Yeah, happy whatever

It's not as bad as all that. Steve has shooting tonight so I'll be hanging out with the boys, reading, and having a glass of huckleberry wine. I probably won't make it to midnight but the fireworks and the dogs freaking out will awaken me. I may watch something on Netflix, we'll see.

I read that Netflix as a fake midnight/ball drop for kids that can be played at any time so you can get your kids to bed at a reasonable time. Brilliant. 

The super cold spell is supposed to break tomorrow so we'll see. The windchill this morning was -17. Yuck. Ryker likes to sit on the deck; Coda wishes for a sweater. Downtown Billings has a "ball drop" under the sky point. Starts at noon. They expect ten thousand people. They have got to be freaking crazy to be out in cold like this. I imagine a more likely scenario is that they'll be packed in the restaurants and bars until five minutes before midnight. Aren't those businesses lucky. Not.

I'm also reading BROUGHT TO BOOK by Anthea Fraser. This is 1st of 9 in series featuring Rona Parish, a biographer and amateur sleuth, in England. Here's a description:

When successful biographer Rona Parish is asked to write the life-story of a bestselling author, recently deceased, she is intrigued - to say the least. After all, Theo Harvey led a very colourful life, and died in mysterious circumstances. But Rona's husband Max is wary and, it soon becomes apparent, with good reason...As Rona begins to delve into Theo Harvey's life and death, and to interview his friends and family - some more willing than others - she realises that she has taken on a poisoned chalice.

Published in 2003, it has 224 pages. This is a library book.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

No, really, this is soooo fascinating. Never mind I'm a captive audience.

For my online mystery reading group, 4MA, every year we post our Top Ten reads for 2014. The top ten list I have here is limited to only the crime fiction. The top of the top is the Sansom book. Just beyond wonderful. The others are in no particular order; I enjoyed them all immensely.

LAMENTATION by CJ Sansom

WHY KINGS CONFESS by CS Harris

THE LONG WAY HOME by Louise Penny

THEFT OF LIFE by Imogen Robertson

THE OUTCAST DEAD by Elly Griffiths

THE BRAQUE CONNECTION by Estelle Ryan

A GRAVE MATTER by Anna Lee Huber

A FATAL ENQUIRY by Will Thomas

FESTIVE IN DEATH by JD Robb

THE PARIS AFFAIR by Teresa Grant

The end of the year is also the time to make resolutions. Yeah, yeah, healthy, blah blah blah, save money, yadda yadda yadda... Resolutions I can keep, usually, are reading resolutions. For the past couple years I've resolved to read one nonfiction book a month. I didn't quite do that in 2014. However, there were many nonfiction books started and not finished which I don't calculate into the equation; only finished books count. So I COULD have, I just chose not to. I think I'll give this one a rest though I will still be reading some nonfiction because I like to. No, this year, I'm thinking of something else.

I've read the first two books in Dorothy Dunnett's Lymond series. I've not read the other four. Nor have I read her Niccolo series. I have them. They're big books with dense language which I like but I'm usually lured away by a new release. So. Resolution number one: Read one Dorothy Dunnett book a month. Or should I make that every two months because they're bigger books? I'll have to think on that.

Second reading resolution. I was shocked and flabbergasted when I put together my top ten list that there were some authors I really enjoy that I haven't read in months. Months!  AND I HAVE THE BOOKS. These are ones that are next-in-series for me.

And this photo is some but not all but I have to make a dent somehow. So, Resolution number two, read one book from the TBR pile a month.

And that is it. Can't overdo these things.

Cold cold again today. A high of 6 expected.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

And it lasted 30 seconds. A new record!

I'm currently reading FLAG IN EXILE by David Weber. This is 5th of 15 in series featuring Honor Harrington, an officer in the Royal Manticoran Navy (RMN), the space navy of the Star Kingdom of Manticore. Here's a description:

Hounded into retirement and disgrace by political enemies, cut to the heart by the murder of the man she loved, and bereft of confidence in herself and her abilities, Captain Honor Harrington has retreated to the planet Grayson to take up her role as Steadholder while she tries to heal her bitter wounds. But the People's Republic of Haven is rising from defeat to threaten Grayson anew, and the newborn Grayson Navy needs her experience desperately. It's a call Honor cannot refuse, yet even as she once more accepts the duty whose challenges she fears she can no longer meet, powerful men who hate and fear the changes she's brought to their world are determined to reverse them. They have a plan ... and for it to succeed Honor Harrington must die. Two irresistible forces are rushing together to crush Grayson between them, and only one woman uncertain of her capabilities, weary unto death, and marked for murder-stands between her adopted planet and its devastation.

