THE NEXT THING ON MY LIST

            Meet June Parker.  She works for L.A. Rideshare, adores her rent-stabilized apartment in Santa Monica, and struggles with losing a few pesky pounds.
            But June’s life is about to change.
            After a dark turn of events involving Weight Watchers, a chili recipe and a car accident in which her passenger, Marissa, dies, June finds herself in possession of a list, “20 Things to Do By My 25th Birthday.”  Even though they barely knew each other, June is compelled by both guilt and a desire to set things right to finish the list for Marissa.
            The tasks before her range from inspiring (Run a 5K), to daring (Go braless), to near-impossible (Change someone’s life), and as June races to achieve each goal before the deadline, she learns more about her own life than she ever bargained for. 

WOW ! I really liked this book. At first, I thought it was going to be just another light, fluffy novel about a girl trying to change the world all by herself. But I was wrong. I will admit it. That's hard for me to do. But, in this case, I'm glad I was. June is a strong enough person to realize she can't complete these tasks by herself, although she does give it here best shot. What starts off as one single person trying to do these tasks soon snowballs into an adventure that involves her friends, family co-workers, Marissa's family, and a pregnant teenager.

We also get know Marissa although she dies early on in the story. Through her list we get to know what kind of person she was. I felt that she was sweet, kind, and very unselfish. The kind of person we all want in our lives. I don't have any kind of list to follow but I do pray everyday that I can help in some way to brighten someones day. Thank you Jill Smolinski. You've made my day.

Oh, and, by the way, the chili recipe on page 5, is DELICIOUS !

Books Are Like Candy Corn: Free Book: Venetia Kelly's Traveling Show by Frank Delaney

Books Are Like Candy Corn: Free Book: Venetia Kelly's Traveling Show by Frank Delaney is having a fantastic give away . The deadline is midnight March 13th, Hawaiian standard time.

Jo Jo at http://jo-jolovestoread.blogspot.com/ is having a great audio give away for "Black Hills" by Dan Simmons. This sounds like a great book !

Okay, so I am hooked on Francine Rivers' Lineage of Grace series. These books are completely awe inspiring and I have learned so much from each of them. The women of these stories are so important because they are apart of Jesus' genealogy. The latest one that I have read is "Unspoken : The Story of Bathsheba". Ms. Rivers tells how Bathsheba loves David since her childhood, her marriage to Davids trusted friend Uriah, Uriah's death, Bathsheba's marriage to David, and the cloud of shame and guilt they both must live under. If I rated the books I read, this one would rate a full 5 stars ! I think this paragraph sums it up quite well for it brought tears to my eyes :


"I know they will remember my sins, Lord, but when they look upon my life, let them see what You did for an unworthy woman. Let them see the hope from despair. If they must recount my sins, let them count Your blessings more so. You protected me. You raised me up. You gave me sons. Let my name be unspoken, Lord, for what am I that anyone should remember me? But, oh, Lord God of Israel, If they do remember me, let them open their mouths and sing praises for Your great mercy toward me. Let them see Your infinite grace and your boundless love. And let them....be encouraged.

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

When I first started reading "Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet" I expected an awesome or possibly an epic love story. Something that would span the ages and take our emotions to amazing highs and lows. I was not quite awestruck and I felt that it fell short of being epic, therefore I was a bit disappointed and somewhat bored. What I found was a sweet story of a young Chinese-American boy (Henry Lee) and a young Japanese-American girl (Keiko Okabe) who, at the age of twelve, meet at the school where they are the only two Asian kids in an otherwise all white school. Their circumstances bring them closer together and a friendship develops which is fine with Keikos family but does not sit well at all with Henry's father who is harboring ill feelings against the Japanese because of the war between China and Japan. The story takes place  

during World War II in Seattle, Washington when the U.S. government was sending the Japanese to internment camps. 

The author tells the story from the point of view of a grown up Henry Lee as he slowly unfolds the story to his son after Henry's wife Ethyl passes away. Jamie Ford easily makes the story swing back and forth between the past and the present. All in all, even though I felt the story fell a little short of my expectations, I would not hesitate in recommending this book to anyone. I even think it would make a good movie. It's about time we learn more about what was done to our Japanese, and some of our German and Italian, citizens at this point in  United States history.

Book Swapping

Hey ! If your looking for some good book swapping wesites, check out www.paperbackswap.com and www.swaptree.com. At Swaptree, you can also swap cd's, dvd's, and games as well. I have saved a lot of money using these two sites.

