Here’s what I’m supposed to read for book club: Color of Water by James McBride. I was on my way to Books-A-Million to buy the book – last minute of course – because I’m heading out on my annual beach trip and it is the only time all year I will be able to read a complete chapter much less a page of any book. (I fear my book club knows I’ve come to most meetings having either not finished the book selection or, in some cases, even bought the book.) It’s not like chasing an overactive 5-year-old and serving …read more

Paul and I have been talking about work too much and felt like that whole ‘getting to know you’ thing had fizzled out a bit. Right, we’ve been together for nearly a decade…so maybe we’re expecting too much by still wanting some surprises and unexpected personality quirks to shine through..?
Maybe. But this discussion around what we have been discussing (work!) and the absence of much in the way of outside interests, prompted us to start our own little two person book club. It’s very exclusive.
The only problem is that I will literally devour a book. Whereas Paul likes to take …read more

Potluck and Karaoke and White Elephant Book Exchange.

That’s how the Between the Covers Book Club rocks Christmas!

Photo Source: Empowering Girls: So Sioux Me

I would probably use far more expletives around my children if my husband didn’t crap his pants every freaking time and correct me as if I am the “naughty” child and he the parent.

Susie-Do lets her kid say “oh shit,” my husband would flip his wig. Somehow her kid knows not to say it in public. Some people are very touchy about cussing or potty mouth.

Sometimes an expletive is just plain called for.

I’ve discovered that my self-censorship in my everyday life has resulted in my behaving as though I have curse-word turrets syndrome at my book club.

Because I can.

It’s like …read more

Gwendolen Gross sent me her new book, The Other Mother: A Novel, to review. It’s look at a relationship between a working mother, Amanda, and a stay-at-home mother, Thea, who live across the street from each other.  
Both Thea and Amanda are the protagonists, except aren’t we supposed to like a protagonist? I don’t think I liked either one of these women particularly.
This book is an accurate look at the judgement and condescension felt by women on both sides of the working or staying home issue. It’s also an accurate portrayal of the fact that neither woman is thrilled about her choices. In fact, in …read more

 
Total Mushy Dorkball Warning.
As I sat at the table of 14 wonderful people at a dinner party last week I was in awe.
Awe of me. If I can risk boldness, self-love, pride, conceit -whatever you might think of a woman who is starting to expand her own realm of influence and concept of power.
I waited for many years to be invited into a really awesome book club of interesting women.
One day it occurred to me that I might actually wait my whole life and never, ever get that invitation. It was a sad thought. Completely unacceptable.
I was praying for it, when …read more

This month my book-club read In an Instant, by Lee and Bob Woodward.
It’s worth reading for a couple of reasons. Not the least of which is the example of coping mechanism exhibited by Lee, wife of Bob.
What was the first thing she did when she found out Bob had been hit in Iraq? She went jogging.
Seriously.
First I thought this was insane. Then I realized not everyone on earth have a habit of using unhealthy negative coping strategies. For much of my life my “go to” would have more likely been smoking and maybe a drink or pill. Certainly it might …read more

  Suze Orman used to be Susie but she wanted be more powerfully herself. Tracee Sioux used to be Tracee Sue Jones and then Tracee Sue Simmons but didn’t want to change names with marital status.  Check out So Sioux Me if you’re curious how I resolved my child-bride/divorce naming delemma.
Do you say your chosen full name in a powerful way? In the last chapter of Women & Money Suze Orman challenges us to say our full names as if we are proud of who we are and what we do. Why should that take so much courage for women?
 Save Yourself …read more

In Suze Orman’s Women & Money: Owning the Power to Control Your Destinyshe gives women a reality check on their financial security.  

41% of marriages end in divorce. (I commonly hear 50%, but she states 41%)
Women live 6 years longer than men.
Many women stay in violent relationships because she’s financially trapped.
Many women stay in relationships with a cheating spouse for financial reasons.
2/3 of women have not talked to spouses about life insurance or preparing a will.
90% of women reported feeling financially insecure.
Women are 2 times as likely to retire in poverty.
50% admit becoming a bag lady had crossed their minds.
1% of women …read more

Suze Orman does seem to have her pulse on the minds of women. In Women & Money, she asks us to let go of some serious roadblocks to progress.
Shame and Blame are evil twins that keep us from moving forward in all kinds of things. Money is certainly no exception. Lord knows my marriage, like millions of others, has been nearly derailed from money problems and arguments over who has to bear the blame and shame.
Orman makes a great point that if we don’t stop saying things like,
Well my ex-husband, husband, parents, did it.
My husband, ex-husband, or parents wouldn’t …read more