Happy New Year

We is sick....

Update: I am still experiencing the stomach flu but on the down side of the slope. Steve is just starting it -- pretty badly -- today. With him being diabetic, I've got to keep a close eye on him. We are a plague house. Stay away.

I did go to Walmart today to get some needed food and supplies. Also stopped by Petsmart for the dogs.

I think I'll be reading KILLING LINCOLN by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard. This is nonfiction. Here is a description:

One of the most dramatic stories in American history—how one gunshot changed the country forever. In the spring of 1865, the bloody saga of America's Civil War finally comes to an end after a series of increasingly harrowing battles. President Abraham Lincoln's generous terms for Robert E. Lee's surrender are devised to fulfill Lincoln's dream of healing a divided nation, with the former Confederates allowed to reintegrate into American society. But one man and his band of murderous accomplices, perhaps reaching into the highest ranks of the U.S. government, are not appeased.In the midst of the patriotic celebrations in Washington D.C., John Wilkes Booth—charismatic ladies' man and impenitent racist—murders Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre. A furious manhunt ensues and Booth immediately becomes the country's most wanted fugitive. Lafayette C. Baker, a smart but shifty New York detective and former Union spy, unravels the string of clues leading to Booth, while federal forces track his accomplices.

It was published in September and 336 pages. I also have 11 4MA digests to read. And newspapers, and blogs, and....

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Rock on

Wednesday

I've been out of commission since yesterday morning. Steve's mom was ill on Christmas when we went there for dinner. Apparently, she had the flu and not food poisoning because she was Typhoid Mary. I woke up yesterday at 5 with the stomach flu and have missed two days of work. I'm better this evening. Steve said he was feeling unwell yesterday but didn't get it as badly as I did and apparently Steve's sister and her daughter were ill yesterday too. I have no words for how angry I am. Ya know what? You're sick like that -- and she looked gawd-awful -- you tell people to stay away.

I'm still a little grumbly but definitely able to have some food now for the first time. And I don't foresee missing another day of work.

I read LORD JOHN AND THE PRIVATE MATTER by Diana Gabaldon. It is 1st of 4 in series featuring Lord John Grey, a soldier and gentleman, in mid-18th century London (a spin-off series from her OUTLANDER). I enjoyed it a lot, actually. I'm just about to finish ACCEPTABLE LOSSES by Anne Perry. This is 16th of 16 series featuring William Monk, an amnesiac police inspector, later a private detective, in Victorian London.

All right, off you go.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

It's over already?

Somehow this weekend went extra fast; I just don't know what happened there. We relaxed today so that helped. We had Taco Bell for dinner and have been watching a marathon of Predators -- catching men who think they're meeting a 13-year old after chatting online with "her." Instead, they're meeting the Dateline investigative reporter and then the police.

So now I'm doing a quick peek at emails and news and will head for bed to figure out what I'm reading next. Still haven't focused in on that.

Back to work.... hi ho, hi ho.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Yeah, Santa's really lovin' this...

It's almost 11. We had dinner at Steve's parents' house. Steve sister, daughter, and new boyfriend were visiting. Steve's mom was very ill with flu-like symptoms.

After dinner and cleaning up, Steve and I went to see the new Sherlock Holmes movie. I absolutely adore Robert Downey Jr. He and Jude Law have such fantastic chemistry together. I liked the movie a lot.

So now we're home and I'm checking emails and grabbing a bite to eat since we ate dinner so early (before 4:30) and I didn't have any popcorn at the movie.

One more day of freedom tomorrow so I plan to relax and enjoy. And do a little more laundry. And figure out what to read next. And work on my computer.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

The dogs let me sleep until 8 this morning...a Christmas miracle! It looks like Coda got zapped by the electric wire yesterday because he wouldn't even go out on the deck. Had to drag him out there. Don't know if it has passed yet. Oy.

I spent the morning doing the usual Saturday chores, laundry, vacuuming, etc. Which is good thing because Steve's cousin Brad and his wife Crystal stopped by. They are really good people, so sweet. They actually gave us Christmas presents. Amazing and thoughtful. We did the same for them. Brad is like a little brother to Steve.

Steve went out to run some errands ... Christmas shopping, of course. Doh! Steve and Brad are now downstairs admiring guns and computer games. I'm making Chex mix and tracking Santa online.

We'll head over to M&D's sometime after 5 for dinner and good company.

Merry Christmas Eve, everyone!

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

That is why I love dogs

The good: Boss let us go at 3:00 today because it was pretty slow all day. Woot!

The bad: the dogs got out this morning. Luckily a neighbor girl, Avery, spotted them, told her grandma Sherry, who called Steve. Steve was able to leave work and found them up near the field next to the subdivision north of us. A perimeter walk revealed a new hole at the fence line. We've turned the electric wire back on.

The good: Three day weekend! The bad: the boys will get me up early every day, i.e. the crack of dawn, to go for a run. The good: I finished all my Christmas shopping

The bad: one item hasn't arrived yet. But it's not a deal breaker. If it doesn't get here tomorrow it will be a birthday present in May or something.

The good: work offered the Microsoft Professional Plus suite for $25 (retails for $499.99).

The bad: I didn't want to spend anymore money but I needed this really really badly for my new computer and I couldn't pass up such a great deal.

Always good: Don't forget to track Santa's progress (starts in about 2 hours!) at http://www.noradsanta.org/en/

I'm going to finish up here then go to bed to read for a little bit.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Just one more thing to come in the mail and I am done. It had better get there.

