Well my son took his driver's renewal test again yesterday. Passed with flying colors.
Since his previous attempt two weeks ago, he's been relegated to the manual every evening after finishing his school homework. Guess you could say after he finishes his homework, he's got to do his homework. I think we were both ready for him to try again and get it out of the way.
I had to take off work a little early in order for him to try again. The smile immediately stretched wide across his face and his eye glimmered when he was told his score. That said more than words, and I knew he'd accomplished his mission.
He laughed afterward and said that after reading the manual for two weeks straight, he'd better pass since he had most of it memorized. Earlier in the day he'd received a 100% on his first geometry unit test, an A on his art assignment, and now he finally had a picture ID with his cool beard.
It had been a good day.
I'm so glad too because we can finally finish up his night driving hours and get him his genuine license in a few months and he can start driving himself hither and yon instead of me rushing to take him and pick him up.
Plus, having a bona-fide teen driver in the house makes for a great errand-runner.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Thursday, August 28, 2008
The Gang's (Almost) All Here
The gang just left.
My critique group gang met this evening. We usually terrorize Borders Bookstore, but a couple of months ago they decided to start closing at nine during the summer months.
That bites!
See, everyone in our groups basically has no life. Our greatest moments are when we all get together twice a month to shoot the breeze and dish on each other's latest writing excursions. It is an absolute blast and something we tend to look forward to. For the first 45 minutes or so we're all catching up on the latest that has been occuring in each other's lives. Couple of months ago it was pouring over pics of Julie's wedding. We've celebrated birthday moments together. Tonight we discussed some difficult family events from this week with Brian. We all need that time to let it all hang out.
Then we get down to business.
Now that Borders is closing so early, we begin feeling the pressure to get it all done when they start making announcements at 8:30. Then it is 8:40--8:45--8:50...you get the picture. Being rushed is not a fun way to spend an evening. Then to top it off we get unceremoniously shoved out the door.
Oh the inhumanity!
So we decided until hours went back to normal, we needed a better place to hang. Therefore, I invited everyone over to my humble abode. Plus my sectional makes a great group venue. The music isn't too loud either.
Wasn't sure how I was going to manage it. Can't have people in my home without it being at least somewhat clean and I usually don't do that until the weekend. Kids come in so handy on such occasions. :-) But it seems that things went well. I hope everyone had a nice time.
Maybe in two weeks I'll have cookies to share if I can think of it before the drive home from work.
My critique group gang met this evening. We usually terrorize Borders Bookstore, but a couple of months ago they decided to start closing at nine during the summer months.
That bites!
See, everyone in our groups basically has no life. Our greatest moments are when we all get together twice a month to shoot the breeze and dish on each other's latest writing excursions. It is an absolute blast and something we tend to look forward to. For the first 45 minutes or so we're all catching up on the latest that has been occuring in each other's lives. Couple of months ago it was pouring over pics of Julie's wedding. We've celebrated birthday moments together. Tonight we discussed some difficult family events from this week with Brian. We all need that time to let it all hang out.
Then we get down to business.
Now that Borders is closing so early, we begin feeling the pressure to get it all done when they start making announcements at 8:30. Then it is 8:40--8:45--8:50...you get the picture. Being rushed is not a fun way to spend an evening. Then to top it off we get unceremoniously shoved out the door.
Oh the inhumanity!
So we decided until hours went back to normal, we needed a better place to hang. Therefore, I invited everyone over to my humble abode. Plus my sectional makes a great group venue. The music isn't too loud either.
Wasn't sure how I was going to manage it. Can't have people in my home without it being at least somewhat clean and I usually don't do that until the weekend. Kids come in so handy on such occasions. :-) But it seems that things went well. I hope everyone had a nice time.
Maybe in two weeks I'll have cookies to share if I can think of it before the drive home from work.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Gettin' It Covered
As part of my pre-Thanksgiving preparations, I ordered my last set of curtains today for the house.
