The Blackberry Tea Club: Women in Their Glory Years

Book Description

Mid-life crisis is not a crisis—it is a passage into joy. This was the essential truth discovered by the four women of a certain age, founding members of the Blackberry Tea Club, which began as late-night conversations while sipping blackberry tea with a little kick added. Those conversations about children, men, jobs, weight, clothes, food, travel, gossip, politics, medicine, healing, spirituality, adventure, and books grew slowly, beautifully into the Blackberry Tea Club and the discovery of the Glory Years.

The Blackberry Tea Club weaves together essays, stories, and poetry, celebrating mid-life in all its silliness, sorrow, and glory. Bottom line: middle age is much more than menopause. These are the Glory Years for women, years that bring about the expansion and reorganizing of the mind, heart, and spirit, and the birthing of a larger self of immense compassion, intellect, will, spirit, love, and capability.

Divided into five parts, each one explores different themes:

• Seeing mid-life crisis as an adamant search for joy

• Discovering opportunities for women to appreciate their bodies

• Exploring multiple facets of love

• Letting go of the bad stuff to relish "what light there is"

The Blackberry Tea Club offers stories of adventure, food, spirit, and the community of women in their Glory Years.

Customer Reviews:

Very funny and empowering book!.......2007-10-06

Received this as a gift from my wish list (thanks, best friend of mine!), and have been working my way through it. I truly love a lot of the thoughts, musings and stories shared. The poetry is also beautiful; I find the book thusfar to be particularly empowering at this stage of my life.

Poor book.....Don't understand how it was ever published........2007-05-27

This book is poorly organized and suffers from a lack of proper editing. It's a ra-ra book for women in their 50's, but the friendship adventures are fairly boring. Throughout the book, there are poetry passages....actually some of the best writing. Otherwise, it's a badly written composition of disconnected stream-of-conscienceness experiences. It contains many, very lengthy boring descriptions that should have been replaced by more interesting dialog. Only at the end do you find out that the author had a difficult life and survived through family love and friendship.....Two very important messages for which you only had to read one or two chapters, not the entire confusing, boring book! It's hard to believe that anyone would have spent any money to publish this book! It needs so much work!!!!!

Uneven writing.......2007-01-10

Beautifully expressed profound observations are itermingled with poorly expressed mundane thoughts. Uneven writing style. Humor and pathos co-exist. Probably would not buy another selection by same author.

Wonderful Stories.......2005-02-03

I bought this book and read it in one weekend. I have re-read it a few times now. The stories are inspiring, sweet, tender and beautiful. I loved the poems. It's a good book for women "of a certain age". Focus is on the joy in life.

Highly reccomend it

To Friends !.......2004-10-27

I ordered this book on the recommendation of a friend. I could not put it down and raced through it in two days! I then began to read it again. This time I made myself read it slowly and reflectively and savored the poetry and wisdom of each story.

I now keep the book within reach on my desk. When I feel overwhelmed with work and the mundane details of life, I look at the cover and smile. The joyous abandon of the women on the cover reminds me to take a break and play with friends. When I feel unappreciated and tense, I randomly read a highlighted section. I always take away a bit of lyric wisdom that never fails to brighten my spirits.

Thank you, Barbara, for sharing your hard-earned wisdom and the secrets of the Blackberry Tea Club!

Namaste'

Book Description

When persistent sports publicist Janna MacNeil butts heads with hockey team captain Ty Gallagher, they don't just crack the ice-they melt it.

Customer Reviews:

I love this book, re-read again and again.......2007-10-03

This is my favorite of all the Deirdre Martin Hockey books - the heroine is strong, the hero is sexy and the situations realistic. No big mystery, no convoluted plot - just life and romance.

good book.......2007-04-13

i loved how this book wasn't all about sex. however, it did have its tasteful scenes. this is the first book that ever actually made me cry as well. the characters were truly hilarious. (Lou, for example). The character development was done very well too. i loved Martin's use of words to describe many of her characters. this definitely is a book that keeps you hooked.

Very entertaining!.......2006-12-05

This was my first book by the author and I wasn't disappointed. I loved Ty and Janna and their very cute love story, and, the best part is that you don't need to know about hockey to like this book. My only complaint would be that I wished their love story had a little more depth to it with more interaction between the main characters. Lot of people have compared this book to Rachel Gibson's See Jane Score and for me, personally, that book was a little more realistic and heartwarming. To end on a positive note, this is an entertaining book and I will certainly be reading more from this author in the future!

