Happiness is a gift

I woke up this morning amidst three snuggling children. As a rule, I never share my bed with my children. Since they were born, I have had them in a their own bed in a different room. They know my rules, and they follow them without complaining. The rule still stays. However, this past week I made a small compromise. Jefferson went to an oral surgeon and had four teeth pulled out, three baby teeth and one extra adult tooth still inside the gums. The extra adult tooth was positioned between the other adult teeth and the baby teeth, and wasn't letting them make contact. We were worried that the adult teeth would be coming out crooked so we went ahead and pulled the baby teeth out. Jefferson did fabulously and never cried or whined. The dentist was astonished at how well he did during the whole procedure. That night Jefferson, taking advantage of me spoiling him a bit, asked if he could join me in my bed in the morning after dad left. Never actually thinking he would wake up and snuggle with me, I said yes. To my surprise, Jefferson had set the alarm for 6:30 and even more surprisingly had woken up and slept in my bed for an hour. He was very happy that he had snuggled with me and boasted proudly to his siblings.

It will be no surprise to any of you if I tell you that when Gillian went for her own orthodontist appointment later in the week, she too requested to come and snuggle in my bed. To tell you the truth, I'm kind of glad Gillian wanted to snuggle with me too. That girl is growing so fast and is way more mature than I ever was, even in my teens, and seeing her still wanting to be cuddled and loved by mom makes my heart full. This morning I woke up with James's legs on top of me, Gillian's arms around me, and Charlton's wet kisses on my eyes and cheeks. What more can a mother want! I'm not changing my rules, but once in a while I love waking up with saliva in my face and minor aches on my body. I love being a mother to these great kids.

However, I'm not always shining brightly with joy for being a mom. Just this past week I was complaining to Elijah about Charlton needing me every moment of the day. Having had the first three close together in age, I was used to spending time with them and then letting them play on their own. Since the older siblings are at school during the day, Charlton wants me to be his playmate all day long, and that's frustrating me tremendously. And it's not just because I want to read or do my own things, but because I need some quiet time to think and ponder. So I started experimenting with ideas these past few days. I read to him first thing in the morning, and then I had him help me with the chores around the house. When I needed to be on my own, I asked him to play on his own. I didn't make this too long, probably about 30 minutes, max one hour, during which time I read my scriptures, exercise, wrote emails, and so forth. He still comes and bugs me, but I'm telling myself to be patient. Here is a picture of my sweet Charlton playing on his own:

I've been much more engaged with his desire to attend story time as well as playing with friends. I've taken him twice this week already at the story time and at the park with his friends. This seems to work for both of us; it makes the day run faster.

Before when James would come home from school, I would work with him and Charlton would hover over us and not allow us to use our time effectively. So I changed that part too. Now when James comes home, I let them play outside as much as they can, and then when they seem tired or in need of attention, I read to them both. This helps Charlton fall asleep, and James and I have some one-on-one time afterward. I'm grateful for James, whose desire to be alone is as big as mine, but who still takes the time to play with his little brother and make him happy. The picture of them both sitting together, eating popcorn and reading will be an unforgettable memory to me for years to come. Now that is happiness.

I also realized my older kids were not getting enough park time either. Just because they are getting older, that doesn't mean they don't like to play at the park! This past week I brought their roller blades with me in the car, and as soon as I picked them up from school we went straight to the park, with just a quick stop at the ice-cream place. Charlton, who loves the park and doesn't mind being on his own, thought having his siblings with him was paradise. However, he didn't join his siblings till he was done with his ice-cream.
Since I was in the mood for rearranging my younger kids' day, I thought I might as well come up with a written plan for my older kids as well. Now, I won't bore you with my administrative skills, but I just wanted to share something that is very effective with my kids when it comes to not having them whine. When they were young, we assigned each day with some kind of fun, such as Monday was for making treats, Tuesday for computer games, Wednesday for watching Star Trek with dad, Thursday for service, Friday for board games, Saturday was movie day, and Sunday was for writing to family. We still use the same ideas, but I thought I would add a few sport activities as well. Although I haven't signed them up for any sports this semester it doesn't mean that I don't believe in sports. I just believe in family time more. So I decided to merge those two ideas together and this is what I came up with:

