Rachel Simon’s tender memoir, Building a Home with My Husband, is not something you should rush through, or read in small doses. It’s one of those books where you want to set aside a good block of time, curl up in your favorite chair, and savor a leisurely read.

Any couple that has survived a home renovation can attest to the utter chaos that ensues during that process, putting the best of relationships to the test. As Rachel and her husband forge through the process of blueprints and paint chips and deal with finances and insecurity, long-buried feelings bubble to the surface, as Rachel begins a journey of self-discovery and renewal.

The problem with home renovation is that time will not stand still while we choose doorknobs and install flooring. Rachel’s world beyond the doors of this home spins on. Work pressures, siblings, parents, and friendships must be tended to and nurtured. Things go wrong and plans go awry in home renovation and in life. How we choose to deal with those circumstances determines the final outcome.

It’s not really about the house. Building a Home with My Husband is about trust and compassion. It’s about love and acceptance. It’s about attempting to understand the complexities of the human spirit. It is about, as the title suggests, building a home.

Beautifully written!

Now it looks like I’m going to have to pick up a copy of Rachel’s first memoir, Riding the Bus with My Sister: A True Life Journey.

Building a Home with My Husband

by Rachel Simon

I’m not a middle-aged ex-FBI agent with an odd medical condition. That much is obvious. But several chapters into The Dead Man, I found myself viewing the world through the eyes of Jack Davis and internalizing his life experiences, a tribute to Joel Goldman’s remarkable talent for writing in the first-person.

The story opens in 1959 at the scene of a ghastly murder that remains unsolved to this day. Billionaire Milo Harper, of the Harper Institute of the Mind, hires Jack to investigate a series of deaths involving participants in his lucid dreaming research. Seems their dreams may have come true — and that’s not good for the institute. Old wounds are reopened as Jack’s past becomes part of the mystery and the death toll mounts.

Forty-one year-old Harper, fighting a hopeless battle against Alzheimer’s disease, has a limited amount of time to unravel the mysteries of the mind that plague him. Jack, with the FBI hot on his own heels, and his physical condition exacerbated by stress, must push himself to the very limits of endurance. An unlikely pair, often at cross-purposes, who must work against time to put the past to rest.

Not simply a serial murder story, The Dead Man delves deeply into the human psyche — and not necessarily just that of the murderer. A peek into Jack Davis’ own psyche reveals unimaginable sorrow and regret. You just want him to get this right.

I had a hunch who was responsible for the murders about half way through the book, but the ending caught me completely off-guard as the hows and whys of it all become clear in the stunning — and unsettling — conclusion. I suspect that was the author’s intention all along.

As much trouble I had putting the book down each night, I will have just as much trouble getting out of Jack Davis’ head. The Dead Man is a great read!

The Dead Man, by Joel Goldman

Mimosa Asian Fusion Restaurant makes its home in an inconspicuous corner of a tiny strip mall in Winchester, Virginia. It appears fairly unimpressive as you pull into a parking spot, but outward appearances are often deceiving.

From the moment you step foot inside the front door, you know you’ve come to the right place. The decor, the friendly smiles, and the warm greeting clue you in to the comfortable experience to come.

The wait staff here is engaged in their work, displaying an easy sense of humor and direct eye contact, rather than simply running out the clock until their shift is over. How refreshing!

But none of those things matter if the food doesn’t live up to its billing. And, oh, does it ever. A blend of Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Thai, and southeast Asian cuisine, the varied menu includes something for every palate. The lounge and the sushi bar offer even more tempting options.

Our first visit was the result of a great coupon offer, and we enjoyed it so much that we decided to sample lunch a few weeks later. Now after three visits, it’s obvious we’ll be regulars at Mimosa Asian Fusion.

There’s nothing more aggravating than going out and spending money on dinner only to be disappointed in the food and/or the venue. But these folks have got it right. Treat the customers well and serve up delicious food.

And in case you’re wondering, this is a completely spontaneous and uncompensated review. I just like to give credit where credit is due.

For more information visit: Mimosa Asian Fusion Restaurant

Everybody’s talking about the recession and looking for ways to balance the family budget. Prices at the supermarket seem to rise with each passing month and shoppers are looking to cut corners.

One thing I keep hearing is that fresh fruits and vegetables are simply too expensive to buy. I beg to differ. They ARE expensive and getting more so, but you have to look at the big picture and you have to take a long, hard look at what else is in your shopping cart.

Seriously, how much did you fork over for that bag of potato chips? The ice cream… cookies… sugar-laden cereal? How many items in your cart represent food with little or no nutritional value?

The temptation to give in to comfort foods is a trap. The more you eat, the more you crave and the worse you feel, inviting preventable health problems. The loss of energy and added weight will only harm your sense of well-being.

Now more than ever, it is essential that we take care of ourselves in mind and in body. Food is all about fueling your body with what it needs — not only to survive, but to thrive. A diet rich in fresh produce, lean meats, and whole grains will keep you feeling balanced and energized.

Next time you’re at the grocery store… shop as if your life depends on it.

Right after Thanksgiving I wrote a piece titled “Wheeeee!!!“ in which I stated that Mandy and I succumbed to Wii madness, purchased one of the video game consoles, and planned to delve into the world of Wii, Miis, and daily fitness tests. We guessed that perhaps, because of the physical nature of Wii gaming, playing Wii would actually prove beneficial to Mandy who, like so many others, suffers from Relapsing-Remitting MS.

Now, after a month of playing, we believe that we were correct and that Wii is proving itself well worth the investment. At the risk of being a commercial for Nintendo, I’m going to plow ahead and talk about our experience to date.

Read this  post in its entirety:

Mii Too!

From our “strange but true” files...

Last month, we posted about an amazing product in the freezer section — Plats du Chef French Onion Soup.

It’s an odd item, and I felt ridiculous buying it, but I can’t argue with the taste! I thought you’d enjoy seeing the before and after photos of the soup, because you’ve got to see it to believe it.

Forty minutes in the oven or 9 minutes in the microwave and you’ve got restaurant quality french onion soup. And… no… this is not a sponsored ad.

Would you believe it? We found another lunch time gem on our latest Costco run. Plats du Chef French Onion Soup is frozen, but can be ready to eat in just 40 minutes in the oven, or just 9 minutes in the microwave.

I recommend the oven because it allows the delicious aroma to fill the house. What a delight on a cold day!

We usually don’t even look at the prepared, frozen foods when we shop, much less bring them home. But on this month’s Costco run, we wandered through the frozen food section for kicks and discovered “Italpizza.”

Hand made in Italy and cooked in a woodburning oven, these thin crust pizzas are a tasty meal, without being too heavy.

The package contains three pizzas for under $10.00. That worked out to three lunches for two adults. Kids are going to love it, too!

We’ve already added this item to next month’s list.

Enjoy!

No, I’m not talking about the current presidential campaign… I just finished reading Mark LaFlamme’s “Dirt: American Campaign.”

With thoroughly fleshed out characters, intriguing sub-plots, and twists you never saw coming, “Dirt” holds the suspense from the first pages to very end.

A bizarre chain of events involving a love more powerful than death, and the behind-the-scenes maneuvering of American politics, are just the tip of the iceberg.

If you enjoy delving into human psyche, this book will not disappoint. I would not recommend it for the squeamish.

Did you know that:

* The official name of Rhode Island is “State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations” — ironically, the longest official name for the smallest of the fifty US states. (Being a native of “Little Rhody,” I already knew this one!)

* Benjamin Franklin had an illegitimate son, William, who split with his father during the Revolution by remaining loyal to the British Crown.

* John Adams asked Thomas Jefferson to write the Declaration of Independence because, he said, “I am obnoxious, suspected, and unpopular. You are very much otherwise.”

* For a a time, Harriet Beecher Stow lived next door to Mark Twain.

These are just a few tidbits from The Intellectual Devotional – American History. The 365 readings are divided into seven fields of knowledge: Politics & Leadership, War & Peace, Fights & Reform, Business, Building America, Literature, and Arts.

The idea is to read one page per day to “revive your mind and converse confidently about our nation’s past.” I found this book so enthralling that I read the first 182 pages in one sitting!

I haven’t been reading much lately, but this book reminded me what I’m missing. If you’ve got time for one page per day, this book will be time well spent.

The Intellectual Devotional
American History
by David S. Kidder & Noah D. Oppenheim

If you could, would you want to know the date of your own death?

If you knew you had only a few months to live, what, if anything, would you do anything differently?

These are the questions behind the Rob Reiner film, The Bucket List, starring Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson. The bucket list refers to the itemization of things you want to do before you “kick the bucket.”

While some of the circumstances in this movie are a bit outlandish, the story is one most of us have contemplated, and it makes its point beautifully. With Freeman providing thought-provoking questions, and Nicholson the more-than-meets-the-eye character, you just might want to have a tissue handy.

One thing is clear. No matter how close the end, it is never too late to learn something new.

Once again, we’re a little late to jump on the bandwagon. Last night we watched the 1990 movie, “Coupe de Ville” and were pleasantly surprised. It looked like it would be a fun movie, and it was. It also had depth, as it delved into the relationship among three very different brothers, coming together after years apart, on a road trip from Michigan to Florida.

The classic rock will have you singing along, and when the brothers get into an argument about the lyrics to “Louie, Louie,” you will be hard pressed not to laugh.

It’s a great popcorn movie!

We’re a little behind the times, but we recently had the pleasure of watching the 2000 movie, “Chocolat” starring Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp. The story takes place in 1959 and revolves around a single mother and her young daughter, who move to rural France and open a chocolate shop — during Lent. Conflict with the mayor, interactions with the townspeople, and long-held traditions combine to create a fascinating tale of perseverance and acceptance. And, oh, the chocolate!