A Passion for Books & Real Life

This and That

2012-01-27T12:07:00.000-06:00

Allie, the world's sweetest, most undemanding Rottweiler, turned nine yesterday. The best part of her day? Extra treats and rubs. Living with a vivacious seven-year-old human child and a fluffy, demanding Shih tzu means that Allie doesn't always get her fair share of the love and attention.

Exciting milestone--Maya sold 100 boxes of Girl Scout cookies! Okay, that counts the boxes I bought to send to soldiers overseas and my nieces at college, but still. . . . At her meeting for Brownies tonight, they're going to calculate the total number sold by the entire troop. Should be significant.

Another exciting milestone--My online book club at work reached twenty members, counting me, this week while also moving to a less hectic quarterly reading schedule! All of the 2012 book selections are classics--Oliver Twist this month, The Scarlet Pimpernel in April, White Fang in July, and Jane Eyre in October.

What's new in your world?

Existence by Abbi Glines

2012-01-25T12:07:00.002-06:00

I'm getting old. How do I know? I was rooting for the wrong guy in Abbi Glines' Existence (2011), even while knowing Pagan would pick the other one.

Who is Pagan? A pretty in the smart girl kind of way high school senior with the ability to see dead people. She sees the spirits, but they don't talk to her. Not until she sees Dank on the first day of school, anyway.

Who is Dank? Let's just say there's a reason he can talk to her when other spirits haven't that I don't want to reveal, and he's also able to assume a human form, eventually attending Pagan's school and singing in a popular group. He's sexy, mysterious, and fights acting on his attraction to Pagan.

Who is Leif? The star quarterback with a learning disability who Pagan goes from despising to liking when she tutors him. He's handsome, charming, and very into Pagan.

I really enjoyed this book, especially Pagan's character, right up until the last line. There's a sequel coming at some point, and the ending is very, very abrupt. Seems someone isn't exactly what he appears to be. . . . I can't wait to read the next book.

My overall personal rating of Existence is a B+.

Cheddar's--January 18, 2012

2012-01-20T11:56:00.000-06:00

Maya and I tried the new Lincoln location for Cheddar's Casual Cafe, a chain out of Texas, on Wednesday. Maya says she has a new favorite restaurant, and we're already planning to go again tomorrow with my best friend and, possibly, her daughter.

Maya recommends the chocolate shake for dessert.

The mozzarella sticks were my favorite part of the meal.

The aquarium kept Maya entertained during our fifteen-minute wait for a table.

Have you ever eaten at a Cheddar's location? What did you think?

Blogs I Love

2012-01-18T11:55:00.000-06:00

My friend Becky pointed me to Kittling: Books, which is a great blog for readers, mainly devoted to covering mysteries. I love the interviews with authors, which always have interesting pictures and questions.

IHeart Organizing is a great site for those addicted to organizing--or to seeing the possibilities of organization. I especially enjoy seeing the results of do-it-yourself projects from her readers.

Irish Farmerette provides a little eye candy from rural Ireland, along with to-die-for recipes. I'm going to get to Ireland one of these days.

My Little Norway provides a glimpse of another country I hope to visit at some point.

Any favorite blogs you care to share?

Girl Scout Cookies

2012-01-16T10:00:00.000-06:00

Me: "Maya, hold on; I want to take your picture before you start selling cookies."
Maya: "No."
Me: "It's for the blog."
Maya: "Oh, okay."

Maya didn't particularly enjoy selling Girl Scout cookies, but she's very happy she surpassed her goal of selling $50 worth of cookies. I'm relieved she (a) set a reasonable goal and (b) made the goal because I didn't want her to be disappointed.

My favorite comment of the weekend, "I need to try all of the cookies because I shouldn't be selling something I haven't even tried before." Yes, the poor girl has my sweet tooth!

This and That

2012-01-13T16:25:00.000-06:00

The end of 2011 and beginning of 2012 found me in a rather dark place. Too much bad/sad news too close together, I suppose, more than anything else. I'm finally starting to feel more like my regular self again. Finally.

I definitely have a new appreciation for people who always suffer from some form of depression, though.

Maya gets her Girl Scout cookies at tonight's meeting. She's more than a little nervous about talking to people and making change. I promised to help with making change, but I told her that she has to do all of the talking/selling. I also told her that she doesn't have to sell cookies next year if she doesn't enjoy the process this year. Fortunately, her troop is low pressure on selling, and not all of the girls are selling cookies this time around.

Today was also pajamas day at Maya's school, so I'll have to take a photo to share later. We were in our usual rush to get ready this morning, and I didn't have a chance for a photo then. She looks pretty cute in her robe and pajamas, though!

What's new with you? Hope everyone has a great weekend planned!

Lothaire by Kresley Cole

2012-01-12T10:47:00.002-06:00

If you're a fan of Kresley Cole's Immortals After Dark series, you may have anxiously been waiting to hear the story of possibly the most ruthless vampire to ever appear in paranormal romance. I've certainly been waiting and wondering. The wait is over with this month's release of Lothaire (2012).

Lothaire has a plan for assuming the thrones of both vampire races--the Dacian, his mother's people, and the Horde, his father's people--and gaining his revenge for his past torture and neglect and his mother's death. He just needs to get a certain wishing ring in order to remove a human soul from a body that his Bride, Saroya, currently inhabits, and they can rule together after he also makes the body immortal.

As for the human, Elizabeth/Ellie is courageous, smart, funny, and headstrong. She's loyal and family-oriented, and her love for those close to her is her greatest weakness and strongest asset.

And what if Elizabeth is Lothaire's true Bride instead of Saroya? What of the vow he already made to Saroya, who almost makes Lothaire seem like a lapdog by comparison to her own level of evil? And what about the fact that he's slipping closer to complete insanity every time he sleeps?

My favorite part of the book is that the story stays focused on Elizabeth/Ellie, Lothaire, and Saroya without getting caught in outside action and characters, as happens in some other books from this series. I also appreciate that Lothaire is still ruthless, regardless of having found his Bride. This isn't a case of beauty taming the beast and turning him into something domesticated--not even close.

My overall personal rating of Lothaire is an A-.

Promises Linger by Sarah McCarty

2012-01-10T12:14:00.002-06:00

Near the beginning of Sarah McCarty's Promises Linger (2004), the first entry in the Promises series, set in 1868 Wyoming Territory:

A man could look at a face like that for years and never get tired. It wasn't that she was beautiful, though she was mighty easy on the eyes. It was the way the planes and hollows came together in a delicate balance of strength, humor and bone-deep sensuality that had him gaping like a green kid. A face like that spoke of endurance and character. A face like that invited visions of naked bodies and long, lusty, leisurely nights. And her mouth, hell, her mouth was a fantasy unto itself. He couldn't begin to corral the ideas the sight of those wide plump lips had running through his head.

Asa McIntyre's initial thoughts when Elizabeth Coyote enters a saloon to find her abusive husband of one day to let him know their sham of a marriage is over. Fortunately, the marriage wasn't consummated, and Asa is exactly the man Elizabeth needs for her second try at marriage.

Elizabeth needs a husband to keep her ranch running, and she unknowingly offers Asa his dream life--a home/ranch of his own and a true lady for a wife and the mother of their future children.

First comes marriage, and then comes the chance to get to know each other.

McCarty again writes steamy love scenes and flawed characters with private demons who work through their issues together to form a strong pairing. As always, her writing, characters, and basic story don't disappoint.

My overall personal rating of Promises Linger is a B+.

Photos, December 2011

2012-01-03T13:28:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year! I hope that 2012 holds much joy, creativity, peace, and blessings for you and yours.

We finally decorated our tree on Saturday, December 24.

What can be better as a gift than a book about a cute dog?

Maya was pretty ecstatic to open her last gift on Christmas morning and find a Nook Tablet.

Putting her Nook to good use by book shopping.

While touring the Nebraska State Capitol Building, Maya deemed this the "world's scariest elevator." She risked the ride to look down at Lincoln from the fourteenth floor, though.

The Christmas tree at the Capitol Building is real, huge, and decorated with ornaments from around the state.

Ivanna Cone in Lincoln's historic Haymarket has some delicious ice cream. Maya certainly gives their Cake Batter with sprinkles a "thumbs up."

Hope 2011 ended well for you.

This and That

2011-12-30T14:13:00.000-06:00

Okay, maybe I'm missing writing blog posts more than I expected. The plan for now is to continue blogging, just once or twice a week instead of most weekdays. I'll see how the new schedule works.

I'm not missing work at all during my week's vacation. Is that terrible? Maya and I are having fun hanging out with the dogs, running errands, touring the Nebraska State Capitol Building, and now having some time with my sister, brother-in-law, and nephew, who are visiting from New Mexico. Yes, I could spend every week like this if money came more easily.

What's new with you as 2011 winds down?

Hope you have a fun New Year's weekend planned!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-23T11:50:00.000-06:00

The very best of the Christmas season to everyone who is celebrating this weekend.

"Christmas is the Disneyfication of Christianity." ~~Don Cupitt

"Christmas gift suggestions:
To your enemy, forgiveness.
To your opponent, tolerance.
To a friend, your heart.
To a customer, service.
To all, charity.
To every child, a good example.
To yourself, respect."
~~Oren Arnold

"Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall." ~~Larry Wilde

"Christmas, my child, is love in action. Every time we love, every time we give, it's Christmas." ~~Dale Evans Rogers

"Christmas Day is a day of joy and charity. May God make you very rich in both." ~~Phillips Brooks

"Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone." ~~Charles Schulz

"Christmas is the time to let your heart do the thinking." ~~Patricia Clafford

"Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas." ~~Peg Bracken

This and That: Winding Down

2011-12-20T15:44:00.001-06:00

This beautiful Christmas tree is in the main lobby of the hospital where I work. My walk down the hallway from the parking garage is brightened every weekday morning by this tree. I'll be sad when they take the tree down.

