I Feel So Unnecessary

Eat Now; Talk Later: 52 Tales of Family, Feasting, and the American Dream By: James Vescovi Genre: Memoir 136 pages Publisher: AuthorHouse, 2014 In this short memoir James Vescovi tell the stories of his grandparents Tony and Desolina Vescovi. They immigrated to American from Italy in the 1920s. This collection of short essays provides a glimpse into immigrant life and is a loving tribute to his grandparents. The stories are told with love and filled with interesting characters. The book is a quick read and the stories are funny and poignant. However, I feel some of them end too abruptly. I wanted the author to give a bigger glimpse of his grandparents' lives. I still found it to be a sweet tribute to this colorful couple. * I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. Book links: Goodreads         Amazon             B&N          ...

A home, love, and support. Responsibility. He taught and gave us many things. Because he was my Grandfather. Except he wasn’t. He married my Grandmother when my mother was nine. Then when we came along he helped take care of us–with food, with stability. I don’t know what we would have done without him and my grandmother at times. Some of the best traits I have I learned from him. So when the time came when he needed help we gave it. Family doesn’t necessarily have to be biological. He was more family to me than some of my blood relatives. I loved him and he loved me; even though we never said it. Because he was my Grandfather.

Yesterday while sitting in the chair reading the phone rang. The husband picked it up, spoke for a few minutes to the caller, and handed it to me. It was my Dad. " Lisa, do you have a box?", he asked.  " I think so. Why do you need one?", I asked. " I went to the store and on the way I hear ' Meow , meow, meow.' The damn cat got under my seat and is having kittens." So... about an hour later after I finished laughing I found a box and went outside. " Bring the box here, she's under the seat. You'll have to get 'em. I can't reach under there. I'll get you a towel." " I don't think I can fit either," I said. " You can reach better than I can." " Um, ok." So I gently reached under the seat and extracted the mother... " OOH OOH OOH, one's still attached," I exclaimed as I sat the mommy cat back down. " It's ok. That happens. Just pick it up and put...

Pressed Pennies By: Steven Manchester Genre: Romance 355 pages Publisher: The Story Plant Publication Date: May 13, 2014 Synopsis: Rick and Abby grew up together, became best friends, and ultimately fell in love. Circumstance tore them apart in their early teens, though, and they went on to lives less idyllic than they dreamed about in those early days. Rick has had a very successful career, but his marriage flat-lined. Abby has a magical daughter, Paige, but Paige's father nearly destroyed Abby's spirit. Now fate has thrown Rick and Abby together again. In their early thirties, they are more world-weary than they were as kids. But their relationship still shimmers, and they're hungry to make up for lost time. However, Paige, now nine, is not nearly as enthusiastic. She's very protective of the life she's made with her mother and not open to the duo becoming a trio. Meanwhile, Rick has very little experience dealing with kids and doesn'...

Since the middle of February I’ve spent most of my time with a loved one in the hospital or going on doctor appointments.  Because of this I have also spent more time running errands. Usually I take all this in stride. My family is quirky. It usually doesn’t bother me. I handle crises most of the time fairly well. Now, I’m not saying I don’t snap at loved ones at times or have mini-breakdowns. I do.  And I feel like a jerk when that happens. I’m a Christian. Usually I’m more private with my faith but I believe that in being one it helps me cope. Gives me peace. Holds my tongue ( A LOT). But lately with all the various health issues family has been having I’ve gotten away from focusing on Christ. My temper is shorter. I have no filter on my mouth. I’m stressed and tired. I need a break. When I do a favor for someone and sit down I usually am asked to do something again. ( GIVE ME A BREAK! JUST GIVE ME FIVE MINUTES!) I yell in my head. I have been delegating m...

My late grandmother got sick in 2003. My Mother and Grandfather lived with her and so were her main caregivers. I also helped with her to take some of the load off them. For a while I worked until she kept having recurrent health problems and had to go in the hospital one time after another. At Christmas 2003 she had to be transferred to a hospital an hour away.  I needed to be more available to stay with her so I called my supervisor and told her I needed to take some time off to be with my family. Her response: " You'll have to get a doctor's excuse." " I have to get a doctor's excuse for my grandmother being sick?" " Yes." " She's in the hospital. I don't know when she's getting out." So I quit. We decided to try and get personal care. She didn't want strangers coming in so it was decided I would take the PCA classes and be her aide. I needed a job and she needed the help. So I became her aide, even though...

Today I took my Dad to the store. He bought some Dove Dark Chocolate that he likes so well. Here's his response to it: " Mmm, Mmm. I'm glad I got some of this chocolate candy. I was punying away." " You sure are talking a lot to be so puny.", I responded. " Hush. I was using that...what's that thing they use on Star Wars? Omen?" " The Force." " Yeah. I was using the Force like Oji Ben Kaknobby, Yoder, Sky Lukewalker, and Princess Lay Me Down." " Dear Lord in Heaven. Help Me." " What' s that thing called that growled all the time?" " Chewbacca." " Yeah. I bet Chewbaccer had a tick on his ass. That's why he growled so much. Who was that with him?" " Han Solo." " Han Soho?" " Yes. It was Han Soho."  

Losing It All By: Marsha Cornelius Genre: Fiction 380 pages Publisher: Hickory Flat Books Publication Date: February 2013 Get the book here: Amazon * I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis: Frank Barnes is content living on the streets of Atlanta. A soup kitchen and a makeshift shanty sure beat his days as a POW in Vietnam. But Chloe Roberts can’t handle the eviction that sends her into the hell of homelessness. With no family or friends to turn to, Chloe and her children are sucked into the traumatic world of night shelters, and dangerous predators. When they bump into each other at the soup kitchen, Frank offers Chloe a glimmer of hope that she can pull her life back together. She rekindles his lost sense of self-worth by taking his mind off his own problems. But they will not meet again until Frank is riding high as a working man, and Chloe has hit rock bottom. By helping Chloe rebuild her broken life, Frank banishes ...

My husband had a doctor appointment yesterday; and while in the exam room waiting the husband was looking over the wall of brochures and advertisements for ridiculously high priced medications. As he was perusing them he asked me : " Zetia, isn't that some kind of pasta dish?" " Uh no. I believe that would be ziti." " Tell me what you like to eati. I myself prefer some ziti." " Good grief."

Sometimes different family members have doctor appointments on the same day. I take one and another family members takes the other. My Dad has a solution for this: " We need us a mini-van for when people have appointments on the same day. That way we could all go together. We could put a sign on the side of it that says 'Gimpies R Us- You Call and I'll Haul'. " Me: " Good grief."

My grandfather likes smelly stuff. A LOT. Here is my reaction to it. " Mom. Please do not give Bobo anymore smelly stuff. He uses too much. He puts it ALL OVER." " I'm sorry. I didn't know he'd do that." " Really? He has so much on I can taste it. I had to open the windows to air the house out. It smells like the Best Little Whorehouse in Texas up there."

Mom fixed fudge for a church to do. -It didn't set up right because of the humidity. She had me cut it and put it on a plate. Here's what occurred.  " Try to make it look pretty on the plate", she said. " Yeah, it's not working. It's too soft", I said. " Uh, that looks like poop. Let's not take that." " Good idea."

Formats: Paperback   Kindle   Nook Add it on Goodreads 272 pages Publisher: The Story Plant (2013) * I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis: Memories are the ultimate contradiction. They can warm us on our coldest days or they can freeze a loved one out of our lives forever. The McCarthy family has a trove of warm memories. Of innocent first kisses. Of sumptuous family meals. Of wondrous lessons learned at the foot of a rocking chair. But they also have had their share of icy ones. Of words that can never be unsaid. Of choices that can never be unmade. Of actions that can never be undone. Following the death of his beloved wife, John McCarthy Grandpa John calls his family back home. It is time for them to face the memories they have made, both warm and cold. Only then can they move beyond them and into the future. A rich portrait of a family at a crossroad, THE ROCKIN' CHAIR is Steven Manchester’s most heartfel...

1. Could you please tell us a little about your book? The Rockin’ Chair is a heartfelt novel. Think Mitch Albom meets Nicholas Sparks…in heaven on earth. Synopsis : Memories are the ultimate contradiction. They can warm us on our coldest days – or they can freeze a loved one out of our lives forever. The McCarthy family has a trove of warm memories. Of innocent first kisses. Of sumptuous family meals. Of wondrous lessons learned at the foot of a rocking chair. But they also have had their share of icy ones. Of words that can never be unsaid. Of choices that can never be unmade. Of actions that can never be undone. Following the death of his beloved wife, John McCarthy – Grandpa John – calls his family back home. It is time for them to face the memories they have made, both warm and cold. Only then can they move beyond them and into the future. A rich portrait of a family at a crossroad, THE ROCKIN' CHAIR is Steven Manchester’s most heartfelt and emotionally engaging no...

Yesterday I was sitting on the front porch thinking DEEP THOUGHTS, pondering which nail polish complments my skin tone best when all of  sudden my Mom shouted, " LISA!" "What?", I asked. "Come here." "Where you at?" " In here, I'm stuck." "Huh?" " I got over here and I can't move my foot." " Ok, I've got you. Try to move your leg." " I can't, I'm afraid I'll fall." " I won't let you, I have a good grip on you." This is where Dad comes in and takes her arm. "Don't pull me"., she said. " He's not", I told her. " He just holding you. Can you move your foot?" "No." " I'm going to try to move it for you." "NO! I might fall on my face." " I've got you." " Here, let me grab hold of your pants", she told Dad. " No, you'll pull down my britches....

Philosophical discussions for today: At the doctor's office- Me: There goes a time waster. Dad: What? Me: Drug rep. Dad: He's got a bandage on his arm, reckon it's tennis elbow? Scott: Yeah. Dad: He's walking funny. Me: That's where they sucked the soul out his a**. And... Scott: Ooh that sign says they do microdermabrasion. Dad: Is that where they put something on your face or under your arms and rub it? Scott: Yeah, they do. They put something on your skin to peel the upper layer off and it makes you shiny and bootiful. Dad: Shoot, get a rough rag and some lye soap. It does the same thing, call it lyesoapbrasion. It's got grit from the ashes, some pig lard. That works.

The husband has been having trouble with his right eye. He doesn't want to go to the ER  so until we can get to the eye doctor next week he's wearing an eye patch. And pretending he's Jack Sparrow, 'cept he bathes. " Yar. Yar. Y'know yar." Makes me want to walk the plank. Cap'n Graybeard

E-pub Kindle  Print Formats 253 pages Publisher: Iguana Books ( May 13, 2013) * I received an arc from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis   Maddy Barnes is the high-spirited daughter of a small town doctor and his beautiful, yet strong-minded wife. Maddy’s mother and grandfather hammer the family creed, “you must never falter” into the psyche of every child in the family. A philosophy her father despises, but Maddy embraces. Then something unthinkable happens and Maddy’s perfect family implodes. They deal with it the only way they know, each retreating into impenetrable silos to nurse their grief alone. But Maddy can’t. Her rage and pain are too unbearable to be contained. So on her sixteenth birthday, Maddy falls through the looking glass and leaves home forever. Only she doesn’t meet the Mad Hatter and the Queen of Hearts. Instead Maddy tumbles down through the rings of hell, into the unknown Toronto of the 1970s – an unknown ...

When we went to pick up my husband's medicine the other day my Dad was driving. This is what took place when he drove up to the pick-up window. "Hello", Dad said. " You have to push the call button," I told him. " My arms ain't long enough." " Use my grabby tool", The Husband said. ( Yes that's the technical term.) " Ding Dong. Avon calling," said Dad. " Good grief, " I exclaimed. After a few minutes the tech still hadn't come to the window so Dad tooted the horn a couple of times. " Don't do that." " Well, they ain't coming." As the tech come to the window- " She done it," as he pointed to me. " I did not." " I was eating," the tech said. " Did you save me some?,' he asked. " Good grief," I exclaimed while trying to make myself invisible. " No, it's all gone," she said. " Well, can I lick the pape...

I am the designated money handler for the family so on the first of every month I do the bill paying. The Husband and I recently had a conversation about this topic: " I don't know why I get so tired after going out. You'd think just paying bills wouldn't make me so tired.", I said. "You're out of shape," said Husband Dear. "Excuse me?" "You're out of shape." "Do I make reference to the state of your being? Noooo. I meant that doing all the running is tiring. Besides, I was just making conversation but you had to go and be a man and show  your ignorance." "I'll just sit over here." "You do that." photo courtesy of : http://www.123rf.com