Summer Reading: The Good, The Bad and The Meh

So, it's no secret that I am an avid reader. Lover of books. Fan of the written word. You get the idea.

Admittedly, I have slacked off on my book reviews.  It's not that I haven't been reading.  I have.  It's just that life happens.  I think I'll get to it later. Then, I end up forgetting about it. *Sigh.*

BUT! FEAR NOT, DEAR READER!!

Ever heard of Christmas in July?!  Well, this is just like that!  Except for there is no tree, or presents, or crazy Aunt Helen, or Christmas turkey...  But still!!  I am making it up to you with this post.  I am going to tell you all the books I have read.  I am going to give you The Good, The Bad and The Meh.

THE GOOD

These books are The Good books.  And by good, I mean I. Could. Not. Put. These. Books. Down.  These books kept me awake into the early morning hours many a night because I just had to find out what happened!!  (Side note: These books should really be The Great, but it doesn't sound as good.  I'm trying to be witty.  Just go with it.)

My favorite books are YA (i.e. young adult) series.  I really enjoy the dystopian society and paranormal romance series.  Most of these books are paranormal romance as well as series. *Schwing!*

The chemistry between the main love interests draws you in and makes you wonder if they end up together.  The plots are very creative and have an element of mystery to solve.  There is also the paranormal aspect which I dig. So you are not only invested as to what happens with the main characters but how the story ends.

Without further ado, in no particular order, here are The Good:

• Half-breed by Jennifer L. Armentrout
• Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout
• Carrier of The Mark by Leigh Fallon
• The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting
• Hallowed by Cynthia Hand (Unearthly series #2)
• The Girl In The Steel Corset by Kady Cross
• Cinder by Marissa Meyer
• Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini 
• Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton

THE BAD


These books are The Bad.  And by bad, I mean they were terrible.  I couldn't even bring myself to read the whole book.


These books had such a great premise!  Some of them have even won major awards! The book cover description sounded so cool and I really, really wanted to like them.  But once I started reading them, it just didn't grab me. I didn't care for them.

In the past, I would have made myself finish a book that I started.  These days, time is precious so I don't waste it with a book I don't like.

• Pure by Julianna Baggott
• The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancy
• The Book of Blood and Shadow by Robin Wasserman

THE MEH


I read these books in their entirety but I was not really overwhelmed.  All had interesting premises but I never really felt hooked. I thought they were decent but I don't know if I'd read the next in the series. Maybe I would read the next in the series if I didn't have anything else to read at the moment.

• Dark Eden by Patrick Carman
• Die for Me by Amy Plum
• Need by Carrie Jones
• Everneath by Brodi Ashton
• Gone by Michael Grant

Currently, I am reading Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris and I am loving it!  Looking forward to reading Shadow of Night (All Souls #2) by Deborah Harkness, The Mark of Athena (Heroes of Olympus #3) by Rick Riordan and  Rapture (Fallen #4) by Lauren Kate.


Hopefully, I have given you a couple of books you would enjoy and some to avoid. Who knows?!  Maybe you would dig the books I don't! In any case, I hope you find at least one from this list.


Happy reading!!

What Happens In St. Louis Stays In St. Louis

Last weekend, my mom, Aunt C and I headed out-of-town for our annual girls' trip.  This year, our destination was St. Louis where my cousin, A, who makes up the last piece of this happy foursome, resides.

Aren't we cute?

We laughed.  We ate.  We cried. We ate. We shopped. We ate some more.  We drank. We ate. We watched a movie. We ate.  Well...you get the idea.

I won't give you the specifics because we all pinky sweared and agreed, "what happens in St. Louis stays in St. Louis". But I have to tell you just a few of some of the hilarious things that were said.

When A and I discovered that our moms were reading the popular series about a certain Mr. Christian Grey.  Mom said, "I am on the third book in Twenty Shades of Grey series."  Hi-Lar-I-Ous!

At some point, I was talking about Twitter (which I love) and tweeting.  Aunt C says, "I don't understand what the big deal is about The Tweeter." Love it!  From henceforth, I will be referring to Twitter as "The Tweeter".

