Are you known as a jerk to your acquaintances? Our friends, of course, would never say that. Regardless whether they believe it to be true or not. Here’s my issue and what has been gnawing on me all this week. I work full-time at an RV Park during the winter outside of Phoenix, Arizona. This is my third year to work here. I’ve had absolutely no problem with anyone up to this season. I, of course, being fairly strong-willed (just a little, LOL) have taken exception to two particularly irritating individuals’ intrusions into how I and my husband manage the park. No one else seems to have a problem with us. I know that I am a grown woman and, therefore, need to “put my big girl panties on” and deal with it. However, it has gotten me more upset than I want to be.
While pondering this problem, strictly by chance, I came across an article that seemed to speak volumes about my problem. After reading this article no less than three times, I came to the conclusion that, Oh Dear!!! Perhaps I’d better re-examine my behavior as well and figure out how much of this I am causing or exacerbating by being, well, who I am. The article is very interesting. I am putting the link below because I think that most of us need to take a step back, particularly as we get older, and take a look at our behavior and our opinion of others. But, more importantly, take a look at how much we think of ourselves. Try to figure out if we are actually more of a jerk than we think we are.
You may find this article of some value or interest.
It is Sunday afternoon here in Arizona. The weather is beautiful and I really should be out doing things. But, I prefer to stay in, read and ponder things. I turn to my computer to give me ideas that I would probably never think of, but they do deserve some thought.
Sometimes asking ourselves the right questions can do a lot to help us see life from a whole different perspective.
There are some questions that can be life-changing, if we raise them, contemplate on them, and try to answer them. This, however, can be achieved only if we ask those questions with full honesty.
Here are a few such questions to ponder:
I have answered some but must, well, you know, ponder most!!
If you were going to die tomorrow, what would you do today?
If you had the opportunity to be different, what would you change about yourself?
I would be less judgmental and more open to others opinions, even if I didn’t agree with them
If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be?
If you could choose to live anywhere in the world, where would you prefer to live?
England at the moment, but that is subject to change as I read more books about far away places
If you could commit any crime and get away with it, what would you do?
What would you do if you found the wallet of your next door neighbor who you hated?
I would return it to him. Crime never pays.
If you could have any car you wanted, which car would you choose? Would it be practical or flashy?
I would purchase a Jeep Rubicon Wrangler in either bright red or chartreuse. I have a Jeep Renegade now and have had Jeeps before. Good reliable automobiles.
If you could be famous (a household name), what would you like to be famous for?
Writing a book.
If you had one wish, what would you wish for?
Enough money to travel extensively.
If you could do any job, what would you like it to be?
Own or manage a book store
If you were asked to speak to a graduating class, what would you say?
If you were given a choice between being given great wisdom or great wealth, which would you choose?
Great wealth. Sorry, I’m shallow I suppose.
If you were given the opportunity to be born again, how would you change how you lived?
If you were walking through the forest and you suddenly saw a tiger, what would you do?
Stand very still and hope he didn’t eat me.
If you were told you had a terminal illness and had six months to live. What three things would be most important for you to do?
Spend time with my loved ones. I
f you could say a sentence which the whole world could hear, what would you say?
If you were given a choice to live as long as you want, how long would you like to live?
If you could only see three people for the rest of your life, who would they be?
This is the easiest. My two wonderful sons and my soul mate.
Here are five of just some things that I don’t think about often, but when I do, I am puzzled. The English language is a very hard language to master by someone trying to master it as a second language. I believe it. I’m going to list a few things that make me think. Some I have seen before over the years and others are new to me. I found them interesting.
WHY IS AN ALARM CLOCK GOING “OFF” WHEN IT ACTUALLY TURNS ON?
Before your head hits the pillow at night, you have to set your alarm to go off at a certain time. But aren’t you really telling it to turn on at a certain time, so that it wakes you up? This is one of the unanswerable questions about life that might not matter much, but makes you think.
IF A PERSON TOLD YOU THEY WERE A PATHOLOGICAL LIAR, WOULD YOU BELIEVE THEM?
Pathological liars never really tell the truth, so it’s hard to believe a word that comes out of their mouths. So if they claim they’re a pathological liar, are they being honest for once?
IS THERE ANOTHER WORD FOR SYNONYM
Synonyms are words that have the same meaning as another word. It would be ironic if ‘synonym’ did not have a synonym, but no words come to mind.
WHAT IF THERE WERE NO HYPOTHETICAL SITUATIONS?
This question is a hypothetical one, which is what makes it so ironic. You can’t imagine a world without hypothetical situations unless you’re thinking about a hypothetical situation.
That’s all of today. I’m sure I’ll find some other things to sit and waste time thinking about when I’m not reading. Until next time……….farewell!!!!
Today, I am reviewing “Nothing To See Here” by Kevin Wilson.
A quote from the book that describes Lillian’s thoughts as she enters the elite preparatory school for the first time: “ As I walked to my dorm, I realized that the other girls didn’t even look at me, and I could tell that it wasn’t out of meanness. I don’t think they even saw me; their eyes had been trained since birth to recognize the importance. I wasn’t that.”
My Thoughts:
I liked this book so much more than I expected to. I tried to read “Ready, Player One” but it just wasn’t for me. So, Netgalley has sent me “Nothing To See Here” by Kevin Wilson. I decided to read that one in its place, and I’m so glad I did. This book made me feel good, sad, angry, and frustrated.
The Main Characters: We have Madison – Privileged child growing up and wealthy woman by any standards through her marriage to Senator Jasper Roberts.
Then we have Madison’s husband Jasper. He would prefer, of course, to be addressed as, Senator Roberts??? Jasper is in the midst of being vetted for a high political office. He is married to Madison and they have one son, Timothy.
Then we come to the protagonist, Lillian. Lillian is an impoverished child who grew up without wealth or affection. As she reaches adulthood, things haven’t changed much. She is working as a cashier at two different grocery stores and living in her mom’s attic.
I would be remiss in failing to mention Carl. He’s a jack of all trades for the Senator. He runs errands and basically does whatever he is called on to do. This includes babysitting at times.
Then we have the twins, Bessie and Roland. Ten years old and children of Jasper and the late Jane who committed suicide. Oh yes, one important thing about Bessie and Roland is that when angered or upset, they spontaneously combust. They are unharmed but the fire is read. Yes, you read that right.
Lillian and Madison, best friends in high school until Lillian leaves abruptly after a scandal ensues. They have not communicated much past an email or text message now and again in the past 15 years. Lillian receives a letter from Madison asking for help in a very delicate situation in the form of a job. She sends money for a bus ticket to her home. Lillian boards a bus and arrives at the Senator’s mansion. The “job” is acting as governess to Jasper’s twins who are now his responsibility since their mother’s death. Lillian accepts, after all how hard could it be? Lillian and the twins are housed in an elaborate “guest cottage” on the huge estate.
After they are settled into the guest house, several incidents take place that are, at the least, disturbing. I loved the way Lillian interacted with the twins and the steps she took to make their life as normal as possible including homeschooling them. The children loved her. But alas, another incident occurs and the result of that is Lillian fleeing with the children to her mother’s attic.
This story is wonderful. I wish there was a sequel to this book to find out what everyone is doing today. If there ever is one, I will be first in line to buy it. Highly recommended as an easy read and positive subject matter.
SOMETHING EXTRA I happened upon a video talking aboutNothing To See Hereon YouTube. Check it out, it’s awesome.
About the Author
Kevin Wilson, Author
Kevin Wilson was born, raised, and still lives in Tennessee. His writing has appeared in Ploughshares, One Story, Greensboro Review, The Oxford American, Carolina Quarterly and elsewhere. His work has twice been included in the New Stories from the South: The Year’s Best anthology (2005, 2006). He has received fellowships from the MacDowell Colony, Yaddo, and the KHN Center for the Arts. A graduate of the MFA program at the University of Florida, he currently teaches fiction at the University of the South and helps run the Sewanee Writers’ Conference.
Well, we have arrived at November 2019. The month of October flew by for me. Christmas will be upon us before we know it. I work as manager and bookkeeper for an RV park in in Arizona. My husband and I started working five days a week now, rather than just two hours a day. I only had time to read four books this month, but I enjoyed all of them. The full reviews of these books, with the exception of Orphan X, are all on this blog under Book Reviews. Here they are in the order I finished them.
Crippen by John Boyne
I have read several books written by John Boyne. He is in the top five of my favorite authors of all time. This book was a fictionalized story of Hawley Harlan Crippen who was accused, arrested and tried for the murder of his wife Cora. It is based on a true story. Dr. Crippen, got his “degree” from correspondence courses. He has wanted to be a doctor since early childhood. When friends started questioning Hawley about Cora’s absence, he told them that she had gone to California to tend to a sick relative. Eventually, the police started questioning him as to her disappearance. He was accused for her disappearance. He had taken a lover, a young woman who worked with him and they boarded a cruise ship in Antwerp and headed for Canada in order to live freely and without shame together. The twists and turns of this book are marvelous. If you haven’t read it, please treat yourself. I highly recommend this one. I finished reading Crippen on October 12, 2019 Get it from Amazon
The Minotaur’s Son and other wild tales by Kevin Ansbro
Kevin Ansbro, the author of ‘The Minotaur’s Son and other wild tales’ has written three books besides this one and I have devoured each one. These books introduced me to the genre of Magical Realism and I was fascinated. The Minotaur’s Son is a collection of short stories and one of them, if not all, will appeal to everyone. You meet a siren, a hip space cowboy and many others. It’s terrific and can be purchased on Amazon. I finished reading this book on October 14, 2019. Kevin is taking a hiatus from writing for a bit, but I am waiting patiently for his next masterpiece.
The Night Olivia Fell By Christina McDonald
This book really was well-written. I think that it is more for teenagers, mostly girls, than for adults. However, it was a good story. Olivia is a sixteen-year-old teenager with a single mother who is very protective. Olivia falls from a bridge one night and is rendered brain dead. Much to her mother’s surprise, she is told that Olivia is pregnant. Before she is taken off life support she must be kept alive until the baby she is carrying is developed enough to be born and survive the outside world. Olivia’s mother goes on a quest to find out what really happened to her daughter. She does not believe it was an accident nor a suicide. This book was enough to keep me reading because I wanted to find out what happened in the end. Very well-written. You may purchase this book at Amazon. I finished reading this on October 20, 2019
Orphan X By Gregg Hurwitz
This is an older book. When I started doing research on it, I found that it is the first book in the Orphan Series. It was dynamite. Move over James Bond!! Evan Smoak was alone in the world, an orphan, raised by a covert operation that is part of the government that disavows any knowledge of its members should there be trouble. Basically, Evan is a trained killer. He was trained by the best for the most dangerous assignments. After dropping out of this covert organization, he vows to help anyone that needs his help. “Pay It Forward” so to speak. This book races from one danger and hair-raising situation to the next as fast as lightning strikes. It’s a great action book, easy and quick to read. You may purchase it at Amazon. I finished reading this on October 28, 2019
I hope you enjoyed my monthly roundup. I’ll be back on December 1, 2019, to do the Monthly Roundup for November. Happy Reading everyone.
COME READ WITH ME 