Reviews from

Grasping the Elusive Dream

Viewing comments for Chapter 17 "Scheduled Stress"
The Followup to Chasing the Elusive Dream

35 total reviews 
Comment from LauraKatherine
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This was funny, Beth. Vacations have always caused me stress, too. No migraines, but I have to sleep almost the entire day after we get to our destination. Pathetic. LOL

The story flowed well. Nice irony that your beautifully scheduled vacation didn't work out as well as the non-scheduled one did! Lots of humorous phrasings. I got a good sense of your husband's character with his "deathly" illness. (Since he is still alive a few decades after this trip, I assume that he bounced back from his ordeal well.)

"The migraine, that wasn't even on my itinerary, arrived twelve hours ahead of its usual timing" (I had to laugh at this comment!)

Two little nits:
far back" I protested (need comma after "back")

motel, you come to (no comma needed)

Good work. I enjoyed this very much. Laura

 Comment Written 15-Mar-2009


reply by the author on 15-Mar-2009
    Laura, I appreciate your great review and comments. I will take care of the commas or lack of them. I'm glad you saw that.
    Beth
Comment from Annelisa
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I loved this. You had me laughing. I have four kids and any road trip is an adventure. We always have a destination but no itinerary. It works for us! Annelisa

 Comment Written 15-Mar-2009


reply by the author on 15-Mar-2009
    Annelisa, Thank you. I would not dare try an itinerary again. I'm glad you like it. I appreciate the review and comment.
Comment from patwannabe
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Oh, Beth, I love it. If it was supposed to be humorous, it wasn't to me. Maybe someone was amused by your mishaps, but it reminded me of some of our vacations with five children. The only difference is my husband was anxious to go, then made a donkey of himself before it was over. I love the way you write. I did notice one error: you missed a beginning quote--"Turn around and go back," he pleaded. (quote) It'll take hours...". Is "Artic" supposed to be capitalized here? I don't think so, but maybe. Keep up the great work. Best regards, patwannabe

 Comment Written 15-Mar-2009


reply by the author on 15-Mar-2009
    Thank you Pat for a great review. I guess it isn't all that funny. It certainly wasn't at the time but we laugh about it now. I appreciate you catching those things. I'll check them out.
    Beth
Comment from MaureenC
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Another great anecdote Beth. I really like your work, I think I have said that before. You really have a talent for making an event of normal daily living. Well done
Maureen

 Comment Written 15-Mar-2009


reply by the author on 15-Mar-2009
    Maureen, Thanks for reading and for you lovely comment.
    Beth
Comment from tammipratt
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A very humourous story and one we can all relate to regarding vacations. Well done, I was very entertained. Keep up the good work. I can't see any spelling, grammar or punctuation errors.

 Comment Written 15-Mar-2009


reply by the author on 15-Mar-2009
    Thank you, so much for the review. I glad you enjoyed the story. I appreciate your kind remarks.
    Beth
Comment from fayesh
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Your personal anecdote of vacation with the family was a nice read. I can't say I would agree with taking a vacation by drawing match sticks, but whatever works.

 Comment Written 12-Mar-2009


reply by the author on 12-Mar-2009
    Thank you for reading and commenting. We never did that but once but it was the one and only type everything worked out.
    Beth
Comment from adewpearl
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I think family vacations are stressful for the same reason Christmas is for many - expectations are unrealistically high, and who ever meets them? Your vivid detail, from migraines to rest stops to gas station vending machines, contributes to the humor of this piece, though I'm sure nobody was laughing at the time. I totally enjoyed reading of your family's misadventures and was almost disappointed in the end with a vacation that turned out well - what fun is that? LOL Brooke

 Comment Written 09-Mar-2009


reply by the author on 09-Mar-2009
    Thank you so much for reading and for you encouraging comments. I'm glad you found it humorous.
    Beth
Comment from MJMuraco
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Your story was humorous and well written. I think sometimes flying by the seat of our pants on vacation turns into a more fun adventure. Your story made me laugh as I remembered some of the road trips my parents took me and my four siblings on when we were kids. Nice job on this fun story.

 Comment Written 09-Mar-2009


reply by the author on 09-Mar-2009
    Thank you so much for your nice review. I am glad you found it humorous.
    Beth
Comment from DecrepitOldBag
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Beth, I've been thoroughly entertained by this piece. I laughed, I groaned in frustration on your behalf, and I vividly imagined what it must be like driving with four grumpy kids moaning and fighting in the back! As usual, you have written with a candid clarity. No SpaG or typos that I found, well edited. Marvelous piece!
All the best
Kat

 Comment Written 09-Mar-2009


reply by the author on 09-Mar-2009
    Kat, thank you. I love your reviews. I so glad you found it amusing.
    Beth
Comment from Gert sherwood
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Hello BethShelby I don't see anything to change.
I enjoyed you story( besides I don't really looks for grammar errors) I look for the story itself).

Good story sounds like you and you husband should of planed these trips together--
Instead of just you doing it yourself.

Your story it had some real good images of the horror when things get messed up when you have 4 kids complaining and your hubby with a headache.

I loved the part about you driving and also the part of the match sticks.

Gert


 Comment Written 09-Mar-2009


reply by the author on 09-Mar-2009
    Thank you, Gert. I appreciate you reading and commenting.
    Beth
reply by Gert sherwood on 09-Mar-2009
    smiles Beth
    Gert