What’s it really like to have your identity robbed from you? In William Boyd’s Ordinary Thunderstorms, it’s evident that your life can change fast….too fast….if this unfortunate happening finds you.

Ordinary Thunderstorms is a tense crime drama set in the streets (and understreets) of London. There is no “warming up” and getting set up into the story. By the time the first chapter ends, you are thrust head-first into a harrowing and devastating situation along with the main character, Adam Kindred, a self-respecting climatologist.

A chance meeting of a stranger and then, moments later, the witness of that stranger’s post-murder scene (and subsequent death), plunges Kindred into a place where he really does not want to be. Yet he’s going…he has to…and his journey into safety takes him straight into hiding, namely, into the underground of the European city.

He is moved effortlessly from a place of status and security to somewhere he’s never been…even to the point of begging for basic needs. He has lost everything he’s worked for….even the basic rights of every human being. He comes across a varied flock of unusual and eclectic characters as he travels on to a seemingly unknown point.

The story touches on the corruption of large pharmaceutical firms, the dishonesty that looms and the secretive games that are played within the darkest shadows of the corporate world.

I found this book enjoyable to read, like most other crime dramas I’ve read, yet it felt a little slow at times. I did enjoy learning more about a part of the world that I don’t know much about, as well as getting a very different perspective from a “man on the run” than is usually seen.

You can order Boyd’s novel Ordinary Thunderstorms from HarperCollins for $26.99, or look for it wherever new books are sold.

Win it! Courtesy of HarperCollins, one of you can win your very own copy of William Boyd’s Ordinary Thunderstorms to read & enjoy.

Here’s how to enter:

1) MANDATORY: Comment below with another HarperCollins title you’d love to get lost in.
2) For an extra entry, subscribe to Muse Reviews’ feed — tell me in a separate comment if you’re a new subscriber or already a subscriber.
3) For a third entry, become friends with Muse Reviews on Facebook, then tell me you did so in a separate comment below.
4) For a fourth entry, twitter about this contest using @MuseReviews within your tweet, then tell me in a separate comment that you twittered!

I’ll close this contest next Thursday, March 4th, 2010 at 11pm EST. Sorry; US entries only. Good luck!

CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.

Congratulations to commenter #66, Heather!

FTC info — Disclaimer: I received this product for free for review purposes; however, my review was honest and my opinions are my own. I only received the product itself; I received no other monetary compensation for this review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Making Toast, a new memoir by author, journalist, and playwright Roger Rosenblatt, is a somber account of life after the loss of a grown daughter. The author’s daughter, a wife, doctor, and mother of three children, dies suddenly in December 2007 of a rare and undiagnosed heart condition.

There is no other thing to do but go and be there….and that’s just what Roger and Ginny, his wife and mother of the lost-too-soon daughter, do. They pack up their life and travel to move in with the sorrowful widower and his three children.

The author is lovingly donned “Boppo” by his grandkids. He’s lovable, entertaining, and a terrific diversion for them during this horrific time. When the kids ask how long they’re going to stay, Boppo replies, “Forever.”

Boppo’s pride and top achievement is knowing exactly how each child likes their morning toast….and making it perfectly for them all each and every morning. It’s this common, everyday occurrence and task that speaks the theme of this whole book: Death happens, but life still goes on. Even after a loved one is lost, there are still others left behind that must go on living (and be dutifully cared for). It is in completing these daily, required household tasks that the author and the family finds solace….until they are better at grips with the sadness they’ve been slammed with, and more able to grieve and deal with their loss.

I enjoyed the way this memoir was written. Instead of regular chapters and unbroken paragraphs, it is written in small snippets….memories of the past interspersed with small happenings (significant and insignificant) of the current day. The glimpses and reflections bounce between sentimental, frustrated, trying, and hopeful.

The author’s anger and resentment, and subsequent questioning of why God would let this happen to such a wonderful person and family, clouded this book for me at times. I felt that, despite all of the questions and ponderings, he was still left with empty reserves and no real answers….and stubborn self-reliance.

Yet, overall, I still found it a raw and heartfelt account from a real-life Dad. The way he remembers tiny, minute details about his beloved daughter is overwhelming. One could only hope to be remembered so well by those who love them most.

