Momentum
What’s Jack up to? Jack is so fickle lately. We’re having a terrible time getting him to go outside in the morning. He is so not into the cold weather. Running and hiding under the bed and making the DH late for work. Sorry bud. It is what it is and you have to get your walk.
I’ve been terribly unmotivated since returning from Savannah. Running is painful. Really painful and it’s oh so cold. It’s seems to have gotten deep into my bones and they won’t loosen up enough to go the distance to get in ½ hour on the Dreadmil. I find myself barely able to handle a brisk walk. I know it will be a fight through each and every exercise session during these winter months.So I took my very sluggish behind to Weight Watchers for a weigh in and to be introduced to the new program that came out this week. 2 problems:No.1. This may not be a problem just an uncomfortable change but once again Weight Watchers has turned the WW diet world upside down and come up with a totally new plan. No more flex and core plans but now a new flex/core hybrid (much like the auto industry) called Momentum. It seems to require lots of studying and new math. Oh joy.
No.2. I’ve decided to jump start my motivation by changing my day. (Ok the other day interfered with a breakfast date with friends. Shhh don’t be quiet.) This means a new group and leader. More change. And here’s the kicker. They actually sang at the end of the meeting. Seriously, took a popular song and gave it WW lyrics. Cut to my jaw dropping. Too much even for me. I may have to go back for sure now just to see what they sing next week. I guess that’s motivation enough. Pretty slick trick leader.Weight loss is such a hard thing that the words “hard thing” are too weak to describe it. It’s a tiny percent physical. Mostly mental. And then there are these strange chemical things that go on that effect everything. All of it adding up to a big old mess. I’m currently watching
GMA and they are talking about Lady O and how once again she’s struggling with her weight. I know there are some that won’t have sympathy with that, but I do. Weight loss and keeping weight off is such a tough thing to do while living an easy happy life. I’m feeling for you O.Best,KwanaBravo
Gone Clubbing
What’s Jack up to? First Jack’s all full of the Christmas spirit giving us all sorts of trouble as we try and decorate the tree and just when I try and pose him to snap a few pics he goes and turns into Ebenezer Scrooge. What’s with all the attitude Jack? Too funny.Although I’m a writer I’ve never been one to claim to be literary. I guess you could call me a snob in that way. I love romance and am proud of it. I was mad for Jackie Collins growing up, loved Sydney Sheldon, went through a period where I devoured all the Danielle Steele I could and then came Bridget Jones and my love affair with chick lit. Oh, sweet heaven I’ve found my voice!
So when I read the article in this weeks New York Times style section Fought Over Any Good Books Lately? I was struck but by the two flat out disses at chick lit.
Check this one in reference to a woman leaving her book club because she hated the selections, “Breaking up isn’t so hard to do when it means freedom from inane critical commentary, political maneuvering, hurt feelings, bad chick lit and even worse chardonnay.”Excuse me, what did Chick lit ever do to hurt anyone and how about chardonnay? Yeesh you’d leave a club because you look down on a person’s taste in wine. Oh please don’t come to my house. You will so hate me and my love of sweet white zin. That’s right I said it. I like white zin, historical romance, chick lit and the classics. The complete works of Jane Austen is on my nightstand shelf in case of emergency or duress. You never know when the need of Mr. Darcy will break out and you must combine chick lit with a classic. What is to be done with me?
Now to the second beauty. But I have to backtrack a bit. First off, there are book group facilitators that are paid to lead suburban book club discussions and keep unruly clubbers in line and lead the discussions. Who knew? The members pay the facilitators 250-300 dollars annually. Cool job I guess, but I’m having trouble getting my head around this concept. Groups of adults needing another adult who is not the author or the publisher to lead them in the discussion. In their own homes. Sort of be the expert and make sure no one person takes over the discussion.
Hmm… am I being too critical to think that this sounds like book club baby sitting? If I am tell me. Is this working for any of you out there. Have you tried it?
Oh, but to the second diss. This one is from a facilitator: Another woman decamped because she wanted to read more chick lit. “I hate to sound ponderous,” Ms. Bushell said, “but I have a certain moral obligation. I don’t feel I can be paid for leading a discussion about ‘The Devil Wears Prada.’”Moral obligation against THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA? What Tha-?! And how many weeks was THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA on The Times bestseller list? Pla-ease.When is this going to end? Life is way too short and times are too hard for us to not just get over ourselves and lighten up a bit. There is a place for a little bit of everything and no need to put other people’s tastes down. I feel that I have a moral obligation to say this and not to drink wine that cost a lot but taste like crap.
I’m leaving you with two questions today:1.What did chick lit ever do to you?2. What do you think of book clubs today?I hope you had a wonderful weekend. I did!Best,Kwanafirst image from kwana and jack
second from The New York TimesYep, A Change is Gonna Come
What’s Jack up to? Jack is full of life this morning. Jumping around at everyone’s feet. He’s all full of energy and ready to play. Ok, Jack I’m in!
