... In The Belly of Jonah ...

The new book club that I joined this month had chosen a book written by a local. I was a little skeptical at first, I must admit. However, no more than two paragraphs into the reading and I was hooked. While this book is very eerie, with such a psychotic vilain, I couldn't put it down. I thought that I would surely take a break during my out of town trip where I'd be alone in my hotel room... not a chance!

Set in Ft Collins, the book has a small town feel. It touches on the SD/CO/WY lifestyle and it felt very familiar to me with our many trips to/from the areas while living in UT and SD. I was also intrigued by the descriptions of the mining industry, while touched upon the text gives you just enough to interest you but not bore you with it.

While I had expected Biblical conontations, very very subtle, which makes it more intriguing to see where the next few Liv Bergen adventures take you. The characters were very well written. The author takes many risks with the book that shocked me. Very few authors actually do the thing that you think "oh they can't do that!", but she does!

To make it all the more perfect, Sandra "Sam" Brannan was at our book club meeting. She was so genuine and just lively to talk to. Not at all what I expected. She was very honest about the industry and just so easy to talk to. I would love to meet with her again after reading her second book that comes out in June, which I will surely read immediately.

... Travel ...

Once upon a time there was a young lady who adored airports, lived for travel, dreamed of new adventure... she has kindly stepped aside for the new and unimproved loather of air travel that has replaced her. I felt this moment of transition in 2004. Houston Bush Intercontinental, the name says it all. The employees were awful, nobody seemed to be aware of their job and duties, and I felt that the establishment should be ashamed to even rank itself in the majestic realm of international air transportation. Over the years I became more fond of road trips with my ever so fun husband and less excited to fly anywhere.

Last week I embarked on a journey to Dayton Ohio, misery. From the TSA agent at RAP that was a lover of "we" rather than "you". -"why don't we take our shoes off. Now can we just take our laptop and put it on it's own tray.". To the elderly flight attendant that fell asleep standing up in the front of the plane! Shouldn't these professionals be reevaluated often? If the airline claims they are here for our "safety first" (which I already believe to simply be their way of saying sorry ahead of time, if your flight attendant is an asshole we apologize but she is merely here for your safety) explain to me how Sleepy McSleeperton is going to help me? WE would have to get her to safety, not the opposite.

Then there was the lovely girl on the counter that was irritated that I noticed she over looked printing my connecting boarding pass, my bad.

I am usually against monopolies, but Steve Jobs and Richard Branson should take over the world!

... really ...

hummmmmmph.

A great friend of mine often reminds me that 97% of women are crazy.  I don't know where she came up with this stat - if she read some form of scientific report stating something even closely related to women's unstable/irrational behavior - or if she looked at a select group and did her own math.  Either way, the more women I meet, the more I believe this to be fact.

It is because of this large majority that when you do find a dependable friend falling into the 3% that are worth your time - you hang on tight and thank your lucky stars!  A great friend is a friend for life.  You can go months without talking to these women, and pick right back up.  When you have an unpleasant encounter with one of the many - you can call upon one of the few and ground yourself.  Every single day, you should remind yourself how fortunate you are to have found one of these gems!