The Other Mother:

I finally FINALLY got to finish a book I started a couple weeks ago. Let me tell you right now that I should NOT have started it when I knew I had so much going on because it was hard to set aside.

The Other Mother by Gwendolen Gross is one of those stories you start and then NEVER put down until sadly, you have to because it's over. I had to split my reading time between college classes, studying for finals and even in the hospital room while my best friend was in labor. I finished it tonight in a comfortable chair, flanked by my own lovely "furry" child.

The story goes a little something like this: Thea and Amanda become neighbors then almost friends then maybe rivals then almost friends but always stay complex women over the course of a year spanning from September 2000 until September 2001 in a New Jersey suburb.

The book is divided into months and the different view points of Thea, a stay-at-home-mother of three and Amanda, a working-just-turned-mother. This works well and moves the plot along while giving a more complete story altogether. The writing is beautiful and very poetic at times and made me all but dream of the arrival of Autumn leaves and big, fat pumpkins.

I found myself rooting for various aspects of each woman and then being upset with them for their differences as well. They are both deep and well-developed and have both strengths as well as flaws. Nobody is perfect, and things aren't always as they seem.

If you like suspense-filled novels with complex women written poetically and true this is the book for you!

~~J

it's like a heatwave...

*insert Martha and the Vandellas here*

I'm hot.

Sorry Paris, but NOT THAT WAY.

It's literally so hot I swear my brain is on "fry". But you already know how hot it is, you're living through this along with me. And I just looked at the forecast and according to the Weather Channel it's supposed to be over 100 degrees for the next SIX DAYS IN A ROW. That's the actual temperature, I'm not talking about the heat index, kids.

Wed 102°/Thu 104°/Fri 105°/Sat 102°/Sun 103°/Mon 102°

Rain chance? 0-20% throughout this heat spell.

We'll all become one big collective puddle before it's all over.

At least I don't have to worry about going to and from classes anymore because I finished my two finals today. *throw confetti here* Now I can sit back and relax and ONLY work full-time for the next 20 days. (And read and watch movies, I CAN NOT WAIT!)

I did some work on the calculator today (not required, but on my own!) and I figured out that over the last 5 weeks if I include time at school and time at work I've averaged a 54.5 "work week" AND that does NOT include homework (writing papers, speeches, etc.) No wonder I've felt like collapsing on a daily basis.

Remember, NEVER EVER let me take two classes during the same Summer Session AND work at the same time. I'm too old to do it!

Think cool thoughts. May we survive the heat.

~~J

another Manic Monday...

*insert the Bangles here*

So today was ALMOST my last day of double summer classes. ALMOST. And it wasn't too easy. I would say the Algebra exam I took might have been the most difficult for me thus far. I had to stop and redo a couple problems, but when I finished and looked at the clock--it was one of my "fastest" exams. Odd.

I had time to practice my persuasive speech before Oral Comm. Now this speech was required to be 7-9 minutes. I knew I wouldn't have a problem with that aspect--I've nearly run over time with my other speeches. I was extremely passionate about my topic: Global Warming/Crisis Climate/Being Green. It's something I've cared about for a long time. I did a lot of research for my speech as well. Everything seemed to be pointing toward grand success.

BUT

When I got in front of the class my brain froze. Everything seemed to jumble. I actually practiced this speech more than any other and then I froze....(and got REALLY REALLY close to running over time). It was overwhelming and frustrating to me, but I got a good response from my classmates. I know I did well as far as my works cited/key word outline is concerned. I worked really hard, but the actual speech is very blurry to me.

Oh Well. There's nothing I can do about it now except study, study, study for my two finals tomorrow. If I ever mention....or even entertain the thought of taking two college classes AND working during the same Summer Session, someone STOP ME!

At least someone is working for me tonight.


~~J

p.s. And Happy Birthday to my dear little J-Mo born yesterday morning. I can't wait to hold you in my arms. Love!

Coincidence?

So today in Algebra I was reintroduced to the Pythagorean Theorem:

(the formula to find the unknown side of a right triangle if the two other sides are known, usually known as a square plus b square equals c square)

Oddly enough Pythagoras has been all over my world lately:

1) obviously in Algebra (easy one there)

2) I turned on ACE OF CAKES this evening while taking a little break and guess what Geof (executive sous chef) was talking about while constructing the roof of the "carousel cake" for Asbury Park? The Pythagorean Theorem. SERIOUSLY! It was kinda HOT.

3) The book I am attempting to read (I had to stop because I have no time will all of these assignments due) has a character named Thea after Pythagoras' wife "Theano" (although I read that some say she was his daughter). Really, what are the odds?

And with that all said, I guess I have to get "back to it." If I have to fore go reading a really fabulous book, I definitely can't waste time writing blog entries either. *sigh*

~~J

The Final Count Down!

It's Wednesday night and I am trying to recover from:

work

(the first of the month equals lotsa prescriptions in the world of pharmacy and we have inventory tomorrow, fun times!)

&

school

(I was given study guides for both of my finals and I've hit panic mode,

which doesn't really suit me!)

First and foremost, the study guide for the Algebra Final (which is actually created by the department and NOT my professor)...really made my brain hurt. ESPECIALLY since it's multiple choice and for some reason, a multiple choice math exam does nothing but confuse me. Seeing ALL of the problems together from the "semester" is a bit overwhelming.

The Final for Oral Comm should be manageable BUT with another speech looming (there's actually a Final speech AND a Final Exam), I've become exceedingly nervous. I "know" what I want to do, but somehow everything is getting jumbled up and coming out incorrectly.

The only thing that can make me smile right now is the thought of Elvis Week:

YUM!

~~J