Well, I reached the point where I'm feeling more of an obligation to post to this blog than a desire to post. I'm enjoying reading others' blogs much more than writing on my own now, so I'm planning to only continue posting through the end of the year.

I want to thank all of my readers who made the time to visit my blog. Good-bye is always bittersweet, so feel free to keep in touch with me by e-mail at Choco223@aol.com or by leaving a comment here with your own blog address. I'll check in on you!

USPS Information

2011-12-16T10:05:00.000-06:00

I received a message from the USPS that included this interesting information. Well, interesting to mail addicts, anyway.

A self-supporting government enterprise, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that reaches every address in the nation, 150 million residences, businesses and Post Office Boxes. The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses, and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations. With 32,000 retail locations and the most frequently visited website in the federal government, usps.com, the Postal Service has annual revenue of more than $65 billion and delivers nearly 40 percent of the world’s mail. If it were a private sector company, the U.S. Postal Service would rank 29th in the 2010 Fortune 500. Black Enterprise and Hispanic Business magazines ranked the Postal Service as a leader in workforce diversity. The Postal Service has been named the Most Trusted Government Agency six consecutive years and the sixth Most Trusted Business in the nation by the Ponemon Institute.

This is also a good time to remind you that prices for various services through the USPS are going up on January 22, 2012.

Letter and Postcard Pricing:
First-class Domestic Mail--45 cents
Domestic Postcard--32 cents
International Mail--up to 1 oz.--Canada & Mexico--85 cents
International Mail--up to 1 oz.--everywhere besides Mexico & Canada--$1.05

I'll be braving my local post office tomorrow with some packages. Happy mailing, everyone!

This and That

2011-12-14T11:17:00.001-06:00

Michele, my sister in New Mexico, is celebrating a milestone birthday today. Wish I could be there to mark the day with her, but she will be in Lincoln for a couple of days at the end of this month. I'm sure we can find something special to do then.

I always felt sorry for my sisters in the birthday lottery. Michele's birthday is eleven days before Christmas, and my sister in Iowa, Laura, has her birthday hit eleven days after Christmas. Sort of lost in all of the post-holiday hype for Michele and part of the post-holiday letdown for Laura.

Personally, I'm already so ready to be done with Christmas. We still need to decorate and clean since we're hosting my mom and my best friend and her daughter for Christmas lunch. I have nothing wrapped or shipped, and I have very little shopping done. Sigh.

Maya and I did manage to visit Santa at the mall on Saturday. Even though we don't "do" Santa at our house, I still take her for the annual photo. This year's Santa did a wonderful job, to the point that Maya walked away whispering, "I don't know, Mom; maybe Santa *is* real."

If you celebrate some sort of religious holiday this season, how are you doing on your preparations? Are you hosting at your house or going elsewhere to celebrate with family and/or friends? Enjoy, and remember that "good enough" is truly good enough.

Anyone putting a list of favorite books read in 2011 on a blog? Please leave me a comment with a link if you are. I'd love to see your list!

Have a happy day.

The Heart of a Mercenary by Loreth Anne White

2011-12-12T13:18:00.001-06:00

[Full disclosure: I'm a member of the Harlequin Ambassadors program, which means I occasionally receive free books and requests to participate in surveys. My free HA membership in no way influences my review of this book, which I paid to purchase.]

I enjoyed Loreth Anne White's Letters to Ellie in the SEAL of My Dreams anthology enough that I decided to read her The Heart of a Mercenary (2010), one of the Shadow Soldiers series.

The story that weaves through the series involves saving the President of the United States, and, ultimately, humanity from a group seeking to control the world through the use of a terrifying biological weapon.

Sarah Burdett is the only survivor of a raid on the medical mission in the Congo. Before being killed, a physician hides Sarah and a set of samples from patients who died from a virus the likes of which he has never seen.

Hunter McBride, mercenary, knows exactly what is at stake when he's sent to recover the samples, yet he finds himself seeing Sarah as much more than an add-on to his mission. When the ultimate choice has to be made, will he save Sarah or humanity?

There's a lot of suspense and moving through the jungle while trying to avoid capture and certain death, and not much in the way of romance in this book. I found myself thinking, "Would you just kiss already?" That didn't happen until 75% of the way through my ebook, which I found a little disappointing.

To learn more about the Shadow Soldiers series, see the author's site here.

My overall personal rating of The Heart of a Mercenary is a B-.

Romance Month: Omega Mine by Aline Hunter

2011-12-07T00:05:00.000-06:00

Hello to everyone visiting today for Truth, Beauty, Freedom, and Books blog's Romance Month.

For my Romance Month posting, I want to share a new-to-me author, Aline Hunter, aka J.A. Saare, with a fantastic start to her new paranormal romance series in Omega Mine (2011).

Hunter puts some serious effort into describing her unique world, which includes shifters, vampires, humans, Villati (keep tabs on the supernatural), and Shepherds (hunters with a murderous religious cult bent). As par for the course with something published by Ellora's Cave, there's also frequent, graphic sex.

Diskant Black is the Omega, meaning the head shifter who can change into any of the animal forms, of New York City. In true knight-in-shining-armor fashion, he finds Ava Brisbane, his fated mate, while saving her from a couple of vampires. Of course, Ava isn't quite the helpless human Diskant thinks, and life gets interesting for both of them even before the Shepherds come to NYC.

Can Hunter maintain her momentum on love-at-first-scent through the various stories started in Omega Mine, including Diskant's best friend, wolf-shifter Trey and his vampire, and Trey's brother, Emory, and his Shepherd mate, among others? I admit that I usually start to lose interest in series after about the third book, especially when there's a story, generally the outside force causing serious problems for the heroes and heroines, that carries from book-to-book. My patience for resolution as a reader only lasts so long!

Here's hoping Hunter's magic holds.

Musical note, as done on TBF&B, for Omega Mine: Super Bass by Nicki Minaj.

First Snow, December 3, 2011

2011-12-05T10:56:00.001-06:00

Maya enjoying the first snow of the season and finally wearing her snow boots. She's preparing for our snowball fight in this photo. She loves snow, and she's a big help with shoveling the driveway and sidewalk.

The bush in front of our house. I'm not a fan of the "winter look," overall, though I do like the way this looks.

The real reason I hate snow and ice--hazardous driving conditions.

Before and After

2011-12-02T13:31:00.000-06:00

My original two desks. I don't know their real age, but I wouldn't be surprised if they were from when the hospital was built at the present location, 1970.

My new desk and chair.

I'm so excited!!!

This and That

2011-12-01T11:36:00.000-06:00

I'm getting new furniture (a desk and chair for me and a table and chairs for the public computers) at work tomorrow. Even when I started at the library in 1999, the furniture wasn't exactly in great condition, so I'm really excited to have a change.

I'm also taking the last week in December off from work to spend with Maya. She has a ridiculously long winter break from school, with her last day on December 22, and her first day back January 9.

Maya and I plan to spend part of vacation in Kansas City since my mom and her bridge (card game) partner have a tournament there. We can visit the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, see the Country Club Plaza holiday lights and decorations, shop a little, eat out (one of my favorite things to do), and swim at the hotel pool (Maya's favorite part of the plan) while they conquer the bridge tournament. Should be fun.

What's new with you?

Romance Month at Truth, Beauty, Freedom and Books

2011-11-29T11:16:00.006-06:00

Head over to Heidenkind's lovely blog, Truth, Beauty, Freedom, and Books, to join the December 2011 Romance Month theme.

Looks like she has a lot of fun planned for December, too, so don't forget to check back often!

Thanksgiving Weekend Photos

2011-11-28T10:27:00.000-06:00

My sister Laura and Maya on November 26, 2011.

Laura, my niece Liz, Maya, and me. Photo by my mom.

Muffin after her groom on November 27. Photo by Maya.

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T05:55:00.001-06:00

"There are no mistakes, no coincidences. All events are blessings given to us to learn from." ~~Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

"You say, 'If I had a little more, I should be very satisfied.' You make a mistake. If you are not content with what you have, you would not be satisfied if it were doubled." ~~Charles Haddon Spurgeon

"Abundance is, in large part, an attitude." ~~Sue Paton Thoele

"I awoke this morning with devout thanksgiving for my friends, the old and new." ~~Will Carleton

"Thanksgiving comes to us out of the prehistoric dimness, universal to all ages and all faiths. At whatever straws we must grasp, there is always a time for gratitude and new beginnings." ~~J. Robert Moskin

"We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude." ~~Cynthia Ozick

Everyone who takes the time to read my blog is certainly on my list of reasons to give thanks. I wish the very happiest of Thanksgivings to everyone celebrating today.

This and That

2011-11-23T11:25:00.000-06:00

The big news at our house is that Muffin, our Shih tzu, has a boyfriend. This is the dog who normally yaps and acts tough with every dog she meets. Keep in mind, though, that my sister calls her a dust mop. Not exactly an intimidating dog, despite her best efforts! All that changed when she finally had a chance for some interaction with KC, the male Silky terrier two doors down. Maya had constant giggles over the way they touched noses and kissed.

I'm also looking forward to the four-day Thanksgiving weekend. Maya is already on vacation after having two days of school this week. Herb's only taking off Thanksgiving and Sunday, so not much of a vacation in store for him this holiday weekend.

I called Mom this morning to ask if she had any interest in making a pie for lunch tomorrow. Maya already requested an apple pie from Grandma! No way Grandma's denying her youngest granddaughter anything reasonable. Now, I just hope Maya knows she has to *share* the pie. . . .

