Book Review: I See You've Called In Dead

What a romp of a read! Had I checked Amazon first, I'd have noticed the numerous, well-earned awards and accolades. I See You've Called in Dead is not my standard fare. The premise hooked my attention and I was eager to find a book to lighten my mood. Even though cautionary content threatened, I persisted for the plentiful laugh-out-loud moments. John Kenney certainly knows how to write humor. I shared some hilarious lines with my husband. Yet, this is not just a fluff read. Kenney bores down into deeply meaningful questions we all struggle to answer. From the standard, "Why am I here?" to "When life falls apart, what makes it worthwhile?" The book provides lots to consider and is full of interesting, heartbreaking characters. I really felt for the main character. Plus, I loved his interactions with his young neighbor. Here's the alluring premise:

Bud Stanley is an obituary writer for a major publication, but his work is slipping. When his ex-wife calls to say her mother died, it pushes him, already defeated and almost drunk, over the edge. In his plastered state, he begins to contemplate his own obituary and writes a fanciful one only to accidentally hit return. During the resulting suspension from work, he attends the wakes and funerals of strangers hoping to learn how to truly live.

One minute you're cracking up at Bud's wry humor and the next minute you're reeling from the weight he carries. Bud's not the only funny one. His boss, his landlord, and his landlord's housekeeper all deliver their own share of comic retorts. It has been billed as a "coming-of-middle-age" book. Even this is funny. I've never seen "The Office," but it apparently has a similar feel. Still, I'm fairly certain the book is more poignant and has more depth than that show.

Substack recommended Kendra Jernejcic's February book reviews. I loved how she summed up this book: "These challenging topics are couched in some of the most humorous and insightful writing I've ever read, making the subject not just palatable but incredibly life-affirming. I found myself laughing at the razor-sharp dialogue and insane sarcasm while wiping away tears at the sheer beauty and poignancy of Bud's observations and internal reflections."

At one point, Bud says, "People can break you. Through pain. But also... through love... I was broken two years ago. And Tim... he showed me grace and dignity and kindness when I had none, wasn't able to see it, kind of gave up. Tim saved my life because he showed me how to live." Finally, one of my favorite lines from the book: "Maybe we're all obituary writers. And our job is to write the best story we can now." I think this would make a great book club selection as it is funny, yet thought-provoking. If you're on the fence, go take a look at all those glowing endorsements.

📒 Content Caution

Mid-month Mention: Smiling With Josh and Jase

These days one's Facebook feed can be pretty depressing. Life just keeps racheting up a notch. Division rules the day. But, I've recently been blessed by a new bright light of sunshine in my Facebook feed. I'm sure it is driven by algorithms. The more I watch, the more of this content I see. 

Well, in this case, that's absolutely fine by me. That ray of sunshine comes from two British blokes who love to travel to the United States. Josh Clarke and Jason Riley go by Josh and Jase, and they are everywhere on the internet these days. I could listen to them talking all day long. I love their accents. I adore their wacky reactions to crazy things about my country. At some point, I saw a short about words that don't mean the same thing in the UK. I can't find it now. Alas, it made me laugh as I remembered my own accidental use of words that are taken differently in Britain.

When I first visited Britain, I studied with Wheaton College's summer program at Oxford. I took a bus and spent a weekend with some American friends who were living in London. Of course, these American friends had British friends who wanted to teach me a British sport called Rounders (similar to baseball). I was concerned that they might ruin their white clothes, so I called out, "Don't slide, David! You'll soil your pants!" Everyone burst out laughing as David, looking horrified, cried out in his delightful British accent, "Oh! I hope not!" Apparently, they believed he was wearing white "trousers" while I used their term for men's underwear, "pants." My bad! It would have worsened if I had said, "You might fall on your fanny!" It can be tricky not to mis-step with language.

Josh and Jase are highly entertaining. I'm an older person, so I'm not on Tik Tok or Instagram and am only now encountering this delightful duo. You really must go check them out.

They can be found under several handles on Facebook: Josh and Jase, Josh from England, The Accent Guy, Life With Josh, or Josh's Faith Corner (Josh has sadly lost followers after declaring his Christianity).

Or you can watch their You Tube channel: Josh and Jase.

If you'd rather, you can find them on TikTok or Instagram.

And if you wish to send some support their way, here's a link to their Patreon. I didn't realize how important their support is until I watched this recent video about their lengthy process acquiring visas for travel to continue their content creation in the US. 

To think they had to spend $60,000 in various fees to get these visas blows my mind. Subscribe. Follow them. Let's keep them coming to America and making their fun, lighthearted videos to brighten everyone's day. Maybe one day they'll come to Indiana. I'll stay tuned.

Book Review: A Very Merry Matchup

Becca Kinzer's A Very Merry Matchup is a delightful and wholesome Christmas novella. What a task to come up with a new idea for a seasonal story. Kinzer's novella boasts a delicious blend of romance and humor. Indeed, it's like a Shakespearean comedy of errors. Misunderstandings lead to colorful confusion. Yet, when those misconceptions resolve, the reader gains a touching resolution.

Ivy West has a plan. She knows what kind of life she wants (nothing like what she grew up with), and she's working hard to get there. Beau Wall may be handsome, but his unstable career in baseball would never mesh with Ivy's perfect plan. Thinking someone should snatch him up, she plays matchmaker and pushes him to pursue her friend, Lucy. Alas, she's not the only one intent on making matches.

Through a hilarious myriad of mix-ups, Ivy lands at Beau's house for the holidays, convinced she's there to help celebrate Lucy's engagement. Beau and Ivy each arrive with a rambunctious dog in tow. They make an adorable couple, if only Beau (and his family) could convince Ivy to give him a chance. Thankfully, Beau can see through to her heart. He recognizes her wounds and her deepest longings. Her plan may not allow it, but everyone knows plans often go awry (and with Becca Kinzer, going awry means loads of laughs).

What a perfect pairing of humor and humanity. There is a depth of pain leading to Ivy's walls. Yet, the power of love softens and redeems it. I recognized Ivy's desire to avoid the mistakes of her parents. My teen struggles felt similar. I rooted for Beau and his loving family. Who doesn't want a family like that? Plus, having once had a rambunctious Goldendoodle, I loved the humorous comic relief the dogs provided. This is a holiday tale I recommend and will happily read again.

Book Review: First Love, Second Draft

What if a wife's worst day of her life was her husband's best day? What conflict and emotion might this conjure? I could well relate to this scenario. Not that my worst day was John's best day, but I worry there are much worse days ahead. We endured a miscarriage prior to the births of our three sons and, believe me, we processed and grieved differently. It is so hard when reactions don't match. The pain is intense and then you add a layer of misunderstanding. Men definitely grieve differently than women, and often communication in those tender initial days is non-existent.

Becca Kinzer has a real talent for taking the difficulties of relationships and spinning them out with wit. She knows how to write humor (a tough task). When you feel like crying over life's challenges, it is refreshing to pick up a book that leads from internal intensity into light-hearted laughter. Here is a brief summary of First Love, Second Draft, from the back cover of the book:

"Rom-com writer Gracie Parker hasn’t written a bestseller since she and her husband, a major league baseball star, divorced five years ago. On thin ice with her publisher―and with a looming deadline―Gracie couldn’t have picked a worse time for a painful injury that has her flat on her back. At this point, she’d accept help from anybody . . . except her first love and ex-husband, Noah Parker.

"The baseball season has just ended in massive disappointment for Noah. He’s facing the stark reality that he gave up everything for a career that’s let him down and that it might be too late to get back the one person he should’ve held on to. So when Gracie’s nephew calls, saying Gracie’s looking for a tenant for her next-door rental, it feels like it’s meant to be."

I've enjoyed all of Becca Kinzer's humorous tales. This one is a novel about second chances. Love is hard, but deserves a second chance. Sometimes women who have been hurt refuse to give an ex a second chance. We are all flawed and failing. We all desire forgiveness. I need to learn to extend grace to others more freely and open doors for restoration and reconciliation. I just hope it doesn't take a painful injury to get me to that point, ha! (My June fall from the treadmill wasn't as debilitating as Gracie's injury, but I'm still needing to sleep flat on my back because my normal side-sleeping causes twingy pain where I hit the chair. Say a prayer for healing, if you will.)

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Becca has announced a new book slated for the spring of 2026. It sounds like it will be another joyful journey with witty banter and unexpected romance. Here is the cover reveal for next year's novel, Not What We Pictured. (This title sounds like a commentary on my life, ha!)

   

Author Spotlight: Becca Kinser

(photo collage property of Becca Kinzer's author website)

Becca Kinzer is a critical care nurse who lives in Springfield, Illinois. She writes clean, lighthearted, humorous stories. Her first novel, Dear Henry, Love Edith, won the 2024 Carol Award for debut novel. This was my first introduction to Kinzer's writing, and I really enjoyed that epistolary tale of mistaken identities. In it, a young woman rents a room from a man she thinks is an older gentleman. They keep missing running into one another, so he assumes she's a spinster. As their correspondence blooms, so does love and a myriad of obstacles.

