Monday, April 30, 2012

I know people with this kind of humor... where can I find some bunnies?



Oh how I hate Mondays. Glad the work day is done.

The boys discovered there was water in the ditches again. Oh boy. Ah, the smell of wet dog and dirty ditch water....

Steve is at his meeting. I'm going to have some dinner, watch The Voice, and then crash. The good news is that via www.paperbackswap.com I'm FINALLY getting ANTIC DISPOSITION by Alan Gordon. This is the best book of the series and I waited since 2009 to get it. Woot!

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Monday already? Hit the snooze button...


I'm not accomplishing a lot in ways I can provide evidence today. I've spent a big chunk of the day in my office on the Internet. I've gone through emails from the past week. I've read blogs/news and posted to FB and updated books I'm interested in. I've enjoyed myself a lot so that matters.

Tonight, I don't know what to have for dinner, something with hamburger I think. We will either watch Ax Men or (my vote) The Game of Thrones on TV and maybe I'll catch the repeat of Long Island Medium.

Steve is busy this week with gun stuff: a dinner to recap the women's only day of training last weekend on Monday, the monthly board meeting on Tuesday evening, and then shooting on Wednesday. I'll be volunteering on Thursday so it looks like I only have to plan dinner for a couple nights this week.

Otherwise, for me, it will be the same old same old at work. Oh boy.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Saturday



The library made a mistake and notified me of a book on hold that they should not have been released until Tuesday. Wow and woot!  I read today THE LAST BOYFRIEND by Nora Roberts, second in the Boonsboro Inn trilogy. I enjoyed it immensely. And it was a perfect day for reading -- dark and stormy.

We had Dos Machos mexican food for dinner and watched last Sunday's episode of The Game of Thrones.

Tami had to cancel our coffee at B&N this morning but I had to run a couple errands, otherwise, I did some Saturday chores and read. The boys had woken me up at 6 per usual and then got up at 6:40 for their run. And will do so again tomorrow morning.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster 

Friday, April 27, 2012

TGIF



I finished  DEADLY AFFAIR by Lucinda Brant today. I don't know what to pick up next -- Tuesday will be the new Nora Roberts.  I have lots of options including the SJ Parris I set aside but I also have a couple library books that I should get to before the loan expires for a second time.

Steve has a gun class to coach tonight. It's been a nice dark day and it continues into the evening though I don't like the wind. I'll hang with the boys.

Tomorrow I'm meeting Tami for coffee at B&N so that will be lovely.

Yesterday at work I was complaining about my bangs again and a co-worker used to be a hair cutter and trimmed them for me. Woot! She took an inch off, that's how long they were. 

Have a great evening!

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

No, we don't do this at work... much



Ah, Hump Day. I figured out this morning that my allergies had been whomped so I took a Zyrtec and felt better. Don't know what's out there but it's more powerful than it was yesterday.

Up until this afternoon, when calls come in, it does a little double beep. Now, there's a male voice saying "Inbound is holding" .... over and over and over until someone picks up the call. It sounds like the canned voice when you're on a tram or train in a big city and it's telling you the door is closing or a certain station is coming up. And it's not quiet. I wouldn't mind it if it had an Irish accent or if it were Sean Connery or someone sexy like that. Oy.

Steve has shooting tonight. The boys have had their run and are panting nearby. I'll have dinner and then read I think.

I figured out how to loan a Kindle book to another Kindle (that isn't mine). I can lend to mom because that Kindle is still under my name. I lent DEADLY ENGAGEMENT to my friend Beth. Per the publisher, the book can only be lent once and for 14 days. But it worked.

Speaking of books, I am gobsmacked. A lady at work, Judy, I had lent her the first book of the JD Robb series. A few of us are really looking forward to the new Nora Roberts on Tuesday. I had bemoaned the fact to someone there that it's out next week and it's in between paydays and my paycheck has been spoken for for bills. Judy called me to her desk yesterday and said she'd be getting the book and would let me read it first because I'm a fast reader. What an amazing person.

Also, Natalie at work said I could borrow her rototiller to get a garden going but in going over about it with Steve the place that I had planned to put it in may not work out so I'll have to figure out if this is going to work. The sprinklers are inconveniently taking up space other than the front yard and I don't want to put a garden in the front yard. This is back to a work in progress.