What is new in your world?

Mail from a Soldier

2011-11-21T11:36:00.000-06:00

Don't you agree that this is lovely mail? Happy me!

Wonderful Mail

2011-11-19T14:33:00.000-06:00

If you need motivation to send mail you regret not sending earlier, let me urge you as strongly as possible to just go ahead. You will really make that person's day and, by extension, life better and brighter.

How do I know?

In today's mail, I found a cute USPS Priority Mail envelope showing a card envelope through the address window. I didn't recognize the handwriting, so the mail was already special just by being totally unexpected and from an unknown source.

The contents? A beautiful Thanksgiving card and an even lovelier letter from a soldier I wrote while he was stationed overseas. I cried--happy tears--because he wanted me to know how much the support from a stranger meant to him.

Go ahead. Make someone else happy by sending a letter.

Blue Nights by Joan Didion

2011-11-18T11:15:00.000-06:00

"Turn off the book, Mommy; turn off the book!" That was Maya's response as I started crying while walking on the treadmill and reading an ebook version of Joan Didion's Blue Nights (2011). Okay, sobbing, maybe, more than just crying. That's how much Didion's words affect me.

Written as a sequel to her brilliant The Year of Magical Thinking, Didion explores the nature of parenting, adoption, the loss of a child, memories, and aging in this book.

Didion writes the way that I think--bouncing from one topic to the next, which works well for me as a reader, too. She also left me with several pages flagged to go back to read through certain passages again and again because her insights are so thought-provoking.

The book ended entirely too soon for me, and what more of a compliment can I give than that?

My overall personal rating of Blue Nights is a B+.

Dark Taste of Rapture by Gena Showalter

2011-11-17T13:58:00.000-06:00

Dark Taste of Rapture (2011), the sixth book in Gena Showalter's Alien Huntress series, is snarky and very entertaining.

Rich, beautiful AIR agent Noelle Tremain is an expert at keeping people at a distance. With her best friend now married, she's lonely. Dangerous AIR Agent Hector Dean is equally expert at keeping people at a distance. Just as lonely as Noelle, the woman he wants as much more than a work associate, Hector has reason to fear that he'll literally burn her to ashes if he lets her too close.

Partnered to solve a crime involving the death of one of the new wave wealthy, how can either one of them resist the other?

I enjoyed reading this story of two damaged people who come from abusive backgrounds finding a way to be together.

My overall personal rating of Dark Taste of Rapture is a B.

SEAL of My Dreams

2011-11-16T12:45:00.002-06:00

For the most part, I really enjoyed the stories presented in SEAL of My Dreams. The stories generally fell into two categories--lots of action/saving people and heartbreaking/dealing with some of the harsher aspects of being a Navy SEAL--or someone who loves one. Some were very short snippets, and some were almost novellas.

Two stories didn't work very well for me. One felt like being dropped into the middle of an ongoing series without enough information, and the other felt like a prequel to an actual novel.

As a reminder, proceeds from the purchase of the collection go to the not-for-profit Veterans Research Corporation.

And, yes, the cover model is an active-duty Navy SEAL. . . .

My overall personal rating of SEAL of My Dreams is a B.

This and That

2011-11-15T15:08:00.002-06:00

We went from this on Saturday, when Maya had a stomach virus. . .

. . .to this on Sunday, when she already felt 100% fine.

The worst part of being sick for Maya involved missing practice for her Christmas music program, Saturday lunch out, and, worst of all, her friend's birthday party.

We did go to Olive Garden for lunch on Sunday instead, and Herb and Maya spent Sunday evening at Skate Zone's family night. She's already asking when they can go skating again.

While they skated, I had the chance to watch three episodes of The Walking Dead. Love that t.v. series, though I don't watch when Maya's home due to the content. Fighting off zombies is pretty violent. Anyone else enjoying that series?

Now I'm trying to get the house ready for Thanksgiving. We'll invite my mom to lunch on Thanksgiving Day (November 24 this year), and then my sister and niece plan to visit from Iowa the following day. Although they always stay at Mom's house, I'm sure my niece will find her way to our house to visit Allie and Muffin.

How was your weekend, and do you have special plans for Thanksgiving if you're in the United States?

Letter from Joel

2011-11-11T15:41:00.000-06:00

My latest letter from Joel is a lovely drawing. What a way to brighten my day!

Child Rape

2011-11-11T08:44:00.000-06:00

I enjoy watching college football. A lot. Especially "my team," Nebraska. I won't be watching Nebraska's game against Penn State tomorrow, though, because I don't think this game should even be played, even if that meant my team forfeiting, because a sport next to child rape is nothing.

As Jill blogged so well on Feministe:

I know you all like football. I know a lot of people like football. I know it’s fun and culturally important and for some reason people identify incredibly strongly with Their Team, many to unhealthy levels. But it’s football. It is just football. Feeling personally devastated because someone you trusted made a really terrible decision is one thing; being personally devastated because your identity is so wrapped up in your team that the idea of any member of that team being punished for covering up child rape strikes you as fundamentally unfair is another thing. It is something that should make you seriously reconsider your identity and your values. Being really good at coaching football doesn’t absolve you from looking the other way when you hear about child rape; it doesn’t absolve you from encouraging others not to report child rape to the police.

Keeping in my thoughts the children who were victimized by not only a pedophile, but also by all of the other adults who knew.

365 Letters in 365 Days

2011-11-10T12:02:00.001-06:00

Kate and Sara, two sisters blogging over at 365 Letters in 365 Days, have a fun project going.

Their goals, as noted on their blog:

Goal #1: Receive at least 365 letters in 365 days!

Goal #2: Receive at least 5 letters from every U.S. state!

Goal #3: Receive at least 20 letters from countries other than the United States!

Goal #4: Receive 50 postcards!

Goal #5: Respond back to every letter!

I'm sending them a postcard of Pumpkin Creek Railroad at Vala's Pumpkin Patch to add a tally mark under their Nebraska column.

For their address and the latest on how they're doing on reaching their mail-related goals, stop by their blog.

SEAL of My Dreams Coming 11/11/2011

2011-11-08T11:26:00.001-06:00

SEAL of my Dreams, being released on Veterans Day/Remembrance Day, is a collection of Navy SEAL romance stories by authors such as Cindy Gerard, Marliss Melton, Leslie Kelly, and Stephanie Tyler. You can see the full list of authors and story titles, plus information on each selection, here. [I'm especially looking forward to Letters to Ellie by Loreth Anne White.]

Best of all, the proceeds go to Veterans Research Corporation, a not-for-profit organization founded in 2008. Their mission is "to sponsor veteran based medical research to improve the lives of veterans, their families, and society at large; and to foster a new generation of researchers for tomorrow's medical and health care challenges."

What are you looking forward to reading that's due to be released soon?

Not Your Ordinary Faerie Tale by Christine Warren

2011-11-07T12:16:00.000-06:00

Christine Warren's Not Your Ordinary Faerie Tale (2011) is the twelfth (!) installment in The Others series--and the last for this reader.

Captain of the Queen's Guard Luc is sent to return the Queen's troublesome nephew to Faerie. Pretty much anti-human, Luc is more than a little surprised to discover that very human tabloid reporter Corinne is his "heartmate" (Fae version of soulmate). Corinne is equally anti-inter-species dating.

Instead of great sparks to overcome their disinterest in being together, their relationship and the overall story are pretty blah.

Anyone else as ready for this particular series to end as I am?

My overall personal rating of Not Your Ordinary Faerie Tale is a C+.

Blogs I Love

2011-11-04T10:58:00.000-05:00

I love reading blogs. Along the lines of Three Days of the Condor, the 1975 Robert Redford movie, I'd love to have a job that paid me to read blogs all day. I can dream, right?

Here are a few new-to-me favorites I want to share with you:

Journey Through Words is an instant hook, both from the blog title and the fun book reviews. The American blogger currently living in Canada also has two ultra-adorable children, so don't forget to look for their photos if you make a visit.

The Chloe Chronicles: Tales of a Brazen Woman is quirky and all about keeping it real. I also like how she covers lots of topics, ranging from her children and her faith to getting her groove back and recipes, despite her recent advice from another blogger to tighten her blog focus. Nope, I'm a fan of eclectic!

My British friend and pen pal Lou of Lou La La is ultra-talented and fun. If you're looking for some creative inspiration or a new pen friend, give her blog a look.

What about you? Any blogs to share?

The Red Room by Nicci French

2011-11-03T10:53:00.000-05:00

Beware of beautiful days. Bad things happen on beautiful days. It may be that when you get happy, you get careless. Beware of having a plan. Your gaze is focused on the plan and that's the moment when things start happening just outside your range of vision.

That's the first paragraph from husband-and-wife writing duo Nicci French's The Red Room (2009).

Forensic psychiatrist Kit Quinn has one of those life-changing moments when she's attacked in a police station by Michael Doll, someone she just briefly evaluated. Three months later, just returning to work after her attack, she's approached about speaking with Doll again because he may be connected to a murder.

In the usual French style, there are more than a few twists and witty insights into human nature and society as the death toll mounts.

My overall personal rating of The Red Room is a B.

Halloween 2011

2011-11-01T11:08:00.000-05:00

My combination witch/vampire ready to go trick-or-treating.

Our first stop--Grandma's house, of course.

Maya had a great time going trick-or-treating. We even ran into the neighbor boy and his mom shortly after we started going around our little neighborhood, so I had someone to talk to while the kids went to the houses together.

Hope you had just as much fun if you celebrated Halloween!

