That's the trick.

Still in an espionage mood. A digital library book: ILLEGAL ACTION by Stella Rimington. 3rd of 8 series featuring Liz Carlyle, an agent in MI-5 Joint Counter-Terrorist Group, in London.

Liz has been transferred to counter-espionage—the hub of MI5 operations during the Cold War. Her mission: protect Nikita Brunovsky, an increasingly vocal opponent of Vladimir Putin, who has been targeted for assassination and is seeking refuge in the UK. The Foreign Office is adamant about forestalling a crime that could become a full-blown international incident. So Liz goes undercover, attaching herself to Brunovsky's retinue: racing against the clock to determine who betrayed him and suddenly facing a wholly unexpected second task—unmasking a Russian operative working undercover alongside her.

Published in 2007, it has 338 pages.  The author is former Director General of MI5, a position she held from 1992 to 1996, therefore she knows of what she writes.

Doesn't look like I have any regular TV shows this weekend. Wow. So either reading or binge watching.

Because I have SO MUCH TO READ!!

And here are some wise words to live by:

I do not have this problem ... yet:

 

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Kapow. Mind is blown.

I have Legends of Tomorrow on TV tonight. "Pilot, Part 2".

Thirty years ago today:

I remember it so clearly. I was a freshman in college. It was a very cold, sunny day.

I've got a lot of options for my next read. Too many. But I'm feeling sort of espionage/spy-ish. So I'm thinking I will go with the new release in the series I'm finding I'm loving a whole lot: THE FALL OF MOSCOW STATION by Mark Henshaw. This is 3rd of 3 in series featuring Kyra Stryker and Jonathan Burke, working in the Red Cell, the CIA’s out-of-the-box think tank, in Langley, Virginia.

When a body with Russian military tattoos is found floating in a lake outside Berlin, the CIA immediately takes notice. The body is identified as the director of Russia’s Foundation for Advanced Nuclear Research, who is also a CIA asset. And the murder coincides with the defection of one of the CIA’s upper-level officers. Alden Maines is jaded after years in the CIA cleaning up the messes of incompetent political appointees in dangerous foreign posts. When he is passed over for promotion, Maines crosses the Rubicon and decides to cash in as a double agent for Russia. But while Maines dreams of off-shore bank accounts and a new secret life, Arkady Lavrov of Russia’s intelligence service (GRU) has other plans. He immediately announces Maines’s defection to the world and then pumps him for every last ounce of intel, including the names of every agent in the CIA’s Moscow Station and their assets working in the Kremlin. But why would Lavrov burn an asset whose intel and access could pay dividends for years to come? What is Lavrov up to? Traveling from Langley to Berlin and finally Moscow—working black without backup—analyst Jonathan Burke and agent Kyra Stryker are up against their most formidable enemy yet, and their lives and the fate of America’s most important assets in the New Cold War hang in the balance.

 Published 2016, it has 352 pages.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

THAT is a zombie and it WILL eat you

Tonight I have Arrow, "A.W.O.L.":

Diggle must learn to trust his brother Andy when an enemy of their wartime past, an agent of the criminal organization Shadowspire, visits Star City. However, Diggle learns more than he bargained for about their shared time at war. Meanwhile, Oliver struggles to learn a whole new way of life.

Hey, here's a Deeks sneak from Monday night:

And on that sparkly note....

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

See, dogs don't do that.

Tonight I have The Flash and Agent Carter on TV. Last night I saw the series premiere of Lucifer. It was marvelous. This is the description of the pilot:

Crime drama about the devil tiring of life in Hell and materializing in the City of Angels, where he aids the LAPD in punishing evildoers. In the opener, he befriends a troubled pop diva and witnesses her murder, which triggers him to seek revenge on her killer.

The actor playing Lucifer is perfect; he is having so much fun. 



I started a nonfiction book yesterday, THE BIG SHORT: Inside the Doomsday Machine by Michael Lewis.

Although Lewis is perhaps best known for his sports-related nonfiction (including The Blind Side), his first book was the autobiographical Liar's Poker, in which he chronicled his disillusionment as a young gun on Wall Street in the greed is good 1980s. He returns to his financial roots to excavate the crisis of 2007–2008, employing his trademark technique of casting a microcosmic lens on the personal histories of several Wall Street outsiders who were betting against the grain—to shed light on the macrocosmic tale of greed and fear. The real story of the crash began in bizarre feeder markets where the sun doesn't shine and the SEC doesn't dare, or bother, to tread: the bond and real estate derivative markets where geeks invent impenetrable securities to profit from the misery of lower- and middle-class Americans who can't pay their debts. The smart people who understood what was or might be happening were paralyzed by hope and fear; in any case, they weren't talking.

Published in 2010, it has 288 pages. It is getting new publicity because a movie is coming out based on it starring Christian Bale, Brad Pitt, etc.  Some of the financial stuff is over my head, I'll admit it, but I'm only on chapter two and I'm already angry at the stupid greed of Wall Street.

40s today in weather -- we're heading for 50s tomorrow. In January. Doesn't global climate change suck? Not.

Ok, I do find that funny. :)

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Passing along wisdom to another generation

Tonight I have NCIS: Los Angeles, "Come Back":

Kensi and Deeks announce they are moving in together and then are assigned to protect Kensi's ex-fiancé, Jack, who is in possession of a list containing important contacts in Afghanistan that people are willing to kill to get their hands on.

Have a great Monday, all. 

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Don't taunt me, human. I can't read.

On Sunday!! It's back!!  X Files, "My Struggle":

In the Season 10 opener, agents Mulder and Scully return after 13 years to investigate a government conspiracy at the behest of a popular web-TV-show host, who introduces them to a woman who claims she's an alien abductee and shares startling news with them.

Good LORD, I loved that show when it was first on.

The couple movies after that ... not so much. So my fingers are crossed for this mid-season re-boot.  I'm super excited and anxious at the same time.

Steve comes home from SHOT show tonight. I have to pick him and his friend up at the airport. At midnight.

But it will be a nice, relaxing weekend. Laundry, vacuuming, reading, binge-watching Revenge, etc.

Have a great weekend!

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Tough enough to drive pink (and a Hello Kitty car?)

Tonight I have the series premiere of Legends of Tomorrow, another spin off from Arrow (Flash was the first). "Pilot":

In the future, Vandal manages to do what no one else in history has ever accomplished: take over the entire world. That's why Time Master Rip Hunter becomes motivated to go back to 2016 and assemble a ragtag group of heroes. He wants them to join him aboard his time machine ship called the Waverider and attempt to thwart Vandal across time, hopefully stopping him before the horrible future where Rip comes from happens.

It looks awesome!

Looks like I've got a lot of nonfiction on my Kindle. I'm going to have to add something to my current reads.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Somebody appreciates snow

Tonight -- at long last -- Arrow comes back from Christmas hiatus.

If you remember, they left us, per usual, with a huge cliffhanger: Right after they got engaged, Oliver and Felicity were attacked; Felicity was shot. That was before Christmas. And we waited.

 
Tonight, "Blood Debts"

Oliver seeks revenge and goes on a brutal manhunt to find Dahrk, after dealing with the devastating consequences of Dahrk's latest attack.

So yes, I'm a little excited.

We had some snow today. Supposed to be back in the 40s by Friday.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

I just really missed you

I'm currently reading MURDER ON GRAMERCY PARK by Victoria Thompson. 3rd of 19 in series featuring Sarah Brandt, a midwife in turn-of-the-20th-century New York City.

At a summons from Detective Sergeant Frank Malloy, Sarah arrives at the elegant home of famed magnetic healer Edmund Blackwell to find his wife in labor—and the good doctor dead from an apparent suicide. Only Malloy sees what no one else wants to: that Blackwell was murdered in his own home… After a successful delivery, the Blackwell baby falls mysteriously ill. Relying on her nurse’s training and woman’s intuition, Sarah discovers the source of the baby’s sickness—and discovers a scandal that leads Malloy’s investigation down a gilded path paved with greed, deception, and desire…

Published in 2001, it has 336 pages.

Tonight I have the season premiere of Agent Carter, "The Lady in the Lake":

After moving to Los Angeles to aid the West Coast branch of SSR, Peggy investigates a strange homicide in which the body glows and emanates cold. The case leads to ramifications that could wreck her career and impact those who are near and dear to her.

I'll probably also watch The Flash as well.

I'm into season two of my binge watch of Revenge. Ah the juicy evil tangled webs.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Monday again? I didn't approve this.

Steve goes to SHOT show in Vegas today. Just me and the boys for the next few days.

