Book Club: First To Die

Our book club book for the month of August was First to Die by James Patterson. We chose something light (a 'non-thinker') to conclude our summer reading. This is the first book in a 7-book series of The Women's Murder Club, which happens to be a new tv series (which I am very anxious to see!). Lindsay Boxer is the main character and she's a detective who solves crimes with her department--and on the side with her girls! Once I start a series, I have to finish it out of principle, so I went ahead and read books 1 - 6 and am waiting for 7 to come out in paperback (so that it matches the rest of the books in my set!) I swear...if reading made you thin, I would be branded an anorexic!!! Ha! Anyway...if you want a light, fun read, I recommend that you pick this book up! Here's a picture of the first book in the series for reference:

The Rental Car

Mr. Pilot, as mentioned in my car accident post, decided to go ahead and file through insurance--which means that the shop gets to keep my car longer, but I get a rental car. Enterprise was out of standard sized cars, so my options were "minivan" and "truck". I took the truck and as soon as I left I handed it over to Andy and took his Accord. I am NOT driving around in a miniture truck, I don't care if it's a 2009!! It happens to be bright red, too. Lovely. Enterprise told me they would call me when a standard car became available...26 hours later, Andy is still sportin' the truck. Here's a picture of the very-embarrassing-to-Jaimie vehicle!

Congratulations, Daniel Eduardo!!!

The news broke this morning: Daniel Eduardo Gomez is now officially an attorney! Congratulations from your In-Laws! We heart You!!!

My First Car Accident!!

It took 28 years (12 of them as a driver myself), and I had my very first car accident on Wednesday! It was rainy and there was mucho construction on the highway and those two things are a recipe for disaster during rush hour. My car was at a full stop and BAM! a 19-year old OU student rams the back of my car. (Another reason to hate crimson and crème if you ask me)…so, the girl gets out of her car - on the highway - and gets into mine and we exchange information. I didn't even get out to look at my damage because we were on the highway--and I'm not dumb enough to get out of my car, but I could see her car in my rear view mirror - hood pushed straight up, so I was worried. She called her dad (who she was talking to on the phone…in the rain…during rush hour…on the highway with construction…when she hit me)…and he didn't want to get the police involved - just make it quick and simple. I wasn't worried, the girl was driving an Acura. She calls me later in the evening and tells me her dad doesn't want to go through insurance, but rather pay out of pocket and that I could choose any body shop I wanted. Fine...
So…the next morning, I take an hour off of work to get an estimate and I scan and email it to her. I have to get the entire bumper replaced, which is over $800, and if the retainer bar is broken as well, that needs to be replaced, which is $200 on top of that. Her dad didn't like that estimate, so he asked for two more. I was irate at the inconvenience of taking time off of work in the first place, so now he's asking me to do it twice more. I went straight to my attorney. She said if I don't have a check in hand that day, then to just go through his insurance. Insurance only requires one estimate and the body shop takes care of EVERYTHING. So, the nice person I am, I went ahead and got another estimate at lunch and it was slightly less than the first (not to mention 15 miles away from where I work!), so the 'dad' agreed to that one. Next the complication of the Body shop comes in. They said that they can only accept cashier's check or money order…and if they pay by credit card, the guy needs to come in himself to sign it. He lives in Heavner, Oklahoma…where the hell is that place anyway?? Then he won't return her calls--his voicemail says "I'm either flying or asleep"…so he's a pilot?? I don't feel sorry for this guy…and I didn't ask for a rental car either, he should just pay up! Before I left work yesterday, I sent him a long, angry email. No more Mrs. Nice-Woman! He called the body shop less than an hour after that email and everything is all set. I’m out of a car for two days…but it's worth it, I'm getting it put back together. Here is a picture of the damage (minor for all of the trouble and stress these people have put me through!!!):

Book Review: Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

My most recent literary accomplishment (reading, not writing) was a book that I did not want to end--a book I found hard to put down. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See brings the reader to late 19th Century China, in a time and culture that is so far away from today's America. The book revolves around the relationship of two women who grow up together and are each other's support system through thick and thin until something goes horribly wrong. If you liked books such as Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden or The Kitchen God's Wife by Amy Tan, you will adore this book as much as I. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, and, as always, a picture is below so you know what book to pick up during your next bookstore field trip!