Weekend in Photos, October 29 & 30, 2011

2011-10-31T09:38:00.000-05:00

Maya carving pumpkins at her godmother's house on Saturday.

Yes, she had to get a little dirty!

I love windmills, so, of course, Maya had to pose by this one at Vala's Pumpkin Patch on Sunday.

Cinderella never looked quite so, well, skeletal before, did she??

Celebrating finding Herb, who managed to get lost with no cell phone for almost an hour at Vala's, by riding the train.

This and That

2011-10-28T13:36:00.000-05:00

Here's a photo of a sleeping Maya with a snuggling Muffin from Wednesday, October 26. They were actually on top of me on the couch, so this is my best effort from about a dozen photos taken with my cell phone and an extended arm.

Allie, our Rottweiler, had surgery yesterday for an infected toenail. Maya accidentally stepped on Allie's paw almost three weeks ago, and this is the end result. Fortunately, Allie seems to be just fine. She's not even messing with the bandage on her paw. She probably doesn't want to wear the "cone of shame" again!

Maya added carving pumpkins with her godmother tomorrow afternoon to her busy weekend schedule. I'm hoping to get some rest this weekend to beat my cold, which now has my voice sounding all froggy. What are your plans for this weekend?

Claimed by Rebecca Zanetti

2011-10-27T14:28:00.001-05:00

Starting right where Fated, the first book in Rebecca Zanetti's Dark Protector series ends, Claimed (2011) covers the story of vampire king Dage and geneticist Emma. (This is a family series. The first book covers Talen and Cara, and Dage is Talen's brother, while Emma is Cara's sister.)

Visiting each other in visions for years--a couple of decades in Emma's case, a couple of centuries in Dage's case--Emma and Dage already know they're destined to be together before they meet. Throw in Dage's efforts to lead the realm of immortals while battling the Kurjans and Emma's need to protect Cara and Cara's daughter, Janie, at all costs, and there's still plenty of tension and drama, despite their relationship seeming to be a "done deal."

This second book didn't hold my attention quite as well as the first book, though. I didn't feel the chemistry as strongly between Dage and Emma, and I really couldn't understand why Emma didn't just tell Dage that one of her visions made her leery of getting too close to him. (Seemed like an artificial obstacle to fully developing their relationship.) I'm also already feeling a little impatient with the war with the Kurjans that provides the backdrop for the series. Besides being the backdrop, the war also creates a need to read the whole series and in publication order, which is one of the reasons I'm not a series fan, overall.

I do have higher hopes for book three, Hunted, involving Dage and Talen's brother Connlan and his Irish witch mate, Moira, who already created a few sparks in this book while being on separate continents. Imagine the potential for sparks when they're actually together!

Learn more about the series at the author's site.

My overall personal rating of Claimed is a B-.

This and That

2011-10-25T15:43:00.001-05:00

At the risk of sounding unstable, never mind on the interview. After talking more with Herb and giving the job a lot of consideration over the weekend, I decided not to waste their time and mine on the all-day interview.

For now, I'm just going to concentrate on going back to school instead of trying to go back to school, potentially starting a new job, and potentially having either an unpleasant daily commute or facing the prospect of selling our home and finding a new one in Omaha. The timing is just off for that much change all at once in our lives. If the change only impacted me, instead of my husband, my daughter, and my mom, I might have gone ahead with the interview and hoped for a job offer.

Maya and I also have a nasty cold right now. She's doing pretty well, except the coughing starts when she needs to be sleeping. That means we're all awake, and I'm dragging during the day. She even complained this morning, "I kept having to call you twice [when wakening in the night]. Weren't you listening?" Trying to sleep, honey, trying to sleep. So far, Herb's healthy, but tired.

We need to get well because Maya has a big weekend planned. We have a trip to a local nature center with her Brownie troop, a visit to a pumpkin patch, and the Monday trick-or-treating to look forward to.

Hope you're having a great week, and a wonderful last few days of October!

This and That

2011-10-22T12:32:00.000-05:00

Okay, never mind. I have an on-site interview on November 2. I'm pretty nervous because I've never had an all-day interview before, and I have to give a 30-minute presentation as part of the interview. Since I'm also a picky eater, I'm even stressed about having lunch with them.

Again, please wish me luck. Thanks!

For a service project for Maya's Brownie troop, she collected food from our cupboards, Grandma, and a few of our neighbors this morning to donate to the local Salvation Army. She collected 39 items thanks to their generous giving. She's very excited that she gets a patch for her vest in addition to helping others. A win-win situation.

Maya keeps changing her mind about what she wants to be for Halloween. She can't decide between being a vampire or a witch. I gave her a deadline of tomorrow for a firm decision because I don't want to be throwing a costume together on Halloween. I'm sure I'll have photos of her to share later.

Off to enjoy our chilly, gloomy fall day. Have a great weekend!

This and That

2011-10-20T11:41:00.000-05:00

Thanks for the well wishes on the interview. I think I did okay, but I'm not expecting to be invited for the second, on-site interview. I already started my list of reasons to be relieved not to get a second interview, including the job having a more varied schedule (evenings, weekends) than I'm used to, a fair amount of travel for the position, and needing to either move or commute to Omaha, which is about 50 miles from where I live, for the position.

The bad part? I want the job even more now after interviewing than I did before. Sigh.

I started a personal lifestyle intervention because I have horrible genes, and I'd really like to live longer than my dad did to have more time with Maya. He died when he was 57 and I was 23, and I was the same age when Maya was born that he was when I was born (34). This is NOT a diet; this is a move more and make better eating choices going forward life plan.

We have a treadmill I used regularly while pregnant with Maya. I started walking daily again on September 13, and I'm now at my goal of 3 miles per day. I usually read while I walk because I don't exactly consider walking "fun."

What's new with you?

Random Facts about Me

2011-10-18T10:52:00.001-05:00

1. I start feeling anxious if I don't post often enough on this blog. Five days since my last post?! AAK!

2. My phone interview is tomorrow afternoon, and I'm trying to be Zen about the situation. I don't "sell" myself well, particularly under pressure, which makes interviewing challenging, and I really want this job. Sigh. Wish me luck, please!

3. I hate playing games. Interviewing seems more like a game than anything else. . . .

4. I received provisional acceptance to the online program to obtain teaching certification. That means I need to get at least a B in the first two classes, which start in January, in order to be fully accepted into the program. I don't really have the right undergraduate background for this particular program, so the provisional acceptance makes total sense. I'm actually relieved I didn't get either outright rejected or asked to take a bunch of undergrad classes. I'm excited and nervous about getting started with classes.

The Bookman's Wake by John Dunning

2011-10-13T13:19:00.000-05:00

The Bookman's Wake by John Dunning (1995), the second in the Cliff Janeway series, is another book my mom gave to me to read.

Janeway, a former Denver cop who becomes a bookseller, is pulled into a mystery by a former associate who snags his interest with the reference to the possible existence of a specialty press edition of Edgar Allen Poe's The Raven. Supposedly, all Janeway has to do is go to Seattle to retrieve a fugitive named Eleanor Rigby for return to New Mexico for criminal prosecution, giving him access to Rigby and her knowledge of the edition.

Dunning creates an intriguing read about family, pride, and how the secrets of the past come to light. I had no idea where this book was heading, but I certainly enjoyed the rambling route of the story and Dunning's creation of Janeway's intelligent, down-to-earth, snarky voice. I plan to explore the rest of the series in the future.

My overall personal rating of The Bookman's Wake is a B+.

This and That

2011-10-11T10:45:00.000-05:00

Maya and her Sharpie-decorated pumpkin on October 8, 2011. She keeps checking the pumpkin to be sure a squirrel hasn't come on our porch for a quick snack. So far, so good.

I think Maya settled on being a vampire for Halloween this year. That's a pretty tame choice compared to the year that she was a mummy-ballerina-princess, so we'll see if she stays with the vampire decision as October 31st gets closer. We plan to do our usual trick-or-treating in the neighborhood. The candy isn't really the draw for Maya; she likes going door-to-door and seeing the others kids in their costumes.

Halloween and Thanksgiving are my favorite holidays. I love this time of year!

I don't want to jinx myself by giving too many details, but I have a phone interview for a job I really want. Wish me luck, please, because I think this is a job I'd do well and really like, and at least I'm getting the chance at an initial interview.

What's new in your world?

To all my Canadian friends--I hope you had the very best of Thanksgiving weekends!

Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War by Nathaniel Philbrick

2011-10-10T16:30:00.002-05:00

From the preface of Nathaniel Philbrick's Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War (2006):

We all want to know how it was in the beginning. From the Big Bang to the Garden of Eden to the circumstances of our own births, we yearn to travel back to that distant time when everything was new and full of promise.

While I don't particularly want to really travel back in time to live in Plymouth Colony, reading about the lives of the early settlers, as told by Philbrick, is fascinating. He covers about fifty-five years of history between the Pilgrims and the Native American tribes in the area, including King Philip's War, while providing insight into the lives of legends like William Bradford and Miles Standish.

If you have a strong interest in early American history, this book should be fascinating for you. If you don't really have a strong interest in the subject, you probably don't want to read a book this in-depth.

My overall personal rating of Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War by Nathaniel Philbrick is a B+.

Fatal Heat: A Navy SEAL Novella by Lisa Marie Rice

2011-10-07T11:34:00.001-05:00

Lisa Marie Rice is hit-or-miss as an author for this reader. When she's in top form, her romantic suspense novels rank among my favorite reads, including Midnight Man and Dangerous Passion. Her new novella, Fatal Heat (2011), falls into the hit category.