Sometimes it is difficult to follow-up on a successful debut, but Kinzer wrote an equally funny novel in her second book, Love in Tandem. Charlotte Carter faces the dismantling of her beloved small town music program. Desperate to save it, she agrees to join her ex-fiance's brother in a tandem bike challenge, hoping the prize will secure funds to save the music. As these opposites approach the 500-mile trek, their pretend-dating scheme runs into plenty of snags. Is love inevitable on a bicycle built for two?

I would have loved to have driven to Springfield, Illinois, to meet and interview Becca Kinzer. I appreciate her light-hearted humorous stories. They lifted my spirits on some gloomy days. Since I'm not gifted with the ability to write humorous tales, I admire this skill she demonstrates. Alas, instead of an interview, I'm relying upon information from the book club kit for her upcoming book (available,  with discussion questions, through Tyndale in their Crazy 4 Fiction book club kits).

As for writing with humor, Kinzer follows a driving principle. She writes, "There's a saying in the writing world that if there's no tears in the writer, there's no tears in the reader. Well, my interpretation is if there's no giggles in the writer, there's no giggles in the reader. Let's just say I had plenty of giggles writing certain scenes in this story." Kudos to Kinzer for making readers giggle!

You can influence the success of Kinzer's third book by purchasing it on its upcoming release date, April 15th, 2025. In this book, First Love, Second Draft, Kinzer focuses on second chances. Gracie is a rom-com writer who writes a baseball romance series. Noah Parker is a forty-year-old pitcher who is famous for one perfect game. When the two meet, there's a bundle of banter and a surfeit of sparks. But can their love overcome the complications they face?

In the book club kit, Kinzer discusses how to story germ originated. She writes about "having trouble sleeping. Scenes about a baseball player and his wife kept playing out in my mind. What if the absolute best night of a baseball player's professional career coincided with the absolute worst night of his wife's personal life?" Sounds like a great premise, no? Apparently, she wrote the book before her other two books took off. She teasingly liked to call the manuscript, "First Love, Seven Hundredth Draft." Ha!

I think I'm looking forward to the book most because it promises a story of redemption. Kinzer says, "There's an element of redemption and forgiveness that always goes hand in hand with a second-chance romance. I don't think the world can ever get enough of that type of story." I hope to find the encouragement Kinzer sought to instill in this story. She hopes readers "learn to cling to God through everything, especially the disappointments and seasons of waiting. By keeping a tight grip on our faith, we'll never lose reason to hope. And as with all my stories, I hope readers get some good laughs along the way."

Want a taste of the tale? Click here for a free flash fiction story, "Famous First Date," introducing Gracie and Noah. If you visit Becca Kinzer's author website, you can access two free novellas when you subscribe to her newsletter. Then, head to the Amazon page for her new novel, to secure your copy on the release date. Or if you'd rather purchase a signed copy, visit the author's website where you can purchase one from The Sly Fox. I'm wishing Becca all the best of success as this third novel reaches the light of day and into the hands of eager readers everywhere. Maybe someday I'll get to meet her and ask the myriad of questions bursting in my brain. 

Book Review: How to Age Disgracefully

I read How to Age Disgracefully for my book club. The date fell earlier than I realized, so I ended up reading this on the morning of the 2 p.m. scheduled meeting. Thankfully, it was a quick read, and I didn't give up on it (despite a bit of raucous content). The book is similar to The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife, in that it focuses on old age and requires a heavy dose of the willful suspension of disbelief. However, I liked the Frederick Fife book more than this one.

The book features a slap-stick crew of characters. Daphne, depressed to be alone on her 70th birthday, joins a senior citizens group. Sadly, all they seem to do is craft projects. She's suspicious of an older man who is a failed actor with a shoplifting problem. The quiet woman who is constantly knitting must be up to something, too. Then they learn the childcare facility where they hold their meetings is due to be shut down. The group sets out to save the day. Hopefully they can do so before their pasts catch up to them.

I guess I had a harder time willing myself to believe the unbelievable. Moreover, I didn't feel any sense of redemption took place. It didn't lead to much stimulating conversation, either. Oh well. Not every book is going to be my cup of tea. 

Book Review: Funny Story

Funny Story, by Emily Henry, was not a clean read! No, indeed it veered into graphic descriptions of activities I would prefer to be left to my imagination with a slow fade. Alas, I listened in audio form. I could not quickly skim through and get beyond, but had to barrel through the sensual scenes (I'd say "intimate," but they were casual and to me, intimacy is hard-won through marital commitment). However, again, these scenes popped up after fully invested, and besides, the story was so delightful otherwise. I can understand why it was an instant New York Times bestseller (and Julia Whelan's narration was outstanding, as always).