 Published in 2001, it has 424 pages. 

Actually, I didn't do much reading this past 4-day weekend. As I mentioned previously, I watched the repeat of Outlander on Thursday. On Friday and Saturday, I was hooked on an 8-episode Brit crime drama called Broadchurch starring David Tennant. The series focuses on the death of an 11-year-old boy and the impact which grief, mutual suspicion, and media attention have on the town.

What an amazing show. I usually don't have patience for crime dramas but this had me enthralled. Everyone has secrets to be uncovered. The acting was great. The show won awards. From interviews with the cast I saw, they didn't know "whodunnit" themselves until near the end of filming. The good news is that there is a second season that will be on BBCAmerica in March! Woot!

I'm that excited.

Back at it again today. Cold, single digit weather for the next two days.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Christmas - afterward

Steve and I had a very very laid-back Christmas yesterday. A while ago he said he'd never seen The Princess Bride movie. Wha??!! One of the channels was having a marathon of it so we watched it in the afternoon but I think he dozed at times. Then I watched the Outlander marathon for the rest of the day and fell in love with Jamie all over again. You know, in the Outlander world, I'm an apostate. I really don't and won't read beyond the first book (eons ago I read through book 3 but don't remember much) even though there are now, what, eight in the series? Claire and Jamie go through so many trials in their relationship ... I just want to stop where they're pretty much happy and consider it "the end." I know I will watch the Starz show beyond the first season so I'm screwed in that department coming next year. BTW, here's something to look at:

The actor was made for the part, eh? Yeah, you're lucky I didn't use a picture from the wedding night episode. And the rest of season one won't continue until April 4th. Bah.

In the meantime, I don't have much in the way of plans for today. Maybe some laundry. I'm in between books at the moment so I'll be doing some dabbling to see what grabs me. I think I will cook with my new Airfryer tonight, some homemade fries. I may do some viewing on Netflix or Youtube. Mostly, just enjoying the amazing day off.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Well, SOMEBODY was hogging the sleigh, so...

Merry Christmas Eve!

Aiming to get away from work between noon and 1pm. Then heading for parents. Then the evening just the two of us (and the dogs). I have lovely fresh bones for the boys for their presents. I still need to wrap presents and still expecting one of Steve's to be delivered -- I don't think it will make it today. Ah well.

Then we're closed on Friday for the first time ever in the history of the family business so it is a gorgeous four and a half day weekend. Woot!

Have a wonderful and safe holiday!

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

He knows you've crinkled food wrappers two rooms away

I'm currently reading THE BRAQUE CONNECTION by Estelle Ryan. This is 3rd of 6 in series featuring nonverbal communication expert, insurance investigator, and high functioning autistic Doctor Genevieve Lenard. Here's a description:

When world-renowned nonverbal communication expert Doctor Genevieve Lenard wakes up in an unknown location, drugged and kidnapped, it pushes the limits of her autism coping skills. For the last year, Russian philanthropist and psychopath Tomasz Kubanov has been studying Genevieve just as she and her team have been studying him. Now forged paintings and mysterious murders are surfacing around her team, with evidence pointing to one of them as the killer. Genevieve knows Kubanov is behind these senseless acts of violence. What she doesn't understand are the inconsistencies between his actions and the cryptic messages he sends. Something has triggered his unpredictable behaviour, something that might result in many more deaths, including those she cares for. Because this time, Kubanov has nothing to lose.

Published in 2013, it has 377 pages. 

Favorite Christmas movies. There are classics like It's a Wonderful Life, there are Hallmark Channel"s Christmas factory ones that suck you in against your will. And here are some of the ones I like:

A modern classic now, Love Actually. Ensemble cast. Very British humor, with pathos. This is the ending scene that reminds us that the most important things are often right here and that there's no need to search for happiness if we don't have in mind that our family and our friends are the most important things in the world.