Max is a former Navy SEAL, recovering from life-threatening injuries received on an operation in Afghanistan. Paige is a scientist who is about to need a warrior's assistance. Paige also has a rescue dog named Max (yes, the same name as the hero), and he brings a nice touch to the book.

Max is an Alpha male, Rice's specialty, and Paige is a little less helpless than Rice's heroines sometimes appear, which I consider an improvement. They have an instant-lust relationship, and the suspense regarding Paige's work just adds to their quick bonding. This story is exactly what Rice's readers expect from her, in other words.

I could easily see this novella expanded into a full-length novel, and I actually wish Rice had gone that route. Otherwise, a very satisfying, quick read.

My overall personal rating of Fatal Heat is a B+.

Ecstasy in Darkness by Gena Showalter

2011-10-06T10:57:00.000-05:00

Ecstasy in Darkness (2010), book five in Gena Showalter's Alien Huntress series, is an entertaining read if you like your heroines smart, strong, and loyal and your heroes sexy and tough, yet vulnerable when it comes to the right woman.

Ava Sans, working for Alien Investigation and Removal along with her best friend, Noelle, is bloodthirsty, smart, and insecure about her own worth. Victor McKell is an arrogant vampire who can stop time, and he's currently on AIR's most wanted list.

Throw in an alien queen with some sort of virus-spreading ability that can destroy everyone on the planet and McKell's desire to learn how to walk in daylight, as some other vampires are doing, and you have a thing or two besides romance and bonding to keep Ava and McKell busy.

This is easily one of my favorite Showalter books, partly because of the friendship between Ava and Noelle and the snappy dialogue from most of the characters. How many books have two best friends betting on whether the hero will remove the penis or the heart of the other guy who is lusting after his woman? Snappy and fun with an edge.

My overall personal rating of Ecstasy in Darkness is a B+.

This and That

2011-10-04T13:14:00.004-05:00

I'm really enjoying October so far. Autumn is my favorite time of the year--leaves changing colors on the trees, cool evenings and crisp mornings, fresh apples and apple cider, visits to the pumpkin patch, Halloween and Thanksgiving, October as National Medical Librarians' Month, and my favorite college football team back in action.

Okay, my Nebraska Cornhuskers devastating loss (17-48) in their conference opener against the Wisconsin Badgers on Saturday hurt. That's one football game that left me with a sick feeling in my stomach, though I did appreciate seeing Badgers' quarterback Russell Wilson play like a dream. Sort of--as much as I could while watching my team disintegrate, anyway.

Sigh.

My friend and pen pal Dana over at Save Snail Mail wrote a post about a couple of petitions involving snail mail at Whitehouse.gov. Each petition needs to reach 5,000 signatures in order to be seen by the Obama Administration. This petition involves refunding the pension overpayments in order to get the USPS budget in balance, and the 5,000 signatures must be obtained by October 26. This petition seeks to preserve six-day mail delivery, and the 5,000 signatures must be obtained by October 29. Please consider signing one or both petitions if you're an American citizen, and, as Dana noted, pass the word. Thank you!

If you're looking for a 2012 calendar, I want to suggest the Men of the Stacks calendar. The proceeds go to the It Gets Better project, dedicated to showing LGBT youth "the levels of happiness, potential, and positivity their lives will reach – if they can just get through their teen years," and Mr. January happens to be originally from Lincoln, where I live.

What's new with you this October?

Our Weekend in Photos, October 1-2, 2011

2011-10-03T13:04:00.000-05:00

Maya, my friend Keli, and I went to JK's Pumpkin Patch, a new pumpkin patch just outside of Lincoln. For $5 admission, including your choice of a pumpkin, we had a bargain visit. We agree the patch is geared more to younger children, though, and Maya gets to make a trip to Vala's Pumpkin Patch later this month, too.

Muffin, pre- and post-groom.

This and That

2011-09-30T11:28:00.002-05:00

Part of the fun of attending the parent/teacher conference is just being at Maya's school. The classrooms are always so cheerful and overflowing with books and decorations. Right now, the hallway outside of her classroom door has the students' butterfly life cycle drawings on display, including the one by Maya above, because they actually observed the whole cycle for a class science project. Maya was a little sad the day they released the butterflies, but she loved the overall project.

The conference went well. I can tell Mrs. H. and Maya have a good rapport, and she looks forward to school every day. I'm relieved!

A few different mail-related bloggers I read pointed to the Send the Love campaign. I intend to follow the suggestion of drawing a heart with P.O. written inside on the back of personal mail in order to send the postal workers some appreciation.

Also, I added a "My Friends" link of blogs to the sidebar. If you want to be included (or want to be removed), just leave me a comment or drop me an e-mail at Choco223@aol.com.

What are you doing this weekend? We plan to visit a new local pumpkin patch tomorrow, so expect some photos next week. Have a great one!

This and That

2011-09-27T11:45:00.001-05:00

Maya's first meeting with her Brownies troop went well. Although she's the only new girl, she knew most of the other girls, and "social butterfly" could be her middle name. Since only one mom left during the meeting, I even had the chance to stay and observe. The girls obviously had a good time playing bingo, singing, eating a snack, etc., and the hour passed really quickly.

First parent-teacher conference of second grade to look forward to this evening. :)

Postal Service Workers Rally Against "Manufactured" Crisis contains this about the burden of prefunding postal workers' retirement system in a way that no other system is required to do:

According to testimony earlier this year from Ruth Goldway, chairman of the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC), the independent regulatory agency overseeing the postal service, "Without the [prefunding] requirement, the Postal Service would have broken even financially despite the large mail volume declines that occurred during that time and without use of its borrowing authority." Goldway also noted that the ambitious benefit payment plan was made at a time when the agency was "exceedingly profitable."

Perhaps very selfishly, I really don't want to see Saturday delivery stopped, and, less selfishly, I also don't want job cuts in a sector with well-paying positions. Postal workers who lose their positions aren't going to find jobs with equal pay and benefits elsewhere--if they can even find jobs at all. Changing the retirement system seems like a relatively painless solution, though I don't hold much faith in Congress acting.

Hope your September is ending well!

Killer Elite

2011-09-27T10:15:00.001-05:00

Movie poster taken from IMDb.

Herb and I went to see Killer Elite on Sunday because we really like Jason Statham, and we enjoyed the movie well enough. I liked the movie better, but how surprising is that when Clive Owen and Robert De Niro join Statham as serious eye candy?

Just as he's building a life for himself outside of his past as an assassin-for-hire, Danny (Statham) gets pulled back into the action to save his mentor, Hunter (De Niro), being held in Oman circa 1980. All Danny needs to do is kill some specific SAS, British special forces, targets in order to secure Hunter's release. . . .

Clive Owen adds to the complexity of the job in his role as Spike, ex-SAS and part of a secret society. [There's one pretty good fight scene between Owen and Statham.]

Overall, if you like action movies, this one is entertaining enough to justify the price of admission.

Has anyone else seen Killer Elite? What did you think?

I love Jason Statham. . . .

The Confession by John Grisham

2011-09-26T10:49:00.003-05:00

Surprising admission--The Confession (2010) is my first John Grisham book, and the trigger to read this one came from my mom giving the book to me and saying, "I think you'll appreciate this one." Mom was right.

Travis Boyette kidnapped, raped, and murdered a high school cheerleader in 1998 in Texas, a state inextricably linked with the death penalty. Just released from prison in 2007 for another abduction, he confesses to a small-town Kansas minister. Sounds simple enough, but the twist is that Donte Drumm is four days away from being executed for the crime.

Grisham hits a lot of the problems with the death penalty in the United States in his work of fiction--the railroaded confession, the issue of race relations/racism (white victim, black "criminal"), social class, and vengeance clouding the issue (having someone punished can outweigh making certain the actual offender is in custody). Yes, this is an "agenda book," and I happen to agree with the author's point-of-view. Ultimately, the unequal application of the death penalty (bias on the basis of race, social class, and gender) and the fact that people can be (and have been) put to death for crimes they didn't commit are the two biggest arguments against the death penalty, in my opinion.

"The evidence never speaks. It has no voice. Humans interpret it." ~~Kev Hopayian [This is a reference to evidence-based medicine, but works just as well for evidence in criminal cases, I believe.]

Have you read this book? What did you think? If you're a Grisham fan, how does this one compare to his other books?

You can learn more at the book's official site here.

My overall personal rating of The Confession is a B+.

Maya's First Fan Letter--The Answer

2011-09-23T08:41:00.001-05:00

Miss Maya isn't in the mood to pose for photos at the moment, so pictures have to wait for a future post.

Here's the charming letter, typed, except for "Dear Maya" and "Yours sincerely [name]":

Balmoral Castle

12th September, 2011

Dear Maya,

The Queen wishes me to write and thank you for your letter.

Her Majesty thought it kind of you to tell her about yourself, and was pleased to hear that you too are fond of dogs and have two as pets.

I am enclosing some information sheets about the Royal Pets and Crown Jewels which I hope you will enjoy, and thank you again for your message of support for The Queen which was greatly appreciated.

Yours sincerely
[Name]
Lady-in-Waiting

Miss Maya Ford

This and That

2011-09-21T10:23:00.001-05:00

Poor Allie, our Rottweiler, has a yeast infection in her right ear. Or, as the vet said, "multiple pockets of yeast in her ear." Lovely--NOT! Until the medicine starts working, she gets to wear this cone in order to stop her from scratching. She's moping a bit, and I swear Muffin, our Shih tzu, is laughing at her for being, as Maya and I call Allie with her cone, "a blue flower."

Maya has her first Brownie meeting on Friday evening. (Brownies are Girl Scouts in second and third grades.) The troop co-leader said in her e-mail message that I'm welcome to stay during meetings, and Maya is completely horrified by the idea. "Do the other moms stay?" Guess I'll be dropping her off and returning later, leaving her in independence for the twice-a-month meetings.

