Saturday, February 26, 2011

Lady in Waiting~ Book Review

I'm a huge book lover, especially historical fiction, even better is Tudor history. I got my wish with the book, Lady in Waiting by Susan Meissner. It is the story of two Janes. The 9 day Queen, Lady Jane Grey and modern day Jane Lindsay.
Lady Jane Grey's story is told through the eyes of her dress maker and later best friend, Lucy Day. Modern day Jane tells her story.

It begins with Modern day Jane's husband walking out and saying he is not sure if he wants to be married anymore. Later that day, Jane finds a ring inscribed with a verse from Song of Solomon and her name Jane. Instantly Jane feels a connection with the ring.

The story then switches over to Lady Jane Grey's story. Lucy Day becomes the dress maker to a young Jane Grey. Lucy sees first hand how Lady Jane's future seems to be dictated by those around her hungry for their own power and willing to use Lady Jane to get it.


I loved this book. It was easy to follow back and forth between the two Janes. I found myself impatient to read both their stories. Even though we all know how Lady Jane's story ends. It was interesting to read this twist on Lady Jane's little known history.

This book is about taking our own destiny in our hands and not giving up. And realizing that we always have a choice in how our lives turn out. No matter what outside influences there may be.


**Disclaimer** I received this book for free from Walter Brook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review** The above are my own thoughts about the book Lady in Waiting. You can  join and get free books to review by going to: http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/bloggingforbooks/
Thursday, February 24, 2011

Just Another Harried Day

I found the following short story some years ago. I can't remember the website I found it on. I remember being so touched by it that I copied and pasted it, saving it so I could always go back and read it. The author's name is at the bottom. I wish I had some contact info because I would tell her how much the story touched me.
I hope it touches you too.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Wordless Wednesday

                            I can't wait for summer! 
Monday, February 21, 2011

WINNER WINNER!

Thanks to all of you who entered the $35 Gift Card to CSN Stores. The turnout was more than I expected! Big thanks to everyone who entered, who tweeted and passed along the link to my blog! I can't wait to do this again!

The winner of the $35 Gift Code to CSN Stores is:
KATIE
Thursday, February 17, 2011

CSN Stores GiveAway

CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED!

I'm sure by now you all have heard about CSN Stores. The place that bloggers have been talking about? If not then you are missing out! Not only are they are a great company to work with, they have over 200 stores to chose from. You can pick out some cool home office furniture or treat yourself to a new pair of sandals for this upcoming summer. What more could a girl ask for than a huge place to do all their shopping and not even have to change out of their PJs or put on makeup!

Whatever you pick, you will love it!

The winner of this giveaway will receive a $35 gift code to use in any of the over 200 CSN Stores!

To enter:
1) Visit the above links, come back and tell me what you would buy.
     please leave your email address so I can contact you if you win.

For extra entries:

1) follow my blog
2)twitter me: GeekandTheBelle
3)Tweet about this giveaway

Please make sure each one is a separate entry (if you do the extras) and that you leave your email address so I can contact you!

The giveaway ends on Feb 21 at noon CST.

Good luck!
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Parenting Fail

We all have them. Those moments of parenting that we would rather not talk about, that we wish had never happened. They make us hang our head in shame and wonder why in the world that nurse handed that innocent baby over to us. After all they didn't even come with an instruction manual. Everything comes with a instruction manual now days. Even a flashlight comes with some kind of instructions. Why can't kids?

Why? Because it's a great big joke the universe is playing on us. Just kidding. I wish kids came with one. Maybe some of mine wouldn't have happened then.

Like the time, both Katie and Mary snuck out of the house with the dog and walked 2 blocks to the park only to be spotted by an officer's wife and she grabbed Mary.....
Monday, February 14, 2011

Regional Dialect Meme/ My First VLOG

So I found this meme that I has been going around called the regional dialect meme. I first saw it on this girl's blog: Love Emma Lina

So i thought what a fun thing to do. And it will be my first Vlog! Woo Hoo. I roped my youngest daughter Mary into helping me too.

