While safely tucked away on Instagram, which has become my comfy spot for life in general over the past few years, I have watched the book blogging world become quite a different space than when I lived in it. Sometimes it seems fun and supportive and happy, while other times it appears divisive, fragmented, different, an influx of new bloggers that I don't know, but I really miss this space. I'll pop up a quick micro review on Instagram once in a very great while, and that's about it, but I miss this corner. I want to see if I can return, to poke my head out onto the blacktop and see if there's anyone else who wants to play hopscotch again?

http://www.instagram.com/coffeebookchick

I want to defy all differences of negativity for the very sake of nostalgia and missing my fellow book bloggers. And while I realize life also happened for me over the past few years, I still feel downtrodden when I click on a friend's blog site and I see they may not have posted in as many years or as many times throughout our respective absences. It's weird, this once so crucial part of my existence, something that I would feel more likely to lead off with in conversation when introducing myself (Hi, I'm Natalie, I am a book blogger.) I say nothing about my real day job because I never felt that defined me. It pays my bills but is not quite at all a dream.

Book blogging, on the other hand, very much so was something I felt that defined me to an extent. It was something I was proud of, a hobby that seemed more than that, something that I loved talking about. And now that all that cancer junk is behind me, I want the book blogging fellowship feeling back again.

I don't know what this new landscape of reading and reviewing looks like, but I want to peek a little into the universe of it all again to see if I feel like my feet feel secure.

I want to talk about my life after Stage 3 breast cancer, how I went through chemo and radiation and had no hair for six months, and how while I know it's firmly in my rear view mirror, I'm still always terrified. I want to talk about my son who was only 7 months old when I was diagnosed and how I have so many pictures where he had more hair than me, and the times when he only recognized me for my bald head and never knew who "she" was when I showed him pictures from BEFORE.

I want to share that I firmly believe my son saved my life. I want to open up the conversation on fear and anxiety, about my stronger faith in God and how much more studious I am with the Bible and how I came to follow that road that I am so glad I took, even though I know many who knew me years ago would be stunned today. And I also want to talk about my ever-developing addiction over the past year to traveler's notebooks and Bullet Journals, and journaling in general! Planning and putting my events on iPhone only?? Pfftt. That's so 2011. People are starting to remember that the old school pad of paper with a nice pen (fountain pen, anyone?) works even better and makes it easier to remember something, so now there are systems out there to help refine and tweak. Let's talk about that, yes! And don't forget those traveler's notebooks... want to fall down a rabbit hole? Go onto Instagram or search on YouTube for "traveler's notebook setups" or "planner setups." Welcome to your paycheck flying out the window, book reviewers...

There's so much LIFE out there. So much to see and do. I want to find that new routine, not just in the world of Instagram, but back in this corner, with all of you, celebrating life. I hope many of you still remain. I hope I can be consistent. Part of me wants to talk about everything here, and part of me thinks staying on Instagram is the best place for me. I'm not sure yet. But I wanted to throw my hat in the ring to declare that it wasn't quite over for the Coffee and a Book Chick and her little ole book blog. Not just yet.

If you live in New England, you may have already heard the stories. It's all over Facebook and on the local news. My husband's family, my family, has been touched by domestic violence.

The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence states that: 

Domestic violence is the willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault, and/or other abusive behavior as part of a systematic pattern of power and control perpetrated by one intimate partner against another. It includes physical violence, sexual violence, psychological violence, and emotional abuse. The frequency and severity of domestic violence can vary dramatically; however, the one constant component of domestic violence is one partner’s consistent efforts to maintain power and control over the other.

I hesitated to post anything. I wasn't planning on writing a word because I honestly didn't know if I could put into words what happened to my husband's cousin without crying. I didn't know if it was my "place" to write about it, to talk about it on social media. I was nervous that I wouldn't write it just the right way. But then I reminded myself that two young and very strong women didn't question themselves on whether or not they should be speaking about it. They reminded me through their actions that domestic abuse ALWAYS needs to be talked about and educated to all victims that they are NEVER at fault. After all, if we do nothing, if we don't try to teach each other, don't the abusers win?

My husband's cousin, Gina, is a beautiful, funny, smart, loyal, and sweet woman in Boston. She is a hair and make-up artist and is damn good at it. But just eight days ago, something happened. Something absolutely horrific.

When it happened, Gina's cousin Jen took immediate and consistent action. She posted a before-and-after photo of Gina on Facebook and it went viral. It's been searched over 62,000 times on Facebook, shared more than 4,000 times, and countless articles and news stories have been printed and broadcasted in just six days.

So what was it? What happened?

Gina was brutally assaulted in the early hours of Sunday morning, May 15, 2016 by her boyfriend. She was choked so badly and then so violently beaten with MMA-trained punches that he broke her eye socket and teeth.

Gina, the beautiful, sweet, smart, funny, tough and impressionable thirteen-year-old kid who I first met years ago on a bright and clear day on my father-in-law's boat in Boston Harbor, became the twenty-five-year-old adult victim of violent domestic abuse. It is unimaginable. The links below can provide you much more detail, including the "after" picture.

• Please donate to Gina's GoFundMe page (warning: graphic images)
• NECN Article (warning: graphic images)
• Local Fox Boston Article (warning: graphic images)
• News articles (warning: graphic images)

How could this have happened?

Only a few hours before, Gina was out with her friends to celebrate her birthday, but on their way home, when it was just the two of them together, they got into an argument. He choked Gina while she was driving, until she passed out and the car crashed. When she woke up, she was being punched in the face over and over again. She couldn't get away. When we saw the pictures, my husband and I were heartbroken. We felt angry. Helpless. My husband was devastated that he wasn't somehow there to protect his cousin. He, like everyone in the family and our friends, are numb with the shock of this terrifying moment. We still cannot believe this happened.

But then, I got so proud again. Of Jen, for doing something hard and taking action. For Gina, who so compassionately posted only days later that the issue is with this man, and not to seek revenge on his family, or threaten them in any way. For Gina to talk about it, to be public about it and who is already helping other victims. I am so impressed. These two cousin, these friends, are my new heroes.

Many times, domestic abuse is silent. You don't know who might be suffering from it. One of your Facebook friends is likely a victim of domestic abuse and you probably wouldn't know. Whenever a tragedy like this happens, we always say that we should be talking about it more. Let's please try. Please teach your children awareness, how to manage anger and conflict, frustration, and disappointment. If you're not sure, search out the answers. Stop yourself before you raise your hand. Stop to think. Stop to control yourself.

If you are, or know of someone who is, a victim of domestic abuse, please reach out. Say something. And if you're a victim of it, please remember that you have to protect yourself, but most importantly, you are NEVER responsible for helping the abuser to get better.

Contact:

• S.A.F.E.
• The National Domestic Abuse Hotline
• Find a shelter near you

The criminal is behind bars, pending his next court date today, Monday, May 23, 2016. He's been arrested for doing this before to another girlfriend. He is not named in this post, and no need to. I'd rather put the spotlight on heroes like Gina and Jen.

So, tomorrow.

Tomorrow, I go back to work. After three months on maternity leave, I now have to get settled in my upstairs office and get chained to the desk for eight hours (at least) on internal conference calls, client calls, project planning calls, etc. Two or three weeks from now, I have to get back on the road to travel to my clients a total of one week a month (at least). Not just day trips, but overnighters instead, with a night or two in a hotel (at least). (That pesky "at least" seems to pepper my phrases extensively nowadays.) Working from home is certainly a plus, but the traveling has not been fun for years. And now, especially now, it will be even harder.

So I kick myself when I think back to my college days twenty years ago when I was an English and Creative Writing major. I had lofty dreams for my future, so when I walked across the stage at the University of Maryland and received my degree from a professor who loved my work, I was massively proud of myself, secure in my next steps in life. Another professor loudly applauded who even offered me an opportunity to send my work to him so he could help edit it and advise me.

I NEVER did ANYTHING. I squandered it. Life got in the way? Nah. More like I just let a whole bunch of silly things cloud my next steps and the years just flew by. I am ever the envious one of all my blogging friends who actually use their writing degrees in the real world and who stick with it. (In case you're wondering, I'm thinking of Write Meg! That young lass is just doing things right.)