The FUNNIEST Christmas movie is A Christmas Story. There are too many fabulous scenes so here's the original trailer:



My favorite of the 1960s specials is Santa Claus is Coming to Town with Fred Astaire and Mickey Rooney as the red-haired Kris:



And there is only ONE Grinch. The animated one:



And for the true meaning of Christmas, the best is A Charlie Brown Christmas:


I guess you can tell my influence comes mostly from my kidhood, eh?

For many years, there was a movie from 1977 called The Gathering that I somehow seemed to watch for every time. They don't show it anymore, too many to choose from now I suppose. It starred Ed Asner about a man who tries to set things right with his estranged family after learning he has a short time to live and have one last Christmas together.



And then there are the "anti-Christmas" movies like Die Hard which are actually just movies with a Christmas time-fame but not really about Christmas, but they get lumped in there anyway. I have to admit, Bruce Willis was cool and Alan Rickman was a very sexy bad guy in this movie.



It's Christmas Eve Eve. Are you ready?

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

But Santa's cookies and milk were good

Currently reading THRONE OF GLASS by Sarah J Maas. This is the 1st of a fantasy trilogy. Here's a description:

After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin. Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom. Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilirating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best. Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.

Published in 2012, it has 432 pages. This is a digital loan from the library. 

I started to listen to some Christmas music today. This is my favorite and my favorite version of it:




But, I've always like this one too:





Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

You say it's Friday?

Well, I think I may be fighting some kind of bug. Not a cold. So I'll be taking it real easy this weekend. Oh, but I will be able to vacuum - it was fixed in two days, go figure, not the one to two weeks they told me on Tuesday. They just wanted to sell me a vacuum.

I'm back to the Peter Robinson book so I will finish that this weekend. Lots and lots of other things to read, sigh. Good thing there's not much on TV.

Have a good weekend, folks.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Wha? (snort) OH NOES! It's only Thursday!

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Meh, only Wednesday?

Nope, didn't get much reading done again last night. One can only hope for tonight. Yes, I'm still obsessing. This is now my computer wallpaper:

And to show this actor's emotions in this role, here's Judas' death:


Drew Sarich [Judas] Judas' Death by annasha

Ok. I promise, tomorrow I won't talk about it.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Why we don't put up a tree; Coda would do this.

I'm obsessing. On Youtube.com, there's a performance of Jesus Christ Superstar that I am watching over and over and over. First, if you know me, JCS is my all time, hands-down, no question about it favorite all time musical, ever since I saw a production when I was young. This is a performance I came across was from 2005 in Amstetten, Austria (yes, in English). The actor playing Jesus is horrible, doesn't have the vocals to do much of anything. The actress playing Mary Magdalen is shrill and likes to make up her own tunes along the way. The performance by Herod is truly embarrassing. But the guy playing Judas? OMG, he is PERFECTION, and I don't say it lightly. Holy freakin' moley. Drew Sarich. The best I have ever seen or heard. The guy sings amazingly and the emotions he exudes.... just wow. Youtube won't let me embed a clip but go to this page and you can see his performance of Jesus Christ Superstar, the song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYcOryjkJVE

Here's the whole show if you have the time (I skip the bad songs, i.e., Jesus, Mary Magdalen, Herod). The actor doing Pilate is very good, too, surprisingly. The Judas death scene is also just amazing. But go to 1:27:47 if you just want to watch the Jesus Christ Superstar performance:




I am just gobsmacked and wish I had a time machine to go see all performances of this that they did. Drew Sarich has also sung the Jesus in a later production and sings like an angel but the staging is strange, more like a concert version. Oh what the heck, listen to him do Gethsemane:






On a more mundane matter, I took my vacuum in to be cleaned because it just wasn't doing the best it could and I'm told because they don't have Dyson parts in, it will be a week or two. Really? Bah.

I'm hoping Steve's Christmas present arrives in time. I have one gift for him but I realized it probably didn't have enough oomph by itself so yesterday I picked out something else to go with it but it's through a third party via Amazon so my fingers are crossed. Sigh.

I spent last night pretty much watching the above mentioned musical on the computer last night. Maybe tonight this obsession will let me do some reading. Sometimes I just have to ride it out.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster 

Coffee, stat ... er, in a bottle....

We've got snow again, just about a half inch. Unfortunately, it rained first so it has been icy most of the day. I'd rather drive on six inches of snow that slick streets.

Not much else going on. Dallas won last night so that's looking good. The Voice finale is tonight but I haven't really been watching though I've been following the results. We'll see if I'll watch it.

We watched Guardians of the Galaxy this weekend. The worldbuilding is great and it is FUNNY. Surprised me.




So. I finished CALLANDER SQUARE by Anne Perry. That was 2nd in the series so a re-read for me. It was a digital loan from the library. I may just end of reading tonight.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

TGIF for reals

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

No, probably more like "Stop touching me"

Currently reading WATCHING THE DARK by Peter Robinson. This is 20th of 22 in series featuring Alan Banks, Eastvale detective chief inspector, in Yorkshire, England. Here's a description:

A decorated detective inspector is murdered on the tranquil grounds of the St. Peter's Police Treatment Centre, shot through the heart with a crossbow arrow, and compromising photographs are discovered in his room. Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks is well aware that he must handle the highly sensitive—and dangerously explosive—investigation with the utmost discretion. Because the case may involve police corruption, an officer from Professional Standards, Inspector Joanna Passero, has arrived to work with Banks and his team. Though he tries to keep an open mind and offer his full cooperation, the dedicated Banks and his practical investigative style clash with Passero's cool demeanor and by-the- book professionalism. All too soon, the seasoned detective finds himself under uncomfortable scrutiny, his methods second-guessed. As Banks digs deeper into the life and career of the victim, a decorated cop and recent widower named Bill Quinn, he comes to believe that Quinn's murder may be linked to an unsolved missing persons case. Six years earlier, a pretty nineteen-year-old English girl named Rachel Hewitt made national headlines when she disappeared without a trace in Tallinn, Estonia. Convinced that finding the truth about Rachel will lead to Quinn's killer, Banks follows a twisting trail of clues that lead from England to the dark, cobbled alleys of Tallinn's Old Town. But the closer he seems to solving the complicated cold case, the more it becomes clear that someone doesn't want the past stirred up. While Banks prowls the streets of Tallinn, DI Annie Cabbot, recovered from her near-fatal shooting and back at the station in Eastvale, is investigating a migrant labor scam involving corrupt bureaucrats and a loan shark who feeds on the poor. As evidence in each investigation mounts, Banks realizes the two are linked—and that solving them may put even more lives, including his own, in jeopardy.

Published in 2012, it has 368 pages.  This is a loan from the library.

Also reading THE WORD EXCHANGE by Alena Graedon. This is a stand alone SFF novel. Here's a description:

In the not-so-distant future, the forecasted “death of print” has become a reality. Bookstores, libraries, newspapers, and magazines are things of the past, and we spend our time glued to handheld devices called Memes that not only keep us in constant communication but also have become so intuitive that they hail us cabs before we leave our offices, order takeout at the first growl of a hungry stomach, and even create and sell language itself in a marketplace called the Word Exchange.  Anana Johnson works with her father, Doug, at the North American Dictionary of the English Language (NADEL), where Doug is hard at work on the last edition that will ever be printed. Doug is a staunchly anti-Meme, anti-tech intellectual who fondly remembers the days when people used email (everything now is text or videoconference) to communicate—or even actually spoke to one another, for that matter. One evening, Doug disappears from the NADEL offices, leaving a single written clue: ALICE. It’s a code word he devised to signal if he ever fell into harm’s way. And thus begins Anana’s journey down the proverbial rabbit hole . . . Joined by Bart, her bookish NADEL colleague, Anana’s search for Doug will take her into dark  basements and subterranean passageways; the stacks and reading rooms of the Mercantile Library; and secret meetings of the underground resistance, the Diachronic Society. As Anana penetrates the mystery of her father’s disappearance and a pandemic of decaying language called “word flu” spreads, The Word Exchange becomes a cautionary tale that is at once a technological thriller and a meditation on the high cultural costs of digital technology.

Published in 2014, it has 386 pages. This is on the Kindle. 

Nothing on TV but sometime in the next three evenings, I think we'll watch Guardians of the Galaxy via On Demand. Just don't know when it will work out best. Otherwise, yeah, reading.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

The monsters -- or evil cats -- won't get you

I read yesterday THE BOOK OF IVY by Amy Engel. This is the 1st of (I think) a dystopian young adult trilogy. Here's a description:

Ivy is the granddaughter of Westfall (aka the losing side) founder, and as the daughter of a powerless (and power hungry) leader, she's been brainwashed for years in the righteousness of a cause she knows very little about. As per tradition in their community, she is being married at the ripe old age of 16 to a boy from the winning side. This is a custom done to maintain the peace in the community, however as you can expect, Ivy isn't the least bit happy...especially because she knows who she is going to marry. The lucky boy is Bishop Lattimer, the son of the president (aka the winning side). But Ivy has a major secret. She must kill Bishop to aid her father and sister in their plan to regain power in Westfall.

Published in 2014, it has 304 pages. I'm always on the lookout for a good YA dystopian after reading THE HUNGER GAMES, DIVERGENT, and others. This is not top tier like those two, but it does resonate near the top.  The worldbuilding is mostly well thought out, with some complicated issues, and I think the first person point of view is always a plus. And as my brother would say, "What is it with those 16-year-old girls!" Usually, I come to these trilogies when they're completed. Not this time. I have to wait a year for the second book. Bah.

And I am about to start THE SECRET KEEPER by Kate Morton. This is a stand alone. Here's a description:

During a summer party at the family farm in the English countryside, sixteen-year-old Laurel Nicolson has escaped to her childhood tree house and is happily dreaming of the future. She spies a stranger coming up the long road to the farm and watches as her mother speaks to him. Before the afternoon is over, Laurel will witness a shocking crime. A crime that challenges everything she knows about her family and especially her mother, Dorothy—her vivacious, loving, nearly perfect mother. Now, fifty years later, Laurel is a successful and well-regarded actress living in London. The family is gathering at Greenacres farm for Dorothy’s ninetieth birthday. Realizing that this may be her last chance, Laurel searches for answers to the questions that still haunt her from that long-ago day, answers that can only be found in Dorothy’s past. Dorothy’s story takes the reader from pre–WWII England through the blitz, to the ’60s and beyond. It is the secret history of three strangers from vastly different worlds—Dorothy, Vivien, and Jimmy—who meet by chance in wartime London and whose lives are forever entwined. 

Published in 2011, it has 597 pages. This is a digital loan from the library. I really loved her previous book, THE HOUSE AT RIVERTON, so I'll give this a try.

And finally, I have to share this. I think this is brilliant and just funny. How do monks who've taken a vow of silence sing Hallelujah? This way:



I absolutely love it!

Nothing on TV tonight for me so I'd better get some reading done, stat.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

I don't know why...

Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. tricked me. TONIGHT is the mid-season finale. I am very glad I have one more episode to watch and it's supposed to be a doozy.



And then there will be nothing on for a few weeks for me. In sadness, here's a photo of Director Coulson:

I had better get a lot of reading done.

I ordered some posters for my office at work. My little in-jokes for the shows I like:

From The Walking Dead:

From Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.:

From Star Trek:

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Izzat Monday out there?

I'm currently reading an autobiography by Cary Elwes, AS YOU WISH, which is his perspective on the making of The Princess Bride movie. Here's a description:

From actor Cary Elwes, who played the iconic role of Westley in The Princess Bride, comes a first-person account and behind-the-scenes look at the making of the cult classic film filled with never-before-told stories, exclusive photographs, and interviews with costars Robin Wright, Wallace Shawn, Billy Crystal, Christopher Guest, and Mandy Patinkin, as well as author and screenwriter William Goldman, producer Norman Lear, and director Rob Reiner. The Princess Bride has been a family favorite for close to three decades. Ranked by the American Film Institute as one of the top 100 Greatest Love Stories and by the Writers Guild of America as one of the top 100 screenplays of all time, The Princess Bride will continue to resonate with audiences for years to come. Cary Elwes was inspired to share his memories and give fans an unprecedented look into the creation of the film while participating in the twenty-fifth anniversary cast reunion. In As You Wish he has created an enchanting experience; in addition to never-before seen photos and interviews with his fellow cast mates, there are plenty of set secrets and backstage stories.