Then a call near the end to all of us who read it: To remember to tell those we love that we love them….because we never know when “too late” will be.

Though this wasn’t a walk in the park to read through, this book had such beauty and prose that I found it hard to put down.

You can purchase Making Toast for $21.99 via HarperCollins or wherever your favorite books are sold.

Win it! Thanks to HarperCollins, one of you will win a copy of Making Toast by Roger Rosenblatt.

Here’s what you need to do:

1) Comment below with another HarperCollins title you’re itching to read
2) For an extra entry, subscribe to Muse Reviews’ feed — tell me in a separate comment if you’re a new subscriber or already a subscriber
3) For a third entry, become friends with Muse Reviews on Facebook, then tell me you did so in a separate comment below!

I’ll close the contest next Friday, February 26th, 2010 at 11pm EST. Sorry; US entries only. Good luck!

CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.

Congrats to commenter # 22, Cindy, the winner of this contest!

FTC info — Disclaimer: I received this product for free for review purposes; however, my review was honest and my opinions are my own. I only received the product itself; I received no other monetary compensation for this review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

This is a compensated review from BlogHer and Sprint

It’s that time of year. Thousands and thousands of people will soon embark upon cross-country car treks, international flights, and long-distance train rides be home for the holidays. Thankfully, my husband and I live near all of our family and don’t have to travel this year. Yet when I was growing up, traveling in November and December was commonplace. BlogHer and Sprint teamed up to bring together some of the craziest, most eventful, most unforgettable holiday road trip stories ever. There was no doubt what I would write about. Though I was just 10 years old, the memory of one particular trip is crystal clear.

My dad served in the U.S. Army for a large span of my childhood. One of our stations was at Fort Polk, Louisiana, nearly 900 miles from South Carolina, the state both of my parents call home. During the three years of our being stationed at Polk, we made several trips back and forth between there and my grandparents’ house in S.C.

Only one of the 14-hour trips was taken by plane. Our usual mode of transportation was our minivan. Dad and Mom would wake up my sister and me in the early morning hours to begin our trek home. We would usually make it in time to sit down to supper with our relatives, late that same day.

Traveling back to our house in Louisiana was another story. To spend as much time with family as we could, we’d leave mid-morning, after breakfast sometime, meaning we had a seemingly longer trip ahead. Many times we’d stop halfway at a hotel to rest for the night, starting fresh again the next morning.

On a particular trip home after a holiday visit, however, Dad decided to drive on through. That was fine with my sister and me. We just got cozy and crashed in the backseat (me lying down in the floorboard, since child restraint laws certainly weren’t what they are today). We thought it was a great adventure! (And little did we know, it certainly would be.)

Dad was driving, music low enough for the rest of us to sleep. Mom was beside him, leaning back in the passenger seat, asleep. I was dozing in the floorboard….and my sister was above me in her car seat, sleeping soundly.

Now I must let you in on a little detail. I had a tiny little traveling companion on this particular trip. Somehow….somehow….I’d coaxed my parents to let me bring my pet Betta fish with me. Little shimmery-blue-scaled Skittles floated along with us in his octagon-shaped fishbowl. I held on tight to him for most of the car trip, but while I was resting, I’d propped his bowl against some blankets and coats, buffering him with objects to keep him upright.

Now that the scene is set, let’s commence to the chaos. About 1:30am, a loud “KA-THUNK/BANG!” shook our minivan, somewhere between Meridian and Jackson, Mississippi (in other words, in the absolute middle of nowhere). Before the sound even ended, Mom was screaming. Dad was stunned, but at the same time, harried and panicked. “I think we hit a deer. WE HIT A DEER!” he yelled. Mom clapped her hands over her mouth. She might have been crying. The van kept rolling, but Dad was slowing it down to prepare for a median stop. I was a bit dazed and confused, still not quite clear on what had just happened. I could hear our van scraping the interstate pavement as we slowed.

I glanced down beside me, peering carefully to see with only the interior car lighting shining down. His bowl. It was overturned. And Skittles. Was gone.

“WHERE’S THE FISH!?!?” I yelled frantically. I cannot even begin to describe what the next few seconds looked (and sounded) like. Dad struggled to completely pull us over and stop, all the while looking around hysterically for a lost blue fish. He put the car in park and pulled up his feet. “Here he is!” he yelled, seeing a shimmery blue fish flip-flopping all over the driver’s side floorboard. GET HIM! Oh, NO! He can’t breathe! Skittles! The yelling and the crying, it just kept on going, probably making Dad’s job a whole lot more difficult as he flung his fists around trying to grasp this wet, wriggly, freaking-out fish at his feet. “I pulled part of his fin off!” came Dad’s voice from the front. Skittles’ chance at a longer life was looking kind of grim.

Though it seemed like forever, Dad finally yelled, “I’ve got him! I’ve got him.” He handed back a convulsing blue Skittles and I held out the octagon bowl. Most had spilled out; all that remained in the bottom was about a tablespoon of water, which I had to pool by tilting it to one side.

Crying, I clutched the fishbowl to me, holding it just so, so Skittles could breathe the little bit of water left in there for him to occupy. Our hazard lights were on, and Dad got out to survey the damage. The deer had hit the front headlight on the passenger’s side, then swung around the crushed the passenger door. No broken glass, but we did have a very dented van and a front fender that was dragging the ground.

A man in a pick-up truck pulled up behind us and got out to ask if we needed help. Dad said no thanks — that we were just going to drive slowly to the next town and get a hotel and a body shop — and the guy tipped his hat at us. “Well, then, do you mind if I go back and get the deer for the meat?”

(Ahhh, good ole’ Mississippi.)

I can tell you that this story does have a happy ending. The van did make it to the next town, and we slept well that night. (Including my little sister, who slept through the entire episode. She never woke up…not for any of it.)

The car was totally re-done, and a month later you couldn’t tell anything had happened. We never did drive through the night again from SC to LA.

And Skittles did live. He got a refill in the motel bathroom and lived to be a couple of years older. But you know what? His fin never did grow back, and we’re convinced that’s why he swam noticeably lop-sided for the remainder of his days. Bless his little heart.

Courtesy of Sprint and BlogHer, one of you will win a $200 Visa gift card!
To enter, leave me a comment below and tell me a short blurb about your most crazy/hilarious/eventful holiday road trip! (OR you may leave a link to an entire holiday road trip post/story on your own blog in the comments below.) The contest will begin on Tuesday, December 8, 2009 at 9:00am PST and will end on Thursday, December 31, 2009 at 5:00pm PST. Make sure that the e-mail address you leave is correct.

Rules:

* No duplicate comments.
* You may receive an additional entry by linking on twitter and leaving a link in the comments.
* You may receive an additional entry by blogging about this contest and leaving a link in the comments.
* This giveaway is open to US residents aged 18 and older
* Winners will be selected via random draw, and will notified by e-mail.
* You have 48 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
* Please see the official rules here.

Don’t forget to head to BlogHer’s Special Offers page and check out the other holiday road trip stories! All in all, you have NINE chances to win the Visa gift card!

CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED — Thanks for participating!

The lucky winner of the $200 Visa gift card is #192, Tina Reynolds! Congratulations, Tina! I’ll be sending you an email soon. Thanks, everyone, for joining in on the fun!

Our two children, since infancy, have always been 12-hours-a-night sleepers. More recently, though, they’ve been having trouble getting to sleep, and both have foregone sleeping at naptime. This doesn’t mean that all is lost, though. They still have a mandatory “down time” in their rooms right after lunch, and at night, we’ve found some tricks to help them settle down quicker and begin their trips to dreamland. My Tot Clock has been one of those helps!

My Tot Clock was thought up and created by a sleep-deprived mom, Pamela Gonzalez, who began experiencing toddler sleep troubles when a new baby brother was introduced into the family. Needing a solution for a little boy who got up every hour or two to tell her that “the sun was awake,” she came up with My Tot Clock.

My Tot Clock is filled with customizable features to let your little one know what time it is (and what time he or she may get out of bed). There are, in fact, five distinct settings to time your little one’s daily activities and regimens. The clock face changes colors depending on whether it’s bedtime, wake time, or nap time….plus there are two more colors to use for times of encouragement or discipline!

We decided to put this clock on our son’s room since he’s the one who is hardest to settle down and is also beginning to learn how to TELL time. It’s been a terrific, useful resource! What exactly do I love about My Tot Clock?

- I love that it has an AC adapter plug — no batteries to keep replacing!
- The face’s light can be dimmed or brightened depending on preferences.
- Tot Clock Treasures cartridges (one is included and others are available for purchase) play bedtime stories, songs, lullabies, and even white noise.
- The Tot Clock Treasures cartridges can also be set to start playing music at awake time, for those children who need to get up at a certain time for school or daycare.
- With the buttons on the back, you can customize sleep and awake time for automatic light setting changes….BUT an override function is available for the times when “life happens” and the times need to be adjusted!
- The soft glowing blue light serves dual purpose as a nightlight!
- A digital clock is on the back, and a clock with hands is on the front — terrific for kids learning how to tell time.
- There are interchangeable faceplates available so that your child can fully customize his or her Tot Clock!

(The back of the unit….notice how many buttons there are! So, so customizable. The directions for setting the time durations were super simple and very self-explanatory.)

With My Tot Clock, our son now comes into our bedroom in the mornings only after the faceplate turns yellow at 7:15am. During nap time, he knows that his “quiet time” isn’t over until the green-blue changes to yellow. Much more fun and interactive than a standard timer! My Tot Clock is a must-have for any family who is dealing with toddler sleep issues (or is anticipating them).

You can order My Tot Clock directly from their website. My Tot Clock includes the clock, one cartridge, and stars and moon faceplate, all for $49.95. You can purchase other Tot Clock Treasures cartridges or faceplates for $9.95 each. (Well worth the value of a good night’s sleep — for everyone in your household!)

Win it! Thanks to Pamela, the creative mom behind My Tot Clock, one of you can win your very own My Tot Clock unit! To enter to win, tell me the following information in a comment below:
1) Why you need My Tot Clock in your household, and
2) Which faceplate your child would like the best.

I’ll close the contest next Wednesday, November 25th, 2009 at 11pm EST. Sorry; US entries only. Good luck!

CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.

Congratulations to commenter #9, Kristi, the winner of the Tot Clock!

Earlier this year, I reviewed a book about Splat the Cat, written and illustrated by Rob Scotton.

Splat appears this year in a brand new book that’s Christmas-themed: Merry Christmas, Splat!

Our kids adore Splat. He not only closely resembles our own long, wiry-haired, black cat, he’s also adorable in thought and action.

In the opening of this book, he’s writing a letter to Santa, with the aid of his tiny mouse pal, Seymour. His little sister walked over and began to plant some doubts in Splat’s head about how good he’d really been that year.

Splat, worried, began to seek out ways to make up for lost time. With an eager spirit, he began “helping out” around the house, which actually resulted more messes being created. When night fell, he went to bed with a flashlight, hoping to catch Santa and make one last plea for how good he’d been.

He awoke the next morning to….an unexpected surprise. (You’ll have to read to find out!)

Splat’s wiry, wispy black hair, wide and super-alert eyes, and cute and expressive mouth make for an entertaining main character that your children are sure to adore. It’s one of my favorite books to read to my own!

You can purchase Merry Christmas, Splat for $16.99 at these online retailers or at your favorite local book shop.

Win it! The first giveaway in Muse Reviews’ Cozy Christmas Reads event is Merry Christmas, Splat by Rob Scotton! To enter to win, tell me another one of HarperCollins Children’s titles you’d like to share with your children or grandchildren. I’ll close this contest next Thursday, November 19th, when I’ll announce all of the winners from the Cozy Christmas Reads event. Sorry; US entries only. Good luck!

CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.

Good news to commenter # 1, Serena, on the Lost in the Woods DVD by Sisbro Studios contest — you’ve won!

I’m sending you an email now.

Thanks, all, for entering this fun contest!

Last fall, we were fortunate to be able to review Sisbro Studios’s newest release, The Riddle in a Bottle. (You can re-read the review here.) It was…still is!….a big hit at our house. This brother-sister team is gifted by leaps and bounds…and that paired with their love for animals and nature makes for some terrific, family-friendly, highly educational entertainment that gets five stars from our family.

Well, now that spring is merrily on its way, another one of Sisbro’s productions would be a wonderful addition to your family’s DVD library: Lost in the Woods.

It didn’t take us long at all to fall in love with the most adorable newborn fawn with the most precious “voice.” The fawn is seemingly left alone in the woods, and he doesn’t know when Mother Doe will return. The fawn’s story is recounted by Shirley, a wise-beyond-her-years box turtle, to a fiesty, inquisitive raccoon named Fernando who just happens to be searching for his lost brother.

As the story unwinds, the secrets and fascinating happenings of spring are uncovered….and celebrated. This tale made us smile, laugh, and even sniffle a bit. The overall themes ring out: Be patient. Wait until the timing is right. This film will truly warm your heart.

The added songs on Lost in the Woods’ soundtrack make it that much more inviting and interactive….the heartwarming “A Doe’s Lullaby” and the rollicking “The Signs of Spring” (sung by frogs, no less).

Also included in this DVD is an interactive game, Sounds of the Forest. My 4-year-old navigated this game like a pro — and in fact, played it several times in a row and did very well — he loved it! He was having SO much fun; he had no idea he was actually learning.

Lost in the Woods is a presentation that my children will run to again and again, asking to watch it numerous times, just as they already do with The Riddle in a Bottle. (It is no wonder that Lost in the Woods is the winner of 12 national & international awards!)

You can purchase Lost in the Woods the DVD from Sisbro Studios for $19.95 by visiting their website. Also available are the soundtrack, the book, a board book, and even a teacher’s guide.

Win it! Laura of Sisbro Studios has very kindly offered one of you a chance to win a copy of their Lost in the Woods DVD! Just head over to Sisbro Studios’ website and look around awhile. Come back here and, in a comment, tell me something you learned….or something that caught your attention or made you smile….or another one of their products you’d love to bring home! I’ll close the contest next Sunday, March 1, 2009 at 11pm EST. Sorry; US entries only. Good luck!

In this hectic, scurried, and even a bit child-centric world we live in, it’s important to remember not to let our significant other get lost in the shuffle. In fact, our husband or wife deserves much more than a mere mention or a “don’t forget me….” If they’re like my wonderful husband, they deserve a proclamation from the mountaintop that they’re the BEST!

I have a terrific way to show your spouse how incredible they are….all the while letting others know how fondly you think of them, as well. Look no further than a comfy, stylish tee….more particularly, a From*me Tee!

I heard about From*me Tees about a year ago….and bookmarked them to go visit again later. The company was started by a couple who wanted to set a precedent for how one’s spouse should be loved, honored, respected, and admired. It’s been said that just the mere wearing of a From*me Tee will invoke feelings of joy and happiness, and here’s why they believe this is (taken from their FAQ page): “Nagging, criticism, and harsh words are “death” to any relationship. But giving praise and affirmation always adds LIFE! The happy feeling comes from the fact that, regardless of who’s wearing the From*me Tee, there is life being presented into your marriage…and that’s a big reason to smile and feel all warm and fuzzy inside.”

I kept all of this in mind….and when Christmas neared, I knew right away one of the gifts I’d get for my husband, a tee-shirt connoiseur and purveyor extroidinaire. I browsed From*me Tees‘ selection and immediately determined that the dark chocolate “My Wife Rocks” tee was just the thing.

The tees are made from the softest, pre-shrunk cotton….in a fit my husband loves (he is ultra picky about tee-shirts). For women, there is also the option of junior-fit tee, which boasts a longer length and more fitted style (which I love). These are truly tees you’ll reach into the closet for again and again.

Cleverly, I also ordered tees for our children, too, and wrapped them all together for him to find on Christmas morning. This was one gift he had no way of predicting — and the look on his face was priceless, especially when he saw the two smaller tees tucked inside the box with his!

G’s is a dark chocolate, tee, just like his Daddy’s (which is oh-so-important right now), but his carries a bit of a different message:

R’s is cotton candy pink, which is, well, suiting, for her pink-and-pretty, princess-loving personality that she sports daily, anyway! She proudly wears her “Mommy Rocks (Daddy’s right)” tee, and wears it in style.

From*me Tees also carries many other styles and colors….so there’s something to suit anyone or help proclaim most any positive marriage-centered message you’d like to send:

“Forever His Bride” tee

“The Two Shall Become One” tee

“Mommy Rocks” onesie

And what about me? Yes, I have two of these most-notable tees myself, and I, too, wear them proudly for all to see and comment on. (They are quite the conversation pieces!)

Great news! From*me Tees has graciously extended a free shipping offer to any Muse Reviews readers who purchase 2 or more of their outstanding tees! Just put in “Free Ship Refund – Muse Reviews blog” in the “How Did You Hear About Us?” box of their order page….OR, after you order is submitted, just email them (also at time of order) at info@frommetees.com with the same language in the body of your email message. But hurry! This free shipping promotional will end on January 29th, 2009!

Win it! One of you will win a From*me Tee in your choice — under $18 value — just by leaving a comment here telling me which one you’d pick! US entries only; contest will run through next Thursday, January 15th, 2009 at 11pm EST. One comment per person; duplicate commenters will be disqualified. Good luck!

You know you remember it. Even if it’s buried way back in your memory’s recesses, needing a little bit of dusting off. Shelley Duvall’s Faerie Tale Theatre, the episodes originally aired on Showtime in the early 1980s, has been released in a 7-DVD collector’s set by KOCH Vision.

What a spectacular gift idea for the person you know who loves things remembered, for the all-things-80s collector, or for the drama enthusiast. Or how about for your own children or grandchildren? I have to say, being able to share books and programs that I enjoyed as a child with my own two children is a joy beyond compare.

As the kids and I watched these episodes, memories came flooding back to me, glimpses of my own 5-, 6-, 7-year-old self sitting, enchanted, glued to the screen as my favorite storybook and fairy tale characters sprung to life. (Parents can enjoy these right along with their kids, thanks to an all-star cast including Robin Williams, Billy Crystal, Susan Sarandon, and yes, even Paul Reubens.)

I watched as my own children’s eyes lit up, as they gasped, laughed, and grinned as the stories were being retold. My son’s favorite, Jack and the Beanstalk, did not disappoint. It was just as I remember it — and just as I’d pictured it in my mind whenever I’d read the story to him countless times before.

For the time, the special effects were stellar and stage props elaborate. These timeless stories on film are watchable again and again, never growing old….just like the stories that inspired them.

The Faerie Tale Theatre 7-disc DVD collector’s set comes a complete showing of 26 episodes from the original broadcasts. Also included is a never-before-seen “lost episode!” It also includes a photo-rich, collectable storybook and a fun card game. This set retails for $99.98 SRP. (It’s available at Amazon and most every retailer of DVD entertainment.)

One of my favorite, favorite DVD series to show my kids is the outstanding selection of stories produced by Scholastic. You see, my affinity for these short little films goes way back. Way back — to the early 80s when I was in grade school. Our county library was just short walk down the hill behind our school, so one Wednesday a month, this is where we trekked. We sat on the floor in the A/V room and the librarians put filmstrips on for us — Scholastic stories animated and narrated, brought to life before our eyes. I forgot about these films for many years — but when I had my first child, I began to seek them out and collect them for him to watch.

Scholastic carries a wide realm of DVD selections….but standing out among them are these I’m talking about, the Storybook Treasures Collection. These DVDs have dramatizations and animations of familiar, well-loved stories grouped together according to a similar theme.

We were recently able to preview two of their newest DVDs from their collection: Harry the Dirty Dog (and more playful puppy stories) and Make Way for Ducklings (and more delightful duck stories).

These two newest titles are out this week! — two delightful additions to your child’s DVD collection for sure.  The titles on each disc include:

Harry the Dirty Dog (and more playful puppy stories) also with

- No Roses for Harry
- Officer Buckle and Gloria
- Dot the Fire Dog
- I Want a Dog (my kids’ personal favorite!)
- Angus Lost (a live-action goodie!)

Make Way for Ducklings (and more delightful duck stories) also with:

- The Story About Ping
- The Ugly Duckling
- Angus and the Ducks
- Cat and Canary
- Wings:  A Tale of Two Chickens

You can purchase them for just $14.95 each — either at NewVideo’s online store, Amazon, or many retailers nationwide!

AND — If you’d like a chance to win them here, just leave me a comment telling me one other story that Scholastic has showcased on a DVD.  One comment per person, and U.S. entries only, please.  The contest will end at 11pm EST next Thursday, October 2nd, 2008.  I’ll announce the winner the next morning.  Good luck!