The Heretics Daughter by Kathleen Kent

Martha Carrier was one of the first women to be accused, tried and hanged as a witch in Salem, Massachusetts. Like her mother, young Sarah Carrier is bright and willful, openly challenging the small, brutal world in which they live. Often at odds with one another, mother and daughter are forced to stand together against the escalating hysteria of the trials and the superstitious tyranny that led to the torture and imprisonment of more than 200 people accused of witchcraft. This is the story of Martha's courageous defiance and ultimate death, as told by the daughter who survived.

Kathleen Kent is a tenth generation descendent of Martha Carrier. She paints a haunting portrait, not just of Puritan New England, but also of one family's deep and abiding love in the face of fear and persecution.

For me, Kathleen Kent's tale of her ancestor brings to life what life was like back in the late 1600's. I am working on my genealogy and have traced some of my ancestry to Massachusetts and Maine. Reading this story has made me wonder what my ancestors were thinking of the witch hunts that were going on. I certainly hope they were not involved in putting any of these innocent people in prison. I did not see any of their names involved in this. Because of her book, I have learned more about this period of time than I have ever learned in school. A friend of mine thinks that times have not changed (and maybe she's right) but I really hope that we are no longer that barbaric. This is why we should all learn more about history so that we don't repeat events such as this one.

"Push" by Sapphire

"An electrifying first novel that shocks by its language, its circumstances, and its brutal honesty, Push recounts a young black street-girl's horrendous and redemptive journey through a Harlem inferno. For Precious Jones, 16 and pregnant with her father's child, miraculous hope appears and the world begins to open up for her when a courageous, determined teacher bullies, cajoles, and inspires her to learn to read, to define her own feelings and set them down in a diary."

That is an excellent description of a very moving, very poignant, story of young Precious Jones who works doggedly to reclaim the life that was stolen from her by her rapist father and her angry, abusive mother. At first I had a hard time getting into this story because it is told by Precious in her own guttural language derived from the culture she grew up in. She speaks almost phonetically, as in "muhver" and "fahver". But her story draws you in so quickly that before long you feel yourself feeling her anger, her pain and suffering, and her happiness. Precious is truly a remarkable character and is a wonderful example of courage and grace. I grew to love and admire Precious Jones.

Political Apologies

Oh my goodness ! I was just listening to a politician apologizing to President Obama for some slam he made about him. It seems our politicians have become very good at apologizing. It's quite a change since we have come out of an administration that never apologized for anything (but probably should have). First, we had Obama apologizing for to the world for the United States' behavior. Then, Joe Biden had to make a quick apology for telling a man to stand up and take a bow (the man was wheelchair bound). Governor Sanford, who cheated on his wife, apologized to his constituents for his behavior. I never heard him apologize to his wife. Now Harry Reid is apologizing for comments he made about President Obama concerning his "light" complexion and his lack of a "Negro dialect"What the heck is that ?!?!?! Oh well...I apologize for venting so much. Oh no ! There I go. I apologize for apologizing. Aw shucks, it's catchy. Now I'm apologizing for my apology while whining about apologizing political apologists ! Grrrrr.

April 1937

April 1st 1937 Thursday
temp 32 above zero
I got a letter from honey & baby
My temp at night 98 6/10 P 90

April 2nd 1937 Friday
temp 27 above zero
My temp at night 98 4/10 P 84

April 3rd 1937 Saterday
temp 26 above zero
got a letter from honey & baby
My temp at night 98 6/10 P 90

April 4th 1937 Sunday
temp 31 above zero
My temp at night 98 4/10 P 88

April 5th 1937 Monday
temp 32 above zero
got a letter from my honey & baby
My temp at night 98 6/10 P 80

April 6th 1937 Tuesday
temp 31 above zero
got a letter from honey & baby

April 7th 1937 Wensday
temp 39 above zero
I got a suit of Pajames from honey
got a letter from Pa up north

April 8th 1937 Thursday
temp 31 above zero
got a hair cut from Andy
My temp at night 98 6/10 P 84

April 9th 1937 Friday
temp 29 above zero
got a letter from honey
My temp at night 98 6/10 P 82

April 10th 1937 Sat.
temp 29 above zero
got a letter from honey & baby
My temp at night 98 4/10 P 86

April 11th 1937 Sun.
temp 32 above zero
My honey and Dave Pauken & Ma was down
My temp at night 98 6/10 P 84

April 12th 1937 Mon.
temp 43 above zero
Jazy goes on night duity
got a Montgomery Messengers Newspapers
My temp at night 98 6/10 P 81

April 13th 1937 Tues.
temp 43 above zero
got a check from insurance co. $2700
My temp at night 98 6/10 P 84

April 14th 1937 Wen.
temp 43 above zero
got a letter from honey & baby
My temp at night 98 4/10 P 86

April 15th 1937 Thur.
temp 35 above zero
My temp at night 98 4/10 P 84

April 16th 1937 Friday
got a letter from honey & baby
got a letter from conie Belin & pictures
Rainig all fornoon

April 17th 1937 Saterday
temp 43 above zero
got a letter from honey & baby
got air

April 18th 1937 Sunday
temp 49 above zero
My MaMa & baby & Dolly & Lampert see me

April 19th 1937 Wensday
temp 43 above zero
My temp at night 98 6/10 P 90

April 20th 1937 Thursday
temp 46 above zero
got a letter from honey & baby
My temp at night 98 8/10 P 92

April 21st 1937 Friday
temp 40 above zero
got a letter from honey & baby
My temp at night 98 4/10 P 92

April 22nd 1937 Thursday
temp 43 above zero
My temp at night 98 8/10 P 92

April 23rd 1937 Friday
temp 44 above zero
My temp at night 98 8/10 P 86

April 24th 1937 Saterday
got a letter from honey & baby
My temp at night 98 6/10 P 86

April 25th 1937 Sunday
temp 42 above zero
My MaMa & baby & Louis & Girl to see me
My temp at night 98 8/10 P 90

April 26th 1937 Monday
temp at 42 above zero
My temp at night 98 6/10 P 90
Breezy goes on night duity

April 27th 1937 Tuesday
temp 43 above zero
got a letter from honey & baby
My temp a tnight 98 8/10 P 86

April 28th 1937 Wensday
temp 40 above zero
My temp at night 98 8/10 P 80

April 29th 1937 Thursday
got a letter from honey & baby
MaMa & baby & Pa & Louis to see me
My temp at night 98 8/10 P 86

