October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Breast Cancer.

Those two words can be so powerful & scary. I remember when my sister-in-law told me she had breast cancer. She was crying. My heart was pounding.

I remember when I learned my Grandma was sick with breast cancer. I was young and didn't know what it really meant. I just knew that she wasn't well enough to play Scrabble with me anymore and kept telling me that we'd play when she got better.

I remember when my Mom told me she had breast cancer. A few months after her diagnosis she told me that she hadn't been surprised...in a way she was expecting it. Either I was expecting it or I was just numb and in denial. I didn't cry, but I was afraid.

Both my sister-in-law and my Grandma lost their battle with breast cancer. For my grandma, it was too late once she was diagnosed. She was afraid of doctors and didn't go when she should have. I never got to play Scrabble with her again, but I think of her everytime I do play. My sister-in-law waged her battle for five years. I remember when we first met and became fast friends. She welcomed me into my husband's family and we considered each other sisters. I miss her a lot.

My mom is the lucky one. She's a survivor. And anyone who knows my mom shouldn't be surprised by this. She's small, but she's STRONG.

So, at some point this month, take a few minutes to remember those who have/had breast cancer. If you haven't had a mammogram -- GET ONE!!

All About "A"

Before I start talking "all about A," I thought I clue you in. In order to try and write more frequently in my blog, I'm going to try to write for 26 days straight, one entry for each letter of the alphabet and how words that begin with it relate to me. OK -- let's get started!

Apples -- I like apples, but I've recently discovered that my favorite kind of apples are Pink Lady ones. I just did a little Wikipedia reading on them (oh...the horrors...don't tell my professors!) and they hail from Australia. Pink Lady is also known as Cripps Pink, which sounds like a female gang to me, so I think I'll still with Pink Lady. Try one -- you'll like it!



Photo courtesy of the Government of Australia.

Aruba -- My FAVORITE Caribbean island. John and I went there on our honeymoon, because we had heard so many good things about it and my parents had gone there on theirs'. It was amazing. I was about to say it's the safest Caribbean island I've ever been to, and it is, although followers of the Natalee Holloway case might disagree. While there, we had amazing food, amazing accommodations, amazing weather, and just an amazing time!



Photo courtesy of the Aruba Tourism Board.

Even after 14 books, Janet Evanovich still makes me LOL

I just finished reading "Fearless Fourteen" by Janet Evanovich. As you might imagine by the title, this is her 14th book. In the same series. And it still makes me laugh. (Which can be bad when one reads in bed and one's husband is already asleep when said laughing takes place.)

Stephanie Plum, the main character of Evanovich's series is hysterical. From her relationship with her hamster Rex to her crazy grandmother who she drives to "viewings" at funeral homes, each book is a laugh-fest.

Admittedly, not exactly brain surgery reading, but good ole fashioned fun. Check it out! Janet Evanovich's site

ABCs of Me!

A -Age: 37 (Ugh.)
B- Bed Size: Queen. But we need a King.
C- Chore you hate: Washing the hardwood floors
D- Dog's Name: Max (official AKC name: M.S. Maxdam named after the first cruise ship we went on as a family)
E- Essential starts to your day: Alarm clock.
F- Favorite Color: Purple.
G- Gold, Silver, or Platinum: Platinum.
H- Height: 5'2" (allegedly)
I- Instruments you play: ZERO!
J- job: Eh. Hard to explain. Online database related.
K- Kids: Two stepchildren! :)
L-Living Arrangements: Yay for our own home.
M- Mom's name: Sharron (Yes, that Sharron with TWO r's.)
N- Nicknames: KT, Kate, Kater
O- Overnight stay in the hospital other then birth: ZERO!
P- Pet Peeve: People that don't use signals when driving.
Q- Quote from a movie: "Gee, I'm sorry your mom blew up, Ricky." Better Off Dead
R- Right or Left handed: Right
S- Siblings: ZERO! (Of course, if you ask my parents, you might get a different answer...they're counting canines!)
T- Time you wake up: Let's not go there
U- Underwear: Um, yes
V- Vegetable you dislike: Lima beans
W- Ways you run late: Hitting the snooze button
X- X-rays you've had: Hip, knee
Y- Yummy food you make: Again, let's not go there
Z- Zoo Favorite: Panda bears

PS- I'd love to see the ABCs of YOU!

Review of "Eat, Pray, Love"

Let's cut right to the chase. It is perhaps one of THE best books I've read. Ever. I can relate to Elizabeth (Liz; author and subject of the book) on so many levels, yet there are so many differences between us. Everyone deals with their problems in their own way, and Liz deals with hers by going to Italy, India, and Indonesia. She eats until her heart is happy again in Italy, prays and learns the meaning of spirituality in India, and at the end of her journey finds love in Indonesia.

I have to admit, when I saw the "pray" part, I was a bit skeptical about liking the book. Preachy religious writing has never been my thing. Throughout the book, though, the author is very good at sharing her spiritual experience and making it clear that it is just that...hers. She does not try to sell the reader on moving to an ashram or meditating daily. She just shares her experience.

I'll be lucky if I visit ONE of those "I" countries that Liz goes to, but reading the book made me feel like I was on the trip with her.

List to Blog About

Yes, it's come to this. I actually have a few things that I want to blog about, so I'm taking note here and now, so as not to forget them!

1. Review Eat, Pray, Love
2. Review Fearless Fourteen (which I haven't even had time to add to "What I'm Reading!)
3. Go over trip to D.C. (including Arlington National Cemetary visit)
4. Get a NEW background color. (I've called in the experts on this one.) This yellow is just not cutting the mustard. (A little extra added humor for my reader's (readers') benefit.

One and a half thumbs down

(Is that even possible?)

I just finished reading, "How to Buy a Love of Reading" by Tanya Egan Gibson. Pretty bad. It it had a few humorous moments tucked in among the pages or else it would've gotten the full two thumbs down from me.

Quick synopsis: Spoiled, wealthy, and slightly overweight girl is told by her English teacher that she's a moron because she doesn't like reading. As "THE" Sweet Sixteen gift for her, her parents decided to have an author commissioned to write her a book. (Which, they hope the girl takes an interest in.)

Premise is not bad, but way it's written? Oy vay. Wordy, wordy, wordy. It could've been 50-100 pages shorter. It's ironic (?) because while the commissioned author is working on the book, the girl tells her not to waste so much time/space on random details. Apparently, Tanya Egan Gibson doesn't take her character's advice.

Now I'm onto "Eat Pray Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert and I already love it!