My degree merely served as a piece of paper to get a "better" job, or so I thought. I never continued to practice the craft other than the occasional smash of stream of consciousness writing when I was bored. (And no, I do not count emails and PowerPoints and contract reviews as writing.) I didn't pursue any of the dreams I had at that time because, hell, I glamorized an image in my head that I needed a job to make a paycheck so I could eat. Woe is me. I just didn't have time, I told myself, to do what I needed to do to get into the job of my dreams later. I didn't want to sacrifice.

Now, twenty years later, I realize I have worked my ass off to have a job that is all tough corporate but, unfortunately, absolutely zero passion. It's important work, and I'm glad to have it, but why? WHY? Why wouldn't I have plugged away to be in an industry I loved, that made me thrilled to go to work each day? Instead, I strayed so far from it that now, as my sweet son sleeps next to me, I realize I have regretfully paid my dues for something which keeps me up late, very late at night. But my sleepless nights are not for the excitement of what I do every day, but simply because I dread the list of things that just have to get done. The list is never interesting. It is never fun. It just, well, is.

Yes, this post has a harsh title. In comparison to the rest of the world, it wasn't a stupid life at twenty-one, relatively speaking. But, oh, it is so cathartic to imagine what I would love to tell my silly and naive twenty-one-year-old self, so that perhaps the hands of time could be kinder now in an alternate universe. Piddly silly little stress at the time. One little girl who, at the time, did not respect the amazing things life would one day give her, and that if she absolutely had to be at work, away from these amazing things, then it better be for something she truly enjoyed. Pay your dues early for the things you want later, I should have repeated to myself. But no.

And, because a post should always have pictures. Behold, my son is introduced to the snow for the first time. I sort of like the photo in the top right as he, um, quietly... informs me that he's not pleased with his hat.

Hi, ho, hi, ho. It's off to work I go.

Recently, Book Riot posted about not breaking the spine of a book. Making a case for it, Edd McCracken proclaimed that if one were to break the spine, it would result in that reader immediately being placed into the "I hate them" category. Which gave me pause.

With trepidation, I wandered over to my own bookshelves and looked them over, then turned away, embarrassed. Finally, I looked at my bookshelves, but with a shifty one-eyed glance.

Oh, dear. Based on my bookshelves, it appears I would definitely be one of those hated. From paperbacks to hardcovers, it was easy to see that I had more broken spines than clean ones. (Please note that I would never crack the spine of a book that didn't belong to me. Mr. McCracken and I do agree with this, but I must be honest about my own collection.)

When a new book first comes into my possession, all shiny and sweet-smelling, I admit I experience a twinge of sadness if anything happens that mars it any way. If I place it on the bed and then fall asleep, I will be furious with myself if that act resulted in the paperback falling on the floor at an odd angle, causing the outside of the book to be folded or creased, creating the first blemish. It can be unsettling. I will miserably stare at it, whining to myself, asking how I could have been so careless.

But then I get used to the wrinkle and I start to feel comfortable with it. I don't see it anymore. The book itself becomes its own sustainable character to me and I think about how I love roaming through used bookstores, and how much I love the beat-up look and feel of an aged book. Maybe it's a brand new one or, more likely, it's thirty years old or so, but I love it either way. If I love the book, I'm going to keep it in my collection and it's going to be loved and read over and over again. I'll crack that spine intentionally and I will underline sentences. I'll fold the corner of a page to mark my spot and I will be okay with it.

Books are not delicate flowers. They are pages of imagination, willing to be thrust into the thick of the danger and adventure of treasured and voracious reading just so the reader can absorb each moment, anxiously paging through and living each word. Dog-earing sections, leaving the book open to a chapter on the bed and cracking the spine, is all the mark of an incredible book. If I see someone reading a book in that condition, I make a note to myself to look that book up. Something kept that reader up late at night, and I want to know what it is. Don't you?

First and foremost... ohmygah, Sherlock comes back to PBS tonight. TONIGHT!

Today is an interesting one. Although cold and gray when I rolled out of bed to tend to the little one, it turned into a so-bright-it-broke-my-retina day. I'm still huddled inside, the baby sleeping, and I was just able to make that second cup of coffee (finally! At 2 pm!), only to jump onto the laptop and figure out how to mess around with the iPhoto Library (which I am NOT enjoying, still. Four years later.) Anywho, I figured since I haven't been reading as much, I should share with you what I am at least trying to read, whenever my new little boss tells me I can have a few minutes to read.

• On my nightstand: The Goldfinch, by Donna Tartt. I loved The Secret History, and this is on every reader's love list, it seems. I love the way she writes. She strings words together and it becomes art on paper.
• On my iPad: The Sun and Other Stars, by Brigid Pasulka. A little slow to start for me, since it seems to focus so much on soccer, but this is key and the writing is beautiful thus far. I received a copy from the publisher primarily because it's set in San Benedetto (my husband's middle name!) in Italy. And you guys all know how much I heart Italy and am trying to move there.
• On my audio: Well, that category title doesn't make sense. But it suits the list. So anyway, The Snow Child, by Eowyn Ivey. Narrated by Debra Monk. About twenty minutes in and am already mesmerized.

And in other news... I've been playing around with the idea of changing the blog up a little bit. More to come on this, but if you've been visiting me here over the past few months, you probably already know what to expect. But hopefully I can still surprise you?

That's right, folks. My very first 5k is DONE, son.

You may recall a couple of months ago that I started running. You may recall I then started a separate running blog called This Chick Will Run in order to hold myself accountable. And yesterday, I did my first 5k and had. a. BLAST.

I didn't expect to do a 5k so soon after starting running, but I felt that, symbolically, I had to do this one. It was the Coast Guard 5k in Yorktown, Virginia and both my father and husband were in the Coast Guard. I had to do this one. So I signed up for it a month ago, and with my heart in my throat, and my body a jangle of nerves, I showed up today.

Nerves and all, I still ran, and ran the entire time even though I was only used to flat roads and there was one hill that made me feel like my legs were sluggishly sloshing through molasses.

But the finish line was one heck of a great feeling.

I was recently perusing choices on my Audible.com library and found that I'm pretty consistent with the total audio time for books I select. Most of what I pick runs at about 11 hours, versus the audio time of the books in my wish list, that average at a minimum of 25 hours and creep upwards to 50 hours of total audio time. For some reason, I just can't download it if it's that looonnnnnng. Part of it is because I am a virtual worker so I don't have a commute time which means I only listen to an audio book when I'm running or doing errands around the house or about town. The other part of it is, well...come on! I mean, seriously, it just seems like a crazy long commitment, right? Look at Ken Follet's epic novel, Fall of Giants: 30 hours!! What?!

So I turn to you all with some questions:

• Do you have a maximum audio time length that you won't go over?
• Do you have a loooongggg audio book suggestion you think that I am INSANE for not listening to because it is SO GOOD? Tell me!

Okay, that's it. Looking forward to your responses!

I just love the grill of this car. While it retains this super-cool feeling of a time gone by, I think it also has a little bit of creepy to it as well. Like a little bit of Stephen King? Or something.

Anyway, after reading Under my Apple Tree's post last week that her pictures have been lifted online and her watermark cropped out, I think I'm going follow her lead and add the watermark somewhere more in the middle of the picture so it can't be stolen. Granted, all my stuff is on one-of-those-picture-apps, but here on the blog, I want to retain what I can. Wishful thinking?

For more Saturday Snapshots or to participate, please visit Alyce with At Home With Books.

Yesterday, I asked a question on my Facebook page if people can read more than one book at a time. Those who responded normally had three going, which is what I'm doing, too. In fact, I've somehow created this beautiful reading experience that is the most fun I've had in a while with my bookish love. Here's my recipe:

• Mix together one chunky book
• Sprinkle with shorter books to take a "break" from the bigger book
• Throw in a dash of audiobooks during errands and running.
• Result? MUCH more fun reading.

This really is refreshing. Here are my current ingredients for perfect reading:

• Chunky: The Stand, by Stephen King. Yes, still reading and it is GOOD.
• Short: The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, by Rachel Joyce. I love it. Quiet grief and a sweet old man walking to save a good friend's life. I have a lump in my throat with every page.
• Audio: Daughter of Smoke and Bone, by Laini Taylor. Pretty cool so far, and the narrator is fantastic.