If you make a comment on this blog, you may notice a delay before your comment posts. Not too worry, I'm not actually censoring comments; I just had a recent series of "buy your medications here," "click this link for free stuff," etc. fake comments. As long as your comment is real, you will get posted.

What's new with you?

What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell

2011-09-20T11:27:00.001-05:00

The September selection for my work book club is What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell (2008).

Set in 1947 New York and Florida, fifteen-year-old Evie has a glamorous mother she wants to be and a war veteran stepfather she adores, and she's the perfect age for falling in love for the first time. When her stepfather's past returns to cause problems in the present, though, someone dies, and Evie is left in the difficult position of defining her own concepts of love and loyalty.

Besides the story, which is certainly interesting and heartbreaking enough, the writing style is also wonderful. A few examples of some of my favorite lines:

It's crazy how you can go from not being bored to being bored out of your mind in about the time it takes to ties your shoes.

I realized that there was something worse than not being asked to dance. It was being asked to dance by the wrong boy.

I didn't believe Peter meant what he said. I didn't wonder why a rich man's son would be so mean and feel so bitter.

I'd answered every question, I'd thrown mud at a good boy's reputation, I'd lied, I'd been called a whore. But it was that one man's wave of contempt that finally made the tears come.

Although winner of the 2008 National Book Award for Young People's Literature, I want to note that I consider this to be one of those books likely to be more appreciated by an adult than an actual teenager. I think we all have those pivotal moments, though often not as dramatic as this, that change our lives and how we see those around us, but I don't know that you usually fully see the moments as they're actually happening in the way you do when you're looking back on your life.

Learn more at the author's site here.

My overall personal rating of What I Saw and How I Lied is an A.

Drive

2011-09-19T11:23:00.000-05:00

Two comments that would lead my family and close friends to immediately know how much I enjoyed watching the movie Drive yesterday--Ryan Gosling reminds me of James Dean, and Drive reminds me of a dark, dark version of The Sopranos.

Gosling plays a stunt car driver and mechanic who also serves as a wheelman/getaway driver. Carey Mulligan plays his neighbor--and his downfall. Strong message of "love ruins a man's life."

If you go to this movie, expect some graphic violence.

If you already saw Drive, what did you think of the movie?

This and That

2011-09-17T13:17:00.000-05:00

Maya received a letter from Balmoral Castle. Yes, one of the Queen's ladies-in-waiting sent her a charming response to her fan letter. I'll share the text and some photos next week. I wish I could share Maya's scream of excitement when she saw the envelope with the Royal Mail postmark.

My mom's friend is spending some time in China. You can learn more about her experience on her site here.

My friend and pen pal Dana is quoted in a recent story about snail mail in the Boston Globe. Learn more on this post on her blog, Save Snail Mail. Some of my favorite posts from her fantastic blog include the ones on her trip to France and the one on mail delivery in rural West Virginia.

Since I managed to make this entire week about the Blue Angels on my blog, you might also want to stop by their site. They completely need to start a kids' fan club!

Have a great weekend!

It's a Small World

2011-09-15T10:49:00.001-05:00

I sent my sister an e-mail message with a photo of Maya at the airshow, and I mentioned that she wanted to know if girls could be Blue Angels. My sister sent this photo in response. The woman in the Navy recruiting photo from 2010 happens to be my sister's business partner's niece and a former Blue Angels crew chief.

Maya has a new role model.

Photos from Guardians of Freedom Show--September 10, 2011

2011-09-12T09:24:00.000-05:00

You should check the Guardians of Freedom Airshow Gallery from the Lincoln Journal-Star if you want to see some fantastic photos from an absolutely wonderful show.

Maya by the plane from Oregon where she bought the first coin in her new commemorative coin collection.

The pilot in this plane is from Lincoln.

Demonstrating some of what they do on missions.

The Blue Angels. Should I be worried that Maya asked if girls can be Blue Angels?

Guardians of Freedom Airshow--September 10 & 11, 2011

2011-09-09T13:49:00.002-05:00

Maya and I are looking forward to the Guardians of Freedom Airshow this weekend at the old Lincoln Air Force base. This year's free show honors the tenth anniversary of 9/11 and 100 years of naval aviation.

Herb, his oldest brother, and Maya attended the airshow held here in September 2006. I can tell from the photos that I missed a really fun day. Maya still says, "I wanted to bring that plane home" about one of the display planes she's beside in one of the photos. Judging by the look on her face in the picture, I'm glad Daddy had to handle that "no." She's also looking forward to replacing her Blue Angels stuffed plane that quit making flight noises.

Hope you have a spectacular weekend planned.

This and That

2011-09-08T11:29:00.000-05:00

The photo is of the library where I work. I'm taking a really interesting, fun online continuing education class called Evidence Based Medicine and the Medical Librarian through the University of North Carolina, and one of the discussion board sections involves adding a photo of where you work. There are computers in the library, too; this is my "old school library" photo.

I'm really enjoying this class, especially since the online format takes away from my usual (extreme) shyness in group settings. I *ahem* might, maybe have the most comments in the class on the discussion board at this point.

I definitely think I could be a professional student. I'm still waiting to hear back about the admissions decision for the program to get my teaching certification in consumer science. Except for the practice teaching, the program is all online. I'll keep you posted, as always.

How's your weather? We're currently having actual fall weather. I love this kind of weather! Autumn is my favorite time of the year, anyway, so I'm feeling in a happy, happy mood right now.

What's happening with you?

The Attack by Yasmina Khadra

2011-09-06T10:33:00.002-05:00

My first blog post about a book in way too long is on the fictional The Attack by Yasmina Khadra, pen name for Algerian-born author Mohammed Moulessehoul, (2005 in the original French, translated to English by John Cullen in 2006).

Arab-Israeli surgeon Amin Jaafari, a prominent physician in Tel Aviv, is told his wife, Sihem, is responsible for a suicide bombing that killed seventeen people, including many children. He knows that can't be true, that Sihem is actually one of the victims.

Then Amin receives the letter Sihem sent to him the day before the attack.

On Amin's subsequent search for the truth about the wife he thought he knew, the reader sees a man's life completely unravel against the backdrop of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The ending, which I didn't see coming until it slammed into me, isn't ever going to leave me.

See this author interview on Blogcritics to learn more about Khadra.

My overall rating of The Attack is an A. I'm off to read Khadra's The Swallows of Kabul next.

This and That

2011-09-05T15:51:00.001-05:00

Hope everyone in the U.S. reading this had a great Labor Day weekend. We had the chance to attend two birthday parties, visit Barnes & Noble, have lunch with a friend, watch DVDs, and write lots of postcards and letters. I sent mail to The Netherlands, China, Russia, and Canada, in addition to North Carolina, California, Texas, New Mexico, Wisconsin, and Iowa. The perfect three-day weekend!

I also watched part of the first Nebraska football game of the season. They looked a little rough, but I know they can't share the whole set of skills in the season opener. I'm hoping to see more of this week's game, though that's a challenge with a seven-year-old!

I'm feeling a little more secure at work after my annual evaluation last Monday. I think there are some big changes coming in terms of my responsibilities, though that's a relief compared to job elimination. I'll share details when I can.

How's everything in your world?

Bloggers--Write a Post, Help a Dog!!

2011-09-02T12:46:00.002-05:00

Copied from Books and Things:

Pedigree is resurrecting is insanely successful Write a Post, Help a Dog program. In 2010, 391 bloggers wrote about the program and with each post, Pedigree donated 20 pounds of its Healthy Longevity dog food to shelter animals. In all, 7,820 pounds of food was donated to two shelters renowned for their care of senior dogs: Muttville Senior Dog Rescue in San Francisco and Castaway Critters in Harrisburg, Pa.

How you can help in 2011

Simply spread the word about Write a Post, Help a Dog 2011 and once again Pedigree will donate 20 pounds of food for each blogger's post. Here's all you need to include in your post:

The Pedigree Foundation depends on charitable contributions from individuals to carry out its mission to help dogs find loving homes. In addition to writing a blog post, here's how you can help:

Donate online at http://pedigreefoundation.org/donate.aspx

Apply for a shelter grant from the Pedigree Foundation by completing a form atwww.pedigreefoundation.org

Purchase Dogs Rule Gear at www.dogsrulegear.com where the proceeds go to the Pedigree Foundation to help loving dogs find a home. SPECIAL OFFER: Get 10 percent off Dogs Rule Gear by using the promo code BlogPaws10 from August 22 - September 30.

Don't forget to go to Books and Things to link your blog post, like I just did for this post!

Maya's First Fan Letter

2011-09-02T12:37:00.000-05:00

Maya sent her first official fan letter this week. The recipient? Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

She sat at our kitchen table and discarded three drafts before being satisfied enough with her fourth draft for mailing purposes. I didn't think to take a picture of her lovely handwriting before putting the letter in the mail.

I do, however, remember my two favorite lines from the letter, which all came from Maya. She only consulted me on spelling for a couple of the longer words.

I would like to have a crown and as many dogs as you do.

You are my favorite famous person.

The Many Faces of Maya--August 27, 2011

2011-09-01T17:52:00.009-05:00

Reaction to the hot soup.

"Are you taking my picture?"

"Come on!"

Cheesy grin pose.

Letter from Joel

2011-09-01T09:59:00.003-05:00

[In my last letter to Joel, I sent a couple of photos from a trip to the zoo, along with asking if he started school this year.]

