Music Monday - "Dance Away" by Roxy Music (1979)

I love this song. I've loved it since first listen in my teen years, and still feel a little thrill when I hear it on the radio. 

"Dance Away" was a hit for Roxy Music in 1979. It was written by Bryan Ferry and released on the band's Manifesto album.  It was a big hit, and is one of Roxy Music's signature songs.   I always like the lyrics, about a man who dances away his heartache after his girlfriend leaves him for another man:  

"You're dressed to kill and guess who's dying'
Dance away the heartache
Dance away the tears
- Dance away"

Do you remember this song?  Any other Roxy Music songs you remember and like?  I'd love to hear from you in the comments, below.

Book Review and Giveaway - Sit Stay Love by Dana Mentink

Book Synopsis
Take one abrasive professional athlete, a quirky out-of-work schoolteacher, and an overweight geriatric dog, and you're ready for a lesson in love . . . Tippy style.

Pro baseball pitcher Cal Crawford is not a dog guy. When he inherits his deceased mother's elderly dog, Tippy, he's quick to call on a pet-sitting service.

Gina isn't thrilled to be a dog sitter when her aspirations lie in the classroom. Furthermore, she can't abide the unfriendly Cal, a man with all the charm of a wet towel. But with no other prospects and a deep love for all things canine, she takes the job caring for Tippy.

As Gina travels through Cal's world with Tippy in tow, she begins to see Cal in a different light. Gina longs to show Cal the God-given blessings in his life that have nothing to do with baseball or fame. When her longing blooms into attraction, Gina does her best to suppress it. But Cal is falling in love with her too . . .

Discover the charming story of Tippy, the dog who brought a family together.

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1W95mqe

My Review
When I received Sit Stay Love in the mail, I scanned a photo of the cover and posted it to my Facebook page with the words:  "I think I am the target audience for this book."   The cover features a soulful, expressive dachshund face - a senior dog.  The only thing I love more than dachshunds is senior dachshunds, and the dog on the cover bears a strong resemblance to my late dachshund Lucy Ricardo.

I read this book over the weekend, and it is a perfect weekend read.   Sit Stay Love is a light romantic story about Gina, a former school teacher turned dog sitter, and Cal, a baseball player who has just lost his mother and inherited her senior dachshund, Tippy.

Despite the difference in these characters' lives, a friendship with romantic chemistry slowly develops.  This all happens because of Tippy.  Part of the story takes place in San Francisco, and part takes place on a charming rural ranch.  

Gina is a very likable protagonist who practices kindness every day and prays for people she cares about.   Although Cal initially comes off as gruff, he becomes sympathetic as readers learn about his background growing up on a ranch with his mother, aunt, and uncle.

Of course, dachshund lovers will delight in this book.  The author really captures the doxie personality perfectly, and Tippy is a star in this story.

I very highly recommend Sit Stay Love, especially as a beach read or weekend read.   It is absolutely delightful, and you will fall in love with Tippy, as I did.

Author Bio
Dana Mentink lives in California, where the weather is golden and the cheese is divine. Dana is an American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year finalist for romantic suspense and an award winner in the Pacific Northwest Writers Literary Contest. Her suspense novel, Betrayal in the Badlands, earned a Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award. Besides writing, she busies herself teaching third and fourth grade. Mostly, she loves to be home with her husband, two daughters, a dog with social anxiety problems, a chubby box turtle, and a feisty parakeet.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Giveaway
Join Dana in celebrating the release of Sit, Stay, Love with a blog tour and a Travels with Tippy prize pack giveaway!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of Sit, Stay, Love
• A $75 Visa cash card
• A basket filled with Tippy-themed goodies
  • Travel-themed decorator box
  • Reading dog statue
  • Dog journal
  • Poems for Dog Lovers
  • Snuggle Paws fleece blanket from Animal Rescue Site
  • Pawprint scarf
  • Doxie desk pen
  • Pupmobile auto magnet

 

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry! The giveaway ends on April 25th. The winner will be announced April 26th on Dana's blog.

I received a copy of this book from Litfuse in exchange for an honest review.

Dear Abby - Meet Cosmo, Max, Whipper, and Snapper (A Rescue Pet Spotlight)

Dear Friends,

I am so excited!   Kitties are visiting the blog this week.  I love cats and am so happy to introduce you to FOUR cats from the same family!   

Meet Cosmo and Max

Cosmo and Max are Siamese cats who have lived together their whole lives.  They are 16+ years old. 

This is Cosmo:

This is Max:

Abby:  What is your background and how did you end up in rescue?

Cosmo and Max:  Well some lady bought us separately when we were just tiny little kittens and kept us together. But she ended up, in 4 years having 4 kids under 5 and when she got pregnant with #5, she decided Daddy had to give us up. We were too much work for her.

So she had a rescue put an ad on Petfinders for us and said we had to stay together.

Mommy’s cats had all died but one old raggedy black cat (Twilley was 14 when they came..MOM) so she needed some cats to love cause she’s been a cat lover forever. She paid the rescue service the adoption fee and came to the other lady's house and fell in love with us both. Her family came too and they brought us home. 

Abby: How were your first days at your new home?

Cosmo and Max:  We screamed the whole way here and for like a week we lived under the big bed. But we finally relaxed with all the good food and toys and petting. 

Abby:  What are a few of your favorite things?

Cosmo:  We’ve been here a long time now and we love the whole family but my special human is Dad. Max’s special human is Mike – Mom’s son.  (Mom loves on both of us and we take naps on her electric blanket.)  But Dad and me, we used to play catch with paper trash balls and those rattley mice. And I used to jump up on Dad’s shoulders all the way from the ground and then he’d walk around with me sitting there like a prince or something. I’m blind now but I still play with the rattley mice and chase that red light thing mom got for the little girl cat.

Max spends time with Mike, sleeping in his room and watching TV with him. He even moved to FiIladelfia with Mike for a long time. But they both came back after some unhappy circumstances and I’m happy cause I missed him and Mike. Max thinks he’s in charge and he “patrols” and protects the house and yard from the possum monster and those stupid squirrels. 

Abby:  Do you have any tips for people who want to adopt a rescue pet? 

Cosmo:  Just do it. I’m so glad we never had to live in one of those cage things. I’m a Siamese. I don’t belong in that kind of place. And now I’m old – I wouldn’t like it. Everyone please go rescue a pet today – no pet should have to be alone in a cage… that’s so sad. 

Abby: Is there a rescue group you want to send a shout out to?

Cosmo and Max:  Well, Mommy got us on Petfinders and Cats Bridge to Rescue helped her with the girl cats we share the house with. So yep – them. 

Meet Whipper and Snapper

Whipper and Snapper live with Cosmo and Max.  They are girl cats, and 4.5 years old.

This is Whipper:

This is Snapper:

Abby: What is your background and how did you end up in rescue?
 

Whipper and Snapper:  We were born in 2011 when it was hot. Mom saw us under the big thing in the “driveway” and fell in love with us and our whole family at first sight. And she had to bury our one brother who died. That’s when she decided to feed all of us so we wouldn’t die. And she did for a long long time. BUT there was a big big big rainstorm that made water go everywhere and we sat outside and yelled for her to get us some food that wasn’t water-logged. She did. But our mama and our other sisters never came back after the big wet. Mom even built us a little tent on her porch for the cold and the rain but she didn’t think it was working (Whipper says it wasn’t ) so she made Dad come out with these hot things to put under our covers and keep us warm. That was nice but when it was winter almost, it wasn’t doing the job so one day, she put our food in a big box and when we went in to get it, she trapped us and wouldn’t let us go back out. She took us to the doctor and now she says we’re princesses… umph!  Always were. 

Abby:  How were your first days at your new home? 

Whipper and Snapper: Scary cause the humans kept touching our furs and the other boy cats didn’t like us. But we’ve convinced the boys that we’re ok. And now I like having head rubs and Dad petting me. (Snapper says Whipper sold out..because she’s always mushing up to Cosmo and sometimes even Max!)

The kitties' Mom, Beth adds:  "For the record, Whipper lived under the china closet behind 40 boxes of eBay stuff except for meals and potty breaks for like 8 mos. Still doesn’t let us pet her ... or even touch her ... or get too close. BUT she shows up on time for meals and plays with me with trash balls and the laser beam."

 

Abby:  What are a few of your favorite things?

Whipper:  Cosmo… he lets me sleep with him and mom bought me a red light beam to chase.

Snapper:  I like Dad, he fixes the curtains so I can look out and fluffs the blankets on the sofa at night so I’m warm - and I love the food.

Abby:  Do you have any tips for people who want to adopt a rescue pet? 

Whipper and Snapper:  Find a nice cat and take them home and feed them lots of good stuff.

Abby:  Is there a rescue group you want to send a shout out to?

Whipper and Snapper:  Cats Bridge to Rescue cause they spayed us and got us our first shots. http://www.catsbridge.org/

Thank you so much for visiting today, Cosmo, Max, Whipper, and Snapper!  I loved meeting you all and learning about your lives.  You found a GREAT home.

Dear friends, if you would like to leave a message for these beautiful kitties, or if you have a rescued cat or dog who would like to be share a rescue story, please let me know in the comments below.

Love and a happy weekend to you all,

Abby xoxoxo

Book Spotlight - For Dead Men Only by Paula Paul

Book Synopsis

The Temple of the Ninth Daughter sits on a hill at the edge of Newton-upon-Sea, an aura of mystery lingering over its tall, gray silhouette. Villagers whisper about the treasure housed inside, protected by local Freemasons who are bound by clandestine oaths.

Dr. Alexandra Gladstone has no time for such nonsense. Between the patients in her surgery and the rounds she makes with her faithful dog, Zack, her days are busy enough. But Alexandra has no logical explanation when the Freemasons start dying, one by one, with no sign of foul play other than smears of blood on their Masonic aprons. And what to make of reports that a Knight Templar rides through the village before each passing?

After the constable disappears in the midst of the crisis, Alexandra reaches out to her dashing, diligent friend, Nicholas Forsythe, Lord Dunsford, for assistance. Is someone after the treasure, or might a more sinister game be afoot? In order to solve this puzzle, Alexandra must somehow catch a killer who shows no remorse—and leaves no witnesses.

Author Bio

Award-winning novelist Paula Paul was born on her grandparents’ cotton farm near Shallowater, Texas, and graduated from a country high school near Maple, Texas. She earned a BA in journalism and has worked as a reporter for newspapers in both Texas and New Mexico. She’s been the recipient of state and national awards for her work as a journalist as well as a novelist. Her previous novels featuring Dr. Alexandra Gladstone, including Symptoms of Death, have appeared on bookstore and online bestseller lists. She is also the author of the Mystery by Design series, which she wrote as Paula Carter. She lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico. 

Author Link

Webpage – http://www.paulapaul.net/ 

Purchase Links
Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/Dead-Men-Only-Alexandra-Gladstone-ebook/dp/B01208WOJ4/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1456255044&sr=1-1
B&N – http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/for-dead-men-only-paula-paul/1122800337?ean=9781101883228

Did You Know Tuesday - Fun Facts About Bananas

April 20 is Banana Day.  I celebrate this fruit daily with at least one serving.  I love bananas sliced on top of cereal.  I also enjoy them with a sandwich for lunch.  And my pup Abby (you know her as Dear Abby here!) loves a bite of bananas, too.

Bananas became popular in the United States largely due to bananas imported by the United Fruit Company, which later grew into Chiquita Brands International. 

The Chiquita Banana advertising character, Miss Chiquita, was created in 1944 by cartoonist Dik Browne, who also drew the Hagar the Horrible comic strip. 

The familiar peel off Chiquita stickers with Miss Chiquita started appearing on bananas in 1963.  They are still hand placed in order not to damage the fruit.

A few fun facts about bananas:

Bananas float in water.  (So do apples and watermelons!)

The strings on bananas are called phloem.

One banana is called a "finger."  A bunch of bananas is called a "hand."

There are more than 1000 varieties of bananas, but the one that is popular in America is the Cavendish.

Bananas contain six major vitamin groups.

Here is the original Chiquita Banana commercial from the 1940's.  It was produced by the United Fruit Company.  The voice of Chiquita was Monica Lewis, who died in 2015 at the age of 93.



Do you love bananas? What is your favorite way to eat them? I'd love to hear from you in the comments, below.