March...Bloggy Book Club

First...an update... Sara Nelms did not win a spot but I thank each one of you who voted for her and I ask that you keep her name in your memory because some day this sweet girl will be a star!
If you are interested in the winners go here!

Bloggy Book Club choice for March is Galway Bay by Mary Pat Kelly and it is a historical fiction novel set in Ireland during the potato famine.
It is about a family's epic journey to survive that takes them to America. A natural disaster that takes three crops of potatoes out of four years crops, a callous government and uncaring landlords turn it into The Great Starvation that kills a million people in a country smaller than the state of Illinois.

I chose this book because of the excellent reviews done by Tiffany of Lattes and Life and Elizabeth of Thoughts from an Evil Overlord and because I needed to read a book about survival!
The news is depressing these days but I know our country is made of good people...America was built on people who would not die but would survive in a new land...not just Irish but many immigrants who would work hard for a better life...America offers this even now!
Also, I love Ireland and have fallen in love with this country at first sight!
So, in honor of upcoming St. Patrick's Day...I choose Galway Bay by Mary Pat Kelly.

Oh Vanna!

Thank you everyone for voting for Sara and entering my give-away for the iPod Nano!

Sara had entered a contest and everyone was wonderful in their support of her and I thank you sincerely!

Sara and my daughter Rachel have been friends since 4th grade! Sara was Rachel's maid of honor at her wedding.

This is the iPod nano that the winner will receive...this is Rachel "Vanna" showing it off!

Take Two!

And the winner is

Blogstalker!

Please email me your address and your name...

I will not publish it...as I know you remain in the shadows protecting all of us bloggers !

Please congratulate Blogstalker and for more friday fotos visit cute candid carrie!

It is also Wheel of Fortune's 5,000th show today!

Dreams of Jennifer and Brad and Angelina... OH MY!

So...I loved the Oscars...I mean sitting-there-in-my-chair-staring- at- the- TV-loved-the-Oscars!
I loved all of it and fell asleep exhausted thinking about how there was really only one uncomfortable moment...
I felt badly for Jennifer Aniston that she had to present with Jack Black ( Nice, but why couldn't it have been someone like the new James Bond, Daniel Craig?) in front of her ex-husband and his new "wife" and mother of his half dozen kids!
I fell asleep thinking ...."Why did they have to put the camera on the happy couple while she was talking?" It was the icky feeling...

My Hubby woke me up really early and I was dreaming and in my dream...

I was Brad Pitt's ex-wife and I had to speak in front of a lot of people including him and his "new wife!"

"Honey... I am going!" he said
I open my eyes and see My Hubby and I am overjoyed that HE is my Hubby and I am NOT the ex-wife of Brad Pitt...I swear this is my actual thought process...which I apparently express out loud!
Hubby clearly confused!
So...I do what rational people do...I explain.
"You, see I was dreaming I was Brad Pitt's ex-wife and I had to talk in front of a lot of people, including him and his "new wife!"
"I am so glad you are my Hubby!" I say.
Hubby responds with comment that will live in Ronda's Infamy (actual place you don't want to go there)

"But Ronda, if you were Brad Pitt's ex-wife we would be RICH!" Hubby says.
"Yes...but then I would be Jennifer Aniston..." I say through clenched teeth!
"Oh...yea..." Hubby smiles.
Neither one of us have figured in the "John Mayor" factor!

Don't forget to Vote for Sara and enter the drawing for the iPod nano on February 27!
Good Luck!

Sunday Salon

I am reading firefly lane by Kristin Hannah for February Bloggy Book Club and I am half way through the book. This is a surprisingly good read for me, I had mistakenly thought it a romance novel and those really aren't my favorite novels to read. While there is some romance, it is predominately a great story of friendship between two young girls that spans thirty years!
I love the time period that the novel takes place in...the girls are a year younger than I was at that time in the 70's. I could relate to all the happenings and place myself there in my own life. I couldn't however, relate to their friendship though, as my father was in the Navy and our family moved every two years of my life...making life long friendships difficult for me to form. I have a few very long lasting friendships but nothing that lasted since eighth grade...I am intrigued by these characters and I am enjoying this book so far!
What's your longest friendship and what makes it special?
Where were you in the 70's?
What was life like for you?
My daughter's friend, Sara Nelms is pursuing her dream...if you haven't helped her out..please do and enter my drawing for an iPod nano!

Bloggy Book Club

The pick for February is firefly lane by Kristin Hannah..I would put a picture of the novel...right about here but I can't get blogger to work for me today!
This is a novel about two women's friendship that spans thirty years...a friend suggested it to me.

I am currently reading Big Russ & Me Father and Son: Lessons of Life by Tim Russert and so far I love it! We all learn from our Dads...whether we are aware of it or not, whether it is a conscious act on either participate... we learn!

I have a book I do not recommend...
My Hubby and I had to take a business trip last weekend so we looked for a book that we could listen to on CD! I paid actual hard earned money for this crap...yep that's what I called it crap!
I am not concerned about offending this author as I bet ...he will be tickled pink that I think it is crap!
The book I hate is Why We Suck by DR. Denis Leary...I put the bold font by his title as this would appear to be fairly important to him as you listen to him put the emphasis on his title numerous times!
We stopped listening at the third CD!
I wanted to like this...I really did! It's just awful for the sake of being awful! He insults everyone and I mean everyone...except his wife...God love the saint of a woman! He has a filthy mouth and I am not easily insulted...
However...let's just say...it makes me uncomfortable hearing a man describe Britney's Spears private parts knowing he is old enough to be her father....GROSS!!!
But...where the actual book might be better as opposed to the audio version...DR. Denis Leary has the most annoying voice...EVER! As I listen to him
read the book all I can think of is ...this is a really bad impersonation of Joe Pesci's Leo Getz in Lethal Weapons 1-18! It sent me over the moon...and not in a good way...OKAY!!! OKAY!!!
DR. Denis Leary, I may suck but.... Buddy you suck more!
I know he is laughing all the way to the bank!
That's all I got...
If you haven't entered my give-away for an iPod nano...Please do! We are doing this to suppport Sara Nelms who is pursuing her dream!

friday foto Help Sara Nelms!

Meet Sara Nelms..she is in the middle...She would like to tour with Little Big Town and I would like you to win a iPod nano!

Do you remember having a dream and working really hard to make it a reality? Do you remember all the kind people who helped you a long your way?

Well, help Sara, please!

Go here and enter my give-away and help "Our Sara!"

for more cute candid carrie friday fotos go here!