Meetup.com

Ever moved to a new area and not known anyone? Ever lived in the same location all your life and wanted to meet other people who share the same interests?? Ever just wanted to let loose or learn something new?? If you answered yes to any of these questions then I have the best site for you. It's called Meetup.com. 


Since moving to the Cleveland area, I have joined this great website that I just mentioned above. Rob came across this site and started looking around. He found a couple groups that I may be interested in, and so he sent me the links. One of them was called "The High Tea Society". It is a group devoted to tea!! The main purpose of this group is meeting other people who share your interest in learning new teas and visiting different tea houses in the area. I am really enjoying this group. I signed up last month for a tea event and loved it!! We all met at The Ashley Place which is a tea room located in Medina, Ohio. Four other women showed up for that one and we had a lovely conversation over some tea and food. I tried a raspberry flavored tea and found it to be ok...I am not too sure if I would get that one again. Today was another event with the Tea Society. I met up with four other women in Vermilion, Ohio which is about thirty minutes west of my house. We met at this small little tea shop called Decidedly Different. I tried a new flavor of tea again. This time it was a tea called Scottish Breakfast. If you are a black tea drinker who enjoys the Breakfast teas, then this is a must try! It is a bit strong and a bit bitter, but after putting two packets of sugar in my cup, I thought it tasted pretty good. 


Another group that I found is a Movie & Book lover club. They are a group well that views movies together and then also reads a book together as well. Last month, I met up with this group to see the movie Inception. After the movie we then went over and had a bite to eat and discussed how we liked or disliked the movie. I was in hopes of going to the event tomorrow to see the new movie Eat, Pray, and Love, but due to the time the movie is, it is a conflict with something else that Rob and I had planned. The book part of this club is just the same as the movie part. The current book is To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. I read this book back in middle school and so I was excited to hear this was the next book the club was going to read. I went out and bought the book at a half priced bookstore. I have started reading the book (ok, so I am just 3 pages in), so I need to get going on the book since the book discussion is in about a month. I have heard from other group members is that if you have read the book as a child, then when you are reading this book as an adult you tend to understand more of the adult roles in the book. I will let you know once I finish the book. 


Rob has found a couple social groups on Meetup.com as well. He found a hiking group and a couple others. He has yet though to attend any of the events that have had. He is hoping to try and go to one of the hiking ones soon. 


So I encourage you to go over to Meetup.com and check it out for yourself. It is completely free to sign up and you never know...you may find a great group just for you!!! 

2 books I am reading...er...listening to..

Yup...I am multi-tasking with my books now. No I am not reading one in addition to listening to a different one at the same time. A couple months ago I was introduced to the world of audio-books thanks to one of my professors at Iona who wanted us to listen to Tuesdays with Morrie. Since then I have kind of liked the idea of listening to a book while I drive while I am alone in the car headed to work. Why not be productive while driving right??

Currently, I am listening to Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella. Who is Sophie? She is the author behind the whimsical Shopaholic book series.  My mom had an extra copy of the audio book and sent it home with me while I was in Oregon. When I got back to Connecticut, I popped the first cd into my car player and entered a new world. At first I didn't know if I would like the book as it just seemed odd listening to it rather than reading it. By the time the first cd was over, I was hooked with the story and I love it. I am almost done with the story, and I would definitely recommend this book for anyone who wants a light hearted story. I am not finished with it...but it is pretty good. 

In addition to listening to a book, I am also reading one. I am reading the fourth installment of the Shopaholic series. The fourth installment is called, "Shopaholic & Sister". Now I will say that the first Shopaholic book was probably the best by far, but the ending of each books wants me to pick up the next book to start. I am almost done with this one and will soon start the last Shopaholic book that I have. The newest book in this series will be not be released until December according to the book boards on Sophie's page. By then, I am sure I will be one of the many who are waiting at Borders Books in line to purchase the newest copy. Ok...so maybe not fully waiting in line, but you get the picture. 

Once I finish all of Sophie's books...I will get back into my Dee Henderson book which I thought I left on an airplane! Rob found my book though when the two of us were headed to North Dakota. I was very happy to see that I didn't leave the book in the seat back on the airplane and to know that it was just in a different pocket of his laptop bag. :)

I love reading and now listening to books!! I have another audio book to listen to, but I think I will save that for this summer when I am driving to our new house where ever that may be!!

I have made it!!

