The Witch's Trinity - December 8th 2008 - 6th Annual Holiday Limo Tour

The Witch's Trinity by Erika Mailman

Chosen by: Michelle

Location: Axel's Bonfire Grill - St. Paul

Well, there we were again on another snowy winter night ready for the city to dazzle us with it's fabulous lighting displays. There was a pretty serious snow storm going on that we had to battle through to make it here tonight. Surprisingly, we ALL made it! All eight of us! Kerry arrived late as she had to scramble to find a sitter, and ordered some food to go. She then asked the waiter if he could put her beer into a "to go cup" because our limo was here. The funny thing is that it made so much sense to her at the time ;o)

We didn't speak much about the book, except for the fact that none of us read it, not even Michelle who normally loves scary stories. It was pretty creepy. I made it a few chapters, but didn't want to have bad dreams, so I quit. It was set in medieval Germany in a town suffering from hunger and bad crops for 2 years and they blame it on witchcraft. It's frightening, the mob mentality that is still very real today, and it frightening just what humans will do to each other in desperate times.

Some more exciting news: Ryan is expecting baby #3!!! She is showing a little bit but is all belly and is adorable. We didn't really have any token drunks this night. We are all getting too old I guess. Getting up with kids with a wee bit of a hangover isn't all that fun. After touring around, we came back to Bonfire and ordered some after dinner drinks and talked for a bit longer. I think we could talk forever if time allowed. Merry Christmas!

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan - October 27th 2008

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

Chosen by: Christina

Location: Christina's house in St. Paul

Tonight we ordered Chinese take out and Jamie went to pick it up! Great idea. It's our first time getting take out. Connor came with me for his second meeting. He just likes hanging with the ladies. We sat and chatted for awhile talking about our kids and funny things they say. I remember almost peeing my pants laughing so hard when Jessica told us that Cody that day had said "Aw, mom, how come you get an apple and I don't?" They were in the car, so when Jessica had a minute, she went to give him the apple and he waved his hand at her and said nonchalantly "Nah, that's ok, I had a booger." You just can't make up that stuff.

This historical fiction novel was set in 19th century rural China. It centers around two girls, Lily and Snow Flower, who are very good friends or "old sames", and their journey through the trials and rituals and rigid rules that women of their time and culture have to follow. The secret fan is a what they used to communicate with each other, kind of like mail. They used an ancient, secret code called nu shu and would write messages on the ridges of the fan and deliver this between their two houses. Her detailed descriptions of foot binding were horrific and nauseating, yet captivating. It is so hard to imagine that this was still going on in China, not too long ago. It is unfathomable to us, being 21st century American women, what pain, suffering and humiliation women of different cultures and different eras have been forced to endure. Again, we spoke about how fortunate we are to have been born at this time and in this country with all the freedom and choices we have. Being mothers ourselves now, we all tend to relate from the parents' perspective and a lot of these novels really show how little some people think of raising another human being. We are all on the same page with feeling that raising our children is the most important thing we will do in our lifetime. I know that in some of the situations we read about that it is a cultural thing, like foot binding. It is what their mothers did to them, and it's just how it is. But with others, I just wonder if they really love their children. Anyway, it was a compelling story that went through the lives of these two women and how their relationship, the good, the bad and the ugly, spans a lifetime.

We had fun discussing this book and most of us a least made it through some of the book. We talked about what all of our kids were going to be for Halloween, which is this week. It was another good night, and we all had leftovers to take home ;o) !!! Of note, I didn't finish the book until a few days later and it was while I was waiting to vote in the 2008 presidential election! Barack Obama is the new president of the United States! What an amazing time for our country, the first black president! He has his work cut out for him, but hopefully he can start to make some real changes in the next 4 years.

The Glass Castle - August 2008

The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls

Chosen by: Ryan

Location: Salut on Grand in St. Paul

Carolyn and Christina were unable to make it tonight but we did have 2 new members....Lauren Lakeman and Connor Shea! They were born just 3 days apart. Lauren on July 26 and Connor on July 29th! They are both adorable and healthy. Kelly is adjusting to the two child life really well. For us, Connor has been an easy baby and going from 2 to 3 hasn't been as difficult as going from 1 to 2 in my opinion. So far so good, but they are only a month old...;o)

Only Ryan and I finished the book this time, so we kind of told the story to the rest of the group. It is a memoir of a girl who grew up very poor to very eccentric, nomadic parents. The parents got me so angry with their carelessness and foolish behavior. They seemed to have no regard for their children whatsoever. The kids pretty much raised themselves and it broke my heart. The dad was an alcoholic and the mother mentally ill, yes, but come on. They showed no responsibility for those kids. Quite a depressing story. It amazes me how some children, who grow up in horrible situations, can come out as strong, smart, loving and productive members of society, when other kids, who have it all, turn out as monsters.

The food was really good, and a glass of wine tasted quite nice. Another fun night with the girls.

Mansfield Park - June 2008

Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

Chosen by: Kelly

Location: Kerry's house in West St. Paul

Since the weather has been so nice, Kerry offered to have the meeting at her place by the pool. It was a gorgeous summer night.

No one actually finished the book....oops. The few of us who did attempt it just couldn't do it. We are literary failures. I think I may have gotten the furthest, which was only a few chapters. Carolyn gave it a good shot too. If you are not used to or conditioned to reading 17th century literature, it is quite a difficult feat. All the names got confusing because they usually use last names and there were several "Miss Bertrams". It was hard to know which "Miss Bertram" they were talking about and the story got all jumbled. We are all moms of young kids, or pregnant too, so the last thing we want to do at night is make our brains hurt while reading for entertainment. Pre-kids, I could have finished it and I'm sure I would think it a masterpiece like the rest of the scholars, but it's not happening right now.

It was Rachel Pierce's first appearance and she is a cutey!! She looks a lot like Jamie. Christina is glowing as a new mom and it's great to see her so happy. She's a natural.

Kelly and I are due soon and are both tired of the heat and just plain tired. The next meeting will have 2 new members: a new BABY BOY Shea and a new baby ? Lakeman (they are not finding out the sex.) I will be a mommy of 3...let the craziness begin!

The meeting was fun and it went a bit late. Kelly and I stayed until about 11ish chatting about pregnancy and motherhood etc, keeping poor Kerry up who had just worked the past night.

The Power of One - March 10th 2008 - Italian Gourmet Night!!

The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay

Chosen by: Kelly

Location: Jessica's in Rogers

The book was amazing and one of the better books I have ever read. Those of us who read it, really enjoyed it too. I can't believe I had never read it before, I'm glad Kelly chose it. It was difficult to read at times as it is about a boy, Peekey, living in South Africa during WWII and under Apartheid. It begin when he is just 5 years old and is being sent off to boarding school among the Boers. He is ridiculed and tortured as he is the only English kid among Afrikaners who are on the Nazi side. One of the saddest parts is the loss of Grandpa Chook, his pet chicken. It breaks his heart. He story of surviving that school, the people he meets while away from the school, and his obsession with boxing make this a compelling, sad, and joyous book all at the same time.

Tonight was Italian Gourmet night! Kerry hired a chef to come and cook for us while teaching us a bit about Italian cooking. We made noodles from scratch which, although time consuming, is quite simple. Eggs, water and Semolina mixed and kneaded until smooth. Then you just roll and cut the dough with a paste maker. We had a lot of fun doing it and each got turns doing all the jobs. Antonio was the chef's name and he was great! Some of us bought his cook book that he writes for Betty Crocker. Impressive. For appetizers we had shrimp scampi w/ basil and prosciutto and bruschetta (we learned is pronounced "broosh ketta", saying it the way it looks means "little witch" in Italian;o) We also had spinach salad with a fresh herb dressing that Michelle helped make, fettuccini (which we made) with two sauces: a tomato olive sauce and a creamy veggie sauce, homemade buns and sea bass w/ tarragon mustard sauce. Dessert was berries over mango sherbet, or "mirtilli al sorbetto". We ate at Jessica's very fancy table setting (matching china, cloth napkins, crystal glasses and all) and stayed late discussing the book and catching up. Cody was there later showing us all of his Star Wars stuff, which is what he is into right now. His speech is getting so clear and he is growing up so fast. He's almost 5! My sister in law Julie also joined us tonight as we needed an extra person for the cooking party (Ryan was not here as she is in Mexico right now). Julie fits in anywhere and was fun to have there. It was a great night!

Christina is due at the end of the month and she told us that they plan on naming her Rachel. Sweet. Kelly and I are 19 and 20 weeks, respectively. Half way there! I, of course am already carrying a basketball under my clothes and Kelly just looks like she ate a big dinner. She's very cute pregnant.

The Thirteenth Tale - January 2008

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

Chosen by: Shelley

Location: Shelley's in Roseville

This meeting was also Christina's baby shower. I made black bean lasagne, and the rest of the girls brought sides. After we ate, we discussed the book.

I hadn't read a scary book in awhile, and although this wasn't a "scary slasher book", it was a kind of ghost story and got my pulse going a few times while reading in the dark, in the middle of the night. It is set in England as has a good old fashioned gothic, haunting, love story feel, much like Wuthering Heights, which I love. The two main characters are Vida, England's most famous writer, and a plain, young biographer, Margaret. Vida is reclusive and is nearing the end of her life, so she wants her life story to be told, on her terms. She chooses Margaret to write her biography. Margaret struggles with whether it is true or not. The story that unravels before her, past and present, is suspenseful and haunting. Those of us who read it seemed to enjoy it. A bit slow at times, it proves to keep the pages turning toward the ending.

After the discussion, we had Christina open her gifts and had cake. The cake was from Wuollet's and they did a great job of putting a cute little baby and a blanket on the top. You never go wrong when you go Wuollet's. She found out that she is having a baby girl! Yeah! She is also decorating the baby's room in classic children's books, as she has been collecting them for quite some time. We all loved that idea and gave a big "Awww". Nothing else really new. Kelly and I are still pregnant and feeling pretty good getting out of that first trimester. I recently got back from Hawaii for Molly, my sister in law's graduation from nursing school. I was a blast and I did try surfing, but when I fell off the board and it hit me in the side, I figured it was probably not a great idea being with child and all ;o)

5th Annual Limo Tour - December 13th 2007

No book picked this time, just a fun outing!

We met this evening at the Beauty Lounge on Grand Ave. - upstairs from Tavern on Grand. Kerry is a frequent flier of this boutique. Since it is only open a few times a month, Kerry asked it she would open just for us tonight. Wala!! We shopped for jewelry, scarves, hats and all walked out a little lighter in the wallet. Christina was unable to make it tonight and Angie has now moved to Wabasha to be with her boyfriend, Bucky. She is sad to not be able to be with us anymore, but a girl in love's gotta do what she's gotta do. She is planning to rent her house in St. Paul instead of sell it right now, just in case. She got a job in Winona. I wish her all the happiness in the world, but I'm really going to miss having my best friend close by. Everyone else was there tonight. After shopping, we headed down to Tavern on Grand for some drinks and apps before the limo tour.

New: Kelly and I are both pregnant! Kelly with #2 and me with #3, both due at the end of July. Very exciting. Christina, still doing well and still due at the end of March with #1.

On to the limo. It was a nice ride, stopping again for pictures at the Santa Lane in Inver Grove Heights.

After the limo, we tried to go for coffee, but Caribou was closed--so we went back to the Tavern and some of us stayed for another drink. Kerry and Ryan had the most "fun" that night, but the token drunk award goes to Ryan this year. She tried to stay overnight at Kerry's but couldn't go to sleep, feeling like she needed to be home. So Randy drove her home to Burnsville. Silly Ryan. It was a lot of fun, even sober ;o)