Monday
Fun: Art/drawing
Sport: Running on the treadmill, or outside
Family Activity: Making treats for FHE

Tuesday
Fun: Board Games/Cards
Sport: Soccer in the back yard
Family Activity: Read classics

Wednesday
Fun: Library/computer games
Sport: Play basketball with dad
Family Activity: Watch Star Trek with dad

Thursday
Fun: Park
Sport: Rollerblading in the park
Family Activity: Go out for a treat

Friday
Fun: Computer games
Sport: Bike racing
Family Activity: Do a service project

Saturday
Fun: Movie/Field trip
Sport: Baseball
Family Activity: Laundry/Chores

This may seem like a lot of structured time, but it's not. It just gives all of us, but especially the children, guidelines and ideas on how to use our time effectively, and it is time we are using together. And together, or in close quarters, is what makes us happy.

Speaking of being happy, every Monday my kids amaze me with displays of their artistic talent. Last week, the boys worked on how to draw fruit or baskets of fruit. Here is James's apple and pear:
This week, the boys worked on drawing things that were close at hand, everyday items like a shoe. I thought Jefferson's rendition of his shoe was extraordinary:
Gillian mesmerized me with her usage of color and visual clarity (the paper was longer than usual and I had hard time scanning it in its entirety):

I so enjoy art, and I'm so glad my kids enjoy it too. I'm happy that I've instilled in them the desire to do their best in anything they do. Today it might be art, but tomorrow it might be raising righteous children of their own.

I also love being surrounded by people with talents. I love to hear Gillian sing; I enjoy Jefferson's precision; I'm happy when James finishes his puzzles in a jiffy; I laugh out loud when Charlton dances a jig; I marvel when Elijah writes a touching poem. But most of all, I love being surrounded by kindness. The ability and desire to be kind is a gift that enriches everyone's life. I'm touched when Gillian stops what she is doing and reads to Charlton without being asked. My heart is full when Jefferson repeatedly tells me what a beautiful and sweet mother I am. I'm so grateful for James's understanding when I tell him I'm tired and he brings me (without being asked) a blanket so I can rest. I want more and more of Charlton's wet kisses. And I'm humbly grateful to Elijah for not only the big things like being a righteous leader or an attentive husband, but also for the little kind things he does for me each day like calling me to remind me to eat lunch, or sending me articles that I might like to read, or filling the soap dispenser because I hate to do it. Giving kindness and receiving it is what happiness truly is.

I was watching an adaptation of Charles Dickens' Nicholas Nickleby the other night. I had read it a long time ago, so I didn't remember it very well. I was astonished at the main character, Nicholas Nickleby, who amidst all misfortune and sadness, found it in him to be kind to every one he encountered, and by doing so bring some happiness to those souls. In the end of the movie, the narrator closes with these powerful words:

"In every life, no matter how full or empty one's purse, there is tragedy. It is the one promise life always fulfills. Thus, happiness is a gift, and the trick is not to expect it, but to delight in it when it comes, and to add to other people's store of it."

I'm grateful for snuggles, and chatty kids, and wet kisses. I'm grateful for sunny days, sandy shoes, and sticky hands. I'm grateful for art, music, and books. Above all, I'm grateful for the kindness of others and the chance life gives us to be kind in return. Let us have a smile on our face today, my friends, and bring sunshine to our dear ones. Happiness is a gift that we can all share.

The Weekly News

Last week, my kids received a package full of books and books-on-tape from my mother-in-law. She sends them little gifts and reminders of her love almost every month. My children love their grandmother, and I'm grateful that they look forward to her special gifts instead of just expect them as part of the relationship. They love to send her and their grandfather letters and pictures that they draw to show love and gratitude.

I'm also very grateful for my mother-in-law, for her kindness, her example of service, and her sweet and meek nature. I grew up with a very different kind of a mother, more assertive and full of visions for life, and I'm forever grateful for her and the life she gave me. Although very different in many ways, in one aspect my mother and my mother-in-law are the same: in having an awareness for others and a desire to serve. Growing up with a mother whose service to others each day was a natural part of life, helps me understand what Jesus said in Matthew 25:

34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

My mother-in-law has the same godly virtue of serving others continuously. I'm grateful I have two mothers whose example of love and kindness toward others enriches mine.