Daphne and Peter always introduce their impending marriage by explaining the funny story of their meeting and finding love. Only now, Peter has realized he's actually in love with his best friend, Petra. Daphne had moved her entire existence to Peter's Michigan town to be with him and now she is alone, without genuine friends, and seeking a replacement for the one good thing about her life, her beloved job as a children's librarian. Also, she must find a new place to live on the spur of a tragic and traumatic moment.

After Daphne moves in with Miles, Petra's similarly rejected fiancé, she receives a wedding invitation to Peter and Petra's wedding. Why not prove she is not as devastated and lonely as Peter believes? Why not rub in his face that she could move on quickly? Thus, she spins a new funny story. She will attend with her new boyfriend, Miles. Can they keep up the pretense? Is it really a pretense? What does Daphne truly need and will she find it in this sweet Michigan town?

This was entrancing! There were several laugh-out-loud lines! Moreover, I loved the characters. Daphne struggles with inevitable trust issues from a father who was never there for her. Certainly being dumped by your fiancé intensifies trust issues all the more! But Miles is so likeable. He is sweet, endearing, and the kind of guy that everyone falls for. Then again, we're all reeling from the emotional baggage of life.

I have my own funny story... about this book. I didn't begin listening as soon as I received it from the library. It came due before I finished. No worries. I'd seen it available on Hoopla. Alas, only on the neighboring town's catalog. Thus, I had to wait until the audio version came available again (3 weeks). At the checkout, the woman next to me was checking out the hard-cover copy of... Funny Story. (I had also noticed a woman on a recent plane trip reading this same book.) Funny! Delightful! Well-earned reputation.

📒 Content caution: sex, drug use, language

Book Review: The Keeper of Stories

For a debut novel, I am impressed. The Keeper of Stories is like Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris, in that a lowly cleaner learns to assert herself and claim her own story. Because the personality-packed dog expresses foul-mouthed thoughts, it reminded me of The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness (whose memorable opening line sucked me in: "The first thing you find out when yer dog learns to talk is that dogs got nothing much to say.") It is a frame story, much like The Arabian Nights (mentioned in the book). But, most of all, it is, as the back cover proclaims, a book "full of humor and depth - that has taken readers around the world by surprise."

In Janice's role as a housekeeper, she collects people's stories. Whether it is a snippet of story overheard on her bus ride or the tales of her clients, she relishes adding another story to her repertoire. Mostly, her clients are more interested in their own stories. But when Janice begins cleaning for Mrs. B, a flamboyant 92-year-old, she knows her story will be sucked from her eventually. Mrs. B. once worked as a spy. She's keen to know the secrets lurking beneath the surface of this mild-mannered cleaner.

I was thoroughly unprepared for the emotional investment, the clever interconnectedness, and the unexpected humor. By the end of the book, I marveled at the author's skill for bringing tears one moment, followed by snorts of laughter in the next. Despite the content in some stories (harlots, suicide, murder) and despite the foul mouth Janice hears from the beloved dog she walks, it left me enthralled. The book touches on many important truths about human weakness, tenuous familial bonds, and second chances. Primarily, I loved the focus on how each of our stories holds importance in the lives of others and teaches us something about the world. Not only did I enjoy piecing together, bit by bit, Janice's story, but I loved reading the author's bio. How fascinating! Sally Page dabbles in history, flowers, photography, pens, and stories. I'm so glad she wrote this debut novel. I will keep my eye out for more and may look up her daughter, the author Libby Page.   

Mid-month Mention: Holiday Hilarity and Hits

 

As the holiday season crawls into full gear, I offer this compilation of past posts that make me smile:

That time I unwittingly went out blinking (ha!) - a post from my early days of anonymous blogging

The curious Christmas gift Trevor received and consumed one year

Amazing snow art

A Christmas with many big hit gifts

My favorite Christmas decorations

Fun and funny Christmas ideas

September 2023 This and That

Want a good chuckle? Stayed tuned to the end of this post for my "September Silly."

Sean loves football. Me, not so much. Ever since Trevor's leg injury at the outset of his 8th grade season, my heart shudders with fear for safety in this violent sport. Still, it is fun to watch them win! Here are photos of Sean (#55) exuberantly rejoicing in touchdowns by his team:

Protecting the quarterback and ball from the opponent:

They were thrilled to win against long-time rival, Danville, the first shut-out (21-0) against this team in twenty years. Here they are with the coveted winning helmet trophy:

Sean is to the left of the bear (hard to make out his 55).

Here's a better shot of the twenty-year rivalry helmet trophy:

And a shot of Sean with some football buddies:

As more and more people move onto property near us, our once isolated and private area is changed. We've lived here, on my husband's family land, for 17 years. For the first whole decade, I hated living here. In the past, I've considered myself a city girl. I loved walking the streets of Chicago, popping into all the antiquarian bookshops. I loved having access to culture, variety, and people. This rural town did not welcome or embrace me. I was stuck at home with two infants and no connections to support or assist.

Indeed, I ached to move back to Illinois, where I was fully plugged in, had an identity tied to education, and access to the city of Chicago without being right in the city. Yet, in the past 17 years, I've morphed into a different person. I would no longer consider myself a city girl. If and when we move from this location (possible as soon as our youngest graduates from high school), I'm more likely to desire another isolated location. The pandemic didn't help things. Moreover, the future looks threatening.

Of course, Facebook is onto my idle dreams of new housing. My feed is flooded with videos of tiny homes (while I fantasize about living tiny, I'm all too aware that my hoarding tendencies make such dreams futile). I also receive alerts about adorable, old houses. Now that we've faced multiple problems in this old house (air-conditioning/heating system had to be completely replaced in June at great personal cost and well pump replaced in mid-September), I'm trying to swipe past those old house advertisement.

This one, however, caught my eye and I'm smitten. It says it has been well-maintained. The external and internal photos are appealing. But, the real draw? This house is only an hour and a half away from my favorite cousin, Karin. I'm pretty sure my husband won't go for it. It is in Pennsylvania and he has his heart set on moving to an isolated, artsy community in Southern Indiana. But, I can dream, can't I?

I love this little alcove area between the garage and house. Can't you just imagine hours of outdoor reading?

I love this roomy kitchen. Even the wood paneling on the wall appeals to me, although with the flooring seems a bit too busy.

Some setbacks to this idea: 1) We don't have that kind of money at this point. 2) We are not in the market yet. 3) Talk about isolated - this is like our current rural town on steroids - not even a Walmart nearby - wow! 4) WINTER - snow, ugh! 5) SUMMER - Did it really say window a/c? Okay, dream bubble effectively burst! Sorry, Karin.

If I could sell 5 million copies of my book (HA), we could move into this over-the-top house in nearby Carmel, Indiana:

The twenty-some photos at that link are awe-inspiring, but no, no, no - the Meadowview estate is not my dream house! Future grandkids might love the indoor wooden slide, the elaborate movie theater room, the Titanic-esque staircase in the billiards room, and the inground pool. 

I would loathe the responsibility of decorating, outfitting, and especially CLEANING 14 bathrooms (yikes) and over 20 thousand square feet of house! Nice to visit; not so nice to maintain.

Finally, I leave you with a hilarious story. John and I went out for lunch. Where he parked in the lot, we were surrounded by various work trucks. After exiting the restaurant, we approached our car. John noticed something odd dangling from below the car, near the back tire. We both squatted down to inspect this damage we had never noticed before on my car. Suddenly, the passenger window rolled down and the driver in the front seat looked at us dubiously. Doh! It wasn't our car! Our black car was parked just beyond her black car (almost identical, but for the unrecognized damage - ha!). Thankfully, she was good-natured about it. I couldn't stop laughing about it for the rest of the day. When I texted my friend, Beth, about it, she said, "Double win! A good hearted laugh and the good news that the repair belongs to someone else. 😂" She also sent this hilarious gif that captured my response:

Kitty Forman Debra Jo Rupp GIFfrom Kitty Forman GIFs

Book Review: A Walk in the Woods

I remember rocking with laughter while reading this book years ago, waiting for my husband and oldest son to emerge from a Yu-gi-oh card tournament. Since it held such rollicking memories for me, I decided to revisit it in audio form during my treadmill time. I think my tolerance for crudity and crass humor has dried up. I hadn't remembered those bits. Still, it was a fun listen and I'm always interested in books that explore walking journeys. And, well, it is Bill Bryson. Despite his sometimes raunchy humor, I find him delightful and funny.

A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail recounts Bryson's attempts to hike with his friend, Stephen Katz. The two were pals back in childhood days in Des Moines, Iowa, but time has taken them in different directions. Bill lived in England for two decades and Stephen sunk into alcoholism. As travel buddies, they are hilarious. Bryson teaches while you laugh. This time around, you learn about the Appalachian Trail (an over 2000 mile trek with a fascinating history).

What do I love about Bill Bryson? His humor is generally delightful. He describes scenes and events with great fervor and zest. Amid laughter, you're always learning. He is perhaps more fit for a trek along the Appalachian Trail than I am. Yet, he honestly shares his struggles. Leaving behind the comforts of home to walk endless paths full of trees, nature, and wild animals requires a certain hutzpah. How convenient to travel along by his side, vicariously experiencing all the enchantment and obstacles the trail offers! A 2015 film version of their journey is available, but may be just as crude. If you can overlook that, you will have a belly laugh or two.

Content caution 📒: language, crass humor

Book Review: Notes from a Small Island

Once again, it was delightful to return to another hilarious Bill Bryson book. The audio version I listened to was abridged and part of the set I snagged for a dollar at the thrift store. I recommend the full version in print or audio form. Each essay offers equal parts explanation and entertainment. Part travelogue, part commentary, Bryson leaves the reader rolling on the floor without detracting from his love for England in the slightest.

Notes from a Small Island is Bryson's tender goodbye to England just prior to his move back to the United States (he chronicles that move in I'm a Stranger Here Myself). Despite living there for twenty years, Bryson felt compelled to take one last jaunt throughout England, Wales, and Scotland before his departure. Plus, rather than touring the country by car, he chose to travel using public transport. The book begins as he steps off the ferry in the shadow of the white cliffs of Dover and ends when he returns home by train after viewing the Lake District. In between, you meet cantankerous caretakers, inexplicable travel inconveniences, and a host of notoriously British quirks. His descriptions leave you laughing out loud. At one point, in describing his descent down a treacherous hill, he writes, "I rode an ooze of flowing mud down the hill to the bay, pausing only long enough to belly into boulders and carry out a few tree-resiliency tests." Ha!

I love Bill Bryson's travel writing (any of his writing, to be honest). Of course, it is extra special when you've visited the same sites he explores. I recognized quite a few places I have had the pleasure of experiencing and quite a few British words I understood (although there is a fine glossary at the back of my paperback copy of the book). But, even if you've never stepped foot on this interesting island, Bryson's humor makes his journey one you will not regret taking vicariously. As the New York Times Book Review declares it, "Astute and funny... an amusing guide to the U.K.'s foibles, as well as a tribute to its enchantment." 

Nostalgic Nod to a Funny Fellow

When I started my blog, the title Of Books and Boys was perfect. It reflected the two primary loves in my life. Perhaps I need a new handle or even a new blog. After all, the cute little stories of the past have given way to much more difficult tales in the present, and teen boys don't really want to be the subject of my ramblings. Still, despite the bad early writing (often dashed off between midnight and 2 a.m.), I'm glad I captured those warm fuzzies in days gone by. I mean, my middle son was such a funny little fellow! He was a parrot who often spouted random things. Here are a few zingers from his younger days:

"Don't just dream of beautiful skin; make it real!" (from a Proactiv commercial, I realized a few days later)

Walked up to his dad and said: "Do you care to see my butt?" (Perhaps from my constant admonishment, "Nobody cares to see your butt!")

When I refused to buy him something in the store: whining, glare, and then a hostile "You, MOM YOU!"

When I complained how long the dishes were taking to wash: "Why don't you sing the Spiderman song? It will make your work go faster."

While at Buffalo Wild Wings watching the big-screens: "Look! Look! There are holograms!" to which I responded, "You're only six; how do you know about holograms?" With a duh look - "From Scooby Doo." I pursued further, "So, what is a hologram then?" He looked at me and lowered his head, saying, "I'm not going to spill ALL my secrets in a public place."

After desperately looking for a lost toy, he cried out, "Mom, I found it! And there, standing in the moonlight, was THIS!" When I asked what prompted those words, he shook his head and replied, "Mom, it's from the weiner dog book, remember? 'And there, standing in the moonlight, were a couple of ornery cats.'" (from Dav Pilkey's The Hallo-Weiner)

Let's just say I'm needing a nostalgic look back as we plod forward these days.

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Side-line up-date:

My oldest son, Bryce, lives in Houston, Texas. On Sunday night, February 14th, both his power and water were shut off. Thankfully, he managed to stay warm enough in layers, saved the food in the fridge by placing it on the balcony, and flushed toilets using water from the apartment's pool. His power came back on February 16th and his water was restored on February 18th. He called last night. Today will be his first day off in ten days after working ten hour days in attempts to get his workplace plant back up and running. He said they had little advance warning that the power was going to be shut off, so they didn't perform any of the normal preparations for such an event. It is an absolute mess (broken pipelines, sewage, etc.) and so many of the chemical plants in Houston are facing similar dilemmas. - Bigger boys, bigger problems.

On the home front:

I didn't notice anything as we drove to the ranch yesterday morning, but on the drive home discovered two house frames have gone up on the field next to us. Oh, how discouraging! It is happening so quickly. Our little oasis in the country turning into chock-a-block homes just across from our front meadow.

Book Review: The Antelope in the Living Room

I like Melanie Shankle. She's genuine, vulnerable, and funny. I'm so glad I purchased this brief audio book when Christian Book Distributors had a recent dollar sale. Yep, I got it for a buck (along with 11 other books, videos, and miscellaneous items my husband believes we never needed). Plus, in purchasing this, I discovered she is a San Antonio blogger and has a new book of essays encouraging readers to look for the good in others. Here's a link to her blog.

The Antelope in the Living Room: The Real Story of Two People Sharing One Life is a breath of fresh air when cooped up together, sheltering-in-place with different perspectives on what that should look like. Let's just say I had to put off listening to this for a few days because I was in no mood to reflect on marital bliss. But, frictions blew over, life went on, and I ditched the music CDs to get back to listening to a book while walking (an option already challenged with my library's closure and my CD player's demise - it was skipping even when playing brand new CDs, so it is not a case of over-used discs causing the interruptions). I appreciate how Melanie can inspire laughter one moment and serious reflection the next. Plus, I agree with her conclusion - despite the bumps along the way, it is better to do life together than to go it alone or to throw in the towel when tempers flare and you feel you may never want to speak to your spouse again. Besides, I should count my blessings: we have woods on our property and yet my husband hasn't once gone hunting and brought home an animal head to mount in my living room.

Book Review: The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared

If the title's a mouthful, the tale is a gollywhopper! Too far-fetched for me, but an entertaining story. Those looking for a wild-ride-of-a-book, need look no further than The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared. The story of Allan Karlsson's life has more twists-and-turns than an Indiana country back road.

Life is hard when old age forces you into a nursing home that regulates your every move and limits your alcohol consumption. That's why Allan, intent upon missing his own 100th birthday party, climbs out his window and makes his way to the bus station. He plans to take whatever route his money affords. Is it his fault that a young scamp asks him to watch a large suitcase while he uses the restroom? With nothing but the slippers on his feet, Allan makes a rash decision to take the luggage with him on his bus journey. What ensues is a rollicking tale of an unlikely heist and the gangsters' futile efforts to retrieve their booty. In the intervening chapters, the reader learns the back-story of Allan's patchwork life, full of intersections with famous individuals and adventures extraordinaire, making the flight of the 100-year-old man even more outlandish.

After viewing this trailer for the movie, I might just have to rent it one day (although many complain the trailer leaks too many spoilers - so you might not wish to view the trailer until after you've read the book).

Humorous Hoop Sketch

I have been laid low with an extended bout of bronchitis and have been unable to muster the energy or concentration for reading. Thus, I'm resorting to sharing one of my favorite video sketches made by my boys back in 2016:

A Card Perfect for Me

My beautiful niece, Kirsten, had a bridal shower a short while ago. I was unable to attend, but still wanted to send her a monetary gift and fill out the recipe card her sister had requested. Thus, I offered up my favorite Jell-O Pudding recipe for Berry Delight (a dish that was such a hit at the last women's gathering, where I brought it, that people were fighting over seconds). Then, I tucked it away in this little card I have been hanging onto for years (because it was so perfect for me, I never wanted to part with it). By sharing it here, I can still keep it forever - ha!

And for those interested in the recipe, you can find it here at the KraftCanada.com website. One look will make you click on that link:

 (Photo from the KraftCanada website)

Book Review: Bizarre World

It has been a while since I've tickled my funny bone by reading some Bill Bryson, so I decided to see what Bryson books were available at our library. I stumbled upon a hilarious little volume of truly bizarre vignettes called Bizarre World. It was quite entertaining, providing a few chuckles I could share with my kids (like the moronic criminal who robbed a bank, requesting the money be placed in his checking account, or the individual who attempted to commit suicide four different ways and ended up dying of exposure, or the person hit by lightning three different times while living and whose headstone was struck by lightning in death) and a few I couldn't share aloud because they were a bit risque. While not typical Bryson fare, it still turned out to be a funny little read.

Needing a Good Laugh?

I've been in sore need of a good laugh lately and I'm happy to say I've found it. Someone on Facebook linked to an article about raising teenage boys. The article was written by a woman who is the mother to four boys (how well I can relate). I couldn't help but peruse more of her posts once I discovered her blog. I about fell off my chair reading her recent post for Mother's Day. I know it is almost Father's Day, but you mothers out there will get a gigantic chuckle out of Melissa's post aimed at fathers everywhere.

Then, because I love her sense of humor so much, I liked her on Facebook, which means I get to see what she posts and let me tell you, she is a laugh a minute. So she linked to a site where someone posts things found on Pinterest which are absolutely ludicrous. The site is called Pinterest You Are Drunk and I could. not. look. away. I must have viewed almost a hundred pages. The titles and tags are beyond perfect. I was laughing so hard at a few of them (deer butt doorbell with the tags "doorbells I won't be ringing," and "deer God, no"; knit skeleton, complete with entrails and innards; a useless crocheted umbrella; a wonder woman costume to make your head turn; a wedding dress made out of diapers; and an elderly couple made out of yarn with the tag "no nudes is good nudes") that my husband came over to see what was possessing me to snort so violently. You look at these things and you think ... really, just really?

So, if you're in need of a good laugh, fill your cup today. Yes, you're welcome. It did wonders for my disposition, too.

Recipe Fiasco Friday - Mozzarella Tortilla Stack

I'm thinking about starting a new feature on the blog - Recipe Fiasco Friday! One of my goals for 2015 is to spend more time in the kitchen. I've mentioned before that I'm not terribly comfortable in a kitchen. I love to bake, but that is about the extent of it. As for meals, even though I enjoy trying new things, they often seem to fumble in my hands. It is like handing two individuals a violin and asking them to play. One might screech and whine, while the other, more accomplished individual, can make that instrument sing. Well, I'm the screech and whine individual in the kitchen. The same recipe in the hands of someone with natural skills would turn out fine, but for me ... well, it turns out to be a fiasco.

Thus, I offer up the first new recipe I have tried in the new year. When I saw it on Facebook, it looked so amazing, I just had to try it. Since it is demonstrated with a simple three minute video, I mistook that to mean that it is an easy recipe (and for someone else, it probably is). Here is the video for the easy, peasy Mozzarella Tortilla Stack (offered up by Dairygoodness.ca):


Here is the recipe, for those accomplished individuals who can make it sing:

1 lb. ground beef
1 onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. chili powder
salt & pepper
2 C peeled, shredded sweet potato
1/2 C chopped cilantro
6 large tortillas
2 tomatoes, diced
3 C shredded mozzarella cheese

Brown meat, onion, and spices. Add sweet potatoes; cook for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and add cilantro. Stack tortilla with 1/5 of the meat, tomatoes, cheese five times. Add final tortilla and top with remaining cheese. Bake in a 400 degree oven for 20 minutes. Broil the last 2 minutes, if desired. Serve with sour cream.

I forgot to take a photo before we started eating, but here is one which shows half of my completed product:

First of all, I bought too large a sweet potato (ended up wasting one third of it) and perhaps shredded more than two cups (so hard to judge just by looking at shredded ingredients). The meat and potato mixture never really blended well enough to provide even spreading of the mixture (resulting in bites of just sweet potato or just meat or just big chunks of cilantro, since I never managed to neatly chop them into tiny pieces like on the video).

The biggest mistake was that I simply didn't spread the ingredients evenly enough or flat enough over the top of the tortillas (indeed, I should have made sure I selected the largest tortilla for the bottom of the stack and should have pressed it all out to a thinner layer after placing the second tortilla on). Thus, instead of ending up with a nice layered cake-like appearance, mine had the appearance of a wobbling volcano, with ingredients falling off the sides before I could lay the next tortilla atop it all. Groan. Perhaps if it had been evenly spread and all nice and flat, as in the video, it wouldn't have burned the edges of the tortillas. It would have been easier to eat, as well, since mine turned out to be about 2-1/2 inches tall.

The only blessing in all of this is that it still tasted delicious. My husband was skeptical about the sweet potato, but ended up saying that he would eat this dish again, if I were willing to put in all the prep work the recipe took (it may have seemed like more than it really was, since we were both in the kitchen at the same time - him making the boys his amazing organic mashed potatoes and fish sticks - and thus my shredding and dicing and chopping took up space and time). Whether or not I am willing to try again is the real question. But, hey, knock yourselves out and try this recipe. Then, send me a photo of your attempt and gloat over your expertise in the kitchen. I can take it.