I heard Seal on the radio yesterday morning and stopped dead in my tracks at this perfectly timed remake. We have to believe.Best,
KwanaLong Suffering Heroes
How do you feel about the long suffering hero in a romance novel? I’ve just finished two books. The first following The Quest was BROKEN WING by Judith James and the second was SEDUCE ME AT SUNRISE by Lisa Kleypas.
Both books though very different in subject matter struck me as similar in the fact that they both contained the Long Suffering Hero and that got me think if I really enjoyed the suffering hero as a character or do I go for more of “the rake” or “the bad boy”? Now I know on some level every effective character has to have some flaw or thing that he suffers over or he’s just flat. What I’m talking about here is the hero that feels he’s just so bad that he’s no good for the heroine or that super sweet do-gooder. Please don’t give me that guy. I’d just hurt him.
I’ll start with BROKEN WING and Kristie’s Ramblings on Romance Quest. This was an interesting book for me to get my head and heart around.Without a doubt I enjoyed it. A lot. I was pulled in right away and totally engaged. The author takes the tough subject matter of child prostitution and marries it with an innocent blossoming love story and an epic adventure. The love letters that she writes in the book are some of the most beautiful pages I have read in a long time. But for me I was frustrated by the very long suffering hero and the heroine that suffered right along with him. I wanted someone to stand up and be strong and fight. That said, I would still recommend the book. It’s an interesting love story that I’m still thinking about today. The historal detail is amazing. So am I a Quester? Kristie what do you think?
Now in SEDUCE ME AT SUNRISE we have another long suffering hero that can’t get
his head out of the past. First off, I loved this sexy book. But much like the hero in BROKEN WING this hero, Kev, feels that he’s not fit to lick the heroine’s boots. Though he doesn’t mind trying to lick at other parts of her. At times I wanted to reach though the pages and shake him too which I guess says something great for the authors writing. But this hero never got too deep in his sorrow that I put the book down. He was a fighter and filled with non-stop passion. Totally tortured, but acting a bit of a rake. But what pulled it out for me with this book was that the heroine didn’t fall into The Long Suffering Hero trap. She upped the ante and refused to suffer with him. She challenged him and fought against him to pull him out of his shell.So I guess I can take a long suffering hero if he’s got enough bad boy in him to be interesting and strong or the heroine has enough fight in her to challenge him.
What do you all think about long suffering heroes? Are you Team Ashley or Team Rhett? I think you know where I stand.
Um, sorry about that. I just can’t get over Twilight.
Have a great weekend!
Best,
KwanaTop Thursday
I had no clue what to talk about today. I’m still a bit off from the holiday last week and the realization that Christmas is right around the corner, but thankfully yesterday was Wednesday and TOP CHEF came on to help me out.The show starts… another sultry summer day in New York. Funny we were supposed to just believe it was Thanksgiving last week. Oh Top Chef. Moving on who is there but my fave chef to hate the non-dancing Rocco Disperto. The quickfire is a breakfast Amuse-bouche which is a small bite as if that’s going to hold anyone over. What a word: Amuse-ouche just rolls of the tongue huh? But for the life of me, no matter how many seasons of Top Chef I watch, I can’t see the reason for them except to act as a tease. If you like what you’re tasting you’ll want a bunch, but all you have is a bite. It’s just frustration all around. Can you imagine ordering one at a restaurant? Getting 2 of something. 15 bucks. You and your partner each take one, it’s delish and then you look down at and empty plate with longing.Back to the challenge. The chefs quick go shake it. There is a blow torch pulled out by Fabio and things really heat up. Before you can say boo the time is up and Rocco is ready to judge. Always.
Leah gets persnickety over size (it matters) and the fact that hers is really one bite. She rolls her eyes at all the 2 biters. It works. Daniel and Fabio are on the bottom. Stefan and Leah and Jamie are in the top three. The winner is Leah. Way to keep it bite sized. She wins a copy of Rocco’s new book.For the elimination challenge the chefs must create a dish for a 2 ½ minute live TV presentation. Freak out.
Over in Whole Foods for some reason that let a couple of chefs cut their own fish. I don’t get that one. At All.Back in the kitchen there’s your usual chopping and such and Alex is doing what appears to be and impossible 1 hour crème brulee and Leah is happy for immunity.
The chefs start to demo for the judges and Jamie has egg problems.
Alex has speaking problems and taste problems.
Fabio charms.
Stefan is cool.
Melissa burns Tom. Ouch.
Time runs out for Leah, Ariane and Carla. They are too chatty.Melissa, Alex and Jamie are in the bottom three.
Jeff, Fabio and Ariane are in the top three. The chefs are told to go home and the final elimination will be tomorrow.Then sneaky Tom shows up in the middle of the night dressed in black and gets the top three. He tells them that the hosts to The Today Show will judge the top dishes on the show.
Jeff is mad about serving unsophisticated palettes at 6:30 am. Well, excuse me. Sounds like he thinks he’s a Top Chef already.Judging are Kathy Lee and Hoda so we know it’s much later than 6:30 more like 10am, Jeff so chill.
Ariane’s goes over well. Fabio’s is good too. But Kathy Lee is Kathy and spits out Jeff’s. Ouch.
Ariane wins at the today show.Back at the Judges table and Rocco is handing out more gifts. His favorite Tools. Ok, I refuse to make the obvious joke here. You all insert you own. Have at it.Ariane is the winner and she gets to present live on the Today show, today! Check it out.The losers are marched in. Melissa is given heat for her heat. Jamie has egg in her face for the egg and Alex doesn’t get the point of the competition.
In the not so glad room there are whispers and murmurs about who is throwing who under the bus. Then out of the blue there are some strange tickles and giggles with Leah and Hosea. Hold up there. Only tension in the Not So Glad Room. Have some respect please.
In the end it’s Alex that packing his Knives and going home. Have a happy wedding Alex!Here is Ariane’s winning BEEFSTEAK TOMATO SALAD recipe
Ingredients:
3 beefsteak tomatoes, nice and red and ripe (substitutes: heirlooms or vine ripe)12 pieces seedless watermelon, cut into 3 inch stickssheeps milk feta cheese (firm), cut into 10 pieces, 2 inches long4 T extra virgin olive oil1/4 cup 12 year old balsamic vinegar2 T herb fleur de selBASIL OIL
2 cups basilice bath1 cu olive oilsaltDIRECTIONS:
BASIL OIL1. Blanche in boiling water.2. Shock in ice bath.3. Put into blender.4. Add 1 cup olive oil and salt, and puree 1 minute.5. Pass through fine chinois.To plate tomato salad:1. 3 each 1/2 inch thick slices of New Jersey tomato.2. Top with three pieces of watermelon and 2 pieces of feta.3. Drizzle with olive oil, basil oil, aged balsamic.4. In a small (baby sized) spoon, fill with fleur de sel, place on side of plate.Garnish with sprig of basil.Now I have no clue what fleur de sel is I guess we have to watch The Today Show to find out.
Best,KwanaFun with hot glue
What’s Jack up to? Well Jack’s back home and totally not loving me. He’s not in the house 10 seconds and he pees on the kitchen floor. Jack was totally confused his week in the big city. “Concrete? What ya supposed to do with that?” Ugh! Now he’s all like, “Grass? What ya supposed to do with that?” Sigh.
Moving on to nicer gentler topics… Fun with hot glue or the Five Dollar Wreath Makeover!Check out my porch before. So sad.
I can’t believe it’s really December and I’m already behind. I look up the block and wince. Look the other way and shake my head. Yep the neighbors are all ahead of me with lights strung and wreaths up. I head to my basement to pull out the lights and my old wreath see if I can muster up some spirit. Muster, muster, muster. Here I go…
Sigh again. Look at this wreath. I am not feeling it.
Off to The Christmas Tree Shops to see if I can find a deal. No great deals on full wreaths, but I got a little box of crystallized fruits (I know it sounds strange. Stop laughing) for 5 bucks and I thought hmm… I’ve got hot glue (tasty with plastic fruit?). It was a Martha moment.
Here is the finished product. I likie verrrrry much because it’s all mine.
An original. Let there be light.
Now to the tree. Baby steps.
Best,
KwanaBewitched- Books vs. Movies
So I got to see TWILIGHT with the DD while in Savannah. I enjoyed it immensely thou
gh not as much as I enjoyed the book. That’s the problem with seeing movies once you’ve enjoyed the book. I find they take out too much of the delicious backstory that you loved.But still, I was bewitched just as much as the rest of 14 year olds, the 25 year olds and the 40 year old women in the theater. We were all pulled into cold grey world of Edward and Bella. I have a feeling that the majority of the women seeing the movie in Savannah had read the books. There was just too much anticipation in the air.
For the record my DH and DS thought it was pretty good too, but I’m sure it was because of the cool fight scenes thrown in just for them.
How do you all feel when you compare movies to books that you have loved? Are you satisfied or slightly disappointed when you don’t get the view that was in your head?
Best,
KwanaSouthern Charm
What’s Jack up to? Jack is trying to get used to being back home after spending the week being totally spoiled by Nana. How will he survive with just little ‘ol me after having all the bacon, ham and roast beef his heart desired? He is going to be so hard to deal with this week.I’m back from Savannah and visiting the DH’s family for the Thanksgiving holiday. It was lovely, but way too quick and the ride there and back too long. I-95 is a long road.Enjoy the moss hanging from the stately Southern trees while I do some more laundry. Sigh.
What are you up to today?Best,KwanaI’m on a quest
You know me, I can’t hear about something going on without popping in to see what the fuss is all about. So Kristie’s got this Quest going on over at her and Katie’s blog. You can read about it here. You see she read Broken Wing and went ga-ga over it.Now since The Great North and South Crusade which my lovely PIC hooked me up with came from over at Ramblings on Romance I had to jump on in with the Quest. I mean come on, I will be forever grateful for North and South coming into my life. If you didn’t get on with that, please get thee to Netflix quickly and thank me later.That said, I’m currently reading Broken Wing. I’ll let you know if I end up a quester. Kristie was consumed. Wow. Big word. A lot for a book to live up to. Hmm…So what are you all reading? Up to anything exciting this weekend.I’m currently on the way back from home Savannah after being stuffed better than the Turkey this week.Best,Kwana
