My daughter, 22 as she’s known around the Dregs water cooler, is a major fan of The Office and as she is so enthusiastic in her appreciation, I’ve become a fan, too. She has purchased all four seasons on DVD and is now the proud owner of the board and DVD games.
Her plan is to throw an office party during the blah months of January/February and is preparing with lists, SWAG (stuff we all get) menus and trivia loading. To test her skills she challenged a friend to an Office-off. To get into the mood, several of us drove to Chili’s (home of several Office memorable moments). For days I’ve been hearing all about the Awesome Blossom appetizer that we’d order.
Last night she whipped through the menu – no Awesome Blossom. The waitress appeared and 22 said. “ It’s not on the menu, but you still have it, right?” The waitress adopted a sorrowful look. “No, I’m sorry, we don’t serve it anymore.”
22’s lip nearly quivered. “But I was going to order it and tell you to add some extra awesome.”
The waitress laughed.
Then 22 got over it – she is, after all, kind of like her mom. Being the cause of laughter is possibly even better than an Awesome Blossom with extra awesome. And after looking for a picture and seeing the nutritional details, way better for us. Yikes.
Sandra Moore dropped in to share some wit and wisdom with the Dreggers. Great reading on a rainy day, thanks, Sandra.
And scroll down and click to read the first chapter of Murder on the Ol' Bunions.
What crayon in the box describes you on a good day? Bad day? Which one do you aspire to be?
I'd like to be Purple. Rich, deep, alluring. I aspire to be red someday--daring, fun, extrovert. Ha! It just won't happen, I'm afraid.
Pick one…..Pink iguana, purple cow, periwinkle giraffe. Which one and why? Can be negative or positive.
Pink iguana. To be that ugly and then pink. I'd have all the other iguanas green with envy. Wait, they are green, aren't they? That periwinkle giraffe sounds good too. . .Gentle, kind giraffes, and periwinkle is such a lovely color.
Favorite turn of phrase or word picture, in literature or movie.
WhatEVER!
If you were assured of writing a best-seller, what genre would it be? Give us a sliver of information, a characteristic or glimpse of a scene.
Mystery!
He wasn't after her to kill her, he only wanted her for her dentures.
What period of history intrigues you the most?
1842--China during the Opium Wars. A lot of American sea captains were involved during that time. Very intriguing.
What makes you feel alive?
Playing the newest Nancy Drew game with my daughter. :)
How does something worm its way into your heart? Through tears, truth, humor or other?
Definitely humor. Though I love quotes that make me stop and think, but humor is essential for me because I tend to be rather serious minded.
Where would you most like to travel ----- moon, north pole, deep seas, deserted island, the holy land or back to a place from your childhood, somewhere else? – and why.
I'd love to cruise the Mediterranean islands simply because I've never been there and you can see so much in just a few days.
Favorite season and why?
I used to adore Springtime, but now I love Autumn. It might have something to do with the fact that our new house backs to the mountains and they are so beautiful right now. Spendid colors!
Which compliment related to your writing has meant the most and why?
"Your book cured me of my insomnia."
It certainly gave me a warm, fuzzy feeling to know I had the power to HEAL! Insomniacs line up!
What would you do today if you knew you had only a week to live?
Get in the car with my family and drive to a secluded cabin, video camera in hand and recording. I'd take some time to make videos of myself "talking" to my daughter about those times in her life that I would miss. Then I'd cry. . .and cry. . .and cry. . .
Favorite chore
Isn't that an oxymoron?
Anything you'd do but don't because of fear of pain? What is it? Ex. Bungee jumping, sky diving, running with scissors.
How about just gardening and walking, or jogging, or even running? You see now why I write for a living. :)
Grammatical pet peeve…sound off.
When people leave off the comma before direct address.
Creative corner:
A man and woman sit at a table in an upscale restaurant. They each have a cell phone to their ear. What are you overhearing? Tell me about this couple…..
"I'm not speaking to you, Gerald. I told you I was right and that I'd never speak to you again if you went ahead and did it."
"You're speaking to me now."
"Not face to face. The phone doesn't count."
Cozy mystery fans will want to read the first chapter.
Come back tomorrow for Sandra's Q & A and visit her website here.
And now, my review.
Sandra Moore's debut novel sings. Snappy and creative wordsmithing, characters of substance and humor, and a mystery that will keep most readers guessing make Murder on the Ol Bunions an entertaining read. LaTisha is a laugh-out-loud, sarcastic woman with a strong will and a big soft heart.
Moore peppers her novel with delicious culinary moments, twisted red herrings and enough snarky commentary to keep half the town fed and on their toes. Long-suffering Hardy got my sympathy vote when LaTisha went into an occasional "keep out of her way" mode, but he got his darts in and the result of their interaction was as amusing as a sit-com. LaTisha's big heart makes her very sympathetic as she mourns her empty nest, and her able skills make her as asset to the tiny police department.
Those who love cozy mysteries should enjoy Murder on the Ol Bunions as much as I did, especially if you love strong women who put on a touch of tude.
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.
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.
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.
