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MWF Seeking BFF by Rachel Bertsche

Title: MWF Seeking BFF: My Year Long Search for a New Best Friend

Author: Rachel Bertsche

Publisher: Ballantine Books 2012

Genre: Nonfiction - Memoir

Pages: 347

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Nerdy Nonfiction - Relationships; Blogger Recommendations; Women Authors; Mount TBR

How I Got It: I won it

When Rachel Bertsche first moves to Chicago, she’s thrilled to finally share a zip code, let alone an apartment, with her boyfriend. But shortly after getting married, Bertsche realizes that her new life is missing one thing: friends. Sure, she has plenty of BFFs—in New York and San Francisco and Boston and Washington, D.C. Still, in her adopted hometown, there’s no one to call at the last minute for girl talk over brunch or a reality-TV marathon over a bottle of wine. Taking matters into her own hands, Bertsche develops a plan: She’ll go on fifty-two friend-dates, one per week for a year, in hopes of meeting her new Best Friend Forever.

I won this ARC over a year ago.  I kept meaning to read it, but somehow just never picked it up.  I finally did and found myself underwhelmed.  I thought the premise was interesting as I am in fairly the same boat Bertsche was.  But I quickly tired of the long drawn out observations and scientific research.  It made the entire endeavor feel a bit too forced.  I kept wanting to ask why Bertsche felt it necessary to reach the 150 total friends.  Why can't you be happy with a couple of great friends, a few casual friends, and some acquaintances?  I also tired of the comparisons to a Sex and City type friendship.  That was a television show, not real life.  Adult women with family and job responsibilities can't just lounge around all day for brunch or shopping.  We need to be more selective in how we use our time.  I just couldn't get behind the whole book.

tags: 3 stars, friends, memoir, Rachel Bertsche, relationships
categories: Book Reviews
Saturday 06.01.13
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Thanks Abound

I found this wonderful meme idea on Ruby Bastille.  I thought it would be a great way to share my life with my readers.  So here we go with my first Thankful Thursday.

1) Peet's Coffe and Tea at Boudin SF -- A friend and I stopped here for lunch and I got so excited that they serve Peet's.  I love Peet's.  Just wish the closest branch was closer.  A mile is a bit far to walk to get coffee, especially when it's really hot.

2) My friend for inviting me to see a local author speak at the library -- I've been wanting to go to more bookish events, but feel weird going alone.  So excited that I could go with someone.  And the author, Laurie King, was amazing.  Now I need to read all her books.

3) Great books -- They have the ability to pull me out of a depressive cycle.  Thank you authors for writing great books!

4) Amazon -- Found our book club book for a decent price.  I'm on a book buying ban and don't really want to spend much money on these.  Thank you random third party store for selling through Amazon.

5) The Internet -- For being able settle disagreements...

tags: coffee, friends, Thankful Thursday
categories: Life
Thursday 02.07.13
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Soulmates

You know that one friend you have.  The one that it seems like you've been friends forever (even though it probably isn't that long).  The one that you could never be truly mad at.  The one that knows exactly what you're feeling even before you do.  The one that always understands your crazy conversations.  The one that's almost psychic.  The one that buys you the best birthday and Christmas presents.  The one that knows all your secrets and loves you anyway.  That's your soulmate. I have one, have had one for ~14 years.  B is my soulmate.  The one who completes me.  Everything I need in a friend.  And I wouldn't give her up for the world.

Who's your soulmate?

tags: friends
categories: Life
Monday 01.17.11
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Highlight of the Week -- Birthday Madness

Wednesday was B's birthday.  And of course, we had to do her birthday up right.  Wednesday we went to four places, enjoying good drinks, great food, and amazing friends.  Best part of the night: karaoke... specifically B and A's duet.  Who knew sister's could pull off that song?  I guess B and A can! Then Friday, an extra celebration night with the boys.  Best part of the night: "Don't let her lie to you, she's single."  Hee hee.  Fun with microphones is always best when not targeted at you.

Finally, Saturday, another extra celebration with some real cowboys.  Best part of the night: awkward birthday song on the stage.  Who knew the words were so different?  Not me, that's who.

tags: friends, karaoke
categories: Life
Sunday 01.16.11
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Highlight of the Week -- Firefly Conversations and HP!

Usually I pick one highlight of the week, but this week I just couldn't choose.  So I'm choosing two highlights of the week!

Firefly Conversations

I spend most days at Firefly, a local coffee shop.  I'm there so often, I've officially become a regular.  The baristas know me by sight if not by name.  I've had conversations with many of the other regular patrons.  The owner even stops to chat a minute almost every time I see her.  Overall, it's a great homey spot.  I love the decor, the coffee's good, the music's usually good (except last week's classic lite rock debacle), and the conversations are always great.

Some days it's just me.  Others the bf joins to work on his real job.  And then there are those days when a good "mom" friend and the bff join.  Those are the days that get out of control, but are always awesome.  This past week was no different.

On Wednesday, the bf, bff, and "mom" friend all joined at the Firefly.  We chatted about this and that, but then our conversation turned very weird.  I was looking through ThinkGeek.com for Christmas Present ideas, when I ran across the most amazing shirt ever.  In medieval looking script it said, "Huge tracts of land."  For those of you not up on your Monty Python, in Monty Python and the Holy Grail there's a great scene of a dad and his son.  The son has been betrothed, but "just wants to dance."  The dad is trying to sell the son on the marriage.  In describing the betrothed, he comments that she has "huge tracts of land."  He is referring to her land, but says it by pantomiming large breasts.  It is priceless.  The skit goes on for a few minutes like that.

Of course, the bff, "mom" friend, and I are huge fans of Monty Python and immediately started laughing.  The "mom" friend commented that her husband would love that shirt as she has "huge tracts of land."  The bff looked chestward sadly and commented, "I don't have 'huge tracts' so can mine say 'Medium tracts of land.' Or how about '.567 acres assessed?'  And add 'a spacious backyard.'"  I was laughing so hard, I could hardly catch my breath.  Even the guy sitting at the next table, was laughing with us.  Or was it at us?  At any rate, we had a great laugh.  For the rest of the time there, we kept sliding the comments back into casual conversation.  I was laughing for the rest of my time at the coffeehouse.

It's days like Wednesday that make me realize how much I appreciate my friends.  They are there for me in good times and bad.  They make me laugh to the point of almost peeing my pants.  But most importantly, they "get" me, weirdness and all.

*I must get that shirt now!  It's too good not to.

Harry Potter

I have been waiting for the first part of the finale for months.  Of course I had to go to the midnight showing.  And of course, I loved it!

Midnight showings are a tradition.  Starting last school year, some of my students and I and sometimes some other teachers would attend midnight premieres of movies.  We always arrive sometime around 9 and then... wait for 3 hours.  We could just go see the movie on Friday night, but where's the fun in that? Sometimes we have four people attend, sometimes we have ten people.  Whatever the attendance, it's always a good time.  We stock up on candy and drinks, sometimes get popcorn, and make sure to throw a deck of cards into our purse before leaving.

Last night was no different.  I had an array of candy and drinks, the bf bought popcorn, and we had UNO to entertain until the movie.  Usually they let the audience into the theater sometime around 11:30, but because the crowd was large, we were let in at 10.  So we moved into the theater, grabbed our regular seats (row behind the railing), and then... waited.  We joked around, saw people we knew, and act a ridiculous amount of snacks.  Finally it was 10 minutes before midnight.  Cue the pre-movie pee to make sure our bladders are empty for no interruptions during the movie.

The previews began:  A great one for Tron, one for The Green Hornet, another for The Green Lantern, and one or two that I can't remember.  I plan definitely to see those three movies.

And then the actual movie started: Awesome!  Slower movie, but remember this is part 1 of the finale.  In many ways it was setting up for the big battles.  I loved the quiet moments; in between times of reflection or conversations.  The characters have definitely grown over the short break between the stories.  I see them developing into who they will be after.  I loved the action sequences.  The scene in Godric's Hollow was creepy on-screen.  I even think I jumped a bit, even though I knew what was coming.  The sets were on an epic scale.  It was great!  I loved every minute of it.  It didn't drag at all.  I was awake and paid attention the entire time.

I can not wait until July!!!!  I smell another midnight premiere on the schedule.

tags: coffeehouse, friends, movies
categories: Life
Sunday 11.21.10
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

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