Book Review - Blind Faith

Blind Faith: Miraculous Journey of Lula Hardaway, Stevie Wonder's Mother by Dennis Love
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I thought this was an easy to read biography of Stevie Wonder that takes the angle of his mom and her background, too. I'd like to have seen some more concrete examples of his civil rights work and also more about if he's been an inspiration to others.

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2013 Christmas Card (1 version)

Stationery Card

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Book Review - Our Red Hot Romance is Leaving Me Blue

Our Red Hot Romance Is Leaving Me Blue by Dixie Cash
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

First of all, I have no idea how this book made it into my "to read" list.
Second, the title of this book has nothing to do with the book's content.
Cartoonish characters, but they were kind of charming nonetheless.
This is one of those books I read and it's kind of like eating Doritos or Oreos. Not particularly satisfying, not enriching, but one in a while, some junk food (reading) is okay.

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Shutterfly Thank-You Card

3x5 Folded Card

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Look at this adorable thank-you card I made at Shutterfly! Inside a full photo on the left (but there were options) and I put some text on the right, but plenty of room to write a note.  Cute!

The Fort by Aric Davis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book! Great characters and relationships, suspenseful and a quick read.

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A dozen years ago

This guy was born. Best thing to ever happen to me.

Book Review: The Sociopath Next Door

The Sociopath Next Door by Martha Stout
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Repetitive. Interesting concepts, but the case studies were odd and sometimes it was hard to see what the author was trying to demonstrate.

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Book Review: The Sociopath Next Door

The Sociopath Next Door by Martha Stout
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Repetitive. Interesting concepts, but the case studies were odd and sometimes it was hard to see what the author was trying to demonstrate.

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Born Standing Up

Born Standing Up: A Comic's Life by Steve Martin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If you''ve read Shopgirl, you know that Steve Martin writes gorgeous sentences, and this autobiography is no different. Perfect writing. Very interesting history of his life and how he built his comedy, in no small part by practicing and working it out over time. I felt it could have been better to see more of his home life, his marriage (s?)? Does he have children? Yes, he writes about being a private person, but I expect those details when I pay to buy and read a bio.

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Spicy Garlic Sriracha Shrimp

This is a SUPER-FAST and delicious recipe requiring a few simple ingredients.
My son and I made it tonight. We ate it with some French bread and it made a great meal!
Thanks to Laura's Best Recipes for this one!

Lost Memory of Skin by Russell Banks
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I'd give this 4 1/2 stars. I loved the characters and I'm sad it's over. But I felt like the end did not neatly end (I don't need happy endings but there are some loose ends). Good writing and very interesting setting and topic.

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Marbles

Marbles: Mania, Depression, Michelangelo, and Me by Ellen Forney
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This graphic autobiography outlines Ellen Forney's life being diagnosed as bipolar, and then figuring out how to get to a point where she's in balance with the help of meds. I think this would be a great book for someone recently diagnosed, or with someone who has someone in their life who is bipolar or struggling to figure out what's going on. The fact that Forney is an artist brings up issues of creativity and the disproportionate rates of mental conditions in artists--what's the tie-in there? Does creativity require a certain type of brain? Also good for anyone to be compassionate about mental health and the real struggle in our country to get/afford good mental health.

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Day 8 on the Carnival Breeze

Saturday, January 12, 2012  Sea Day

Last day on the cruise - morning of homework

Carnival Breeze stateroom 11235

After 11 hours of sound sleeping, I woke up.  Rodd was reading on our balcony and E started  homework. We had breakfast burritos at Blue Iguana--one last delicious time--then Rodd and I spent the morning at Serenity Deck.  Bloody Marys and Mojitos, sun, reading and snoozing. 

Then one last lunch at Guy's Burger Joint.

 

Then, time for some afternoon drinks on the Lido Deck.

 

We tried out some more trivia at the Ocean Plaza.


And that meant more cocktails.

Liquid Nightclub (in the daytime)

  Mid-afternoon, time for what the kids had been practicing for all week:  Camp Carnival Talent Show!

 
 E did a rap - he did great!

 

The little kids had prepared a group song for us. Adorable!

The big kids had practiced dancing for us.

 

 
 

 And then, a family dance:

 We were warmed up, so we went back to the Ocean Plaza and took a Thriller Dance Class, taught by Amy (aka 6-3), the assistant cruise director.

  

 

With the talent show, then dance class -- E was inspired! So we went to karaoke and he sang. He did a GREAT job.

 
At night, after packing up, we watched NFL at the Lido deck.