The Giveaways of "Treading Water" Continue!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Treading Water

by Noreen Braman

Giveaway ends March 29, 2012.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

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Living On the smile Side of Life - 4 Week Class Monroe Township

Research has shown that laughter is not only fun, it is good for you. It reduces stress, relieves pain and increases the amount of oxygen in your bloodstream. Come and explore the health benefits of laughter through interactive presentations, laughter exercises, breathing techniques and more with Noreen Braman.

Registration Information Here

 

Backroad Bumper Cars in Central New Jersey

Unlike some of my previous commuter routes, I enjoy my current drive to work, mostly because I can stay on two lane backroads that wind through wooded areas. I can observe the changing of the seasons, spot some horses and avoid bumper to bumper traffic. These roads do exact a price however, as most have  strictly enforced speed limits, which I try my best to respect. Unfortunately, there are others on these roads who don't care about getting a ticket, who are willing to risk the fine, the points and the license surcharges.

This morning, it was a large, red, pickup truck, emblazoned with the name of a power-washing company. I saw it in my rear view mirror - the front grill at least - as he tailgated me on Washington Ave. Once the road widened into two lanes for turning at the light, this truck roared past me, making a big show of swerving in front of me and careening toward the turn at a high speed. After we both had made the turn, I could watch the truck as it bore down on other cars, and forced itself between two rows of traffic to pass. The engine was so loud, I could still hear it accelerating away from me.

Other days, I have encountered the same gray Audi on Davidsons Mill Road. This crazy driver has even passed me going uphill onto a bridge over the NJ Turnpike, with absolutely no line of sight to whether or not someone is coming the other way. I've had people zoom around me at stop signs and traffic lights. Once, at a red light on one of these back roads, the driver of a car behind me got out of his car and started pounding on my window, demanding that I go through the red light because "no one was coming." I've seen my share of cars pulled over for speeding as well as ridiculously serious accidents, some fatal, on these "low speed" back roads. Once I witnessed the car in front of me careened into a cornfield, another time I watched an SUV fly past a stop sign and T-bone a car going the other way.

Right now I know my kids are chuckling because they like to tease me about being a stickler for the speed limit. But I am not that person going 50 on the Turnpike in the middle lane. I just want to to avoid participating in Backroad Bumper Cars on my way to work.

Dave Barry is Back!

I'll Mature When I'm Dead: Dave Barry's Amazing Tales of Adulthood by Dave Barry

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I love listening to Dave Barry read his own work, it makes me feel like I am swapping stories with an old friend. And, typical of those "old friend" conversations, topics will sometimes cover familiar ground. But also true of those "old friend" conversations, I laugh at the same stories and revel in the new ones.

Barry hits some high points here, with his vampire love story parody and his too-near-the-truth tale of the state of American health care. He includes here his previously-published colonoscopy story, which I fully intend to share with some of the colonoscopy-phobics in my life.

Barry also gives us his take on religious institutions, which gave me my favorite line of the book. While comparing his experiences with both Christian and Jewish ceremonies, he declares that perhaps his true religion is Joketarian, described this way:

"We Joketarians believe it's possible that an all-powerful, all-knowing God created the earth and its creature, But if he did, He was obviously kidding."

I couldn't agree more.


Disclaimer: The fact that Dave Barry wrote "to my idol" to me on the inside cover of "Boogers Are My Beat" in no way influenced this review. :)



View all my reviews

Wise Words from George Orwell

If people cannot write well, they cannot think well, and if they cannot think well, others will do their thinking for them.

George Orwell,
British writer

A Monday Kind of Day

I need to hang this around my neck.

Monday is the most maligned day of the week. Workers curse Monday for the sharp slap in the face it gives to weekend revelers. It is the no-nonsense day that  symbolizes there is work to be done and we better get to it. It also can be the day that reinforces a maxim created by my good friend, Otto — "If you're gonna be dumb, you gotta be tough." And to that end, today, a Monday if there ever was one, is hammering that point home.

The bank account is overdrawn, the gas gauge is on empty, and pain in my hip delays me from getting out of bed. I wonder if I should even attempt to beat my hair into submission — will a good hair day even be possible? And 5 minutes ago I got an email that a review of my book has gone live. My self-published collection of previously published columns wrapped in a cover featuring my own digital art. I've already been warned that there are uncaught typos, which is a true exercise in humiliation for an editor. I realize of course, that the old saying that "a lawyer who represents himself has a fool for a client" also applies to self published writers. A writer who edits her own work is apt to miss too much because she is too familiar with it. Add lousy typing skills to that and you have a dangerous mix. Still, I hold out hope that content will win over form, even though I have been less than kind to others in that respect (karma?). So, here is the link to a very different kind of review, I really like the format, and am taking to heart the constructive criticism. As much as I can on a Monday! Bookmark the site and go back in March if you want to be entered in the book giveaway.
http://www.uncustomarybookreview.com/2012/02/treading-water/

GroundDay 2012 - Rodent Confusion

My Jamesburg groundhog

Since this blog is rooted in the adventures of the small furry ones among us, the adventures of groundhogs need to be included — at least on Groundhog Day. Today's groundhogs have come out on either side of the question. Some have said "six more weeks of winter" and some have said "spring will be early."

Here in New Jersey, the winter has been mild, and we are all holding our breath until April to see if we escape the snows of yesteryear. We have even had a few days when it was perfectly appropriate to turn off the heat and open the windows; at least for a few hours. It is no wonder that the groundhogs in this area are confused. Not to mention the ongoing debate as to whether or not an accurate prediction can be made if a groundhog sees his shadow because of all the television lights and flashbulbs going off.

I have my own personal groundhog, a large, tough creature who could not be persuaded to leave his den under my shed by either earthquake or hurricane. I certainly know better than to challenge the claws of this rodent to try and rouse him out of his hole for a specific weather prediction for my small town. I have decided to let sleeping groundhogs lie – at least the one in my yard.

After all, the famous groundhogs getting their 15 minutes of fame across the country today really do agree with each other, no matter what their predictions are. Spring will be here – sooner OR later.