Saturday, June 30, 2012

Kevin! KEVIN!!! OMG we forgot Kevin!

If you got the reference from the movie Home Alone right away, you may very well be as old as me :)

In my rush to set up my new domain and fancy new blog, I totally forgot you fine folks here. Woopsie, my bad!
Hope this reaches you and I haven't irreparably erased everything on the old blog.

Please join me at my new digs: http://meganblogs.com

(As you may have surmised, I am no longer at Blogger)

So please please please continue following me there.

That is all.

Megan. Out.

Thursday, June 7, 2012

unyoked: when love turns to obsession




STORY TIME THURSDAY:  Unyoked by Mishael Austin Witty




"Yeah. That God of yours really protects you a lot. He must really love you."
"He loves everyone, Liz. Remember that verse -- John 3:16." 

The story opens with Tony Driscoll, sitting at his usual table in the student center coffee shop, when he witnesses a loud breakup between two college students: Megan has outgrown her high-school-sweethearts relationship and is, unknowingly, breaking up with Keith right before he proposes to her. When Keith throws the engagement ring in the trashcan (missing it) and storms out, Tony cannot believe his luck! He manages to find an opportune moment to rush to her side and make his move on this (newly available) beautiful creature.

Unyoked follows the story of Tony's courtship of Megan, a fast and furious one, which very quickly takes a bizarre turn. From the onset, it's obvious that there is more to Tony than meets the eye -- a dark (perhaps even murderous) background, that could spell nothing but trouble for Megan. As his behavior and the circumstances surrounding their brief relationship become more erratic, danger seems unavoidable (to everyone except the pious and naive Megan).

This is the third book that I've now read, for this review series, without having any preconceived notions about its content; the element of surprise is starting to grow on me. I was immediately intrigued about exactly what Tony was trying to cover up with his lies. The plot thickened quickly, with subtle clues foreshadowing (though not quite preparing me for) the upcoming twists. I've found this story written almost as a screenplay, with enough dialogue, ample descriptions (akin to stage directions), and characters with enough back stories to make for a smooth transition to a movie. Also, I'm still trying to figure out what the cover photo means (or is). Maybe Mishael can shed some light on it for us? And while she's here, could she dispel or confirm rumors of a sequel?


Unyoked is available in Kindle version at Amazon
To find out more about Mishael, visit her website

Story Time for 6/14: Space Orville by Jeff Whelan (originally slated for review this week, but delayed for practical reasons). For an up-to-date list of scheduled reviews, click the Story Time Thursday icon on the menu bar above.

Same time, next week?


Meanwhile, here's a topic: discuss!

Despite her best friend Liz's advice and incidents that seem to implicate him, Megan keeps offering Tony second chances. What is your stand on second chances? Where do you draw the line at believing someone who has previously lied to you and admitted it? Do you believe in "fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me? What is your threshold for telling someone to take a hike?
A random drawing will be held for the folks who comment on this post, to give away the  digital version of this book. The winner's name will be announced next Thursday.
Last week's random drawing winner of Pray by John Prescott is Melanie. Mel, I have your email address and will be sending the pdf shortly. Congrats!



Under construction: The name of this blog is being changed to Megan Blogs (thanks to the advice of people much smarter than me). Please bear with me during the rehauling process. I'm assured the mess will eventually make way for a much tidier digital experience both for you and for me.



Saturday, June 2, 2012

counter-logic does not an alternative style make


I guest-wrote this for another blog. And I was just gonna let it be. But after she made a big point of correcting my typo of her name in a private email, she went ahead and typed my name wrong, on the published post. So any ethical qualms I may have felt about letting her have my piece all to herself were quashed, right there and then. 


Before you jump to the conclusion that I'm a big meanie, read the post... it's ironic that it happened this way, considering the topic.

I am all about empowering parents to make their own choices and I am all for women not judging other women on their mothering abilities or limitations. I am a firm believer in democracy and the power of an engaged citizenry. I am a card carrying member of the freedom of speech and would fight for anyone’s right to spew inanities, if they so wish. Because I am not perfect, as a parent or as a woman, because the alternative is not acceptable, and because I can easily stop listening or change the channel on my TV.

I can see the grey area in any argument, provided it is reasonably posited and backed with supporting facts. I may lean for or against a piece of argument, based on my own personal preference and past experience, but I don’t know everything, so I’m genuinely open to hearing your side.

But, there are some things, in parenting, politics and life in general, that are simply common sense. Touting counter-logic as an alternative lifestyle choice will simply not fly.

Allow me to demonstrate:
  • If you teach your children that hitting is bad, then turn around and use spanking to discipline them, don’t be surprised that your non-violent stand is not sticking. Children learn vicariously through the adults who influence them. It’s do as I do, not do as I say.
  • If you want to extol the virtues of extended breastfeeding because it is a private choice, then don’t pose for the cover of a magazine with your boob in your 3-4 year-old’s mouth. It’s incongruent at best. You can have private or you can have public, you can’t have both; I’m afraid they are mutually exclusive.
  • By the same token, if you want to sell magazines for their content, don’t put a questionable photo on its cover and flank it with a confrontational question, then wonder why no one is taking your content seriously.
  • If you are discontent with the divisiveness of the political discourse around you, starting a sentence with “you people” will not really demonstrate the opposite, will it?
  • If you run for political office, your political voting record and your past political positions are part of your platform, whether you like it or not. You cannot pick and choose which ones you can list on your current resumé.
  • And by the same token, if you promise something, publically, and garner support for and because of it, don’t be surprised when you are expected to deliver on that promise. Sticking your head in the sand and playing ostrich will not get you off the hook.
  • (added) If you chastise others for misspelling your name, don't be surprised that they get pissed off when you turn around and misspell theirs.

So there you have it, folks: Cognitive dissonance, be it in parenting, politics, or life in general, is not persuasive. Period.

How do you like them apples? What inconsistencies peeve you?



Under construction: The name of this blog is being changed to Megan Blogs (thanks to the advice of people much smarter than me). Please bear with me during the rehauling process. I'm assured the mess will eventually make way for a much tidier digital experience both for you and for me.