Have a lovely evening. I'm hoping the darkness to the west turns into a thunder-boomer of a storm.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Tuesday, April 24, 2012



Quickly: Busy day at work, including an 82-year-old woman who called me a bitch then hung up. Fun. I have Deadliest Catch and then The Voice to watch then I shall read. Much tiredness. Dinner and a cup of tea await me.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Monday, April 23, 2012

Happens all the time...



I'm posting late tonight. I had The Voice to watch. AMAZING performances by most. After tomorrow's elimination, it will be down to just two for each team.

I'm currently reading DEADLY AFFAIR by Lucinda Brant. This is 2nd of 2 in series featuring Alex Halsey in Georgian England. Here is a description:

Career diplomat Alec Halsey has been elevated to a marquessate he doesn’t want and Polite Society believes he doesn't deserve; his lover has decided she won’t marry him after all and the suspicion he murdered his brother still lingers in London drawing rooms. So returning to London after seven months' seclusion may have been a mistake. Alec’s foreboding deepens when a nobody vicar drops dead at a party-political dinner; he witnesses the very public humiliation of an up and coming portrait painter, and his rabble-rousing uncle Plantagenet is bashed and left for dead in a laneway. When the vicar's true identity is revealed, Alec suspects the man was poisoned. But who would want a seemingly harmless man of God murdered, and why?

It was just published (Kindle) and has 387 pages.  I very much enjoyed the first book and was very happy to see this one finally available. I snapped that puppy up. 

It's almost 9:30. I've got to get some sleep soon. Mondays are always difficult at work; everyone decides to call. 

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Sunday, April 22, 2012

What I'd rather be doing...



Today, the sun is shining; it's a little breezy but a very fine Spring day. You know I would prefer dark and rainy but oh well, I suppose the sun has to shine sometimes. :)

The boys were up at 6 this morning and I put them off for their run until 6:45. I consider that a victory. Then they wrestled for about 45 minutes inside and outside on the deck (Ryker still won't go in the yard) while I had my big cup of tea and read the news. Steve has them now out at his parents' place while he helps his dad with a project. I'm crossing fingers that all goes well there. And then they'll come home and zonk.

I've got laundry going and I've been cleaning up old emails and reading the news. Otherwise, not much happening. I suppose there's a nap in my future because of my early start.  I would like to get some reading in of newspaper and book.

Dinner tonight... I don't know. I have fish, cube steak or Chinese food on the possible menu. TV tonight... Game of Thrones would be lovely but there's also Ax Men, Long Island Medium and I think I was wanting to check out Masterpiece Theatre to see if that was interesting. 

Have a lovely Sunday. Nice 'n' quiet here.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Saturday



I finally made a list of the books I got at the Friends of the Library sale last week:

Doherty, Paul  THE GODLESS MAN
Gellis, Roberta  BONE OF CONTENTION
McPherson, Catriona  AFTER THE ARMISTICE BALL
McPherson, Catriona  THE BURRY MAN'S DAY
Roe, Caroline  CONSOLATION FOR AN EXILE
Roe, Caroline  A DRAUGHT FOR A DEAD MAN
Hawke, Simon  THE SLAYING OF THE SHREW
Hawke, Simon  MUCH ADO ABOUT MURDER
Davis, Lindsey  SCANDAL TAKES A HOLIDAY
Marston, Edward  THE MALEVOLENT COMEDY
Morgan, Fidelis  THE RIVAL QUEENS
Gooden, Philip  MASK OF NIGHT
Newman, Sharan  WANDERING ARM
Newman, Sharan  HERESY
Newman, Sharan  STRONG AS DEATH
Newman, Sharan  THE DEVIL'S DOOR
Newman, Sharan  CURSED IN THE BLOOD
Eddings, David  CASTLE OF WIZARDRY
Eddings, David  MAGICIAN'S GAMBIT
Eddings, David  ENCHANTER'S ENDGAME
Eddings, David  PAWN OF PROPHECY
Asimov, Isaac PRELUDE TO FOUNDATION
Kurtz, Katherine  SAINT CAMBER
Kurtz, Katherine  THE KING'S JUSTICE
Kurtz, Katherine  CAMBER THE HERETIC
Kurtz, Katherine  THE QUEST FOR SAINT CAMBER
Kurtz, Katherine  THE BISHOP'S HEIR
Kurtz, Katherine  THE DERYNI ARCHIVES
Castle, Richard  HEAT WAVE
Smith, Tom Rob  CHILD 44
Cleverly, Barbara  THE DAMASCENED BLADE
Fitzgerald, Penelope  THE BOOK SHOP

And nine nonfiction books, mostly American Revolution history, and seven VHS videos including The Sound of Music, Singing in the Rain, Godspell, Titanic and I can't remember the others. Some of the books I picked up here are ones I've already read probably through the library itself and I'm just adding to my permanent historical mysery collection. The Eddings and Kurtz are series that I used to own (read them decades ago) but must have gotten rid of some time in the past (stupid, stupid) because I can't find them now. I only have two or three (not listed here) that I already owned so need to get rid of the duplicates. This sale was unusual for me in that there were a lot of historical mysteries withdrawn from the stacks this time around therefore I found much treasure. I'm not always that lucky. And it was the first table as one walked into the sale so I had filled up my first bag very quickly.

Steve is coaching at the shooting class today; he was up and out of here around 8:30. I've not accomplished a whole lot today beyond the usual chores. I've been playing on the Internet and I suppose it's okay every once in a while to just recover and relax from a yucky work week.

Nothing really on TV tonight so don't know what we'll watch, maybe hockey playoffs. I'm not sure what to have for dinner but I'm ready to do taco salad if Steve doesn't bring something home from out.

The dogs were raring to go for their walk at 6 this morning but I put them off until 7. It was a lovely dark and drizzly day only made less perfect by our neighbors in the street north of us who run a business out of their home doing industrial, loud work. I saw Steve off and then went back to bed, not wanting to waste such lovely cool darkness.

While playing here on the Net I discovered that a second book in a histmyst series I really enjoyed finally came out so I snatched that baby up. It is for Kindle only; the author is Lucinda Brant. The first, which I have on the Kindle, is called DEADLY ENGAGEMENT. This new one is DEADLY AFFAIR and I am just jacked to have it to read. I need to quickly finish the Todd book and move on. I have SO FREAKING MUCH to read right now it's ridiculous.

Ok, off you go.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Friday, April 20, 2012

Oh baby, yeah


I logged in to do my blog tonight and the blogger website has changed. Freaked  me out momentarily. 

Oh boy, glad it was Friday. It's been a tough week. I got groceries after work, walked the boys, got dinner going (hamburgers), etc. etc. Now, I'm taking a breather before bed. I splurged at the grocery store and picked up today's Wall Street Journal (I had cancelled my subscription a couple months ago to help the budget) so I'm looking forward to reading that here in a little bit.

I'm still reading AN IMPARTIAL WITNESS by Charles Todd. I think the series has an interesting character -- a nurse during WWI -- and I like the time period but it suffers from "amateur sleuth interfering" syndrome. Bess has no good reason whatsoever to be involved with the solving of the crime yet there she is telling herself she feels some kind of "responsibility" to see it to the end -- on the slenderest, silliest, slimmest of reasons. 

I had a dream two nights ago that I met with Paul McCartney. It was such a lovely and happy dream and I remember waking up just ... happy. Of course, those who know me well know that I absolutely adore the Beatles and Paul has always been my favorite. The time period in the dream must have been not too long ago because he was mature but his wife Linda was with him and she has passed now a few years. It was somehow around a concert and Steve had arranged it. 

Last night I dreamed I was a school girl -- not me but I was the character -- in a classroom setting. We were standing up to sing the National Anthem. The girl next to me led the singing along with a record and I just knew the next time we had to do this I would be the one who had to lead the singing and that scared me silly. About midway through the song people started sitting down and stopped singing and I thought that was wrong. So I screwed up my courage and stayed standing and sang through to the end all by myself, showing them how wrong they were. I felt very patriotic in the dream.

Tomorrow Steve helps with a shooting class all day. I'll do the weekend chores and hopefully get going on one project or another. The boys are out on the deck wrestling. Now they're inside wrestling. Uff da.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Reason #27 why I have dogs....


I didn't post yesterday because we had to meet Steve's cousin Mikey for dinner at 6:30 and didn't get home until 10. Yes. 10. The good news is that we went to Red Robin; the bad news is the conversation was the equivalent and sometimes the exact contest of my gun is bigger than your gun. I watched the hockey game on the TV in the corner a lot.

I'm not volunteering at the campaign tonight because I've got some kind of weird bug trying to get me. A dizzy/tired feeling started yesterday and I'm thinking I just need to be laying down, preferably sleeping. My goal today was to get through the day and the next goal is to get through tomorrow. We're extremely short handed at work right now and I'm not going to leave my co-worker to handle the calls alone.

I'm currently reading AN IMPARTIAL WITNESS by Charles Todd. This is 2nd of 3 in series featuring Bess Crawford, a British army nurse in WWI. Here is a description:

It is the early summer of 1917. Bess Crawford has returned to England from the trenches of France with a convoy of severely wounded men. One of her patients is a young pilot who has been burned beyond recognition, and who clings to life and the photo of his wife that is pinned to his tunic. While passing through a London train station, Bess notices a woman bidding an emotional farewell to an officer, her grief heart-wrenching. And then Bess realizes that she seems familiar. In fact, she's the woman in the pilot's photo, but the man she is seeing off is not her husband. Back on duty in France, Bess discovers a newspaper with a drawing of the woman's face on the front page. Accompanying the drawing is a plea from Scotland Yard seeking information from anyone who has seen her. For it appears that the woman was murdered on the very day Bess encountered her at the station. Granted leave to speak with Scotland Yard, Bess becomes entangled in the case. Though an arrest is made, she must delve into the depths of her very soul to decide if the police will hang an innocent man or a vicious killer. Exposing the truth is dangerous—and will put her own life on the line.


It was published in 2010 and has 352 pages. This is a digital loan from the library on my Kindle.

Ok, off you go.

Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

I'm sure that's what Coda says too


Quick post. Steve has a board meeting tonight so he's walking the boys and I've got dinner ready for the minute they come back.

I've got Deadliest Catch and The Voice to watch tonight. Maybe I can do that downstairs and look at my loot from the library sale. We'll see how that goes with the dogs wanting attention.

I'll probably be setting aside the Parris book for the 14-day digital library loan of AN IMPARTIAL WITNESS by Charles Todd. More info on that tomorrow.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Monday, April 16, 2012

Ahhh, needed Monty Python on a Monday


Oh, I hate Mondays at work. Non-stop calls. Your brain is fried by the end of the day. Uff da.

Tonight I have The Voice to watch on TV. Took the boys for a walk after work and discovered the field had been plowed. Ruh roh. Probably means the owner is going to use it plant crops. That field hasn't been planted since we moved here, what, 9 years ago? Ah well.

I haven't had a chance to go over my library sale treasures yet and probably won't tonight. Soon, I promise.

Steve's cousin is in town and we have to have dinner with him sometimes this week. Hard to figure out a time. Steve has a meeting tomorrow. We've thought about giving up either his shooting Wednesday or my volunteering Thursday. We'll see.

Here's something interesting to read: http://washingtonexaminer.com/politics/washington-secrets/2012/04/report-democrat-controlled-senate-laziest-20-years/493996. You weren't imagining it.

Otherwise, dinner, The Voice, a wee little reading and then BED.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster


Sunday, April 15, 2012

Sunday


I woke up to a lovely rainy dark Sunday. Perfect!

I spent a bit under three hours at the Friends of the Library Sale this afternoon. I spent $17 (half off day). Their "withdrawn" table had a lot of good historical mysteries so my plans of being good went out the window pretty quickly. Toward the end, my brain was just not able to concentrate so I didn't hit the reference side of things very well. But I found some treasures; I always do. The treasures for me this time were getting going on recreating series from fantasy authors I've loved growing up of which I thought I had the books but I can't find them anywhere. I must have gotten rid of them at some point and how stupid of me. David Eddings and Katherine Kurtz.

I'll be making sausage/hashbrown casserole for dinner. On TV tonight we have The Game of Thrones (caught up on last week's episode last night via On Demand). Maybe Long Island Medium, and maybe PBS's Edwin Drood. We'll see about those.

So back to work tomorrow. Sigh.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Saturday, April 14, 2012

It's the weekend? That's just lovely!


It's being a typical Saturday. Walked the boys a little before 7. Set about doing the cleaning chores and actually have stuff done before noon, other than waiting for laundry. Wow. I'll probably have to run to Walmart to pick up a prescription for Steve and a couple items.

Steve has a tournament this afternoon. Tonight, Cops isn't on but we'll figure out something to watch. We still have The Games of Thrones from last week to catch up and we still haven't seen an On Demand movie I'd like to see, Atlas Shrugged Part 1. Don't know yet what to have for dinner. I've offered nachos but Steve may bring something home after his gig.

It's being a sunny morning. I thought I saw on weather.com that we'd be having a 30% chance of storms this afternoon. That would be lovely. :)

Have a good day!

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Friday, April 13, 2012

Friday


The week is over. At last. Made it.

Steve has shooting coaching tonight. I will probably read.

Steve was changing channels last night and came across a reality show on TRU TV called Weiner Circle which is a fast food place in Chicago. Now, I've seen reference to this place on TV via Food Network or Travel Channel. It's a real place. This show is the lowest common denominator and lower. The women and men who are behind the counter have a schtick of hurling abuse and foul language at their customers and make them do "games" for free food. They are black. The things they say about white people is despicable and if the roles were reversed there would be such outrage. I'm appalled at what passes for television.

I didn't go to the Friends of the Library sale. I plan not to go tomorrow too. So there.

I'm tired from the week. I'm going to have chili for dinner, play with the dogs, and then enjoy myself.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Yup, uh huh


Alternate title: Or Lisa did it

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Cats are like that, not puppies....


Oy, it’s a tough week at work. I’m making it through it though.

I’ve decided ~not~ to go the Friends of the library sale when it opens on Friday. I may go on Sunday for the buck a bag deal but right now I don’t need any books.

I finished my re-reading of last two books of THE HUNGER GAMES trilogy after seeing the movie on Sunday. The story just gets into my brain and won’t let go … in a good way. It is just amazingly done. I may have to revise my answer to the meme question: what book would you memorize (a la Fahrenheit 451) in order to save it? In the past I have answered either PRIDE AND PREJUDICE or PERSUASION by Jane Austen. I will probably now answer with this trilogy. There are such important issues in it besides being a terrific story, characters, and world building.

I’m now starting SACRILEGE by SJ Parris. This is 3rd of 3 in series featuring Giordano Bruno, a monk, philosopher, and astronomer on the run from the Roman Inquisition, serving as an agent for Queen Elizabeth I, in late 16th century England

London, summer of 1584: Radical philosopher, ex-monk, and spy Giordano Bruno suspects he is being followed by an old enemy. He is shocked to discover that his pursuer is in fact Sophia Underhill, a young woman with whom he was once in love. When Bruno learns that Sophia has been accused of murdering her husband, a prominent magistrate in Canterbury, he agrees to do anything he can to help clear her name. In the city that was once England's greatest center of pilgrimage, Bruno begins to uncover unsuspected secrets that point to the dead man being part of a larger and more dangerous plot in the making. He must turn his detective's eye on history—on Saint Thomas Becket, the twelfth-century archbishop murdered in Canterbury Cathedral, and on the legend surrounding the disappearance of his body—in order to solve the crime. As Bruno's feelings for Sophia grow more intense, so does his fear that another murder is about to take place—perhaps his own. But more than Bruno's life is at stake in this vividly rendered, impeccably researched, and addictively page-turning whodunit—the stability of the kingdom hangs in the balance as Bruno hunts down a brutal murderer in the shadows of England's most ancient cathedral.

It was released April 10th (yesterday) and has 432 pages. Love this author. I’ve been waiting for this for, like, eleven months and three weeks.

There is nothing on TV for me tonight. Steve has shooting. It’s supposed to start raining/storming tonight-ish and for the next few days (woot!). I was kind of hoping for a long walk with the boys if it stays nice. Otherwise, I suppose I’ll read. And then dream.

Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

But are they Jets or Sharks?


Tired. Co-worker went home sick. Lots of calls. Nonstop.

Picked up SACRILEGE by SJ Parris. But I'm going to finish my re-read of THE HUNGER GAMES trilogy first. Get it off my brain.

Tonight, we have Deadliest Catch to watch and I have The Voice. Then bed.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Monday, April 9, 2012

Totally can relate, dude


Monday. Blah.

Work was a Monday. Lots and lots of calls. One lady told me to go to hell. Lovely.

Tonight I have The Voice to watch. I'm rereading the second book of THE HUNGER GAMES. I'm bringing my hardcovers for a lady at work to read. She saw the movie and had previously apparently battled the school over how she thought the book was inappropriate after only reading 50 pages. Now she wants to read them. Ha!

Otherwise, I'll be heading for bed. :) Steve stayed home from work today not feeling well and apparently slept until noon. Bother. But he did walk the boys.

I stopped by Albertsons after work to get some pop and checked out the after Easter candy, looking for jelly beans. No. regular. jelly beans. Only designer jelly beans. What is the world coming to? I consoled myself in getting a couple Cadbury eggs. I hadn't indulged in any this season.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Easter


Happy Easter!

It's been a nice day. Took the boys for their run at 7. It was a pretty, sunny morning. I have been doing laundry....

...we went TO SEE THE HUNGER GAMES MOVIE!!!! At LAST! It was GOOD! I want to see it again. Of course they had to edit some things for time for the film but the essence of the book was there. AAAahhhhhhhh! Happy happy. We went to the Wynnsong theater (not the new one at Shiloh) and it was not busy at all. How lovely.

Tonight, I'm making hamburger rice balls and we have TV to watch. EVERYTHING is on at 7 so we're going to have jettison some and pick others up in reruns at 9. The Killing will be let go. We'll probably watch The Game of Thrones. I will watch Long Island Medium in re-run and Steve will watch The Ax Men that way.

And then a new work week starts. The only highlight is the new Parris book released on Tuesday. Otherwise, slogging through the phone calls each day. But there it is.

Have a good Easter Sunday.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Saturday, April 7, 2012

But I prefer chocolate...



Well, Saturday let me down. It was sunny. (sigh)



I took the boys for a run at 7am. Otherwise did the usual Saturday chores. Steve did some scrapping. We're having taco salad for dinner and will watch Cops and whatever else we find.


I never did report what I'm reading. I'm currently reading (and trying to finish before Tuesday) IN THE SHADOW OF GOTHAM by Stephanie Pintoff. This is 1st of 3 in series featuring Simon Ziele, a former New York City police detective starting in 1905 Dobson, Westchester County, New York. Here is a description:





Detective Simon Ziele lost his fiancée in the General Slocum ferry disaster—a thousand perished on that summer day in 1904 when an onboard fire burned the boat down in the waters of the East River. Still reeling from the tragedy, Ziele transferred to a police department north of New York, to escape the city and all the memories it conjured. But only a few months into his new life in a quiet country town, he’s faced with the most shocking homicide of his career to date: Young Sarah Wingate has been brutally murdered in her own bedroom in the middle of an otherwise calm and quiet winter afternoon. After just one day of investigation, Simon’s contacted by Columbia University’s noted criminologist Alistair Sinclair, who offers a startling claim about one of his patients, Michael Fromley—that the facts of the murder bear an uncanny resemblance to Fromley’s deranged mutterings.But what would have led Fromley, with his history of violent behavior and brutal fantasies, to seek out Sarah, a notable mathematics student and a proper young lady who has little in common with his previous targets? Is Fromley really a murderer, or is someone mimicking him?This is what Simon Ziele must find out, with the help of the brilliant but self-interested Alistair Sinclair—before the killer strikes again.



It was published in 2009 and has 400 pages. It's all right but I don't usually favor hist-myst set in the US other than the Revolutionary period so it's slow going for me.



On Tuesday, the new SJ Parris is out and I have a hold on it at Barnes and Noble. I have to use a gift card still so went that route.



Have a good evening



Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster

Friday, April 6, 2012

That's a whole lotta lovin'


I was able to run errands after work. Got dog food, got my hair cut at last, and picked up some essentials at Walmart. Took the boys for a walk and the field wasn't muddy though it snowed off and on today. Steve is bring home Pickle Barrel sandwiches. I have Say Yes to the Dress to watch. Ahhhhhhhh.

TGIF.

I only hope tomorrow is dark and rainy again. THAT would be perfect.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Thursday, April 5, 2012

uh unh, that's a classic pouty face (the master recognizes another master of the pout)


Was going to volunteer at the Rehberg campaign tonight after work but their server is down so no calls can be done. Came home, walked the dogs, and I think Steve is going to get Taco Bell so I'm not scrambling for something to make for dinner.

Work was okay, the last call was an absolute bee-otch. Even my supervisor thought so with whom this bee-otch requested to speak. Lovely, just lovely.

So tonight, don't know. May read. May cuddle with the hubby and stare at mindless TV. I'm glad tomorrow is Friday. Woot a woot.

A cold front has moved in and we're supposed to get rain/snow for the next day or so. We need the moisture.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Never too early to do sunscreen either


Okey dokey. It's only Wednesday. Oh well.

Steve has shooting tonight. I'm going to have Wendy's chili (even though it's 76 degrees out) and then read. I've been jumping around in books, here and there. A little Stephanie Pintoff, a little George Sand autobiography...

For a good opinion piece try this:

The hot button isn’t so much the total tab — $823,000, which is a pittance in an era of trillion-dollar deficits and $500 million grants to politically connected solar companies.

The outrage lies in the casualness with which 300 employees took their fellow citizens to the cleaners. Bosses knew and approved, with one saying the conference should be “over the top.” It certainly was. They spent months planning, with hardly a peep of dissent. If nothing else, the incident reveals the banality of chiseling."

Monday, April 2, 2012

This is probably the 21st century version ... everything's updated


Gotta be quick tonight. I have to make dinner somewhat early -- my show is on tonight, The Voice, and I have to watch it upstairs because Steve doesn't like it. :) I talked to like 7000 people today so I'm not in a chatty mood and I'm just plain worn out.

Last night Ryker must have touched the electric wire. He came in yelping and ears back and needed cuddling from both Mama and Daddy. I don't know how he was today out there. I don't think he was trying to get out; I think he just brushed too closely.

Today was apparently Ditch Burning Day by our nearest farmers. They were still working on the field where we walk after work. The boys were smart enough not to go near. However, Coda ran off across the big ditch after something and wasn't responding to me calling him back. As soon as he came back, on the leash he went. I doubt he figured out the bad behavior/consequence of it. Sometimes, he's not too smart.

Last night, The Killing was a little difficult in the beginning to remember who some of the extra characters were and what was going on but picked up. Yeah, I will at least watch it I think. The Game of Thrones was good but needed to remind Steve who was who again (this is based on an epic EPIC fantasy novel with dozens of characters and multiple settings). Plus, this being based on the second novel of the series, a whole new set of characters/setting was added and I had to explain how they all fit. I may have to re-read this book. It's been too long since I've read them (13 years?) so some it is hazy.

Ok, gotta go. Have a lovely evening.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Sunday, April 1, 2012

One advantage to wearing the Cone of Shame


Recap of March reads (cross post on 4MA). Eight books, not bad.

NO MARK UPON HER by Deborah Crombie 14th of 14 in series featuring Duncan Kincaid, a Scotland Yard superintendent, and Gemma James, a Detective Inspector, in London. “When a K9 search-and-rescue team discovers a woman's body tangled up with debris in the river, Scotland Yard superintendent Duncan Kincaid finds himself heading an investigation fraught with complications. The victim, Rebecca Meredith, was a talented but difficult woman with many admirers—and just as many enemies. An Olympic contender on the verge of a controversial comeback, she was also a high-ranking detective with the Met—a fact that raises a host of political and ethical issues in an already sensitive case.” It was published in February 2012 and has 384 pages. I like this series and this was fine.

WHEN MAIDENS MOURN by CS Harris. 7th of 7 in series featuring Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, an investigator in Regency England. “When Gabrielle Tennyson is murdered, aristocratic investigator Sebastian St. Cyr and his new reluctant bride, the fiercely independent Hero Jarvis, find themselves involved in an intrigue concerning the myth of King Arthur, Camelot, and a future poet laureate” It was published in March 2012 and has 352 pages. I love love love this series.