April 30th 1937 Friday
temp 54 above zero
My temp at night 98 4/10 P 82

March 1937

1937 March 1 Monday
Temp 22 above zero
I got a letter from honey & baby & Pa
My temp at night 99 6/10 P84

1937 March 2 Tuesday
temp 18 above zero
My temp at night 99 4/10 P86

1937 March 3 Wensday
temp 26 above zero
My temp at night 99 6/10 P84

1937 March 4 Thursday
temp 23 above zero
I got a letter from honey & baby
Took flued from my lung and got air

1937 March 5 Friday
temp 35 above zero
My temp at night 99 P 86

1937 March 6 Saterday
temp 36 above zero
got a letter from honey & baby
My temp at night 99 P86

1937 March 7 Sunday
temp 36 above zero
My Ma Ma & baby was to See Me
My temp at night 98 8/10 P 86

1937 March 8 Monday
temp 18 above zero
My temp at night 98 6/10 P 84
Halvy went on night duty

1937 March 9 Tuesday
Temp 1 above zero
got a letter from honey & baby
My temp at night 98 4/10 PP 86

1937 March 10 Wensday
Temp 8 above zero
My temp at night 98 6/10 P 80

1937 March 11 Thursday
temp 15 above zero
got a letter from honey & baby
My temp at night 98 4/10 P 80

1937 March 12 Friday
Temp 23 above zero
got a letter from honey & baby
My temp at night 98 6/10 P 80

1937 March 13 Sunday
Temp 14 above zero
My temp at night 98 6/10 P 80

1937 March 14 Monday
temp 26 above zero
My temp at night 98 6/10 P 78

1937 March 16 Tuesday
temp 23 above zero got a package from Ma honey apples Here
got a letter from honey & baby

1937 March 17 Wensday
Temp 31 above zero
My temp at night 98 4/10 P 74

1937 March 18 Thursday
Temp 23 above zero
got a letter from honey & baby
My temp at night 98 6/10 P 76

1937 March 19 Friday
Temp 22 above zero
got a letter from honey & baby
My temp at night 98 4/10 P 80

1937 March 20 Saterday
Temp 29 above zero

1937 March 21 Sunday
Temp 25 above zero
Ray Herman moved in hour room
My temp at night 98 4/10 P 80

1937 March 22 Monday
Temp 24 above zero
My temp at night 98 6/10 P 82

1937 March 23 Tuesday
Temp 27 above zero
got a Pac from honey & ma
got a letter from honey & baby

1937 March 24 Wensday
Temp 26 above zero
Snowed an Blew all day
My temp at night 98 4/10 P 84

1937 March 25 Thursday
Temp 9 above zero
got a letter from honey & baby
easter cards from honey & Ma

1937 March 26 Friday
Temp 4 above zero
My temp at night 98 4/10 P 88

1937 March 27 Satterday
Temp 19 above zero
My temp at night 98 6/10 P 76

1937 March 28 Sunday
temp 25 above zero
My temp at night 98 6/10 P 78

1937 March 29 Monday
Temp 28 above zero
My temp at night 98 6/10 P 80

1937 March 30 Tuesday
Temp 30 above zero
got a letter from honey & baby
My temp at night 98 4/10 P 78

1937 March 31 Wensday
Temp 30 above zero
Snowing all day
My tempa t night 98 6/10 P 78

Grandpa's diary cont.

1937 January 16 Saterday
temp 2 below zero I got a letter from baby and Ma Ma.
Got air today

1937 January 17 Sunday
temp 26 above zero
No visiators


1937 January 18 Monday
Temp 10 below zero


1937 January 19 Tuesday
Temp 15 below zero
I got a letter from Ma Ma and baby
I got $1.00 Present from Pa


1937 January 20 Wensday
temp 17 above zero
President Nagu to White House

1937 January 21 Thursday
Temp 7 below zero
10 cent bet with Gus on Joe Louis & Nestor


1937 January 22 Friday
Temp 16 below zero
Gus got air today


1937 January 23 Saterday
Temp 18 below zero
Got a letter from honey


1937 January 24 Sunday
Temp 9 above zero
Another Dead Sunday no company


1937 January 25 Monday
Temp 4 above zero
I got a letter from My honey
I got a hair cut by Andy


1937 January 26 Tuesday
Temp 9 below zero


1937 January 27 Wensday
temp 12 above zero
I got two letter from honey

1937 January 28 Thursday
Temp 12 above zero
I got a letter from honey & baby


1937 January 29 Friday
Temp 2 above
I got a Privilige to go out once


1937 January 30 Saterday
Temp 12 above zero
I got a letter from honey & baby
got air


1937 January 31 Sunday
4 below zero temp
We could have company again
got Weight today


1937 Monday
temp 18 below zero
Micky quit and left today


1937 February 1 Tuesday
temp 5 below zero


1937 February 2 Wensday
temp 13 above zero
" 22 above zero evening
Snowing all day and drifting


1937 February 3 Thursday
temp 2 above zero


1937 Friday 4 Friday
temp 2 below zero


1937 February 5 Saterday
temp 2 below zero
got a box of apples from honey & baby
got a letter from honey & baby


1937 February 6 Sunday
temp 7 above zero
roads Blocked no visitors


1937 February 7 Monday
temp 13 above zero


1937 February 8 Tuesday
temp 13 below zero


1937 February 9
temp 13 below zero
got a letter from honey & baby


1937 February 11 Thursday
temp 12 above zero
My honey was down to see Me


1937 February 12 Friday
temp 17 above zero
got a letter from honey & baby


1937 February 13 Saterday
temp 35 above zero


1937 February 14 Sunday
temp 6 above zero
I had no company


1937 February 15 Monday
temp 14 above zero
got valintines from honey & baby
Donald Tanner left


1937 February 16 Tuesday
temp 11 above zero
got a package from Ma Ma & baby


1937 February 17 Wensday
temp 30 above zero
got a letter from honey & baby


1937 February 18 Thursday

temp 25 above zero
got a letter from honey & baby
got air


1937 February 19 Friday
temp 26 above zero

1937 February 20 Saterday
temp 30 above zero
got a letter from honey & baby

1937 February 21 Sunday
temp 17 above zero
No company

1937 February 22 Monday
temp 7 below zero

1937 February 23 Tuesday
temp 6 above zero

1937 February 24 Wensday
temp 4 above zero

1937 February 25 Thursday
temp 6 above zero
Meyers was up to see us from ward 10
My temp at night 99 4/10 P 90

1937 February 26 Friday
temp 11 above zero
got a letter from honey & baby
My temp at night 99 4/10 P 90

1937 February 27 Saterday
temp 17 above zero
My temp at night 99 6/10 P 84

1937 February 28 Sunday
temp 11 above zero
My temp at night 99 P 86

1937 February 29 Monday
temp 25 above zero
Ray Herman moved in hour Room
My temp at night 98 4/10 P80

First Time For Everything

I guess there is a first time for everything. I've never done a blog before. Not even crazy about the word "blog". Sounds like "clog". "I'm writing in my clog today" HAHAHA! But I used to have a diary years ago when I was a kid. It was one of those five year jobbies where you could only write one sentence for each day. I lost interest very quickly. Much more happens in a day than one sentence at a time. I also thought I was the only one in the family who even kept a diary at all. Boy, was I surprised when my Grandma and I went up into her attic one day to get something and I found my Grandpa's old diary. It too was a five year diary but it was written in the middle 1930's when Grandpa was in the Mineral Springs Sanatorium in Cannon Falls, Minnesota. That's when I found out that Grandpa had suffered from TB (tuberculosis). Tuberculosis used to be called "consumption" or "the consumption".

Before I forget, there is a difference between a sanatorium and a sanitarium. A sanatorium was a place for people with TB. A sanitarium is a place for people with mental issues. Grandpa was healthy of mind, just not of the body. On this blog I am going to transcribe Grandpas diary exactly as he wrote it those many years ago. I will also add photos and try to identify, as well as I can, the many people he has included in his diary. He has referred to Grandma as "Honey" and his daughter (my mother Dorothy) as "Baby". But before I do, I should tell a little bit about him.

This is his photo taken circa 1902. George Anthony Preble was born to William and Augusta Werth Preble on October 28th, 1900 in Waterville, Le Sueur County, Minnesota and was raised in Shieldsville, Rice County, Minnesota. On October 23rd 1923, George married Christine Magdalene Kaderlik at the Most Holy Redeemer Church In Erin Township, Rice, Minnesota. In the late 1920's, George and Christine became foster parents to a little girl named Jeanette (Jeannie) who would later be adopted by a couple who moved to California. This was a heartache that stayed with them the rest of there lives although they always remained in contact with Jeannie.

In 1930, on March 10th, George and Christine were blessed with a child of their own. Christine gave birth to a little girl named Dorothy Jeanette Preble (left).

George and Christine lived on the farm with George's parents as well as working as waitress and a Texaco filling station mechanic. For any one who may not know what a filling station is, it is what a convenience store used to be. At a filling station, when you pulled up, a mechanic would come out and ask you if you wanted him to "fill'er up". Then while your gas tank was being filled he would check your tire pressure and fill them if they needed it, check your fluid levels and fill them if they needed it, wash your windshield, collect your money, and bring back your change. You would never have to leave your car or get your hands dirty. Your filling station would often also serve as your local automotive repair shop. You could also get free road maps there. They also sold soda pop and maybe a few snacks such as chips and candy bars. Very seldom, if ever, did they sell grocery items but I suppose that would depend on each station.

It was around 1937 that Grandpa was diagnosed with TB. In the front of the diary Grandpa wrote:

Birthday Gunderson Nov 24

Miller Mar 2

Cassebaum Aug 2

Ball pools 1937

Friday April 16 Mpls & KC 5 cents

Saterday April 17 " " 5 "

Monday April 19 " " 5 "

Tues " 20 " Milwaukee 5

Wens " 21 " " " 5

thur " 22 " KC 5

Friday " 23 " " 5

January 1st, 1938 Saterday temp 11 above zero.

1937 January 3 Sunday

Closed San to all visisiotors till flue is over

1937 January 8 Friday

got air Today temp 12 below zero

1937 January 9 Saterday

I got this Diary temp 15 Below zero

1937 January 10 Sunday

temp 16 below zero in the Morning

" 5 above in the evening

No company today

1937 January 11 Monday

temp 15 above zero

got a letter from My honey

Fond the kidnap Matson boy dead

1937 January 12 Tuesday

Temp 14 above zero

I got letter from my honey

1937 January 13 Wensday

Temp 26 above zero

1937 January 14 thursday

temp 14 above zero

I got a head wash

1937 January 15 Friday

temp 12 below zero

got a letter from my honey