My son has two rooms - one is his bedroom and the other is his "man cave". The man cave is for hanging out, having a place to chill with friends, and playing air hockey, video games, or drawing. But come Thanksgiving it will become a bedroom for sleeping. Thus the need for a set of curtains.
When we bought the new house, my son got a whole new bedroom group. At fifteen, he was much too old (and too big for that matter) for the set of bunkbeds he'd had since he was two. However, I kept the bunkbeds for such a time as this. We'll set em up in the man cave for a cousin or two. Or maybe they'll just want to hang out on the mattresses. We'll just have to wait and see.
But at least I'll have curtains for the window. That takes care of the last needs for window treatments.
Now all I need to think about are the endless meals. Got it covered!
My son has two rooms - one is his bedroom and the other is his "man cave". The man cave is for hanging out, having a place to chill with friends, and playing air hockey, video games, or drawing. But come Thanksgiving it will become a bedroom for sleeping. Thus the need for a set of curtains.
When we bought the new house, my son got a whole new bedroom group. At fifteen, he was much too old (and too big for that matter) for the set of bunkbeds he'd had since he was two. However, I kept the bunkbeds for such a time as this. We'll set em up in the man cave for a cousin or two. Or maybe they'll just want to hang out on the mattresses. We'll just have to wait and see.
But at least I'll have curtains for the window. That takes care of the last needs for window treatments.
Now all I need to think about are the endless meals. Got it covered!
Monday, August 25, 2008
Mathematics Mad Cow
My son has started school and is quickly settling into a routine. He's already gotten into a kerfuffle with his geometry teacher though.
He tends to have "Open Mouth - Insert Foot" disease. I think it is related to "Mad Cow", however I could be mistaken. Must be a genetic thing.
When something hits his brain it tends to come spewing out of his mouth. Now it isn't necessarily a bad thing. He doesn't mean to come across as a know-it-all or anything. He doesn't intend to offend, but sometimes his teachers don't like having their errors pointed out to them in front of the whole class.
I guess it comes from having a grandpa who is a college mathematics instructor.
The teacher gave an incorrect definition for a theorem in relation to the problem. My son happened to be absolutely certain of that particular definition and questioned the instructor, who proceeded to harrumph (according to my son) it away and ignore him. One thing about my son, when he does actually take the time to speak up, he's usually very confident of his answer. So he went a step further, looked up the definition and proceeded to read it to the instructor, who didn't take kindly to it at all.
My son was fuming when I arrived home from work. Just to make him feel better, we called my father to ensure that there hadn't been a misunderstanding. Nope - no misunderstanding. My son was right.
Just because he was right didn't make what he did completely appropriate. I told my son that he needs to learn to temper himself in those situations, to not be afraid to question those in authority (with respect), but to leave it alone if the teacher doesn't respond to the question or point. Then after class it is 100% appropriate to talk with the teacher about it one on one. Teachers are human too. They can make mistakes, and like the rest of us probably don't appreciate having it pointed out in front of the entire class.
Yes, my son was okay to ask for clarification on the issue. But he should have then left it alone until they could discuss it in private. That way he could save the teacher a bit of his dignity.
He could also demonstrate tact and something else he greatly desires - his maturity.
With great intelligence comes great responsibility.
He tends to have "Open Mouth - Insert Foot" disease. I think it is related to "Mad Cow", however I could be mistaken. Must be a genetic thing.
When something hits his brain it tends to come spewing out of his mouth. Now it isn't necessarily a bad thing. He doesn't mean to come across as a know-it-all or anything. He doesn't intend to offend, but sometimes his teachers don't like having their errors pointed out to them in front of the whole class.
I guess it comes from having a grandpa who is a college mathematics instructor.
The teacher gave an incorrect definition for a theorem in relation to the problem. My son happened to be absolutely certain of that particular definition and questioned the instructor, who proceeded to harrumph (according to my son) it away and ignore him. One thing about my son, when he does actually take the time to speak up, he's usually very confident of his answer. So he went a step further, looked up the definition and proceeded to read it to the instructor, who didn't take kindly to it at all.