THE JANUS STONE by Elly Griffiths 2nd of 4 in series featuring Dr. Ruth Galloway, a forensic archaeologist, and Harry Nelson, a detective chief inspector, in the Saltmarsh area near Norfolk, England. “When constructions workers demolishing a large old mansion to make way for a new development uncover the bones of a child beneath a doorway—minus its skull—Ruth is once again called upon to investigate. Is it a Roman-era ritual sacrifice, or is the killer closer at hand? When carbon dating proves that the child’s bones predate the home and relate to a time when the house was privately owned, Ruth is drawn more deeply into the case. But as spring turns into summer, it becomes clear that someone is trying very hard to put her off the trail by frightening her, and her unborn child, half to death.” It was published in 2010 and has 352 pages. Characters and story are good enough for me to overlook present tense.

THE COMPLAINT OF THE DOVE by Hannah March 1st of 5 in series featuring Robert Fairfax, a private tutor in the 1760s in London. “Seductive Lucy Dove is the toast of the London stage in 1760-until she is strangled. When lovestruck Matthew Helmsley is found drunk on her doorstep, private tutor and amateur sleuth Robert Fairfax must save his young pupil from the hangman.” It was published in 2003 and has 272 pages. It is a quick and pleasant read. I like the time period.

ACT OF MERCY by Peter Tremayne 8th of 23 in series featuring Sister Fidelma, a 7th century Celtic sister and legal advocate in Kildare, Ireland. “In the late autumn of 666 A.D., Fidelma of Cashel - an advocate of the Brehon Courts, sister to the King of Cashel, and religieuse of the Celtic Church -- is at a crossroads. Needing to reflect upon her commitment to the religious life and her relationship to the Saxon monk Eadulf, she joins a small band sailing from Ireland on a pilgrimage to the Shrine of St. James in modern-day Spain. Her first surprise on-board is the appearance of Cian, her first love, a man who had deserted her ten years ago, and who stirs up memories she'd rather forget. On the first night out the ship is tossed by a turbulent sea and a pilgrim disappears, apparently washed overboard. But the appearance of a blood-stained robe raises the possibility of murder and death continues to dog the tiny band of pilgrims trapped within the close confines of the ship.” It was published in 2001 and has 288 pages. This is a great series and in this, Fidelma (in flashbacks) shows emotion!

THE HOUSE AT SEA’S END by Elly Griffiths. 3rd of 4 in series featuring Dr. Ruth Galloway, a forensic archaeologist, and Harry Nelson, a detective chief inspector, in the Saltmarsh area near Norfolk, England. “Just back from maternity leave, Ruth is finding it difficult to juggle motherhood and work. The presence of DCI Harry Nelson—the married father of her daughter, Kate—does not help. The bones, skeletons of six men with their arms bound, turn out to be about seventy years old, which leads Nelson and Ruth to the war years, a desperate time on this stretch of coastland. Home Guard veteran Archie Whitcliffe reveals the existence of a secret the old soldiers have vowed to protect with their lives. But then Archie is killed and a German journalist arrives, asking questions about Operation Lucifer, a plan to stop a German invasion, and a possible British war crime. What was Operation Lucifer? And who is prepared to kill to keep its secret?” It was published in 2011 and has 384 pages.

Nonfiction:

IN MY TIME: A Personal and Political Memoir by Dick Cheney

IN THE GARDEN OF BEASTS Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin by Erik Larsen.

********************************

Tonight on TV are the premieres of the second seasons of two miniseries: The Killing and The Game of Thrones. Luckily, the two hour of The Killing starts at 6 and The Game of Thrones repeats at 8. The problem is, right in the middle there's a show that Steve likes to watch, The Ax Men. I don't particularly care for that show though it can be amusing. I keep expecting death or terrible injury as these loggers go at it. (shudder)

Last night, defying the laws of physics, Coda shook his head and a spot of saliva flew into my eye, somehow bypassing my glasses. How? I don't know. So I put eye drops in and took a Benedryl because I'm notoriously allergic to anything "dog" touching my eye -- no really, I'm very careful not to touch my eyes if I've been petting them. So... I have a Benedryl hangover today -- a little tired and lacking ambition. We'll see what I can get done today.

After a gorgeous day yesterday -- high of 78 -- it is really windy today and not supposed to reach 60.

It's 10:30, all the boys are sleeping. I'm sure there's a nap in my future. :) I gotta get dinner going in the crockpot. Get some laundry going.

I haven't settled on my next read yet. Many possibilities, of course. That's never a problem. I just don't know what my mood is yet. What "flavor" of book do I want?

Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster