This Little Piggy Went to the Liquor Store

A.K Turner

　

The best quote I read about the book said "Reading This Little Piggy Went to the Liquor Store is like going to your neighbor's house for a play date and discovering that she's just as clueless and crazy as you are." -Stacy Dymalski, the author of Confessions of a Band Geek Mom


This Little Piggy Went to the Liquor Store is laugh out loud funny. In the beginning, by the end of the book I’m not sure if the jokes are getting old or if I was too tired to laugh any more. The only other criticism I have is the story was scattered in parts.

I m trying to review this book with out spoiling the plot.

Turner shares her unapologetic truth about marriage and children as she shares the flaws in what would been a super mom persona 30 yrs ago. Super mom is controlling, neurotic and needs wine. Wow, she sounds a lot like me. Most parents can relate. In fact what makes the book funny is the honest open way Turner shares her every day life with the reader. The book feels like an old friend is sharing their day with me. A .K. Turner details family problems, breastfeeding, and even experimenting with pot.

My personal favorite part was the chapter entitled the night fury, this is because my middle son was my night fury. I could relate. Other worthy and funny chapters Mamas, Don’t let your babies grow up to be serial killers and I’m no having twins bitch.

This Little Piggy Went to the Liquor Store The book is a quick enjoyable chapters, nothing too serious, but fun way to spend the after noon.


T Potlock

The last Lecture and Tuesdays with Morrie

The Last Lecture  by Randy Pausch
 and Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom

Randy Pausch was a professor in Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University. The Last Lecture is a inspirational, humorous, enjoyable, and compelling reading. The last lecture was co-written by Jeffery Zaslow who is Columnist for The Wall Street Journal. This book as it was written during Randy Pausch’s last days. Randy Pausch was an educator, a father of 3 and a husband. Randy Pausch passed away from pancreatic cancer back in July 2008. The life lessons Randy Pausch imparts are timeless.

I haven’t enjoyed a book so much since Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom. In Mitch Albom‘s, narrator, he recalls his graduation from Brandeis University in the spring of 1979. After he has received his diploma, Mitch approaches his favorite professor, Morrie Schwartz, and presents him with a monogrammed briefcase. They lose contact over the years but are reunited. Morrie is forced to forfeit dancing, his favorite hobby, because he has been diagnosed with ALS, a debilitating disease that leaves his "soul, perfectly awake, imprisoned inside a limp husk" of a body. Morris Schwartz aka "Morrie", passed away peacefully January 29, 2012, I could not help to compare the similarities between the 2 books.

Tuesdays with Morrie and The last lecture both deal with how a person lives and not how they die nor the diseases. Both Morrie and Randy were educators. And both books are not really sad. Morrie taught us to dance while you can with no regrets. To laugh, to love and to put others first. And, Randy taught us not only to follow our reams but help others follow there dreams.

“So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they're busy doing things they think are important. This is because they're chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.” ― Mitch Albom, Tuesdays With Morrie

“Too many people go through life complaining about their problems. I've always believed that if you took one tenth the energy they put into complaining and applied it to solving the problem, you'd be surprised by how well things can work out.”
―
Randy Pausch, The Last Lecture

　

“Not everything needs to be fixed.” This is a quote from The Last Lecture. This is one of those lessons I had to learn. More importantly, I’m a problem solver. I needed to learn, I don‘t need to attempt to fix everyone else’s problems. Often, the issue will work it self out.
　

“It's not about the cards you're dealt, but how you play the hand.” ― Randy Pausch, The Last Lecture
“The truth is, once you learn how to die, you learn how to live.”

The thought presented here by Morrie is that one cannot really appreciate life until one appreciates death. One has to understand and accept that death is inevitable. Then it becomes imperative to grab onto life and experience as much as possible before death exercises its claim. Until that point, one is simply oblivious to just how wonderful life can be.

“Life is a series of pulls back and forth... A tension of opposites, like a pull on a rubber band. Most of us live somewhere in the middle. A wrestling match...Which side wins? Love wins. Love always wins.”

Morrie is a firm believer in the power of love to conquer all things. He advises Mitch to turn to love regardless of what else is going on. Through love, anything is possible. This rather optimistic viewpoint is expressed by Morrie on multiple occasions. Mitch Albom, Tuesdays With Morrie

These are a few of my favorite quotes from both of these books.

“What is the most appropriate thing to say to a friend who was about to die. He answered:” tell your friend that in his death, a part of you dies and goes with him. Whenever he goes, you also go. He will not be alone".”

“You don't beat the grim reaper by living longer; you beat the grim reaper by living better.”
― Randy Pausch, The Last Lecture

The words “Please don't die.” came from Randy Pausch’s wife and they were the most heart wrenching and profound words in the book. I cried my heart out for both of them.


Read Tuesdays with Morrie and The last lecture for yourself. Neither, book will leave you sad, Both educators leave 1 last lesson. The lesson : live, love, laugh and dream.

TPortlock