Enjoy!

Words to pronounce:


Aunt, Route, Wash, Oil, Theater, Iron, Salmon, Caramel, Fire, Water, Sure, Data, Ruin, Crayon, Toilet, New Orleans, Pecan, Both, Again, Probably, Spitting image, Alabama, Lawyer, Coupon, Mayonnaise, Syrup, Pajamas, Caught



Questions to answer:

* What is it called when you throw toilet paper on a house?

* What is the bug that when you touch it, it curls into a ball?

* What is the bubbly carbonated drink called?

* What do you call gym shoes?

* What do you say to address a group of people?

* What do you call the kind of spider that has an oval-shaped body and extremely long legs?

* What do you call your grandparents?

* What do you call the wheeled contraption in which you carry groceries at the supermarket?

* What do you call it when rain falls while the sun is shining?

* What is the thing you change the TV channel with?
Sunday, February 13, 2011

Those People You Meet

When you are in the military, you meet all kinds of people. People of different races, religions and backgrounds. Some of those people you get close to and keep a relationship with them long after you have left that duty station. Some you can't wait to get away from. And then there are some you lose touch with and forever wonder if they are okay.

New Layout

I'd been wanting a more professional looking layout for sometime now. I just never could find a way to do it without having to pay someone a ton of money. Even though my husband is in IT he is not a web site designer. Yeah, he has a degree in programming, but he is more at home doing infrastructure, designing servers instead of web pages.

So I found this website  www.mybloggerplugins.com It has a ton of layouts that are pretty easy to use. I'm still working out a few kinks and the social network buttons aren't linked in yet. But hopefully will be soon.

So if you want to add me to your twitter it's: geekandthebelle

Thanks for being patient with me. Hope you like the new look.
Friday, February 11, 2011

Time Marches On

I went dress shopping with my girls last night. Their first semi formal dance is tonight. A Valentine's dance. It is one milestone I never got to do with my own mother. She died  passed away when I was 15. It will be 20 years in October and I still can't say the words she died. She died and my father lost his mind.
Thursday, February 10, 2011

Stuff My Kids Say

They should have had teenagers on that show "Kids Say The Darndest Things." Teenagers can say some of the most insane, unbelieveable and dumbest things EVER! Yes, I said it DUMBEST!

A few nights ago, Katie sent me a text after she had gone to bed. She wanted me to come back there and tuck her in. She may think she is all grown up but she still wants her Momma to tuck her in.

Anyway, she sends me a text and my husband sends her one back.

"What are you doing texting at 2300 hours?"

She responds with "What are you talking about? Its only 11:03?"

My former Army brats have completely forgotten the military time clock

All I hear is my husband rolling with laughter.

She finally remembered what he was trying to tell her. And did the typical teen girl thing of "Ohhhhhhh! That's what you mean!"

My husband has only talked in "military time" since they were born and its the only time he talks in. There is no "I'll be home at 6 pm." No, it's "I'll be home at 1800 hours."

Stay tuned for more gems from my teens. From my youngest telling me she wouldn't smoke pot to what my oldest thinks happens when you have sex. The gems just keep on coming.


Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Wordless Wednesday

The lions at the KC Zoo. I can't wait for spring! Hurry Spring, HURRY! 
Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Hollywood Redux

Has anyone noticed all the remakes that have been done? From TV shows to movies. Hollywood seems to have run out of new ideas. That or they just don't want to make anything new.
This show/movie made millions for the studio, let's remake it for the new generation! WooHoo!! Or they take something from the UK and try to make it work over here.

They tried to remake Red Dawn but it hasn't been released yet due to MGM going into Chapter 11. It is said it will be released after that is over. I'm not looking forward to it. Something about an invasion just wouldn't work in a non Cold War era.
They've remade Annie, which was the 1982 was the first movie I saw in the theaters. HBO is doing a Mildred Pierce mini series. I really hope Kate Winslet does Joan Crawford justice.
They've remade almost every horror movie over and over again. I read they will be doing more Freddy and Jason movies too. They are even remaking the 1987 classic Monster Squad !

