A Definite Hero!........Sunday Serenade.......

If you haven't been to Reading Without Restraint I encourage you to check out Julie's blog immediately! And let's serenade Julie....I'm pretty sure I found the perfect song, and I think you'll agree after reading her interview:  Here we have Hero by Mariah Carey.   Julie has a fantastic, fun blog that I just love to go hang out at! It's cool to look at and her reviews are spot on! Not to mention her interview is awesome - read on......

What do you do when you're not blogging or reading?

There is always something to do around my house when I am not blogging or reading.  It is just that I would rather blog or read!  Seriously though, I work full-time and take public transportation back and forth to work (that is how I get a lot of my reading done), so I am home around 5:00 PM every night.  Once I am home there is the matter of feeding my family, taking care of our four cats and two dogs, doing laundry, cleaning house, grocery shopping--you get the picture!  I have two teenage sons, and recently my husband's daughter moved back in with us and also my parents moved in with us.  My husband works out of town during the week, so he is only home from Thursday evening to Sunday afternoon each week.  There is never a dull moment around here, which makes it easy to understand why I love to escape in a good book!

Describe your favorite place to read and why you love it so much.

I can read almost anywhere, but I have a few favorite places depending on the season/weather.  Right now since it has finally warmed up this summer, I love to read out on the deck.  It is so relaxing to be outside with my dogs, listening to music on my laptop, reading a good book.  My favorite place to read when it is chilly out is in my hubby's recliner with my feet propped up.  Sometimes in the winter I love to start a fire in the fireplace, cover up with my warm blanket, and snuggle into the recliner.  Usually when I am in the recliner, my little dog, Harley, or one of our cats jumps up to sit on the footrest, which makes it extra cozy!

What is something we don't know about you and haven't been able to read in your "About Me" section?

Hmmmm....that is a tough one.  How about:  The last two years in a row I have participated in the Breast Cancer 3-Day, which is a 60-mile walk that takes place over the course of three days.  The 60 mile walk isn't split up between team members--each walker does the entire 60 miles!  The first year I think I had about 20 blisters on my feet!  All of the money raised benefits breast cancer charities.  I have raised over $4,000 in the last two years.

If you could invite 3 authors over to your home (ANY authors) for a luscious beverage and the most divine cheese and yummy chocolates, who would you invite?

Wally Lamb, because he has authored my all-time favorite book and I would love to sit and discuss it with him.  Jodi Picoult, because I love her books.  She has such a talent for writing dramatic stories that touch my heart.  And lastly, John Sandford.  He is the author of my favorite cop series, the Prey series.  If I were you I would definitely check this series out.......

If your bookshelves caught on fire what 5 books would you save?

Funny that you should mention that, because last year we actually had the misfortune of experiencing a house fire first hand!  Our garage caught on fire (luckily it didn't make it into the house due to the fire door) and we were displaced from our home for three months while they repaired it.  That was before I actually started cataloging all of my books, so I have no idea which ones I lost.

If that was to happen again, I would save the two signed books that I own, Blood Oath by Christopher Farnsworth and Shakespeare's Landlord by Charlaine Harris.  I would also save the Children's Bible given to me by my grandparents on Easter Sunday, 1983 and also the family Bible that has been in my family for over 50 years.  Other than that I wouldn't worry too much--books are replaceable, family and pets aren't! 

Name 3 songs on your playlist right now. Do you listen to music while you read?

I am very eclectic when it comes to my music.  I grew up with my dad who passed on his love of music to me and it is an important part of my life.  I don't watch much tv (I think I may have watched a total of 9 hours in the last 3 months).  Instead, I listen to music and read.  My current new favorites are Hey Soul Sister by Train  (very addicting song--I sing along with it as loudly as possible), Pride And Joy by Stevie Ray Vaughn, and last but not least my favorite song is Angel by Sarah McLachlan.

Name a quality you admire in others and a quality you admire in yourself.

The quality I really admire in others is being a good listener.  I guess because I am not one--I have a horrible habit of interrupting people.  I don't know why this is so hard for me, but if I wasn't me, I know it would be really annoying!

I think one of my best qualities is having a helpful heart.  I always try to help people out, even when it puts a hardship on me.  At times, it gets to be a bit overwhelming, but I wouldn't feel right if I didn't help people as much as I could.  I am fortunate to have a loving husband, a steady job, and food on the table.  There are many people out there that are not as blessed, and I try to pay it forward.......

Name 3 things on your bucket list. (things to accomplish in your lifetime)

Well, I don't really have a bucket list, so this one requires some thought.  I am a homebody, so one of my things would definitely have to be traveling the world.  When my friend and I were researching cruise destinations for our cruise this November, I noticed that there are year-long cruises--that sounds like a good "bucket list" kind of thing!  Secondly would be to finish college.  And lastly, I love to laugh--I would love to share a laugh with my sons so much that I actually pee my pants!  Silly yes, but as they get older I see how much they are becoming independent young men with no time for their old mom and this would be a memory they would never forget.....

What an amazing person you are Julie! And you certainly pay it forward! It's obvious in your love for teenagers, your family and how you help out with breast cancer awareness. AND $4000! WOW! That's incredible! I'm so impressed. You are one cool woman Julie! I'm so glad I've gotten to know you! And serenading....you, my dear, are truly worthy of being serenaded this week.....