Published in 2014, it has 272 pages. This is a digital loan from the library. 

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Bah, it's only Thursday

It would be nice to go to a movie tonight. We'll see.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Growing up in 23 seconds....

I'm currently reading NO GRAVES AS YET by Anne Perry. This is 1st of 5 in series of featuring Matthew Reavley, a British intelligence officer, and the Reavley family, in London, England, in the World War I. Here's a description:

On a sunny afternoon in late June, Cambridge professor Joseph Reavley is summoned from a student cricket match to learn that his parents have died in an automobile crash. Joseph’s brother, Matthew, as officer in the Intelligence Service, reveals that their father had been en route to London to turn over to him a mysterious secret document—allegedly with the power to disgrace England forever and destroy the civilized world. A paper so damning that Joseph and Matthew dared mention it only to their restless younger sister. Now it has vanished. What has happened to this explosive document, if indeed it ever existed? How had it fallen into the hands of their father, a quiet countryman? Not even Matthew, with his Intelligence connections, can answer these questions. And Joseph is soon burdened with a second tragedy: the shocking murder of his most gifted student, beautiful Sebastian Allard, loved and admired by everyone. Or so it appeared. Meanwhile, England’s seamless peace is cracking—as the distance between the murder of an Austrian archduke by a Serbian anarchist and the death of a brilliant university student by a bullet to the head of grows shorter by the day.

Published in 2003, it has 352 pages. This is from the library. I tried to read this when it first came out but I wasn't "into" WWI stories yet. Since then, I've enjoyed Charles Todd and others so I guess I may be ready for this again.

Also reading THE RINGS OF HAVEN by Ryk Brown. This is 2nd of 12 in The Frontiers Saga, a space opera.  Here's a description:

Episode 2
A ship stranded halfway across the galaxy…
A difficult and lengthy journey home…
A homeworld in urgent need of their return…
And now they are running out of food…
The crew of the Aurora must now trust their new allies in order to survive. This is the continuing saga of newly-made Captain Nathan Scott and his valiant crew of the Aurora. The Aurora survived the Ta'Akar attack and is now trying to get repairs needed done before they are detected. The Captain is planet side with a local farmer trying to make a deal for food and get some more information about Haven when they are discovered by the Ta'Akar.

Published in 2012, it has 240 pages. This is on the Kindle.

Nothing on TV tonight for me so I hope to read.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Dreams of playing fetch for some reason

Starting to warm up outside. It was 29 already at 5:30 this morning. I finished the Marie Lu book. It was "meh." Definitely young adult, rather TOO young adult in the writing. I'll probably finish the trilogy some day. It's not making rush out for the next book whatsoever.


I have the mid-season finale of Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. to watch tonight:



And then it won't be back on until February. We'll miss Coulson:

And I'm still angry at the writers of The Walking Dead for killing off Beth.

This sums it up:

(reference to phrase Carol used when she had to do a mercy killing).


Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

It's okay, it's only TV

I'm currently reading LEGEND by Marie Lu. This is 1st of a young adult dystopian trilogy. Here's a description:

What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.  From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

Published in 2011, it has 352 pages.

Today I'm starting my "healthy-only" food plan. That means no preservatives, chemicals, or fake food. Only real and healthy food 90% of the time. I made a vat of broth from the turkey and this morning was the first that I had some. Good, nutritious bone broth becomes gelatin when done right. And it was!! I did it correctly!  My last "bad" dinner was spaghetti. :)

Last night's The Walking Dead mid-season finale was a tough one. A beloved main character was killed off and I'm so pissed about it! Dammit! And, yes, it's fiction and, yes, I cried.

 

 Mid-season finale tomorrow night of Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Bah. Nobody better freakin' die.

It's been negative 15 and negative 13 the last two mornings so the boys and I have gone for rides instead of walks. It's supposed to get to the 40s by Thursday.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster