

In 2012 –

There were milestones –

I had a job interview on Jan 4, got a job offer on January 12 and started a new job on January 30 (.8 limited tenure, turned full-time permanent in May)
Mom turned 65 in February and celebrated as she loves best – with all her children and grandchildren
My 25^th Class Reunion was held during Rushford Days at the Hoiland Mill
Five years have passed since the Rushford Flood
Marissa started her final year of college – majoring in Biology! What’s next? I can’t wait to see!
Twenty-Five years of marriage were celebrated with Ellen and Dallas
I got a new car on November 30, putting my old car to rest after 207,000+ miles

There were things to do with kids –

The St. Paul Winter Carnival with Deadra and Maya, the parade and the ice sculptures
Gracie and Trajan playing basketball
Ethan and Macy tumbling with their gymnastics
Trajan and Gunnar playing football
Gracie, Trajan and Gunnar playing softball and baseball
Gunnar’s Confirmation of Baptism
The Minnesota State Fair with Deadra, Marissa, Maya and Gracie – lots of good food (and drink) on a stick and people-watching
Concerts and plays and programs… fun to see as many as I can!

St. Paul Winter Carnival - brr! — St. Paul Winter Carnival – brr!

Minnesota State Fair - the girls and the guys! — Minnesota State Fair – the girls and the guys!

There were concerts –

Take Note! performances on Over the Back Fence and Rushford
The Dweebs at Rushford Days with Gracie and Marissa
Civic Theatre Patio nights on Fridays with Sarah
Thursdays on First outdoor concerts
Jeremy Messersmith “Supper Club Tour” with Marissa
Glen Hansard at First Ave with Marissa and Emily and Andrew
Bruce Springsteen at Excel Center with Koni, Kristine, and Teri
Trans-Siberian Orchestra Lost Christmas Eve concert with Marissa, Dana and Koni, Trajan and Gracie (a Merry Christmas to me!)

Bruce Springsteen, girls' night out, November 2012 — These girls are ready to rock!

There were plays –

“Gruesome Playground Injuries” at Civic Theatre with Sarah
“Chicago” at Rochester Civic Theatre with the Cosmo Girls
“Priscilla Queen of the Desert” in NYC
“Once” in NYC – TWICE! June and October
“Newsies” in NYC
“Peter and the Starcatcher” in NYC
“Nice Work if you Can Get It” in NYC
“Philadelphia Story” at Lanesboro Commonweal with Deadra and Beth
“Don’t Hug Me” a Minnesota Musical at Lanesboro Community Theatre
“You Can’t Take It With You” at Rushford Days by RASA
“Avenue Q” in NYC
“Forbidden Broadway” in NYC
“Bring It On” in NYC
“Our Town” at St. Mary’s University
I LOVE THAT THIS LIST IS SO LONG!

Post-Broadway dinner at Sardi's — Post-Broadway dinner at Sardi’s

There were trips and excursions –

The Ice Bar is always fun in February
Bagpipes at Binkies , St. Patrick’s Day Silliness
Des Moines Derby Dames are still fun to watch, although we know fewer dames
The Kentucky Derby / Cinco de Mayo party was a fun event at Sarah’s with Beth
NEW YORK CITY – twice! A Broadway bonanza dream come true!
Ferragosto 2012 was a blast – good food, good drink, good friends at the end of the dock!
Four Daughters Vineyard and Winery – good times with great girlfriends
Door County and a Haunted Hotel (Kewaunee Inn) – not too scary for me!
Cosmo Girls monthly night outs are always an adventure –Random Acts of Kindness in December was especially fun!

Bailey's Harbor store - and a great motto! — Bailey’s Harbor store – and a great motto!

There were books –

See the new page of Books I Read in 2012
Author Paula McCain at the Rochester Public Library discussing “The Paris Wife” – a favorite book from 2011
Author Julie Kramer at B&N discussing her new book – a new series to read
Maeve Binchy passes away in 2012 – a sad loss!
World Book Night was celebrated in 2012 by handing out copies of “The Book Thief”
By the skin of my teeth I made my (amended) reading goal of 30 books in 2012

World Book Night - The Book Thief — World Book Night – The Book Thief

There were movies –

Another post for them soon!

Happy 2013 to one and all! More adventures to come!