I like the penguins. I will go to school next year. I like dogs, lions, tigers, pigs, and cats. Thank you for the letter. Your friend, Joel

To learn more about House of Dreams, the orphanage in Bolivia where Joel lives, you can go to their blog here or their site here.

FAQs from the blog:
- how many Dreamers are there? 17
- girls? 7
- boys? 10
- the youngest? 3 years old
- the oldest? 10 years old
- total kids helped to date? 53
- founding year? 2006
- location? Cochabamba, Bolivia

Carnival--August 27, 2011

2011-08-29T13:09:00.004-05:00

Maya and I had a fantastic time at the carnival at our local mall on Saturday evening. Perfect weather (not too hot, not too cold, not too windy--those evenings are rare in Nebraska), possibly the best funnel cake I've ever eaten, and lots of rides for a bargain price of $15 for the unlimited rides wrist band.

I always loved the Tilt-a-Whirl as a kid, and Maya went on this one at least five times.

Maya just starting the slow ascent before the quick drop of the Super Shot. As the guy waiting to go on the Super Shot on the next round said to me, "She did not like that AT ALL." Wish I had video footage of her reaction because she looked completely shocked, even after watching others on the ride before deciding she definitely wanted to go!

A view of the Midway, showing the height of the Super Shot.

Maya just getting started on her favorite part of the night, bouncing on the special trampoline. The attraction, which was supposed to last for five minutes for $7, lasted for at least 30 minutes.

This night counts as one of those "magical moments of childhood" memories with Maya for me.

The Heiress

2011-08-25T12:20:00.001-05:00

I just watched The Heiress (1949), starring Olivia de Havilland (guaranteed a lasting spot in film history through her role as Melanie in Gone with the Wind), Ralph Richardson (ditto for his role as Alexander in Doctor Zhivago), and Montgomery Clift (born in Omaha, Nebraska, about 50 miles from where I live). I vividly remembered the ending from an earlier viewing--long ago, when I was probably way too young to really appreciate the movie.

Richardson plays the wealthy, arrogant Dr. Sloper, with de Havilland as his daughter and only heir, Catherine. They shine in their roles, and the movie is really about their relationship. Clift, who is always pretty and elegant, does well enough as Morris Townsend, a fortune-hunter who turns his eyes to courting Catherine.

My favorite line from the move comes from de Havilland:

He's [Morris] grown greedier over the years. Before he only wanted my money; now he wants my love as well. Well, he came to the wrong house - and he came twice. I shall see that he does not come a third time.

I can't recommend The Heiress highly enough if you enjoy movies about relationships and character development.

Crazy, Stupid, Love.

2011-08-23T10:11:00.001-05:00

Crazy, Stupid, Love. is, in different parts, slightly entertaining, unrealistic, annoying, fatuous, scattered, long, and sometimes sweet, IMHO.

The main focus is on Steve Carell's character as he deals with the fact that his wife, as played by Julianne Moore, wants to end their marriage after almost 25 years. Apparently from sheer boredom, or maybe from being the self-absorbed waste of space every other Gen X female in this movie is also portrayed as, she already cheated with a co-worker played by Kevin Bacon.

So enters Carell into the world of the nightclub and one-night stands--and the equally disturbing portrayal of Gen Y women as vapid--with Ryan Gosling's character as his guide and Svengali (or Miyagi, as the movie states).

Besides the portrayal of women, I didn't feel the movie showed me the connections for the two core relationships. Beyond the length of their relationship and having children together, I didn't see a single reason to root for Carell and Moore's marriage. I also didn't see much to hint at a longterm relationship between Gosling and the always fun to watch Emma Stone. In both cases, what do the couples truly have in common? Why do they want to be together? Where's the REAL love??

Let me know what you think if you saw the movie, please.

Lincoln's Sunken Gardens--August 20, 2011

2011-08-22T09:34:00.003-05:00

The Sunken Gardens , a popular location for weddings and senior photos in Lincoln, is particularly beautiful at this time of year. Butterflies and dragonflies run rampant, and the koi are fat and active. Maya and I spent a lovely hour there on Saturday.

Heirloom Tomato Salad at Venue

2011-08-18T14:18:00.001-05:00

[Photo by my friend Keli because I forgot my cell phone that day.]

I'm always drooling over food photos on other blogs, so I want to share this photo of the Heirloom Tomato Salad from a visit to Lincoln's Venue Restaurant & Lounge on Saturday.

This and That

2011-08-17T12:35:00.000-05:00

Here's a photo of Maya from yesterday, heading off to her first day of second grade. She had kind of a mixed first day. That really doesn't surprise me because she doesn't like change. At least she didn't have a terrible first day, right?

Sorry for the recent shortage of book reviews on this blog. I'm neglecting my reading as I search and apply for jobs. I'm also working to get back in a letter-writing mode with mixed success. At least the letters are fun; the job search is frustrating, ego-harming, etc.

What's new with you?

Lincoln Children's Zoo--August 14, 2011

2011-08-15T11:12:00.001-05:00

With second grade starting tomorrow for Maya, we spent our last summer day together at the Lincoln Children's Zoo.

This is Maya's favorite butterfly, and she spent a long time coaxing it onto the piece of orange she held.

"I don't really have a butterfly on my sunglasses, do I, Mom?"

This horse seemed huge compared to the ponies they usually have for kids to ride.

Maya loves the Humboldt penguins, new to our zoo this year.

This white peacock likes to hang around the food court.

Petition to Stop the Keystone XL Pipeline

2011-08-12T11:05:00.000-05:00

In case you're interested, you can sign a petition against TransCanada's Keystone XL Pipeline through Credo here.

The petition reads as follows:

The tar sands represent a catastrophic threat to our communities, our climate, and our planet. President Obama, you have the final word. You do not have to negotiate with Congress or industry. We urge you to demonstrate real climate leadership by rejecting the requested permit for the Keystone XL pipeline.

For more information about the pipeline, I like this Mother Jones piece titled Scientists to Obama: Keystone XL Pipeline Sucks.

My Persian-Speaking Friends

2011-08-11T11:05:00.001-05:00

[This post may be of particular interest to Claudia and sapphireblue for their daughters.]

Maya has a new pen pal. She lives in Iran, and she's eight years old. We found her through the pen pal program called My Persian-Speaking Friends.

To become a participant in the pen pal program, you must:

Be between 7 and 18 years old
Live in the United States or Iran
Be willing to write a letter every month or so

Sigh. No opportunity for middle-aged me to participate directly.

Maya just completed her first letter to send to the program in Massachusetts for translation before being sent to the pen pal. Maya can hardly wait for her first return mail. I'll keep you posted!

Cowboys & Aliens

2011-08-10T14:52:00.000-05:00

For Herb's birthday, he chose seeing the movie Cowboys & Aliens as his celebration. He also worked all day, and he enjoyed work more than the movie.

The movie starts with Daniel Craig wakening in the desert with amnesia and an odd piece of metal attached to his wrist. Harrison Ford plays the former Civil War officer who now runs a small town named Absolution. Olivia Wilde plays the pretty girl. The aliens are, well, almost comical in terms of looks, and they aren't at all scary in a movie that's apparently supposed to be deadly serious.

I feel like I'm on a string of not liking much of anything, but, yet again, I'd recommend saving your money instead of heading to see Cowboys & Aliens. I can't even generate the enthusiasm to suggest renting the movie later.

I'd love to hear your thoughts if anyone else has seen the movie.

Mail from Joel

2011-08-09T13:46:00.001-05:00

More mail to share from my pen pal Joel, who lives at the House of Dreams Orphanage in Bolivia.

Thank you for the photo you sent [of Maya at her birthday party]. My favorite color is yellow. Chuck E. Cheese is a funny name. [From Angie--He couldn't stop laughing about that and kept saying it over and over.] I send you hugs too.

I like to sing. I like to play games. I like to sing a song called I See I See. I like fireworks. [I sent him the photo of Maya with a sparkler.]

Lancaster County Fair--August 7, 2011

2011-08-08T12:10:00.000-05:00

We really had a fantastic time at the Lancaster County Fair in 2010, and Maya could hardly wait to return this year. Unfortunately, we didn't have the best experience this time. The highlights are in the photos below. The lowlights include a tiny midway, the worst sno-cone and cotton candy I've ever had, and Maya's concluding comment on our drive home, "We wasted our money today."

The plan next year is to visit the Iowa State Fair instead.

This and That & Stationery Giveaway

2011-08-05T12:59:00.000-05:00

Here's the ultimate in easy for entering a giveaway. Leave a comment on this post, including an e-mail address where I can reach you, or send me a message at Choco223@aol.com with your mailing address, and I'll send you a surprise package of stationery, including some combination of notecards, postcards, bookmarks, and paper. Please limit your special requests, if you have them, to "I really like/don't like [postcards, bookmarks, etc.]." And, yes, I'll send to international addresses.

If you're in Nebraska, take a look at the Stand with Randy events scheduled for this weekend. Randy's a Nebraska rancher fighting TransCanada, the moral equal of Wal-Mart (pretty much the worst insult I can give a business), and their plan to build a pipeline through the Nebraska Sandhills, arguably one of the most wonderful ecosystems in this country. Okay, I'm biased, but it's still beautiful and worth preserving, not risking senselessly, and don't even get me started on the threatening letters TransCanada sends to landowners. Those letters alone get my Gen X independence gene thumping.

What are your plans for the weekend? We have Herb's 49th birthday to celebrate tomorrow, including a date night while my best friend babysits Maya, and a trip planned to the county fair with one of Maya's friends, weather cooperating.

Please Vote in My Mail Poll

2011-08-03T11:40:00.001-05:00

Time for another poll on this blog.

I notice most of the blogs related to letters and pen pals have posts about incoming and outgoing mail, generally photos of actual items and, if applicable, linking to the blog of the sender or receiver.

