The last time we saw Mag the Egg she was caught in the perilous clutches of the spoon!
Was she able to tap into her egg powers to defeat its ravenous ways?
Her egg powers were more than the spoon could resist!
It knew it was no match for Mag! And vowed never to tap another egg!
Bennie had watched in amazement as Mag defeated the gnarly spoon!
He felt more passion for her than his mustache!
Would she say yes to his advances? Or roll in the other direction?
Tune in Next Thursday to find out!
On our last night in Banff I feel asleep to the crackling of the fire and the chatter of my little men. The fresh mountain air and the warmth of the fire has a calming effect – always lulling me into a deep relaxing slumber.
It was later in the night I felt a cool breeze against my back and I slowly awoke with a feeling that there was another presence in the room.
My eyes slowly began to open, my vision was blurry, and that is when I saw him!
It was a grey outline of tall man with a page-boy cap, smoking in his pipe, relaxing in a chair, and staring directly at us.
My heart gave a heavy thud, I rolled over to tap my husband on the back, and I exclaimed, “Honey! There is someone in our room! There is a man in our room!”
My husband rolled over, “What?”
“A man in our room!”
My husband sat upright and looked, “What are you talking about?”
“The man!”
“There is no man! Go back to sleep!”
“He looked like a prospector! A settler?”
“It was a dream! Go Back to sleep!”
It was with that my husband gruffly rolled back onto his side of the bed cranky by the sudden stir from his sleep. I peered at the chair and it was empty! I shut my eyes and opened them again. The chair to my dismay and delight was still empty!
As I closed my eyes attempting to lull myself back to sleep I heard the train whistle blow through the cold mountains. It was with that I knew our late night visitor was indeed a lost soul stopping in to warm up by the fire before catching the last train to his final destination.
Have you ever felt an unusual presence at an inn or a hotel? Did anything go bump in the night?
Eleanor Brown weaves a tale that would make the bard proud in The Weird Sisters. It is a novel about the struggles of coming home, hiding secrets, facing disappointments, and finding a little piece of yourself which may have been lost from the treasured moments of childhood.
Rose, Bean, and Cordelia each have a name to live up too. “We wear our names heavily. And though we have tried to escape their influence, they have seeped into us, and we find ourselves living their patterns again and again.” It is the patterns of their name which they try to break free of in order move forward in their life. 
As a child growing up I remember reading the meaning of each of my sisters names the oldest meaning Pure Maiden, the middle Little Princess, and by the time I came along I was named the Dark One.
I have always been in awe of my oldest sisters always graceful, elegant, and smart. They each followed their own life paths which have led them great successes. I was always sauntering behind to catch-up…
As the dark one it is with this I could relate more to the youngest sibling Cordelia’s bohemian qualities the need to escape to travel and life the on the road. It was away to distinguish herself in her own right and stumble upon many more of her own quirky foibles.
One of the many things that I loved about this novel is sometimes it is okay to let our guard down and share our deepest secrets with the ones that already know us best. The Weird Sisters capture the awkward family dynamics, the strength in sisterhood, and the ability to rediscover yourself. It is a truly worth while read which will have you laughing and crying through some of their many challenging moments.
Does your name have meaning? Have you ever questioned your parents judgement in your name? Also check out more about The Weird Sisters at BlogHer Book Club and join in on the lively discussions!
This was a paid review for BlogHer Book Club but the opinions expressed are my own.
Will Mag the Egg escape the perilous clutches of the spoon?
Tune in next Thursday to find out!
This past weekend my family and I headed to Lake Louise to beat the winter doldrums. We loaded up the skis in the car and were ready to hit the slopes! The first day was perfect as the sun warmed us and the trails were wide open! 
It was the end of the day without any warning my skis went out from under me and I tumbled like a drunken elephant. My feet hit the air, one pole swinging away with gusto, and the other gone with the wind. I put my hands in the front of me to protect my face from the sudden impact.
I felt a sharp pain as my thumb drilled a hole into the mountain! And at that moment I asserted several expletives which could be heard within miles.
As my children watched from below I knew I had to show them that no matter how hard you fall you have to get back-up. It has always been my job to ski behind the troop, to pick up whoever falls, and coax them on their feet again. I could not fail and pulled myself up with my one pole.
The next day my bruised body was ready to take – on the back of the mountain! It was on the second run an inexperienced snowboarder brushed-up from behind me! Down, I went on steep part of the slope with a sudden thud, my ankle throbbed, and my knees where not agreeing to get back – up.
As I sat on the side of the mountain trying to pull myself up for several minutes – people skied by not giving me a second glance. I attempted to focus, ski tips pointing up towards the mountain, push-up on poles ,and I would fall back down.
I knew crying was not an option and I had to get up!
It was at that moment an angel appeared, he gave me his arm, and with a deep sense of relief I was able to get back on my feet.
As I got back on my feet I profusely thanked him, ” You truly are an angel.”
His face blushed a little and he made sure I caught up with my family.
I slowly skied down the rest of the mountain – my husband protectively hovered in the back in the off-chance that I might fall again.
The mountains have away of teaching us a lesson when we least expect it and sometimes it involves a tumble. The Good Samaritan that skied to my rescue reminds me that sometimes we can rely on the kindness of strangers to help us get on our feet again.
Have you ever relied on the kindness of a stranger?
As I watch my children write their valentines one by one for their classmates – it makes me wish I could give a valentine to each of you and attached to it would be one heart – shaped chocolate.
It would be my thanks to you for brightening my day with your visits, comments, and tolerating my humor. It is your comments that add a twinkle to my eye and create a very fond smile. 
So this Valentines Day I would like to say thank you for brightening my day!
My biggest wish for all of you on this Valentine’s is the gift of time for yourself! As I read many of your posts some seem that you are on an endless journey tied to the schedule of others and running circles to get things done.
It is my wish that you take a small break for yourself perhaps a bubble bath with the sounds of Leonard Cohen in the background, enjoying the solitude of your morning walk, or just a quiet moment with your cup of coffee.
The greatest gift we can give ourselves is a small moment of time in order rejuvenate and feel more refreshed for the ones we love in our lives.
So I hope you take the time to find a little love for yourself on this Valentine’s Day because you deserve it for all that you do!
Happy Valentine’s Day to all the beautiful bloggers that brighten my world! I wish you nothing but sweet, sweet, sweet love!
What will be your special moment this Valentine’s Day?
Dance is a seductive art form that can hypnotize a man with a sway of a hip or a lift of the leg! It is the siren call to your mate for intimacy, lust, and seduction. The closeness, the peeling of clothes, and the slip of the foot. It with that the stiletto smacks your lover straight in the eye.
Oops! Maybe that kick shouldn’t have been so high! And with that a trip to the emergency room is all you will be celebrating this Valentine’s day.
It with that startling daydream I wondered could the right music and look turn anyone into a glittery stripper?
Only through the decades have we seen a shift in musical taste from burlesque moves to stripper poles. All of these carefree forms of art - one must be right for me:
As I went to through the list I realized one thing that all of those moves would be deadly for me! They would all involve me falling off of something or losing something and injuring my inner thigh. I would disappoint the union of glittery strippers worldwide!
So maybe the most subtle gesture to intimacy is a case of beer and a pepperoni pizza! Now that is the ticket to adding a little spice on this valentines day! And for good measure I might just belch the alphabet with my hair down.
How do you work your va-va-voom? Do you have a classic stripper move?
Every day we are bombarded by images of beautiful woman lips puckered, face slightly tilted, with the bewitching look of come hither. It is the look Victoria’s Secret Models, Playmates, and porn stars have mastered from the depths of peering into the camera lens. As Valentine’s day fast approaches I wondered what is the one thing I could give my smoldering lover? 
It was with gusto I decided to put my best porn face forward that one inviting look that will make my partner quiver and go weak in the knees. I have been practicing all week ready to super impose my face onto a card with a wink and a thumbs up.
However, it looks more like a nervous twitch while I try to stick my thumb up my nose.
It as those moments trying to aim my face at the computer web cam, slightly arching my back to accentuate the depths of my wink, only to fall backwards on my ass! It is at those humbling moments that make me realize the come hither look takes a lot of work in order to look like a sexy tigress stalking her prey!
So I confess I have gained great respect of the sexy ladies of the camera lens because your best porn face takes practice, purpose, and just the right head tilt.
So if you could super impose your face on a valentine’s day card would you put your best porn face forward? Would it be a wink? Lips slightly puckered?
I want to know what is your best porn face?
My husband was recently on the phone with his parents and they were discussing their annual trip to the Florida Panhandle. They are the typical snow birds that descend south every winter spreading their tiny wings to fly out of the freezing cold chicken coop.
I was eavesdropping , I could hear my husband, “You are driving where for a microwave? The same microwave that you had when I was a kid? Let me get this straight – you are taking your microwave with you to get it fixed in Alabama?”
However, I learned many years ago never to breathe a word about his parents appliances or their need to hold onto everything. It was a lesson I learned the hard way!
My mother in law had her eyes on The Kitchen –Aid mixer it was like a red sparkly bike that was calling her name. It was with impulse she purchased a new kitchen-aid and handed her Braun mixer down to me.
It was within that brief time the Braun and I were together we were a happy couple baking until our hearts content from bread to pastries. It was until that one fateful spark that changed everything! My beloved mixer was gone and floated up to the appliance heaven in the sky.
It was weeks later over lunch with the in-laws popped my mother in law asked, “Do you still have the mixer? The kitchen-aid just isnt’ the same.”
I’m already the black sheep, the art student, opinionated women, that stole her golden boy. I could never do right and knew that I was going to have another strike against me the moment I opened my mouth…
“Um! Well no!” I stammered.
“No?”
“Well it broke.”
My father in law chirped “You what? You threw it out?”
“Yes. It broke.”
They both had stunned looked on their faces waiting for me to finish as if I had just dropped an F-bomb in church.
In my own defense I proclaimed “ It was made in the sixties!”
They both gave me a ghastly look that I had done some great injustice to the world and couldn’t believe I acted without the thought of the consequences it would have on them.
I clarified “Well it was old! And we didn’t know how to fix it…”
It was with that I was given another look.
“Do you still have the bowl?”
I exclaimed out of nervousness, “Yes! I kept the bowl! I love it! It’s wonderful just for day-to-day baking.”
“Can I have it back?”
And it was with that I handed back the bowl never to be trusted with second-hand appliances again.
So as my husband got off the phone he gave me a look and said “Why don’t they just buy a new microwave?”
I looked at my husband with the knowledge of never insulting their appliances, “Honey, it must be the one they love forever. The breeze along the river would say Just let it be.”
How far would you go to rescue your appliances? Would you drive to Alabama to get it fixed?
I have a very sensitive nose which leads me in all directions giving me the ability to spot celebrities and wild animals. They are very much the same trying to hide from the public eye, produce a strange aroma, and are unpredictable when they are out of their element. My nose senses their subtle traits and my eyes are always quick to catch them!
My sister Jane is very skeptical of my nose sniffing abilities from Tom Cruise and Snoop Dog sightings to the bear in the woods or the dear hiding behind the tree.
She never believes me even when they are standing right in front of us!
Until one day my sister and I were driving back to my grandmother’s house on the old rickety road. I peered out the passenger window only noticing a black bear running into the bush.
I looked at her and exclaimed “Bear! Did you see the bear?”
All that was left was the distant swaying of the trees.
She gave me a skeptical look, “There was no bear!”
Damn You Bear!
“Yes! It was a bear! “
She then laughed and said, “Okay! A bear!”
I could sense she didn’t believe me and I let out along deep sigh!
It was with that we had a nice visit with our Nana, she chastised me for my taste in men, my sisters choice in pursuing a PhD, and we hopped back in the car to drive home feeling a little cranky about our not so cuddly grandmother.
It was at that moment we watched a Mama bear and her cubs run out the woods and onto the side of the road.
“See! I told you a bear!”
We watched in awe the little family dive back into the bush and I was filled with smug satisfaction that for once I was right in my life.
It was years later, we had a rough night, at the hospital, my father was very sick, and we were staying in the hotel downtown.
As we walked sleepily into the hotel I noticed a short man with several young beautiful women standing around him. I made eye contact with him and wondered where had I seen this creature before? My mind turned the pages of the encyclopedia and I was thinking of every magical being including the unicorn.
Was it a badger? No.
Short man? Yes.
Was it Napoleon? Nop.
Jean Jacket and tight jeans? Yes.
Beautiful Women? Yes.
It was at that categorical moment the light bulb went off in my head!
Rock Star! Hell yes!
I looked at my sister, “That’s Bryan Adams!”
She gave me a cynical look thinking I really lost it, “No! It is not!”
“Yes it is!”
He then went into the elevator, looked at us, with a smug smile, knowing that he had escaped a barrage of questions, and a request to sign my sister’s Sebastian Faulks novel. It was the only thing I was holding at the time.
My sister laughed, “That was not Bryan Adams!”
At this point I was tired, and there no explaining that elusive creature was indeed Mr. Summer of 69!
And as we were waiting for the elevator another man appeared with a guitar and my sister in her best voice “And I suppose that’s one of his roadies?”
It was with that I sighed and the next morning the newspaper arrived at the door only to discover Bryan Adams had played in the city that very night. So never question my ability to spot wild animals or celebrities! They may try to live with the common man but with a keen eye and good nose you can spot them a mile away.
One word of advice always trust your instincts and if they are frothing at the mouth just get their picture and run!
Where does your nose lead you? Have you ever spotted a celebrity sighting?
