A Teeny Favor.

I have so many friends who live all over this country and indeed, around the world.  If anyone wants to help my great nephew out, I'd appreciate it and he'd be so thrilled!


My sister, Peggy's grandson Marty has a postcard project at school. The class is collecting postcards from all over and the class will learn all about the places in the postcards. It would be great if people reading this would send him a postcard from their state/country. If you'd like to help out, here's where to send it:


Marty C.
c/o Mrs. Prahm's Class
Saint James School
830 W. Broad Street
Falls Church, VA 22046


Please send a postcard, please! Thanks!


This is a yearlong project, so if you want to participate, and are afraid of missing a deadline because you live far far away and the post takes weeks to get here, don't worry!


Thanks!  Thanks!  Thanks!

Tenth Anniversary. Never Forgotten.

Even 10 years later, it's difficult to remember that fateful day. A few years ago, I wrote a blog post about where I was and what I was doing on September 11, 2001. It's still so hard to write about it, so here is my blog post from 3 years ago.

In Honor of September 11, 2001

Where were you when it happened?


I don't think there is an American alive who doesn't know where he or she was and what they were doing when they heard the news about the attack on New York and Washington DC on September 11, 2001. I was driving to Kutztown, PA to my job at the restaurant my ex-husband and I owned. I was listening to Good Morning America on my car radio when Charlie Gibson reported a plane crashed into Tower 1, the North Tower of the World Trade Center. They didn't know it was intentional at that point. It wasn't long before the 2nd plane crashed into the South Tower and the world knew America was under attack. I rushed into work and put the TV on. The employees and I spent the better part of that day and indeed the rest of the week, absolutely glued to the TV, watching in horror as the government tried to get a handle on this horrific event. Our business took a major nose dive as Americans stayed in their homes, afraid to travel anywhere.


I have a friend who was in the air, flying home from France on business when the towers were hit and his flight was diverted to Canada. He somehow managed to get his hands on a car and he and a colleague drove home. It took hours to get over the Canadian border.


I knew 2 people who died that day. On the night of September 11, we got a phone call from Greg's sister, Rita. Rita's husband, Bryan had a sister named Deborah Jacobs Welsh. Debbie was the head purser on Flight 93 that crashed in Shanksville, PA. She was the first person to die on that flight. Debbie tried to keep the terrorists out of the cockpit and they slit her throat. What a shock it was to get that phone call! We didn't know Debbie well, but we saw her from time to time over the years when Rita would have a christening or First Communion party or something like that.




The second person I knew was Maria Behr. Mia worked as a Securities Trader at Cantor Fitzgerald in Tower 1. She is the sister of Dr. Edith (Delmi) Delmar Behr. Delmi's son was friends with my son, Tim. I remember Tim coming home from school on the 12th and telling me they can't find Max's Aunt Mia, that she worked in one of the towers. I told Tim they probably just can't get in contact with her because communication was really bad at that time. It wasn't long before we found out the awful truth, that Maria was in the Tower and that she did die that day. Mia was a beautiful, vibrant, sort of wacky woman who had so much going for her! She left this world way too soon.




Our restaurant was in a college town, and for most of that week, the place was like a ghost town. No one came out, whether they were afraid of more attacks or just glued to the TV for news. But that Saturday, we were so busy, with families... parents and their college children, coming in for lunch and dinner. You would have thought it was Parents' Weekend, but it wasn't. These kids had just gotten to school 2 weeks before and Parents' Weekend wasn't for several more weeks. It was just parents feeling the need to see their kids and spend time with them.




So that is my memory of September 11, 2001. It is a day that I will never forget. If you get a chance, visit Ground Zero in New York City. Say a prayer for those who lost their lives that day.... all the folks who were on those planes, the brave police and firefighters who entered those buildings, the people who worked in the towers, the brave military men and women who were working in the Pentagon in Washington DC. Pray for those heroic people on Flight 93 who fought the terrorists, knowing they were going to die, but realizing they must do this or many more would perish along with them. Pray for the loved ones left behind. Praise God for those brave souls who found Osama bin Laden and served him the justice he deserved.  I just pray it never happens again

Six Word Saturday

Party for my brother in NJ!!

