A Weekend Full of Fights, Brawls, and Battles

This was the 2nd to last weekend before Christmas and it was such a crazy one for me.  Not because of shopping, and preparations for the holiday but because of some genuine battles.

My son was in one of his crazy MMA fights - Steelfist Fight Night 21 in SLC and that always worries me.  He gets upset at me because he says I shouldn't put out "negativity" since that is potentially bad for his game.  So I really try to be positive and upbeat about it.  

About 2 weeks before the brawl match, he was sparring with a partner and they both decided to do take-downs in opposing directions, which put a tremendous amount of pressure on his core..  E. felt a pop and some pain in his upper abs, close to his ribs.  He quit but soon noticed a large lump.  When he showed it to us, he said it had gone down considerably.  But it jutted out pretty prominantly in my own estimation.  I really thought that it looked like a hiatal hernia, but he insisted that it wasn't and that he would continue to train, but without the sparring.  He just doubled up on the cardio drills.  I was so worried that if he decided to go ahead with the match that he would risk serious injury. I did mention that his safety was paramount to anything and he assured me he was OK.  Of course he didn't want to hear much more from me after that. He went ahead with the match this past Friday...  I opted to not attend because I do get really worried and I hate to see him hit.  That whole evening I was so worried.  I was just feeling shaky and trying to get any info I could on the fight, since I wasn't there.   Since he doesn't live with us, I invited him to come over after the match and I would give him something special.  (It was his favorite Sweet Potato Casserole that he loves so much!)  I didn't care if he won or lost, I just wanted to lure him over so I could assess for myself any damage done to him.

 I didn't really expect him to take the invitation because he has his team, friends, admirers, fans, etc.  and I was right, he didn't.  But I did get the text.  It said, "Epic knockout in the first round!  Thanks for your support :)"  At first I thought that he was the one that got knocked out, but then I thought, no, he wouldn't describe it as "epic" if it was him and he certainly wouldn't have put a smiley face after the announcement.  I was ecstatic.  Not only did he win, but he won in the first round, sparing him a lot of roughing up and physical exertion.  Later that night, he called me and gave me the details. His opponent was very good and is known for his "reach" and his physical game.  They came out and the hits were hard and the guy was out for blood, but Eddie, or Ed as they call him, was able to dodge the bullets and land the fatal blow that sent him down and was able to finish it off before the refs called it.  

Now he's scheduled for the title match to win the belt for the 190 lb. weight.  That's in two months. Since I know that he is determined, I can only pray for a good outcome. And believe me, I will be praying!  

 But that wasn't the end of my weekend.  Oh no.  My own ordeal came in the form of 'Battle Of The Choirs,' as the annual Christmas Choir Program is fondly called.  We live in the Granite South Stake, which is divided up in, as near as I can tell, 8 sections or wards.  On Sunday evening, each Ward performed a Christmas choir number.  This is my first year as the choir accompanist and I didn't really know what to expect.  We performed a piece called 'Let Your Hearts Make Him Room' by Douglas Wagnor.  We were 2nd on the program.  The first choir was clearly on top of its game and aware of the nickname given to the event.  They were spectacular! Whereas prior to that performance, I was as calm as I could be, I could feel myself getting more and more nervous.  My heart started doing flip flops and I wondered about our own number.  How would we measure up to that rousing rendition?  Ours was rather calm in comparison and although melodically beautiful, certainly not showy.  But our turn came all too quickly.  From what I could hear, we did well and our director, Jeff K., who does have a PhD in Music, led us wonderfully well.  When we were through, my heart was not calming down.  I was still having some heart palpitations.  Getting in front of a crowd has never been my strong point.  

I would have loved to stay but the boys were eagerly awaiting our dinner.  We had lasagne, the sweet potato casserole that I didn't get to give E. on Friday, peas, and brownies and ice cream for dessert.  We watched some football and the finale of 'Survivor' while we ate.  Eddie gave me a compliment.  He said my piano playing was great and that the choir complemented me, since obviously the piano was the best part.  Wow, I felt like I was the winner of the night in the 'Battle of the Choirs!'  I congratulated him on a great win and was so happy to see he didn't even have a mark on his face. 

How did you spend your own weekend? Was it filled with any kind of fights, brawls or battles?  Do tell...

Good Genes....What Are They?

Recently I've heard a lot about certain women having good genes.  I've heard a lot about how, if you are thin, you have great genes and even more specifically that if you bounce back to your thin pre-pregnancy flat stomach within a week after giving birth that you have super duper great genes. So where does that leave the rest of us?  Am I to suppose that because I didn't bounce back within a week after giving birth that I have inferior genes?  Sure makes one start to wonder, with all of the bru-ha-ha going around about things like that!

I got to thinking about my own genetic make-up and my gene pool.  I've come to realize that I have amaaazing genes.  Here are some reasons why:

1.  I store fat very easily.  I can eat just a few cookies or fried potatoes or a couple of sandwiches and it will store into fat almost immediately!  This is really good because if or when times get tough, I will be able to rely on my ability to store fat to help me through those potentially rugged situations!  Plus, chubby people are now known to live longer in general than the thin ones!

2.  I have no hair on my arms.  For some reason, I was blessed with very little hair on my forearms.  They look smooth and prepubescent.  This gives me a head start when I want to look feminine and dainty. I can throw on a quarter-length sleeve and boom! Ready to roll with the superstars! What people don't have to know is that I more than make up for that lack thereof on other parts of my body.  I guess they do now!  Lol!

3..  I have thick wavy hair on my head - This is a great genetic asset!  When you have thick wavy hair, it can be teased and coaxed into just about any hairstyle known.   Sure, it may take time with the blow dryer, flat iron, and hair accessories--time I am often not willing to take, but even so, if left to itself, my hair still looks like I intentionally wanted the bed head look.  I sport the bed head look a lot!

4. My hands and feet stay warm in cold weather.  That's a big plus!  Why, you ask?  I can get out and exercise when other people head indoors for the roughly 90 days of harsh winter.  If your hands and feet are warm, the rest of you is warm, too.  Who needs hand warmers?  I AM a hand warmer!  Plus, I can always feel comfortable shaking hands with people, knowing that I won't shock them with ice cubes for hands.  That doesn't make for great first impressions!  I make great first impressions!

5.  I have A.D.D..  This is a great asset because I can be a very animated person, especially in boring, structured, almost catatonic situations.  I also succeed in diverting other people's riveted attention away from dreary monologues, lectures or discussions by constant tapping, fidgeting and shifting in my seat.  And when someone is talking directly to me and being far too boring and detailed, I have the ability to interrupt their train of thought and get straight to the point, cutting to the chase without all the stuffy details.  Sometimes the only way to do this is to interrupt someone right in the middle of a sentence and change the subject or simply walk away.  It really does the trick and keeps things interesting and fresh!


6.  I love to spend time doing nothing.  I can literally spend hours just laying on the couch, staring into space.  It's really quite an ability because while doing this I am de-stressing my body, allowing it to rejuvenate naturally without worrying about sleep or exercise.  It also detoxes my mind from any thoughts of responsibility or guilt feelings.

7.  I can be very obsessed and focused.  If I find something that I find interesting, I will literally spend hours and hours doing it, studying it, probing it, and learning about it.  For instance, when I finally got the hang of Pinterest, there was no stopping me!  I pinned until my eyes were bleary and my backside became numb.  

8.  I am refreshingly assymetrical.  I am unbalanced enough in my features to be very individual in my looks.  No one can accuse me of being a boring cookie- cutter Hollywood model type.  I was even more individual before the A.T.V. accident which smashed and cut open my nose, forcing me to get a rhinoplasty, which shortened my noticeably longer-than-average nose to a more proportionate length.  Oh well...at least I have a bit of scarring to show for it!

I could go on and on about my amazing genes.  But I think the best genetic advantage I have is the fact that I realize that genetics are less responsible for how someone presents themselves in society than the actual effort and priority one places on individual values and beliefs.  Whatever is most important to you, is what will be evident in your life! 

I'm hoping that the values I place on God, family, country and service will definitely come through and make me exactly what I always wanted to be someday!  It's still definitely a work in progress!  What are some of your genetic strengths?

 

Energy!.....But Are Those Drinks Worth It?

I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving this year!  I am trying to diet a little so I can get down to some point where I won't be so shocked after I eat on Thursday.   But I need to talk about something that has been on my mind lately.  It's about energy and the different ways we get it.  Some of us like to burn the candle at both ends.  We love life so much that we don't want to sleep.  We want to grab life and live it to the fullest.  But even the most energetic of us need sleep to have energy.  In the absence of sleep, what is it that we can do to keep us going for a little while more before we crash?   
 
