And Apparently Lightening Does Strike Twice

Yes, lightening does strike twice - at least in my world. This weekend my bike was stolen...AGAIN!

Many of you might remember the first time the bike was stolen and I fully admit that was all my fault. I was at an exercise class at Lakeside and putting full trust in my beloved gated community, left my brand new, very expensive bike unlocked outside the Pavilion. An hour later, the bike was gone. Panicked I called Lakeside Security and spend endless golf cart rides looking for my bike on the grounds to no avail. I left Lakeside that year completely disappointed and without a bike but in the middle of winter I received a call from Lakeside Security that my bike had been found in the woods behind the schoolhouse.

After that, I learned my lesson. The bike was constantly locked. I would even go so far as to take the seat off, so that even if you did take the bike you wouldn't get far. Well, for almost three years the bike has been chained without incident to the deck in the back yard (it's titanium and doesn't rust, which is why I can keep it there). Until now...

The weather has been so rainy in Pittsburgh lately, so I haven't been on my deck as much as normal. That was the case Friday night. Saturday morning we were in and out of the apartment cleaning and taking the trash out but I didn't notice anything different until we came home from Home Depot. The bike was missing and the spliced lock was under the deck.If you have been to our apartment, you have seen how the bike is stored. Only people walking or driving up the ally or who are actually in the yard would have noticed it. I was in so much shock I think that it happened TWICE that I couldn't really comprehend.

Unfortunately, the bike has not reappeared. I called the police and filed a report right after the incident. Then on Sunday I filed a claim with the insurance company. I've been trying to look in people's yards as I ride through the neighborhood - creeping. I'm not holding my breath that it will show up but I was even more disappointed because I was allowed to start running.

So, for now I have to just wait and see if it appears or if insurance will cover it. No more bike riding for awhile.

Book Review: A Star for Mrs. Blake

Last summer when I was still ordering books, I remembered seeing A Star for Mrs. Blake in one of the catalogs from the publishers. It sounded great but I didn't really think anything of it until it showed up in a list of picks for book clubs. When we chose the books in December, this was one of the titles.

A Star for Mrs. Blake follows the journey of Cora Blake, a woman living on a Maine island who lost her only son in World War I, on a voyage with other Gold Star Mothers to France. Although fiction, this book is based on real-life diary of Colonel Thomas Hammond, the young army official who accompanied Party A throughout their journey. I did like the story but I think more for the historical perspective than the plot which was to me lacking until almost the end of the book but then it just ends. I had so many questions I wanted answers to and I felt like their were so many links, like what happened when Cora got home, what happened when any of them got home, what happened to the other Mrs. Russel, etc.? I could write an entire post just of questions.

After reading this book, I definitely want to read a nonfiction piece about the Gold Star Mothers, since it is true. To me that was very interesting but also made me wonder why the government would spend so much money on this trip when America was entering the Great Depression. This is briefly mentioned but never elaborated on. It wasn't just a budgeted journey either - it was first class for every aspect.

The reviews all said that fans of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and Major Pettigrew's Last Stand would like A Star for Mrs. Blake. I've read both but found it to be similar in the way it read to the latter. I would recommend this book for the history factor but I would probably never read it again or buy it.

Happy Reading!

Astronaut Wives Club

If you didn't watch the Astronaut Wives Club on ABC tonight, I would highly recommend watching it next week.

For anyone that knows me, Apollo 13 is one of my favorite movies and the book by Jim Lovell of the same name was fabulous as well. A few summers ago, I read a new release called the Astronaut Wives Club (my review). It was definitely a page-turner and I remember starting and finishing it Fourth of July weekend. For me the book, was basically a female version of Apollo 13. It was amazing to see what those wives went through so that their husbands could be part of the space program.

The show was just as good and I'm excited to see what they can do with only 10 episodes. Some of the cast was recognizable actors and actresses, including Harry from Sex and the City. It makes me want to read the book again because a lot was included in the first episode, which highlighted the start of the program, the Life Magazine shoots of the wives and the first launch of an unmanned and then manned space capsule. 

Don't miss it next Thursday at 8 p.m. on ABC!! Even non history lover or space enthusiasts should find it entertaining!

Book Review: Island Girl

It never fails. Summer starts and all I want to read is books perfect for enjoying poolside or on the dock. Typically these books take place in summer destinations I have visited and feature a group of friends. Elin Hilderbrand's books fit these requirements perfect.

I added Silver Girl to my summer reading list because I knew it would not be complete without one of Elin Hilderbrand's titles. The book was published in 2011, so its older but I'm not sure how I missed it. I treated myself to a new book a few weeks ago and this was the choice - mostly because it was a bargain book at Barnes & Noble.

As with all of Hilderbrand's books, this one takes place on Nantucket. Even though I haven't been to Nantucket in more than 10 years, after reading all of these books I feel like I visit every summer. That's because Hilderbrand gives such a wonderful tour of the island.

Island Girl follows two former best friends who retreat to the island as an escape - for one that is an escape from grief and another it is an escape to safety. Meredith Delinn has spent the majority of her adult life as a wealthy New York socialite. She served on numerous charitable boards and enjoyed a life of luxury with houses, clothes, cars and memberships to prove it. She, as well as many other investors, thought that her husband was an economic genius, making millions and billions when it seemed impossible for others. Suddenly, the luxurious lifestyle comes to an abrupt end when Freddy Delinn is accused of running a very elaborate Ponzi scheme. Soon Meredith and one of her children are also accused of being in on the cheating that lost hundreds of investors billions of dollars. Not knowing what to do when her husband is sentenced to life in prison and the press are constantly at her door, Meredith turns to her former best friend for help.

Connie and Meredith grew up together in suburban Philadelphia but as the women age Meredith's wealth and husband start to pose challenges for the friendship. Connie, a widower, is shocked to hear from her best friend and cautiously agrees to help. She herself is going through her own troubles - grief at the loss of her husband and sadness at the thought of her estranged daughter. Escape for both Connie and Meredith includes a summer at Connie's house on Nantucket. Throughout the course of the summer, the women attempt to repair their friendship and prepare for life off island come fall.

Head to the library this weekend and check out this book. Find out if life on Nantucket provides the happiness and safety these women crave.

Here are some other Hildebrand titles and reviews that I have enjoyed:

The Island

Summerland

The Castaways

Beautiful Day

Summer People

Happy Reading!