I've started a second book, THE STRANGERS ON MONTAGU STREET by Karen White. This is the 3rd in the Tradd Street series (non-mystery). Here is a description:

Psychic realtor Melanie Middleton is still restoring her Charleston house and doesn't expect to have a new houseguest, a teen girl named Nola. But the girl didn't come alone, and the spirits that accompanied Nola don't seem willing to leave...

It was just published in November and 352 pages. This is on my Kindle.

I am so ready for a three-day weekend. One more day to go. OMG.

On www.theblaze.com is a clip of a 59-year-old woman making an amazing, impossible hockey shot to win a truck. Go take a look. http://www.theblaze.com/stories/see-the-amazing-hockey-shot-that-won-a-59-year-old-woman-a-new-truck-christmas-miracle-on-ice/

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

The truth hurts...

It didn't snow last night. We're getting some this evening now. Doesn't break my heart if we don't get a lot of snow this winter.

Not much to report, really. Apparently Doughhead Christmas-secret-spiller texted Steve a lot today to say he's sorry. Notice he didn't send any to me (he has my cell phone number, it was in the message). Still angry, me? Yeah. Yup. Still there.

I got my new Despair (a.k.a Non-motivational) Calendar for 2012 from ThinkGeek today. I've not gone through it yet. Makes me happy. I won't be getting any others, unlike last year when I got some book related ones. I could actually recycle those as I only have them for the pictures and not the dates and it's been 12 months since I've seen the beginning of the year ones. :)

The week is seeming long again a work and tomorrow we'll be short handed as Joel won't be in. His 4-year-old daughter's daycare is closed during this week and next - how convenient for parents, eh -- and the drop in daycare is more expensive so he's staying home tomorrow to save money in that area. I don't think he appreciated when I pointed out that's why I have dogs -- put them outside in the morning and it's good all day!

I'm feeling a bit chilly. I think I'll take a soak in the shower and then read. Maybe I could wrap a present while Steve is gone....

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Santa is vexed. Terribly vexed.

Oy. Men just irritate me. I had a DVD as part of a gift for Steve -- Cowboys & Aliens -- but I let him watch it this past weekend. So I had to come up with Plan B to fill in the gap in the gift package. I scoured the PC games on Amazon and found something I think he might like and I don't think he had but I wanted to be sure. So I (stupidly in retrospect) called a gaming friend of his, Jason. Jason hosts the gaming nights that Steve sometimes participates in and is the computer guy who upgraded Steve's computer. Jason wasn't in his shop so I left a message with his employee Paul to call me on my cell phone and left the phone number and my name. I suppose you can see where this went. Jason gets the message but FREAKIN' CALLS STEVE and asks him so you're interested in Blah Blah game, eh? Steve said no. Jason said well I got a message here and to call . The light dawns for Steve and says man, you're in trouble that's my wife's phone is her name there? Just these two letters a P space K at the top of the note. Steve says I think that was a Christmas present. Jason starts to say I gotta go. By this time I've come home from walking the dogs and Steve says here you want to talk to her? I knew immediately who it was and what happened and I was so FLIPPING MAD!!!!! I have never really made a shit list before but I have one now and Jason is on it. So I cancelled the order because I had gone ahead and gotten the game anyway without hearing from Mr. Doughhead previously. So I had to come up with Plan C. I think I have finally hit upon something about five minutes ago and it is cheaper even with shipping by Friday; it won't fit nicely into one box like I had planned but it will work and he'll love it. He'd better love it. I HATE IDIOT MEN!!

At work I helped my male co-worker figure out what to get his wife for Christmas. Sounds like she's a real peach ... the guy was terrified to get something she might not like. We may have come up with some gift from Scentsy, at least a gift card at this late date.

Why are people so difficult? I'm the easiest. A gift card for books at Amazon or B&N and I'm in absolute heaven.

I wish it were Friday already. (sigh) We're supposed to get snow starting tonight, possibly six inches. Not. In. The. Mood.

Anyhoo, I'm going to finish up here and read for a little and head for bed.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

No, I think I'll just go to bed

I'm currently reading RATCATCHER by James McGee. This is 1st of 5 in series featuring Bow Street Runner Matthew Hawkwood. Here is a description:

Hunting down highwaymen was not the usual preserve of a Bow Street Runner. As the most resourceful of this elite band of investigators, Matthew Hawkwood was surprised to be assigned the case - even if it did involve the murder and mutilation of a naval courier. From the squalor of St Giles Rookery, London's notorious den of theives and cutthroats, to the palatial homes of the aristocracy where knights of the realm conduct themselves in a manner unbecoming to their rank, Hawkwood relentlessly pursues his quarry. And as the case unfolds, and another body is discovered, the true agenda behind the robbery begins to emerge: the stolen naval dispatch pouch held details of a French plot that, if successful, will send the Royal Navy's entire fleet scurrying to port in terror, leaving Napoleon to rule the waves. With no way of knowing who can be trusted, Hawkwood must engage in a desperate race against time to prevent the successful execution of the Emperor's plot.

It was published in 2006 and has 416 pages. Weird day. The phone program was wonky and then down for a while on a Monday of all days. Then this afternoon I had some kind of weird allergic reaction to my left eye -- not the eyeball but like puffiness underneath. So I took a couple Benedryl and it's better but I'm tired/loopy.

I picked up Papa Murphy's calzones for dinner tonight because the Steelers are playing. I don't think I'll be awake for it all, ya think? A little headachy too but that's probably the Benedryl. I'm going to read a little news before dinner so I'm going to wrap it up now.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Pre-Monday

We watched Cowboys & Aliens DVD last night. This stars Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford, set in the old West, truly, but then aliens attack. It was very well done, directed by Jon Favreau of Iron Man fame and executive produced by Steven Spielberg. I just can get my brain around the mash up of the two genres. Somebody thought of the idea and sold it to producers and everyone said "Yeah, damn fine idea!". Just .... strange concept but few flaws.

I've been mostly relaxing today, other than laundry and some vacuuming. I was going to make bread but decided today wasn't the day. You have to FEEL it in order to commit to the time and effort of it.

I finished the Grabien book last night so now I'm searching around for what to read next. Not sure yet.

It is the start of another week tomorrow. Ah well. Have a lovely evening, everyone.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Oh da boo boo...I want in on the hug too

Ahhh, it is so nice to not have to be anywhere or talk to anyone if you don't want to..... Yeah, typical Saturday, took the boys for a run at 7:30. Read some news and so forth. I dropped off a thank you gift to Tom and his wife -- Tom is the man who keeps the snow off our driveway and the street. We love him, myself in particular, because otherwise I would be shoveling as Steve is apparently allergic to it. :) I had to get dog food and picked up a couple blinky things for their collars when out after dark (like our weekday walks). I got a prescription for Steve and then a couple groceries at Albertsons. It was mid-afternoon by then and I was knackered so I napped. I love naps. Did the usual Saturday laundry and vacuumed upstairs. More tomorrow.

I'm not sure what to do for dinner. Steve may be going to a game night tonight. If he goes I'll probably read or do the annual watching of Love Actually. If he stays, we'll probably veg in front of the TV.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

TGIF

Yes, every one wishes for that....

Coworker back so much nicer today at work. I took 71 calls yesterday. No wonder I was beat. Glad, so glad, tomorrow is Friday.

Watched the debate tonight. It was nice to have taken a break so I could appreciate it again, however, I could predict what some answers would be as they've been asked a million times before and they have a stock answer now. I'll say it again, Ron Paul is a dangerous whack job.

Okay. Gotta go, it's almost 9:30 and I want to read a few pages of my book.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Yep, coworker out sick again today. Yep, other coworker left for two hours during the day for his daughter's Christmas pageant so I was alone. Yep, ready for the week to be frickin' over. I'm just done.

Started to read the Tasha Alexander last night but tonight this will be interrupted by an inter-library loan book, LONDON CALLING by Deborah Grabien. This is 3rd of 5 in series featuring John “JP” Kincaid, a member of Blacklight, a legendary British rock group. This is mystery light, in that perhaps it is categorized as mystery but the solving of a crime is incidental. The world of the aging rocker in a rock band is the focus. But I liked the first two books. Here is a description:

Newlywed superstar guitarist JP Kinkaid and his wife, Bree, head off to London for their honeymoon. The trip should be idyllic: take care of personal business in London, record a few songs, relax. Their honeymoon gets sidetracked when legendary director Sir Cedric Parmeley enters his 25-year-old rockumentary Playing in the Dark into competition at the Cannes Film Festival, and asks Blacklight to perform a free show at Frejus, near Cannes, to support it. But the film Parmeley screens the night before the Festival opens is not the film the band approved. In that ninety minutes of footage is evidence of an old hate crime, the only kind for which there's no statute of limitations. The men who perpetrated that crime have been hiding in plain sight in beautiful Provence. Their leader is a revenant from Homicide Lieutenant Patrick Ormand's past. And Ormand will stop at nothing to take him down--even if it means putting the band in the crosshairs of a sniper's scope on the red carpet at Cannes.

It was published in 2010 and has 267 pages.

So I've been posting articles to Facebook per usual and one commenter seemed to be wanting to start an argument. I think I've shut it down (she was attacking the source of the article so I provided version another from a different source). The source isn't the issue - the situation in the article always is. I won't back down from debates on Facebook so I will go all day -- until I feel the person has gone complete pointless and stupid then you just have to walk away shaking your head.

I got caught up in watching a show on tv tonight, Brad Meltzer's Decoded. The episode was about Mount Rushmore. Did you know why those presidents were chosen? (Washington, Jefferson, T. Roosevelt, and Lincoln)? Because when the monument was being formed, the idea of American Expansionism was the big thought. So Washington of course for the first president of a new nation, Jefferson for the Louisiana Purchase (not the Declaration), Roosevelt for the Panama Canal, and Lincoln for keeping the country together. And the creator was a member of the KKK. And there is a Hall of Records behind the faces so everyone will know who created such a marvelous thing and why thousands of years from now. (the man had an ego the size of Rushmore). Before that episode was one about Fort Knox -- and that there may not be gold there anymore but the security has been beefed up since 2001 so what's there? Hmmm?

Okay. I'm hearing Steve is home from shooting so time to wrap up.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

An early Christmas present today: one of my student loan payments isn't going to be done this month. Therefore I was able to get groceries today. Woot! So I went to Walmart after work .... bah! Ah well. It was very much needing to be done.

I finished the Frazer. Not sure what to read next; there is the Tasha Alexander or the MURDER YOUR DARLINGS with Dorothy Parker as sleuth. Both are library books; one is a 14-day book. Maybe I'll decide tonight after catching up on news online.

Sick coworker was at work for a little under an hour and then went home. Hope she didn't spread the germs because it sounded like a yucky flu. So of course we were major busy the rest of the day. She really did need to go home, she looked like she felt awful. We should have Lysol'd her cubicle. :)

Yeah, so, I'm tired and probably won't last long before turning out the lights. 'Tis always the way despite good intentions. Off you go...

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Monday

Busy day at work. Coworker called in again and Mondays are always monstrous. Had the usual angries but also a somewhat suicidal. Oh boy. More than ready for the day to be over.

It snowed very slightly this afternoon, just a dusting out there but cold.

Tonight, we'll had dinner then I'll finish the Frazer book (always love her worlds). Probably try to take up with the Tasha Alexander again after that. Just keeping cozy until bedtime.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

No, I think they just can't get out...

About to start A PLAY OF HERESY by Margaret Frazer. This is 7th of 7 in series featuring Joliffe, member of a troupe of traveling players, and sometime spy in 15th century England. Here is a summary:

While performing in the theatrical and religious festival of Corpus Christi Day in Coventry, Joliffe is summoned by Bishop Beaufort to use his skills as a spy to uncover the mysteries of the town's elite. A merchant has gone missing, presumed dead-and members of Joliffe's company are implicated in the crime. To uncover the truth, Joliffe must unravel the devilish machinations of a secret sect of heretics bent on destroying the Church.

It was published this week and has 304 pages. Coffee with Tami was lovely. Afterward, we then looked around the bookstore, mostly at the puzzles and games and bargain stuff. She isn't a reader so she left before I did. I needed a deeper look at books. But I was a good girl: I only got a gift for an upcoming birthday from the bargain books. Though I have to confess, I initially wanted EVERYTHING.

After that I went to M&D's to pick up the Joliffe book and to rummage through the boxes of books I had there. I was looking for my Katherine Kurtz books but only found some, not all. Wound up taking a few boxes out of their house -- a lot of kid-hood books like the Hardy Boys, Old Mother West Wind, Anne of Green Gables, and the like. Dad is happy. I need to figure out where to put them because I don't have anymore room in bookcase nor room for more bookcases themselves.

Got home, showered again because I was all dusty from the rummaging and had some Progresso soup for lunch. I've got some laundry going but still need to vacuum. That may be next. Or a nap.

Steve is out working on a door project. I missed the full moon this morning. I was so pleased with the boys not pawing at me I didn't get up until 10 after 7 though I had been awake for maybe a half hour. :)

Tonight, Cops is on TV and then maybe we'll watch another Homeland episode or start the Justified series. Playing it by ear.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Creepy music playing doesn't help either....(I didn't see 3rd one until later)

I have to remember this because I think I said it the last time I read a Susan Hill "mystery". I need to stop reading them. This one seemed almost like a mystery at times but then turned into a big disappointment. I won't elaborate. I must remember not to read the next one.

So maybe I'll wait for the Joliffe or start the new Zoe Archer or the 14-day Tasha Alexander from the library. I tried the Arsenault, IN SEARCH OF THE ROSE NOTES, also from the library and it just didn't click with me. The idea seemed good but something in the execution of it in the first few pages didn't impel me to spend any more time with it.

I'm meeting Tami tomorrow morning at B&N for coffee. That will be most excellent; it's been a month since I've seen her and that time wasn't conducive for really talking. Otherwise the weekend will be uneventful but usual. I'm glad it is the weekend at last.

Not much else to report. Work was the typical busy Friday. I took the boys for a run in the field and will have to do it again in the morning.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Not-Friday-yet-day

Not a long post tonight. I've been having a battle of words on Facebook over the use of "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance. There is controversy at the University of Connecticut because the Pledge is said before sports events and some .... people.... object. I had posted the article on Facebook and a couple friends have decided to debate the issue with me. While I don't mind discussions like this, I also dislike conflict to my core. I don't understand why it only takes one or two bullies who want to practice censorship on the majority ever gets power. Someone once said in a year we won't recognize our own country. I don't recognize it now. I'm afraid of what it will be next year.

And I'm sure someone will post a comment about the Muslims and how the US is against their beliefs. I vehemently disagree. It isn't Muslims -- it's extremists who use the beliefs of the Koran to justify the extermination of people who live and believe differently. I'm sure I'll have to go into that when the time comes to those who can't see beyond the sound bites fed to them by their keepers. Useful idiots, is the historical term. Look it up.

To end on a happier note, go look at this advent calendar: http://www.houseoftheorangemonkey.co.uk/advent/advent2011. Of course, each day a new block of images is revealed.

And I'm spent. I'm going to finish up here and go read in bed.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

I got nuthin', so here's a shiny happy picture....

One small step for... okay, it's a big step....

So when did books get so freakin’ expensive? I bought two paperback trade-sized today, and even with my 10% B&N discount, I still paid over $25. They’ve always said that publishers get a small margin on the books they sell but really? With paperback trades going for $15 a piece? And they wonder that the bookstores are going out of business and people just aren’t buying books like they used to. No wonder a lot of the book addicts I know say they don’t buy books; they go to the library or used bookstores. I am simply shocked. I had to check my receipt to see if I was being scammed. And this is just pushing people to go digital with either Kindles or Nooks or whathaveyou. And I suppose one can get cheaper there but probably not by much.

Steve has a board meeting, I am reading news and blogs and then will read the Hill book.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Monday, lovely Monday

I'm about to start THE BETRAYAL OF TRUST by Susan Hill. This is 6th of 6 in series featuring Simon Serrailler, a police Chief Inspector in Lafferton, England. Here is a description:

Freak weather and flash floods have hit southern England. The small cathedral town of Lafferton is underwater, and a landslip on the moor has closed the roads. As the rain slowly drains away, a shallow grave--and a skeleton--are exposed; twenty years on, the remains of missing teenager Joanne Lowther have finally been uncovered. The case is reopened and Simon Serrailler is called in as Senior Investigating Officer. Joanne, an only child, had been on her way home from a friend's house that night. She was the daughter of a prominent local businessman, and her mother had killed herself two years after she disappeared, unable to cope.

It was published in the US in November and has 368 pages. This is a 14-day library book. I finished THE DROP by Michael Connelly yesterday. It was all right, better than some recent ones. There is one thing the author does that completely irks me: whenever anyone address Bosch, they always say his name, Harry. In real conversation I don't believe it happens as frequently. If one were to have a drinking game based on this... one would be passed out before a couple chapters were done.

I've got three 14-day books today from the library, the Hill, going to try the Tasha Alexander again, and stand alone by Emily Arsenault. So we'll see. The conflict is that there is a new Joliffe out tomorrow and I will get it at lunch.

All right, off you go.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Monty Python reference

Da dum....... Da dum......

Ah, the library beckoned. I'm about to start THE DROP by Michael Connelly. This is 17th of 17 in series featuring Harry Bosch, a homicide detective in Los Angeles. Here is a description:

Harry Bosch has been given three years before he must retire from the LAPD, and he wants cases more fiercely than ever. In one morning, he gets two. DNA from a 1989 rape and murder matches a 29-year-old convicted rapist. Was he an eight-year-old killer or has something gone terribly wrong in the new Regional Crime Lab? The latter possibility could compromise all of the lab’s DNA cases currently in court. Then Bosch and his partner are called to a death scene fraught with internal politics. Councilman Irvin Irving’s son jumped or was pushed from a window at the Chateau Marmont. Irving, Bosch’s longtime nemesis, has demanded that Harry handle the investigation. Relentlessly pursuing both cases, Bosch makes two chilling discoveries: a killer operating unknown in the city for as many as three decades, and a political conspiracy that goes back into the dark history of the police department.

It was published October 29th and has 400 pages.

Well, Herman Cain has dropped out of the presidential race. They got to him. I don't know if he would have made it all the way, his foreign affairs knowledge was lacking and his campaign probably not ready for the big leagues. Santorum still has the conservative chops I like but he just can't break to the top. I think it may come down to hold your nose and vote GOP again whoever it is when it comes next November. Anybody but Obama.

It's a nice Saturday. While taking the boys for a fun in a field, I saw and heard a hawk in the early morning light. Went to the library to pick up two holds. Steve is doing a little recycling. I'm getting bedding and towels done and vacuuming. We're having taco salad for dinner. There's a nap in my future. Life is good.

Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster

TGIF

Here were are in December. I'm looking forward to just two books in this month. In other releases, there are authors I read but I'm perhaps behind in the series and therefore not ready for the new books.

A PLAY OF HERESY by Margaret Frazer. This is 7th of 7 in series featuring Joliffe, a player in a group of traveling players, and sometime agent, in 15th century England.

and

THE COCOA CONSPIRACY by Andrea Penrose This is 2nd of 2 in series featuring Lady Arianna Hadley in 1813 London

They both come out this Tuesday, the 6th. I'm still waiting for a handful of books from the library: Susan Hill, Michael Connelly, etc.

Steve is off helping coach a gun class tonight, a little unexpectedly, so he brought home sandwiches from Pickle Barrel. I had planned to do taco salad but will now have that tomorrow evening.

No plans really for the weekend. The only errand I needed to do was to get dog food for the boys but I picked it up at Petsmart on the way home tonight. The store is smack dab in the middle of shopping madness so I wasn't going to go there tomorrow.

So tonight, I'm going to read some emails and news and then read. I'm so very glad it's the weekend.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Look, we have the ENTIRE FIELD to stand in ... !

Getting closer to Friday.

I think any snow that might have fallen last night, blew away. Just a skiff on the ground.

I'm sorry, not much to report tonight. Dinner soon, reading commences at 8. Bed at 10. Oh boy.

I hope I can find a good picture for you so you're not wasting your time here tonight. :)



Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Alternate captions:

All right, no more scary movies at bedtime.
Group photo!
The grass is safe, I promise.
Pyramid!
No, you did not call dibs....
Who can jump over five?? Oops, guess not.
Invisible telephone booth

Man is it sounding nasty out there -- the wind is just howling. No snow yet but awful awful wind.

Work was work. Walked the dogs quickly, had dinner and then got caught up on a Star Trek documentary on the science channel. The angle was the son of creator Gene Roddenberry learning to appreciate what his father had done. Growing up, he did not like the show and as his dad was gone a lot making the show, Roddenberry wasn't a good father. I've always loved Star Trek, from the repeats of the original (so in love with Kirk), the tie-in novels, the Next Gen, and even the new movie. I wish I could convey how I get goosebumps when I hear the opening music.

So now it's 8:00, I've not really read the news and at this point I'd like to soak in the hot shower because the wind makes me cold and then finish my book because I'm ] [ that close to finishing it. Moby is fixed. It was something about a "grounding". I dunno.

The inside of the sliding glass door is done (other than staining) but the outside still needs framing but that is just cosmetic. Oh, I'm wrong, it is snowing out but not much accumulation. Brrr.

You know, I'm a strange person. I don't really like sweet things for breakfast other than my tea. I've had to have oatmeal for breakfast this week. Screw it. I'm making macaroni. I'm out of rice and can't get groceries until Friday so I'm having buttered macaroni.

Sounds like Steve is home from shooting. Time to wrap up.

Stay warm and cozy, everyone.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

I couldn't just leave that picture there...just look at their faces! Just try putting something else up... you can't do it, can you...

Tuesday. Not Friday yet. Bah.

I got home from work, changed clothes, threw the dogs in the vehicle, it made one second of good noise and then .... dead again. Steve I think has it going now but we're having it looked at tomorrow. The dogs, however, would NOT GET OUT OF THE FRICKIN' CAR. I finally left them there. I went back several minutes later and they were still sitting in the car in the dark garage. I had to plead with them to get out with summer sausage and even then it was touch and go. Oy. Steve just took them for a walk around the block.

We're getting a new french door to the back. A construction guy owed Steve and in payment had this new french door so they're putting it in. It's not done quite yet. Needs framing and handles and so forth. It's heavier for sure but needs to be stained. It opens and closes really easy and smooth. Steve said when the door was closed during the install he couldn't hear the laborers' radio. Nice.

Don't know what to do for dinner tonight. Kinda tired of turkey. :)

Hey, Obama's job approval numbers has fallen below Carter's! Not surprising and probably not the wake up call some people need.....

I plan to read and relax tonight. I wish I had more ambition in the evenings but I'm tired, tired of people, and just need "me" time.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Oh yeah

I'm currently reading THE MANOR OF DEATH by Bernard Knight. This is 12th of 14 in series featuring Sir John de Wolfe, the crowner (coroner), in 12th century Devon, England. Here is a summary:

When an unidentified body is discovered in the harbor town of Axmouth, the county coroner Sir John de Wolfe is summoned to investigate. The manner of the young man's death is a matter of some dispute, but it was clearly no accident. In the ensuing murder investigation, Sir John is frustrated by what appears to be a conspiracy of silence among the seamen and townsfolk. There are many inhabitants of Axmouth who seem willing to go to extreme lengths to ensure that the shocking truth behind the death remains hidden. Sir John will need courage, cunning, and determination if he is to solve the case and escape from the town with his life.

It was published in 2008 and has 368. Blechy Monday. Glad it's over. Much love, PK the Bookeemonster

Bring it on

Easy

Saturday morning. I've been up for a couple hours. Took the dogs for a run in the field, dropped off Brad's hat that fell out of his truck when he was here Thursday. Breakfast done, reading the news and blogs online. I don't really have anything planned. If it weren't the weekend after Thanksgiving and all the madness out there in retail, this would have been a great day for coffee at Barnes and Noble with my friend. But I'm not venturing down that way.

I will do bedding and towels laundry. I believe there is a nap or two in my future today. No clue what to do for dinner as we wound up having turkey last night.

I finished A BURIAL AT SEA by Charles Finch last night. Next up could be THE COMPLAINTS by Ian Rankin which is a 14-day book from the library. We'll see if it hits my mood.

The sun is shining but it looks to be still windy. I don't know what Steve will be doing today he mentioned he might go shooting with someone or go to a gun show but only if he is asked. I think he'd druther stay home today too.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Yes, the boys would love it -- no, I won't do it

I worked until 3, no breaks. Phones were steady. There were only two of us in the collection dept there. Uff da.

Then I walked the dogs -- majorly windy out. The good news is we don't have to be in the Christmas parade tonight. Woot!

Thanksgiving went well. The only hiccup was a bag of potatoes -- new from Walmart and previously unopened -- that were all bad. But I called the parents and they were able to rescue me. Dinner was good, I think. Plenty of food -- in fact I forgot I was going to do green beans for those that don't like creamed corn (most normal people) and completely forgot them in the microwave. We watched football then the rest of the day (Cowboys won!). I was tired by bedtime; wasn't able to take a nap.

Tonight and the rest of the weekend, I'm totally relaxing. The house is in good shape -- excellent shape, really -- so the only chores I have to do is laundry.

We have leftovers of course to eat not only from Thanksgiving but from the sausage/potato casserole I made earlier in the week, however, after a turkey bun snack for dinner last night and a turkey sandwich for lunch I'm not in the mood for any leftovers. Steve may be bringing Taco Bell or something. :)

All right, off you go. I have much reading to do. Have a good evening!

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Happy Thanksgiving

Did you know that the first [Plymouth Colony Pilgrim's] Thanksgiving was a celebration of the triumph of private property and individual initiative?

William Bradford was the governor of the original Pilgrim colony, founded at Plymouth in 1621. The colony was first organized on a communal basis, as their financiers required. Land was owned in common. The Pilgrims farmed communally, too, following the "from each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs" precept.

The results were disastrous. Communism didn't work any better 400 years ago than it does today. By 1623, the colony had suffered serious losses. Starvation was imminent.

Bradford realized that the communal system encouraged and rewarded waste and laziness and inefficiency, and destroyed individual initiative. Desperate, he abolished it. He distributed private plots of land among the surviving Pilgrims, encouraging them to plant early and farm as individuals, not collectively.

The results: a bountiful early harvest that saved the colonies. After the harvest, the Pilgrims celebrated with a day of Thanksgiving -- on August 9th.

Unfortunately, William Bradford's diaries -- in which he recorded the failure of the collectivist system and the triumph of private enterprise -- were lost for many years. When Thanksgiving was later made a national holiday, the present November date was chosen. And the lesson the Pilgrims so painfully learned was, alas, not made a part of the holiday.

Happily, Bradford's diaries were later rediscovered. They're available today in paperback. They tell the real story of Thanksgiving -- how private property and individual initiative saved the Pilgrims.

This Thanksgiving season, one of the many things I'm thankful for is our free market system (imperfectly realized as it is). And I'm also grateful that there are increasing numbers of Americans who are learning the importance of free markets, and who are working to replace government coercion with marketplace cooperation here in America and around the world.

Paul Schmidt

There's always room for one more

And so the holiday begins. I've got homemade apple crisp going in the oven right now as an alternative to pumpkin pie for dessert tomorrow. I hate pumpkin. And I felt like making apple crisp. After that I plan to make some Chex mix though the bowl I usually put it in may be needed tomorrow in the making of the stuffing... think think think....

Work was tolerable. Actually, the calls were making me cranky but I went to my happy place -- the library -- and felt better afterward.

Tomorrow I intend dinner to be between 12 and 1. Cowboys play at 2, I think. I'll walk the dogs per usual early and then probably get the turkey and crockpot stuffing going around 8:30 or 9.

I had a textbook to return to Amazon today. I had ordered it in case I got the job that I didn't. So I arranged to return it and have UPS pick it up on our doorstep. I left it on the doorstep right before leaving for work this morning. I then get a text from Steve that an Amazon box had been left on our doorstep and he had it. Argh! After a couple texts back and forth he returned it and as far as I know it is a done deal. Steve scolded me and said there needed to be a little better communication. I DID NOT say, it was fine until you got in the middle of it. Peace in the family, my motto.

I may not get a chance to post tomorrow: Have a very happy Thanksgiving.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Yeah, not feeling the love....

Another day to x off the calendar. Busy at work, coworker gone again. Got a free turkey from the hospital. Walked the dogs. Had hamburgers for dinner. Didn't watch the debate tonight. Didn't get the job for which I interviewed on my birthday. Gotta do some reading and then head for bed so we can do it all over again tomorrow.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

No, that's more like today

Very tired and a slight headache. One of the collectors called in sick today so there were two of us answering the phones which is difficult on a Monday, our busiest day. Then my coworker disappeared for over an hour in the afternoon chatting with the boss so you can't say anything. Just tired.

So I walked the dogs, did dinner and just got the dishwasher going. I would like to read but frankly, I may not. Steve is across the street working on a garage door.

You know, it wasn't too long ago we were shaking our heads saying someday stores will be open on Thanksgiving. That day it today. Best Buy is open at 10pm. That's just wrong. Even worse was a story on the news this morning that some guy has been camping out "in line" at Best Buy since last Monday so he can be "first." That is someone who truly does not understand what the holidays are about. Other stores are open at midnight. Some days, I wish "civilization" would get wiped out so we start all over. I'm to the point of of saying no more presents for anyone and I don't want any for myself. Just stop and really think about it.

No news yet about the job but I was asked to do some more recordings for the phones for the clinics. I did North Shiloh last week. I guess they like my voice.

Not to end on a bah humbug note, but I'm going to clean up some emails and then relax.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Sunday

The day didn't start well. I took the boys for a walk at 7, up at the field. Got back to the SUV and it was dead again, the first time since the incident on my birthday. I had to walk the boys back but I thought I'd be nice and keep them off leash while we went down the alley. Ryker ran off and wouldn't come back for a while. Grrr. Got home, got Steve up, got the car started. I took a shower, had breakfast and then took a nap because I was just tired.



Trudging along with the cleaning again today. I've got the table cleared off, the floor swept and mopped. I'm cleaning the oven -- making it hot in here -- and I've got laundry going. Next up is the bathroom.

Tonight I'm going to make sausage/hashbrown casserole. Steve likes it and he perked up at the mention of it; he's running and errand now and will pick up the frozen hashbrowns for me. He liked the KFC knockoff potato bowl I did last night so I'll add that to the rotation.

I finished BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP by SJ Watson last night. I'm left with an unsatisfied feeling. I see where people liked it because of the "twist" or whatever you want to call it. But the end just ... stops. There's resolution but there isn't.

I'm currently reading A BURIAL AT SEA by Charles Finch. This is 5th of 5 in series featuring Charles Lenox, a gentleman sleuth, in Victorian London. Here is a description:

1873 is a perilous time in the relationship between France and England. When a string of English spies is found dead on French soil, the threat of all-out war prompts government officials to ask Charles Lenox to visit the newly-dug Suez Canal on a secret mission. Once he is on board the Lucy, however, Lenox finds himself using not his new skills of diplomacy but his old ones: the ship’s second lieutenant is found dead on the voyage’s first night, his body cruelly abused. The ship’s captain begs the temporarily retired detective to join in the hunt for a criminal. Lenox finds the trail, but in the claustrophobic atmosphere on board, where nobody can come or go and everyone is a suspect, he has to race against the next crime—and also hope he won’t be the victim.

It was published this month and has 320 pages. This is a library book.

All right, lunch, and then back to it. The afternoon is fleeting...

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

I truly do this all the time. My entire life.

Been busy today cleaning though I was able to get a nap in at one point. Yesterday after work I had to get groceries at Walmart and then pick up a prescription at Albertsons, pack stuff away, etc. Steve's cousin Brad came over so I made nachos for dinner. He left a little after 8 and I watched part one of the last Harry Potter movie as a reminder for part two that I picked up. No time to do a post.

I am currently reading BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP by SJ Watson. This is a stand alone novel from the library. Here is a description:

"As I sleep, my mind will erase everything I did today. I will wake up tomorrow as I did this morning. Thinking I’m still a child. Thinking I have a whole lifetime of choice ahead of me. . . " Memories define us. So what if you lost yours every time you went to sleep? Your name, your identity, your past, even the people you love—all forgotten overnight. And the one person you trust may be telling you only half the story.

It was published June 2011 and has 368 pages.

Next up will be THE SEA BURIAL by Charles Finch, also from the library.

I'm going to recreate the KFC potato bowl for dinner for Steve tonight. I'll have a big salad and maybe soup. It was super cold today, the high in the teens. Brrrr.

Tomorrow, more cleaning, focusing on bathrooms and kitchen floor.

Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster

Friday's coming ...wait for it....wait for it....

Random Thoughts:

I may be starting BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP by SJ Watson. I’ve got it as a 14-day book from the library so that may have to jump any queue.

