Mae @ Rainydayinmay

Distant Shores…

Published on July 18, 2011January 17, 2013 by Mae @ Rainydayinmay6 Comments

And a little housekeeping…

First off, I did not get very far in June/July’s book. While I have really valid/good excuses, I can’t tell you how horrible I feel about it. First Genny broke her hand and we were constantly running to x-rays and surgical consults and follow ups (in a two week span of time we were in ER XRAY office over 12 times), adding that to trying to get ahead on work stuff so that we could have a lovely vacation. While I was sure I’d get time to read on vacation, the truth was Genny and I ended up getting incredibly sick so reading was out of the question. The day after we returned home we found out two major things… First, there was a strong possibility we’d be moving and VERY soon- which freaked me out quite honestly. (we still don’t know anything) and the second was that my little sister’s brain tumor has returned and there is a MAJORLY bumpy road ahead. We’ve only been home a week and I’ve been there to help her out and then we had her kids for the weekend. Just a lot of emotional turmoil and stress for everyone.

But really, it also boiled down to the book itself. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t get into it. Around this time the feedback came pouring in from some of you who chose to read it and NO ONE liked it. In fact, if the opposite was possible, that’s how everyone seemed to feel. If you’d like to comment about the book though, this would be a great post to do it in… I still have it and may pick it back up again simply because i don’t like leaving things unfinished…

So, without further apology (though i truly am sorry for the selection AND not finishing it myself…)

Our July/August book is Distant Shores by Kristin Hannah…

The good news is, the reviews aren’t scathing. And honestly, this book came highly recommended so here’s hoping!

Happy reading…

New to the club, or need a reminder?

Here’s how it works:

– On the 3rd Monday of each summer month, {May, June, July, August} I will post that month’s summer title.

– On the Friday BEFORE “announcement Monday” I will put a post up about the book, and we can discuss. {Of course, last summer many discussion happened, in many formats, between those dates- and that is absolutely fine.}

That’s it… One book per month (easy commitment) with the benefit of connecting with other’s who are also reading it… Couldn’t ask for a better summer goal!

So, what are you waiting for? Grab your favorite book mark, convince your sister or best friend to join us and head to your local library or book store and start reading today… {And then come back on August 19th…}

WANTED: a home, please…

Published on July 13, 2011January 17, 2013 by Mae @ Rainydayinmay9 Comments

We didn’t come home to a welcome home banner or a beautiful balloon bouquet. Nope. Instead, we came home to our property management company announcing that our rental’s owner is short selling out from under us. Just dandy, isn’t it? With that bombshell of an announcement we are left unknowing if we still have a home, or for how long…

Fan-flipping-tastic…

I wanted to sit down and cry to them about how hard change is for my daughter. I wanted to paint pictures with great detail and imagery about how hard it’s going to be. I wanted to beg someone who mattered to please not sell, or to sell to someone who will continue to rent to us. (which is a possibility)

Instead though, when my husband asked one simple question: how do we know what we are supposed to do if we have no idea how long we have? The property manager answered with: it isn’t just you, there are 8 other homes that are also short selling. Really? REALLY??? While we feel bad for the other families/people, the reality is it is our family we are concerned with…

so much for a stressless rest of summer…

Gosh, doesn’t it feel like we were just in a house mess? pfft…

What I’ve learned… {The No. Cal. Edition…}

Published on July 10, 2011January 17, 2013 by Mae @ Rainydayinmay4 Comments

I survived vacation…

When people think of vacation, typically they envision sleeping in, lazy days and similar luxuries… Pretty much, they aren’t vacationing with me. I am a planner, by default. I love planning memorable things to do and making them (or most of them, anyhow) somehow magically become a reality on minimal budgets and shoestring dollar amounts. I usually, (obviously) survive, but I end up exhausted.

This trip to California was no exception.

Even so, along the way I learned some pretty big things that I wanted to share…

1.) No Cal drivers are awesome. Seriously. California, in it’s entirety, gets a bad wrap. We saw the most courteous and respectful drivers in San Jose, San Francisco and the entire area in between. It never ceased to amaze us.

2.) No Cal gas prices are awesome. Again, something that surprised us…

3.) Sometimes the best hotels, and staff members, are found in the least likely of places…

4.) I am learning that I am NOT (by any shape of the imagination) a fan of wild animals in captivity.

5.) I think that being out in the sea watching blue and humpback whales feed, swim and splash is one of the most amazing things I’ve ever been witness to.

6.) I am not a sea person. I get sick. Super sick. Sicker than I’ve maybe ever been. Days later and I’m still not 100%.

7.) Booking a casino hotel because the “price is right” is a stupid thing to do. A mistake I’m not likely to make again.

8.) Everywhere but Idaho has way too many Trader Joe’s and the company needs to spread out a little.

9.) The Golden Gate Bridge really is more beautiful when it’s foggy.

10.) Sometimes a cab ride, in perfect timing, is the brightest spot in a bleak moment.

11.) It’s fun to dream of fancy houses, without having to go home to clean them. (or pay for them.)

12.) A cemetery is nothing to be scared of, at night. When fireworks are overhead it’s even better.

13.) Flat beaches are way better than insanely hilly ones.

14.) If not turned off, satellite activated GPS on a smart phone will drain a battery instantly.

15.) Facebook has really humble headquarters.

16.) Planning ahead is vital to the success of a vacation.

17.) Being flexible with those plans is even more important.

18.) Eating out at amazing places we don’t have at home, is awesome.

19.) And then, it suddenly isn’t…

20.) There really is no place like home.

And you thought I forgot you…

Published on July 3, 2011 by Mae @ Rainydayinmay2 Comments

Traveling along a 55 mile per hour highway, in the passenger seat of our SUV it occurred to me that- though I had purposefully and thoughtfully accomplished and checked off things on an enormous pre-vacation to do list- I realized I had forgotten to write a post.

I am not at home…

While our dogs are hanging out and chilling at home with other folks of the house- Chw, Gen and I have embarked on a journey of potentially epic proportions… First stop, on the agenda, is that we are hanging out over here for the long, holiday weekend. It’s exactly where we want to be! Happiness abounds, (and not only because we were in the car forever, or because i like to whine…)

After the holiday weekend we will then travel down the coast to the San Francisco area for half pleasure and half work research for a current writing project I have. I am excited. It’s Gen’s first time Cali and she’s beside herself with anticipation. :)

If anything strikes my fancy, I may whip out a post while we are in the hotel but more than likely you won’t hear a peep from me until after we’re home… Be on the lookout for Gen randomness, Excitement and of course- photos!

What I, as a mom, appreciated about this Teen Lit novel…

Published on June 30, 2011 by Mae @ RainydayinmayLeave a comment

Even at thirty five years old, it is sometimes nice to reflect back on what it was like to be seventeen. Sarah Dessen’snovel What Happened to Goodbye did just that. In a story which feels like a glimpse in seventeen year old Mclean Sweet’s journal, no matter the age of the reader it would not take much to connect with the characters here…

Click this link to read more of my review on What Happened To Goodbye…