First Line Friday & National Hat Day

FIRST LINE FRIDAY...First lines have always intrigued me since I heard an author say that writing the first sentence is, by far, the most difficult part of writing a novel. The reasoning was that a first sentence can make the reader continue reading or cause the book to be tossed aside. So, go to your To Be Read Pile, choose as many books as you want and share the first line. Be sure to include the title and author so that if your reader also finds it intriguing, they can find the book. Also, share your thoughts about the first line. Does it draw you in? Is it...exciting...thought provoking...scary...funny?

"I was on the second floor of a three-story walk-up on Chicago's North Side."
The Chicago Way
Michael Harvey

Definitely not the most exciting fist sentence but this debut novel has been likened to classic Noir novels of the past. It doesn't surprise me, then, that the first sentence is very staight-forward and to-the-point.

We are reading this mystery for my February book club. It's received great reviews and I'm looking forward to reading it. I'll probably start it tonight.

There is a quote in the front of the book that explains the book's title. It's taken from The Untouchables. I adore Sean Connery so, thanks to YouTube, here is the scene...

Today, January 15, is National Hat Day. Why is this significant? Because we held a private funeral service for my father-in-law today. There will be memorial service Sunday at the church where their family were members for over 50 years. He always wore a Fedora when he was in public. I can't even think of a time when I saw him without one. He wasn't a vain man who wore a hat to cover baldness. He was just of that generation of men who believed it was proper etiquette to wear a hat when in public. He was quite dapper, actually. I find it very fitting that his funeral held on National Hat Day :o)


I carried my Dooney & Bourke black satchel today. I felt I needed a very sedate black bag for the funeral and this one was the first one I pulled out of my purse closet.

Books, Bags and Bon Jovi

Okay, so I scrambled my blog title a little bit....

I haven't really been reading a lot lately. Obviously, it's been quite stressful around here. I usually read before I go to sleep but, more often than not, I was asleep almost as soon as my head hit the pillow.


I have found a novel that I am very excited to read. It is "Roses" by Leila Meacham. Publishers Weekly calls Roses an "enthralling stunner, a good old-fashioned read ... heralding the overdue return of those delicious doorstop epics from such writers as Barbara Taylor Bradford (A Woman of Substance) and Colleen McCullough (The Thorn Birds)".

I love epic family sagas. So, I put my name on the library waiting list. I try not to judge books by their cover but the cover is simply beautiful. I hope the novel lives up to all the hype. If you've read this, I'd love to hear your opinion.

I've missed blogging about my handbags. I had a rather funny handbag "mishap" the other day. I was walking through the Macy's handbag department (of course) on my way to a hair appointment when all of the sudden, I feel the front handle of my satchel break.
I couldn't even carry it properly. I had to carry it under my arm like a huge clutch :o) It was like my purse was punishing me for looking at other bags. Crazy, I know but the timing was just a little curious :o) It's at the shoe repair shop waiting to be picked up after being repaired.

I hadn't bought a bag in quite a while and went a little crazy in Target the other day. I bought two purses and have my eye on a third. I may just ask for it for my birthday. It's not that it's expensive...it's from Target, so no worries there. It's just that J&M want to buy a birthday gift and I don't want them to spend a lot of money. Win/win, I guess.


My bag today was one of my Target purchases. It is also the same bag I want for my birthday :o) I bought it in black and the one I want is a muted fuschia. I don't have a problem with having two bags in the same style but different color. As a matter of fact, I think it is very practical. If I find a bag I love, why not have it in different colors? I'm not carrying both at the same time. This bag is big and slouchy and even though it's not leather, it feels so soft. I added a Kathy Van Zeeland key fob to the zipper pull for a little extra "pizzazz".

And just so my post title makes sense, here's a picture of Jon...

It's Been A While

I haven't meant to have these long breaks in my blog. Life, however, is a different story. Not only did the holidays come and go as they always do but we dealt with the passing of my husband's father.

W, my father-in-law, had been in failing health for probably the last year or so. In the last six months, though, it became increasingly worse. He was hospitalized right before Thanksgiving and passed away a few days after New Year's Day. In the end, though, it was his decision to end care. He passed peacefully with our family by his side.