I am amazed at how many people drink energy drinks.  News flash:  They aren't even remotely good for you!  And especially, not good for young people.  At a time in their lives when they can run circles around adults who can possibly justify their need for some kind of pick-me-up, whether natural or artificial, here they are, drinking Red Bull, Full Throttle, Monster, 5-Hour Energy and Rock Star like the new Pepsi or Diet Coke, known in and of themselves for hits of caffeine. But nothing like these drinks.  These make Pepsi and Coke seem like water in comparison.

I do understand the occasional adult need for a quick boost in their energy.  For instance, moms who watch their kids all day and then feel that they need their own time at night or moms who stay up all night with a child and need to stay up during the day.  I remember feeling that way.  I really did want my own time, but I couldn't physically do it unless I had some kind of jolt.  Because if I didn't, I was out along with the kiddo.  

The adult who is driving a long way to a long-distance destination needs energy.  My husband drinks energy drinks on long road trips.  I'm not OK with it, but since he refuses to stop and just keeps on driving, I guess I'd rather he do that than fall asleep at the wheel and put us all in danger!  I'd much rather we stop and take a break somewhere until we are ready to go again.   

What about the all-night shift workers who have to stay up for their jobs?  I know that this is necessary for their living so I have to say that they have to do what they have to do.  My brother works at Rio Tinto Copper Mine in Utah and he works all kinds of crazy shifts.  He never has the same shift back to back, it seems.  He's given up all kinds of health to keep that job, which has benefits and retirement.  Does he do energy drinks?  You bet.  

But just to let you know, there is a cost to drinking energy drinks more than just occasionally.  First they cause a steep rise and fall to insulin levels, triggering inflamation (the initial cause of most health issues), potential hormonal imbalances, and moodiness.   The temporary boost is followed by plummeting blood sugar--which will have you either immobilized and groggy or reaching for another lift.  
 The 72 to 200 mg of caffeine per serving of one of these drinks can trigger heart palpitations, the jitters, and insomnia.  Also one popular brand has 62 g of sugar--the same as nearly two candy bars!  And then there is the added risk when you start mixing these drinks with substances like alcohol, medications, or drugs. 

Some alternatives to reaching for the energy drink is to take a brisk walk during the day; reach for a complex carb with protein snack such as whole grain crackers and cheese, whole wheat bread with almond butter; do some meditation to clear your mind of energy-draining thoughts and keep yourself surrounded by positive people because negativity will decrease energy.   

Doing these and other alternative energy boosting and energy saving activities will definitely help you stay away from those high sugar/high caffeine energy drinks and will help you keep your health and well-being!  

I'm just looking out for you and hoping that you will have a great Thanksgiving and if that means you need to get out and shop till you drop, then do it!  Just stay away from the energy drinks, k?


Notice:  This was written solely by myself.  All opinions are my own.  This work is owned by A GAL NEEDS...

A Talented Friend

I go to work 4 times a week.  It's a great little job but thank goodness my husband is the money-maker in the home, because this wouldn't cut it financially.  I used to work between 30 and 35 hours a week, but something changed this past year (I can only guess at what) and I am now down to 13 hours per week.  Sometimes I find myself in the kitchen saying hello to my friends, the lunch ladies.  They are the sweetest gals ever!  They make the most out of the resources they have been given and honestly I think they do wonders!!  Our school is lucky to have them!  One of them makes baby shower cakes.  Have you seen these things?  They are the latest thing to bring to baby showers. You can either make them yourself or have someone like Patti make one for you.  I had her make one for me and it was the coolest thing ever!  It was the hit of the party!  Here are a couple of others that she has done recently!  If you live in Utah and are interested in having her make something for your next shower, please leave me a comment and I'll get you her info!  She's more than fair with pricing and would be happy to work with you! 

Baby Girl Party Castle

Baby Boy Stringed Guitar

 

The Last Sunny Week of October

This past week has been so gorgeous and I didn't want to miss being outside because well, you know, winter is cold and it's no fun to be out in for long!  So here are a few fun things I did just to take advantage of those days!

Fed Ducks  My friend lives on the river and I went to visit her this week.  We enjoyed what might be the last few beautiful and warm days of autumn by going out and sitting on her deck on the river.  We fed the ducks. They came flying in from every direction to see what food we had to offer.  Apparently, they love dog food!  Who knew?  To show their appreciation for the good meal, they tucked their beaks in their wings and dozed on the deck as we conversed.  It was so cute!  I wish I had thought to take a picture but Diana forwarded this one to my phone!

