speakers on.......click ok if box appears.....

Today is Question Tuesday

In light of this Sunday being Mother's Day, my question to you is:

What did you love most about your mother growing up as a child?

Perhaps you would like to share a favorite memory?

My mother wasn't a baking cookies with an apron mom.  She was a "I love this song, come dance with me kind of mother." 

She is also very kissy and huggy - very affectionate.

Everyone thought we were sisters instead of mother and daughter.  She was very whimsical and fun to be around.  She would be the mom who had roller skates on in the street or sledding with all the kids on the snow covered hills. 

When I was a teenager we would lie on the floor and watch Knots Landing together.  Even at that age I loved to snuggle with her & I would try to breathe in rhythm with her breathe. 

 I love my mom because of how much I felt loved by her.

<Sorry I am not up to date reading everyone's blogs.

I am too busy being Lucy Speilberg here !

I feel like I am neglecting all of my blog friends.  I have so much catching up to do....

The video yearbokk will be ready to show on Friday night.

Who's making the popcorn?  Extra butter on mine please.

Get ready to giggle!

It's not too late to submit pictures to:

bloggerlucy@aol.com

Thanks ....

It's "Meet Me Under the Covers" Monday

an online blogstream bookclub

Schedule

Subway Music - Monday May 1, 2006

The Glass Castle - Monday May 8, 2006

                                Monday May 15, 2006

This Ain't Shakespeare But It Sure Is Real - Monday May 22, 2006

If you miss any discussions, please go back to the post and add your comments.

Today we are beginning our discussion of "The Glass Castle"

by Jeannette Walls

Please comment, ask questions or make observations of our book on the comment page.  Follow along with the discussion questions below as well.

Don't worry if you are not done with the book, we will finish up the discussion next Monday, May 15th.

1. Though The Glass Castle is brimming with unforgettable stories, which scenes were the most memorable for you? Which were the most shocking, the most inspiring, the funniest?

2. Discuss the metaphor of a glass castle and what it signifies to Jeannette and her father. Why is it important that, just before leaving for New York, Jeannette tells her father that she doesn't believe he'll ever build it? (p. 238).

3. The first story Walls tells of her childhood is that of her burning herself severely at age three, and her father dramatically takes her from the hospital: "You're safe now" (p. 14). Why do you think she opens with that story, and how does it set the stage for the rest of the memoir?

4. Rex Walls often asked his children, "Have I ever let you down?" Why was this question (and the required "No, Dad" response) so important for him -- and for his kids? On what occasions did he actually come through for them?

5. Jeannette's mother insists that, no matter what, "life with your father was never boring" (p. 288). What kind of man was Rex Walls? What were his strengths and weaknesses, his flaws and contradictions?

6. Discuss Rose Mary Walls. What did you think about her description of herself as an "excitement addict"? (p. 93).

7. Though it portrays an incredibly hardscrabble life, The Glass Castle is never sad or depressing. Discuss the tone of the book, and how do you think that Walls achieved that effect?

8. Describe Jeannette's relationship to her siblings and discuss the role they played in one another's lives.

9. In college, Jeannette is singled out by a professor for not understanding the plight of homeless people; instead of defending herself, she keeps quiet. Why do you think she does this?

10. The two major pieces of the memoir -- one half set in the desert and one half in West Virginia -- feel distinct. What effect did such a big move have on the family -- and on your reading of the story? How would you describe the shift in the book's tone?

11. Were you surprised to learn that, as adults, Jeannette and her siblings remained close to their parents? Why do you think this is?

12. What character traits -- both good and bad -- do you think that Jeannette inherited from her parents? And how do you think those traits shaped Jeannette's life?

13. For many reviewers and readers, the most extraordinary thing about The Glass Castle is that, despite everything, Jeannette Walls refuses to condemn her parents. Were you able to be equally nonjudgmental?

14. Like Mary Karr's Liars' Club and Rick Bragg's All Over But the Shoutin', Jeannette Walls' The Glass Castle tells the story of a wildly original (and wildly dysfunctional) family with humor and compassion. Were their other comparable memoirs that came to mind? What distinguishes this book?

****After we are done with this selection, we will have a special treat for our next memoir****

The next book club selection will be authored by a fellow blogger named

Deeej or Debbie of

Deb's Diddies... A Wandering Mind

http://debsdiddies.blogstream.com/

The name of her book is:

 "This Ain't Shakespeare...But It Sure Is Real :

 A Collection of Memories"

by Debra Conklin

You can purchase this book online at Amazon.com  by clicking the link below:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1413745318/qid=1145919703/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/104-1834741-3858358?s=books&v=glance&n=283155

Editorial Reviews

Awesome writing!, August 2, 2005 Reviewer: Jess Witney - See all my reviews I've read a lot of nonfiction 'poetry/memoir' books and most make me want to gag, but Debra's book made me smile and nod my head in agreement. So many of the subjects she writes about are so real that more than likely we've all gone through them. She really knows how to get to the heart of things and make it all real again. I look forward to reading her next novel. If it's as good as this one, I'll be shelling out the bucks for it!

Great Debut, April 28, 2005 Reviewer: Patricia Harold - See all my reviews I recently received my copy of this book and I could relate to many of the stories. By sharing her memories with us, the common bond of recognition is developed. Debra has written a thoughtful and revealing book that easily touches all of us.

Talented Author, January 24, 2005 Reviewer: susan burns - See all my reviews Susan M. Burns, a home healthcare provider, January 20, 2005, I read and finished this book the same day I recieved it and it was awesome! It really makes you sit back and think about where you are in life and the meaning of everything you've learned. Once you read this it will truly make you love life, never take a sunrise for granted or your baby's first steps, in the blink of an eye, it will dissapear never to re-appear again. The losses and gains in life and love are overwhelming at times, but this book helps put things in better perspective.

This Ain't Shakespeare...But It Sure Is Real, January 5, 2005 Reviewer: Denise Sawtell - See all my reviews Denise Sawtell, author Reading this book was like reading about a friend. It was so real. This Ain't Shakespeare..., absolutely captures the essence of the everyday woman. A juggling act of real life events. Debra Conklin has included stories from her childhood as well as her adult life. She has written how a washing machine can turn our day upside down by simply not working right to lost love and how to move on from it. There are uplifting words about her children, her family and nature. Her writing lets us visualize the beauty of a sunrise and how a flower garden, that finally blooms, can make the day seem just a little brighter. Debra knows about real life and describes it with finesse and wit. This book took my emotions on a roller coaster ride and I loved every minute of it. Ms. Conklin is a astute and observant writer and here's hoping we see more from this new talent.

Learning From Experience, December 27, 2004 Reviewer: Robert D. Holt (Mantua, New Jersey United States) - See all my reviews    Debra Conklin is a self-employed mother of three from Maine who has felt more than her share of the pains of youth and growing older. In "This Ain't Shakespeare," her first collection of poems and essays, Conklin shares her memories of younger days and shows her readers how to turn life into a continued learning experience. Debra Conklin has included items in this collection to which any reader may relate during their life's experiences. Along with stories about child rearing and love of family, she takes an introspective look back at learning some of the wrong things from her father, and explains how she copes with the loss of a brother. She also relates humorous tales about her ongoing battle with an old washing machine, and reflects upon the excitement of not being as fat as she expected. Then Conklin's strong imagery and perspective take readers right along with her as she paints beautiful pictures of life's often overlooked simple pleasures, like a walk through the woods and the dawning of a new day. This collection is thoughtful, inspirational, and often amusing, and it is a credit to anyone who, like the author, maintains an undying drive to succeed. You really want to buy this book. It may not be Shakespeare, but this volume is an extremely worthwhile addition to anyone's bookshelf by a truly gifted new artist.   I am currently taking suggestions for our next book club selection....rememeber our genre is memoirs.  Thank you.

SPEAKERS ON.......

COMMUNION

(pictures of an Irish Catholic family)

This is a picture of my mother on the left and my Aunt Margie on the right with my great grandmother from Ireland. My mother and Aunt Margie are Irish Twins only 10 months apart. My Aunt Margie gave birth to my cousin Billy in December and I was born in January, so we too are Irish Twins.......

This is me and my Grandma who I miss terribly. She died when I was in 8th grade. She was so much fun, she taught me how to play solitaire (licking my fingers in between dealing), she taught me the fine art of eating cold chicken in the back seat of a station wagon on the way to the Jersey shore, and she taught me how to make scrambled eggs and a screw driver for breakfast.  She taught me to never lie, cheat or steal...love ya Grandma.

This is my brother David, the one I take care of. He looks so innocent in this picture and now mostly everyone turns their back on him because he is mentally disabled & challenged..... but me.  I love my big lil' bro.

This is my shining star, my oldest daughter. This is her, always smiling...& she is very strong and determined. I am so proud of her. She is going to school to become a nurse, but has dreams to become a doctor.  I know she can do it.

This is my A-Love. She can be president if she wants to be... she is an Aries so she is always doubting herself, yet she is the wisest person I know & she has a kick ass sense of humor.  We have inside jokes, we get each other.  She is an old soul.

And this is my God-daughter T., who made her first holy communion today. All I know is she had wine today and I had to ask her how she liked it. The priest was from Ireland so I was in my glory !

Sacrament

A

RE-POST

Thursday - Beer & God ? - (REVISED) Back to Full Blog

After flipping through yesterday's newspaper in search of an article on Cold War supplies found in a bunker in the Brooklyn Bridge, I was stopped in my tracks.  A heading caught my eye:   A HEADY MIX:  BEER AND THE BIBLE    How could I possibly resist reading?  Am I dreaming?  Is there really a special place in heaven just for us boozing Irish Catholics? It seems that a revolution was going on right under my nose and I wasn't invited.  How could it be that I was over looked for the "Theology on Tap" discussion series? What a novel idea! Churches actually post a meeting schedule in the Sunday Mass bulletin. I guess I missed that particular Sunday. If only I had known!  Could I actually consider giving up Desperate Housewives and The Naked Sopranos for a Holy Party on Sunday evenings?  It is tempting.  Is this how Eve felt in the garden of Eden?  Would this be considered a lenten sacrafice? Times are a changing !  Is the Catholic church relaxing a bit?  Could it be with all of the scandalous behavior lately of it's priests, they are actually reaching out to us, trying to recruit?  I guess the door to door method of the Jehovah Witnesses just did not work, so they decided to throw a Moral Party with a twist.  Lemon or lime? What's next a Vatican Beer of the Month Club? Collect all 265 faces of the popes series! Maybe A Pope Benedict XVI Rap Mix -  "It Ain't Easy Being a Pope?"  I smell Oscar nomination.  How about a Jesus Juice Booze Cruise?  Michael Jackson not invited. Sunday Mass - Dress casual - 9:00 am till ????    BYOB ! Alcohol and the Catholic church are no strangers by any means.  By the time a child makes their First Holy Communion at age 7, Mass becomes an open bar.  Okay not an open bar but a swig o' wine.  My grandmother's sister was a Catholic nun and she drank vodka on a regular basis and smoked cigarettes too, a party animal dressed in black and white.  A nun's habitual habit perhaps?  Priests and alter boys have been known to dip into the chalice of wine or the Blood of Christ before mass to take the edge off.  Jesus himself turned water into wine, so why am I so surprised? "Theology on Tap" is the equivalent to a "Bar Crawl" but with a mission; to teach the bible "in a relaxed atmosphere where questions and answers flow as freely as the suds."  Sounds like a grand idea to me. They meet on a regular basis at a different pub each time.  The program was designed for 20-30 year olds to make them comfortable enough with their Catholic upbringing to come back to the church, perhaps even becoming regular parishioners at mass again. Formats differ from meeting to meeting with priests, guest speakers and authors running the show from the pulpit or the proverbial bar stool.  For example, one author Allan Wright who penned "Silent Witness to the Gospels" currently spoke at one such meeting about Jesus wanting to be in our lives all day, everyday.  He said, " When Jesus comes into our heart, he doesn't want to rent, or do a timeshare.  He wants to look in your closets, go into your basements."  The crowd laughed at the "timeshare" quip.  I guess you had to be there with a buzz on to find the humor. Inspiration comes from many forms, but this one I did not see coming!  You know an Irish priest was behind this one.  He combined his two loves to form one:  The Holy Spirits.  Can I get an Amen !     Some meetings are called "Spirituality on Tap", same idea, different name.  There seems to be a bigger interest in "spirituality" these days than bible study.  Several Jewish groups have gotten into the act as well with meetings called "Torah on Tap" and " Slosh n' Drash"  (drash meaning Torah verses). So if you happen upon a bar one Sunday evening & notice in the corner of the room everyone lifting up their mugs of beer with a priest or nun and toasting God, remember you heard it here first !  Go ahead, give it a whirl.  Sit down, relax, &  have a cocktail.  Learn about spirituality in a laid back environment.  Hob nob with the enligtened ones.  So Cheers to Moses, he must have gotten a bit parched being in the desert for forty years! AN OLD IRISH CATHOLIC TOAST There are many good reasons for drinking, One has just entered my head, If a man doesn't drink when he's living, How the hell can he drink when he is dead?     So, A Priest Walks Into a Bar........ A Priest, a Rabbi and a Minister walk into a bar. The Bartender looks up and asks ... "What, Is this some kind of a joke?"     Perhaps Beer plus God equals Blog ?? Hmmmmmmmm     CONTRIBUTIONS FROM BLOG BUDDIES   Baptists & Brew - Biggie T   Draft and Tao - Wayfarer   Beer and Beatitudes - Whit's Whittlings   Hallelujah Happy Hour - KitCat

SPEAKERS ON !!!!

SNEAK PREVIEW ONLY TONIGHT, IT WILL BE DELETED SO I CAN FINISH.

 IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO SUBMIT YOUR GRAD PIX !

NOW I AM ACCEPTING PROM PIX AND SPORTS & CLUB PIX FROM HIGH SCHOOL.

LEAVE COMMENTS TO MAKE SUGGESTIONS BUT..

 NO GUESSING WHO IS WHO YET!

I AM NOT DONE.....

LOVE YOU GUYS....

& THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE FABULOUS PICTURES....

XXXXX

Hey guys...

I just wanted to give you an update on my

Blogstream University Yearbook

Class of 2006 !

It is coming along better than I would have expected.

I am learning all kinds of new things and I just can't wait to share it with you.

If you haven't submitted a picture you are missing out on something very cool.  I am still accepting high school graduation photos or a picture of you when you were 17-18 years old.

I am going to start taking crazy prom pictures now to add to the yearbook.

You may also send me sports or club pictures as well.

Again you may remain anonymous.

Email all pix to:

 bloggerlucy@aol.com

Please include your blog name so I know who you are unless of course you want to remain anonymous.

This is going to turn out so good!

Thank you !!!

xxxxxx