My book club’s June book was Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. I finished it Memorial Day weekend at the beach after staying up a couple late nights the week before because I just could not put it down. We’d read a few other novels set in WWII this year. This one is the only work of non-fiction & by far my favorite.
Laura definitely did her research. So much so, that a few of the group didn’t realize it wasn’t fiction until a little way into the book. I say that meaning that it read like a story, not like a boring History textbook. I had not really heard of Louie Zamperini before reading this book. My dad {who’s a bit of a history/war buff} had seen a couple History channel documentaries, but I was reading & learning about his life for the first time.
Louie’s life was can’t-put-down interesting to me from the start. I enjoyed his running stories, how he got into the war, & hearing about life in the Air Force. It was from the plane crash on though that had me hooked. I won’t give much away past that other than say read it. It’s worth the long wait at the library or getting it in hard back if you like to own your book. I’ve already told both my parents to read it soon & my WWII vet grandfather had already been given a copy.
Up next, reviews of the two more fluffy summer reads, If You Were Here & Summer Rental.
Day 162: The Saturday of girls beach weekend. I love this photo I took with my cell while on the beach. [flickr id=”5849513349″ thumbnail=”medium” overlay=”true” size=”medium” group=”” align=”center”]
Day 163: I’d just gotten unpacked & settled in when I realized Moe was out of food. Cue trip to Briar Creek’s Petco for cat food & people dinner. Moe was happy to see us his food when we returned. [flickr id=”5850197546″ thumbnail=”medium” overlay=”true” size=”medium” group=”” align=”center”]
Day 164: I didn’t take a photo Monday.
Day 165: Tuesday I met Alethea & some of her friends at the new Lynnwood. Had dinner & a few beers with them. The only photo I took was of the yummy blueberry beer I had once I got home. [flickr id=”5850198168″ thumbnail=”medium” overlay=”true” size=”medium” group=”” align=”center”]
Day 166: Wednesday was my first photography class. Just messing around on manual mode outside, I took this of Brandy~ she’s so cute. I also added a few photos to my Wednesday post. [flickr id=”5850055796″ thumbnail=”medium” overlay=”true” size=”medium” group=”” align=”center”]
Day 167: Thursday I was home with Moe & caught up on Glee on the laptop. [flickr id=”5849686781″ thumbnail=”medium” overlay=”true” size=”medium” group=”” align=”center”]
Day 168: I hurried out of work Friday to join friends at the local Locopops since a few of us had never been. Such a little delicious afternoon treat. Then I ran by HT & the library, filled up the CRV with gas & went to local Irish pub for dinner with the husband. Left my camera & cell at home ~ too busy having fun to remember to take a photo.
The father’s day I’d imagined didn’t happen. I started spotting kinda earlier in the week then definitely yesterday.
I’d have loved to give husband an awesome first father’s day-to-be today. Or hell, we’ve been trying long enough to practically have two babies by now {if we’d been those get-knocked-up-on-the-first-try people. God love those people}. But yeah. That’s not us. So onto cycle 19 & making father’s day 2012 happen.
For now, we’ll give Moekitty a hug, call our dads & granddads, & enjoy a lazy Sunday with pancakes, no strings attached & golf.
Today’s been busy but oh so fun. Normal work day with a longish morning meeting.
*Then* a yummy lunch at Panera filled with friends & baby Sophie snuggles. Sophie & mom Suzanne are doing great. & I made the statement that Sophie must be a future Chi O because she looked awesome rocking an owl onesie. 😛 {photos to follow when I get them from BA.}
Tonight, my newish friend Brandy & I are grabbing a quick dinner at Bruegger’s then heading off to our first Intermediate Digital Photography class. I’m looking forward to discovering more tips & tricks skills to taking better photos with my Christmas gift. And venturing off the auto & pre-done scene settings. Look forward to more {& hopefully better quality} photos to come!
Here’s a few of my favorites from messing around during class. Either on aperture or manual settings! [flickr id=”5849511077″ thumbnail=”medium” overlay=”true” size=”medium” group=”” align=”center”]
I love Brandy’s bag. I kinda wanted to steal it. Instead, I just took photos of it. [flickr id=”5850055128″ thumbnail=”medium” overlay=”true” size=”medium” group=”” align=”center”]
for the weekend at least. This time with some of my favorite ladies. Poe, BA, Kathleen & I caravan’d down Friday night to be greeted by my grandparents & Sara the mrs. We’d bought down just a few things to eat & drink…
Food, Drinks, Friends. Can't beat that for a Friday night.
I read this on ever-eloquent BA’s McFatty post today & thought yes, exactly.
I looked at my girlfriends & we’re all different shapes & sizes. We’re tall & short & pudgy & thin & we all hate the spare tires around hips. We’re mothers, we’re expecting, we’re trying, we’re infertile, we’re not quite ready. We’re tired hard workers, still hoping to cut loose over a road trip & silly jokes.
{pretty sure I’m one of the tall & also the pudgy & we’re trying friend. I’m owning that.}
But you know what I also loved, the support we give & gave each other. The infertile & not-quite-ready that BA mentioned, they were cheering me on from the bathroom as I was doing the progesterone late Friday night. Y’all inserting that is tough when you’re laughing & feeling the love like I was.
Saturday morning, I woke up to the giggle of my Nana & my friends down stairs. We walked a couple miles then beached it up for hours. {Nana snapped these of them loading the cart while I loaded the cooler. Be impressed, we took in all down in one trip.}
Babes heading to the beach
The beach day included books, girly beers, a lunch trip back to the house for pimento cheese sandwiches, fighting with wind-filled umbrellas & a floppy hat for me.
OIB LoveNothing like sand between your toes
{BA took the far left pic}
We continued reading on the front porch after a snack of more pimento cheese, Kathleen’s hummus & my Costco-bought spinach & artichoke dip.
Dinner was at the Inlet View. The ladies & view were looking good. My blackened fish was great, Sara’s crab legs enjoyed, & Poe & K let me try their mango shrimp {it was yummy!}. We ended up with a free round of drinks due to us being moved around & the rowdy group sitting near us.
Love these Ladies
My new BFF, Skinny Firefly made another appearance after dinner with we were playing Scribblish which is very fun. The relaxation of the beach got to us all & it ended up being an early night.
The beach church service was wonderful again this weekend. A soloist was in town & blessed us with his voice. Poe was making a fabulous breakfast of eggs & sausage & black beans with tortillas when I walked back in the house. Sadly, she & BA headed back home soon after. Sara, K & I walked {to the pier & back this time} then basked in another couple hours of beach sun before making our own ways back home.
My weekend summary~ the beach rocks, my grandparents are so sweet & brave for having us, & y’all, my friends are awesome.
My book club’s June book was Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. I finished it Memorial Day weekend at the beach after staying up a couple late nights the week before because I just could not put it down. We’d read a few other novels set in WWII this year. This one is the only work of non-fiction & by far my favorite.
