Thursday, June 28, 2012

Relax...




 ...just relax, and go with the flow!



Wishing you moments of pure relaxation!


 Susan's Blog Signature



Liked anything you see here? Then contact me, Susan Dusterhoft at todaysworkingwoman@hotmail.com. I am always looking for more books/products to review. I can also provide assistance with blog writing!

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

TWW's Book Review: Summer in Martinstown

This book was read for the June, 2012 Reading Romances Challenge. (You might not see the romance at first, but trust me...it's there!)

Summer in Martinstown by Jo Heroux follows the lives of the Brady family, Madeline and Matthew Brady, daughter Chloe, and sons Johnny and Jimmie through one incredible, life-changing summer.

The story takes place in Martinstown, Georgia, where "summers are hot, the neighbors know all your business, and everyone has a kind word to say about you." From the very beginning the author takes us on a descriptive journey that leapt from the speakers of my stereo. Yes, you heard that correctly. I chose to listen to this book, and it was my first ever book on tape (or in this case, CD). There was no particular reason why I chose this book to be in an audio format, except for the fact that at the time, this was the only way I could get it. (Although it is now currently available in an e-reader format.)

The detail to dialog ratio is high. I had not expected this. At first I was a bit overwhelmed and almost off put by the descriptions, but then I realized that reading a book in an audio format is far different than reading it visually. I was hearing the details in order to capture the visualizations instead of reading (seeing) the words. For me, I don't necessarily have to read every word to get the picture, but in this audio format, I really did need to hear every word, every detail, line by line, in order to get the visualization that I usually see in my mind's eye.I have to wonder if she wrote this book with this in mind, because I don't think that, for me personally, the story would have been as vivid had she'd chosen to write with less description.

I must commend Ms. Heroux for her ability to entice the reader into thinking they knew when the pivotal moment was going to happen. She even had me sitting on the edge of my seat, and although I think the story would have been interesting if it had gone that way, when "the" moment did happen, I was not expecting it. In fact, I was stunned! But somehow as I continued to listen, it made sense for it to unfold this way.

I won't give away the story, but I will say that, to me, Summer in Martinstown is about a family who has it pretty good, but then is dealt a serious blow that for some would be enough to send them over the edge. And although, it would seem that way, "going over the edge" was far from what the book did. Rather, it took a sharp curve and headed in a new, hopeful and exciting direction for the family.

I hope that somewhere down the road Ms. Heroux decides to build upon the characters that she developed here in this charming community of Martinstown. I, for one, will be back to visit if that ever happens.

In the meantime, read this one...you won't be disappointed!

Rating:


Wishing you moments of great reading!

 Susan's Blog Signature



Liked anything you see here? Then contact me, Susan Dusterhoft at todaysworkingwoman@hotmail.com. I am always looking for more books/products to review. I can also provide assistance with blog writing!

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Wordless Wednesday

Pink Grapefruit


Wishing you moments of pure beauty!

 Susan's Blog Signature



Liked anything you see here? Then contact me, Susan Dusterhoft at todaysworkingwoman@hotmail.com. I am always looking for more books/products to review. I can also provide assistance with blog writing!

Monday, June 4, 2012

GBE 2: High School

I hated it. 

They were the worst four years of my life. The only good thing that came out of it was the few friends that I made, the four years of Spanish class and my guitar lessons. Overall my education was great, most of the people I went to school with...not so much.

I think back on it now and feel so empty. Well, actually, I think back on it and want to cry, but then I think, what the h3ll for! It's over and there's no going back. Oh and here's an extra kick in the a$$ for me...my graduating class has their reunion this year...and I wasn't even contacted about it...I found out thru FB. You would think somebody would have tried to get a hold of me. But NOOOOO! Nothing, no communication, nada! My family still lives in town, they are pretty prominent members of the community. I am not that hard to find.

Do I sound bitter?



Just a little, huh? I should have went to the public school...


All those people had their chance to get to know me and it's their loss. It's pretty sad since a whole group of us from grade school went on to the same high school I attended. Most of the friends that I thought were my friends in grade school, were really not my friends at all.

Somehow though all is not lost...


there are still a few that I can count on...Barb...Carol...Liz. We all went to the same high school. And after all these years, I can still say you all are true friends, along with the handful of friends from college...Shelli, Angie, Mary Ann, and a few that I met thru jobs I have held over the years..., plus my new friends I've met through my writing groups.


You're all I need. 
(plus my husband!)

High school is long gone...just a bad memory. I'm over it...time to forget the past and live now. I'm ready.



 Susan's Blog Signature

***I have written this piece for a group on Facebook that I joined, GBE 2: Blog On. This is week #55 and the topic is High School. Interested in more...click on the picture below to take you there.






Liked anything you see here? Then contact me, Susan Dusterhoft at todaysworkingwoman@hotmail.com. I am always looking for more books/products to review. I can also provide assistance with blog writing!

BFF #182 Patience...

 ...thanks for having it...with me. I know I have been gone for a long while. I've missed not participating in these twice weekly challenges. It's not that I have been ignoring them, rather I just simply haven't had the time. I've been working...a lot...both at the day job and my other writing jobs.

There are seriously only 24 hours in a day and with 8 of them lost to sleep, and another 10+ lost to work/travel to/from work, that leaves less than 6 hours a day (more like 2-3 lately) to get done everything that I need to accomplish in a day.

Sometimes I want too much or expect too much from myself and then I fail and am extremely disappointed. I just need to have a little patience with myself and to not expect everything. So if this means missing a few challenges, and going back to them later, then that is what I need to do. If it means not including any photos with my posts, then maybe that's what I need to do.

I'm still trying to figure out things...where I want to go with everything. The ideas in my head are just overflowing that I have to stop and make myself slow down. I need to review each idea carefully and determine if it will work or not. Then I have to decide if I have the time to pull it off. All these decisions....takes time and patience. Some of which I don't have on most days. And it's aggravating...aaaarrrrggghhh!

Ok, now that I have blown off some steam...I feel better and will move on. So thank you...thank you for your patience with me. It means so much. I appreciate all of you in more ways than you know.

Wishing you all moments of patience.

 Susan's Blog Signature


***I have written this piece for a group on Facebook that I have joined, BFF Blogging For Fun. Interested in more...click on the picture below to take you there.




Liked anything you see here? Then contact me, Susan Dusterhoft at todaysworkingwoman@hotmail.com. I am always looking for more books/products to review. I can also provide assistance with blog writing!