Along with other things in the package, my mother-in-law sent us some corn meal freshly ground and made out of their own corn. Corn bread is a big thing in the South, and surprisingly enough back home as well. My kids fight over who will eat the last piece each time, and each time I promise them I will make more the next day. So as soon as we got the package, I made them some cornbread to accompany dinner. Here is the recipe just in case you would like to introduce this to your family:

Mama Lu's Favorite Cornbread
1 1/2 Cups Sifted Cornmeal
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
2 1/2 Teaspoons Baking Powder
1 Egg
2 Tablespoons Corn Oil
1 1/4 Cup Buttermilk

Combine dry ingredients. Mix egg, oil, and buttermilk. Combine with dry ingredients. Place in 8'' greased skillet. Bake at 400* for 20 minutes. Slice and butter them up to deliciousness. Enjoy!

On Thursday, I attended a book club in which I presented the book for the month. We had read and then discussed Bill Bryson's The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid. It's an amazing book in which the author relates stories from his childhood during the 50's, the age of excitement and big dreams, as he describes it. This was truly an exciting time for America with its economy booming, and its people daring to dream big and achieving those dreams. This was a time when technology started to take off, when TV was big, when cars shaped the American freedom, when the old and the new were merging beautifully together. As I read the book the same questions came coming back: What is my generation's dream? What can we call our age? What about our children, what will be the thread that connects their generation? I'm mostly a very optimistic person, and I sincerely believe in this country as the superpower that can do much good our there in the world, but sometimes when I see events such as the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals overthrowing the ban on gay marriage in California, putting the decision of two judges above that of thousands of free Americans who voted against it, or some crazy left wing scientist passionately calling government to treat sugar the same way we treat alcohol, I feel like I'm living in an age of extremism. Don't take me wrong. Growing up in communism where there was only one way of seeing things taught me that extreme opinions on both sides of the spectrum serve a very important purpose. They stand as a reminder that there are other points of view. Nevertheless, I don't believe that the minorities or ultra-opinions should rule the majority, and I think that's what happening in America nowadays. Not only we are not standing up for what we believe, but we are not even meeting in the middle. We are letting the special groups push us like mindless herds to where they want us to be. I don't have any answers or solutions, but I have convictions and the only thing for me to do is to stand by them and teach them to my kids.

I had no intention for this post to be political, and by no means too thought provoking, by there you have it folks. And now back to entertainment news. On Friday, a few friends of mine and I went out for dinner and then attended a fun and hilarious production of the Broadway show Legally Blonde. We truly had a lot of fun and I was thankful that Elijah was taking care of the children. Charlton hadn't been feeling very well that day, and he did throw up in the car just as I was parking at a nearby store to buy something fun and new to wear that night. You know you're a good mother when you aren't bothered that you didn't get to shop because you are too worried about your child. I know most of you think that's just intuitive, but if you knew how much I love to shop and how I had carved that one hour out of the week for that specific purpose, you would probably forgive my vanity. After giving him a bath as soon as we got back, Charlton seemed to be feeling much better. However, when I came back from my show, Elijah told me that he had thrown up again, but not to worry since he took care of everything. My sweet husband and my poor little Charlton. The show itself was so fun to attend and very true to the movie. My favorite duet was the one between the foxy hairdresser and the muscly mailman with shorts. Truth be told I couldn't stop myself from giggling today at the dentist office when a mailman with shorts and full of muscles came in. I pretended I was reading a funny part in my book. Here is a picture of my foxy friends, but sorry, no muscular mailmen. We left them at home.


Saturday was spent sleeping in, doing laundry, washing cars, getting beaten by Jefferson in UNO, and playing 'hide and seek.' Charlton seemed to be feeling better, and loved playing with his siblings. Here are a couple of places that Charlton found all on his own as perfect hiding places:
In the evening, Elijah and I, exhausted from having had a full day with our kids and plenty of chores to get through, sat down and watched Moneyball, a film that told the story of Billy Beane, the general manager of the Oakland A's who wanted to revolutionize the way baseball was played. I liked the acting, but the directing was a bit slow for me, with slow-paced action and very subdued dialog. However, it was the end of the movie that touched me and made me think. Billy Beane was offered a ridiculous amount of money by the Boston Red Sox to join their ranks as the general manager there and experiment with his ideas into making the Red Sox a winning team. This was the chance of a lifetime, and something that Billy had dreamed to achieve. But leaving the Oakland A's meant he would leave his daughter behind (Billy and his wife had divorced, and the daughter lived with the mom sharing the time between mom and dad.) In the end Billy decides to put his daughter first. Sacrifices are always black and white, even when there are so many shades of gray in life.

Charlton threw up again the night before so we decided to keep him home from church. Elijah stayed home, and I took the older kids with me. After Sacrament, I had to get back home, so Elijah could teach the Elder's Quorum, since the teacher had gotten sick that day. That night, tired from feeding, reading and taking care of sick children, I sat down and watched another musical that I have been meaning to see for a while, Mamma Mia. With the exception of Pierce Brosnan's inability to sing, and the somewhat schoolboy appearance of Colin Firth and Stellan Skarsgard, the movie was a hoot. I couldn't stop laughing and singing along with all the ABBA songs and the character interaction. Meryl Streep was undeniably fabulous. I didn't know she could sing so well. That woman can do anything! She could even do splits in mid-air. Her flexible shape at 60 years of age puts me to shame. Back to the treadmill for me. It might not do anything about my singing abilities, but I can sure do something about those mid-air splits.

The next morning, being a holiday, I slept in, and then started my day by putting on some ABBA to speed things up. The problem was that because those songs make you want to dance the whole time, I didn't get anything done. Except for a sweet compliment from my husband who said that truly there was no need for him to accompany me to see the musical live. He already had the concert and the best moves in his own living room. Too bad he didn't record me so you could be convinced, but maybe your imagination will convince you better than my dance moves. After my performance, my children following in my footsteps, started a dance of their own, a funny rendition of the song Money, Money, Money. Here is a picture of them dancing and enjoying themselves ( I like their props):

On Monday evening, Elijah went out with a few friends from work, and I got the kids to bed early. I started an interesting historical fiction volume about one of my favorite authors, Frances Scott Fitzgerald. I sat on that chair till I finished the book in the early hours of the morning. I really enjoyed the story of Fitzgerald's first love, and how that relationship affected him for the rest of his life. He was nineteen, fresh from Princeton, but with very poor family connections. Ginevra was sixteen, rich, vain, spoiled, selfish, and gorgeous. They fall in love, and write to each other for about two years, seeing each other a few times in between. And then Ginevra gets bored and throws him out. In five years' time Fitzgerald writes his first novel and becomes famous, and Ginevra leads a boring life with her chosen husband of serious occupation. This book had so many layers that even when I finished it I couldn't go to sleep right away. There were so many thoughts to organize and give names. The most obvious feeling was that of recognizing how our words and actions effect others throughout their lives. The relationship between Scott and Ginevra was one that effected them both till they died. What they said and how they acted toward each other would haunt them continously; him as expressed in his novels, and her in her examination of her life. To this day, I feel a sense of shame and regret for something thoughtless I said to one of my students some years ago. It is his reaction and the disappointment I saw in his eyes that has haunted me for years. It was then that I realized how much we can influence each other, by words and action. I did apologize to him, but I always wonder which one will he remember the most: my insult or my apology. Knowing that sometimes my mouth speaks faster than my mind, I have no doubt that I have hurt others as well. However, I always pray that what I say and do would uplift others and help them find joy, and I try to be guided by that simple mantra each day.

And with that little word of wisdom, I'll close my session of ramblings for tonight. All is well.

A man sooner or later discovers that he is the master-gardener of his soul, the director of his life. - James Allen

This Sunday at church, during Sunday School, we were studying the words of Nephi as found in 2 Nephi 3-5. There is a very special line in chapter 5 verse 27 that says "And it came to pass that we lived after the manner of ^ahappiness." I love that expression "manner of happiness." To me it doesn't mean that Nephi and his family didn't have trials, but despite of it all, they were happy because they were trying to do their best in following the commandments and living together in harmony with God and each other. Elijah and I discussed what that phrase meant to us, and we both felt very grateful that we feel we also are living after the manner of happiness in this stage of our life. It doesn't mean that we don't have trials and personal hardships to fight, but we are simply happy with our life and always wanting to be with each other and our children. It's a wonderful blessing to have harmony and love at home.

These past two weeks have been full of daily events and activities that although random and unimportant at times, intertwined together make up the tapestry of our life and add zest to our happiness.

Gillian had a voice evaluation with a professional voice teacher the other day. She is performing with a children's choir this semester, and seeing how well her voice was developing, I was in need of advice regarding Gillian's next step. The voice teacher told me on the phone that it was too early to start voice training at Gillian's age, but that she would be delighted to hear and evaluate Gillian. When we got there and after working with Gillian for several minutes, the teacher turns toward me and very seriously says that I did well in bringing Gillian over. She was utterly impressed with Gillian's characteristic voice, her musicality, her professionalism, the wide range of notes that Gillian could hit, and her very good pitch. After working with her for almost two hours, the voice teacher couldn't hold up her enthusiasm for having found such a talent. She politely demanded of me to find Gillian a voice trainer as soon as possible and start training her professionally. In my mind I was seeing Gillian on the opera stage singing Castadiva or Carmen. Of course, first we have to find a voice teacher that is professionally trained herself. The one that did the evaluation had retired a few years ago, and she had promised her husband not to take any more private students. I could tell her heart was broken from the fact that she couldn't train Gillian herself. She kept telling me not to lose time but help Gillian achieve her amazing potential. We are still on stage one: looking for a voice teacher. It's been hard because most voice trainers tend to work with pop music and superficial training of the voice, and not with the traditional method. And I don't want to compromise, so I'm still searching.

Gillian went to the dentist last week and was told she needed some orthodontic work done to improve her overbite. She'll have to wear metal braces under her roof for a while and then toward the end, after her jaws have been moved to the proper position, she'll have to wear braces. I was surprised to see how she didn't care much about the metal arch braces, which you don't actually see, but was very excited about braces on her teeth. The rumor is that braces are in vogue now.


Jefferson has been reading a lot of books lately, due to a change in our nighttime schedule. For his sake, and ours I should say, I changed their bedtime routine. Now we have to be done with reading and scripture time before seven. At 7 p.m., they are supposed to go to their bedrooms and read on their own. This schedule gives them time to read as well as go to bed early. Elijah and I are loving our extra time, but I have to say my favorite thing is the fact that Jefferson gets time to play with his brothers as well as read before he goes to bed early. Before, they were going to bed at eight, but falling asleep at nine or ten. Now they are winding down between seven and eight, and by eight thirty they are asleep. I'm very happy with this change. Little children need sleep.

Last week we went to support Jefferson as he raced his car in this year's Pinewood Derby. Jefferson had worked on his car with Elijah, but he was the one who had actually chosen the design, the color and had painted it. His car did very well, and won several races, and although it didn't actually win the Derby itself, we were very proud of him for giving his best. I can't wait for next year when I'll get a chance to prove my car making skills working with James's car. And then, we'll have a family race. Maybe we'll invite a few spectators to cheer us on.



James has been having a lot of fun going out and attending birthday parties as well as play dates. My older children are getting jealous of James's social life, which only a few months ago was directly connected to his older siblings' life. He has also helped me tremendously with Charlton. Because the weather has mostly been outrageously beautiful, they have read and played outside while I cleaned and cooked inside. Having my kids babysit each other is awesome!

Charlton has loved attending his first Story Hours at the library. I'm finally getting my act together and planing once a week to take him to story hour. I used to take my older kids twice or even three times a week to story time to various libraries and bookstores, but with Charlton I have been neglecting that part of the experience. At first he seemed a bit lost among the other children, but after a while he was enjoying himself and tried to be a bit more assertive. He still likes me to read to him, and when the older kids are home he demands that they play with him. He has also found joy in cards and dominoes, not in playing the games, but in playing with them and building all sorts of things. I encourage it, since that's way better than just letting him watch an episode of Curious George while I exercise. The latest thing that made us laugh was the other day when he strongly insisted to roller blade after seeing his siblings go outside without him and play a game that he couldn't be part of. Well, thanks to Gillian and her patience, he was able to try those rollerblades and understand from first hand experience that he truly couldn't be part of that game, yet.


Elijah has been a great example to me of setting goals and following up with them. Since we got our treadmill, he hasn't missed one day of exercise, except for Sunday and Temple night. I'm now exercising too, since that was our promise to each other. Exercise doesn't come easily to me; I would rather sit and read. But a promise is a promise.


Elijah has also had a fun time taking the kids on one-on-one dates in his new truck. Gillian loved being alone with dad and talking about everything under the sun. Jefferson got excited when he learned what the car's special features were, especially the satellite radio. He tells me now he is an avid lover of bluegrass music. James felt like a big kid sitting up front with dad and found it fascinating that you could control the radio from the steering wheel. I also got to ride in the truck when Elijah took us on our date. We joined another couple for dinner in downtown Walnut Creek and then together walked over to see a George Bernard Shaw play, Arms and the Man, at the nearby playhouse. The ride, the food, the play, and the company were sweetly enjoyed. Elijah and I had a good time.

Besides tending to the family, I have been busy with social activities and literary endeavours. I hosted book club this month, attended a Girls' Night Out last week, and had a couple of lunches with friends. This past Saturday, Elijah and I threw our annual Valentine's party inviting several couples to celebrate love and marriage with each other. As usual, it was a great success. The dynamic was fabulous and we had just the right number of couples to ensure everyone a chance to feel comfortable and enjoy each other's company without breaking into groups. (Elijah and I each year forget to have someone take a picture of us, but what can you do? We are busy hosting.)



These past two weeks, I have become attached to George Elliot and her works. I started reading Silas Marner one morning out of the blue, just randomly picking it up off the shelf. I remembered loving it when I was young, and so I just kept reading. After reading some of it, I wanted to see it adapted to the screen, so I ordered the movie on Netflix. The movie wasn't that good, but the story and the characters of the book still come to my mind and take me to other worlds at times. Last night I wasn't feeling like reading, a very rare thing that, so I started checking Netflix streaming and I came upon an adaptation of another George Elliot novel, Middlemarch. Although it was produced in the early 90's, the BBC TV series was artistically done, especially considering that the novel itself is over 800 pages, enriched by tens of characters and several plots and subplots.
In one word the book itself is a masterpiece, commentating on human virtues and vices, as well as delicately observing the line where destiny and agency meet. I was happy to notice that the TV production had not diminish the various moral, religious and social values that the book had to offer.

I was saddened by the news of Whitney Houston's death this Saturday. Bodyguard was a one-time favorite movie of mine growing up. And talent like Whitney Houston's doesn't come by often. I was happy to hear Jennifer Hudson paying tribute to Houston by singing the powerful and unforgettable song "I will always love you" at the Grammy Awards on Sunday. Although it wasn't a rendition that I cared much for, Hudson did an amazing job in singing it with love and awe remembering this great powerhouse diva.

Speaking of the Grammy Awards, I have to say they haven't disappointed me these past two years. Last year I was cheering all the way for Lady Antebellum, and they came out with five wins. This year, the one voice that truly had power and soul, that of Adele, was nominated for six awards and won them all.

I listened to Adele's album titled 21 all year long last year. It was an album with emotionally powered songs, and Adele's heartfelt voice gave them life. My favorite of the album is the song titled Set Fire to the Rain, followed by Someone like you, and Rolling in the Deep, which she so effortlessly performed at the Grammy's. Here is Adele astonishing her peers and the rest of us with her impressive voice, her first performance after having had throat surgery in November:

My January Book List - A Good Start

1. Just Kids by Patti Smith - Biography

It was early autumn of 1967, and two bohemian looking individuals stroll the Washington Square Park carelessly. A touristy couple argue amongst each other. The lady wants to take a picture of this young couple because they look to her as if they were truly living an artistic life. The husband dismissively says:"They're just kids." And so starts the book that describes the young life of the poet, song writer and musician Patti Smith and her relationship with the talented artist, Robert Mapplethorpe. I knew very little about this couple and their artistic achievements, but I was surprised to realize that after reading the book, I was mesmerized by Patti's words of an era that as much as it was hazy it was artistically successful as well. A very good read, and I would highly recommend to any one who loves the music of the 60's or art and photography of that era.

2. The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin - Nonfiction

The author embarked through a year of finding true happiness, and recorded her efforts and success in her book. She made monthly resolutions with specific tasks that would help her achieve them, and then just did it. She would add the next month's resolution to her previous months, and then tried to keep going from there. Her goals in achieving true happiness sound familiar, such as work on yourself, improve your marriage, be a better parent, try to be a true friend, get a new hobby, etc. However familiar these ideas are, the way she went about in achieving them was well researched, organized and very inspiring. I loved her thoughts on the importance of being honest with ourselves in knowing who we are and what we truly enjoy, as well as understanding the reality that we find ourselves as we try to achieve our goals. It was important for her to work on her happiness where she was at her home, without having to find happiness by making major trips through out the world or drastic changes in the existent life. I enjoyed her quotes on a myriad of thoughts and ideas. Her clear and precise writing made it easy to feel her honesty and follow her in the quest for happiness. Although I don't usually read self-help books, this was so much more than that. It was fun to read, filled with personal stories, and honest evaluations on what worked and what didn't.

3. Lady of Quality by Georgette Heyer - Regency Romance

Another Georgette Heyer fun and romantic story of two very independent people falling in love and after resisting the calling of love, give in with all their heart and wit. Although Georgette Heyer's plots are a bit predictable, I love the strong characters she produces, as well as the amazing wit she uses throughout the book. Georgetter Heyer is truly a Lady of Quality herself. A must read for all Jane Austen fans.

4. The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag by Alan Bradly - Mystery

I'm hypnotized by this author's talent of writing beautiful prose, fascinating detective work, and unique characters. This is the second Flavia de Luce mystery in a series of four so far, so prepare yourself for more reviews of his books. This story involves a puppeteer, a mad woman, love affairs, a long time ago unsolved death, and of course, yours truly, the Sherlock Holmes incarnated in our 11 year old Flavia de Luce, who not always has amazing observation and deductive skills, but also a love for chemistry and an uncanny knowledge of poison. Here are some excerpts from this book:

In sharing her feelings about Bethoveen, Flavia expresses her feelings this way: "Although he was a very great musician, and a wizard composer of symphonies, Beethoven was quite often a dismal failure when it came to ending them. The Fifth was a perfect case in point. I remembered that the end of the thing, the allegro, was one of those times when Beethoven just couldn't find the 'off' switch....You'd go to get up and stretch, sighing with satisfaction at the great work you'd just listened to, and suddenly: DAH dum. DAH dum. DAH dum. And so forth. DAH dum. It was like a bit of flypaper stuck to your finger that you couldn't shake off. The bloody thing clung to life like a limpet."

In another occasion, when Flavia just witnessed a death that might possibly be a murder, she describes what she sees this way: "The eyes: The pupils were hugely dilated, so much so that if I had been able to get a bit closer, I was quite sure I should have been able to see myself reflected in their convex surfaces as clearly as Jan van Eyck was reflected in the bedroom mirror in his painting of the Arnolfinis' wedding day."

Needless to say, I highly recommend this book. Whether you like mysteries or not, this is a beautiful written story full of eccentric characters.

5. Mrs. Mike by Benedict and Nancy Freedman - Fiction based on a true story

I had never heard of this book till one of my friends suggested it for a book club choice. My only expectations were created as I read the back of the book describing this story as one of the most tenderest and romantic love story ever written. The book was written in in the early 1930's and was based on the true story of Katherine Mary Flannigan, our heroine, as told by her to the authors. The story follows 16 year old Katherine from Boston who is sent by her mother to visit her uncle in the Northern Territories of Calgary. At that time, there was very little civilization occupying the area, and the best means of transportation from my post to another was by sled. Katherine falls in love and marries Mike Flannigan, and together they live the harsh realities of life in the snowy banks of Canada. The book impressed me with its profound wisdom. This wasn't just any love story. It was a story about living life, learning to appreciate what life brings to you, and growing through trials and becoming stronger. I was pleasantly surprised with its depth and how much it touched me. I highly recommend it.

6. The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson - Autobiography

Bill Bryson cracks me up again. This time, instead of taking us on a tour of his house, he takes us through his childhood in the Midwest. Every page is filled with unnecessary bits of knowledge that make the book for me so much more interesting. The broad range of topics he touched in the book astonishes me. Born in the 50's he describes that period with such wit and knowledge that I feel like I'm there by his side going through the same kind of experiences. I've truly enjoyed learning about the beginnings of technology, successes in sports and business, and many more facts and stories that describe that decade in full. A very funny, witty, and educational book.