Book Review: One Glorious Ambition

I recently read One Glorious Ambition by Jane Kirkpatrick.   I found this an interesting book.  This book is a work of fiction, but it is based closely on the life of Dorothea Dix.  The book gives a through timeline of Dorothea Dix’s life.   The author gives a positive rendering of Dix’s life.  

Prior to reading this book, I knew nothing about Dorothea Dix.   I found the life of the reformer interesting.   The story follows Dix’s life from her childhood into her later years.   Dix’s causes include running a school for the less fortunate to advocating for the mentally ill very interesting.  She is portrayed as a tenacious woman who worked hard to advocate for her causes.   She did all this during a time when women did not participate in politics.  

This is the third book I've read by Jane Kirkpatrick.   She is very detailed in her books.   Her books are informative and shed light on various women in history who led a colorful life. 

I received this book for the purposes of review from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers.   All ideas are my own.   

Book Review: Twice a Bride

I recently read Twice a Bride by Mona Hodgson.  Set in 1898, the story follows a widowed woman, Willow, who is restarting her life after the loss of her husband.  She returns to the Colorado town of Cripple Creek after the death of her father and attempts to find work.   She begins working for a man named Trenton and the story unfolds from there.  

It is an enjoyable work of romantic fiction.    Twice a Bride is the fourth book in the series, but I did not realize that until after I had read the book.   It can stand alone quite easily.   The characters were engaging and not contrived at all.   The story progresses naturally and the ending is happy.  

I would recommend this work for cozy by the fire winter reading or for a sunny beach day.   It is a easy enjoyable read.  I would read the previous books as well because I enjoyed this one so much.

I received this book from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers for the purposes of review, but all thoughts are my own.  

Book Reivew: Fourth Fisherman

I recently read The Fourth Fisherman by Joe Kissack.   The story tells of three fishermen who survive an 8 month ordeal on the Pacific Ocean while simultaneously telling the story of an entertainment executive’s path to God.   I found the book very easy to read and completed it in a couple of days.   Every other chapter details the fishermen’s account.  The intervening chapters detail the executive’s life.   Although it switches back and forth, it is not confusing.  

This is a book about seeing God at work in the lives of people.  It can be inspirational to encourage you to go after what you feel God leading you to do.   You see the themes of reliance on God, trusting in God, and seeing God work in lives of people.   I found it encouraging and interesting.   It was a bit biographical in nature.   I enjoyed the book and would recommend it.

 

I received this book from Multnomah Publishers for the purposes of review, but all thoughts are my own.  

Last Day of September

I can't believe that October starts tomorrow.   This month has flown by!   I started my Christmas shopping this weekend.   I found a deal on something that I could not pass up.   Jason and I were discussing his flights tonight and I realized that we have 7 more weeks out here until we pack up and go home.   We have been here seven weeks already.   It feels like we just got here.   He has three more trips out here before we return home.  

In the spirit of trying to blog more, I'll try to share what is rolling around in my head.  Church today was great.   I watched our Houston church online this morning as I got ready to go to church here.   I heard two totally different sermons, but was completely blessed by both of them.   In the L.A. sermon, I was really challenged in my walk with God.   The pastor in L.A. is usually pretty deep and it takes me a few days to formulate my thoughts.   My statement above sounds simplistic, but what I am thinking about goes much deeper.  I need to think about it more, maybe listen to the podcast...

In other news, my daughter was on set all day yesterday finishing a short film.   I started thinking about what I have learned about being on set in the last year.   We were filming on location yesterday as opposed to a sound stage.    Locations are interesting because you have outside noises that disrupt filming such as an airplane flying overhead, a car driving past, the neighbor's dog barking, or the guy on a bike who rides past everyday at 5:00 pm blaring a trumpet.   I am not kidding about the guy on a bike.   When we filmed in San Pedro last January, he came by EVERYDAY at 5:00.   It got to be a joke.   Also, when you are in a house, you play musical chairs as they turn shots around.   My daughter is usually in my eye line and always in earshot.   Since I am so close, I usually am moving a lot as they finish one camera angle and move to the next.   Sometimes, they set up a monitor where I can watch what the camera sees.   That is pretty cool.   The air conditioning is turned off while filming because it is too noisy.   That is fine in January in San Pedro, but can get hot on a day like yesterday when the temperature was around 100.   Yesterday, they ran the A/C until the last possible minute and then cut it off.   Sound stages are cold and dusty, period.   My daughter shot a commercial on a huge sound stage at one of the studios.    It was warm outside and freezing inside unless you were under the lights, then you sweat.   Since I am a parent and not an actor, I layer on the clothes.  I have no idea where God is taking us with my daughter's acting, but it has been an interesting experience. 

Goodbye September, Hello October.

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for."

Hebrews 11:1-2

Today is Thursday

Ok, it is the end of September and I am finally posting.   First, I have not done anything with the video of my son at gymnastics because things have been busy around here.  We are up and going with classes and auditions.   My daughter takes two 2 hour classes a week for acting.   Both the kids take violin once a week.   My son takes gymnastics once a week.   Once you sprinkle in homeschooling, daily violin practice, 3-5 auditions a week, and playtime with friends and our schedule is bursting at the seams.   Yep, the blog is the first to go.   I need to do as my friend Marilyn and post something every few days, even if it is a couple of sentences.

On the acting front, my daughter has filmed two short films since we have been out here.   Both films have given her some great connections and both were family friendly!    Family friendly is exciting because not a lot of things are not too family friendly.   We are asked about her friends seeing her work.   My daughter's part is not objectionable, but the film as a whole geared to adults not kids.   These shorts her friends can watch!  She still loves acting.   She comes bouncing out of every audition and class.   It is truly her thing.   She absolutely loves to be on set.   I think she really likes the challenge of it.  She has to make the character real.  She also has to adjust as directed.  It challenges her intellect and she loves a challenge.  

My son has made amazing strides at gymnastics.   Every week he is challenged and learns to do something new.   The coaches know how much to push without pushing him too far.   He loved his trial class.   It helped that he knew someone in his trial class.   He didn't want to go to his first class due to not knowing anyone, but now will go anytime.   We have to adjust his class time or day due to auditions popping up.   He just rolls with it.   The coaches are incredible.   I know that is one reason he loves it so much.  

My husband has been able to visit multiple times.   It is great to have him out here for 3 days at a time.   We have been back to Disney, hung out on set, and run around to auditions together.   The important thing is that we get quality and quantity time together.  Next time he is in town, we are planning to take a trip to the heated pool.  My son wants to demonstrate his forward tuck into the pool.   Yep, another thing he learned in gymnastics.  
  
We have some great friends out here.   They make the experience of being away from home so much easier.   The kids get along.   The moms are nice not nutty.   This is showbiz in L.A,  I have met some nut jobs!   Thankfully, my friends are blessings!   Oh...and last year they introduced me to curry.   Now, we have to order curry at least once a season.   We ordered curry last night.    Food, fellowship, and fun!   The kids even swam in the freezing cold, unheated pool.  

I'm off to bed.  Tomorrow is a big audition.   The Lord willing she will go forward in the process.   If you want to pray for us.   We would love it!   If I can pray for you, make a comment.   I would love to pray for you as well.  

"Instead you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that."
James 4:15

Thursday Night Ramblings

This week was quiet, which is nice.   Last year on Labor Day, we went to Santa Monica beach, this year I changed locations to Zuma Beach in Malibu.  Last spring, I pinkie promised myself that I would learn the canyon roads here to get places.   I am finally making good on the that promise.  So far, I have been on Beverly Glen get to from the Westside into The Valley.   I tried Laurel Canyon last week to get from We Ho (West Hollywood) to the Valley.  It was horribly trafficked, so I found another way.  On Monday, I tried Malibu Canyon to get into Malibu.   The views along Malibu Canyon are breathtaking.  I absolutely need to stop next time and take pictures.  