Yup...even with my fear of flying...I have made it to Oregon. But with the help of some xanax I was able to fly with out any anxiety or feeling that the plane was going to crash and kill us all. *I am just real pleasent to fly with, really. hahaha*

When I checked in at the airport, I was given a seat assignment for Hartford to Minneapolis, but then a "Seat Request" for Minneapolis to Portland. (Yay!! I was put on stand-by!! Just what I wanted to deal with!) My flight from Hartford to Minneapolis was pretty smooth. There was a few bumps but nothing drastic...and why is it that it gets bumpy just when the flight attendants decide to come through and pass out some drinks? Never fails! Anyways...the flight was not extremely full, which was nice for a change! I had a window seat right on the wing (my favorite spot to sit in a plane because it is the most stable place inside the plane), and then there was a guy in my row on the aisle. it was nice to not have someone sitting in the middle seat!!

When we landed in Minneapolis I checked the screens to see where my next gate was. I was in terminal G and I had to go to terminal F. No worries...I had an hour and a half, so I went to find my gate then went and found some dinner. I was not super hungry but thought I should eat something so that I am not starving on the airplane!! When I got back to the gate, I was hoping that there would be a gate agent at the counter so that I could get a seat assignment. Well a gate agent didn't arrive to the gate until probably 15 minutes before the plane was suppose to board!!! Talk about annoying!! But I was given a seat and I was happy. OOh....Row 5A. Sweet...I will be nice and close...and oh is this first class? Well no...it was not first class but it was the row right behind first class. So I was given lots of leg room! Yay! I felt like the flight was not ever going to end. I was getting restless and just wanted to be out of the plane. I could feel the meds wearing off...but didn't want to take another pill as I knew I only had an hour or so left. So I just put my nose back into my "Confessions of a Shopaholic" book. btw...if you are looking for a fun fast paced book...you need to read that book!! Such a funny story!!

I arrived in Portland a little bit early, but had to wait awhile for my bag. This is the disadvantage of being able to get off the plane so quickly. I even took my time getting down to the baggage claim. *sigh* anyways...I found my bag and went back upstairs for my parents to pick me up at the curb.

So now I am here in Canby. I slept amazing!! I tell you there is nothing like sleeping in your childhood house. Maybe it is just me. I was wide awake around 630am...but then I ended up falling back asleep. Guess my body is still kind of on the east coast time.

Hope you all are having a fabulous Wednesday!

Ramona Quimby on the Big Screen!!!!

Last night while was watching the trailers for the movies that are coming out this summer one movie made me very excited. I grew up reading all of the Ramona Quimby books by Beverly Cleary.

Well this summer, they will be releasing RAMONA & BEEZUS (which is the first book in the Ramona series) as a movie in all theatres!!! Oh I am so excited!! I saw the trailer last night and I felt like a little kid on Christmas morning!! Rob probably thinks I am a freak...but he didn't grow up reading these books. I feel as if a Harry Potter has just seen the trailer for their favorite book of the series. Ok, long stretch...but I think it works.

Beverly Cleary is from the Portland, Oregon area...and so Ramona and her family are from Portland in the books. When I was first reading these books when I was in grade school I didn't realize that. When I got older though, I found this out and loved the books even more.  I am tempted to go and buy the whole Ramona series so that I can add her back into my book library. I know...I am such a dork...but I can't help it!

Anyways....here is the trailer for the movie which comes to theatres in July. Oh I can't wait!!

Cheating, I think not!!

Last night was the first night of my Social Welfare Policy class. Before class started, a classmate from my Human Behavior class from last trimester stopped by to hand me back an item that she had borrowed. I thanked her and I went back to my desk.

STOP THE TAPE....time out...let's refresh from a couple weeks ago...

Remember how last trimester my professor informed us that she was strongly encouraged by a full-time professor that the class should read Tuesdays with Morrie?? *shaking your head...right? lol* Now, remember how my own professor had told us to go out and get the book on cd/tape and listen to it so that we could discuss it on the last day of class. The full-time professor had expressed that some type of paper should included with the book. Well my professor decided since it was so late in the semester and a different paper was already assigned to not worry about a paper. 

ROLL TAPE...back to my original story...
When I got back to my desk I opened the cd case to ensure myself that all the cds were in there. I knew where my classmate was going to be just in case one of the cds was missing. The guy sitting next to me who is taking the Human Behavior class this trimester looked to see what I had. When he noticed that I had the "Tuesdays with Morrie" on cd he looked at me and called me a CHEATER!! I was mad that he would call me that with out knowing why I had that!! My response was, "How am I a cheater?" He responded with, "You have the book on cd!" and I told him, "This is what my professor asked for me! So how is that cheating?!" Oh I was upset!!! I was thinking in my head...this is not cheating even if I had to read the actual book to write a paper. It is not like I am reading the Cliffnotes of this book. The audiobook was the entire book and not an abridged version. I drive a ton so why not listen to the book, buy the book as well so that I have page numbers to refer to in the paper that is probably required?? If this guy was smart, he would go out to the Borders store this weekend, get the cds, listen to them and be done with the book!!

I was thinking that I was going to have to take an English Lit. class last term. When I told my advisor that I am a bit leery about taking the class as I am a slow reader. She said, "well maybe you could find the books on tape and listen to them while you are driving to and from work or to and from school." So obviously listening to books on tape is not a form of cheating if my own advisor is suggesting such a thing to help me in a class!!

I am ready to be done with this group of students. I wish I was in with the Seniors. Not because I want to be done with school, but more because I like the group of seniors for the social work department. *sigh*

Just eleven more weeks left of classes at Iona. I can do this. I will ignore what people may tell me to throw me off course...I will stride through and get what I came here to do.

Book Finished...

Last night when I went up to bed, Rob was busy reading on his Sony Reader. I figured since I only had a couple more chapters left in my SisterChicks book, I would see if I could finish it. By 2am I was smiling and feeling refreshed with finishing yet another book.

I love the feeling of finishing a book that I have enjoyed or even gritted my teeth to get through the end of the book. Yes there are books that I kept a log on how many more pages were left, as it was just so bad. One of those books was Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye when I was back in high school. I picked the book as it was the book of choice for the Oprah Book Club. I regretted choosing that book for a book report from the end of the first couple chapters. Oh well, I managed through it and was relieved when I was done. Then there are books that I do not want to end, as I am enjoying the story too much. I am sad when the book is done but pleased on how it ended. Or it could have been one of the books that ends with a cliff hanger and I have to wait six months until the next book comes out. Oh I hate those ones!!! I have learned now that if I read a book that belongs to a series...I wait long enough so that when I finish one book I do not have to wait for the next one.

So what book will I start tonight?? I think I will switch over to a msytery suspense book to change up the pace from the previous story that I had to something that will be like a roller coaster ride. It is a book that I have been wanting to read for awhile and I am excited to start it. I will be reading "Before I Wake" by Dee Henderson. I will have to let you know how it is!!!

Friendship in Music, Movies, and Books

This month I posted a little article in the Birthmom Buds monthly newsletter. I thought I would share it with my readers. Since it is a birthmom type of newsletter part of the article does have to tie into adoption. But this article could be used for just about anyone.

Friendship in Music, Movies, and Books
by Amy Schumaker

Webster's dictionary defines a friend as: "–noun 1. a person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard. 2. a person who gives assistance; patron; supporter. 3. a person who is on good terms with another; a person who is not hostile." 

I love friendships. A best friend is like a sister or a big brother. They are people who you can laugh, cry, and tell your deepest most secret thoughts with. We all have them!! Think...who is that one person that you can do this with. Was she or he the first person you told that you were pregnant? Were they the first person who called to check on you after you signed away your motherly rights and placed your child into the adopted parents arms?? If you said yes to any of these...then you indeed have a best friend. Over the years my friends have been through it all with me. Placement of my first child, the bad relationships that I got myself into, my wedding and the teary conversations finding out that my husband was infertile. All of these are life stones that my best friends helped me out with. I love every one of them. I have three best friends, one being a male.

February is a month about friendships and love. I can often relate to music, movies, and even books. I thought I would list some that correspond with Friends. 

Music
"That's what friends are for" Dionne Warrick 
"Friends" Micheal W. Smith
"You've got a Friend" James Taylor
"I'll be there for You" The Rembrandts 
"I've got friends in low places" Garth Brooks
"With a little help from my friends" The Beatles

Movies
"Circle of Friends"
"The Joy Luck Club"
"Calendar Girls"
"The Bucket List"
"Beaches"
"My Best Friend's Wedding"

Books
"Sisterchick book series" written by Robin Jones Gunn
"Winnie the Pooh" written by AA Milne
"Tuesdays with Morrie" by Mitch Albom 
"The Blue Bottle Club" by Penelope J. Stokes

If you have not heard, watched, or read any of these...you should check them out!!!

"Tuesday with Morrie" - Amazing book!!

Today I listened to the entire audio book version of "Tuesdays with Morrie" by Mitch Albom. I am one who normally does not listen to audio books, but it was encouraged by my human behavior professor. At last minute she was told that our class was highly encouraged for the students to read it. Since it is so late in the term, Dr. Grosset told the three of us to go and find the audio version as it would a quick listen. Our job would be to pay attention to the "biopsychosocial" dimension for both Mitch and Morrie. In the social work class this is what we have been studying the whole term, so it is fitting to have to pick out these for the story.

The audio version is on 4 cds. I put it in my car this morning and started the first disc on my way down to my internship. With in the first ten minutes of the cd I had tears streaming down my face. I knew that it was about a student having meetings with his ailing professor, but I didn't know of what. I soon found out that the professor was suffering ALS which is also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. I guess I thought about how my grandfather has Parkinson's Disease and it is really starting to take over him. By the time I was halfway home from my internship I was on the second cd. I had class tonight and so on my way down I finished the second cd and started the third. I was drawn into the story and was surprised in how good it actually was. I remember it being a very popular book back when I was in high school but didn't want to read it as I am not one who buys books because of the popularity or hype that one my have. Maybe that is why I never got sucked into the Harry Potter or Twilight books. Anyways...when I got to school I knew I didn't have much left of the third cd. I wanted to just sit in my car and listen to the rest of the cd. If it would have been warmer I probably would have done just that. I could not wait until class was over so that I could jump back into my car and get sucked back into the world of Mitch and Morrie. I finished the story just before I got home. Such an amazing book. It is about life, love, death, and what one should do before passing on. It is about the friendship between the student and professor that was created from the first class back in the '70s when the student was a freshman in Morrie's sociology class and how the friendship developed over the years, then fell to the backwoods to pick back up when Morrie was dying from ALS.

With completing this book I also think back to which professors, instructors, or teachers had made a great impact on my life. Which ones took the time to sit and actually care if I was learning more than what was being taught in class. I enjoyed my own Sociology professor this Fall term, which I am sure I will think of himk now everytime the McDonaldization topic comes up in conversation or if I see it in movies. There are just some people who make lasting impressions that will never leave us.

For my readers who have not read this book, please do!! What an awesome book. If you read the book it will be a quick read as it is only about 200 pages. If you listen to the audio version it will consist of four compact disks.

Sisterchicks Book Series

Anyone heard of this series?? Well I can thank my mom for getting me hooked to one of the best and funniest friendship book christian series around!! The series is written by a Christian author named Robin Jones Gunn. If you do not know who she is then look her up. She has written all type of books for middle school aged girls, high school girls, young college aged girls, and now a series for women who are are out of college.

The Sisterchicks series is basically a bunch of books that can be read in any order. They are about two girlfriends *which sometimes are sisters* (different characters in each book) embarking on a new adventure. I have close to all of the books except for probably the couple latest ones. These books will make you laugh, cry, and fall in love all over again. Every woman would enjoy this book series as there is something in there for everyone.

I will leave you with this from Robin Jones Gunn:
"Sisterchick: Noun: A friend who shares the deepest wonders of your heart, loves you like a sister, and provides a reality check when you're being a brat."

Best Book?

As I start to think about packing up my stuff into moving boxes I keep looking over at my two book cases full of books. I think, "I really should donate some of these books...but they were too good to give up!" So I got to thinking...what were some of the best books I have read in the past??

I love the O'Malley Series written by Dee Henderson. The series is about seven abandaned or orphaned teens who group together to create their own family. As adults they all are still very close like a family but each one is in a different line of work. One is a firefighter, another one works as a CSI type of job, and so on. Each book has some mild romance along with a pretty good intense mystery plot. I have read almost all of them. I think I have one more to go. I did not read them in order, but it does help to read them in order only because relationships develop in each book that carry on into the following book.

Another series that I have enjoyed is called Annie's People written by Beverly Lewis. It is about an Amish girl who meets an English (non Amish) boy and falls in love. The series is the whole tie of what will she do? Stay with the Amish Community or leave to be banished for life. This series is one that has to be read in order otherwise one would be confused.

If you like the Amish type of romance series you need to check out a series written by Cindy Woodsmall. The series is called Sisters of the Quilt. I picked up the first book when I was living in Tucson. I am not a fast reader and I think I read the first book in close to 2-3 days. I was just shocked of how awesome it is. I then went out to see if I could get the second book only to find out that the second book would not be released until November of that year!!! I had to actually wait for the book to come out. The first book sets the story of an Amish girl who secretly gets engaged to a Menonite boy. On her way home one day from the place that she worked...she was pulled into a car and raped by a stranger. She became pregnant by this pregnancy. She was accused of lying and anything else. The book and the other two in the series are an adrenaline rush. This is another series that must be read in order. 

An excellent book that is not part of a series is called Redeeming Love written by Francine Rivers. A friend of mine gave me this book as a gift after the placement of Kaylee. She said that she had read this book several times and thought that I would enjoy the book just as much as she. It is about a man who takes in a prostitute back in the old western days. It is the struggle of learning to live together and her learning how to live on a farm. Kind of reminded me of the book Sarah, Plain & Tall.