So then you asked, "Coffee and a Book Chick, any revelations?" Why yes. Yes, indeedy.

• Taking my timmmmmeeeeee (time) is wonderful. Reading The Stand's 1,000+ pages has been a lovely and lounge-like reading experience. I'm enjoying savoring the story and taking my time, devouring the pages in this summer heat. In the past, I would flit through books so quickly that I felt like I had to re-read certain sections to make sure I didn't miss something. Now, I'm taking time and jotting progress notes on Goodreads. Love it.
• Keeping this up. Reading like this makes me want to keep going in exactly the same way all the time. I want to have one chunky book to read leisurely, and then take books that are shorter (at around 300 to 400 pages). Taking breaks and reading a shorter book makes me not feel like I normally do when I read a wicked long book, which is a feeling similar to *this-book-has-to-end-soon-so-I-can-read-something-else-before-I-go-crazy.* Even if the chunky book is amazing, it's still a long book, you know? Then, having the audio really changes it up.
• Don't Forget! To keep the three selected books extremely different genres, so there is no confusion.
• So, what's next? I think I have my next chunky book picked. Ready...? Bleak House by Charles Dickens. I've never read his work before, and since Gillian Anderson starred in the BBC mini-series, Bleak House, I thought I'd read the book first, natch. (I first became a fan of hers because of The X-Files, but have you seen her in the movie The House of Mirth? I loved the book by Edith Wharton and I thought Gillian Anderson was amazing as Lily.) Also, The Solitary House by Lynn Shepherd seems extremely interesting and it's based on places and characters from Bleak House. Her 10-minute video explaining her book was pretty cool.
• Now what about you? Do you have a special formula when reading more than one book at a time?

Above are the stories I'd like to tackle over the next few months. Lounge-like reading and all.

Yeah. Not a fan of heights and this freaked me out. My husband and I went to Annapolis recently and this dude was fixing the mast of a sailboat. Look how high he is! Freaky.

For of this week's Saturday Snapshots and to participate, visit Alyce with At Home With Books.

It's not like I can't immediately see how many "followers" I have when I sign onto my Blogger dashboard, but earlier this week I decided to remove the Google Friend Connect widget from my sidebar. I was hovering at around 350 followers for the longest time and every time I went up or down, it would drive me nuts.

Then I remembered blogging is my hobby not my day job.

My day job already causes enough stress. It's sometimes fun, mostly overwhelming, but all in all, it's my job and I expect a certain amount of pressure. It's what pays the bills and I'm not naive enough to expect that my day job would afford me any type of relaxation. Blogging, though, is for fun. It is to relieve the pressures and stress from the real job and everything else. And to blog about books is the break I take from it every week.

Lately, though, I've been getting frustrated, overwhelmed by review request emails. It's something I know everyone has felt at one time or another, so I know I'm in good company. The overwhelming number of requests never seem to fit your preferences even though the Review Policy clearly outlines it.

Sigh. I'm sure you've all read a post like this one many times before, in a variety of different ways, on a gazillion other blogs. My apologies if you're patiently reading through this. And I don't want to sound ungrateful.

I've been lazily crafting this for a while and it wasn't until Andi over at Estella's Revenge who recently wrote about Book Blogger Liberation that made me sit up and take notice of my feelings. My first thought was, "YES!" She is much more eloquent in her thoughts, so I encourage you to head on over there to read.

I've been declining review requests for months now and it has made me feel so much better. I only have one coming up and it's been the first one in months. My husband pointed out that when I first started blogging, after I got over the initial excitement of receiving ARCs, what I really enjoyed was the community and interaction with everyone. That was what fed me.

So here is my decision, my new change at Coffee and a Book Chick and it's fitting that I would have come to this choice this past Wednesday, July 4th, Independence Day: I am removing my Review Policy. I'm not accepting review requests for a while. I will spend my time at the library and Netgalley, where I can overwhelm myself with selections that I want, with no pressure to review it by a certain date. I adore audiobooks as well, especially as work is very busy for me right now.

So. This was a long way to say that I'm done with the pressures from hobbies.

And since I'm running now, you can definitely expect more audiobook reviews here. And...as some of you may know, I'm trying to get healthier, so I'll also be at my new blog, This Chick Will Run. I hope to stay consistent with it and maybe putting it on paper will help me. Of course, I'll never, ever leave this book corner of the blogosphere, but I have to spend a little more time over there, so I hope you'll visit me!

I'm trying very hard to not give up on running. It is almost the end of my third week. I did start another blog to document it, and you can find it at This Chick Will Run and I really love it. Of course, feel free to visit. I've also got a second Twitter account started for it, but I'm not sure if I want to manage two accounts... so we shall see. I have a couple tweets posted.

For more of this week's Saturday Snapshots, visit Alyce with At Home With Books.

Don't forget to run. It's my reminder every day. Don't forget to run, don't forget to run, don't forget to run.

I never thought I'd enjoy it. I thought running was strictly a chore to stay healthy. So I'd listen to "motivational" music and treadmill it, or I'd run outside and my lungs burned. Nothing seemed to fit.

For just a few weeks now, I've been running. It started when I was extremely stressed out by work one day and when the end of the day rolled around, I felt so extremely overwhelmed and frustrated and worried that I didn't know what to do. I hate working out so there was nothing in my closet that worked, but I hurriedly put on a pair of old beach shorts, a heavy t-shirt, and Merrells that are primarily for walking, not running. I threw my hair into a ponytail and I RAN.

And I'm not talking about a jog. I was so stressed out that day that I RAN, unhealthily pushing myself, my body that has not worked out in years. I RAN, sprinted like someone was coming after me, and everything hurt. I thought I was having a complete meltdown.

When I slowed down, my lungs about to fall apart, and my mind in a complete whir of to do lists and "oh-my-goodness-I-forgot-to-do-that" moments, I realized I actually felt...better. Could it be? Was it possible the people I knew who ran for fun, the ones I always scoffed at and thought they were insane, might actually be right?

I tried it again the next day. The temperature was creeping up but I didn't care, I wanted to try again and see if I could do it and feel the same way. I did. I felt refreshed, I felt better, I felt FREE.

The next day I took my iPhone so I could listen to my audiobook. I've always thought I was supposed to listen to something like hardcore music, or something uplifting, making me feel like I was in my own personal Chariots of Fire movie. Meh. I guess it could help. But for me, the ticket was realizing that I don't always have to do what everyone else does and instead, I decided to listen to an audiobook. It WORKED. I was so focused on the story that I didn't even realize I had been running for a little bit and that I was having fun. I could not believe it.

And you know what else I realized? I knew I was not a natural runner, but because I finally bought the RIGHT types of running gear (Brooks shoes, lightweight shorts, dri-fit socks, an armband for my iPhone, a white lightweight hat made for running so it reflects the sun and cools my head instead of my dark hair soaking in the sun), it's like it suddenly clicked. I outfitted myself with the right stuff and the gear helps, it doesn't weigh me down. It all makes sense for me.

But, it's only been a few weeks since I started running. I hope I don't lose sight of my goals to lose weight and to feel FREE, and I hope I don't forget how much FUN I'm actually having. It's my own thing, it's about me. Don't forget to run, don't forget to run, don't forget to run.

Yeah, I've got a Pinterest board now for running. Let me know if you have one so I can follow it. I need all the help and reminders I can get.

This post was my first for Joy's Book Blog's regular Tuesday meme, Readers' Workouts.

You may have noticed that it's been a bit quiet out here in my neck of the woods. Truth be told, I'm absorbed in my new role at work and it's swallowed up a lot of my time. When I do get time to read, it's mostly consumed by reading, listening, and... exercising.

• Reading. Stephen King's The Stand for Trish's #Standalong. Man, this book is truly epic and magnificent. What a tale!
• Listening. It's not that audiobooks require less concentration, but when my workday is done, I don't have the energy after being at a computer all day to pick up a book and read. So now when I do stuff around the house, out of the house, and my new hobby of running (!! I know, right?!), I listen to an audiobook to saturate my time with reading while still being active. And I love it. Right now, I'm listening to Chuck Palahniuk's Lullaby. And the story is so freaky weird that I love, love listening to it and get annoyed when I have to turn it off to do something else.
• What? I'm RUNNING now? And who knew I'd ever run as a form of...relaxation...? I'm not a big runner, and I mostly fast-walk, but every now and again, and particularly one stretch of my neighborhood, I actually run. After a stressful day, I enjoy my twenty or thirty minutes when I just get to unwind and abuse the day back by running. Never thought I'd actually like it. I mean, I bought real running shoes. And an armband to put my iPhone in so I can listen to my audiobooks when I run. I have no idea who I am.

So that's life right now.

Discussion is good. Cyberbullying is bad. This is not a blanket response and pronouncement that everyone is cyberbullying. This is just a humble post on the very few who are not truly discussing an issue, but rather who might be coming very close to cyberbullying.

I won't make this a long post and I won't link to anything. Suffice it to say that something sad happened the other day with a fellow blogger and the world of online bashing rose up and decided to condemn and destroy. A Twitter hashtag was even created and who knows how much more. I understand the disappointment that comes with news like this, but when pictures are posted, threatening comments are posted, or a hashtag gets created, it goes much, much too far.

We love books, we love to read, we love to chat them up. We have our own self-made forum in our blogs to celebrate writing. Any money we put towards designing our blog comes from our own pocket, not from anything else. We have day jobs, whether we are a stay-at-home mother or whether we commute to an office. Blogging does not pay the bills and it doesn't pay the bills for the blogger I'm referencing.

I re-read my first paragraph from my review yesterday about a book which included the serious topic of  cyberbullying. If I don't feel like something's right, I shouldn't stay quiet, which is what I normally do when it comes to drama. But re-reading that first paragraph this morning was a reminder for me.

It doesn't matter who it is. It doesn't matter what it is about. It doesn't matter what caused it.

Cyberbullying is never the answer.

These are real people with real day jobs that are being affected when threatening emails and comments are posted. We are a blogging community. Wrong is wrong, but cyberbullying is never the answer.

Please. Before you click "send," before you click "post," before you tweet, please. Walk away from your computer and away from the drama that we can all so easily jump into and take a few minutes to think about what you were just about to post. Think about who you are possibly damaging. It never makes me feel good to think that someone's whole livelihood and reputation might be destroyed, no matter what may have initially caused the disappointment. If something was lifted from my blog by someone else, I would be disappointed and heartbroken, but what would make me thoroughly devastated was to know that someone was being bullied because of it, in apparent defense of me. That is not defending. That is a witch hunt.

Please.

Stop Cyberbullying

National Crime Prevention Council on Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying Research Center

Stop Bullying

This is what happens when Otis, my sister's dog, comes by to visit for the day. Otis is a 110 pound Chocolate Lab and he is the sweetest dog around. Roma, also superbly sweet, is only 60 pounds. Together, they romp around the yard and RUN all. day. long. I get exhausted watching them.

For more Saturday Snapshots, please visit Alyce with At Home With Books.

Well, I'm back from Puerto Rico, and I'm recovering from the work sessions and beautiful sun and water by peeling off a pretty mean sunburn. I didn't read anything while I was there, or listen to an audio book. I simply relaxed.

So the only thing I want to share with you is The Stephen King Project, which is going wonderfully! Tia won for January 2012's reviews, and I'm mailing her my copy of The Lantern, by Deboarh Lawrensen. February only had two reviews, so both reviewers should be excited to potentially win, since the odds are so good. I hope you'll join me and Kathleen throughout the year and post your reviews of any Stephen King books you've read or listened to, and any film adaptations or shows you may have watched that are King-inspired. He is quite the fantastic storyteller, and he is not all horror.

I'll be catching up on everyone's reviews and also catching up on Clair de Lune by Jetta Carleton, which I was supposed to have read and reviewed this past week for TLC Book Tours...it's the first time I've ever delayed in posting a review, so I feel horrible. But, the book is beautiful and I'm loving it so far.

I'm still thinking about Puerto Rico.

A Walk About Town is a weekly feature hosted here at Coffee and a Book Chick. You do not need to have a book blog to join; any blogger can participate. Write about a spot in your town, or in another city you've visited, include the button for A Walk About Town, and add your link in the Linky below so we can all visit your post. You don't need to include a picture to participate. I will post on Thursdays, but you can post any day of that week. Just make sure to add your link to the most recent week's post here at Coffee and a Book Chick, and if you're on Twitter, use the hashtag #AWalkAboutTown.

Although this event happened a few months ago, I wanted to share a few quick pictures of the annual wine festival at Town Point Park in Norfolk, Virginia, right at waterside. The 2011 festival held in October was its 23rd year, and yes, it was quite the fun day. It was a beautiful and clear, crisp afternoon, and was a welcome event to reacquaint myself with an area I love. I encourage you to attend a wine festival in your area. You really can't go wrong with paying an entry fee and then wine-tasting away...

Alas, it's karma, my friends. I complain about being busy two weekends ago, but not so much. Behold, I begin my week of traveling for business, and I will be in Dallas for part of the week. Unfortunately, I will not be able to visit anything for fun, as it will be one meeting session all day on Tuesday, team dinner in the evening, and then all day in a meeting session on Wednesday...my, oh my. Which means, for the most part, it will be pretty quiet on this homefront even with the few scheduled posts I have set up.

So a couple things to tell you about:

• Audible.com. I just got a membership, and hello? Where has it been all my (blogging) life? Sure, I just started really enjoying audio books, but I had no idea the great deals they would have. Yes, yes, I know I need to finally get a library card in Virginia Beach since I've been living here for all of three months now, but I had to pass this along to you... Audible.com had a fabulous sale the other day, and I picked up five audiobooks for $40. If I had purchased them at regular price, it would have been approximately $100. Deal, right?
• The Stephen King Project. I am so excited on the number of participants. Each month, Kathleen and I are giving away something (one book or other bookish stuff) to one participant who linked up a Stephen King review for the month. It's never too late to join, folks, so click here if you are interested.
• Challenges I Can Do. Or, at least, do well. Which is why I signed up for Teresa's 2012 Audio Book Challenge. This, this I can do, and not feel pressured.

That's it for now. See you on the other side of next week.

Every now and then when I read a book, I get motivated to look up the food that's mentioned, especially when I've never heard it before, so when the words "Noodle Pudding" danced along the pages of Night Swim by Jessica Keener, I thought I might give it a whirl. It has egg noodles, cottage cheese, and... sugar? I initially expected a dessert of some sort, especially since it has Graham Cracker Crumbs as a topping.

I'm not knowledgeable on the best cookbooks, so after I exhausted Google, I clicked on one option from allrecipes.com and thought it sounded simple and unique. And it was. I liked it a lot and I've never tasted anything quite like this! I found it was actually more suited to be a good side dish for a big family meal. I might make this for Thanksgiving this year.

My husband loved it. He ate it as a side with chicken, and even warmed some up for breakfast.

Here's the family recipe from agk1.

Noodle Pudding

Ingredients

• 1 (16 oz) package wide egg noodles
• 1 (16 oz) package cottage cheese
• 1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
• 1 pint sour cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup white sugar
• 6 eggs, beaten
• 1/2 cup butter, melted

Topping

• 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1/2 cup white sugar

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a large casserole dish.
2. Cook egg noodles until al dente; drain.
3. In a large bowl, blend together cottage cheese and cream cheese until smooth.
4. Mix in sour cream, vanilla extract, sugar, and eggs.
5. When noodles are done, drain, and return noodles to pot; set on cooled stove top.
6. Stir 1/2 cup melted butter into noodles.
7. Combine cheese mixture and noodles into bowl; blend well.
8. Place into casserole dish.
9. Topping: Mix graham cracker crumbs, butter, and sugar. Sprinkle evenly over top of noodle mixture.
10. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.
11. Then, lower temperature to 325 degrees and continue baking for 45 minutes.
12. Cool before cutting; serve warm.

Weekend Cooking is a feature hosted by Beth Fish Reads and is an opportunity each week to share your food love. It is open to anyone who has a food-related post to share. Whether it's a recipe, a film about food, or a book, click here to visit her site and read about the feature. Don't forget to link up your food-related posts each week.