Update

I was thinking why I haven't really been making much progress in some of the other projects I could be working on -- the workbook, the class I'll be teaching next summer, etc. I just can't really concentrate on much heavy duty stuff right now. I can't even really read the newspaper either. I'm getting through on MI-5 episodes and British period dramas. I haven't even been able to commit to a book to read.

Although I did read one in the past 24 hours. It was the autobiography of Lisa Williams who is a psychic from the UK. She had a show on Lifetime last year that even Steve would watch with me. She's a very personable ... person. So this book was a breezy quick respite from the book drought.

I'm working on the "L's" on the organizing my books Project and in the middle of bookcase number three which is downstairs in my office. This will be lovely when it's done but then I have to list all the books I'm getting rid of on bookswap.com or something similar. Some of the discards won't be leaving the house immediately unfortunately.

The holidays are beginning. Steve's brother and his family arrive this evening from Denver. I believe they'll be heading back Saturday. We got invited over for dinner (lasagna) at his parents' home but Steve says he's too tired tonight and I imagine Dave and Carey will also be pretty knocked out from being on the road all day and doing the trip with a baby for the first time. Tomorrow, Steve's sister and her family arrive but we won't be doing dinner with them tomorrow evening as well since Steve has shooting (he's in charge of set up and take down even if he didn't feel like shooting). Basically, it will be a Thursday/Friday thing for us (phew). Friday will be the Christmas parade.

I applied for a federal job today online; very very good salary. It's a long shot but you never know. My unemployment claim has now been approved (it only took a month) and I hope a check will show up tomorrow.

I got the first Netflix movie today. Until now I had been only ordering shows that I could watch immediately on my computer. This was the first disc of season two of MI-5, the two shows on it are ones I've already seen but I wanted to watch the additional features that are on the DVD and not available in the online version. I've only got the last episode of the season two to watch now and I don't want to view until I have the first of season three in my hands (not available online, darnit) because I know it ends in a cliffhanger and I don't want to be left hanging for very long. There are only three episodes left that include my favorite character which is very sad but I will probably continue with the series. The show itself I think went into seven years of episodes with a rather changing cast over that period of time.

What I DON'T want for Christmas

Borrowing from Paperback Writer....

What I don't want for Christmas:

1. Clothes. I hate the dread of things not fitting or not really being my taste. If you must, a gift card to CJ Banks would work. I don't do scarves. I don't do turtlenecks.
2. Knick Knacks. My MIL is the queen of this. I don't like 'em, I don't want 'em, they just need dusting and take up room. Uck. No. This includes windchimes, candles, teapots, etc.
3. Books. No really. I adore books but I usually have a list going of what I would like to purchase so again, a gift card would be much appreciated.
4. Kitchen stuff. I'm not that inventive when I cook, nor is Steve that inventive in eating. It just takes up counter space. New counters on the other hand.... :)
5. Food. We really don't need that in the house because we eat them, you know, the baked goods and candies and stuff at the holidays.
6. Jewelry. I wear the things I love. Adding more options just confuses things.

What would I like?

1. A job. Pays well (40k range will do), M-F, 8-5, preferably in the nonprofit field so I can use my degrees.
2. A vacuum that will last for decades. Mine isn't working anymore. Not romantic but needful.
3. Gift card to Amazon or Amazon.uk. Heaven.
4. DVDs. I can create a list, no problem.
5. Gift card to Walmart so I can buy groceries ... until that #$!@#$ unemployment check shows up it's getting a little tight. Oh and those utility bills.

Honestly, I have everything I need. A secure roof over my head, a car that works, entertainment like crazy at home... life is good and I don't need a damn thing ... except a new vacuum.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Monday update

The interview went well this morning I thought. I don't think I really fumbled any questions; the questions were all open ended. They don't really have a specific salary in mind; it will depend upon the candidate's experience. They'll be making a decision next week, they hope.

I filed for my bi-weekly claim today. Not that I've received anything yet on it. (sigh)

Talked to Jody last night. She sounds better in her sinus-ness of pneumonia but is still lacking energy completely. She wants to get back to work very soon and I told her not to push it or she'll relapse and the YAM doesn't want that and won't do anyone any good.

My tire went flat again so I took it to the door shop after the interview. Steve changed the tire so the old one could get fixed or replaced -- there was a nail in very quite evidently. It took two weeks to go down again.

My ear is still bothering me. I think this is a precursor of getting sick or at least the first sign that something is trying to get into sick mode and hopefully it will go away soon. Not pain, just an ache along the ear canal.

We've got Chuck to watch tonight on tv. I'm up to the "G's" on my Project.

This Friday is the Christmas parade in which the Madsens always drive the horses and surrey. Dave wants to help this year so maybe I'm off the hook -- yay! Last year I couldn't because I was sick and had to watch on the tv at home. No such luck this year.

Okay, I'm done. On to the next blog which will be funner, I promise.

PK the Bookeemonster

Sunday Sunday Sunday

Slow, non-productive Sunday.

We went to see the new James Bond movie last night. We initially intended to see the 8:00 showing but it was sold out; we then got tickets for the 9:40 so we didn't get home until midnight and hence not to sleep until 1-ish. I'm still just dragging all day because Tug got me up at the usual time and this is two days in a row for me of this. Oy. The theater was packed with Twilight audiences.

The movie, I thought, was pretty good. It wasn't on the same plot level as Casino Royale but this was, essentially, a different type of movie. Casino was very plot/story driven; this one was rather linear and revenge driven. I had heard complaints about it but I don't really give them much credence. I like this James Bond; I liked the movie; I'll buy the DVD when it's available.

Tomorrow, I have the interview and I need to work on the Project some more and try to do some cleaning of the house in case relatives insist on coming over during the next few days of the holiday.

I'll be taking Tug for a walk soon; I don't know if Steve will accompany us or not. The Cowboys look to be the winners of their game; this is a good thing. I will probably do a load or two of clothes laundry in a bit. I don't really have anything else going; I may watch another MI-5 episode later as nothing is on tv that interests me as far as I can see.

I told ya: just a lazy Sunday.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Saturday's alright for fightin' (Elton John)

I've been bit by bit working on my Project the past couple days -- getting my books organized in alphabetically order. I've actually been ruthless now in deciding what I keep and what I don't. BTW, did you know that used bookstores don't take donations anymore? Well mine doesn't. I hauled two boxes of books over there yesterday and she only kept a small handful and declined about 95% of them. I guess they'll get donated to the library now.

Anyway, with my project, I'm up to "D" in the alphabet. A through D fill one bookcase, not double stacked in anyway. I'm very proud of it. So far it really does represent what I've read and enjoyed enough to keep and those books that I'm interested in to read in the future. I just love looking at that bookcase now. Of course, the rooms are a mess with books and will probably get worse before the Project is done but I'm glad I'm doing it.

So I'm still not really reading but I'm dealing with my books. :)

I applied for another job yesterday, for the Arthritis Foundation. Again, we'll see what happens.

I watched the best episode of MI-5 yesterday; the 5th episode of season two. In a nutshell, the MI-5 team come to work Friday morning and, ugh, they have to do a drill of an extreme national emergency in which they are locked down in their command center (and the lackluster participation of some members) when they come to the realization that, wait a minute, we don't think this is fake due to the continued evidence that somethat really catastrophic has happened. It shows the strength of command as the complications grow by the hour and the falling apart of morale as things get more dire. Then, surprise, right when the leader "shoots" someone as they try to leave the contained area, it turns out it was a drill/assessment after all and the reactions to that realization. Good acting.

I also watched a DVD I had checked out from the library, North and South, based on the novel by Elizabeth Gaskell about the pride and prejudices of a minister's daughter and a mill owner in a Northern England mill town. It's a struggle of classes -- working and gentry -- and a struggle of business versus moral/social duty, etc. I was only going to watch episode two (it has four one-hour episodes), when the story got a hold of me and I wound up watching the whole thing and finally went to bed after midnight. Yes, it's a 19th century romantic story with all the coincidences and sentimentality but I enjoyed it a lot. Those British period dramas are the best.

