September 5, 2018

About the Fiction…one last thing

This blog was almost called “Fireflies, Fiction, and Free Kicks.” Fortunately one of my best friends talked me down from making it too obnoxiously long. But there will be an important aspect to this blog, and that will be book reviews. I have been an avid reader since…well, since I could first read. In second grade, I won a reading competition. Big deal, right? It was one that was held at the junior high school where my mom was an English teacher. That’s right, little 2nd grade me beat a bunch of 8th graders.

My love for books has never diminished. This past May, I became a member of #NetGalley. I receive Advanced Reader Copies (ARCs) from publishers in exchange for honest reviews. It’s exciting on so many levels, because I get to read buzz-worthy books, but I also get insight into an author’s thought process. Hey, maybe someday I’ll have courage to write that book that’s been kicking around in my head….

Anyway, you’ll see my reviews on this page. I hope that people grab recommendations from them. Nothing would make me happier than to know that people read and spread the word on a book that I recommended.

September 5, 2018September 17, 2018

What does it mean?

Fireflies and Free Kicks. What the heck, right?

I live in the mid-Atlantic region of the U.S. In the summer, we get a lot of fireflies…and I mean A LOT! Back in June, I was sitting outside on our deck, and I looked at the trees that surround our yard. It looked like a Disney forest! I mean, seriously, like one of those floats from the Electric Light Parade (anybody remember that?)! Anyway, there were literally thousands of fireflies lighting up the area, and I started thinking about how well that represented my life. I’ve had lots of differing experiences (from jobs to travel and everything in between) that all kind of flit about in my head as memories. But every single one has shaped me and lit the way for where I am now; and I know that they will continue to lead me. The realization was both magical and inspiring.

So that’s the “Fireflies” part; what about the “Free Kicks?” Easy enough…my son plays elite soccer. In fact, he is a member of the Development Academy, which is the highest level of youth soccer in the country; it feeds directly into the Youth National Teams. As of right now, that is his goal. (Actually, given a recent announcement, his goal is to be on the MNT for the 2026 World Cup when it’s hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico). Our family time is spent at the soccer fields, whether it’s practice, league games or tournaments. And if it’s not watching him, then pro games are on the TV (yay for Dish Network, where we can get soccer from any country in the world, but still can’t get a lousy Oakland A’s baseball game). I promise not to bore with only soccer stuff, but it will be a pretty safe bet that many of posts will be created either at the pitch or traveling to a game somewhere!

So there you have it: “Fireflies and Free Kicks.”

September 5, 2018

And away we go…

So here it is. But what is it? It’s a place for me to be creative; whether it’s a review of a book, musings from a soccer field, or general observations, this is where I’ll be sharing my wisdom (ha ha) with anyone who can sit down long enough to read a post. Glad to have you along!