just ask jodes: 2016

Thursday, January 7, 2016

It's a new dawn...It's a new year...It's a new life, for me...And I'm feeling good

Dear Family and Friends,

My blog has been down for quite a while. It is currently under a remodeling process, of sorts....and hope to figure the process out quickly so I can be up and writing again soon. Blessings to all as you begin your new dawn & new year, 2016. Talk to you all soon!

Love Jodes

I'm Spellbound. The Jodes Favorite Books

**Non Fiction**

The Glass Castle
by Jeannette Walls

An interesting and humorous autobiography about poverty in America. While millions of hours and dollars are being spent on international concerns, we have serious situations going on right here in America. Read The Glass Castle and fall in love with the Walls family.

The Last Lecture
by Randy Pausch

This is a bible, of sorts. Randy Pausch says all the things we should know about life in his “Last Lecture” at Carnegie Mellon University, and in this beautiful book before his passing in July 2008.

A Girl Named Zippy and
She Got Up Off The Couch
by Haven Kimmel

Both are laugh out loud funny. Always my “go to” books if someone asks for the name of something funny to read. These are Haven’s autobiographies about her childhood in Indiana. When I read A Girl Named Zippy, I started compiling my own childhood stories. Thanks Haven.

Wait Till Next Year
by Doris Kearns Goodwin

I love memoirs about the simple times in America in the 50’s and 60’s. This is a favorite because of Goodwin’s father, who taught her the joy of baseball and to root for the Dodgers and Jackie Robinson. I read parts of this book to my Dad when he was in the hospital and it made him cry big fat tears of joy. He was a Dodger lover through and through. It's a forever, keeper book.

Dog Days and
Izzy & Lenore
by John Katz

John Katz threw in the towel on his hectic NYC life and moved to the Upstate New York countryside. Now he has a working farm, complete with animals and dogs. Charming, fun and adorable. You will fall in love with his animals. Wait until you read about his crazy cow.

The Other Game
by Nolan Ryan

This is a sentimental favorite always on display in my home. In the last chapter, Nolan Ryan, a superstar pitcher from the Anaheim Angels talks about his relationship with a fan named Chris Migliore. Chris was my friend Anthony Migliore’s brother, who tragically succumbed to Muscular Dystrophy. Gone, but never forgotten.

I Am Third
by Gale Sayers

Gale Sayers played football for the Chicago Bears back in the 60’s. His famous quote, “The Lord is First, my friends are Second and I am Third,” has always been one of my favorites. I also love that he has a chapter in his book titled “Going for the Pookie Burger.”

And Then I Had Kids
by Susan Alexander Yates

My friend Kay Morrison mailed me this book on the pronto when I was deep in the trenches raising my children, thinking I was going bonkers, and not sleeping. It saved my life and helped restore my sanity. Thank you Kay, you are one of my heroes.

Memoirs of A Geisha
by Arthur Golden

An education in the ancient world of the Japanese Geisha. Fasincating!

**Fiction**

Love You Forever
by Robert Munsch

...The Mother sneaks into her son’s room, picks up the sleeping baby and sings, “I’ll love you forever, I’ll love you for always, as long as I’m living, my baby you’ll be.” She continues to do this even when he is an unlovable teenager and then a grown man. In the end, the son sneaks into his Mother’s room, picks her up, and sings the song to her. I am a puddle of goo just writing this.

The Red Tent
by Anita Diamant

This book literally transported me back to the Old Testament days. My Bible stories came alive. If modern women could rest together for a few days every month instead of running at 100 mph during menstruation, would we kill each other, or thrive?

Redeeming Love
by Francine Rivers

This is a masterpiece. It’s a powerful analogy of the Book of Hosea. It reminds us of God’s unconditional and all consuming love. The last chapter killed me. I openly and joyfully succumbed, wept and then wept some more. We were camping in Bishop. The children peered into the tent. I simply held up the book and continued to cry. It’s that kind of book.

The Passion of Artemesia
by Susan Vreeland

Stephanie and I read this as “homework” on our way to Europe with my Dad and Sam. I wanted the kids to have a fun way to learn about the 1st female in Renaissance Italy to be elected to the Accademia dell’ Arte. When we saw Artemesia Gentileschi’s “Judith” in Florence, it was awesome to see Stephanie and Sam mesmerized by the artistic details mentioned in this book.

RICHER THAN GOLD
You may have tangible wealth untold;
Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.
Richer than I you can never be --
I had a mother who read to me.
-Strickland Gillilan