W was a brillant scientist. Without a doubt, he was the smartest person I have ever known. He held many patents for inventions that I cannot even begin to understand. Some of his inventions were used on the Viking Mars probes as well as in other space programs. He also "invented" mathematical calculations that are being taught today at universities around the world. Honestly, to say he was smart is an understatement.

Our family is gathering for his funeral and while I love to see my husband's brother and his family, I hate that it is under these circumstances. I dread the funeral, though. I remember the day of my Dad's funeral. I was almost physically ill getting ready. I just kept thinking how utterly inane it seemed that I should be "doing" my hair and deciding what shoes to wear on that day.

I hope my husband, his brother and my mother-in-law find peace on a day when it's needed so much.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!
I hope your day was filled with peace, joy and love! As well as a visit from....

Thursday Thoughts

~My son had, until last night, shoulder length hair. Although I thought he looked really cute, I never said anything. We all know that it wouldn't be cool to a 14 year old to have your Mom think you're cute.

~Anyway... last night he had his hair cut. It's actually pretty short. It's not a "buzz" but it's really close. I even saved a few locks of his hair. Again, I think it looks good and this time I told him :o)

~Why did he decide to cut it? He is "shadowing" at a Catholic High School on Monday. He has to be in their dress code and his hair was too long. I thought he'd have it cut just enough to meet their "collar-length" requirement. He decided he wanted it shorter. I'm still getting used to the "new" J. He looks so grown up.

~My husband took him to carpool this morning and said that H, the girl we carpool with, started screaming with excitement when she saw J. I told him that she probably spent the entire ride to school texting all their friends about his hair. He attends a rather small school and has told me that there are two other boys with longer hair. I'm interested to hear how his day was.

~My friend's boyfriend has offered to write a letter of recommendation to the high school for J. He is an alum and runs their IT. I can't believe it. What a kind thing to do!

~It amazes me that Thanksgiving is next week with Christmas coming right on its heels. My day planner is filled and more events keep getting added. I'm sure everyone knows how that is.

~Tonight is the season finale of one of my guilty pleasures... Project Runway. This is the first season I've watched and although, I've heard it's definitely not one of the best, I really like it.


~After the finale is the finale of Models of the Runway. It follows the models that the designers use. It's catty, fun and, definitely, a guilty pleasure. So, with that in mind... I'll be enjoying another guilty pleasure while I watch... Haagan Dazs Coffee ice cream! Yeah... that's right I'll be eating ice cream while I watch size 0 models strut down the runway. Sort of defines "irony"...don't you think?!?

Teaser Tuesday

I LOVE Teaser Tuesday.
Grab your current read.
Let the book fall open to a random page.
Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!
"Langdon could only stare. The idea of "order from chaos" was one of the great Masonic axioms."
The Lost Symbol
Dan Brown
page 104

I am starting this book tonight. I read Angels & Demons recently and, like most readers, enjoyed it more than The DaVinci Code. I am on the library waiting list. I think I'm #339. I'm not in a huge hurry to read it so being that far down the list was okay with me.

At book club tonight, my friend, S, loaned me her copy. YAY! What a nice gesture. She is such a nice person. Besides having very similar tastes in books, she and I share a love of handbags. I look forward to seeing what she's carrying every month. I don't think she switches every day, like I do but, honestly, she rarely carries the same bag twice... to book club, at least.


Tonight, she was carrying a vintage black Dooney & Bourke All Weather Leather drawstring bag. She said it was a consignment store find. It is in gorgeous vintage condition... a little beat up with wonderfully aged patina. D&B AWL bags just get better with age... kind of like... well, you know :o)


I carried a black studded shoulder bag. It's another one of my "rocker chick" bags. There's a lot of hardware on this bag, too. Carrying this bag while wearing a pair of jeans tucked into tall black boots, a black sweater, a leopard print scarf and some black and gold chandlier earrings has become one of my favorite outfits.

First Line Friday

FIRST LINE FRIDAY...First lines have always intrigued me since I heard an author say that writing the first sentence is, by far, the most difficult part of writing a novel. The reasoning was that a first sentence can make the reader continue reading or cause the book to be tossed aside. So, go to your To Be Read Pile, choose as many books as you want and share the first line. Be sure to include the title and author so that if your reader also finds it intriguing, they can find the book. Also, share your thoughts about the first line. Does it draw you in? Is it...exciting...thought provoking...scary...funny?


"Arnold Bacon would have made a fortune if he hadn't taken his father's advice."
Timeo Danaos
Twelve Red Herrings
Jeffrey Archer
This first line is a little different. It's the first line of a short story in a collection I'm reading by Jeffrey Archer.

I've been in a bit of a reading slump lately. Not that I've been reading bad books. On the contrary, actually. It's just that I've not really been a reading mood. What?!? How does that happen? I'm not sure, really. I've just found myself not reading when I normally do... before bed, waiting in carpool and other random times. So, I figured a few short stories might nudge me back. Short stories don't feel like a commitment, you know. I can read one or two before bed and feel a sense of accomplishment.

Jeffrey Archer is a fabulous author! While not great literature, his stories and novels are tightly plotted and well-written. They hold my attention like few other authors and I know I won't be disappointed. I've been reading his novels since, probably, high school and will re-read one every so often. They are as good now as they were the first time I read them. While my favorite is definitely "Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less", I am always amazed at the ending of "First Among Equals". It is beyond brilliant! The last line (and no peeking if you read it!) is perfection!


I carried my Vera Wang black satchel today. It's been two days since I switched bags. How is that even possible?!? Well, we were hit by a fall snowstorm that dumped 22" on us. So, we didn't go anywhere... even school. It was cancelled Wednesday and Thursday. It was a fun few days. We were completely lazy with snow shoveling being our main form of entertainment :o) Tunnels were built in our backyard, courtesy of my son and my daughter drank lots of hot chocolare. But, like any Denver blizzard, it's just a memory... well, except for the piles and piles of snow! I love our blizzards. Twenty-two inches of snow on Wednesday and it'll be 60° tomorrow.

It's a Footloose First Line Friday

FIRST LINE FRIDAY...First lines have always intrigued me since I heard an author say that writing the first sentence is, by far, the most difficult part of writing a novel. The reasoning was that a first sentence can make the reader continue reading or cause the book to be tossed aside. So, go to your To Be Read Pile, choose as many books as you want and share the first line. Be sure to include the title and author so that if your reader also finds it intriguing, they can find the book. Also, share your thoughts about the first line. Does it draw you in? Is it...exciting...thought provoking...scary...funny?

"Her satin shoes left damning footprints in the pearlescent dew on the moonlit garden path."
Haunting Jordan
PJ Alderman


I cannot believe how long it's been since I've blogged about First Line Friday. It's about time I get my act together and start doing it again every Friday.

I've already blogged about this book and i'm breaking one of my FLF "rules" as it's no longer in my TBR pile... it's my current book! Anyway, it's a great book and I'm really enjoying the premise even though I'm not normally into "supernatural" mysteries. I'm looking forward to reading other books in this series.

I like how the story is told in both times... 1890 with Hattie and present day with Jordan. I don't feel like I'm missing any of the story and I feel more connected to Hattie, the murder victim. She's a real character not just a plot device. One of my favorite lines, so far, is when Hattie tells Jordan, "We want you to solve my murder." What a great line... even if it isn't a first line :o)

We spent a lazy day around the house today. The kids were off school as it was a teacher comp day for conferences. We needed this day, too. We're all (well not my son) recuperating from being sick. M went to school on Monday but was home the rest of the week. She just had a fever and a dry, tickle cough. No "hiney" flu... we took her to the Dr. and her tests came back negative (as well as any type of flu and pneumonia). My husband is fighting the same crap (sorry to be so crude but, really, that's the best word for it). He was also tested and was also negative to the flu. So, we just took it easy today. We watched Footloose tonight. What a movie to bring back memories! J and I saw it on one of our first dates. It definitely holds a special place in my heart. As much as everyone remembers the "Footloose" song, my favorite song from the movie is Deniece Williams' "Let's Hear it for the Boy". Why? Because it's one of our "songs". When I first heard it, the lyrics reminded me so much of this great guy that I had just started dating. Did I know he would become the love of my life, my husband, my best friend and the father of my children? Yeah...I did. We double-dated on our first date with my friend, D, and I told her that I would marry him. Just about four years later, I did!

Anyway, here's the original video...if it doesn't make you want to throw your hair in a side pony, wear a neon sweatshirt and leggings with stiletto heeels with baby doll socks... you weren't an 80s girl like me.

Snowy Saturday Ramblings

~It snowed here for the first time this season. My son is "jonesing" to snowboard. Yes, there are two resorts open. Loveland opened on Wednesday and A Basin opened Friday. Ski season has begun!


~The Rockies are in the NLDS against the Phillies (sorry, Lori...lol) and game 3 was supposed to be here tonight. But because of a little snow (less than an inch) and cooler tempertures (Ok, the game time forecast was 28° and falling), it is postponed. I'd call them all wimps but, really... I was more than happy to watch the game in my nice, warm family room cuddled under a blanket :o)

~M was at 6th grade Outdoor Lab all week until Thursday when we received a phone call. She was in the clinic with a fever. So, J and I drove the hour drive into the mountains to retrieve our baby :o) She has had a fever ever since... poor girl. Apparently, she wasn't the only one... the nurse told us that many kids had left OL because of illness. She doesn't have the "hiney" flu (from my favorite morning show... Dom & Jane... do you get it? H1N1... kind of clever, I think). Every year, M will have a bout with a fever and it lasts a few days. Hopefully, she'll go to school on Monday.

~I bought two books at B&N Tuesday night. I was there for book club. There was an endcap of a book that I had heard about on some blogs. It was 50% off and, basically, staring me in the face. So, I picked it up. Then, I began to wonder...why is it 50% off... it's a fairly recent release... does that mean it's not that good? I'll draw my own conclusions. Do you want to know the title or should I be like the girls in my loop and not mention it? That drives Lori @http://lori-thequeensnewthrone.blogspot.com/ CRAZY. Hmmm, I'll think about it...

~The second book is Haunting Jordan by PJ Alderman. From Amazon... "RITA-nominated author P. J. Alderman weaves present-day supernatural sleuthery with nineteenth-century intrigue in the first book of an enchanting new mystery series set in picturesque Port Chatham, Washington.

Jordan Marsh left L.A. for the quaint Pacific Northwest town of Port Chatham in pursuit of some much-needed R & R. As the prime suspect in her cheating husband’s murder, she had been hoping to immerse herself in the restoration of the charming Victorian she’d just bought—and put all talk of homicide investigations behind her. But as she soon discovers, the coldest of cases cry out to be solved, too.
For this old house comes fully furnished—with two garrulous ghosts who have a century-old murder of their own they’d like her to look into. Now, if Jordan can keep the L.A. police at bay, and sort through a suspect list of shady characters circa 1890, she might just clear a wrongly accused man’s name—and her own."

I'm really looking forward to reading this and I hope, hope, hope it's a great book, It's the first in a series and I love to read series books. There's not really a better feeling than to walk into a bookstore and see a new book in a series I love!

~I'm so completely happy that Fall is here! I have worn boots and jeans every day this week! Not only do I absolutely love my fall wardrobe, but seeing the fall colors in the mountains is always so wonderous. I hope you take a minute... or two... or three... to enjoy the beautiful fall colors.

~Like I said, it's pretty cold here today and I'm CRAVING a DQ Bizzard :o) I I'm going to try to talk my husband into making a run to DQ later. Cross your fingers that it works. My Blizzard of choice... chocolate ice cream with Butterfinger... soooo yummy!!

~We've spent the day inside today. J is watching The President's Cup (there is ten hours of coverage... he's in HEAVEN!), J is doing homework and M is trying to get better. For that reason, I can't post a picture of today's bag... there isn't one. My bag yesterday, though was one of my fall favorites (although, I do carry it all year). I carried my Louis Vuitton Mini Lin Ebene Speedy 30. I absolutely adore this bag! Because I'm too lazy to go out to the car and get my bag to photograph it, I found this picture in my files.Yes, I keep random handbag pictures in my files...I'm a purse nerd of the highest order :o)
She's Sophina Brown, a STUNNING actress who starred in "Shark" along with James Woods (still a little ticked that it was cancelled). I think she looks so effortlessly chic in this picture and her bag (my bag...lol) just pulls the whole look together.

~Oh, the book that I referred to earlier... The Day the Falls Stood Still
By Cathy Marie Buchanan
What do you think?

Teaser Tuesday

I LOVE Teaser Tuesday.
Grab your current read.
Let the book fall open to a random page.
Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

Prologue...
"Physicist Leonardo Vettra smelled burning flesh, and he knew it was his own."
Angels and Demons
Dan Brown

I started reading this years ago when The DaVinci Code was released. However, I never finished it. Why? I have no idea. Everyone says it's better than The DaVinci Code. I was talking to a friend who mentioned that she had just re-read it. Since I was between good books... I wasn't reading anything that was capturing my attention... I found my copy and am giving it another try. So, far, so good. My friend, R, did say that the illustrated version is the best way to read the book. I'm on the waiting list at the library but I think I'll just order it from Amazon.
I chose this cover to put on my blog because it is an "ambigram". How cool is that?

Wow... it's been awhile since I've blogged. I've been reading other blogs but not really commenting. I need to get back into the "blogosphere". I'm not ready to blog every day like we did in July but if I set a blog goal, I'll have to accomplish it.

I carried my purple Vera Wang hobo bag today. It is absolutely the PERFECT shade of purple. I also have a black Vera Wang satchel that I love and I wish I would have bought it in that shade, too. You see, I have no problem having two bags in the same shade or even two bags in the same style but different colors. It's all about what bag is better to carry on a certain day. If I'm doing a lot of shopping, a shoulder bag is more appropriate. A lunch with my girlfriends... most definitely a satchel is a great accessory. You would think that I put a lot of thought into this, but, really, I don't :o)

Patrick Swayze 1952-2009

Patrick may be gone but Johnny will forever live on in our hearts!

Meggie's Remains by Joanne Sundell

From the author's website...
"Afraid of men, afraid for her sins, afraid for her sanity, and right now afraid for her life, Meggie McMurphy flees Boston once the fiendish terror--so long stalking in her nightmares--surfaces in the light of day. She escapes west to Denver in the wild Colorado Territory, hoping to lose herself among the multitude of townsfolk. The year is 1874.

Twenty-five years old, alone, and near penniless, Meggie struggles to find honest work and to keep the dark secrets of her past just that: a secret. Not so easily done when the handsome, foreboding westerner Ethan Rourke, stumbles upon her on a snowy Denver street. Why it's as if he'd stepped right out of the pages of her beloved romance, Jane Eyre! Safe to encounter such a man on the romance page, it is certainly unsafe, even deadly, for her to encounter such a man in the flesh. Men belong ... six feet under, six feet away ... where to stay safe, the devil must stay!

Hired as a teacher, not in Denver, but in an isolated mountain town in rugged Ute country, Meggie is determined to make a home for herself in Hot Sulphur Springs. There she keeps up her masquerade as Rose Rochester, yearning for a normal life--for companionship and even love--all the while knowing it's only a matter of time until the monstrous changeling from her nightmares will find her, killing any possibility of a life at all."

I was very excited to read this novel for a few reasons...
~ I live in Denver and my best friend lives in Hot Sulphur Springs. So, I am very familiar with the two main settings and was interested to see how Ms. Sundell would capture these towns in 1874.
~I'm a fan of well-written romances. I'm not afraid to admit that I love them.
~As readers of my blog know, I'm a huge fan of first lines and this novel has a great first line.
~Meggie comforts herself in the pages of Jane Eyre, arguably one of the greatest romance novels ever written. I was intrigued to read how Ms. Sundell tied the stories together.

Obviously, I had high expectations and was not, at all, disappointed! This is a fantastic read. Meggie, the heroine, is damaged by her abusive past but determined to make a better life for herself. Ms. Sundell took care to write her main character with depth and believability. Many heroines in romance novels are one-dimensional and, almost, a caricature. This is not Meggie. Her actions and reactions are believable given her past. It's difficult to read some of her flashbacks but it's an insight that the reader needs to appreciate her.

Ethan Rourke has all the great characteristics necessary for a romantic hero without being over the top. This book is definitely not a "bodice-ripper" and Ethan(whose initials mirror those of Jane Eyre's hero, Edward Rochester) is written to be both sensitive and strong. He is confused by Nutmeg (his nickname for Meggie) but comes to love her because of who she is.

I was a little concerned when I realized this book contained "paranormal" aspects, as I don't usually like that genre. The paranormal aspects in Meggie's Remains are integral in the storyline. I never felt, when reading, like it was added just to satisfy a genre "requirement"... sadly, I've read books where that was not the case.
Whether a fan of "paranormal" or not, a reader will not be distracted by these events. There was not a time when I thought it was contrived or the author tried too hard.

I never leave the dust jacket on a hardback I am reading. I was pleasantly surprised when I took it off to find that the cover was "printed" on the book itself. I wish more hardbacks were published like that. It was also printed on whiter paper than most hardbacks. This made it a lot easier on my eyes... especially right before bed :o)

I really enjoyed reading this novel. It was well-written, which is an absolute must for me. I read this book with a more critical eye than usual as I knew I'd be reviewing it. It is, in my opinion, carefully plotted, populated with interesting secondary characters and a perfectly descriptive tour of my beloved Colorado as I imagine it was in 1874. Meggie's Remains was a wonderful introduction to a new-to-me author, Joanne Sundell, as well as a reminder of a classicly beautiful romance, Jane Eyre.

September 11th

The Good Old Days

I was flipping through the channels yesterday and saw this documentary on Turner Classic Movie channel. It is a "travelogue" of sorts of 1949 New York City. I LOVE classic movies but to see the real thing was truly fascinating. My favorite... the clothing. People just dressed better back then. Women were wearing dresses, gloves and hats. Men were in suits and Fedoras. While I appreciate casual attire, it saddens me a bit how our society has devolved (yes, it's a word. I looked it up) in terms of what's considered appropriate public attire. I'm not saying that I want to wear a hat and gloves when I'm at the grocery store, although, I distinctly remember my grandmother wearing both to church every Sunday, I do not ever care to see a pair of underwear hanging out of a pair of pants. Can someone please tell me who decided that pajama pants should be worn at Target? I LOVE pajama pants!! I have probably five pairs and I change into a pair as soon as I get home but, I won't ever wear them in public. With my luck, I'd wear them to drop M at school and, on that day, have to go into the school for some unexpected reason! Yes, I know I'm very old-fashioned but, really... watch this video and appreciate their style.

Today, we celebrated my sister's birthday. My mom always makes the dinner of choice for whoever is celebrating their birthday. K's choice? Breakfast for dinner!! We had pancakes, eggs, sausage, toast, bacon and OJ! Breakfast for dinner ROCKS!! It's a mix of comfort food and breaking the rules, I think, that make it so much fun. My Dad would always make it for us when my Mom was not home for dinner.

I carried my zebra tote today. Sometimes, I wish I designed handbags... as I would never use a black fabric for the lining. It's such a pain to try to find anything in the black abyss that is some of my bags. I would line all my bags in a bright purple Pucci-esque print.

Teaser Tuesday & 100

I LOVE Teaser Tuesday.
Grab your current read.
Let the book fall open to a random page.
Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!
"Percy swallowed hard. She was unprepared for this question."
page 14
The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker
Leanna Renee Hieber


I was browsing at Barnes & Noble and found this book. The title as well as the cover caught my attention. Reading further, though, I realized it also has paranormal aspects to it. I don't usually read paranormals but this has so many aspects of novels I love, I'm going to try it. The setting is especially my "cup of tea". It's set in Victorian London amidst "the growing shadows of The Ripper". So, I'll read at least my 100 pages and, hopefully, it'll be great as it's the first of a series. I love series... always something to look forward to.


I did end up with a new phone. No, it's not the latest and greatest Iphone... I'm just not that cool! M actually considers it a downgrade as it's an LG EnV and I had the LG EnV2. I just like front of the new phone better. it doesn't look like a calculater :o) It's basically the same QWERTY keyboard on the inside but just better keys on the outside. I also like the color...it's an "Army" green... the same color as the Jeep
I want. Yeah, I'm "matchy-matchy" like that.

This is my 100th blog post! It is surprising to me that I love to blog as much as I do. Here's to my next 100! Thanks for reading.