Better than Rachel Gibson.......2005-12-14

A lot of people have been comparing this book to Rachel Gibson's "See Jane Score" and "Simply Irresistible." I found "Body Check" to be much better than those two. Even though this book has less in the graphic sex department (which I enjoy as much as the next girl), the character development is much better than Rachel Gibson's books. Janna comes of as neurotic, but still clever. She's smart because we can see she is, not because the author tells us so. Rachel Gibson's heroines tend to do and say stupid things and never realize that they are doing themselves a disservice. Janna makes mistakes, but is smart enough to realize that she's done so. The same goes for the male characters. Even with Ty's rather sudden change of heart at the end, Ty as a man seems pretty grounded in reality for a romance novel hero - especially when he doesn't know how to handle his girlfriend's problems.

This book is also well written, not just in the characters' grammar, but in the hockey as well. The little brother, Wills, is written very believably (again unlike Rachel Gibson's strangely written child characters).

Overall, a good piece of candy! I never wanted to slap either of the characters.

Buy it -- you will LOVE IT ! .......2005-08-17

This book is for every hockey fan with a romantic heart. It delves PR world, the crazy road life of Hockey Players , living with rape and most of all a real life romance. Take a chance on this book - I am so happy I did. Off to read Deirdre Martin's new book Fair Play. ENJOY!

Average customer rating:

Jake's review

Body Check
Matt Christopher
Manufacturer: Little, Brown Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Issues | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
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ASIN: 0316134058

Customer Reviews:

Jake's review.......2006-02-09

Body Check is not the best book I have ever read. It was not that good because it was supposed to have a lot more action in it than it did. It was more about people's personal lives. It did not really talk about hockey either; it justed talked about what was going on.

Body Check is about a hockey team that gets a new coach who is a big jerk. The new coach tries to get the old coach fired but nobody wants that.

The type of reader that would like this book would be someone who does not like challenging books. Somebody that would also like this book would be someone who does not like action because this book does not have a lot of action and is very dull.

Blur: A Graphic Reality Check for Teens Dealing with Self-Image (FlipSwitch)

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Blur: A Graphic Reality Check for Teens Dealing with Self-Image (FlipSwitch)
Marcus Brotherton , and Mary Margaret Brotherton
Manufacturer: Multnomah
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Health, Mind & Body | Teens | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
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ASIN: 1590527127
Release Date: 2006-10-02

Book Description

The Real Deal

Life is tough. You’ve got questions. You’ve got choicesâ¦and the results are yours to live with. So go aheadâdo a little investigating and discover the answers for yourself. The graphically captivating books in the FlipSwitch series are the real deal. They unashamedly tackle pressing issues that you face every day. After pinpointing God’s solution, they offer practical steps that will help you take your life in the right directionâ¦without a doubt. Check ’em out:

HEAT : Sex. A huge reality check complete with stats and facts on who’s doing it and who’s paying for it (STD information).

BLUR : Who defines you? A startling glimpse into the reality of your self-image.

SPLIT : Divorce. Guidance as your own or your friends’ parents go ring-less.

BUZZ: Drugs and alcohol. What you need to know about beer, bongs, weed, tobacco, and other tempting substances.

Story Behind the Book

A team of youth pastors approached Multnomah with the need for a visual pivotal-issues series for teensâsomething that would enter into their world and confront the stuff they actually think, talk, and wonder about every day. These products called for a âback of the school busâ feel. Kids don’t get spoon-fed answers; they simply get enough cards on the table to create their own conversations. Now youth pastors everywhere can’t seem to hand out enough of them!

Check Your Pride at the Door: Learning to Live With inflammatory Bowel Disease

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A powerful personal perspective about living with IBD that is honest and sincere
A Book for Sufferers of IBD That Is Long Overdue
A Jewel For the Suffering!

Check Your Pride at the Door: Learning to Live With inflammatory Bowel Disease
Dr. Darryl, D Helems
Manufacturer: Infinity Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Disorders & Diseases | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Abdominal | Disorders & Diseases | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0741435039
Release Date: 2006-09-22

Product Description

Check Your Pride at the Door and learn how to live with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). After you have read the research, experienced the medical procedures, changed your diet, or started taking the medication, the reality is that you still have to live each day with a chronic illness. In Check Your Pride at the Door, the author describes how he has lived with IBD for twenty years and provides recommendations for the development of life-management strategies that can assist in learning how to successfully live with IBD. The illness is real. The story is personal. The strategies work.

Customer Reviews:

A powerful personal perspective about living with IBD that is honest and sincere.......2006-10-29

Darryl Helems's personal story about being diagnosed and treated for IBD is a gem. Darryl explains from the beginning that he is not going to delve into medical jargon or the latest treatments. He suggests surfing the internet for that. Rather he provides a very personal from the heart recount of the everyday emotional and practical implications of living with this disease. Check Your Pride at the Door refers to those potentially embarrassing moments such as when he was 17, now 37, and was helped when administering an enema. Moments of tenderness are spread throughout this short easy read book such that if you suffer from any type of GI illness you will easily relate to Darryl's story. I'll be recommending this book to the many young people who approach me for advice.

A Book for Sufferers of IBD That Is Long Overdue.......2006-10-21

As a long-time publisher, author, and book-reviewer, I found Check Your Pride at the Door to be particularly interesting and a valuable resource. Why? Because in addition to my above titles, I need to add, for the purpose of this review, "a person who suffers from inflammatory bowel disease." I have a rather rare form of this disease--it is called eosinophilic colitis, a type of colitis that has given me problems all of my life. I can relate to much of what the author discusses in this book as will the other 1.4 million Americans who are estimated to be suffering from IBD. According to Dr. Helems' research, approximately 30,000 new cases are diagnosed each year, with adolescents and young adults between the ages of 15 and 35 being the most susceptible.

I have done a large amount of research and purchased many books on IBD, trying to learn as much as possible so that I could be knowledgeable when talking with my physician. However, not long ago I was communicating online with another sufferer of IBD via instant messenger and stated that I wished someone would write a book that covered the emotional aspects of this disease--what it does to the person battling it as well as to family members. This is exactly what Darryl Helems has done in writing Check Your Pride at the Door because he recognized that even though there are extensive writings on the various medical descriptions, definitions, and treatment options in regard to IBD, the personal impact that this disease has upon individuals--both physically and emotionally--has not been properly addressed. This book is the story of his experiences with ulcerative colitis and, undoubtedly, will help those who are trying to cope with various forms of IBD; it is also a resource that the newly diagnosed will find to be invaluable.

One reason I can truly endorse this book is because it is written for the everyday person--in simplistic language that readers don't have to work at just to understand. When the author describes the intensity of his pain, his hospital stays, his surgeries, his flare-ups, and his times of remission, fellow sufferers will be able to relate...sometimes crying and other times applauding. But, in my opinion, it is the pride issue that will help others the most--especially those who are just starting on this journey. For twenty years the author had to deal with his pride as he went from high school to college, from college into the world of the employed, and from being single to becoming a husband and the father of two sons. Readers are able to see him mature as he goes from denying the severity of the disease to being more open and honest with others about his condition. He is blessed to have a Christian wife who supports him totally...putting to the test those marriage vows in which she said, "in sickness and in health." Sadly, I know of many individuals with IBD whose spouses have been unable to do this, and the marriage did not survive.

Admittedly, I found myself upset with the author--especially in his younger days--when he would be so insistent on living a normal life that he would not take care of himself as far as diet, medication, taking sitz baths, and trying to reduce his stress level. However, when you are young, athletic, and determined to keep up with your peers, it is understandable. Many times he learned the hard way that neglecting to do these things cost him dearly in terms of pain and hospitalizations. But I know from personal experience that when you are in remission, it is so great to feel normal that you want to act normal and, somehow, you often succeed in convincing yourself that you are cured--that there won't be any more flare-ups. But, as yet, there is no cure for IBD.

Individuals with this disease quickly learn to check their pride at the door after spending a short time in the hospital and having an untold number of nurses and doctors look at the private areas of their anatomy. The tests become routine; however, the fear of being out somewhere and not making it to the bathroom in time is always in the back of their minds. Dr. Helems--a psychologist--describes how dating was a problem for him, especially during a flare-up. He was afraid of intimacy and all of the unpleasant things that go with this disease such as nausea, horrible cramps, gurgling intestinal sounds, and uncontrollable bowel movements. The first thing I do when my husband and I go anywhere is find out where the bathroom is located. Only then can I be somewhat comfortable in my surroundings. But, in all honesty, I prefer staying home, especially when in the middle of a bad flare-up.

The author discusses the importance of having proper support. He mentions spouses, parents, siblings, the church, friends, physicians, and support groups. He also talks about how people with this disease can now connect via the Internet--one of my greatest resources for support. Dr. Helems also presents interesting advice on techniques and strategies that help sufferers cope with the increased stress during flare-ups of this chronic disease. This is one of my favorite chapters, and I plan to put the information to good use.

This book, though small, is very powerful and is a MUST READ, not only for those who have IBD, but also for the families and friends of these individuals. Remember that it isn't a book written by a professional for professionals; it is a book written by a fellow sufferer who knows the emotional and physical devastation of this disease and wants to reach out to others who are hurting.

An Independent Professional Book Reviewer

A Jewel For the Suffering!.......2006-10-14

When I was asked to review this work I was quite interested as I have several friends who are dealing with the medical problem that this book addresses, IBD-inflammatory bowel disease. Our author Darryl Helems takes you on the journey of his life bringing you to the point when he felt his first symptoms of this disorder to the present, and his battle with the same.
I have to tell you; I never realized how serious this condition could become, nor the torment that those suffering from it experience. Not only with the disease itself but often with the treatment. Our author does an outstanding job in touching the emotional side along with the medical of this condition allowing you to realize the life of an IBD person. I will tell you this; I definitely will have more compassion on those who are suffering from IBD and understand the courage it takes for them to face and live each day with an often embarrassing misunderstood condition.
If you, or someone you love is suffering with IBD this book will be a jewel for you and for them; and for those of you who are fortunate enough to never have had this touch your lives you would do well to read this work to understand just how fortunate you are. Hats off to Darryl D. Helems, who had the courage to discuss some hard phases of this disease and also offers some great tips to help you along the way. Good job!

Body Check: Erotic Lesbian Sports Stories

Average customer rating:

Shockingly Readable
Get this book and Get Sweaty!

Body Check: Erotic Lesbian Sports Stories

Manufacturer: Alyson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Erotica | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Short Stories | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Sports | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 1555837387

Book Description

Taking you deep inside your favorite fantasy, editor Nicole Foster brings together the best of the best in an explosion of sexy, sweaty, erotic action between women basketball players, hockey players, soccer players, swimmers, boxers, runners, horseback riders, and more. You dreamed it, and here it is!

Nicole Foster is the editor of Awakening the Virgin, Electric, and Skin Deep. She lives in Los Angeles and plays tennis on Wednesdays. If you're nice, we might tell you where.

Customer Reviews:

Shockingly Readable.......2004-07-15

It's hard enough to come by erotica that's well-written enough to be (...); try finding lesbian erotica that fits both of those categories! Overall, this book is excellent. I didn't like every story in it, but it has fairly broad appeal across the board. That said, there really isn't much "niche" (...)in here-- genderplay, s/m, anything remotely fetish-y. Which, in fact, is why I'm a fan. It isn't that none of that is appealing, just that most of these collections I've found that address any of those, attempt to address all of them, and do it miserably. Forget the "sports" part; that's a general theme throughout, but these should appeal to just about anyone, athletic or not.

Get this book and Get Sweaty!.......2002-09-01

You don't have to be a jock to enjoy this book. Nicole Foster, who has edited several collections for Alyson, has filled a team roster of 20 erotic lesbian sports stories with a range of sporting women and lots of intense, sweaty moments. There are Olympic hopefuls in the bittersweet "The Art of Running" by Rosalind C. Lloyd; while M. Christian provides a mesmerizing view of an up-and-coming swimmer's relationship with water in "Naiad." Unsurprisingly, those popular lesbian team sports are represented. Volleyballs are "Spiked" by Laurel Hayworth, in a story about healing old wounds and looking for greener courts. "Legend of Teddi Jo" by Gina Ranalli has a few things to say about softball and doing what and whom one loves.

Lest one think this anthology is mostly for the fiercely athletic, there are several amusing entries that feature women who, well, never really passed the President's Council on Physical Fitness Awards in school. Like the delightfully Walter Mitty-esque, adolescent "butch in training" starring in "Black Belt Theater" by Catherine Lundoff, and finding herself along the way. There's the strangely sweet encounter with rock climbing in "Going Up" by Anne Seale as a woman frees herself from a dead-end relationship and finds her own strength. Trixi's "Mulligan on the Green" is the charming story of golf and a young fan on her 18th birthday.

Perhaps this reader's favorite -- for the narrator's sharp wit and cynical view of aerobics -- is Dawn Dougherty's "Sports Dyke." The unnamed, less fit narrator decides to take a class after chatting with a woman in the locker room. After all she muses, "I've done worse things than yoga to get a girl horizontal." (p196). The class and the evening hold a few surprises and the woman discovers a "gym that satisfies all [her] needs." (p205)

The stories in Body Check include a wide range of sports, athletic skill, dynamics, humor, characters, and settings. This anthology should be part of every lesbian's sports gear. As Foster urges in her introduction, readers will be inspired to get sweaty tonight.

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The 2007-2012 World Outlook for Iron Body Gates, Globes, Angles, Y-Type Straightway Check, Stop and Check, Cross, 3-And 4-Way, and Other Industrial Valves
Philip M. Parker
Manufacturer: ICON Group International, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Econometrics | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0497306506
Release Date: 2006-05-18

Book Description

This study covers the world outlook for iron body gates, globes, angles, Y-type straightway check, stop and check, cross, 3- and 4-way, and other industrial valves across more than 200 countries. For each year reported, estimates are given for the latent demand, or potential industry earnings (P.I.E.), for the country in question (in millions of U.S. dollars), the percent share the country is of the region and of the globe. These comparative benchmarks allow the reader to quickly gauge a country vis-à-vis others. Using econometric models which project fundamental economic dynamics within each country and across countries, latent demand estimates are created. This report does not discuss the specific players in the market serving the latent demand, nor specific details at the product level. The study also does not consider short-term cyclicalities that might affect realized sales. The study, therefore, is strategic in nature, taking an aggregate and long-run view, irrespective of the players or products involved.

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Super tatoos

Body Checks : Team Tattoos (NHL Hockey)
Russell Field
Manufacturer: Somerville
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1581840349

Customer Reviews:

Super tatoos.......2004-02-05

Super tatoos with excellent team reviews. Each team has a tatoo for their logo and a review about the team. It's a great book.

Body Image: A Reality Check (Issues in Focus)

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Body Image: A reality check

Body Image: A Reality Check (Issues in Focus)
Pamela Shires Sneddon
Manufacturer: Enslow Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

Developmental Psychology | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Self-Esteem | Health, Mind & Body | Teens | Subjects | Books

Mental Health | Health, Mind & Body | Teens | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0894909606

Customer Reviews:

Body Image: A reality check.......2000-05-28

This indepth book offers everything a teen needs to help herself to a positive body image. It also includes supporting topics such as eating disorders, cosmetic surgery,tattooing and body piercing. It is an excellent book with appropriate language for a 12-19 year old. It's an easy read. And the reader can select portions of the book which is of specific interest and not have to read the entire 100 pages. I was particulary impressed with the section which describes the negative influence of the media. It helps the reader put the images of thin models into perspective.

The Check Book: 200 Ways to Balance Your Life

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From the Agent, Joe Durepos

The Check Book: 200 Ways to Balance Your Life
Bret Nicholaus , and Paul Lowrie
Manufacturer: New World Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Stress Management | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Ethics & Morality | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Book Description

The Check Book offers 200 suggestions - some humorously simple, others profound enough to change one's life - to bring balance into busy lives. Bret Nicholaus and Paul Lowrie's innovative question books, including Think Twice: An Entertaining Collection of Choices, have inspired and entertained hundreds of thousands of readers throughout the world. Here they bring their vision of simplicity and fun to anyone seeking more awareness and fulfillment in life.

The authors offer recommendations they've found useful in balancing their hectic lives: "Write a one-sentence mission statement for your life and carry it around in your pocket;" "Spend one full day carefully observing the everyday objects around you that you typically take for granted; strive to find the wonder in the details you often overlook;" and "Stop praying for things and start praying for people." This book is filled with easy tips that can improve an afternoon or change a life.

Customer Reviews:

From the Agent, Joe Durepos.......1999-10-29

In The Check Book, authors Nicholaus and Lowrie, have produced an upbeat, entertaining collection of original inspirational suggestions for making the most of each day. The book will appeal to every reader who loves a quick, positive jumpstart to begin the day or a reflective respite in the midst of a busy one. The Check Book is an over-the-counter prescription for putting a smile back on your face and restoring your sense of wonder in the world around you.

A check list of legislative journals issued since 1937 by the States of the United States of America

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A check list of legislative journals issued since 1937 by the States of the United States of America
William Russell Pullen
Manufacturer: American Library Association
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Congresses, Senates, & Legislative Bodies | Government | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Law | Subjects | Books

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