It's back to TV week. Tonight I have NCIS: Los Angeles. "Angels & Daemons":

The team investigates the murder of tech entrepreneur turned venture capitalist who secretly developed a daemon, a background computer program that allows for undetectable data collection

 

That comes on at 9. I think I'll check out War & Peace on A&E channel in the 7-9pm time slot:

 It's adapted by the same guy who did Pride & Prejudice with Colin Firth. It looks gorgeous.

This past weekend I started to binge watch a FABULOUS show called Revenge.

As a summer to remember begins in the Hamptons, new arrival Emily Thorne dazzles the members of high society by making herself known in the exclusive social circle of Grayson Global CEO Conrad Grayson and his socialite wife Victoria. But it soon becomes clear that the beguiling young philanthropist has a dark past. Emily was once known as Amanda Clarke, a young nine-year-old whose life was torn apart when her father - Grayson Global hedge fund manager David Clarke - was falsely accused of channeling money to a terrorist organization responsible for the downing of a commercial airliner. Now living under an assumed identity, she is determined to seek vengeance on the people who destroyed her father's life - the two main conspirators being Conrad and Victoria Grayson - by making their lives come crashing down around them. Because when everything you love has been stolen from you, someone has to pay.

 She is doing evil things but you love her for it. :)

Auditioning what's next to read. Will let you know when I know.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Don't LEAVE me!

TGIF! More phones today. But it's Friday.

A cold is trying to get me but I'm running away.

Currently reading lots. Nonfiction has sort been the trend this week.

Love that photo. So calm. I would love a poster or framed print to hang on my wall. 

This morning I stopped by Albertsons on the way to work. Had an almost close encounter with someone I really really never want to see again but then ran into a very dear friend of mine and had a great, albeit short, talk in the parking lot. Great morning!

Steve has a tournament tomorrow afternoon so it looks like we won't be going to see 13 Hours movie on opening weekend. Sunday afternoon is the Steelers playoff so that day is out. Then he's off to SHOT show on Monday. Gone until Friday. Also next week my shows are back from Christmas hiatus. More on that later.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster 

What! I'm busy!

What a horrible week first David Bowie and now Alan Rickman has died. He was just wonderful. Die Hard, Galaxy Quest, Truly Madly Deeply, the Harry Potter movies, Love Actually.....





And this happens in threes. Who's next?

I didn't buy a Powerball ticket so somehow I didn't win the 1.6 billion lottery. Oh well.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Dinner? Outside? Play? WHATIZIT?!

I'm on a walking the Camino kick, I guess. Currently reading WALKING HOME by Sonia Choquette.

Life was falling apart. Within the space of three years, Sonia Choquette had suffered the unexpected death of two close family members, seen her marriage implode, and been let down by trusted colleagues. And sympathy was not forthcoming. “You’re a world-renowned spiritual teacher and intuitive guide,” people jeered. “How could you not have seen this coming?” Having intuitive abilities didn’t make her superhuman, however. Nor did it exempt her from being wounded or suffering the pain of loss and the consequences of our all-too-human traits such as anger, resentment, and pride—traits that can lead even the best of us to stray from our spiritual path. In order to regain her spiritual footing, Sonia turned to the age-old practice of pilgrimage and set out to walk the legendary Camino de Santiago, an 820-kilometer trek over the Pyrenees and across northern Spain. Day after day she pushed through hunger, exhaustion, and pain to reach her destination. Eventually, mortification of the flesh gave way to spiritual renewal, and she rediscovered the gifts of humility and forgiveness that she needed to repair her world.

Published in 2014, it has 361 pages.  I have to admit that when I started her book I was feeling rather judgmental toward her. She took an easier-ish way in her journey than the man in the previous book. Instead of completely roughing it, she brought extra stuff and had it taxi'd to her reservation place every day. The man in the previous book had only the one backpack and did the take-my-chances for where I'm staying each night route. I had to admonish myself and tell myself to let it go because each person's experience on the Camino is unique for them and what they need for themselves at that time. That was a lesson for me: let go of judgment, PK.

Yeah, that would be a bucket list kind of thing for me. 

Nothing on TV for tonight. NEXT WEEK things start up again for me on my shows. So I will probably read tonight.

Our receptionist is off the next couple days so I'll be on front desk. I may not be able to post much. We'll see.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster