Whatever Wednesday - Rock ON!!!!

 Cleveland!  OMG    Loved the city.   Loved the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 

Spend over four hours there.  Could have spent more just watching videos and enjoying music. 

These are just a few picture highlights..    More to come.  This was heaven. 

We were there a day before Tina Turner died.  Just so much music history to appreciate. 

Proud Mary. 

What's Love Got to Do With It. 

Beatles exhibit -  Just a total wow  -  Hard Day's Night, Eight Day's a Week, All You Need is Love

Love

Love 

Love

Monday Moments - Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano

 Can Love Make a Broken Person Whole?  (inside blurb)

Hello Beautiful is a gloriously written book by Ann Napolitano.  I had so many markers I can't list them all. Her writing and characters are brilliant. 

William Waters was stifled as a child. He always felt he should not have lived - his sister who died as a toddler should have carried on. And sadly, his parents conveyed that message.  He shrunk and ultimately was disowned. He got a farewell check of $10K. That was it. 

He fell for Julia Padavano in college. He  got her and three sisters ( twins Emeline and Cecelia, and just glorious golden Sylvie)  and was overwhelmed by the love and commitment.  Julia was ambitious and kept moving forward.  It was too much.  He gave up his wife and daughter (Alice)  since he felt he was too damaged. 

This story moves back and forward with the whole family.  Key blurb - Will the loyalty that once rooted them be strong enough to draw them back together when it matters most?  

OMG.  It all pulls together.  Have tissues ready for the grand  finale.  This blog is not  big enough to quote wonderful words. I loved the writing, the characters, and this book.   Please join me in enjoying a work of word art.  

Finally Friday - NC Finale - Mount Ayr

You have hung in for quite a lot of the NC adventure week.   I shall finish in Hillsborough  NC with Ayr Mount.  This lovely home was the largest at the time in 1815.  William Kirkland was a Scottish lad who came to America as an apprentice merchant. Obviously smart and ambitious, he soon ran a store and bought a lot of land in the area. He and his wife had fourteen children (holy crap), twenty some enslaved workers, and enjoyed the prosperity of the time. 

 The home was ultimately bought by Richard Jenrette, a wealthy man interested in preserving  history. We are fortunate he formed a trust and included this home as a property to be seen and appreciated. It's truly lovely with a  lot of the original furniture. There is a cemetery on the grounds  for the Kirkland family.  There's also a lush walking area (The Poet's Walk) that has paths to the Eno River. 

I enjoyed the tour and history for this region in suburban Raleigh.  Well Done. 

Whatever Wednesday - Northern Spy by Flynn Berry

 It wasn't all just fun and games and eating while in NC.  We actually had quiet time each afternoon. It was a bit too hot and steamy to be outside.  So some ladies snoozed, others did choose to sit  on the outdoor swing in the shade. I pretty much slouched on the couch and zoomed through Northern Spy by Flynn Berry. 

This fiction book covers the "troubles" in Belfast and I found it fascinating. There's a lot  that  happened I was not aware of at all.  Tessa is a new mother. She's trying to keep up with her baby, Finn,  and also her reporting job. It's a shock when a news flash  shows her big sister, Marian, bombing a place. 

Tessa's  head is reeling. No  way would Marian be a part of the IRA.  Slowly, Tessa is pulled into a world of double cross. Is Marian really working as an  informant?  Should Tessa help too? 

There are a lot of twists and turns. I don't want  to give anymore away.  I really enjoyed this book and the authors style. I highly recommend Northern Spy. 

Monday Moments - Barbie

 I watched previews of the Barbie movie and was not convinced. It looked silly. I think the ads were designed to lure more kids.  But to me this is NOT a kid movie. Greta Gerwig (a genius director) has created a movie that is very FUN, ENTERTAINING, WELL DONE, CLEVER, and hits so many social issues with the right amount of oomph. Genius writing and humor. 

Huge thumbs up from me. I laughed out loud several times. And I shook my head a lot because she nailed women issues without hitting one over the head. 

per Barbie herself who's perfectly cast, Margot Robbie, "  This is not a Barbie puff piece." 

Ryan Gosling as Ken is stupendous - he obviously has a sense of humor and brings it to  the roll. He's the perfect foil.  Frankly the whole cast  of Barbies and Kens are so damn good.  Plus Skipper,  Alan (oh, yeah Alan. He was discontinued. Thanks Michael Cena  for such great humor) and so much more. 

And shout  out to Kate McKinnon as Weird Barbie (trust me, it's a thing. I was the kid who cut my dolls hair.  Not  great ). She brings a lot of impromptu wacky at just the right moments. I love her and she absolutely cracked me up. 

I could go see this film again and pick up on so many great lines. Kudos to Greta and  Noah for a fabulous script.  Her  directing  and  vision was spot on.  This  is (in my humble opinion)  a film for the ages. 

Finally Friday - Oh Yeah - Back to Regularly Scheduled Programming

 I am currently in Pensacola (yeah, I know - it's a bit obnoxious but I've made up for a lot of lost time this year with plenty of travel.  ). 

But let's continue with the North Carolina ladies trip.  Here are lovely pics from the Sandhills Horticulture Center. Truly a wonderful two hour stroll.  I did behave and was not in jail. This is just a cute adobe open air space with a variety of succulents.  Nifty presentation. 

Another Year - Happy Birthday Ray

 Happy Birthday Ray!  August 1st.   Scrappy dude with a smile  on his face. He's game for any fun, and always exploring.  We are currently in Pensacola and tomorrow he gets to do some deep sea fishing. Have fun, hubby!  Enjoy your birthday treat. 

As he says, "Older than dirt."  But golfs, does workouts at the YMCA, plays pickleball, takes care of his folks, keeps track of his aunt and the deer lease, ...the list goes on and on.  What can't he do?

He's sweet, funny, kind, and he laughs at my jokes.   'Nuff said. 

Enjoy another year around the sun, dear Ray.  Love ya Lots.