Lulu's Book Club review

I feel like the absent minded blogger. I am home today feeling pretty awful, sore throat, a cold, all achy...
(although the aches may be from the killer yoga class I tried yesterday) and It dawns on me..... Back in October, I blogged about my book club. I promised my few faithful readers that I would blog every 6 weeks about our new book selection, welcoming you to read along and leave comments when you finished the book.
Well, nearly 4 months later... I am FINALLY remembering to update that idea! So... After we read 'Eat, Pray,Love' our next book was 'The Double Bind' by Chris Bohjalian. Now, Our newest selection is 'Atonement' by Ian McEwan.
So many women were in love with Elizabeth Gilbert's- 'Eat, Pray, Love.' ( I know Oprah loved it!... so You should probably put your faith in her opinion.) However, Many in my club, including me, just could NOT get into this book! Maybe it was timing, it was before Christmas, I was stressed and didn't have much reading time. Every time I picked up that book and read her whining and complaining... I put it back down.( I had my own whining to do, thank you very much) The next selection was better. I don't Highly recommend it, but it was interesting that not until you totally finish the book do you realize it is worth a second read. Which brings me to- 'Atonement'. When we were trying to choose our next book... No one had read Atonement, the reviews were favorable.. so we agreed on it.
Well, absent minded me... I HAD read it, back in the summer of '06. (according to my libraries reading history) After skimming it, it is coming back to me that I didn't enjoy it.... But, I will read it again and hope I feel differently in '08! In the mean while, (on my own) I just finished 'Snow Flower and the secret fan' by Lisa See. We didn't select this story because many in the group had already read it. I absolutely LOVED it, I HIghly recommend it. A beautiful yet heartbreaking tale of two long time friends in China in the 1800's. All they endured, All the love they shared. I couldn't put this one down. I am also reading 'Pillars of the Earth' and loving it. It was my suggestion at the last meeting, but because of its length, we felt we should save this one till the summer, when everyone has more reading time. (so I guess I'm cheating). Pillars is EXcellent.. and after all these years (it was published in 1989) Ken Follett has written a sequel- 'World without End.' I am already looking forward to that one.
So this is my book club update! If you've read any of these books and would like to leave a comment with your reviews or your feelings.... I would LOVE to hear them. What I would also love & really welcome... Any GREAT suggestions for our next meeting which is on Feb. 19th. Thanks!
***Petals Picks ***
A thousand Splendid Suns, Snow Flower and the secret Fan, Pillars of the Earth

10 signs a book is written by meME

I was tagged by remimanto do this meme. ( Thanks Rel!)

10 signs a book is written by me


It is a children's book
It rhymes and has a moral
There are 3 brothers as the main characters
It has whimsical illustrations
There is a suspenseful mystery that needs to be solved
It is brief and easy for kids to memorize and 'pretend' to read by themselves
The book is written in purple and blue font
The story could easily become a series
My middle son is credited for designing the front cover
AND the #10 sign that the book is written by Lulus Petals-
It is thrown in a dusty pile of 'not sure' books in the publishers office!



I now am tagging Jen
Sherrie
Paisley
RickAnd
Diane

Happy 75th Birthday

You are a very special someone with a very special heart
You made me feel quite special from the very special start
Warm welcoming arms opening as others turned away
You eased my heartache and lessened my dismay
Year after year our bond of friendship and love grew
Year after year I have always treasured and Loved you
You sure put a twist on a typically unpopular role
You sure are a 'stellar' example of a caring, vibrant soul
Your Contagious laughter never fails to make me smile
You are- Effervescence, class, intelligence and style
You're genuine, fair... Stell! I'm having difficulty finding any flaw!
You are So much More a Mom to me than a mother- in- law
My heart holds for you a very special love a very special spot
I think of your encouragement, understanding and kindness a lot
I wish you love, health and many happy years to thrive
And I wish you a special heartfelt Happy Birthday... #75!
xoxoxo

Miscellaneous is my prompt but a loving mother in law is my inspiration

Touching Obituary

The world is mourning a great icon of the entertainment community. The
Pillsbury Doughboy died yesterday of a yeast infection and traumatic
complications from.... repeated pokes in the belly. He was 71.

Doughboy was buried in a lightly greased coffin. Dozens of celebrities
turned out to pay their respects, including Mrs.Butterworth, Hungry
Jack, the California Raisins, Betty Crocker, The Hostess Twinkies, and
Captain Crunch.

The grave site was piled high with flours. Aunt Jemima delivered the
eulogy and lovingly described Doughboy as a man who never really knew
just how much he was kneaded. Doughboy rose to the top quickly in
show business, but his later life was filled with turnovers. He was no smart
cookie in business, wasting much of his dough on half-baked schemes.
Despite being a little flaky, he was a persistent and crusty old
man, and was considered a positive roll model for all

Doughboy is survived by his wife, Play Dough, two children, John and
Jane Dough, plus they had one in the oven. He is also survived by
his elderly father, Pop Tart.
The funeral was held at 3:50 for about 20
minutes.

If this made you smile, RISE to the occasion and share this with someone
else who may be having a CRUMBY day and really KNEADS it.
I WISH I could take credit for this great piece... I received it in an email!

Fork in the (yellow brick) road

Whenever I hear the expression "Fork in the Road" One image always POPs into my mind.
The beloved scarecrow stuck on his post telling Dorothy She could go this way or that way. (wish I could find that picture)
As silly as this sounds now....when I was a little girl I had a little crush on Scarecrow! I always wished they would have had a 'make out scene'. When Dorothy tells Scarecrow " I'll miss you most of all" OH, how I felt I was watching a love story. If only at that moment he would have pulled her close to him and planted an ExSTRAWdinary passionate kiss on her ruby lips! My little girl heart would have leapt! ooooh la la!
(sometimes blogging is like going to confession!)

special travelers

As we journey through our lives we share our journey with many fellow travelers. Many of these travelers stay with us through most of life's journey. Some journeyers jump off for a personal detour and leave no forwarding address. Some detour for a short time and meet up with you on a path many years down life's ever changing road. I thought about some of my fellow travelers before writing this. The friends that I felt were so close to me and then suddenly they just grew distant. The Co-workers that became dear friends and were 'Everyday comrades'. Sometimes exposing to each other more about our inner souls than our dear old friends knew. Friends who swore to keep in touch when I decided to leave the job... but alas didn't keep that promise. I also thought about my clients through the years. They are definitely fellow travelers. We share many laughs but many, many heart-wrenching, heartfelt and intimate conversations. I've watched their children grow up, their parents pass away and some of their marriages fail. I feel like I've been an important road stop for them in their travels. I know many have been so important to me. I reflect on all these important people as I travel my path on life's purposeful journey. However through my 48 year pilgrimage there has always been another significant constant accompaniment. My beloved Dogs. Ever since I can remember I have always had a dog in my life. My faithful, loving, fellow traveler. Affectionate, genuine, tried and true friends. Soulful eyes knowing my every mood. Watching my journey with loyal, unending devotion. Since as far back as I can remember in my life, a little sweet dog-friend has always been there. My earliest memory is of Mr. chips. Then (Miss)Daisy, then Lucky and little Cocoa. Later on with my husband there was Blinky ( who we thought was John Belushi reincarnated, He was born on the day of Johns death and had a similar personality ) and Maggie (intelligent, sensitive, sweet baby) Today we share our journey with Molly and Cosmo. They are cherished members of our family. Cosmo ( pictured above in his baby blue shirt) ran off a few days ago. One of my sons friends forgot to shut our gate. When I realized he was missing ( early morning, when it was still dark) It was this Baby blue shirt I spotted across the street. I was able to yell "come!" and he thankfully returned home safely. If he wasn't wearing his 'silly shirt' ( my family made fun of me for buying it), I know I would NEVER have spotted a black dog in the dark (without my glasses) and the thought of him being lost or god forbid hit by a car was simply Terrifying. I Pray Mr.Cosmo and Miss Molly will walk along with me much MUCH longer on our joined journey through life.

Tag You're IT!

( hit play)
Tag!
I was tagged by Latree at Dandelion and Diane at forgetfulone Thanks! for choosing me!

These are the rules :
1. Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog.
2. A. Share 5 random and/or weird facts about yourself on your blog; or
B. Share the 5 top places on your “want to see or want to see again” list; or C. Share 5 things you never pictured being in your future when you were 25 years old.
3. Tag a minimum of 5, maximum of 10 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.
4. Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
The tagees have a choice of which they want to do.

Okay.. I don't want to do letter B. because There are way more than 5 places I want to see and as for letter C.- I am really where I expected I would be when I was 25. SO...
I will go with A. (which I've done before but Lord knows there are more than 5 weird things about me) so here are 5 more..
************************************************
Weird thing #1-I stand on tiptoes most of the time, & when flat footed, I am curling my toes upwards.
Weird thing #2-Immediately after eating (especially dinner) I get freezing cold and need a sweater
Weird thing #3-Watching or hearing anyone lick or eat their ice cream sticks is Like Nails on a blackboard (fuzzy peach skin gives me chills too) ( oooh I can't even think about it)
Weird thing #4-While driving,I actually USE my directionals (I feel like today this is weird 'cause No ONE driving ahead of me uses theirs)
Weird/Random thing #5-When I was 20, a coworker begged me to be his model in a hair show... I was so freaked out, Nervous and apprehensive weeks before and right up until I was to go out before a huge audience... HOWEVER... When it came time to 'showcase' my look while walking to the song "NY State of mind"... I not only STRUTTED my stuff confidently across the stage, I also decided to dramatically stop, remove the full length fur coat they gave me And D R A G it behind me the rest of the walk, which led to cheers and uproarious applause! ( and NO! no sedative or liquor involved)
( my favorite random thing... my 15 min. of fame!)

SO now i must tag other bloggers.... Let's get some men involved in these weird tags! I tag-
Rickand Keith and Rel
for the ladies I tag UL And Robin ( If you don't want to do this, there is No curse or any bad luck or that sort of nonsense involved!) :))

Lulus Menopausal info.

SIGNS THAT YOU MIGHT BE EXPERIENCING MENOPAUSE

* You sell your home heating system at a yard sale. (Hot flashes)

* The person you sleep with complains about snow piling up on the bed. (Nightsweats)

* Your husband jokes that instead of buying a wood stove, he is using you to heat the family room this winter. Rather than just saying you are not amused, you shoot him. (Mood swings)

* You write post-it notes with your kid's names on them. (Memory loss)

* Your husband chirps, "Hi honey, I'm home." and you reply, "Well, if it isn't Ozzie f*cking Nelson". (Irritability)

* The phenobarbital dose that wiped out the Heaven's Gate Cult gives you four hours of decent rest. (Sleeplessness)

* You find Guacamole in your hair after a Mexican dinner. (Fatigue)

* You change your underwear after every sneeze. (Mild incontinence)

* You need Jaws Of Life to help you out of your car after returning home from an Italian restaurant. (Sudden weight gain)

* You ask Jiffy Lube to put you up on a hoist. (Dryness)

* You take a sudden interest in "Wrestlemania". (Female hormone deficiency)

* You're on so much estrogen that you take your Brownie troop on a field trip to Chippendales. (Hormone therapy)

(brought to you by unwind.com)

Treasured Memories

Thanks writers island! I really like this weeks prompt.
It truly made me think about how many treasures are in our lives. Somedays just seem to get to you and you may lose sight of what is really important. Family, Friendships, Love, Community, Health and THE MEMORIES. I treasure the memories that make up my life. The treasured memories I share and the protected treasured memories. The memories of my childrens lives and the memories that my husband has shared so often of his youth, I feel like they are my memories as well. My friends and dear clients shared memories, some amusing some unbearably heartbreaking. Even some Memories of my fellow bloggers have been sweet treasures as well. While I was reading and enjoying Rels touching memory of losing his childhood innocence, it triggered my memory back to the same emotional situation for my own son. When my youngest was 10 yrs. old, he found a wrapped present in my room a few weeks before Christmas with a tag saying 'Love, Santa'. He looked quizzically at me and asked " How is this possible??" Many Lies went through my mind, but because only the week before I had overheard his friends laughing about another boy who "still believed', I decided it was time to have 'the talk'. I remember mentioning that it is about believing in the 'magic of Christmas" and how Santa lives in all of us.( Very Polar Express-ish stuff) Well, Nothing I could have said could have made this devastating blow any softer. How I wish I could go back and choose option B ( Santa delivers early to the good little boys?) but alas his memory is what it is. And mine will always be this.... His loathing look as he said in a crushed voice " I can't explain it right now, but I just don't love you anymore". Oh! a dagger straight on through the evil Mothers heart and out the other side! It took many weeks and many talks with him for him to truly understand my "lying to him for his whole life" and to win his forgiveness. As upsetting as it was... it is still a treasured memory.(Thanks Rel)

