Sneak A Peak

While we finish up Baggage Claim this evening I thought I would give everyone a heads up on the next book that we will be reading Are you there, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea by Chelsea Handler.  Looking at the reviews people either really love it or really hate it. 
However since the book is for a theme evening...Pedis & 'tinis (Peditinis?) I figured a light hearted romp might be the way to go with the book.
I have even done your online comparison shopping for you.  Amazon is the cheapest of the main three.  If you are in Boise (or near a Hastings) though you should be able to pick it up at your local store for nearly the same price.  Double check that they will match their web price (gohastings.com) before you go in.

I will be bringing Crater Lake Vodka with me.  I think it is as good, if not better than Sky or Grey Goose at a more reasonable price.  You have to go to the web page through their main site and state that you are of legal drinking age.  Once you do watch their video and click on their drink recipes.  If you see one you like grab the ingredients (except vodka) and bring it with you. 

If you have another vodka that you absolutely must have bring it with you.  We can always do a blind taste test and see which one wins...That might be fun in itself.

As well as the Martinis we will be doing pedicures.  Bring your favorite nail polish with you for that part.  The book is only 264 pages so I think we will only need the one meeting for this book.

Anyway off to walk Kada.

Good Books, Good Wine Vodka, Good Friends What Could be Better?

If it's chicken it's beer....

First welcome to Laura, who is one of our new local regulars, and to Marti who was in town this evening and liked our book discussion so much that I lent her my copy for her flight home.  Yes I admit it.  I was bad I couldn't stop at page 120 like I was supposed to and finished the whole book.  Welcome also to Aaron (our only male so far) we hope to see more of you at these meetings.  Just remember Aaron don't trust Char when she tells you to say something about the book.

Just to give you an idea on how some of our book club meetings go.  First we talked about different odds and ends while we poured wine and decided to hold our discussion outside.  Then once we were sitting out there I explained my 31 books in 31 days contest.  

Aaron showed up with take-and-bake pizza, which he somehow managed to turn upside down so it had to be re-assembled.  It still tasted good though.  Along with this he brought a couple bottles of wine and some Twilight beer.Thank you.

 We decided one of our upcoming books is going to need to be something that goes well with Smores Martini's and pedicures.  Decision made Chelsea Handler's "Are you there, Vodka? It's me Chelsea"

While Char was in the house re-assembling the pizza with Aaron we were discussing how we wanted to handle the wine in the future.  With four of us two bottles was just a little more than we usually needed.  With 6+ we would be needing another bottle.

So the questioning began...Do we want to continue with a bottle each of a red and white? should we have a red or white theme for each evening?

"If it's chicken it's white...If it's a beefier read it's red.."  At this point Char comes back outside and  Michelle states " No, if it's chicken it's beer."  We all looked up at her (must have had dumbfounded expressions on our faces). Char asks, "Wait, what are we discussing here."

I think we will probably stick with the red and white combination with the third bottle being red for the first meeting of the month and white for the second.

I drank the AutoMoto Cab for the evening and really enjoyed it. Other comments should be coming sooooon.

As to the Baggage Claim by Tanya Michna there is a bet (from those that hadn't finished reading it) on whether either of the couples will work things out.  I just told them that at least one of them was right on their choices...But I wouldn't tell them which one.  I will post more thoughts on the book after all of us have finished reading it.


Good Books, Good Wine, Good Friends What Could be Better.

Opera Idaho - South Pacific

Opera Idaho performed South Pacific outdoors at Idaho Botanical Garden. Their first performance was Friday evening and their second and final performance was today.

The weather for today's performance was clear and hot. 90+ degrees. Sunblock was a must for, the audience, the orchestra, and the performers.

Several people found shady places to wait for the performance to start.  Some of the favorites were the Meditation Garden and the path to the English Garden.

Willowcreek Grill and Raw Sushi were the caterers for the event.  I tried the 1/2 Pinchy  Roll (lobster and avocado) 1/2 Tuna Roll. It was the perfect treat for such a hot day.  Willowcreek's staff was absolutely great.

Alex Lundquist - Men's Ensemble warms up his vocals

Walking through the English Garden before the performance I saw that even the actors had found shady places to warm up their vocal chords or read through the score.

Brett Hamilton - who sang Emile de Becque

After the show I asked a couple people what they thought of it.

It was very nice.

Absolutely wonderful!

   








I am looking forward to the next time Opera Idaho decides to perform at Idaho Botanical Gardens. For information on their schedule and tickets check out their website.

Of course you can always check out Idaho Botanical Garden's website to see some of their upcoming Outlaw field concerts or their schedule of Thursday night Great Garden Escape concerts.

31 Books in 31 Days

So I am sitting out here enjoying our lovely weather at the moment. Trying to think of something fun and it hit me. I need to read MORE...I have been slacking off a little the last month or so.

Here's the deal. I need 31 books to read. I want to expand my horizons and find some more new authors.

Suggest your favorite Indie Author or any other author that has a book that would be a great summer read. Indie Authors can even suggest their own book. I'm easy that way.

I will post the book review the day after I read it. The review will include either the first name, last initial and city or twitter handle of the person credited with the submission.

Even though our group is books and wine I figured 31 days of wine might be a little much for me. Though I am always open to good wine suggestions and you will receive a grateful thank you for those.

Our twitter IwasIamIwillbe link is on the right of this page ( #31BookReviews).  Facebook - I was I am I will be - link is on the left side of this page.

Rules:
1) This contest is open to anyone 13 and older.

2) You must either "Like Us" on Facebook or "Follow Us" on Twitter.

3) For me to read 31 books in August I need to start gathering them. So submissions are open from now July 11, 2010 until August 15th, 2010.

4) I would prefer that the books be fiction but non-fiction is acceptable as long as it isn't a how-to manual or a true crime. No War & Peace, I don't think I could read that in a day.  500 pages maximum for book length.

5) In the event that I receive more than 31 book suggestions I will randomly draw for the 31 books for the month of August.

6) If your suggestion wasn't drawn for August it will be saved until the next month with 31 days. That would be October and I will run the contest again.

7) The only people who aren't eligible to make suggestions would be my relatives. I already know what they like to read and that wouldn't expand my horizons that much.

8) There will only be one prize awarded for the month of August. The winner will be chosen from one of the 31 books reviewed in the month of August.  That prize will be awarded on September 12, 2010. If you want to win it I must have a way to contact you. That would be the reason for the Facebook or Twitter follows.

9) Prize - One $20 gift card from your choice of one of the following retailers (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders, or Starbucks)

10) Odds depend on the number of entries received.

Good Books, Good Wine, Good Friends What Could be Better.