Dangle's Day!

Happy Birthday/Housewarming to Daniel and Stephanie Gomez!!! Daniel (who has been called 'Omes' and 'Dangle' by little Jadyn) has been so busy with school, studying, the BAR exam, and now, working as an attorney, that is was good to see him unwind for the beginning of his 26th year! Also, everyone got to take a tour of their house, which is UBER-cute!! Lots of exciting times ahead of you guys!!!

Daniel and Stephanie:


Daniel's cake, made by my awesome mother-in-law, Anna. (AKBakes):


Yes, I'm proud of that damn good looking cake…and it was delish!!!

Skool Dayz

Wednesday, August 13, 2008 was a sad day for most Putnam City School students--it was their first day back in the classroom! Jadyn started 2nd grade and absolutely loves her new teacher! Although she definitely wishes she could sleep in everyday, she seems to be having loads of fun! Below are pictures of her on her first week back:
Wednesday:

Thursday:

Friday:


…Jadyn is growing up so fast!!!

Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes...

I took a picture of Riley the other night (two weeks ago, on Susan's birthday) on Andy's shoulders:

...and it reminded me of a picture taken in 2005 of Jadyn:

Some things never change!

Slacker James, Genius Daughter

Okay, I've become a slacker with my posts! I have yet to blog about a special-someone's birthday and first days of school, but my excuse is that I have pictures to accompany posts that have to be uploaded! (So--you can expect exciting posts in the future!) I've got some happy-snappy news, though, that I want to share, which doesn't require pictures!

At the end of first grade, Jadyn's class took a test to see if they qualified for the 'gifted student' program (or PEAK) at her school. Her teacher told Andy and me at the last conference that hardly any first graders qualify and they usually get in with second grade testing. We heard nothing about the test all summer, so we assumed Jadyn didn't get in. (You see where this is going, yes?) Last night we got a letter in the mail: JADYN MADE IT! SHE IS IN THE GIFTED STUDENT PROGRAM!!! We are SO proud of our little girl...so damn proud of her.

Big Bang Baby is a Crash, Crash, Crash!!!

I had the BEST. TIME. EVER. on Saturday night (August 2nd). Andy, Andrea, Kevin and I went to see Stone Temple Pilots ("STP"). I was in a state of euphoria all night long--and it had nothing to do with alcohol! I was high on STP...it was so exciting. I screamed lyrics from the top of my lungs...I danced like a white girl. It. was. awesome. I'm just so sad that it's over! Below are some fun pics from that night:
Andy and me:

Scott Weiland singing one of his awesome songs:

A picture of the entire band embracing a derranged fan from Arkansas (rather than kicking said fan off the stage when security came to remove him!)

Freaky Sight!!!

Yesterday after work, I got on the highway (I-40) and headed home during the worst kind of traffic: RUSH HOUR!!! I was halfway down the highway when I looked to the right and on the side of the road was a snake. This was no ordinary snake--it was a Cobra and his head - all flared out like cobras do - was sticking straight up in the air--about three feet high. He was huge...and it was a totally freaky, abnormal experience for a highway in the middle of Oklahoma City. It was a freaking Cobra snake...there was a Cobra on the side of the freaking highway! Is this not weird to anyone else...?!?!

Book Review: The Knitting Alchemist

Over the past two weeks, I have read two great books and one not-so-great book. This post is going to primarily focus on the good rather than bad!! The first book I read (OUR JULY BOOK CLUB CHOICE)is called The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. This book is very short and is about a young shepherd in search of his Personal Legend. This is great because everyone should have a personal legend--and whether or not they acheive it is up to the individual. I know what my personal legend is...whether or not I get there is solely up to me. The book has definitely inspired me, to say the least...and I highly recommend it!
The next book I read is called The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs. This is Kate's first book and she did a PHENOMENAL job with it. It was so good that the second I finished it (during a lunch break), I ran it straight downstairs to my friend to take with her on her honeymoon. It was THAT good. This is more of a girl-read, though, but it is by NO MEANS a chick-lit book. The story revolves around the life of Georgia Walker and the struggles and relationships in her life. I can't go more into detail or it will spoil the book - but this one comes HIGHLY recommended by Jaimie Lopez...so it's GOTTA be good!!!
The final book that I read is called Citizen Girl by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus. Yes, those are the same authors that wrote The Nanny Diaries. They have a very poor quality in regard to their writing style. I didn't even want to finish it--but out of principle, I chugged on and finished the damn thing. Notagoodbook. These two writers need to stop writing...they refuse to develop characters (which is why she gives them stupid names like "Girl", "Guy" and "Mrs. X"). The authors want to put the reader in the situation of the character so he/she can relate to the situations the character is going through. The book lost my focus so many times...Just don't pick it up.
Once again, I have put pictures of The Alchemist and The Friday Night Knitting Club below so you can easily identify them in the book store!

Ode to Ventura

Saturday night, Andy and I went to a BEAUTIFUL wedding at Walnut Creek Chapel to celebrate the marriage of my friend, Jennifer Miller a.k.a. Ventura! The ceremony was beautiful and the reception was great. The food was YUMMY...and I think i need a permanent chocolate fountain in my living room. Serious. Congratulations to Jennifer and Tom Ventura! To infinity...and BEYOND!!!
Below are two pictures of Andy and me. I couldn't decide which was my fav!

Forced Change

All good things must come to an end--so describes my current working situation. I have two of the best bosses that a girl could ask for and, on Friday, that tense will be changed to HAD. For the past four and a half years I have been blessed with a man who has always had my back in the worst of situations and a woman with the best open-door policy ever. Now both are leaving my firm to go work for one of our competitors and are most likely taking two of my closest work buddies and I am feeling completely and utterly deserted. Fortunately for me, I have another goal in my life that I am currently working towards (and that good news will be blogged about in about a week, fingers crossed!)--and my job gives me the liberty to accomplish it; however, that fact does not take away the hurt (and, yes, there's a little bit of anger there) of losing my friends--the people that keep me sane through the work week. It isn't as if one person is leaving, but MY ENTIRE GROUP (with the exception of two attorneys) and I am going to carry the burden of all of the attorneys left behind (there are a total of six, and that's a bit too much). A co-worker told me this morning "forced change can be a very good thing". I hope she's right--I'm placing all of my bets on that quote. I am entering a place that I've never been before--a place where there is no plan, situations in which I do not know what to expect and it's happening against my will. In the end, everything will be okay, I just have to keep looking straight and barreling ahead to the future.

Book Review: Driving with Dead People

How appealing is THAT title? It certainly attracted my attention during a visit to Borders a couple of weeks ago--so much that I purchased it on a whim! I could hardly wait to finish the book I was reading to begin my journey with Monica Holloway's Driving with Dead People: A Memoir. A Memoir! Holy cow, this is going to be AWESOME--or so I thought. It turns out that the only interesting part about this book was the title. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone that I know who appreciates a good book. I was not captivated by the author's life story--which, in short, is about a young girl's family struggle with an abusive dad and a selfish mother. The book is supposed to represent someone who has overcome the tragedies in her life and triumphed in the end--but I didn't feel as if she had grown as a character through the book. She played too much to the 'whoa is me, I'm such a victim' and I wasn't a big fan of it all. If it wasn't the father abusing her, or her mother ignoring her…it was that her sisters 'hated' her or her brother was mean to her…or her boyfriend left her high and dry when she got pregnant (spoiler alert: she aborts the baby!)…and it goes on and on like this.
I have since finished that book, read another (which I will blog about after book club, as it is our choice for the month of July!) and am currently in the middle of a fantastic book (again, will blog about later) and I would like to leave the driving of dead people to Monica Holloway. Her 'memoir' will soon be my distant memory.
Please Note: Unlike my other book posts, I shall not be posting the cover of the book here, as I would hate to burden you with having to look at it! I've already given it more attention than it deserves!!!