Another (less traumatic) treasured memory I would love to share... When expecting my first son.. I had terrible back labor. So while trying to breathe through the strong contractions my husband would rub my back. During one BIG one-He was rubbing in the wrong spot... my pain was lower. I could barely speak through the pain and my lamaze breathing but I managed( through gritted teeth) to mutter " Low, Low". He apparently didn't hear me correctly- He continued to rub much higher than the pain, BUT, he now began BLOW BLOWING in my ear! Only a few minutes After our beautiful son was born I looked at my husband and said 'BLOW?? Why in the world, would you think I would need you to blow in my ear??" We laughed about and told this story for many years.

One of the many things I am loving about blogging is I feel like I am preserving some of lifes everyday moments.... Like when you blog about singing in the car with your husband....Or the time when your cockapoo ran off Or a favorite dance on a silly T.v. show ... Whatever it is. I think by documenting these events in this way, someday I will delightfully re-read them and say "Oh yeah! I had forgotten about that! Creating more lifetime memories to smile about and forever treasure. Thinking of this right now...kind of makes me want to try to blog more often about those little things. After all, the little things can sometimes bring the greatest happiness. :))

the Date I make headlines

January 11, 2022- Lucy of Lulus Petals receives first successful Brain transplant.


Tonight my son asked me to make him chicken pot stickers for dinner.- I make these often and don't need to read the directions on the back of the package. 5 minutes later... They were black as night and I realized why the were called 'stickers'. I said to him.. I don't know what went wrong, I made them the same way I usually do.... THEN I remembered I forgot to add the 1/2 cup of water to the pan which helps 'steam' them instead of burn them.

Today I sit down to write a Sunday Scribblings Post- The prompt is date... Hmm..." I know I will write about my first date with Peter." As I am almost done writing I think.... 'GEE this sounds more familiar than just a story I've told before'. Then I realize...' OH YEAH.. I've already blogged about this'. I delete the post based on that assumption.... Later on.... I hunt for the old post..... Ends up...I had only wrote about our first meeting not that first date. shit. Can't remember how I put it all into such sweet words.

This morning, instead of milk, I poured Passion fruit juice into my coffee. Finished showering, realized I had forgotten to hang a towel within reach. I also forgot to send my cousin a birthday card AND a credit card bill was due yesterday. (ca ching $35.00 late fee.) but the absolute clincher... making me THE future brain recipient..... I have misplaced baby pictures. Precious, VERY important pictures. I've hunted high and Low.... I have been feeling physically ill all week due to this dilemma. Even a new brain wouldn't help me remember where they are :(
It's only 6:30.... I wonder what else I will forget?

Horizon

Day is visited by darkness, didn't notice it arrive
My vibrant colors are squashed into wistful faded blues
my heart is weighted weary by its disillusioned mood
darkness stifles joy, inhibits me from feeling alive
I Drift into slumber, hoping it alters the mood I will arise in
Eyes shut tight shadows the darkness of day, breath whispers rhythmic weeping
I dream of euphoric colors dancing inside me again, as I lay sleeping
Awakened, quietly aware my bright colors may return...over tomorrows new horizon

