Possible Side Effects (Augusten Burroughs)

This man makes me laugh so hard that it becomes a challenge to breathe. He's almost dangerous to listen to on the treadmill. I've fallen off...more than once. I have been excited to get my hands on this since it came out a few months ago. It was as fun as I had hoped. A collection of VERY FUNNY short stories. My favorite was called "Killing John Updike" and involved ebay and murder plots. Another great one was called "Sacred Cow" and was about his troublesome dog named "Cow". So funny. Thank heavens for Augusten Burroughs!!!

A Lotus Grows in the Mud (Goldie Hawn)

The right book at the right time. I listened to it on CD and it was read by Miss Goldie herself. A lot of very real lessons in here. The story of a woman on a journey. Trying to figure things out her way. A comfort for me. A woman sharing her story and speaking her truth is a powerful thing.

Things I Like About Myself (2peas Challenge)

This is a good challenge for me right now. Not feeling very likable. Not a lot of self love. Gotta dig deep....

1. My willingness/ability to really listen to other people
2. My work ethic
3. My creative side
4. My back and my feet
5. My heart

Perfect Match (Jodi Picoult)

This woman was born to write stories that rip your heart clean out of your chest. Perfect Match was no exception to this rule. This is the story of Nina Frost, a successful prosecutor in Maine, whose toddler son (Nathaniel) has been molested. The book examines a mother's response to the violation of her son and her perception of the legal system's inability to help or protect her family. Where are the limits of the justice system? When and how do familes, and particularly mothers, determine that they must do whatever it takes to protect their own? Is this ever acceptable? What would someone else do in the same situation? There but for the grace of God....

Today it Rains

Both inside and out. I feel heavy and slow and sad. Just moving my body takes more effort than it has any reason to. A real struggle. I can feel something shifting inside and it's taking alot of energy. More than I have. I wanted to go to work this AM after my session with Debra, but I couldn't do it. Not after spending my 50 minute hour with tears running down my face. It hasn't stopped yet. Five hours later. I want comfort, but I can't seem to create it for myself.

Quote Challenge from 2peas

This is more of a passage than a quote, but it speaks to me.

"There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is nor how valuable nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open".

Martha Graham

Why do I Love America's Next Top Model???

I'm ashamed to even admit it, but it's true. I discovered this show about a month ago when Bravo aired a marathon of the most recent season on a Saturday. Classes had ended and I was on the couch. I was immediately sucked into these women. To the process of change that they were all going through over the course of the competition. To the importance of knowing who you are and what you're about. I've never been enamored or impressed with the idea of modeling as a career, but this show has changed my perception. I think there are lessons here. Really. It was exciting to watch these women find themselves.

VH1 aired another marathon from an earlier season and I TIVO'ed every episode. I'm looking fwd to watching them all I refuse to be ashamed. Teach me Tyra! Teach me!

Summer Reading List (2peas Challenge)

This sounded like a good challenge for me to get in on. Here is my list for the summer. I hope I can get to it all.

Dispatches from the Edge (Anderson Cooper)
Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife (Mary Roach)
I am not Myself These Days (Josh Kilmer-Purcell)
Brief Intervals of Horrible Sanity (Elizabeth Gold)
American Pastoral (Philip Roth)
I am Charlotte Simmons (Tom Wolfe)
Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons (Lorna Landvik)

I'll keep you updated on my progress!