May’s Mutterings: Rants and Ramblings
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YMCA Gala 2015
This is an annual gala to benefit the YMCA – Fairfax County, which provides a variety of services—from childcare to summer camps to senior services—to residents of Fairfax County, Virginia. I’ve been on the board since 2002 and roll off at the end of this year. We’ve been attending this gala for almost that long…
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Book review: The Forever Queen by Helen Hollick
The Forever Queen by Helen Hollick My rating: 4 of 5 stars “The Forever Queen” is the first book of two about Emma of Normandy, who married Aethelred of England (known as the Unready) and slowly transforms from a shy and timid girl into a woman of confidence and self-assurance who knows what she wants.…
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Dinner Party – November 4, 2015
We hosted a dinner party at our house last night on behalf of our kids’ school. It was a day of prep and cooking, and we couldn’t have done it without Jim’s nephew, Robert, who was a tremendous help. Here is our dining room: We served the following: Thai Pumpkin Soup with Homemade Gougeres (unfortunately,…
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Halloween 2015
You might think we were a bit too old for Halloween and trick-or-treating, but it’s our favorite holiday (and you are never too old to beg for candy). The family Halloween photo featuring The Tardis, Darth Vader, Chewbacca, and Captain Cold: Another one of the kids: And just as full disclosure, Chewbacca was The Grinch…
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Book review: Garment of Shadows by Laurie King
Garment of Shadows by Laurie R. King My rating: 4 of 5 stars The Mary Russell mystery series is one of my favorite series. (I know–I say that a lot.) At the beginning of this one, which starts almost immediately after the previous book, “The Pirate King,” Mary Russell is suffering from amnesia and has…
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Book review: Time and Chance by Sharon Kay Penman
Time and Chance by Sharon Kay Penman My rating: 5 of 5 stars I rarely give 5 star ratings, but Sharon Penman’s novel on Henry II, Eleanor of Aquitane, and Thomas Becket deserves the rating and more. This is the second in the author’s Angevin series. And while I think no writer or historian can…
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Book review: On What Grounds by Cleo Coyle
On What Grounds by Cleo Coyle My rating: 3 of 5 stars This is the first in the Coffeehouse Mysteries book series. I wish I could give half-stars as ratings because this book definitely deserves a 3.5 star rating. Clare Cosi is the manager of a niche coffeehouse who finds her assistant manager at the…
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Book review: The Gates of Sleep by Mercedes Lackey
The Gates of Sleep by Mercedes Lackey My rating: 3 of 5 stars This book is a retelling of the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale. I’ve been a fan of the author’s earlier works (her Valdemar series–especially the early books–was excellent). I’m a bit ambivalent about this one. The author does a vivid and convincing job…
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Book review: The Sanctuary Sparrow by Ellis Peters
The Sanctuary Sparrow by Ellis Peters My rating: 4 of 5 stars Below is why I love this series so much: The last lines of the book (no spoilers): “And now, I suppose,” he said, seeing his friend’s face still thoughtful and undismayed, “you will tell me roundly that God’s reach is longer than man’s.”…
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Book review: How to be a High School Superstar by Cal Newport
How to Be a High School Superstar: A Revolutionary Plan to Get into College by Standing Out by Cal Newport My rating: 4 of 5 stars As the parent of two teenagers, this was a really interesting book. The premise is that to get in the college of your choice, a student should focus on…
Got any book recommendations?