visit writers island for more horizons

awkward encounters of the snooty kind

I will tell you what ELSE is new ( and frustrating) this week...Well.... it's happened again... I lost my cool in yet ANOTHER frustrating phone conversation with yet ANOTHER arrogant, indifferent receptionist at ANOTHER doctors office. If you read about the Last time this happened, you may be thinking I'm ready for the Psych. ward. (You may be right.) but just know this... I always start out extremely polite. I always try to maintain a civilized demeanor. I am reasonable and speak courteously. UNTIL.... Their attitude starts... Until a RECEPTIONIST starts dictating what is emergent care and what isn't. Even then... I didn't curse! but at one point.... when she started dictating bogus New 'New Year' rules about referrals taking 48 hours and If it doesn't go through My son will be charged by the specialist... Well.... The sailor in me.... Just Jumped in and drowned her. I'm not proud of saying things like "this is fucking ridiculous" and "Who the hell are you, to tell my son his infected toe wasn't an Emergency"? It is so out of character from who I used to be just a few short years ago. I would always maintain what I considered appropriate, decent vocabulary. I don't know what happens to us as we age... Appropriate no longer seems important. Getting my point across does! Nothing like obscenities to let a snooty asshole know just HOW dissatisfied pissed you are! To get the whole picture of what she heard.... You should know the conversation was a few days ago, when my voice was still all squeaky and raspy from my cold. As commanding as my words were, hearing them in this puny barely audible whispery scream, must have sounded... well 'fucking ridiculous' to her. In the end, I called my insurance company and verified that her information was indeed bogus (or misinformed.) I found out my sons visit to the specialist was Definitely considered Emergent care and would be covered. I found out it has ALWAYS taken 48 hours to process a referral, but as long as she dated it correctly, it's fine.
I called Miss Snooty back a couple of times, but could only get an answering machine ( thank-you very much Caller-ID) In my message, I told her what The insurance co. said. I told her, I thought she should know this so she can give the next patient THE CoRRECT information. Believe it or not I had calmed down a bit.. and also Told her, that I apologized for my language but I was understandably a bit frustrated by her indifference. So now... I need to call her again!... I think I have a sinus infection and want to see the doctor! I have a feeling I will receive Quite a cold reception, and I will plan on bringing a very, very long novel as I don't expect to be taken in too promptly. It is amazing the control this person gets just for sitting behind that sliding glass window. She is like the fucking wizard of HMO's. Wish me luck!

What's New?

I'll tell you what's new.
For the New year I wanted to add a new photo to my tired little blog to freshen it up.
I received a few compliments on a recent new picture, and many commented that my old pic was too tiny.
So about three days ago, I researched how to do this. Being that I am so forgetful lately, I
hadn't a clue what I did last year. I did remember asking my blogging friends for advice,
(because I had no idea where to start.) Miss Bean gave me great info that led to my last profile picture. This time... Well, I first read that whole help page that those blogger bastards give us. I re-sized my new photo at flickr. I tried taking a photo straight from my computer. I tried editing my html, nervous that I would totally screw up my template. (keep in mind... I am a 48 yr. old hairstylist, I'd never even heard of html, url or template until last year.) I annoyed asked a few blogging buddies in hopes that they had a miracle solution I hadn't read about. What started as -just sitting down on New Years day
to make a change that I thought would take about 5 minutes,- ended up -causing me much frustration, much cursing,
and as I read through "blogging for dummies" much too much feeling insecure & incompetent! I wasn't merely driven anymore because I wanted or needed this stupid New picture. NO, I was driven by insanity...this became my New Year obsession. I had to get this fucking thing to work. Despite STill feeling sick from this cold/flu thing I have that is lingering, despite having to work on wed. and thurs. and in between taking down all my Christmas decorations.... I became CRAZY! I spent WAY too much time at this computer.... Cursing with my 'Marge Simpson" laryngitizy voice! My son tried adding the following
to my url- < imgsrc=" ____" /> I don't know what the hell these symbols mean,( and I had to write them incorrectly here, or my post had a blue box posted instead of these symbols, which means they do DO something) I let him try. No Luck. I then tried to download a new web browser, maybe blogger would be more cooperative with me exploring New options with... ..explorer, No such luck. So, today I sat down with a nice cup of tea and I took a deep breath ( not easy without my asthma inhaler) & said Let me just try One more time copying my url from fucker flickr into this space in my 'edit profile' area. Just one time and then I promise I am giving this shit up forever.... And Freaking EUREKA! The picture just popped right in. Is blogger screwing with me? Testing me... Seeing if I will jump ship to typepad? Is it that flickr fuck, Who ever he is?
Am I stuck with a Christmas picture forever Not to risk this bullshit again?
(I had thought about trying to give up cursing in the New year... but because of blogger,flickr,Earl (url) and all their befuddling asshole friends, I'll keep speaking like a drunken sailor till '09.)

To Read more 'new' stories, visit- sunday scribblings