Things to Remember

Saw this on the Operation Write Home - Home Front blog.    Got time to write a letter to a hero overseas?

Debut Author Challenge

School is out, yippppppeeee!   Now that I'm beginning to feel like I have a life, I'm entering a challenge:  reading authors' debut books, preferably those published in 2010.  The challenge is from Kristi of The Story Siren.
Join me?  Click on the picture for details.



Not God's Type
Change of Heart 
Operating Room Confidential 
I Now Pronounce You Someone Else
The Mark by Jen Nadol
No and Me by Delphine de Vignan

I'll come back to add more when I find them.

A time to reflect

Summer 1985, we took our children to visit the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Memorial Day 2010 -- reflecting upon veterans and current service people.  

Some veterans:   my husband,  Uncle Henry,  Joe Weber, I. King Jordan.   Thank you.

Currently serving:   Wesley Wood, Travis Ristvedt, Jason Carr, Suzanne's son, Shelley King's son,  Lenny and Sherry's son-in-law, Stefan Sneden, Dale Hallagin.    Prayers for you and your families.

If you have someone serving, please leave the name in the comments section to be added for prayers.

Thanks to my dear PSF, Pam, for reminding me this is Memorial Day weekend.

Change of Heart

 

Title: Change of Heart

Author:  Shari Maurer
Arc lent by Around the World Tours

Summary:  An athletic girl has a virus which damages her heart.  She needs a heart transplant.  While waiting, she meets two potential boyfriends.   Will a new heart come through?  Which guy is the one?

My impression:     Déjà vu.   Change of Heart is the second YA book I read this month about a teenage girl who needs a heart transplant.  The characters are likable.  The BFF is a typical BFF.  The guys are cute.  There's normal friction between mother and daughter.  Throw in a need for a heart transplant for some drama.  

This is a well-researched book about heart transplants.   It shows the fears Emmi has about what is happening to her.   Once I read the author's website about her own life, I understood why.  Her husband is a cardiologist.  Her daughter was born with a heart-defect.  She has written a resource book for parents of children with heart defects.  You are encouraged to read more about Shari Maurer and even the first page of her book.

Changes

Did some revision on this blog tonight, added a new look and even customized the domain to drop the blogspot name.  But somehow, some way, I lost all my previous comments.  Edited to add, the comments came back!

For a great tutorial on how to drop "blogspot" from your URL domain, check out Parajunkee's post. She's a super teacher with easy to follow directions.

Now if only I could figure out how to have a better visual header to fit this blog's name:  Reflections with Coffee.  One of these days.......

In the meantime, here's Maddox on his first birthday.   He's now 14 months old. 

Freedom

Two weeks til summer break.  'nuff said!

Operating Room Confidential

 Operating Room Confidential
What really goes on when you go under?

To show how old I am  how much I like doctor shows, I've been a fan of Dr. Marcus Welby, M.D.  I had high school  crushes on Dr. Kildare and  Ben Casey.  I devoured Frank Slaughter books.  Nowadays, I watch Grey's Anatomy as soon as it is on my TiVo.  

Then along comes Operating Room Confidential  written by an anesthesiologist, Paul Whang, M.D.  While I read it, I recalled all the questions the nurses and aides asked me before my surgery a few years ago.  Ah-ha moment -- Dr. Whang explains why all these questions are essential, plus what not to say before surgery. 

Have you noticed a difference between your medical specialists -- such as the cardiologist, the ob-gyn doc, the internist? Whang does a great chapter about personality types and quirks among the specialists.

 Can you guess which doctor  gets burn-out the fastest?  Which specialist drives the most flamboyant car?

The hospital and other workers are described in detail.  It is obvious Dr. Whang does not like the Administration.   I smiled thinking about  the tv show House and  Cuddy having to deal with him.  The most glamorous people in the hospital are the physiotherapists and dietitians.   But the hospital cafeteria is a different story!

A fun read, which also gives you a few shudders along the way.  Here's an interview with Dr. Whang.

FTC disclaimer:   Received this e-galley through Netgalley and   Ecw press.  No other compensation.

In a Heartbeat

In A Heartbeat

author:  Loretta Ellsworth

received through Around the World Tours 
Summary:     Half-an-inch makes a difference in life and death.   Because sixteen-year-old Eagan is off by a fraction of an inch, she dies.  Her heart is donated to fourteen-year-old Amelia.  The two girls have completely different personalities.  Told in alternating viewpoints, the book explains cellular memory.  Why does Amelia like purple?  What is the significance of the chair in the hospital room?  What are the secrets Eagan's family have?

My viewpoint:   A great book, quick read.  As a mom, I especially liked the way the relationship each girl had with her mother was described.   Eagan and her mom had a stormy relationship.   After Amelia receives her heart, she starts mouthing off to her own mother, surprising herself and the members of her family.   I also liked reading about Eagan's flashbacks upon her past life.

Purple lollipop, anyone?

A mom wishing for a shower

I have won This is Gabriel  in a giveaway from Christy Bright and waiting for it to come in the mail.  It will go to  my school's library.  Thanks, Christy!

In the meantime, I just read the author's post All Showers Lead to Australia.