After some crazy traffic, lots of tears, and weather related delays forcing us to sit on the runway for 2 hours, I made it back to Maryland last night around 10pm after being away for 3 weeks. I was so excited to get back to my house and Mr. Bear and Mcmuffin were VERY happy to finally see me home for good (I hope, haha). Then, this morning I found out my car wouldn’t start….lucky me. AAA came and replaced my battery and voila! I have a new battery and a list of things to do that is way too long to look at.
Today is my LAST DAY OF SUMMER, for tomorrow teachers are to report back to school and I will begin my journey of First Grade Teacher: Year 3. My bff/gf Melissa bought me a book for my birthday last year, The Happiness Project, that has inspired me to quit whining and complaining about life. I am planning on starting a little Happiness Project of my own – so stay tuned for info on that. Part of it will be blogging regularly!
“What Remains” Book Review
Speaking of books, I spent my last day in CT finishing up a book that I highly recommend…along with a box of tissues. What Remains by Carole Radziwill (yes, the pretty, very skinny, brunette widow on RHNY) was such a surprisingly good read. Tine read it while we were in Cape Cod and I made fun of her because I thought, “A Real Housewife wrote a book? Blech!” And I pictured “The Duchess/Countess” or whatever she is, and her dumb book of manners.
But then…I read the first chapter and realized the Carole is actually a very talented writer with an amazing story to tell.So without giving too much away… here is my little review about What Remains:
Carole grew up living a simple life in a small town. However, from the start, she was very aware of life and fortune and fate. She worked her way up through the ranks at ABC from intern to producer and through her job, she meets a Prince. A Prince who actually does the same job as she. They fall in love slowly over a period of time, but early on in their relationship, the evil big C enters their lives. Her boyfriend finds out he has Cancer and well – that is all I will say. The Prince is cousins with John F Kennedy, Jr. and he is a big part of their lives. So is Carolyn Bassette. What Remains talks about Carole’s relationships with Anthony (her husband), John, and Carolyn, as well as all of their deaths, and how she dealt with these events in her life. I never knew Carole was related to the The Kennedys, or that she was married to a Prince, from watching a few episodes of The Real Housewives of New York. She doesn’t talk much about her past – so this book – revealed a lot.
What Remains is a very well-written book…I wished that I owned it so I could highlight/mark up the pages. There was a lot that was “quote worthy” about life and happiness. She has been through a lot, and frankly, she made me step back and look at my life, and re-evaluate everything going on around me. I am not going to lie – her story is heart wrenching. And I did have a nightmare that Mr. Bear found out he had cancer and woke up crying and shaking. But, read it. I swear you will love it and you will see her, Carole, in a completely different light than she is presented in RHNY.
Well, I am off to get started on my To-Do list. One of those items is to play with McMuffin. He has been following me around all morning afraid that I am going to leave again! I’ll be back tomorrow …. until then… have a great day!
Thanks for the book recommendation!
I absolutely adore Carole on the show!! she is my favorite cast member ever on the New York HW. I personally think she is too good to do the show! Ive actually been wanting to read that book. She talks about it all the time on the show, and she is working on another one I would eventually like to read as well. I usually dont go out and read the “books written by RHW cast members… but since she is actually a writer, and this was out long ago… I kinda had the feeling it would be good. Glad to hear it is.
Have you not see the episode where Ramona gets excited to hear that she is a “princess” because to Ramona, that trumphs the Countess. Its hilarious. as well as watching Luanne always try to one up Carole.
Sounds like a great book. Hope you are well.
♥ kristen ♥
http://www.beholdthemetatron.com
I won’t whine about how you had a few more days before starting back (I started back to school yesterday)…I hope you have a great first day back tomorrow!!
I read Fairytale Interrupted recently which is about JFK and Carolyn and most of the other reviewers said to read this book as well! I’ve had it on my Amazon wishlist for awhile now so I’ll definitely have to get it! Thanks for the rec!
http://www.tblps.blogspot.com
What was Fairytale Interrupted like?!
That book sounds really good! I would be skeptical too of a book written by a real housewife.