Dissertation Progress

I met with my committee chair yesterday and she approved my proposal to be sent to the whole committee with very minor revisions. I'm extremely happy about that. I will be doing the edits over the next couple of days and then sending it to the committee early next week. I will then schedule my proposal defense meeting by the end of April.

Wild Honeysuckle Rag by Martha Mier

Robert Morgan...

I absbolutely loved Gap Creek by Robert Morgan. I read it before I started this blog, so I don't have a review up of it, but I remember admiring the main characters' struggles, her pluck and the descriptive writing. So, I bought 2 more books by Robert Morgan, Hinterlands and This Rock. Neither of which I was able to finish.

Both Hinterlands and This Rock were depressing. The stories seemed to be more about failure and impotency than about life and love and making the best of what one has. I kept wanting to like This Rock, but I think it was actually making me grumpy and not appreciate what I have in this life--I was getting too involved in Muir's failures and his conflicts with his brother.

So, after a little over 200pp I've put This Rock aside.

Beach Buggie Boogie by Martha Meir

A fun way to start your week.

woohoo!

David and I are going on a Rick Steve's 13 Days in Eastern France Villages and Wineries tour. Two days in Paris to get over jet lag, and one extra day in Nice at the end of the trip. I'm so excited I can barely sit still.

Dates of trip are in July, we are celebrating (a little late) our 40th birthdays and (a little early) our 20th wedding anniversary. Perfect timing as it's right in the middle of both.

Now, to get to exercising so I can keep up with the tour!

Red and White Houndstooth Towels

Two of these are birthday gifts for my mom to give to her friend, Kathy Rhea, and the other two are birthday gifts that I will give to my friend...

Lazy Days by Martha Mier

The theme for this weekend, especially today. Lazy indeed. Enjoy the song. I really like it.

I will do ANYthing to sunbathe

Here is Lochi inside our printing cabinet, basking in the sunshine. She's so pretty, isn't she?

Book Review: Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout

Olive Kitteridge is an irracible woman who has a remarkable ability to drill deep to the core of a person's problem. She is big, loud and opinionated, but inside she is human and desiring to love and be loved just like the rest of us.

The book is organized in discreet chapters, that feel very much like independent short stories. All of the chapters touch, directly or indirectly, Olive and show how she influenced people in her small community--both good and bad. All of the characters desire to be loved--accepted for who they are--and some are and some aren't.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to everyone. Especially Aunt Janice.

Book Review: The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baronness Orczy

The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baronness Orczy tells the story of a man, the Scarlet Pimpernel, who helps aristocrats escape from France during the Reign of Terror in 1792. He outwits the authorities time and again and they have the strongest desire to capture him in the middle of an attempt so that they can also send him to the guillotine.

Enter the weathly British aristocrat, Percy Blakeney, and his beautiful estranged wife, Margerite. Margerite is French and unwittingly helped in the capture of a French aristocrat. When Sir Percy learned of her help he refuses to love her. Margerite pines for the affections of The Scarlet Pimpernel, who is, of course, Sir Percy, only no one knows the true identity of the Scarlet Pimpernel.

Margerite is set up by a French dignitary to reveal the activities of the Scarlet Pimpernel in order to save her brother's life. Though conflicted, she agrees, only to set a trap for her husband. She then must do everything in her power to save both her brother and her husband.

The story line is actually very good. It moves at a good pace and is engaging; however, the writing is a bit over-the-top. For that reason I'll give The Scarlet Pimpernel 4/5. Recommended for those who like to read historical fiction.

Rondo Alla Turca by Mozart

Sweet Talking Boogie by Eugenie Rocherolle

Anyone but You by Jennifer Crusie

What a delightful book. I thoroughly enjoyed ripping through this one (read it in a day and a half...which is one of the things I love about Crusie. Her books are so good you just devour them).

Anyone but You tells the story of Nina Askew as she adopts a dog who introduces her to her neighbor, Alex, and a great little tension filled romance develops between them. The hangup? Alex is 10 years younger than Nina and Nina is just divorced from a very rich successful lawyer.

As the relationship develops between Nina and Alex, the reader truly grows to love the characters. That was why I was so disappointed that things seemed to move so quickly at the end--the character transformation was believable but not really well developed. It was the only complaint I had.

Highly recommended for those who like romances.