Scribbles and Scrambles ~Fading Friday

Bonfires are big in Iowa. At least in the countrified sections. The sections where tractors live, and bales of hay fill barns. Where the harvest moon really does shine like a big orange superball through the haze of dust in the air.

My eyes are burning from the smoke, my stomach is churning over the hot dog and other unhealthy items I ate. The canine vacuums are not happy with me. I didn't take them and they smell other dogs!

Tomorrow I will pay. After I sleep in.

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ A Song from the Heart

Good song. Deep thoughts. Kind of where I live a whole lot of the time.

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Terrible Mother Moment # 263

I am a horrible mother.

You think not. Well let me clue you in.

Today 22, aka my daughter -- incognito, and I took the puppies for a walk. Apparently they had a little go-juice sprinkled over their Wheaties this morning. Now, keep in mind that these are strong dogs in the 70+ pound each range. Boxer Black Lab mixes that are all legs and muscles. Got the picture? Good.

22 has this sweet leash that attaches to both dogs.

She had 140+ pounds of "horse" power in one hand.

Who knows what grabbed their attention? Possibly a bird, a leaf floating lazily on the breeze. Maybe even a wild hair/hare. Whatever it was ended the "nice" part of the walk. All of a sudden 22 got distracted at the exact time that the "team" decided to work as one and take off to visit a neighbor's yard.

If you are a water skier or know water skiing picture this...22 was a skier and the dogs were a speed boat. Her distraction was kind of like a "Hit it!" from the water. From the corner of my eye I saw 22 break into a world-record-destroying sprint." What the heck?" I thought to myself and then realized what had happened.

This is where the terrible mother part comes in. Did I yell at the dogs? (LIKE THAT WOULD HELP !) Did I offer her a helping hand? No, I laughed so hard I bent over double. Did I offer her any sympathy when she slid into home on her hiney? Or when she snapped and put the dogs back under her control? Did I even offer her an alternative to going back home again and changing her pants? No. No, I didn't, I was busy laughing and couldn't speak.

Sorry, 22. tee hee snort. Gotta go.

Serials and Scenarios ~ The Shape of Mercy

Book Description:

Lauren Durough is a college student longing to break free of family expectations when she stumbles into a project for eighty year old Abigail Boyles—transcribing the journals of Mercy Hayworth, a seventeenth-century victim of the Massachusetts witch trials. Almost immediately, Lauren finds herself drawn to this girl who lived and died four centuries ago. The strength of her affinity with Mercy forces Lauren to take a startling new look at her own life, including her relationships with the mysterious Abigail, her college roommate, and a young man named Raul. But on the way to discovering the candid truth, Lauren must earnestly ask if she is playing the role of helpless defendant or the misguided judge? Can she break free from her own perceptions and recognize who she really is?

In our high-pressure, success-oriented culture, readers will identify with Lauren’s struggle to forge her own identity separate from the plan her family designed for her. Offering intrigue, romance, and heartbreaking drama, this contemporary novel with a historical twist conveys the intense beauty that emerges when we see how our stories affect the lives of others.


My Review:

Susan Meissner captivates from page one. She takes a handful of people in quiet crisis of the soul and pulls them together into a story, weaving threads of mercy, love, grace and tragedy from present day to 1692.

The point of view and focus changes from ancient, fragile diary pages to modern here and now issues like relationships keeps the horror of the happenings during the Salem Witch Trials from becoming too much and too hard.

I know a book or a movie is pure gold if I walk away but can't leave the characters or the situations. I know a novel has gotten under my skin if I feel a sadness that colors how I think or absorb things for a few days. The Shape of Mercy is a golden sliver.

Some will not like it. Readers who don't care for deep literary styles or a glimpse into sorrow or evil be warned - heavy subjects are covered -- life, death, regret, love. Others might not want to read it if they expect all Christian fiction to have a gospel message clearly presented, there is only a light touch within these pages. However, there is a depth that will cause a reader to look within and ponder life and death.

Susan Meissner has yet to disappoint me. I hope her work continues to receives wider notice. Talent with all aspects of writing put her solidly in the category of must read.

Scribbles and Scrambles ~Monday Wisdom

My folks forwarded this news article to me.

I thought it was a refreshing outlook on life.

Omaha World-Herald 10/12/2008, Page E11 (if you click on the article it will get bigger.)

Super Cinema Saturday ~ Young at Heart

It's been awhile since I reviewed a movie. But here's one, after this little announcement, Happy Birthday 22! I'm off to a mall shopping marathon to celebrate.


My Review:


A documentary with so much heart I'm pretty sure it would be impossible to watch without a few moments of blinking back tears. A performing ensemble made up of those in their very golden years, has set out to throw themselves into music and into the entertainment business with a sweet twist and unique takes on a quirky array of songs. Stand out numbers were Sonic Youth's Schizophrenic and James Brown's I Feel Good. The performance of Cold Play's Fix You just about undid me.

There are hilarious moments like a car trip with an 86-year-old at the wheel. Touching moments including a song dedication that didn't leave a dry eye in my house, or the sell out audience for that matter. And in between were the moments that brought life and death to the surface. Those moments shared with dignity and honesty.

Other than a smattering of off-color/suggestive comments (PG rated), Young at Heart is great family viewing.

As with all documentaries, the winding stories and details of life may bore children. If you hate documentaries you might not be won over to the genre by Young at Heart, but you'll also be missing a fascinating and encouraging slice of life if you skip it.

Serials and Scenarios ~ Hometown Favorite

Whew. I power read this book for the book tour this week and just finished it.

Football fan? Looking for edgy? Read the first chapter here.



Click on the cover to find out more info, or check out the author's website.

My review:


I wouldn't have chosen this book to read for pure entertainment. My major reason is football. I'm not only not a fan, I don't get the game. I also do not care for omniscient point of view. The authors vocabularies and talent resulted in some overwriting as well. That said, I was won over by the story.

Though I skimmed football details fairly often, football non-fans can find something to enjoy in this story. I'm not going to give away many details since they would be spoilers. I will recommend this novel to folks who wouldn't have issues like mine as stated above, and who are looking for edgy Christian fiction. There are usages of slang and a smattering of curse words in this novel. Heavy subjects like child endangerment, violence, sexuality,drinking and drug use give the book a solid PG to PG-13 rating depending on your sensitivity.

The authors paint a picture of grace and hope. Despair pops up, forgiveness and restoration are covered. It's not a light read, but it could be just the ticket for some folks. Those who are fans of Creston Mapes novels may want to check out Hometown Favorite.