I went to Malibu with another Mom we met here at the apartment.  We got to Zuma around ten which was great because it was not crazy crowded yet.   I KNOW I saw a famous person, but have no idea who.  We were driving through the neighborhood near Point Dume.  We saw this lady walking with an umbrella.   What drew our attention was that she stopped, turned around and hid behind the umbrella when we drove past.  Once we were past her, she turned back around and kept walking away from us with the umbrella at her back.   That the most extreme case I have seen of keeping an identity secret.   Don't worry lady...we had three kids who wanted to go to the beach, we don't want your picture!

Malibu was beautiful.   We saw about 20-30 dolphins at different times about 20 yards off shore.   We attempted to explore the tide pools at Point Dume.  It was high tide, so that was a no go.   We watched about 30 surfers catching 8-10 waves off Point Dume.   At Zuma beach, the waves were high. We wouldn't let the kids go in past their ankles.   They played in the surf for a while and then dug a giant crater in the sand.   We ate at an Italian restaurant of PCH and headed home.  

Tuesday was quiet.   We were home all day doing school.   Wednesday, we went to my daughter's acting coach to have an audition taped.   Today brought another audition.

My son started gymnastics a couple of weeks ago.   We went last week, but at a different time due to my daughter having an audition.   He absolutely refused to go into class.   My husband and I spent an hour begging, pleading, threatening, and bargaining with him to go to class.   He refused.   That kid is stubborn!   He finally relented and agreed to go on the floor after the class was over.   He said he refused because he didn't know anyone.   For the past week we have talked about going to class and not refusing.   He was ready to go.  My daughter was called for another audition this week which caused him to have to change his class again.   I was worried he would refuse again.   I let him rule the show.   I sat where he wanted me to sit.   I walked to the edge of the floor with him.   While we waited for him to be called, I could tell he was getting nervous.  He slipped his hand into mine.   When they called his class, he went!   Whew!   He did great and had a great time!     I got a video of him doing his first back tuck with help from the instructor.   Now, I need to figure out where to upload it and post it.  

Tomorrow is the great "scoot over" as I am calling it.   We are moving to the apartment that is next door.   It is slightly larger and has another bed.   I will no longer have to share with one of the kids!  I hope our scoot over doesn't take too long, but it is essentially moving.   I hate moving.   That is why I prefer to think of it another way.  

This weekend we have a photo shoot for the short film on Saturday, filming for the short on Sunday, and maybe Disney on Monday.   We plan to eat with the Ewings tomorrow night.   Enough rambling, goodnight.  

Slow Sunday

We are enjoying our slow Sunday.   Our Sunday mornings are always really relaxed here because church does not start until 11:15.   The kids and I wake up at our regular time and then have the morning to just relax.   We don't have to get a jump on school like we do during the week.  

This week the auditions picked up.   We found out my daughter was cast in a short film for company that produces films that are family friendly.   She works next weekend and then a day at the end of September.   Yesterday, she auditioned for a film at USC.   I've been to USC multiple times, but yesterday was the home opener for the Trojans.   The filmmaker warned up to leave extra time.  Wow!   There were a ton of people there.   I planned to go an hour and a half early, but I got stuck in horrible traffic on the 110.   I got off the 110 cut through Koreatown and headed down to USC.   I kept my eye out for a parking space.   As I got closer to campus, the traffic got worse.   I turned around and started looking in the neighborhood for a parking space.   I finally found one a block from the I-10 freeway and ONE mile from the building on campus I needed.  Thankfully, I had the kids' scooters in the car and we needed exercise. They scootered and I walked.   We made it right on time for the audition.   At the audition, the parents were talking.  One parent saw a place that was charging $100 to park.   People were renting out their driveways for $20.   I parked for free, a mile from campus.  What an adventure!   We got home and the kids swam and played.   I drank a Dr. Pepper, ate tortilla chips with lime, and relaxed.   These was the hardest to get to audition we ever attended.   At a typical audition, you find a parking spot, park, walk 1-5 minutes to the building, go in, audition, and leave.   Yesterday, my daughter also auditioned for a casting director that cast her in the feature film she did in January.   That was neat to see her again.  

It is time to feed the littles and get ready for church.  

Carsland at California Adventure

Our little boy has been anxiously waiting to explore Carsland.   We waited until my husband could join us and we headed out this weekend to Disneyland.   Our first stop was California Adventure, Sunday afternoon.   The new main street is wonderful.   While it is not as expansive as big brother, Main Street Disneyland, it is cute and wonderful all on its own.   We headed straight for Carsland.   We got a sneak peek last Spring of the main drag of Carsland. 

 



We got to walk the street Sunday and it was a treat.   It was crazy crowded and hot, but so worth it.   You feel like you are walking through the movie.   Everything was as it was pictured in the movie down to the blinking stoplight and statue of Stanley.   We just looked and appreciated everything.   The premiere ride, Radiator Springs Racers had a two hour wait.   The fast passes were gone for the day as well.   We decided to wait for Luigi's Flying Tires.   This was a unique twist on bumper cars because each tire is a hovercraft.   You lean to make them go the direction you want to go.   There was a 40 minute wait for this ride, but we were entertained by just standing in line.   The details that Disney went to recreate Luigi's tire shop was amazing.   It gives a nod to both Cars movies.   There was so much to look at.   We enjoyed our flying tires.  I didn't adjust my camera phone for bright sunlight, so the color is off in the picture.   You can see another tire over my son's shoulder and the silver things on the ground were blowing up the air.  

 

 

We next headed off to Mater's Junkyard Jamboree.   This is a pretty cute ride too.   You are towed around in a cart by a little tractor, except the tractors make quick turns and you are swung around.   It mixes a ride with almost square dancing.   The other three new things in Carsland are dining places.   Filmore's taste-in sells snacks, such as chips and apples.   The cozy cone motel has 5 different cones serving various foods and drinks.   We enjoyed the pretzel bites.   Another patron we met while sharing a picnic table, tried the chili cone queso and raved about how good it was.  We left Carsland for other attractions, but came back before we left the park for the night to see the neon lights.   There was a lot of neon!  The picture is really blurred, but you can see the neon lights.

 



 

Monday morning we returned to Disney to ride Radiator Springs Racers.   We were in the park by 10:15 and the fast passes for Radiator Springs Racers were already gone for the day.   We really wanted to try this ride out, so we opted to stand in line for an hour and 40 minutes.   The line was really long, but seemed to move quickly.   Starting somewhere around the middle of the line, Disney had people stationed at intervals selling ice cream, Italian ice, water, and sodas at $4 each.  They were selling quickly.   We got up to the ride and sat down in a car for six people.   You put on your seat belt and get ready.   The ride was pure Disney, top quality entertainment.   There were speakers behind our heads to play music or characters talking to us.   There was a replica of Ornament Valley, complete with waterfall.   Then we moved through various scenes from the movie, and it felt like I was in the movie.   We tractor tipped, ran from Frank, got advice from Doc., and more.   Finally, we got to race another car through Ornament Valley.   That was a bit like a roller coaster, and so much fun!   It was totally worth the long line.   I overhead someone telling someone else there were 10 different experiences you could have on the ride.   My one critique for Disney would be to provide more shade where the line first started snaking.   Most people were moving from one shady spot to another.   As you got closer to the front of the line, the shade improved.  

 

Sunday night, we convinced my son to try Symphony Swings.   He was sure it wouldn't like it, but ended up riding it twice.   We also rode Goofy's Sky School, one of his favorites as well. 

 

Monday, my daughter and I rode California Screamin.   I was reminded riding The Texas Cyclone at Astroworld as a teenager with my friend Tara Wikoff.   We also rode the Toy Story Midway, Goofy's Sky School again, and Mater's Junkyard Jamboree again.   We were out of time and had to leave after those rides.   The kids had a blast this weekend at California Adventure. 

Blowing the Dust Off

I am picking up the blog today and blowing the dust off.   This past month has been very busy.   We left Texas a couple of weeks ago to head out to L.A. for another season.   My daughter had a workshop with a casting director last weekend.   Due to the workshop, we arrived a couple of weeks earlier than last year.   We got to enjoy L.A.'s heat.   While Houston has L.A. beat on heat any day of the week, 95 degrees is still hot.   I know...in Houston its the humidity, not the heat, but take it from me, 95 sans humidity is still hot!

Enough about the weather, we spent the last week in July and first week in August starting our school year.   My daughter started 3rd grade and my son started Kinder.   I took pictures of their first day out on our front porch like I do every year.   Unfortunately, I don' t have a copy of the pictures because they are downloaded on our home computer and not my laptop.   My daughter's first comment while taking the pictures was, "I don't have a uniform in this year's school picture!"  School is going well.   The kids are back at it with few complaints.   Last year was the first year of homeschooling and there was push back from my daughter.   This year, so far are cruising along.  

We spent the first two weeks of August squeezing in as many play dates as possible in before we left for L.A.   It was great to see so many good friends.   We made the trip out to L.A. over a weekend and Monday so that my hubby could drive with us.   It was so nice to have a 2nd driver.   I usually try to do the drive on my own to haul more stuff with me, but having a 2nd driver is REALLY nice.   We got a late start from Houston on Saturday afternoon because we really wanted to attend a birthday party.   Saturday night we stopped in Kerrville.   We got up early the next morning and hit the road and drove to Phoenix!   That was a haul.   My husband did most of the driving and I give him props for it.   We drove into L.A. on Monday, picked up the key to the apartment, unloaded the car and got my husband off to the airport.   The first week here we continued with school, made some new friends, swam, and went to church on Sunday.   My L.A. church is so good.   It was good to be back.  

The last two weeks have been slow as far as acting.   Last week was especially slow, with school starting here.   My daughter has done a couple of auditions and booked a student film to film in September.  

I signed my son up for XMA.   It is an extreme martial arts gym that does non-combat martial arts.   Several actors have trained here.  In fact, my son's tramp/acro instructor is a stunt man that has worked on several projects.   Everyone I met was wonderful.   My son tried two classes Tramp/Acro and XMA and really liked the Tramp/Acro.   I met with Mike Chat, the owner.   He meets with all the parents and explains philosophy and programming.   My son is so excited to start his class this week.   Since they work with actors, they understand how auditions can be unpredictable.   We will be able to make up classes he might miss due to sister's auditions.   Perfect!   That was the one thing holding me back from putting my son in a class.  

My daughter's acting class starts in a couple of weeks.  Until then, we're just doing school, violin, auditions, and swimming in the apartment pool as much as we can! 

I almost forgot one of the most exciting developments of the last two weeks!  My son is actually swimming.   He can jump in from the side and swim across the pool.   He has been resistant to swimming, prefering to hang on to things.   In the last week, he has practiced putting his head down and swimming.  He can do it.   He even pops his head up to take a breath and keeps swimming in water where he cannot touch.   We are so excited for him to reach this milestone.  

We went to Disney this weekend.   We explored the new Carsland, but that is a blog post all on its own.   Maybe tomorrow...we'll see how the week goes.  

Book Review: The Scent of Cherry Blossoms

I recently read The Scent of Cherry Blossoms by Cindy Woodsmall.  I have read several of her books based on Amish characters.   Many stories based on Amish characters by various authors all seem to have a similar storyline.   This book was quite different.   It follows a Mennonite woman and an Amish man who fall in love and have to overcome their differences in religion.   The story never seemed to drag and moved nicely.   I almost had a hard time putting it down.  

I enjoyed this book a lot.   It was engaging.   I never got bored with the storyline.   In fact, with thirty pages to the end, I wondered how the story would end due to a seemingly impossible situation.   I learned something new about the Amish.  They are not allowed to intermarry with Mennonites.  This book ended with a happy ending.   I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys stories about the Amish or romance novels.  

I received this book for the purposes of review from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers.