Hey all.  I know that I have not written in a while, but damn where is the year going?  October was great, but it was so fast.  A lot happened and more is going to happen.

Here are the highlights for October:

I got to see a couple of live shows: Diane Birch (she is a great new singer/songwriter that I love.  She came to Bham and played a very short set at a new bar in town) and Kings of Leon (Scott, Megs and I enjoyed the hell out of this show!  They were awesome and so was the opening band, White Lies) . October also featured the last big party in our house: Halloween.  It was a blast.  We had old and new friends all stop by to see us and the house off.  Megs and I are going to our separate ways (and no, there are no negative or hard feelings between us.  We are still really close and will remain that way).

November will be even more hectic for me.  My travels for work are picking up tremendously this month.  I will leaving for Chicago this Friday and I will only be home 1 day and then I will go back to Chicago until the 22nd.  The one day that I am coming home in the middle is going to be one of the greatest days of my life.  I am finally going to see Bruce Springsteen in concert.  For those of you that know absolutely nothing about me: I love Bruce Springsteen so much!  I found tickets at a GREAT price and just on a whim, I bought them!  Blanki and I are going to have the time of our lives in Nashville that night!

As soon as I get back from Chicago, I will start moving (literally that day). It is going to be tough, but I have to get out of this house that week (the week of Thanksgiving).  This has been a great house to spend the last 2 years. I have met and become good friends with so many people here and I love that Megs, Jess and I decided to rent this house!

The one thing in the world that I have not had time to do lately is read.  I have the biggest stack of books that I want to read so badly right now and it kills me not to be able to stop and just pick one up.  With that said, I probably should not be sitting here blogging, but hey I had to catch you all up on me!

I will be back to tell you more later about how November pans out with me and Chicago and BRUCE!

bye for now.

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It took me a little bit longer than I like to read my most recent book selection, but hey my life can’t stop just because I want to read (though I wish it could. lol).  The book that I read was “Beautiful Boy: A Father’s Journey Through His Son’s Addiction” by David Sheff.  This was a book that I learned about last year at our yearly work Seminar.  I am SO glad that I kept it on my radar.

The book is about David’s son, Nic, and Nic’s addiction to Meth and alcohol, but that only skims the surface.

David and Nic’s mother divorced when Nic was very young and David gets custody during the school year and he is with his mother during the summer and on holidays.  David is a really “cool dad”.  He shares everything.  He is very involved and active with Nic his entire childhood.  He does all the things that he should/needs to do for Nic to have as “normal” a life as he can.  Nic is highly intelligent, top of his class, and all those good things.  Nic’s drug use began with marijuana when he was in junior high school, but (like most parents would), David reprimands Nic and thinks that things are alright.

Well, it was not alright.  Throughout the book, Nic’s addictions progress into so much more.  That is the where the bulk of the story takes us.  It is how David and the entire family have to cope with Nic’s stints in rehab, Nic’s relapses, Nic’s betrayal, etc.   Every time that Nic relapses, David does absolutely everything that a person can do for their son.  Every time that it happens, David tries to stay strong and use “Tough Love”, but ultimately he gives in and helps his son.  Who wouldn’t, really?  Who knows if this will be the stint that makes him better?

David becomes obsessed with his son’s addiction.  Why did this happen?  Was it the divorce? Was it the fact that David shared stories of his drug use when he was younger?  It is quite a journey.  I found myself often mad at Nic and sad for David and his family (his 2nd wife and their 2 kids that love their big brother more than anything in the world).  There are movies/books/trails/parks, etc that always will and do remind him of his son when he least expects it.

Most people that know me, know that my favorite line to quote is Jackson Browne’s “Don’t confront me with my failures, I have not forgotten them”.  Well, on page 230, David thinks about when he saw a movie where that song was played and he quotes that exact line!  I already loved the book, but when I read that I really connected to David on another level.

Needless to say, I loved it.  It was a very inspirational and emotional read, but well worth it.  I will not tell you how it ends, in case you want to read it.  I have told you a lot here, but I didn’t even scratch the surface.  Trust me.

bye for now.

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It has been a while since a post.  I know.  I suck at this, but I have good reasons (well 1 good one and then some regular ones).  The biggest reason is a secret project that I am working on that I can’t talk about on here, because the surprise might get out to the recipient. Once it is revealed, I will definitely be posting about the process (with pictures).

Also, somehow I got a Facebook account.  I say somehow, but we all know that I was the one that clicked “go” (which I am still a little shocked at myself).  I am not on it  a lot, but when I am it seems like time flies.  I think that is because I am still trying to learn about it and all of it features.  I am open to all suggestions and advice on what I need to make my “wall” (not sure if that is what the whole application is called) the best.

I finished my book this week so I will have a report soon for you.   I will get better next week about posting (I took some vacation days next week and I will have some time to sit down and actually post some good stuff).  If you do need a good blog to read in the interim, check out my sister’s blog (it the one labeled “Blanki” in the right sidebar).  It is her first blog and I have to say that it makes me laugh A LOT and is quite inspiring.

Also, the cooking experiments have not ceased. I have a great recipe for something that I plan to cook this weekend if I stay caught up on my project.  I will definitely let you all know how that goes (good or bad).

life is short.  turn the music up!

bye for now.

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