My brother, Michael has accepted a job with the US Army in Saudi Arabia.  His youngest child just graduated from college, he's a widower, and he says it's now time for him!  So he has a one year contract (that I'm guessing can be renewed), and will be leaving for Fort Bragg next week for orientation and maybe some kind of training before heading to Saudi Arabia.  

His oldest daughter is throwing him a Bon Voyage, We'll Miss You, Dad party at her place today!  It's always a good time when the Mack Family gets together!

Want to try your own Six Word Saturday? Go see Cate at Show My Face and link up!

What are you afraid of?

True story from a Kansas State Highway Patrol officer:


I made a traffic stop on an elderly lady the other day for speeding on U.S. 166 Eastbound at Mile Marker 73 just East of Sedan, KS. I asked for her driver's license, registration, and proof of insurance. The lady took out the required information and handed it to me. In with the cards I was somewhat surprised (due to her advanced age) to see she had a conceal carry permit. I looked at her and ask if she had a weapon in her possession at this time.


She responded that she indeed had a .45 automatic in her glove box. Something---body language, or the way she said it---made me want to ask if she had any other firearms. She did admit to also having a 9mm Glock in her center console. Now I had to ask one more time if that was all. She responded once again that she did have just one more, a .38 special in her purse. I then asked her what was she so afraid of.


She looked me right in the eye and said, "Not a damn thing!"


(Joanie talking here)  I want to be her when I grow up!

John's Latest Health Update

This should be the last update until late October.


John had an appointment yesterday with his oncologist, Dr. Sunita Nasta at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.  It was a good appointment, once we got into the exam room to talk to her.


John thought he needed to be there by 10:30 for labs, but he really wasn't scheduled until 11:30.  That was fine.  He got his blood drawn, then we went to eat at the Potbelly Sandwich Shop, which is attached to the hospital.  Great little place!  There are several across the country.  I had a lot of meals there when John was HUP for his transplant 2 years ago.  I enjoyed the roast beef with provolone sandwich, while John had the Italian.  We both got Broccoli Cheddar soup, since it was Tuesday.  YUM!!


So we go back to the Perleman Center to wait for John to be called.  John spent most of the time talking back to the TV which was set for a news station (CNN maybe, not sure)  Not all the patients were waiting for Dr. Nasta (but it sure felt like it!).  She only handles lymphoma and leukemia.  But still, this place was hopping yesterday.  John's appointment was for 11:45.  They called him into the exam room at 2 pm.  Sheesh.


Not long after, Dr. Nasta came in.   She didn't look concerned, like the last time.  She told us that the 2nd PET scan had her puzzled.    They had the scan repeated because John was showing activity in his chest, with a couple of nodes lighting up (showing signs of cancer) but the nodes were very small, about the size of a bee bee pellet.  The 2nd scan showed a node lit up in the groin, but the ones on the chest were gone.  The 1st scan didn't show any activity in the groin.  I said the node was like a gremlin, hopping about on the scans to confuse everyone.  


Dr. Nasta has determined that the cancer is not showing signs of returning at this time.  She did, however, ask for a CT scan of his pelvic area to be done in 3 month's time, in October.  She doesnt' want John to get another PET scan because she says he'll be glowing in the dark if he gets any more! (PET scans are nuclear and CT scans have less radiation).  John had just gotten to the point where he was seeing her every 6 months but now he's back to every 3 months, at least for the time being.


She does want to be told if John loses 10 lbs or more (he's already lost about 10 lbs, but that could be because of his diabetes) , if he develops a fever repeatedly or if he gets bad night sweats.  


So the final diagnosis is that John is still in remission and he's coming up on his 2nd re-birthday on August 28!  And yes, we do celebrate it!  So stay tuned for another update around Halloween and hopefully, I'll still have good news!!

Six Word Saturday

Unbelievably hot.  Thank goodness for a/c!

Want to try your own Six Word Saturday? Go see Cate at Show My Face and link up!

Monday's Music Moves Me

This week's Mon days Music is a Freebie theme.  We can put up whatever we want!  So I chose a few of my all-time favorites.  XmasDolly is one of the hosts of Monday's Music Moves Me.  You can follow the ink and see what other folks have contributed!


This first one is my very favorite version of  Beethoven's Ode To Joy.  It's the funky rendition of Joyful Joyful from the movie, Sister Act 2.  





I've always loved Petula Clark!  Here is My Love, from 1966.







I used to have a Best of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons album that I'd play really loud when I was cleaning.  This song was written for just Frankie Valli.  His producer didn't think it was a good song for him, but he recorded it anyway, and I'm sure glad he did!  You're Just Too Good To Be True





Oh!  Now this song brings me back to 1969, when I was absolutely in love with this song and BJ Thomas!  I played this song over and over and over again!  sigh!  Hooked On A Feeling





And last, but certainly not least (and forgive me if I did this one before), when I was in 8th grade, The Cowsills stole my heart, Barry Cowsill in particular!   The TV show The Partridge Family was based on The Cowsills, a family band with mom and all the kids singing!  Sadly, Barry Cowsill lost his life in Hurricane Katrina.  This is my very favorite song of theirs.  Here is The Rain, The Park and Other Things.

Monday's Music Moves Me: I heart Broadway

HEY!!  Remember me?  I haven't done a Musical Monday in quite a while!   I guess I sort of took a break from blogging for a while and I'm getting back into it.  Anyway, Dolly told me that this week's theme was a Patriotic song or a Broadway hit tune.  Well, I don't know if you know this, but I am a Drama Mama!!  I'm also patriotic, but I really am a Drama Mama!  I might even get that as my license plate!


The reason I'm a Drama Mama is because my 2 girls were bitten by the acting bug.  Both girls were in at least 1 or 2 high school musicals when they were in grade school and little kids were needed.  Then, as each girl went to high school, they joined the Drama Club (Gina was President her senior year and Dani was Treasurer her Senior year).  Gina had the lead in her Junior (Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz) and her Senior year (Narrator in Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat).  Not to be outdone, Dani had leads too!  In Junior year, she was Amazing Maizie in Seussical the Musical, and in her Senior year, she was Little Red Riding Hood in Into The Woods!  


Both girls have amazing singing voice!  Not sure where they got them.  I can't sing to save my life and their dad can carry a tune but that's about it.  I spent a LOT of time, volunteering at the school.  I made the programs for 3 plays a year for about 7 or 8 years. I sold tickets, I worked in the costume shop, I sold T-shirts, and I drove those girls to a lot of practices over the course of 11 years! 


Gina went on to earn her degree in Theatre, with a concentration on acting/directing.  She now writes and does voiceovers for commercials.  Dani went to college for theatre also, but decided by the end of her freshman year that she REALLY wanted to do hair!  So she went to hairdressing school and is getting ready to take her state test for her license.  Don't be surprised, if, a few years down the road, you find out that Dani is working for a studio in California, doing hair and make up.  And trust me, if it happens I'll be shouting from the rooftops!


Oh my!  I really do seems to be rambling on!  So, to get to my selection for this week.  A few years ago, I absolutely fell in love with the musical Wicked.  Everyone knows what Wicked is about, so I won't get into that.  This song, For Good is at the end of the play.  It's a duet with Elphaba aka Wicked Witch of the East (Idina Menzel) and  Galinda aka Glinda the Good Witch (Kristen Chenowith).  It's very poignant, and I cry every time I hear it.


So, without further ado, I give you...

For Good

ELPHABA
I'm limited:
Just look at me - I'm limited
And just look at you -
You can do all I couldn't do, Glinda
So now it's up to you
(spoken) For both of us
(sung) Now it's up to you:

GLINDA
I've heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you:

Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed for good

ELPHABA
It well may be
That we will never meet again
In this lifetime
So let me say before we part
So much of me
Is made of what I learned from you
You'll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend:
Like a ship blown from its mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a skybird
In a distant wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you:

GLINDA
Because I knew you:

BOTH

I have been changed for good

ELPHABA
And just to clear the air
I ask forgiveness
For the things I've done you blame me for

GLINDA
But then, I guess we know
There's blame to share

BOTH
And none of it seems to matter anymore

GLINDA ELPHABA
Like a comet pulled Like a ship blown
From orbit as it Off it's mooring
Passes a sun, like By a wind off the
A stream that meets Sea, like a seed
A boulder, half-way Dropped by a
Through the wood Bird in the wood

BOTH
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
I do believe I have been changed for the better?

GLINDA
And because I knew you:
ELPHABA
Because I knew you:

BOTH
Because I knew you:
I have been changed for good.

Marie, at Xmas Dolly reminded me that I should join in to Monday's Music Moves Me again.  Why not take a stab at it!  Each week is a theme and it's fun to see what everyone comes up with!

John's health update

John had his PET scan redone two weeks ago, on June 28.  He couldn't get an appointment to see Dr. Nasta until July 26.  So he called on Friday to see if they'd give him the results of his scan.  And it looks like the test NEGATIVE!!  And he's still in remission!!!  Woo hoo!  And WHEW!!!


I'll be doing another update after his appointment at the end of the month.  But it was a relief to hear this news!!

Six Word Saturday: Wedding!

The wedding last Saturday was beautiful!!!

and especially the Bride!

Want to try your own Six Word Saturday? Go see Cate at Show My Face and link up!

p.s.  there are more photos on the blog post below this one!

The bride was breathtaking and I have the pictures to prove it!

Yesterday my daughter's wedding day finally arrived!  I have a few photos that someone took and posted to Facebook, so I'm going to post them here.


The rehearsal on Friday night went smoothly.  A funny moment was when the parents had to go up on the altar and each light tapered candles.  So Gene and Jane (parents of the groom) and Greg (my ex) and I walk up the steps to the altar.  The priest tells Greg and me that we should be showing love and affection as we do this.  I turn to the nun who is helping with rehearsal and say, "Doesn't Father know that we're divorced??"  Later on, Father tells us to act like we know each other!  LOL!!  Too funny!


Rehearsal dinner was good!  Hot roast beef sandwiches and baked ziti with meatballs and salad.  Fresh fruit, cheese and pepperoni  and crostini as appetizers.  One of Gina's friends made a really fun cake out of Tastycake tandytakes! (if you're from the greater Philadelphia area, you'll "get" this!)   What fun!


We woke up early on Wedding Day because all the bridesmaids, the bride, the flower girl and mother of the groom had appointments to get their hair done.  My daughter, Dani, just finished hairdressing school, so she did Gina's hair.  The salon owner was kind enough to give Dani a station to work while the others were getting their hair done. I did my own hair since it's so short.  


We got back to the house for lunch and to get ready for the wedding.  I kept my cool all the while Gina was getting her makeup done and getting dressed.  Her Dad showed up around 2 pm, took one look at her in  her gown and started crying.  YES!!  He cried before I did!  Gina asked me to get a box out of the closet and bring it down, and THAT'S when I lost it!  When Gina was Christened, someone gave her a hankie, sewn into the shape of a bonnet, with a poem attached.  She was supposed to wear the bonnet at her Baptism, and then, when she was getting married, to carry it on her wedding day (ok, I'm getting all filled up just typing this!).  I saved the hankie for Gina all these years, and when she got engaged last year, I gave it to her, in the original box!  Then I forgot all about it.  So, when I got the box out of the closet, I just lost it!  So silly to be affected by something silly like that!


An amusing incident.  I bought my shoes and bag at DSW.  On Saturday morning, I showed the shoes to Jane (mother of the groom).  She informs me that she has the exact shoes in silver!  A few hours later, when Greg and Pam are at the house and I'm putting my shoes on, Pam tells me that she was going to buy those exact shoes in silver but chose another pair instead! And all of our dresses coordinated too.  I wore light blue, Jane wore dove gray and Pam wore dark blue and it was a complete coincidence!

Click on the pictures to enlarge them

 My son is escorting me down the aisle.  

The ceremony went off without a hitch.  The church is just lovely and Gina's good friend, Morgan cantored the wedding and she did a magnificent job!  Morgan has a gorgeous voice!  I guess Greg and I showed enough love and affection because Father seemed pleased with our performance at the candle lighting ceremony.  Hahaha!!!

 Here comes the bride!