Four days later and NOW I have a blister on my little finger. Weird.

I have a lot of stuff to do between now and Thanksgiving. How did it get to be Thanksgiving already?

I’m starting this week to take lunch at 2pm because of coverage issues between only three of us answering phones now. It’s not bad. It makes the afternoon fly by and time to go home that much quicker.

Tonight: walk dogs, dinner, read, bed.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Or maybe hiding?

I may be reading THREE DAY TOWN by Margaret Maron. This is an ARC via netgalley.com on my Kindle. I'm not sure if I'm sticking with it or not yet. I had intended to read the next Bernard Knight. Playing it by ear.

I gotta get to cleaning the house here pretty quick in prep of Thanksgiving. Nothing hugely major but I would imagine we want to eat at the table and that's covered with junk right now. My cousin Brad will be joining us and while he's California casual, I'm sure I'd feel better with cleaner bathrooms.

My hand is almost healed, just a couple spots on the fingers that sometimes gets in contact with something and lets me know it's there. It's amazing how when you're in the middle of something - a cold, a burn, whatever -- it seems like it will be for forever and will never ever end. But it is amazing how quickly the body fixes itself.

Gotta go grocery shopping on Friday. Otherwise, not much going on other than the usual stuff. Steve is shooting. The boys are chewing on bones I gave them to keep them occupied tonight.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

There's an idea to get chronic snooze-buttoner Steve up....

So, I didn't post yesterday. Good reason. Sunday evening, as I multi-tasking trying to get dinner on -- it was late -- I was removing a chicken pot pie from the oven, it slid, I instinctively (and stupidly) tried to catch it. Hot pot pie guts on my right hand. So my hand was submerged in ice water for the next 24 hours or so. No blisters, no breakage, just pain. Better now. Lesson learned.

I finished both JANE AND THE UNPLEASANTNESS AT SCARGRAVE MANOR by Stephanie Barron and DEATH AND THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW by Deryn Lake over the weekend. Not sure what to read next. I'd like a couple books from the library to shake loose but it's not happening yet.

There's supposed to be a debate tonight but I may not watch it. Rather tired. I also have newspapers to read.

Have a lovely evening...

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Let's just hang out today

I'm currently reading JANE AND THE UNPLEASANTNESS AT SCARGRAVE MANOR by Stephanie Barron. This is 1st of 11 in series featuring Jane Austen in Regency England. Here is a summary:

On a visit to the estate of her friend, the young and beautiful Isobel Payne, Countess of Scargrave, Jane bears witness to a tragedy. Isobel's husband—a gentleman of mature years—is felled by a mysterious and agonizing ailment. The Earl's death seems a cruel blow of fate for the newly married Isobel. Yet the bereaved widow soon finds that it's only the beginning of her misfortune...as she receives a sinister missive accusing her and the Earl's nephew of adultery—and murder. Desperately afraid that the letter will expose her to the worst sort of scandal, Isobel begs Jane for help.

It was published in 1996 and has 352 pages. I have this book and I know I must have read it years ago but I have no memory of the storyline. I'm "re-reading" it because I'd like to read others in the series.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Yesterday was my friend Melanie's last day at work there. We invited many people to celebrate across the street at Tiny's but only four of us showed. I knew I had to go. So there was no post yesterday.

We didn't actually wind up going to a movie on my birthday. We got into Moby, the car started to turn over and then died. Everything electrical, dead. Steve spent a chunk of time looking for the problem. The car started and he drove it around the block but it was iffy. So we took the truck but he had to stop by an ATM for cash, the nearest one had a "temporarily out of service" message. I had been saying we didn't need to go, my heart wasn't set on it, a night in would be fine. Steve stopped by the mall looking for another ATM, none there. So I said, let's just go home. We got Taco Bell for dinner, the boys were glad we were back. I was thinking there were too many obstacles to overcome, too many signs that this wasn't the thing to be doing. :) Besides, the showing was going to a 3D version and I hate 3D so I was ok. We'll catch in on DVD eventually. And the car was absolutely fine the next morning and has been since. Go figure.



My friend Tami and I had talked about having coffee today at Barnes and Noble but the weather is supposed to be dark and then rainy/snowy so we're thinking next weekend. I'm glad, actually. I would like to putter around the house and read and nap and hang out with the boys. I need to keep working on moving/organizing books into the new bookcase and shifting other books into the space where the old ones were.



I finished an autobiography by Gesine Bullock-Prado called MY LIFE FROM SCRATCH. She is Sandra Bullock's sister who ran the production company in Hollywood for her but then followed her dream to open her own bakery in Vermont. The humor was sharp and sarcastic, just the way I like it. It had some good recipes in there too. Her first name is pronounced Geh-see-neh.



Next up, I don't know yet. I'm waiting for a couple books from the library to shake loose but in the meantime I feel in the mood for a hist-myst but I don't know which exact one yet. I'm feeling sort of Jane Austen-ish, there is a series of mysteries featuring Jane Austen as sleuth that isn't too bad and I do have the first book which I read years ago. There's several books to the series now -- maybe I'll see if that's hitting the spot. Otherwise, I do have a library book called INDIA BLACK that I should get to. Hmmmm.

I put the boys off on their walk this morning until 7; they were bugging for at least a half hour if not more when it was still dark. It's now 9, Steve is still sleeping. I think he may be meeting up with a friend who's dog passed away this past week, spend some time with him to take his mind off it for a bit.

I'm not sure what's for dinner tonight. I had thought nachos but with the weather, it may be more of a soup and grilled cheese night.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster