Book Review: A Reliable Wife

I hosted Book Club this month and chose A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick. As first, I was excited to choose a book for the group but when push came to shove, it was a bit stressful. I didn't want to pick a bad, or boring book. I read mixed reviews about this one, but chose it anyway because the premise looked so interesting to me when I read the back cover in the airport bookstore in January. It turned out my stressing was for naught (as usual!) and everyone really enjoyed the book, myself included. It was a page turner and a quick read. It was captivating and to be honest I had no idea how it would end even to the last few pages.

The book is set in rural Wisconsin in 1907 in the dead of winter (it was only fitting that it snowed while we were discussing it...yes, the winter that won't quit here in Utah!). An older man (I think he is in his late 40s or early 50s) places an ad in a newspaper for a 'reliable wife'. He gets many responses but chooses one particular because of how she responds. Turns out the picture she sent to him isn't even her, which he discovers as she gets off the train. That's just the first of many surprises that she has in store for him, but he has his own plans as well.

So in just my second month in book club, I picked a winner -- I recommend this book and am glad that the group enjoyed it. I can't wait to see next month's selection!

Impeccable Timing

We have been toying with the idea of getting rid of the cable and home phone in our household for a couple of months. Actually when I was unemployed, it was definitely something discussed as a "first to go" if a job didn't come to fruition when it did. The cost has crept up and up, and I tire of calling the cable company to get on another promotion that only ends up with me calling them back in another 6 months. Last week, after these 2 months of saying "oops, I forgot to call again", I called. The next step was to bring in the equipment and that solidified the deal. We did maintain the internet at the house, but as of Monday morning we are without a home phone (so those of you reading this who may not have gotten my e-mail, please delete that number from your phone book) and cable TV. James is going to figure out how to get us the local channels but in the meantime, we are sans TV.

The timing could not be more perfect because low and behold, what did I find in Quinn's backpack on Friday afternoon? The flyer for TV Free Week. We participated last year and I remember how wonderful that week was, particularly in the mornings. Having this week occur right after we rid ourselves of the cable is a blessing because TV is not even an option this week. So it will ease us into our new normal. My biggest worry was Quinn, who is slow to wake in the mornings and chills in front of the TV. Now he will have to put in a DVD or watch something on the computer. Keely is not really a TV watcher and as I have mentioned before, usually will just play a video on the portable DVD player (lately, her faves are old episodes of The Office -- yes, I know she's a funny child but she does have good taste!). I am thoroughly enjoying not watching the "Boob Tube" at nights after the kids are asleep, and now have more time for my favorite things...James and reading :) Not that those two are equal, but I am almost through my April book club selection and I just started it on Saturday.

It's funny how you think you "need" something but when it's gone, you don't even miss it. And I am a bit of a spendthrift, so now I am seeing $$ as I will watch the $100 lower bill roll in each month!

Regulars

I am certain both of my children have artistic ability despite my genes. For the second year in a row, a Donovan piece of art was picked to show in the Sandy Art Show. You may remember last year about this same time when Quinn won 3rd place. Last week I got an e-mail from the art teacher saying that one of Keely's art pieces had been chosen for the same art show. So this weekend, we took a trip down to the mall to see it. I had actually seen this one on display in the school and I did think it was a good drawing. She takes pride in her neat handwriting and it adds to the pretty drawing. And a closeup...
We will receive it back soon and put it in a frame like we did with Quinn's, whose is now proudly displayed in the living room. So we are officially regulars at the art show, wonder what will be shown next year?

When Life Gives You Lemons...

...you make lemonade. Or in this case...when Mother Nature gives you snow, you take a snow hike. We have had a pretty cold wet Spring so far. We had high hopes for a nice sunny Easter Sunday, but that was not the case. We didn't have a white Christmas but we had a white Easter. We awoke early Sunday to a fresh coat of snow. We went out to breakfast and then relaxed, read the paper, showered and dressed for church. And then we partook in the fresh snow. I wasn't happy about it feeling like January but figured we should get out and enjoy it. And at least I got to use my new gloves and new warm fleece. We had a nice walk and it even warmed up a bit, as you can see from the pictures we didn't really even need hats and gloves for most of the walk. I'm being lazy with the pictures here so I uploaded all of them and made a slideshow.

Here's hoping for a warmer Spring from here on out. Hope you all had a happy and Blessed Easter Sunday!

Book Review: 360 Degrees Longitude

Last week, I attended my first book club discussion about the selected book for March, 360 Degrees Longitude by John Higham. The host of the book club selected it because she knows the family (they are from Logan, Utah originally) and also seems to be a world traveler herself. The premise of the book is that a family of 4 embarks on a year long trip around the world. It seemed interesting and it was almost unbelievable as I began reading it. They started in Europe bicycling on two tandems! Their kids were 11 and 8 at the time of the trip and being a mom of two kids almost that age, I was intrigued that they had the energy to plan the trip and actually execute it. Most people would just talk about it but never do it. The first half of the book was really interesting but then it dragged. I struggled at times to continue on, skimming instead of reading even. That was the general feeling from the ladies at Book Club too, everyone had trouble finishing (some didn't even get to the end). All in all though it was an interesting book and I recommend reading it. It was fun to discuss where they went and think about what places I would choose if doing a trip of this sort. I think the reason it dragged on was because it was almost overwhelming to complete such a journey, I couldn't absorb all that they did in the year and I'm sure their own kids felt overwhelmed too. The experiences were unforgettable though. I think if I did a trip like this, I would do it in shorter trips instead of one long trip.

I have the pleasure of hosting Book Club in April and I have selected A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick. I hope it's a good choice, because the reviews I have read are mixed. I'll give an update after the next book club discussion!