 Gina with her dad, going down the aisle

 my daughter, Dani, a bridesmaid

the bridesmaids

I did get a little tickle from something.  At rehearsal, only people directly involved in the wedding ceremony were permitted to be there, so Greg's wife wasn't there.  Greg was sitting with me in the pew.  On the day of the wedding, she sat in the row behind us and he went into a bit of a panic because he didn't know whether to sit with me or sit with her.  He sat with me.  Hehehehe  I think if John was there, sitting in my pew with me, Greg would have sat with her.  But John chose not to go to the wedding (the jerk).

 saying their vows

 the deal is done, and sealed with a kiss!

lighting the Unity Candle

The reception was held at the Clarion Hotel (Greg worked there as the food and beverage director when Gina was a baby, so we got some extra special treatment.)  Open bar for 5 hours, sit down dinner, good food, drinks were flowing.  The featured drink of the bride and groom was a Lemon Drop Martini.  I think I had 6 of them!  They were yummy!!  They must have been weak ones because I never got even close to being drunk!  I felt fine all night, although I would not have gotten behind the wheel of a car.


The DJ was AWESOME!!  Her name is Jenny Z and she sometimes works at the radio station where Gina and Gene work.  Jenny mostly works at a sister station in Maryland since it's closer to her home than Wilmington, but she has a DJ business on the side.  I was very happy when Gina told me that Jenny was working her wedding!  Some of the other DJs were there as guests.  


A friend of Gina's made the cake.  The cake topper was the bride and groom high-5-ing each other.  My daughter, Dani spied the cake in the corner and realized the bride and groom were standing side by side on top of the cake, in what looks like a Nazi salute (Heil Hitler!)!!!  She quickly found a server and asked her to fix it!  I wonder if anyone got a "before" shot?  By the way, the cake was scrumptious!!!  Bibi did a fantastic job!

 this wedding cake was yummy!

 a close-up of the topper

she got him good!

When it came time to throw the bouquet and garter,  not sure how it happened, but the ring bearer and the flower girl were the big winners!!!  Hahaha!!!  Patrick put the garter on Leah's arm! 

the bouquet and the garter

The reception lasted until 11 pm.   We had 17 rooms booked for overnight guests.  The bar was scheduled to close at 9 pm (apparently Saturday is the slowest night of the week).  Greg slipped the general manager some dough and asked her to open the bar for the overnight guests, and they did!  We had that place filled and hopping until the wee hours of the morning!  The father of the bride got rather drunk, and I'm happy to say I never did!  He had to go to bed, which was disappointing because he was paying for my drinks!  I still did my fair share of drinking (Captain Morgan and Diet Coke) and even did 2 shots (I NEVER do shots!)!  My son bought me a Mind Eraser (kahlua, vodka and club soda), and my niece's fiance (and our wedding photographer) bought me a Dirty Girl Scout (vodka, Kahlua, Baileys and white creme de menthe)  It tasted like a thin mint!  I finally went to my room around 2:30 am. 

 these were taken with my cell phone.

Gina and me!

my favorite son-in-law and me!  

 my daughter, Dani and me!

my son, Tim and me!

Gina and Gene had the Bridal Suite for the night.  This morning she messaged me to come downstairs for breakfast.   And Gene called me Mom.  It made my day!   And on Monday, they leave for a week-long honeymoon in Aruba!

Six Word Saturday

I'm finally starting to feel better!

Seven more days to Gina's wedding!!

I had to do two today!  

Make that three!  hehehe


Want to try your own Six Word Saturday? Go see Cate at Show My Face and link up!

Dear So and So

Ah, it's Friday again (I'm writing this on Thursday evening, but all day long I thought it was Friday) and Friday means Dear So and So!  Go visit Kat at 3 Bedroom Bungalow To Let In Crazytown.  She's the genius who dreamed up Dear So and So.  It's a great way to get shit off your chest say stuff you want to say to people but are too polite to do so.   So here's mine.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear House guest,
You know I love you, but it's really time for you to get the fuck out of my house go back to Oregon.  I'm sure your mother misses you and that bi-polar brat of yours your darling 2 year old daughter.  It was (ahem) wonderful to see you and I'm sure I'll miss you when you're gone  (OK, even I'm not buying that)  (SATURDAY!!!  doing cartwheels)


Happy to be getting her peace and quiet again,
"Mimi"


ps.  and thank you for this GD cold that I can't seem to shake.  I'll be sending you a bill for my cold medicine you helped yourself to and all the missing tips I lost this week .  and all the yogurt your brat ate that was supposed to be my breakfast.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear John,
I really do miss you since I haven't seen you since last Tuesday.  I know I've been too sick to make the drive to your house, since you're too stubborn to come here when my youngest in residence.  But that's your problem.  You say you are coming here "to take care of me".  We shall see, since you can't cook to save your life.  I see a lot of take out and food delivery in our very near future.


Love you lots!
Joanie

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Bosses at my job,
Thank you for being understanding when I leave early every day because I really still feel like crap.  And thank you for not forcing me to go to the doctor since I don't have insurance right now, and I really don't want to pay $200 for my doc to tell me I have a cold. (duh!)


Swearing she'll be better soon,
Joanie

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Gina and Gene (aka Eugina),
EIGHT MORE DAYS!!!!!!!  The wedding is in eight more days!!!!  I can't wait to party and have a great time on Daddy Dearest's dime (or $15,000)!!  I'm so happy for the two of you I could just burst!!!


Hoping she's the best mother-in-law ever,
Mom

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Kimmy at work,
I'm so sorry, dear, but you really are too stupid to be a shift leader.  The fact that you were able to take over my station today at work so I could go home because Jess was selfish and took away your good station for herself before I got to work, was just me being nice.  My fault.  I'm sorry I even told you to finish up the shift at my station.  Trust me.  I won't be doing that again.  Besides, anyone who has 2 children and still insists on being called Kimmy (by people other than your parents and siblings) should not in charge of anything.


Still in charge,
Joan

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Dani,
OH.  MY.  GOD.  'Smores turnovers are to die for!!!  I'm so glad I only had one though.  Any more would send my glucose levels through the roof!!!!  And dinner was really good tonight.  Thanks for making it so I could hide in my room for a while.


Love,
Mutti

Spin Cycle: Books!!

Even though I just did a reading challenge update, I saw that Jen, at Sprite's Keeper has brought back a favorite of mine.... The Spin Cycle!  This week's spin is about books.  What we're reading now, what are our favorite books and authors.  

Here's my spin.

I just finished Stieg Larsson's Millenium trilogy, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played With Fire and The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest.  I listened to these books in my car.  I loved them!!!  I was rooting for Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist throughout the books!  I'm sad that Stieg Larsson has passed away and we won't get to enjoy any more wonderful books from this gifted author.

The Pond is a wonderfully spooky book!   "A small boy drowns in a Pennsylvania pond, enters the ranks of the ghostly and seemingly returns decades later to haunt the family indirectly responsible for his demise." ~KIrkus Reviews   Although this story is strictly fiction, the idea for the book is based on an actual event that occurred many years ago in the Reading, Pennsylvania area.  You may have to get this book from Amazon, and it is available for Kindle!

Right now I'm reading False Dawn, the third of the Jake Lassiter series by Paul Levine.  Jake Lassiter is a former pro football player, turned attorney-at-law in Miami, Florida.  In the course of his job, Jake manages to find himself in the middle of murders and intrigue.  I like the subtle humor in these books too!

If you like beach books, you can't go wrong with any or all of Elin Hilderbrand's books!  All of Elin's books take place on Nantucket, and each story is unique.  The first book of Elin's that I read was Barefoot, about a woman going through chemotherapy for lung cancer and how her summer on Nantucket affects those around her, including her sister and her friend, as well as her husband and children.  I loved this book!  My favorite was The Blue Bistro about a woman working in a restaurant over one summer on Nantucket.  Maybe it's because I also work in a restaurant, I wanted to work here!!  If I did, I could have taken the rest of the year off!  All of Elin's books are wonderful!  I'm waiting for her newest novel, Silver Girl to be delivered to my Kindle any day now!

This is my new very favorite author, Sarah Pekkanen!  Her first book, The Opposite Of Me, I read in less than 3 days!  I haven't done that in years!  She was recommended by Jennifer Weiner (another favorite of mine!)  and I'm so glad she did!  The Opposite Of Me is the story of twins and how different they really are!  Not long after I read it,  her second novel came out, Skipping A Beat.  This one was equally enjoyable! Skipping A Beat is about a married couple whose lives are completely changed when the husband suffers cardiac arrest and he dies for several minutes.  Even Oprah says to pick up this book!  Sarah just finished her third novel, but I have to be patient, because it won't hit the book store until April 2012! 

So there are my recommendations for reading this summer!  Enjoy!