I don't know what is going to go on this weekend. Steve will probably be up soon; I don't know if he has a job lined up for today or not. I don't think I need to run errands today. I think a nap will happen this afternoon for me because I only got about 6 hours of sleep. I guess we just take things as they come, eh?

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Friday again?

Doing this a little early today. I'm having a cup of coffee before I head out into the wind. It's freakin' windy out there, people.

Well, I've started the big project and a little way into it I realized it's a BIG PROJECT. Why didn't anyone stop me? :) I'm being very strict with myself and I'm going through the lot in the living room right now and the others later and asking myself "will I REALLY read this book?" And I'm making a big pile of things to be taken to the used bookstore. I haven't gotten to the point of being ruthless with myself when I ask that question but it may come to it when I get further in to this thing. I am truly liking being able to see all the books on the shelf and not have to remember what is behind and under, etc. We shall see; that's all I'm committing to.

I have to go to the grocery store today. I will probably stop by the library as well. I hope the winds die down for our walk this afternoon.

I didn't sleep very well last night for whatever reason and when I did sleep I had weird dreams. One of the reasons why I'm sucking down coffee right now is so I won't go back to bed.

I started watching a DVD I've got from the library; it's a British period drama called North and South based on a book by Elizabeth Gaskell. It's longer than I thought but I'm liking it.

I heard back from the job I applied for yesterday with a thank you but no thank response. They're quick. I must have REALLY not been what they were looking for.

Steve got a dividend check from the business this week and it is quite large so he's in the market for a gun or two before the gun situation changes in the next administration. He says there is such a huge run on guns right for the same reason that it's difficult to find anything and prices are going way up. He also gave me some money to put in my account since I have auto deduct on some payments like mortgage and car insurance and I haven't received my unemployment money yet. It takes the scariness off a little for me. I know he's not happy having to part with what he's earned and I know it's hard for him to go to work every day while I stay home. So far he's kept any real negativity to a minimum.

I think I just heard my phone upstairs so I'll jot off now. Happy weekend everyone....

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Bitten off more than I can chew?

Applied for another job online today. This is at Billings Clinic for a manager for one of their departments, I think. It looked like it didn't require a health background so we'll see. I'm trying, anyway.

I want to do a project but I think it may be more than I can do right now. It needs to be done, I know, and will be wonderful if it gets completed. Well, it started very simply: cleaning the corner in the living room with a big pile of books. We may be having company over next week for the holidays and I wanted that area to look better. Then I thought it would be a good time to maybe organize all my books, alphabetically, so I'd know what I have and get rid of any duplicates. But I have HUNDREDS of books. This may be more than I can handle but it would be so great when it is done. One of the problems is that I've had two layers of books in the bookcases since I wasn't really looking at them. But now I want to be able to see what I've got and I know I'll run out of space very quickly. I've got two shelves filled -- without double layering -- and I'm not even done with the "B's". And I've got the books out of those areas and they're everywhere. I don't know. I thought I could put the "A's" and "B's" on one shelf and so on but it's taking up more space than that. I don't know yet. (sigh) Of course, one solution is to weed out things I won't read but how can I really know that? I may want to read them someday. AND what if the publishing industry does collapse and I've gotten rid all these books too hastily? Bother bother bother.

The Steelers play tonight so Steve wants to bring home something "fun" for dinner, I don't know what. But if it takes me off the hook for figuring out dinner, I'm all for it. I watched America's Next Top Model and the one I was for came in second, darnit. I knew the one who was the winner was going to win -- she's super tall and even though her mouth was like a rubber band, she looked very statuesqely modelish. Ah well, it's just tv. :)

I had thought about going to the Museum exhibit opening this evening but JodyO has pneumonia (for real) and won't be there so I don't think I'll be going now. Better to stay home where it's warm and cosy and messy with books. Seriously, I don't have a place to sit down in the living room right now. (sigh) So I really have to do something about it; I can't just walk away from the project now. Ugh.

Still not reading really. How strange for me.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster