So Far in Chicago ...

We've been here almost a week. I'm at a B&N right now. I wrote this first part the second day we were here, the part that's italicized down below. Then I'll recap some other stuff. I'll also try to choose the last of the winners while I'm able to do so right now, and promise when I get home to do the grand prize drawing. I've got a huge stack of great books that I got from my old house here that I'll be taking back with to give to the grand prize winner(s)!

Here's the first thoughts I had upon return here:

I feel displaced. We’re back ‘home’. Literally, in our old neighborhood, and I never thought it would be this emotional. It’s like I have discovered I really don’t have a home now. We went back to our old house today. My daughter, “Diva” broke down when she walked in, and that made me cry. It brought back too many memories. She said, “That’s the tree we used to climb in.” We saw the swing set they played on forever. So many things in the home are still ours. Things we left behind for the new owners. It’s still a beautiful house, we loved that house, it’s still a great house. It might have been a mistake to go back. To be at a party there, with the new family and their people, their friends, their family. We felt displaced.

Then I think back to our house in Arizona. I’m trying to think of how it looks, what it’s like. I was just there two days ago. It’s like I can’t remember it. Does it feel like “our” home? Just because it’s got “our” stuff in it? My kids are here now, in Chicago, the place they grew up, and you’d not believe what they’re like—they are so happy here. My oldest has been with his best friend non-stop, running around having a blast, and so has Tukey. Diva has spent the whole time with her best friend, sleeping over there, swimming, doing each others’ hair. They have missed each other like crazy.
I’ve seen a bunch of girlfriends. I’ve cried. I don’t have friends like this in Scottsdale. I mean I have friends, some really great ones, but not a huge bunch of close friends in my neighborhood like I did here. And not a big group. Not yet. I haven’t tried all that hard. My neighborhood in AZ is not like this one. Not like I can tell my kids to just go on out and come home at dinner time. This neighborhood in Illinois is a 1950s dream ‘hood. Go out, play all day with your friends, and when you hear me call you for dinner, come home. That’s what we lived when we were here. Damn, I missed it. I realize it now. And now, it’s like we’ve got to relive the whole moving away from Chicago all over again when we go back home to AZ in a few weeks. I don’t know how my kids will react when it’s time to go home.
So, I'm not feeling THAT sad now. And hey, I've since heard there was a HORRIBLE SAND STORM by where we live in Scottsdale. Have you guys heard about it? Whoever reads this and lives there, please comment and tell me how bad it was! I don't know if I'd rather be in a sandstorm like THAT or be in the Blizzard Chicago had here last winter?

We went to Naperville Ribfest when we got here with neighbor friends and had a blast--REO Speedwagon played and a band called DOT DOT DOT opened for them and they actually were really GREAT! I have to google them to find out more about them. Then Saturday was kind of a melancholy day because we went back to our old house and where I wrote that stuff above. Sunday we had a GREAT day in our old hood with awesome neighbors and friends at a pool party, and Monday we went to a friend's lakehouse.

SUMMER SHANDYs are a plenty out here and I've finally found the drink of choice (aside from my beloved POOL BOYS) that do not give me hangovers!

Then Monday we headed to Mr. Manic's boyhood home and met up with his sister and her family and I got to see my nephew and two nieces, one of whom I never met, and they are ADORABLE! We got so much lovin' from them.

And then... THEN, Tuesday night, I got my U2 redemption! We saw Bono! Last time I was supposed to see U2, this is the horrible thing that happened to me. So let me tell you, it was awesome that I FINALLY got to be at a U2 show! And it ROCKED! And they played ONE TREE HILL, which apparently they've only played it four times EVER! And With Or Without You was awesome, and so was Where The Streets Have No Name, and I personally vote Bono for President!

Yesterday we had an awesome day doing a whole family photo shoot and there are pics on FB if you're my FB friend, and if you're not my FB friend, go ahead and FB friend me, just tell me you know me from MaNiC MoMMy when you friend me. I gotta run now but thanks for checking in!

xo MaNiC

CHICKEN IN THE CAR AND THE CAR WON'T GO by Melisa Wells

Winner: SPepper22

Please email me your address at stephanieelliot@gmail.com to claim your book!

Chicken in the Car and the Car Won't Go:

Nearly 200 Ways to Enjoy Chicagoland with Tweens and Teens 

By Melisa Wells

Before I get to today's book, I've got some update info to share. I have TWELVE more books to feature and give away for this month and there are only FOURTEEN days in June left. I'm sensing a little issue here. And I'm feeling a little anxious as well. I may be in a bit over my head for this month. But no fear, because I don't want to disappoint anyone - I've made promises to authors, and publishers, and publicists ... and to you guys too. So what I will be doing is still posting EVERY SINGLE BOOK, but they will either be posted two on a post, or very quickly, or I won't have time to be as funny (Oh, I know, HEARTBREAK!), but you'll still have a shot at finding out about great books, and you'll still have a shot at winning great books, so in the end, it's all good, right?

You just have to make sure to scroll through to see what has been posted, and please make sure to check each post to see if your name is listed as the winner of the book. I will make sure to give each book ample time to be posted so you can leave a comment. At least 3-5 days. I promise.

PLUS, I'm already compiling a list for the September/October FALL FREAKING-MAJOR BOOK GIVEAWAY so we've got that to look forward to as well, so it's all good, right?

The reason I have to be so quick with this, and can't extend into July is because our family has to leave Arizona as it's getting too hot! We will be heading back to Chicago for our first visit since moving away, and we'll be gone for three weeks. Don't try to rob us. We have a very highly secured home invasion system and there are alarms set everywhere. And random rattlesnakes will be set around the perimeter of the house to prevent intruders. And teddy bear cacti will be placed under the windows for those who attempt breakins. Those are the most deadlies of cacti. You have been WARNED!

And speaking of CHICAGO, I'm going to bring you today's book, which has one of the freakingest longest titles in the world and will come in very handy for our visit. It was written my by very good friend, Melisa (with one S) Wells, who first became my friend because she stalked me on this blog. Then she sent me a tiara. Then she followed me to Panera. Then she wanted my pink coat, which I should have given to her when I moved from Chicago. Then she donated blood with me cuz she's that cool. (And dear God, if I keep writing blogs THIS LONG, I will never get to post 14 blog book reviews by the end of this month, will I?)

So, here is the title: Chicken in the Car and the Car Won't Go: Nearly 200 Ways to Enjoy Chicagoland with Tweens and Teens. The book includes the more mature adventures for your kids, and the hidden jewels you won't necessarily find in the basic tour guides. Also, I love the fact that Melisa's son, Dylan, designed the book cover!

Whether you're planning a trip to Chicago, a lifelong resident of Chicago, or know someone in Chicago, this pocket guide book is a great book for yourself or a gift, or to have on hand when in the Windy City! I can't wait to check out a couple of interesting sites when I hit the town next month.

You can win a copy of the small book with the big title now by telling me your favorite city in the U.S! Bonus points, of course, if it's Chicago ... hahah, JUST KIDDING!

Thanks for reading and being a part of June Blast-O-Books.

I also blog at SheKnows.com Real Moms Guide.

Don't forget to enter for any of the previous books that you may have missed. AS LONG AS A WINNER's NAME is NOT posted at the top of the blog post, then that means a winner has NOT yet been chosen so you can still enter to win that book but ONLY ONE TIME per book entry PLEASE!

If you're new here, check out the rules and other stuff for the June Blast-O-Books there under that highlighted link back there, or feel free to leave me a comment always and I'll answer it in the thread, or email me at stephanieelliot@gmail.com. It is always at my discretion to change things up, and because of some regulations, I guess I must say that the books I review are given to me by either the authors or publishers or publicists, and I am never paid for my reviews, and they are my own personal reviews, and you know what, because I'm here telling you this anyway, I will also tell you that I never review a book I don't like, because you know what, why waste my time, life is too short to read a crappy book! There. There's my new mantra!