Dallas is getting a remake too. The kids from JR and Bobby will be duking it out over the oil business. And the original Ewing clan will be in it too.

There are some remakes that are really good. True Grit was phenomenal! Bridges nailed it. I'm enjoying Hawaii 5-0.

I just wish Hollywood would look at some books that desperately need to be brought to the big screen or deserve TV shows made about them.

I would love to see Nora Robert's Three Sisters Island Trilogy either made into a TV series. More of LJ Smith's (Vampire Diaries) made into movies or TV series.
I think Sophie Kinsella's Remember Me would make a good movie too. For the history buffs and true story people, Elie Wiesel's Night.

So many books and screenplays deserve to be made, instead we get a 4 movie Twilight. Remakes of Jason, Michael Myers and Freddy over and over. Jaws part 10, etc....

When will Hollywood get original again? Cmon Hollywood, get with it and make something new and original.

What books would you like to see made into a movie or TV series?
Sunday, February 6, 2011

Memory Lane Pt 2

Okay, so I left off with the doctor not being there yet. So let me rewind just a bit.

I got to the hospital still not feeling like I was in labor. They hooked me up and sure enough I am having contractions. Ones that the nurse is sure I should be feeling. They check me and I'm at 6 cm and so much effaced. yada yada....
They go ahead and call the drug guy (the person who can give me the epidural.) And go ahead and break my water.
Boy did that start things up. Then I really started to feel my contractions. Soon after I got my epidural. God that is wonderful. Can I get that when I have cramps every month?

Anyway,I start feeling something 'down there' Like really down there.
I call the nurse in and say, "I think I have to push."

No you don't she said.

Yes I do. I feel something down there.

No you don't.

Yes the hell I do. You better check!

So she checks and the baby is already crowning.

She yells for the doctor and basically I push about 3 times and the nurse and doctor both catch Katie when she comes out.

In all I was in labor for about 6 hours. Katie was born on 6/7 weighing 6 lbs 7 oz. NO JOKE! her birth weight is the same as her birthday.

She'll be 15 this year. It seems like just yesterday she was a tiny little baby. It really does go by in the blink of an eye.
Friday, February 4, 2011

Diggin Out

So the girls are finally back in school. After 4 days out due to the blizzard and the cold temps. THANK GOD! Yesterday they were going at it with each other like rabid dogs. Constantly fighting. Then this morning they were laughing and joking about some inside joke they have.
Go Figure?!
We're supposed to get even more snow this weekend.
I am so ready for SPRING!
Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Wordless Wednesday

This was last night at 5pm. Gizmo the Corgi had to go outside. We had 10 inches at that time and it was still coming down. He loved it, the Chihuahua not so much. 
Tuesday, February 1, 2011

SnowtoriousBIG

The twitter hashmarks include that one, *mwblizzard, blizzardofOZ, mwblizzard and many more. The KCI airport closed about an hour ago, highways have been shut down and the Kansas City mayor has declared a state of emergency and schools are out for another day.
We watched a UPS truck sliding around in front of our house today. The husband stayed home today and might tomorrow too.

Speaking of blizzards, I took part in Household6diva's Blizzard Bloghop last week. This was at the same time Blissdom was being held. Since some many of us were unable to attend, she thought this would be a great idea for us to meet each other. She held giveaways too.
I was very surprised to learn that I won one of the giveaways. I won The Pioneer Women Cooks cookbook given away by the Household6diva herself.
I am so thankful to win it. I had been thinking about buying it for the past week and was so surprised when I found out.
I can't wait to start cooking some of the recipes inside.

Thanks again Household6diva!


I hope everyone is safe and warm while we are in this Blizzard of 2011.