Went To Temple  Each month I try to get to my local LDS temple.  I go by myself and use the time to meditate and reflect while I do work for my ancestors.  I love going to the temple because it provides me with respite from my cares for awhile!  I come away with better perspective and greater strength to face the challenges I face.  We all have challenges and this is my way to go forward with faith!

Played Disc Golf 3 days - To take advantage of the beautiful weather, I played disc golf with my husband twice and once with Jo, my 16-year-old.  On the 3rd day on hole 17, I had an amaaazing drive.  This gave me the confidence that I'm not just static in my progress at disc golf, although most times it seems that way!

Ate Coldstone Cake - We have so many birthdays in October both in my family and my husband's family.  In honor of those who had birthdays I ordered a Coldstone Creamery Cake over the phone.  It cost $21.75.  I really thought it would be bigger but it was about the size of a quarter.  We nonetheless enjoyed what there was of it and I made brownies to supplement any lack of cake that we had.

Learned how to take a panoramic picture
My dog Evee and I go for walks on a beautiful trail and I can never really capture how gorgeous the view is.  But today I found the Panorama View on my phone and took my first ever panoramic shot.  I'm sure there will be more.  It was taken in the afternoon as the sun was going down behind the other mountains at my back, thus the shadow!  On our walks, I actually go down into the gully and walk the trails seen in the shadow, and hiking back up when I'm done!  I still can't adequately capture the gorgeous view.  But at least it's more of the idea!

Went To JCW's - Our current favorite place to go eat is Zupa's Cafe.  They make great soups, salads and panini sandwiches.  We decided to mix it up a bit and we took Jo, my 16 year old to JCW's, a hamburger place after we played disc golf.  I've had their garden burger on Sourdough and I really liked it, and Jo has had their milkshakes, which he says are good.  So Greg, myself and Jo each ordered a combo.  We were delighted that they had some great options--instead of fries, I got a Texas Chili soup.  Greg got fries and Joseph got soup.  We each then got a burger and a shake.  Greg and I both got the mini shake, which was good, because they are thick and rich!  Jo got the large and it was massive!  The food was really good and I ended up not eating my chili and saving it for the next day.  All told we spent $37.50, which is definitely more expensive than Zupa's.  But hey, it was worth it because the shakes were to die for!  The hamburgers were pretty good too!

And of course Halloween is tomorrow.  We're ready to rock and roll, handing out goodies to any who come to the door.  Of course, we'll be eating the extras!

Artistic Ways To Make Fall Gourds Into Works Of Art!

Last week I had some time to kill, a rare occurrence, and I found myself at the local Library. I have always been enamored with the beautiful restoration of the old BYU Academy Square, formerly falling into disrepair, now restored to it's old luster and even better! As I walked up the stairs of the renovated Provo Library I was struck by the open spaciousness rendered by the very high ceilings and light coming through the large windows. There are offices and meeting halls here and a small art museum called the Anderson Art Gallery that houses portable art displays. 

photo credit - Bill Wolverton

 This is Fall and in the display area was a collection that I had not seen before. Gourds of all shapes and sizes made into beautiful pieces of art! I was enthralled that things that are grown and harvested in the Fall can be transformed into such beautiful art! The artist is Marilyn Sunderland and she has been doing this for several years now.  She presented one of her beautiful gourds to our Governor and also one to George W. Bush. I would be so honored if I were able to have one of these beautiful pieces in my own home. But they are extremely pricey and I would have to save quite a good while for one of these beauties. I took a few pictures with my phone.  Aren't they gorgeous? Here's to Fall and the beautiful things it renders! In this case, GOURDS!

Pampering at local Dallas Roberts Salon! Get $20 Off Here! #Utah

  I don't know if it's the Utah climate or what, but I've got really dry hair.  When I lived in Virginia, my hair was frizzy from the humidity, but dry, not so much!.  I think my hair is just a problem all the way around.  But I do know that the upcoming winter is even drier than it is in the spring, summer and fall,  That's why I need to do a deep condition from the start so that I can keep up with it.  For anyone with dry hair, I think it's a good idea to get it taken care of before winter sets in. 

I had the privilege of going to Dallas Roberts Salon in West Jordan, UT and get a deep condition, cut & style in exchange for a review.  My stylist was Becky Pederson, the senior stylist there, even though she is the youngest!  At just 21, she is years ahead of her time in terms of intuition, service, and general making you feel at home.  The decor of the establishment is so professional.  I walked in and was greeted by a big waiting area, with leather chairs and couch, beautiful flower arrangements in designer vases, and an overall feeling of casual elegance.

Becky used their great organic product line called Davines, a family-owned, award-winning international brand distributed in 70 countries for my condition and styling experience.  I absolutely loved how it left my hair feeling--totally soft and manageable.  And it will last for awhile too!

Becky, my stylist and me!

Becky was expert in the styling of my hair.  I recently had an experience at another Salon where I paid over $60 for a cut, style and condition, very similar to what I had done at Dallas Roberts.  And while I did like the products that were used on my hair, I wasn't happy with the way the stylist styled my hair.  She didn't seem like she was intuitive about styling at all and my style came out very boring, and not at all flattering.  So I'm very much of the belief that the stylist you get is so important.  Becky is one of those great stylists!

A line that is exclusive to Dallas Roberts is their make-up line called Tiffany Leigh Cosmetics. I love the acronym the name creates--TLC!  The owners, Larry and Sherri Curtis, created the line and named it after their daughter.   Both Larry and Sherri have amazing resumes in the hair and make-up industry.  Sherri Curtis is a professional, much sought after make-up artist with a Hollywood background and Larry is an author and motivational speaker as an insider in the industry. 



(The necklace I was wearing in the video is one I got from Mintgem Jewelry on Etsy.  Cute, eh?)

 For your discount of $20.00 on any service, please mention A GAL NEEDS...sent you and the discount will be applied at the time of service!  For a limited time only!  (By October 31)

Adequate Protein Intake For A Better Body

"Oh you look so great now that you're skinny--with no muscle tone and your clothes just hang on you, but at least you're thin!", said no one ever.  Can you imagine the gasps if someone were to say that? But you've seen it, you know you have.  Ladies who have lost weight and they really don't look that much better because they unfortunately have lost their muscle tone along with the weight.  What keeps that from happening?  It's all in the protein, baby. 
________ 

We gals need protein, and lots of it, in order to keep our bodies where they need to be.  Do you cease to need muscles after 30?  No way!  In fact, if anything, you need more muscle because of everything you have to do to maintain health (like exercise), help your families, and stay viable in the workforce.  Muscle makes everything easier--especially physical activity.  

Maintaining a healthy weight is important and so many women diet heavily after age 30 in hopes of maintaining the healthy weight of their youth!  But food deprivation alone will strip you of muscle along with the fat, leaving you thin, yes, but most likely lacking in energy and muscle tone.
 If I'm losing an average of a half a pound of muscle every year after 30, it's not just going to happen for me like it once did, when I could eat all of those fab foods and then on the weekend do some kind of weekend warrior type of activity and lose anything I had gained.  Not going to happen...But the protein and working out will help things out a whole lot.  So how much protein do you need?  

Here's the formula:  My (or your) ideal weight (135 lbs.) ÷ 2.2 = 61.3636 (Ideal weight in Kg)  Next, 
61.3636 X 1.5 = 92.04 grams of protein needed per day.

OK, that sounds like a whole lot of protein, but it really isn't that much.  For instance, 4 oz. of chicken or beef has nearly 30 grams of protein right there.   And a one cup serving of Greek Yogurt has 11 - 20 grams.  Another important thing is that you need to spread the protein intake over the course of the entire day rather than consume it all in one sitting.  And the most important time to have protein is in the morning after going all night without anything to combat muscle loss as you are sleeping.  Also, varying the things you eat for protein is important.  So while beans and legumes are considered medium sources of protein compared to meats, greek yogurt and whey protein, they do offer other great nutrients in addition to their protein.  Plus, depending solely on meats for your protein could actually be muscle robbing in the long run because they are acid producing.  So it's important to then add fruits and vegetable because they are alkaline producing and will combat the acid effect.  

Today my goal was to consume 92 grams of protein.  Here's what I had:

Breakfast:
Kashi Go Lean Crunch Cereal  1.5 cups - 13 grams protein
1 cup milk - 8 grams protein

Snack:  1 cup Vanilla Greek Yogurt - 11 grams protein

Lunch:  Open Face Tuna Sandwich - 19 grams protein
1/2 oz chedder cheese -  4 grams protein

Snack:  6 dates - 0 grams protein
1/2 oz. Swiss Cheese - 4 grams protein
Protein bar - 14 grams protein

Dinner:  Protein Shake with 1 cup milk - 31 grams protein

Total Protein consumed: 104 grams

I totally surpassed my goal protein intake.  And I KNOW I surpassed my calorie intake goal as well.  I don't even want to go there! This was an experiment and I can see where I could have done better.  For instance, I could have cut out the swiss cheese and I could have cut the milk down to 1/2 cup for the protein shake.  But as you can see, protein is fairly easy to come by!  

So, if I were to choose between being thin with no muscle tone or being a bit more thick with muscle intact, I'd pick the latter.  Let's keep that beautiful muscle while keeping fit and healthy. 

What are some of your suggestions to keep healthy and full of energy? 

All The Help We Can Get In The Laundry Process {Review}

One of the things that we gals are constantly doing is laundry.  I don't want to be bothered by more than one load of laundry every week for any one person in my family.  Of course that usually isn't the case, but I try.  I threaten, cajol, bribe and nag, among other tactics, attempting take down the sheer number of loads done each week.  Another one of my pet peeves in the laundry room is all of the lost and mismatched socks!  I really need something to help me with this process.  And even if all the matches are there, I don't like sorting them at the end of the washing process.  Enter Sock Locks, a product I received for review.  It's actually a very simple concept but could be a huge time saver.  

 I actually wanted to let you see me reviewing it live, so I did my own laundry using the Sock Locks and filmed it while I was doing it.  (Notes are included for the obvious flub-ups) If you are someone that really doesn't like the whole sock laundry routine, you might want to give these a try!  If after watching this video, you still don't have a clue as to what these are, you can watch the official Lock Socks How-To Video.  It's very professional, unlike mine which is not professional, just authentic, nothing else!



Disclosure:  I received product for review purposes

A Book About A Boy And His Dog(s)

I love me a good book, a book that will at once engage me, relax me and take me out of the day with no nightmares or heavy thought-provoking head stuff.  I don't want to be a book critic.  If I like it, I like it.  I don't question form, I don't question method, style or intent.  I just want to be engaged and taught. I like character development.  I don't like heavy sex or violence.  I felt that I found that kind of book when I read 'The Story of Edger Sawtell.'  When I find a good book, it's hard for me to do anything else but read, hence my absence from the blog.  I read it when I could, which was mainly at night before going to sleep.  

I happen to be a dog lover.  This book taught me a lot about dogs, even though I have owned a dog at least half of my life.  I suppose I got it because it was recommended to me at my local library, where I was searching for a book.  I didn't even realize that it was on Oprah's book club.  I don't like to read reviews too much before getting into the book because sometimes that influences my choice and I like to judge things for myself.  Normally, you would think that a subject such as this would be a Young Adult Reading List book.  But it isn't.  It is written for adults and has some complex themes in it. 

Boys and dogs just go together.  This is my boy and his dog!

  I loved the language David Wroblewski used in descriptions, I loved his imagination in dreaming up the characters and their histories.  I admit that I didn't understand some of his additions to the story and some of the characters weren't as well developed as they could be, for instance the old woman at the grocery store was fascinating, but where on earth did she come from and why was she the way she was?  No clue!  

One thing I do know, If no one has ever had a dog, after finishing The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, I would venture to say you'll feel as though you've had one all your life. It made me appreciate my own Evee so much.  I didn't even mind that he sometimes made the dogs have thoughts and feelings like humans.  It was so touching because I believe that if animals were to have human-like thoughts,  Wroblewski nailed it.  

I also loved the way the relationship between the father and son turned out.  Here is a very inward and stoic boy who never really was able to express much to his parents and finally in the end, he was able to say and show exactly what was the most important.  It made me cry..and don't even start me about his own personal dog, Almondine.  I know that many people read this book and I was probably the only reader who hadn't up to this point.  I'm glad that I waited.  I was ready for this book and it was worth the read.  

I went to GoodReads and looked at some of the reviews and gad, there are a lot of cynics in this world.  I really couldn't believe all of the meanness.  But you like what you like, and thank goodness there are authors like Wroblewski who can write up a novel that is sensitive, descriptive, exciting, imaginative and thought-provoking all in one good read.