Book Review: The Secret Lives of Dresses

I had a personal goal of reading one book over the holiday break and I did it.

This book was charming. It was an easy read with not a whole lot of drama. Just a glimpse into a young woman's journey into finding her passion. I would definitely recommend it. I picked it up because of the cover really. I loved the yellow dress and wanted to know about that dress. Of course that wasn't what the book was about. What I did discover is something about me. I love to go junking and not just for the sake of collecting junk. A hoarder I am not. I love the idea of the stories behind an object. I had never thought about it until this book, but I love to think about the previous owners and the journey of their lives through the object.
Last time I went to Blue Hanger I bought 2 suitcases because they were there. They had the beautiful proper script of the previous owner. I just thought of the journeys the woman must have used them for before they ended up in a giant blue bin being passed over for all the new fangled gadgets and imported junk people think they can resell at the flea market. Then I saw a beautiful brown briefcase. It too had the insert card with the gentleman's name on it and his phone number (pre 7 digits). Can you just imagine this man walking down Congress Avenue in his hat and jacket carrying the briefcase full of his day's work. Maybe even a little brown bag with a sandwich wrapped in wax paper and an apple. Each crease made by the delicate hands of his young bride. His thoughts on her and the romance they shared. Or how wonderful it felt to play catch with his son in the yard the night before.
I didn't realize this until reading The Secret Lives of Dresses. I didn't realize that in my own mind there were stories with the objects I purchased. I just might have to share the story next time I pick up a treasure.

Book Review - Mary Kay Andrews

OMGOSH!!! How come none of you have told me about this writer!!! She is right up my alley! So far I've read 3 books and you'll have to put up with my brief review of each. Each story has a heroine in it (LOVE IT!)

Savannah Blues - This book takes place in the South, the main character is a junker, and there's a murder!!! It is the perfect mix of stuff I love! There's even a heart throb. One of the things I love about Mary Kay Andrews writing is that there's just enough detail to give you the picture, but not to much that you couldn't insert your own ideas of the "cute guy" in the story. Enough detail to paint the picture, but enough left out so that you can put in the details. I will say there were some phrases that just screamed Southern Bell in it. Hint - there is some content and language, but it doesn't go over the top. In this story the heroine goes from being a woman who's not had a lot of control over her life learning to take control and be a success. She kicks butt!

Savannah Breeze - Ok, this takes the characters from Savannah Blues and tells an new story from another female characters point of view. In this one the heroine is a strong independent woman who has everything taken away from her. She goes to get it all back and learns about love. Just know that the phrase "Hunky Monkey" is in here so that might give you an idea as to some of the content. I truly enjoyed this story. Part of it is taking this old run down motel on the beach and turning it into a dream destination. The whole time I was thinking, "I would LOVE to stay there!!!" Vintage furnishings, themed rooms like "Sea Glass", muffins with the manager in the mornings, and happy hour with the manager in the evenings. Little chairs on the porch. Dreamy! Our first night on vacation we pull up to the motel and I think "It's almost like the one in my book! (only Southwest instead of beach, but oh well)" My mom's room was almost exactly like I had described from the book to her earlier in the day. Our room had yet to be remodeled. It still was fun to know these places really do exist. Our last place to stay on vacation was an old motel that supposedly had recently been remodeled. they missed a few things in the "remodel". At least it had a fresh coat of paint. I do think the paper towel spit wads pasted to the wall behind the head board was an ingenious idea. I'm sure the neighbors appreciated it. It would have been nicer if it had been cleaned up before we arrived though. I digress....

Then I read a book that is all new characters and setting, Little Bitty Lies. The main character in this book is a teacher on summer break. She has a senior in private school, and her husband abandons them after stealing all their money. She is so resourceful! I love how she keeps her priorities straight even though her means to the end result may be questionable. She lives in the suburbs where everyone knows everyone elses business and gossips about it. It was fun to get a glimpse into all the homes around her as you read along. Then there's the whole run to Mexico to stage a death thing.... A good read.

So what's on my reading agenda next? I'm thinking about reading Leaping Beauty by Gregory Maguire and then American Thighs: The Sweet Potato Queen's Guide to Preserving your Assets by Jill Connor Browne. I hope to read a it before school starts again - can you tell?

Play Review: Sex Sin and the CIA

There's this little community theater that occasionally has an actress we love. When she's in the play we have to go, she's just that good! But this post is not about her, rather it's about a play she's in.
Way Off Broadway is presenting Sex, Sin, and the CIA right now. To say the play is funny is an understatement! The cast does a fantastic job of creating a world of espionage and humor. One way that I can tell a good play is to sit in the back. If I'm distracted by the usual audience stuff, those little noises people make or the person who can't hold their bladder until an intermission, then it's not a good play. We sat in the back with two of our really good friends who happened to be at opening night as well. I was not distracted once by the lady who couldn't make it to her seat without tripping. I was not distracted by the two kids on the front row who kept raising their hands for no reason. I was engrossed in the play.
The cast was appropriately picked for their roles. People who knew them kept commenting on how the characters were not far off from their real life persona. I can only speak to the character Milicent. Milicent was played by one of my dearest friends, Kirsten Schulte. Milicent starts out as prudish young girl who's life experiences have been directed by her employer, the Reverend Samuel Abernathy (played by James Lee Burke). It is obvious that the Reverend has not led such a life of abstinence as he's training Milicent to live, but he seems to really care about her well being. Watching Milicent learn womanly ways and come into her own is just down right, floor stomping funny! The hard part for me was separating where Milicent started from where Kirsten ended! Some of the mannerisms were just so her!
Then there's the whole CIA issue going on. We all ave had those co-workers who do everything wrong, but still manage to come out alright. This CIA agent, Luke James (played by Ed Trujillo), needed a rubber suit for protection! His antics fell into, "If it can go wrong, it will go wrong." Poor guys spends part of the play in a bucket!
Of course there's the seductress, I mean State Department Margaret Johnson (played by Tracy Cathy). She was fantastic in her facial expressions to look truly sexually aggressive with the "hunky monkey" (I think that's one of my favorite lines) the Retired United States Marine Corp Officer Daniel Warren (played by Gary Dean Hamilton). His responses were priceless, wavering between leading her on and turning her away. Just the right balance for the story.
The neighbor lady, Heather Ann Faraday (played by Cynthia Carrier), who's power goes off, but they never quite make it to her cabin to check it out. Of course she comes running for help with lingerie in her bag - who doesn't? What if you run into a hunky monkey?
I will say that the park ranger, Ranger Don (played by Melinda Szabo) creeped me out for a good portion of the play, and made  me wonder if he was the bad guy. Of course by the end of the play everything gets tidied up in a nice pretty package. I highly suggest going to see this highly entertaining play.
I got a little behind in writing this post. My mom and step-dad went to see it last weekend and LOVED it! Let me say, we all have different ideas of funny. So glad they liked it, and found it. For those of you who have been to see Way Off Broadway at their Crystal Falls location, know that they have moved to a much larger space on 2243. It was so nice to have a little leg room in the new theater.