Womenomics, by Claire Shipman & Katty Kay — These two journalists have written an eye-opening book about getting us to recognize the power women have in the workplace to create the kind of work experience we want without sacrificing the time we want and need to spend with our families. I was really honored that both of these fantastic journalists agreed to have a book party at Chez PunditMom last week and inspired all of us in the room to rethink how we approach our work lives.

If They Only Listened to Us, by Melinda Henneberger — A great, quick read about women around the country who’ve taken control of their own political power that makes you think about what else we should be doing to make sure we’re not pigeonholed as “soccer moms.”

Have a Nice Day, by Justin Webb — Justin and his family are friends of ours and they are headed back to England later this summer after many years of living in the U.S. Justin has been the BBC’s North America editor and has a fresh perspective on how Europeans view us and our ideas on politics, religion, freedom and a variety of other topics, as well as our penchant for telling everyone to “Have a nice day!”

Life Happens, by Connie Schultz — Regular readers here know I’m a big fan of Connie’s column at The Plain Dealer in Cleveland. This volume is a wonderful compilation of some of her best essays on life, love, and family. You won’t be sorry you packed this one in your beach bag!

Know Your Power: A Message to America’s Daughters, by Nancy Pelosi — This little volume is an interesting read as a pep talk from the first woman Speaker of the House to encourage girls to stake a claim to their power, know opportunities when they see them and being active in their efforts to get a seat at the table of power. Who would know better on these things than Pelosi?

The Brethren, by Bob Woodward & Scott Armstrong — It’s an oldie but goodie about the real inner machinations of the Supreme Court. With the current makeup of the highest bench in the land and the upcoming confirmation hearings on Judge Sonia Sotomayor, this, along with The Nine by Jefrrey Toobin, would be entertaining and enlightening reads for the summertime, even if you’re not a “recovering” attorney like me!

So there you have it! PunditMom’s summer reading recommendations. If you’ve got some thoughts on non-traditional beach reading, let me know in the comments!

I don’t say that to insult pigs. Heck, I grew up on a hog farm, so pigs are my friends. But all you have to do is get off of a plane after an eight-and-a-half hour transcontinental flight to know that the more you pay for that airline ticket, the more you feel you have a right to throw trash all over the floor of the Boeing 777 while suspending the rules of common human decency.

Personal space? Well, that’s just not even an option as anyone who has flown knows, but do people have to do things to make it worse? You know the ones — they recline their seats for the duration, kick the back of your chair until turbulence becomes a welcome diversion and then reach over you and smack you in the face to get their bags out of the overhead bin without even trying to squeak out a little “excuse me.”

Don’t get me wrong — the PunditMom family had a lovely vacation and I have several extra pounds from the food and the wine to prove it. But all that time in close quarters with a few hundred strangers made me realize that whether I continue to travel will be less impacted by ridiculous gas prices, the cost of airline tickets and all the new fees and will be more directly related to the lack of civility at 30,000 feet.

So is calling the traveling public a group of pigs a bit harsh? Probably. But maybe it will get some people’s attention. Or I could just be delusional. I’ll let you know when I get on the airplane for BlogHer next week.

And for the lady who was on my flight yesterday who doesn’t know that airplane etiquette requires that if you hit someone in the face you have to at least pretend to be sorry, I’ll be preparing a special revenge for the next time we share a plane.

John McCain is apparently going to be spending some time learning about the interwebs.

So, as things slow down a bit politically, that’s a good cue for me to take a much needed respite. It’s hard to keep myself from going all pundit-y. It’s in my blood. I can’t help it.

But now that summer is officially upon us, the whole extended PunditFamily is headed out for some much needed down time.

You know I will come back “tanned, rested and ready.” But in the meantime, poke around some of my archives. Spend some time with the other MOMocrats. And if you could do one more thing.

Don’t forget about my $27 Political Revolution. While I’m hanging out with my family, send me an E-mail or post a comment about where you’re going to contribute to make your 2008 political statement, and I’ll send you some lovely blog bling!

See you when I get back!

Here are some volumes on active political women to keep you energized through the long political summer!

Madam President: Shattering the Last Glass Ceiling, Eleanor Clift & Tom Brazaitis

The She Spot, Lisa Witter & Lisa Chen

Founding Mothers: The Women Who Raised Our Nation, and Ladies of Liberty: The Women Who Shaped Our Nation, Cokie Roberts

Thinking Out Loud, Anna Quindlen

Lighting the Way: Nine Women Who Changed Modern America, Kareena Gore Schiff

Well, THAT should keep you busy for a while!

Believe it or not, Mr. PunditMom encouraged this little tryst, this summer romance in Provence.

Who knew he would be so understanding? I couldn’t resist his eyes, and his nose — oh, his nose — and that sly little grin. I was doomed …

Photo by PunditMom, 8/2007

Oh, right — Mr. PunditMom just wanted me to learn how to vacuum.

I wonder if Henry does windows??

Thanks so much to all my blogging pals who posted some amazing entries to keep my blog warm. I can’t wait to dig in and read in more detail the great posts and comments! Just let me know when I can return the favor!

While I’m trying to shake off the remaining jet lag, I wanted to mention a few things about France for those of you considering making the bon journee in the future:

1. Avert your eyes if taking the Bateau Mouche along the Seine in August. Sometimes the sights are not so, how you say, bon. There’s just no need to see an overweight white guy in a thong as you’re floating past Notre-Dame. (Sorry, I just couldn’t bring myself to take that picture — you’ll just have to use your imagination)!

2. Even if you don’t like grapefruit, you have to order something with it as an ingredient at least once while you’re in France. It’s just too much fun to say pamplemousse!

3. If the Disney Channel is on in French, it counts as educational TV for your children.

4. All airlines should have a new rule similar to the one at our community pool — before you get in (or on), you have to take a quick shower. Cut us a break — the recirculated air is bad enough on those trans-Atlantic flights.

5. This look doesn’t work, even if you’re a cute French guy.

6. Seven-year-olds abandon their picky food preferences if you cover something in garlic butter. I’m going to get to work on a recipe for Broccoli Provencal.

7. And if a food is named after a new Disney movie, you child will try it.

8. The two most important words I learned while we were away? Lavender sorbet. MMMmmmm.

There’s also a little punditry going on from me at PunditMom’s Spin Cycle. There were some things I couldn’t get off my mind, even while in Provence!

Yup, I’ve gotta get that laundry done (again!?) and pack, (again!!?)

But, I can’t complain, because by this time tomorrow night, we should be winging our way across the pond to exercise the little bit of French I possess, as long as the flights are more reliable than they were for the majority of BlogHers I met in Chicago.

So, I have asked an all-star lineup of blogging friends to keep things interesting here at PunditMom while we’re away. Please give a warm welcome to:

Sonia Sunshine, Mrs. Chicky, Lawyer Mama, MojoMom, David at It’s Not a Lecture, Paige at The Avery Lane Experience and Redsy (the blogger formerly known as CrankMama — think she has one of those symbols for her name like Prince?)

I do have a little more BlogHer punditry to do tomorrow morning before I lock the suitcases, but I wanted to make sure all my guest bloggers know how much I appreciate that they’re willing to take up their own blogging time to keep things hopping here!