Act Like a Lady, Think Like .......seriously?

Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man: What Men Really Think About Love, Relationships, Intimacy, and Commitment by Steve Harvey


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I love Steve Harvey but this book was written along the same lines as the He's just not that into book. It's 190 pages of "look lady - he's just not that into you - he's into him." If he cheats - it's on you. Either you're doing something wrong - like not putting your foot down - or it's nothing personal. 

Harrumph.

Steve - that's not a man - that's a boy. Let me sum this church bulletin into one line - ladies: don't settle for boys. Look for men. They're in high demand but if you stop dating the boys - maybe they'll try to be men. Fingers crossed - Mr. Harvey "da man" is on wife # 3 - I hope he learned something in the process. As for his "advice" I guess some women need to hear it - but I think the title should have read. Men: Act like a boy, pretend to be a man. Women - bring me my pie.

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Book Report: From Elephants to Legends

This is your double helping of book love. I have no idea where I dug up enough time to finish two books, but you won't here me complaining. (Sleep is overrated.)

The first read was our book club selection for February, Water For Elephants. I have to be honest nothing about this book's description interested me. Not a huge fiction fan for starts, but carnies creep me out, and as someone who would take the company of a dog over 90% of humanity, the last thing I want to read about is animal cruelty. (Insert inner Mommy Voice) But Jen, the whole reason for starting the book club was to read outside your narrow wonk-non-fiction-journo-genre.

I was pleasantly surprised. Kudos Sara Gruen! I couldn't put the sucker down. It's the story, set during the Depression, of a young Cornell Vet senior who loses his parents in a sudden accident. Penniless, he literally runs away to join the circus. Telling his story from the end of his life looking back, it speaks volumes about the aging process, which is a nice little emotional bonus. But aside from the thrilling and compelling plot line, the author spent years researching circus life from that period. If you omitted the main characters, this could easily be a case-study of a particular troop. She even starts each chapter with an actual photo from the 30s from various circus groups. Very cool. Attention Nerds: it's safe...we are welcome.

The second read, was also a book club selection from last fall, but I pulled 8 shades of cheating on this one.  I went to our discussion for Julie and Julia with nothing more than Amy Adams/ Maryl Streep's interpretation of the quack blogger and the tv foodie, and a whopping 30 pages under my belt. Here it is, March, and I am finally clearing that bad boy off the night stand.

Now, I love me a good blog-turned-book (the stream of conscience writers of today - take that J.D. Salinger) and you know I love me some food, but I found this little paperback to be highly overrated. You'll never hear me say this (so I'll write it - what a hypocrite!) but I liked the movie better than the book. Shut up - nuh uh. Gasp - go ahead it's safe - I won't judge.

I mean it was cute - don't get me wrong. An overworked, urban wife is fed up with her job so she decides to channel Julia Child and cook everything in her French bible in a year, while blogging about the adventure. I get it - it's cute. And as a chronic bitcher, I, garnered some serious support for her storytelling. But the best part of the read for me was the few pages she talks about her quirky friend Isabelle (who is a literary doppelganger of my friend Megs.) Now she is a character. Not that it was bad - or boring - but I felt like she could have wrapped the whole delicious lamenting up in about 200 pages.

Stay tuned next month - I'm hoping to knock off three more on our little cruise!

Pretty Bad Ass

Ever wonder what Dad was doing in the garage when he was supposed to be fixing Mom's car? Yeah will this is like 1 bajillion times cooler than that stupid fence post digger he invented. Sorry Dad.

All Clear in Hawaii

The predicted 12 foot Tsunami waves for Hawaii turned out to be a false alarm. Yes, Carly and puppy Jake, evacuated from her Hawaii Kai beach hut on Oahu, and yes, she returned home yesterday safely, with nothing more than a great story. Just got off the phone with her and all is well. Now, back to our regularly scheduled program.

Awkward Elevator Deja Vu

As host for a training workshop for our alumnae sorority chapter, I offered the conference room in our very delicious apartment building, last Saturday. Hey it was free and a super easy commute for me.

Jamming out of Chez Copa, carrying entirely too much for one trip - I grabbed my frothy java brimmed coffee mug too. Sloshing into the elevator, nice neighbor to the rescue, offers to help me carry the boxes. What a nice guy, I would have offered to carry the coffee. After a polite but much appreciative decline, he insists and next thing you know we're on our way to the conference room - coffee saved! (Listen you momma bears with love connection on the brain - you just cool your jets.)

On the trip down twelve floors, he stops me to ask where we know each other from, apparently I look familiar. Sure - often a common pick-up line in DC but his face was genuinely contorted as he scanned his Rolodex of Facebook pics in his head. Not surprised - I get it a lot - it's the round face and blue eyes - I look like everyone's cousin's best friend. Offering a couple possibilities, we still can't figure out where he knows me from. Note: I don't know this kid from Adam - not an ounce of recognition and I made no attempt to pretend otherwise.

Arriving at our destination I showered him with appreciation (more for saving the coffee than the heavy lifting. - SHOCKER) but he can't shake the deja-vu. Being that we're neighbors, I introduce myself as Jen.

Literally - my tongue rests on the 'n' and he finishes 'Richer?' As my eyes swell to the size of grapefruits, I hesitate, "how do you know me and I don't have a clue who you are?"

"We went out on a date about a year ago, and I never heard from you again."

F-M-L

My caffeine induced response, "Well I guess I can't hide from you now, neighbor."

Of course I will keep you kids posted but suffice it to say....way to go Richer.