 Quick trip to the grocery!

One day, we needed to run to the grocery to get some supplies (i.e. cheese and wine).  Upon pulling into the parking lot, Mom looks up from her phone and says, "Why are we headed to Schmuck's?"  Oh. Em. Gee.  This one almost caused me to pee my pants.

I believe I can speak for all of us when I say we had a great time.  We always do.  It doesn't matter where we go or what we do.  Just that we are together. 

There is something so comforting knowing that you have friends and/or family that love you for you.  You don't have to put on a "happy face" or pretend to be something you aren't. These people care for you - warts and all. (Side note: I currently do not have any warts. I had them removed when I was in the sixth grade.) You can speak your mind and they will still love you. (They may make fun of you but they still love you.)

If you don't have someone in your life like this, you need to find one ASAP.  It may take a few bad eggs to find a good one but it's worth it.

If you do, you should give them a hug or send them an email right now to let them know how glad you are to have them in your life.

*Chuckling.* Writing this post reminds me when we were in St. Louis and my bra...Oh wait.  Sorry!  Almost forgot! 

What happens in St. Louis stays in St. Louis.

Super Fun Parenting Games

Not exactly the games I am referring to...

Parenting.


What can you say about being a parent?


It is the most difficult, stressful, challenging, wonderful, hopeful, inspiring, life changing and beautiful job in the universe.


I joke about my kids but they really are my whole heart.  If I had to choose between kicking a baby platypus or protecting my kid well... that platypus is going into the end zone. You feel me?


I love my kids something fierce but some days they drive me crazy.  I mean certifiably, looney bin, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, ka-ray-zee. (Can anyone relate? Anyone? Anyone at all?)


For those of you who are expecting parents or do not have kids, let me share some of the Super Fun Parenting Games that we parents love to play.

• "Finding The Sippy Cup" - When locating a sippy cup after days (or *ahem* weeks) of festering with chocolate milk inside, JUST THROW IT OUT.  Trust me. Do not try and salvage it.  I learned the hard way. Homemade chocolate cheese is NOT the way to go.

• "Going To Sleep Late and Waking Up Early" - You think the first time your baby stays up ridiculously late because they were teething/gassy/ear infection that they will sleep late. That is so cute! (Sadly, no dice.) Those babies wake up at the same early morning hour ready to go while you stumble around like some sort of derelict with a bad hangover.

• "Read Me A Story While Going To The Bathroom" - My kids love to read all the time.  So much so, that even while I am in the bathroom, they like to climb into my lap and want me to read to them. Folks, we value learning so much in this house that reading takes place EVERYWHERE.

• "Holy #$%& I Just Stepped On A Lego/Hot Wheels/Thomas The Train" - Unbeknownst to you, you can be traipsing though the house, minding your own business, when BAM, you step on a Lego. This hurts like no other.  I stepped on a piece of train track three weeks ago and I am still gimpy. No joke.

• "I Know You Worked Hard Making Dinner But I Am Going To Throw It On The Floor" - Your kid only eats 10 things so you carefully take the time to fix three of these items just the way they like it.  After you place it on the table in front of them, they promptly throw the plate on the floor without eating it. Ah, well. Those ants down there aren't going to feed themselves!

• "Eating Cheerios Off The Hotel Room Floor (Or Licking The Doctor's Office Walls)" - At some point in your child's life, they will put something in their mouth or actually eat something so nasty that you will almost pass out from the grossness.  You will be thinking, "Is it safe for my baby to gargle with hand sanitizer?" What doesn't kill them, boosts their immune system.  (At least that is what I tell myself!)

These are just a few of some of the Super Fun Parenting Games that we Mosseys have experienced.


What say you?  Are there some games that you play as a parent that I missed?

I Told You I Didn't Want Those Cheese Sticks

Before kids, Jeff and I would fly to Minnesota every Christmas and spend a week with his family.  One particular year stands out.  It was Christmas of 2001.  We flew Delta with a connection in Chicago, then on towards Minneapolis.


Before boarding the plane to Chicago for our evening flight, I say to Jeff. "I don't feel so good. I have a horrible headache."  


Jeff asks, "Can I get you anything?"


I say, "A water would be great, sweetie."


As I sit sipping my water, I am thinking "Wow! This is one mother of a headache!" Soon after, they announce boarding for our flight so we grab our carry-on luggage and head to the plane.


(In hindsight, I realize it is a migraine headache.  I would get these all the time before my diagnosis so you'd think I would have recognized what it was. Hey! I'm cute and funny, but I'm not a genius too.  God had to be fair.)


Once inside the plane, I realize this plane is hot. I mean like Satan himself would even be like "My, it's a bit warm in here!"


Now, I am always hot. I mean it can be 10 below zero and I am still wearing a t-shirt while fanning myself standing in a tub full of ice.  (I should point out that this is before I was diagnosed with Graves' Disease, so I was "100 X infinity hot", as opposed to my normal "hotness".)


So even Jeff, with a normal body temperature, says, "Wow.  It's pretty hot in here." I just nod my head in agreement.


I close my eyes and try to rest but the longer I'm on the plane, the worse I feel. I'm sweaty, my head hurts and I start to feel a little sick to my stomach.


I say, "Honey, I don't feel so good."


Jeff says, "Maybe you're hungry?  When was the last time you ate?"


I say, "I haven't had anything since breakfast. Maybe that's it. I need to eat something."


Jeff says, "When we land, we'll get you something to eat."


Once the plane lands in Chicago, we get off the plane and head into the terminal looking for a place to eat.


We spot a Chili's restaurant so we go in, sit down and start looking at the menus.


Our waiter comes up and takes our order.  Jeff orders an appetizer, cheese sticks, then a chicken sandwich for himself and I order a hamburger.


When the cheese sticks arrive, I take one look at that greasy fried food and know that I cannot eat it.  I mean I know if I eat those cheese sticks I am going to hurl.


I say, "I can't eat those cheese sticks."


Clearly frustrated as he is trying to help me, Jeff says, "Michelle, you said you were hungry so I ordered the cheese sticks.  You haven't eaten all day.  Eat the cheese sticks."


Because I am not feeling well, this seems to really irritate me. So I say, "Fine!", then proceed to eat some of a cheese stick.  Well, I did eat one cheese stick.  Only, it didn't stay down.


After the waiter appears and sets down our sandwiches, I can feel myself getting ready to hurl.  It's awful.  I make a lame attempt to cover my mouth but it doesn't matter.  It shoots out the sides, all over me and our table like some bad movie scene.


Jeff jumps up so fast that I never even saw him move! We've been married this whole time and I had no idea he had super powers! Holy canole!


I start crying because, well, I just vomited in a restaurant.  Let's face it.  It was not my shining moment, folks.


Jeff says, "Just go to the bathroom! Go! I'll take care of this."

As I am walking away with my carry-on, I hear the waiter say, "Would you like me to box this up for you?"  Uh, what the what?!  Yeah, buddy.  Let's pack those puke covered sandwiches for later! Crazy much?


I sadly slink away to the bathroom and clean myself up the best I can.  Thank Heavens that I did not check my bag.  I ALWAYS check my bag but I did not check it this time for whatever reason. (See. Still looking on the bright side even while covered in vomit!)


Walking out of the bathroom, I throw my favorite (now puke covered) jeans and t-shirt into the trash.


Jeff sees me, comes over and puts his arm around me.  He says, "Are you okay?"


I say, "Not really. I just threw up in front of a bunch of people in a restaurant."


Jeff says, "Do you want to find a hotel and stay here or head to Minneapolis and rest there?"


I say, "Let's just get to Minneapolis.  I can rest there."


So, we board the plane to Minneapolis and Jeff is super sweet, getting me a cup of ice water and rubbing my head.


Once we are in the air, we both laugh a little at the horribleness of the situation.  Jeff says, "I guess I shouldn't have made you eat that cheese stick, huh?"


I say, "I told you I didn't want those cheese sticks."

Americans and Canadians: BFF's

So, I've been thinking about all of this animosity between Americans and Canadians. I'm just wondering, "Why we can't get along?"  I mean we are neighbors.

(Okay, so I just made that up.  Hey, you got to do what you got to go to get blog traffic!)

But I have been thinking about how Americans and Canadians are quite similar. In fact, I think Americans and Canadians could be BFF's.

• Americans use the word 'huh'. Canadians use the word 'eh'. For instance, an American would say, "Pretty cool, huh?"  A Canadian would say, "Pretty cool, eh?" Both are pretty much the exact same thing! I mean they are both English. Semantics, folks.

• Americans say "Bah-rette".  Canadians say "Bar-ette".  Toe-May-Toe, Toe-Mah-Toe. Bah-rette, Bar-ette.  It's the same hair accessory, people!

• Americans are amused with our ridiculous politics.  Canadians are amused with our ridiculous politics. Okay, I guess to be fair, Americans are more irritated than amused with U.S. politics. Meh. Close enough for government work! (Get it?! 'Cause I was talking about politics then said 'close enough for government work'?! Oooookay. *Ahem*. Moving on...)

• Americans are baffled by our healthcare. Canadians are baffled by our healthcare. No matter where you are on the political spectrum, you have to admit our healthcare system needs a face lift. I mean you can put lipstick on a pig but it's still a pig. (Two for two! I am 'en fuego' with the jokes. At least I am in my head...)

• Americans hate Caillou.  Canadians hate Caillou.  Folks, if this isn't the uniting factor, then I don't know what is. Who actually likes this little, whiny, irritating, sniveling cartoon character? (The only character that is more annoying is 'Angelina Ballerina'. DO NOT get me started!)

There you have it!  We have tons of similarities.  Plus, we are neighbors!  

I rest my case for Americans and Canadians: BFF's.

I Am Going To Axe Kick My Doctor In The Face

When I was pregnant with J, I was scheduled to be induced on a Friday night. After having the "gel", then 24 hours on Pitocin and three attempts to break my water, we finally see some action! (My cervix was all, "Heck no, I won't go!") 

Within an hour of breaking my water, I have dilated to 6cm and I am telling anyone who will listen that I need an epidural STAT.  After epidural, I rest some, then around 4am Sunday, I have finally dilated to 10cm and I can start to push!  (Hooray!  Let's do this thing!) I am so ready to see my sweet baby's face!


After pushing for an hour, Dr. V (no joke) says he wants me to rest and turns off the epidural.  He says he wants me to be able to feel it. (Huh? Say what?!) I am so delirious and exhausted at this point I don't realize what is going on. So I am like, "Fine. Whatever."  So I rest for about 40 minutes, then I start to hurt.  Like BIG TIME HURT.  Like nothing I've ever felt before hurt. Dr. V and nurse decide now is the perfect time to try pushing again.  So, I push and push and PUSH.  Cheese and biscuits! It hurts so freaking much!

I stop for a rest.  Dr. V says he is worried about J's heartbeat as it goes down each time I push and this can be a sign the cord is wrapped around his neck.  I am really worried now.  Dr. V also says I am exhausted so he thinks it best to do a c-section.  I am so stinking tired now - beyond exhausted is putting it mildly.  Get my sweet baby boy out and make sure he is alright!

Now, I am exhausted, worried, and scared.  I am struggling to stay awake. There are a lot of things happening around me as they prep me for my surgery.  But, I am alert enough to hear Dr. V say to the nurse, "She has really small hips anyway."

WHAT THE WHAT?! EXCUSE ME?! I have been your patient for close to 10 months and you are just NOW saying I have "small hips".  News flash!!  You have known this the WHOLE TIME!  If I could feel my legs, I would axe kick you in the face!

So, to make a long story short, I had quite an epic adventure in the arrival of J, and he turned out to be a beautiful, healthy baby boy.


Though at the end of it all, if I could have, I would have axe kicked my doctor in the face.