My son was fuming when I arrived home from work. Just to make him feel better, we called my father to ensure that there hadn't been a misunderstanding. Nope - no misunderstanding. My son was right.
Just because he was right didn't make what he did completely appropriate. I told my son that he needs to learn to temper himself in those situations, to not be afraid to question those in authority (with respect), but to leave it alone if the teacher doesn't respond to the question or point. Then after class it is 100% appropriate to talk with the teacher about it one on one. Teachers are human too. They can make mistakes, and like the rest of us probably don't appreciate having it pointed out in front of the entire class.
Yes, my son was okay to ask for clarification on the issue. But he should have then left it alone until they could discuss it in private. That way he could save the teacher a bit of his dignity.
He could also demonstrate tact and something else he greatly desires - his maturity.
With great intelligence comes great responsibility.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Change - Spooooky
I'm not sure what direction I'm going to go in.
Previously I posted about my new job just not working out and considering putting out my resume for other employment. It's a little odd for me because when I find a job I usually stay for about ten years or so. I'm not what you'd consider a job hopper. Only thing is now, I love the people I've worked with for so long and hate the idea of leaving them, but it is so obvious this is just not a good fit.
Therefore I've been considering some other possibilities. With all the savings I've spent on buying the new house and purchasing new furniture, I'm not in a position at the moment to start my own business, something I've wanted to try for several years. Since my son doesn't have many years left at home, I decided to pursue the house so he'd have opportunity to enjoy all the new space. But I'd still like an opportunity to stretch outside what I know and do something more in line with my giftedness.
It sure is hard making changes when you have sole responsibility for your family. That weight hangs over me like lead right now. My son's European trip is coming up next summer and isn't cheap. Then there's senior year. Then there's college. Then this. Then that. It never really ends.
Which means that if I want to make a change then I'd better do it now. I've actually had some very interesting ideas that I'm not quite sure how to act on, but would like to at least pursue the possibilities. Some thoughts have come from way out in left field. I'm not dismissing any of them.
Who knows - one of the left field ideas could be the one that leads to my dreams.
Previously I posted about my new job just not working out and considering putting out my resume for other employment. It's a little odd for me because when I find a job I usually stay for about ten years or so. I'm not what you'd consider a job hopper. Only thing is now, I love the people I've worked with for so long and hate the idea of leaving them, but it is so obvious this is just not a good fit.
Therefore I've been considering some other possibilities. With all the savings I've spent on buying the new house and purchasing new furniture, I'm not in a position at the moment to start my own business, something I've wanted to try for several years. Since my son doesn't have many years left at home, I decided to pursue the house so he'd have opportunity to enjoy all the new space. But I'd still like an opportunity to stretch outside what I know and do something more in line with my giftedness.
It sure is hard making changes when you have sole responsibility for your family. That weight hangs over me like lead right now. My son's European trip is coming up next summer and isn't cheap. Then there's senior year. Then there's college. Then this. Then that. It never really ends.
Which means that if I want to make a change then I'd better do it now. I've actually had some very interesting ideas that I'm not quite sure how to act on, but would like to at least pursue the possibilities. Some thoughts have come from way out in left field. I'm not dismissing any of them.
Who knows - one of the left field ideas could be the one that leads to my dreams.
Friday, August 22, 2008
A Miracle
For as long as I can remember, my son and I have reserved Friday nights for pizza and a movie. Now that he's getting older, it doesn't happen EVERY Friday, but we still try and make it a priority.
Tonight we watched Miracle, the movie from several years ago that relived the miraculous gold medal winnings of the U.S. hockey team during the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, NY. We've watched it so many times over the years, but it still gets my motor going and my blood pumping during that game between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. Gosh, I can hardly sit still. I can hardly breathe.
And I already know how it ends!
I think the movie is even more amazing in that they took regular guys, hockey players, and made them into actors instead of the other way around. Kurt Russell as Coach Herb Brooks did an outstanding job, playing the real-life character so effortlessly. He should have in the least been nominated for an Oscar. Personally myself I think he should have been given an Oscar for that performance hands down.
I remember what it was like during that time - the fear of the Soviets, the fear of the Cold War, the economic malaise, the sense of hopelessness in America. This real-life event in our nation's history was the catalyst that turned people's hearts and minds around. Hope once again entered our lives. Dreams were lived out in front of us. We learned to believe in ourselves once again.
And we learned to believe again in miracles.
Tonight we watched Miracle, the movie from several years ago that relived the miraculous gold medal winnings of the U.S. hockey team during the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, NY. We've watched it so many times over the years, but it still gets my motor going and my blood pumping during that game between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. Gosh, I can hardly sit still. I can hardly breathe.
And I already know how it ends!
I think the movie is even more amazing in that they took regular guys, hockey players, and made them into actors instead of the other way around. Kurt Russell as Coach Herb Brooks did an outstanding job, playing the real-life character so effortlessly. He should have in the least been nominated for an Oscar. Personally myself I think he should have been given an Oscar for that performance hands down.
I remember what it was like during that time - the fear of the Soviets, the fear of the Cold War, the economic malaise, the sense of hopelessness in America. This real-life event in our nation's history was the catalyst that turned people's hearts and minds around. Hope once again entered our lives. Dreams were lived out in front of us. We learned to believe in ourselves once again.
And we learned to believe again in miracles.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Long Lost Cousin
I just love finding long lost family.
My cousin, Michelle, called me this evening, asking if she could borrow my vacuum cleaner. Hers is on the blitz, so I had my son throw it in the car and ran it over to her.
She's not really my cousin, by all points and purposes. We've known each other since we were younger. Her aunt is married to my uncle. So that makes my uncle her uncle. Makes her aunt my aunt. It isn't a blood thing, more of a marriage situation.
We still claim each other anyway. We're just a few months apart in ages. There are other commonalities as well.
Many years ago I happened to move to this area. For a brief period of time we actually worked for the same employer. Then she left because she was getting ready to get married and move away.
That was almost twenty years ago. We lost contact with each other. That is until last year.
My son and I (Mom too) flew to Houston last summer for my cousin's wedding. This is the daughter of my aunt and uncle. This is the daughter of Michelle's aunt and uncle. Aw heck, you get the drift. Needless to say, Michelle and I were thrilled to see each other again at the mini family reunion/wedding weekend extravaganda.
Her daughter was a senior and my son was getting ready to start high school. Funny thing was, when those two started talking with each other we discovered something astonishing.
Her daughter and my son were going to the same school. Michelle had never gotten married and had never moved away from the area and was living in my town. My town was her town. Her town was my town. How had we never run into each other?
It made me sick to think that we'd shared the same community for thirteen years without even knowing it. All that lost time. All those missed opportunities.
We decided that God had brought us back into contact at that particular moment for a reason. Here she was a single mother too, just like me. She'd also made the decision to put off dating until her daughter was raised, just like me.
Plus it was so nice to know that I wasn't without "family" up here. We get together as often as feasible, go to lunch, run around or just hang out at the house and watch movies or play card games. She even watched my son for me when I had to go out of town last fall.
Cause families help each other out, don't ya know.
My cousin, Michelle, called me this evening, asking if she could borrow my vacuum cleaner. Hers is on the blitz, so I had my son throw it in the car and ran it over to her.
She's not really my cousin, by all points and purposes. We've known each other since we were younger. Her aunt is married to my uncle. So that makes my uncle her uncle. Makes her aunt my aunt. It isn't a blood thing, more of a marriage situation.
We still claim each other anyway. We're just a few months apart in ages. There are other commonalities as well.
Many years ago I happened to move to this area. For a brief period of time we actually worked for the same employer. Then she left because she was getting ready to get married and move away.
That was almost twenty years ago. We lost contact with each other. That is until last year.
My son and I (Mom too) flew to Houston last summer for my cousin's wedding. This is the daughter of my aunt and uncle. This is the daughter of Michelle's aunt and uncle. Aw heck, you get the drift. Needless to say, Michelle and I were thrilled to see each other again at the mini family reunion/wedding weekend extravaganda.
Her daughter was a senior and my son was getting ready to start high school. Funny thing was, when those two started talking with each other we discovered something astonishing.
Her daughter and my son were going to the same school. Michelle had never gotten married and had never moved away from the area and was living in my town. My town was her town. Her town was my town. How had we never run into each other?
It made me sick to think that we'd shared the same community for thirteen years without even knowing it. All that lost time. All those missed opportunities.
We decided that God had brought us back into contact at that particular moment for a reason. Here she was a single mother too, just like me. She'd also made the decision to put off dating until her daughter was raised, just like me.
Plus it was so nice to know that I wasn't without "family" up here. We get together as often as feasible, go to lunch, run around or just hang out at the house and watch movies or play card games. She even watched my son for me when I had to go out of town last fall.
Cause families help each other out, don't ya know.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Tuesday Television
Tuesday nights around our house are typically centered around the T.V. We don't watch much of it any other day, but when we do we do it with gusto.
Usually it is non-stop Discovery Channel's "Deadliest Catch" series that keeps our blood pumping and our guts sore from laughing so much at all the greenhorns' antics. But with "Deadliest Catch" on hiatus until next season, we stumbled across something new.
Have you ever heard of a show called "Reba"? It's Reba McEntire, the singer!!! She's absolutely hilarious. It's a 30-minute sitcom about a single mother whose husband left her for his younger assistant (who, by the way, actually becomes Reba's friend), whose 17-year old daughter becomes pregnant and the father is kicked out of his own house (so they end up getting married and living with Reba), and the whole thing is an absolute disastrous and chaotic mess.
I love it!
I can so relate to several things in this sitcom, even those besides the single parent saga. Yes, they deal with some touchy subjects. Yes, it is irreverent, but they approach everything in such a way that is refreshing and yet still somewhat honorable.
The daughter and son-in-law got pregnant, but he did the honorable thing by marrying her and she by keeping the baby. They have their moments of selfishness and teenagerness, trying to walk a line between high school and adulthood. But then he holds her head while she's pucking her guts up (even though he whines about it), and she supports his efforts to try to improve his grades in school (he's a football jock) since he now has responsibilities.
Reba has her moments of anger and bitterness toward her ex-husband and his new wife (who is also pregnant with his child). But then she also shows her ex honor by encouraging the stiff relationship with their younger daughter. She works hard to accept the fact that the new wife is now a part of their lives, though she gets some of the best one-liner put downs before anyone catches it. Kinda like a "who goosed the moose" moment.
This crazy show is so relatable. I've personally seen how a teenaged pregnancy can affect an entire family and how it helps when the family accepts it and gathers around. I've seen how divorce affects people and how bitterness can be hard to overcome but can be done with alot of work. I know how it feels to be a single mother and worry about how it affects your kids and how other people look differently at your children because of it, as if single-parenthood is some kind of catching disease. I know how hard it is to swallow your pride and encourage the children's relationship with the ex because it is good for them and the right thing to do (in most cases). Life isn't always a sweet-smelling, bed of roses.
But at least we can find something to laugh about!
Usually it is non-stop Discovery Channel's "Deadliest Catch" series that keeps our blood pumping and our guts sore from laughing so much at all the greenhorns' antics. But with "Deadliest Catch" on hiatus until next season, we stumbled across something new.
Have you ever heard of a show called "Reba"? It's Reba McEntire, the singer!!! She's absolutely hilarious. It's a 30-minute sitcom about a single mother whose husband left her for his younger assistant (who, by the way, actually becomes Reba's friend), whose 17-year old daughter becomes pregnant and the father is kicked out of his own house (so they end up getting married and living with Reba), and the whole thing is an absolute disastrous and chaotic mess.
I love it!
I can so relate to several things in this sitcom, even those besides the single parent saga. Yes, they deal with some touchy subjects. Yes, it is irreverent, but they approach everything in such a way that is refreshing and yet still somewhat honorable.
The daughter and son-in-law got pregnant, but he did the honorable thing by marrying her and she by keeping the baby. They have their moments of selfishness and teenagerness, trying to walk a line between high school and adulthood. But then he holds her head while she's pucking her guts up (even though he whines about it), and she supports his efforts to try to improve his grades in school (he's a football jock) since he now has responsibilities.
Reba has her moments of anger and bitterness toward her ex-husband and his new wife (who is also pregnant with his child). But then she also shows her ex honor by encouraging the stiff relationship with their younger daughter. She works hard to accept the fact that the new wife is now a part of their lives, though she gets some of the best one-liner put downs before anyone catches it. Kinda like a "who goosed the moose" moment.
This crazy show is so relatable. I've personally seen how a teenaged pregnancy can affect an entire family and how it helps when the family accepts it and gathers around. I've seen how divorce affects people and how bitterness can be hard to overcome but can be done with alot of work. I know how it feels to be a single mother and worry about how it affects your kids and how other people look differently at your children because of it, as if single-parenthood is some kind of catching disease. I know how hard it is to swallow your pride and encourage the children's relationship with the ex because it is good for them and the right thing to do (in most cases). Life isn't always a sweet-smelling, bed of roses.
But at least we can find something to laugh about!
Monday, August 18, 2008
Advice Anyone????
Sometimes I don't know how to read my son.
This summer he's been Mr. Independent, traveling to various places with choir and youth groups. He's had a great time and I think the opportunities have been so good for him in so many ways.
That's why I'm a little stumped right now.
Last year when he got his learner's permit to drive, he aced the test. Didn't miss a single question. I've been telling him for a month to be reading up on the manual because he needed to take his test to get a restricted license. Told me he did. Thought that he did. Guess he really didn't.
Friday I took him to renew since I was off work. He took the written test and missed seven questions, two too many to get his license renewed. I was stunned.
Lately he's been fighting me on his driving. I'd kept my previous car when I bought my new one a couple of years ago just so he'd have a car to drive when ready. Only thing is the old car that is to be my son's is a manual transmission, and he learned on an automatic. I figured no problem, since I eventually learned how to drive a stick and loved it. Ah, the control. Ah, the power.
Wait, was that a cop I just passed?
Anyway, I get the teeniest feeling he failed on purpose. Maybe I'm being paranoid, but it is quite interesting how he went from Mr. Ace to Mr. Failure in the span of one year. Next month when he turns 16 he'll be getting his first job. I guess he'll have to walk to work and home again. Maybe then he'll rethink his attitude. Maybe then he'll actually see the benefit to driving himself. Cause let me tell you - this mother isn't going to be driving him.
Yeah, there's probably some fear there of the unknown. Maybe walking will renew the thirst to learn. One can only hope.
I'm open to advice!
This summer he's been Mr. Independent, traveling to various places with choir and youth groups. He's had a great time and I think the opportunities have been so good for him in so many ways.
That's why I'm a little stumped right now.
Last year when he got his learner's permit to drive, he aced the test. Didn't miss a single question. I've been telling him for a month to be reading up on the manual because he needed to take his test to get a restricted license. Told me he did. Thought that he did. Guess he really didn't.
Friday I took him to renew since I was off work. He took the written test and missed seven questions, two too many to get his license renewed. I was stunned.
Lately he's been fighting me on his driving. I'd kept my previous car when I bought my new one a couple of years ago just so he'd have a car to drive when ready. Only thing is the old car that is to be my son's is a manual transmission, and he learned on an automatic. I figured no problem, since I eventually learned how to drive a stick and loved it. Ah, the control. Ah, the power.
Wait, was that a cop I just passed?
Anyway, I get the teeniest feeling he failed on purpose. Maybe I'm being paranoid, but it is quite interesting how he went from Mr. Ace to Mr. Failure in the span of one year. Next month when he turns 16 he'll be getting his first job. I guess he'll have to walk to work and home again. Maybe then he'll rethink his attitude. Maybe then he'll actually see the benefit to driving himself. Cause let me tell you - this mother isn't going to be driving him.
Yeah, there's probably some fear there of the unknown. Maybe walking will renew the thirst to learn. One can only hope.
I'm open to advice!
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Book Review
Sunday afternoons we typically relax, watch a little TV, play on the computer, or read a book. Sometimes it's even a mix of all. Today (after my nap, of course) I finished reading "The Last Days" by Joel C. Rosenberg. LOVED IT!
Mr. Rosenberg previously wrote the bestseller prequel, "The Last Jihad", however I somehow missed that one, but you really don't have to read it to follow the events. Found this on the $5 table at Wal-mart a couple of months ago. Started it and then got interrupted and just got back to it this past week. I can't believe I ever put it down, but life has an irritating habit of getting in the way of little pleasures. Gee!
Jon Bennett is a high-powered Wall Streeter brought onto President MacPherson's advisory staff to broker the most important deal of his career - peace in the Middle East. The Palestinian/Israeli conflict is escalated when Arafat (yes, a little out-of-date) and much of the U.S. delegation is blown to smithereens by the head of Arafat's security detail, also a high-level operative in a secret terrorist organization.
The organization is bent on chaos and throwing the peace process into the tank, assured that Israel will retaliate when suicide bombers strike in tandem at the heart of Jerusalem. An Israeli strike in the West Bank and Gaza will bring down the hard hand of other Arab nations against Israel, and the U.S. will be forced to come to the aid of Israel once again, inflaming certain Asian and European tensions. The entire world could be thrown into utter destruction as it holds its collective breath, awaiting the ultimate response sure to come.
But will the response be the right one?
Great tension. Dramatic action. The pace is quick, non-stop. The stakes escalate until you feel as if you're about to fall off a cliff.
I actually found myself squirming and holding my breath a couple of times in the last few chapters. It made me laugh at myself. Haven't got that caught up in a book for a long time. Thrillers aren't really my thing, but it sounded like a good premise. Plus I've been looking for some good reading material in other genres that I'm not used to reading. This one fit the bill BIG TIME.
Highly recommended!
Mr. Rosenberg previously wrote the bestseller prequel, "The Last Jihad", however I somehow missed that one, but you really don't have to read it to follow the events. Found this on the $5 table at Wal-mart a couple of months ago. Started it and then got interrupted and just got back to it this past week. I can't believe I ever put it down, but life has an irritating habit of getting in the way of little pleasures. Gee!
Jon Bennett is a high-powered Wall Streeter brought onto President MacPherson's advisory staff to broker the most important deal of his career - peace in the Middle East. The Palestinian/Israeli conflict is escalated when Arafat (yes, a little out-of-date) and much of the U.S. delegation is blown to smithereens by the head of Arafat's security detail, also a high-level operative in a secret terrorist organization.
The organization is bent on chaos and throwing the peace process into the tank, assured that Israel will retaliate when suicide bombers strike in tandem at the heart of Jerusalem. An Israeli strike in the West Bank and Gaza will bring down the hard hand of other Arab nations against Israel, and the U.S. will be forced to come to the aid of Israel once again, inflaming certain Asian and European tensions. The entire world could be thrown into utter destruction as it holds its collective breath, awaiting the ultimate response sure to come.
But will the response be the right one?
Great tension. Dramatic action. The pace is quick, non-stop. The stakes escalate until you feel as if you're about to fall off a cliff.
I actually found myself squirming and holding my breath a couple of times in the last few chapters. It made me laugh at myself. Haven't got that caught up in a book for a long time. Thrillers aren't really my thing, but it sounded like a good premise. Plus I've been looking for some good reading material in other genres that I'm not used to reading. This one fit the bill BIG TIME.
Highly recommended!
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