A Question for You

I have a question for you. Yes you. My dear reader.

Let me start off by saying that I am the type of person who has many varied interests. I enjoy drawing, knitting and scrapbooking. I've been interested in photography lately. I also love to cook and bake.

I enjoy learning and developing new skills. Whether they be creative, academic or any other. If it's new, I like to learn more about it. I just love to learn.

About a year ago I decided that I wanted to hone my writing skills. I bought a book called Wild Mind on the recommendation from a friend. This book has many writing prompts and ideas scattered throughout the book for the reader/writer to try out.

One of the suggestions in the book is to have a writing group where you each exchange your work and critique one another's writing.

So...I was wondering if anyone would be interested in doing this through our blogs. We could call it Wild Mind Mondays. I was thinking we could do one writing exercise from the book each month, maybe on the first Monday of the month. I could set up a Mr. Linky so we could all link up and go read and critique each other's writing. Almost like exchanging papers but virtually.

The only thing is that either everyone would have to purchase a copy of the book or I could set up an email list to send out the writing exercise of the month.

Does this make sense? Is anyone interested in this type of writing group? Let me know what you all think.

Also! Please don't forget to post your Wordless Wednesday: The Boots Edition tomorrow and link it up here! I can't wait to see all of your pictures! If you missed the announcement about this you can find it HERE.

Book Review: Sewing Circles of Herat by Christina Lamb

Title: Sewing Circles of Herat

Author: Christina Lamb

Publication Date: February 2004

Publisher: Harper Perennial Series

Pages: 384

ISBN: 9780060505271

This review is my opinion and I have not been compensated for it in any way.  


I think I'm going to try a different format for my book reviews. Usually, I just kind of give a synopsis of the book but I don't really talk about what I think of the book. I think this book review is the perfect book to try out this new format because it elicited such an emotional response in me that I just have to talk about that. But I do want to let you know a bit about the book too. So let's see how this goes. Please let me know if you like this format or the old way better. 


Christina Lamb is a journalist from England who has traveled to Afghanistan several times in her career. These visits to this country have ranged from before and after 9/11 and the terrorist attack on the United States.

This book is checkered throughout with letters from a young lady, Marri, in Afghanistan who explains of her love of dancing and red lipstick. However, Marri's letters are also full of fear, anger and hurt because of the men who force her to hide beneath the burqa.

In this book, Christina provides pieces of Afghanistan's history; the beauty the country used to possess. She speaks of interviews with members of the Taliban. She discusses wars and how children are brought up, not to play and love, but to fight, hate and win. Christina explores and writes about every side and she does so unbiasedly; as a good journalist should.

This is the book The Hubble chose for me for July. Yes, I've been reading it for 2 months. This is not a page turner by any means. In fact, when I finished the book I simply sat there holding it for a good 5 minutes before taking it back to The Hubble in the other room. When I walked out and handed him the book he asked me "how do you feel." The only answer I could give was "drained."

This book made me feel many emotions. I felt anger toward the men who beat Marri's mother because she removed her burqa to look at a swatch of fabric. I felt sad for the families who found their loved ones hanging from tree branches. I felt scared for the women who would have secret lessons so as to continue educating the young girls in the country.

It amazes me to see pictures of women walking through the streets of Afghanistan with heels, skirts, books and their hair done in modern styles. I can hardly envision the landscape when the country is described to have been a paradise with trees, gardens, birds and exquisite beauty. Afghanistan once was a tourist destination!

But 23 years of fighting has definitely marred our memories and perceptions of this once great land. But if I feel that way, how can I imagine it would feel to be a child brought up in that environment. Can it ever change??

When I read this book, I kept thinking this is why we are there. I couldn't help but be touched by Marri's distress or the tales of men being forced into the Taliban by being threatened. On the other hand, Christina Lamb described, in such amazing detail, the hatred some people in Afghanistan feel for Americans that I found myself wondering why the Hell should we help them?? They just want to kill our people!

I don't know if this country will ever have peace. I keep thinking about the movie "Lady in the Water." There's a part in the movie where they talk about the author of a book. This book will be written and it will be found by a young boy. This boy will take this book and read it. This boy will change the world because of this one book. I keep thinking we need that one book and that one boy. But even if the book and the boy were to meet, that boy wouldn't be able to read that book. Education in that country is gone.

When The Hubble was in Afghanistan last year, he got to talking with his interpreter during a recon mission. The Hubble asked his interpreter "Will Afghanistan ever have peace?" To this, the interpreter replied "Without education there will be no peace."

This book was difficult and emotional to read but I'm glad I did. I've been having trouble understanding why The Hubble is SO passionate about these people and why he wants to get back as quickly as possible. After reading this book...I get it. I absolutely get it....

So there it is. My unfiltered thoughts of this book. I'm so glad I read it. It may not have been a page turner and it may have taken me two months to read but I'm changed because I have read it.

5 of 5 stars.

Word of the Day: Random

Do you ever get stumped on what to title your blog posts?? I just did. I knew I wanted to post but I couldn't figure out what to call it because my post is going to be a jumbled mess.

I couldn't stop thinking about Penny at I Could Be Fake posting one word last week. Hence, my title was born.

And in that comes a warning. This post is going to be kind of random and jumbled so bear with me. If it counts, it's also kind of an update.

Let me start by saying I am so glad I posted recently about my weight loss struggles because I had several friends here contact me about it and we've been going to the track on post 3 times a week. I haven't lost anything but I'm definitely not gaining anymore. Though I may have to bite the bullet and buy a larger size jean soon, I'm glad I'm not gaining anymore. And I'm okay with the size up I would have to purchase. It's still smaller than my pre-baby size jean.

Last week I got the chance to meet the lovely and sweet Emily from Scatterbrained Wife of a Soldier! She is seriously so nice and sweet and adorable! She's so new too! Her and her husband, J, have only been married 4 months! And most of that time he's been here (in a different state from her) attending school. Luckily, he graduates soon and they are going to PCS to Germany!

I was nervous about meeting her at first because I had Little Butt with me. We went to lunch at Cracker Barrel (because that's basically all we have here) and after we ate Emily sat on the floor with me and Little Butt while we explored all the bins of toys in the shop outside the restaurant.

After that fun time, and me buying the best frog toy ever (the eyes pop out when you squeeze it!!!!) we went to the only other happening place in town...Wally World! Sounds like a blast right?!?!? Actually, we had a lot of fun! Little Butt found the hula hoops and the three of us stood in the middle of Wally World (down an aisle of course) playing with the hula hoops. Those suckers are NOT easy! How the heck did I do those when I was a kid?? If you haven't tried a hula hoop in years, please go try it and tell me how you do! I was only able to get a few pictures:

I've been trying to take Emily around with me to give her something to do in the middle of nowhere and to introduce her to different military type things. She's gone to the track with us a couple times and she went to a friend's house for coffee with me. She even attended story time at the library with us! LOL! She's a great girl and if you don't follow her...you should!

And finally (for now) I would like to thank Sarah at Confessions of an Untenured Teacher who gave me an award:

With this award I am supposed to share 7 things about myself. Yikes! Let's see...

1. I have 8 tattoos.
2. I have 2 sisters (ages 34 and 25 with me in the middle at 30) and a brother (age 17).
3. I love quotes! I have a quote journal in which I write quotes that strike me. These can be lines from movies, books, conversations, songs, you name it. If I like it, I keep it.
4. I love, love, LOVE coffee. I take mine black with 2 sugars or if it's from Starbucks I take it with hazelnut syrup. Actually, all the coffee I drink is from Starbucks. I buy the pounds of whole beans and grind my coffee fresh.
5. I am passionate about literature and I love to read. But this wasn't always the case. I didn't get into reading until my late teens. When I was little I hated reading!
6. I collect shot glasses. I have shot glasses from all over the country and the world. People usually find out I like them and bring them to me. 
7. I'm fascinated by pin-up girls. Our dining room is decked out with pictures, books and calendars of pin-ups. Gil Elvgren is one of my favorites. I would like to be a pin-up girl! 

Thanks again Sarah!

Oh shoot! One more thing. I told you this was going to be random!

Jessica Lynn over at Jesstagirl and Her Officer is hosting a Bake-N-Blog and I think more people should get involved! Basically, you choose a cupcake from a site that she has listed and you bake it and post about it on September 15th! You will also be entered to win one of my favorite cupcake books: Hello, Cupcake!

 Photo and recipe from Ming Makes Cupcakes

I am going to bake cupcake #24: Coffee Chocolate Cupcakes with Baileys Irish Cream Frosting. Sounds delicious right?!?!? Well head over there and sign up for the cupcake you want to bake and blog about! It should be fun!!!

And don't forget to get your pictures ready for the Wordless Wednesday: The Boots Edition that I'm hosting. If you don't know about it...look at this POST!

For Further Reading Check Out:

• My Weight Loss Struggle and 5 Ways to Stay Motivated
• Wordless Wednesday: The Box Edition (With a Random Hot Dog and an Assignment)

Wordless Wednesday: The Box Edition (With a Random Hot Dog and an Assignment)

And for the assignment!!

I was inspired by Jessica at {Mis}Adventures of an Army Wife to have everyone share their boot pictures! You know the ones...most of us have them! We have pictures of our kids (whether human or furry) in or around our soldier's boots. If you don't, get them! I would like to have a linky party next Wordless Wednesday where we all share our boot pictures!

If you aren't a military spouse, take pictures of your kids with yours or your spouses boots anyway. Any kind of kid, any kind of boot.

Then meet back here next Wednesday and link up!!

Ready...set...GO!

How to Support a Friend During Deployment: Part 3

A couple weeks ago I did a guest post for Kris Goes Crazy because she was looking for answers about how best to help her good friend who is deployed right now. I think this is such an important topic that I wanted to feature this post on my blog as well. After writing the guest post, I realized it was a lot longer than I had anticipated so I'm going to feature it in a 3 part series of posts. If you have already read it, feel free to skip over these few posts. Thanks for your patience and support of not only me and my blog but also our military!

Part 3:

In the last two parts of this series I have talked a lot about how you can support a soldier and the soldier's spouse.

Let's face it though. As Amber from Goodnight Moon put it...everyone gets wrapped up in their own lives and these soldiers and spouses aren't always at the forefront of thought for most people. And that's okay too.

All we ask is that those around us be a bit sensitive and understanding of our different situation.

With that being said...there is no reason that you (whether you are a spouse, family member, friend  or stranger) do what you can and only that. So this leads me into part 3 of my support series.

Photo by Jhong Dizon

Here are some tips on how to support a friend during deployment if the friend is you.

• Give What You Can ~ I know I’ve talked a lot about what you can give to a soldier and a spouse during deployment. But you can only give what you can give. No more. No less. If you are being pulled in too many directions, do not try to give more than you are able. People can tell when other’s are not being genuine. If you are trying to support someone because that’s what you are supposed to do, not what you want to do, then please let someone else do it.  

• Know Your Limits ~ If you have never been involved with the military it can be difficult. Heck, it’s difficult for me. Do not be afraid to set boundaries and know your limits. Let the soldier and or the spouse know the type and extent of information you would or would not like to know. If you do not think you can handle knowing that the soldier was in a fire fight, set that boundary. You are well within your rights to set those boundaries and to expect others to maintain them. One important question The Hubble asked me during one of our early phone calls during a deployment was how much I wanted to know. I made the right choice for me and you can make the right choice for you. 

• Fill Your Time ~ If you ever really analyze how a soldier’s spouse and or children fill their time during deployments you will often note that they hardly stop moving. Parents enroll children in almost every activity and sport imaginable. During a deployment pre Little Butt you would rarely find me at home. I would work longer days. I would go out at night. I would hang out at work after my shift just to not be alone. Just to not stop and think about the situation. It never gets easier. You just do what you have to do. At a certain point your life develops a new routine. But the ache never stops.

For Further Reading Check Out:

• How to Support a Friend During Deployment: Part 1
• How to Support a Friend During Deployment Part 2