12/21/12: What’s Making Me Happy This Week (walkietalkiebookclub.com)

Author: “The Paris Wife”

I love to meet authors, or if I can’t meet them personally, to listen to them speak about their books and their passion for writing. I find it fascinating.

In the beginning of December I noticed a sign at the Rochester Public Library that Paula McLain, author of “The Paris Wife” was going to be speaking in January. I knew that Deadra loved this book and so I put in my request for it and invited Deadra down for the afternoon event. I started reading the book right before Christmas and ate it up. It was hard to remember that it was historical fiction and not a memoir or biography of the woman who was Ernest Hemingway’s first wife. It is a beautifully written book and made me want to know more about Papa.

Paula talked about how she got the idea to write the book from Hadley’s point of view and how she read thousands of pages of letters that Hadley had written to Ernest while they were courting. Unfortunately, Hadley destroyed her letters from Ernest after their messy divorce (reminded me a little of the Love Letter Bonfire that Beth and I had a few years ago!), but as a result, she really got an understanding of how Hadley thought and felt.

Paula recommended we look at Hemingway’s passport photo from 1923 and challenged us to see if we didn’t get a little swoony at the sight. Deadra and I agreed that it didn’t do it for us, but I found this picture of him in 1921 that does make him look a little dreamy. (Sorry it’s so small!)

I also found this wedding photo from Hadley and Ernest’s wedding, which I thought was pretty fun.

Ernest_Hemingway_1921_wedding_day — Hadley and Ernest Hemingway, Wedding Day 1921

It was fascinating to listen to Paula talk about her passion she found while researching for this book and I’m glad that I read the book before listening to her discussion. I also liked to hear the reaction she is getting from the descendents of the Hemingways. Made me tear up a little!

I will read Hemingway – Deadra and I think “A Moveable Feast,” his last book – sounds like a great one to read, so it will go on my TBR list!

As I was listening to her speak, I wondered if I could challenge myself to find an author discussion/book reading each month for the year 2012… I know I will keep looking for them and going when I can! I just love hearing authors talk about writing! If you click on the picture of Paula McLain above, it is linked to an interview done with her on The Hemingway Project blog. Good stuff!

Off to read!

Visiting Author – Paula McLain (rochpublibrary.wordpress.com)
A Moveable Feast – A Book Review (nishitak.wordpress.com)
Hemingway and His Paris Wife – From Two Angles (pspostscript.wordpress.com)

Yeah sirsi!

Sirsi is where the emails come from to let me know that books I’ve reserved at the library are ready to be picked up! Yeah! So tonight after work I sat down with the last forty pages of “Faking It” by Jennifer Crusie and then headed to the library to pick up “One Day” by David Nicholls (finally!) and “Juliet, Naked” by Nick Hornby.

I find the Rochester Public Library a little difficult to navigate. Well, maybe not difficult to navigate but overwhelming. Summer of ’09 I started with the fiction in the Zs, thinking I’d work backwards, and I read quite a few fun books, but soon that didn’t work for me. This past summer I referred to my goodreads TBR account via my smart phone and would look for specific books – either on the shelf or in audio version – but very rarely would I find them shelved! So this winter I’ve gotten a little smarter and I started reserving the books so that when I go in I just need to go to the reserve shelf and check out! It’s nice to be able to get exactly what you’re looking for sometimes – but there is also something about wandering around in the stacks, too. I’m sure I’ll do a little of both – reserve and wander.

Other random thoughts:

I didn’t know “One Day” was going to be made into a movie, coming out in July!
“Faking It” was a fun easy read. Not great but witty.
I’m falling behind in my magazine reading.
I’m not going to fall into the meme trap again – I hope. Maybe I’ll come up with my own weekly blogging themes – I do love themes, after all! Not that I’d ever blog every day, but how about Saturday or Sunday Smorgasbord? Monday Musings? Teatime Tuesday? Thursdays Thoughts? Ugh… ideas welcome!
“Water for Elephants” will be out in the theatres before we know it!
I’m super excited to watch the Oscar’s this year!

I think that’s all for tonight! My TBR list now includes: “One Day,” “Juliet, Naked,” and “Plain Truth” – probably in that order! Book club discussion for “Plain Truth” is March 8 so we’ll see if I need to rearrange the order. Good times! I love to read and talk about books!

Off to read!

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