Update--Good point from the comments section. I definitely wouldn't share anyone's addresses, or even full names, on posts. I'd have something along the lines of "Postcard from Penny in Canada," "Letter heading to Dana [with a link to her blog]," etc.

Are you interested in seeing those kinds of posts on this blog?

Feel free to vote in the poll and leave a comment.

Maya & Liz, July 31, 2011

2011-08-02T11:50:00.001-05:00

I still can't decide what I want to say about our weekend trip to visit my sister and niece in Iowa. I guess I'll just say that the pictures are the best part of the trip. The timing of our visit was off, and we just didn't have a very good weekend. That happens sometimes, especially with family and also staying at someone else's home.

The Winner is. . . Gaby!!

2011-08-01T08:01:00.002-05:00

The winner of The Secret Year is Gaby.

Thanks to everyone who commented for your chance to win!

Random Facts about Me

2011-07-28T13:24:00.000-05:00

[Don't forget to leave a comment on this post for an entry in the drawing to win my hardcover of The Secret Year. I only have four entries so far. Sigh.]

1. Herb just rolled his eyes when I told him this was going on my blog, but Lady Gaga and I have something in common. We both have a "cool Nebraska guy," as she refers to her boyfriend in the country rock single You and I.

2. Flying and driving stress me completely. I'm already dreading the drive to and from my sister's house in Iowa this weekend. Thanks to the Missouri River flooding and the necessity for an alternate route, our usual three-hour drive each way is going to take an additional twenty minutes each time, too. Oh, yeah--not.

3. I'm pretty OCD when it comes to certain things, yet not other things. I wish I had a little OCD when it comes to neatness/housekeeping, but no such luck.

4. I dread having unexpected company. (Refer to number three and the comment about not being OCD over housekeeping.) Actually, I dread expected company, too. I much prefer socializing away from home.

What random facts would you like to share about you today?

This and That

2011-07-27T12:25:00.000-05:00

My thoughts turn often to the people of Norway right now. My grandpa, always one of my favorite people, felt quite proud of his Norwegian heritage, leaving me with, at least in my own mind, a strong feeling of connection to Norway. I hope to one day see the breathtakingly beautiful country in person. For now, my heart and thoughts are with everyone there at this time of crisis and grief.

A Bookshelf the Size of the World: Inside the Vision for the Largest Library in the World is an interview in the Boston Globe with Robert Darnton, who leads the Harvard library system. The interview addresses plans to create the Digital Public Library of America, which I definitely hope happens. My favorite question and answer:

IDEAS: Who do you see using the DPLA?

DARNTON: I imagine an enormously varied public. I’m convinced there are people throughout this country who just want to write something to express their own understanding of the world and need material to do that writing … .I think there are lots of people in community colleges - many of these community colleges hardly have libraries, but now it should be possible for every community college in the country to have access to something greater than the Library of Congress. I imagine people in retirement homes who would want access to books to entertain themselves. I think there will be lots of uses in K-12 schools … .I think what it will do, in a word, is to democratize access to knowledge.

Anyone making special plans for the weekend? My mom, Maya, Muffin, and I are visiting my sister's house in Iowa for the weekend. (Allie sheds, and, since my sister isn't exactly a "dog person" in the first place, she's very generous to even allow Muffin to come.) My niece Liz heads to college in a couple of weeks, so this is our bittersweet send-off visit.

[Leave a comment on this post for your entry in the drawing to win The Secret Year.]

Ecstasy by Jacquelyn Frank

2011-07-27T10:44:00.002-05:00

The description from the author's site for Ecstasy, the first book in the Shadowdwellers series from Jacquelyn Frank (2008):

"After a terrifying car crash, Ashla Townsend wakes up to find that the bustling New York she knew is now eerie and desolate. Just when she’s convinced she’s alone, Ashla is confronted by a dark warrior who draws her deeper into a world she never knew existed. The bond between Ashla and Trace is a mystery to both, but searching for answers will mean confronting long-hidden secrets, and uncovering a threat that could destroy everything Trace holds precious. . . ."

If you're more into science fiction than romance and enjoy reading lots of detailed world-building, this might be the book for you. I'm more into romance and dialogue and relationship-building (not just the romantic relationship), so this story failed to capture my attention. I found myself skimming lots of sections in order to just be done.

A slight warning--if I actually cared about the story, the ending is one that would trigger the need to immediately find the second book in the, to date, three-book series. Being left hanging is one of my pet peeves about potential pitfalls with reading a series.

My overall personal rating of Ecstasy is a C.

[There are currently four entries in the drawing to win The Secret Year. Please comment here for your entry. Each comment made between July 25 and July 31 equals an entry, with one entry per person per blog posting, please. Open to international visitors, too.]

Zookeeper

2011-07-26T11:50:00.001-05:00

[Three entries so far for the drawing for The Secret Year. Leave a comment here for an entry!]

Does anyone else love Kevin James? He's perfect in Hitch, and I also enjoyed the episodes of King of Queens that I've seen. [I'm not very good about getting t.v. shows watched, and we may have one of the few households in the United States without a DVR or VCR for viewing shows later.]

Despite being a big Kevin James fan, Zookeeper rates as a total bust for me. Herb and Maya also weren't entertained.

Basically, James is a zookeeper still pining for a woman who refused his proposal and dumped him five years earlier. Is she an appealing woman? Not particularly, unless you're just interested in a woman based on her looks. Enter the animals, who try to help him win back his girl, eventually even revealing to him that they can talk.

Maybe that all sounds cute, but the actual execution is pretty long and boring.

Have you seen Zookeeper? What did you think?

The Secret Year by Jennifer R. Hubbard

2011-07-25T10:00:00.001-05:00

The summary from the author's site for The Secret Year by Jennifer R. Hubbard (2010):

"Seventeen-year-old Colt has been sneaking out at night to meet Julia, a girl from an upper-class neighborhood unlike his own. They’ve never told anyone else about their relationship: not their family or friends, and especially not Julia’s boyfriend. When Julia dies suddenly, Colt tries to cope with her death while pretending that he never even knew her. He discovers a journal Julia left behind. But Colt is not prepared for the truths he discovers about their intense relationship, nor to pay the price for the secrets he’s kept."

One slight correction--Julia's brother gives Colt the journal, which is actually a notebook of letters addressed to CM, making him the first person to know something of what happened between Colt and Julia.

I struggled a bit on what to write about this book for the blog. While I really enjoyed Colt and most of the supporting characters in the novel, plus the author's style of writing, I had a really hard time understanding why Colt agreed to the kind of relationship Julia wanted from him. With the story told from Colt's perspective in the aftermath of the crash that ended Julia's life, I expected to at least eventually discover what made her so special that he overlooked her desire to hide their relationship while continuing to date her socially-acceptable, at least to her family and friends, "real" boyfriend. I never did.

The ending, which I'm not going to get into in any detail here, really bothered me, too. Just a little too neat and convenient--and not necessarily really supported by the rest of the book, I thought.

Do you want to read this one for youself? To win my hardcover copy of The Secret Year, start commenting. For each post written on this blog from July 25 through July 31, you receive one entry per comment for a drawing to be done by Maya on August 1. [One blog comment per blog posting per person, please.]

My overall personal rating of The Secret Year is a B-.

USPS

2011-07-22T15:03:00.003-05:00

The Postal Service has been imploring Congress to act for years. If the status quo continues, Postmaster General Patrick R. Donahoe said Wednesday, mail delivery could be cut back to three days a week within 20 years.

According to the same article in yesterday's edition of The New York Times I quoted above, the USPS is expected to lose $8 billion again this year, just as happened last year.

I've been in a personal mail slump recently, as those of you who receive letters and postcards from me already noticed. Besides letting down my friends, I'm not taking full advantage of a wonderful system that may not be here in a recognizable form soon.

Instead of "eat, drink, and be merry," I'm thinking "reach out, write, and write yet more" is my motto of the moment. Want to join me?

Forever Mine and Always Been Mine by Elizabeth Reyes

2011-07-22T10:29:00.001-05:00

If you're looking for some fun, light reading, consider trying the self-published e-book Moreno Brothers series from Elizabeth Reyes (2011).

The first book in the series, Forever Mine, covers the story of the youngest brother, Angel, who falls for the new girl at his high school, Sarah. Angel doesn't date, he hooks up, and Sarah, sent to live with her aunt and cousin while her mom serves time in jail, isn't planning to stay in California any longer than absolutely necessary.

Always Been Mine jumps ahead a few years to a certain couple's wedding. The events surrounding the wedding allow the middle brother, Alex, the chance to realize his true feelings for Valerie, Sarah's cousin. Of course, his epiphany occurs just as Valerie's finally attempting to move beyond her long-time crush on Alex and find a lasting relationship with someone with serious intentions.

I enjoyed the characters in the books, including their close relationships with family and friends, and not just a focus on the love interest aspect of the story. The problems the couples must overcome seemed a bit contrived, though the warmth of the stories outweighs those flaws.

To learn more about these books and upcoming additions to the Moreno Brothers series, visit the author's blog here.

My overall personal rating of the first two books in the series from Elizabeth Reyes is a B-.

Horrible Bosses

2011-07-21T12:14:00.000-05:00

While Herb and Maya went swimming to escape the humidity on Sunday afternoon, I went to a matinee of Horrible Bosses.

Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, and Jason Sudeikis face major issues with their bosses--Kevin Spacey, Jennifer Aniston, and Colin Farrell, respectively--leading to the idea of killing them.

As I expected, there was plenty of humor directed at the average thirteen-year-old boy, and I actually asked Herb if guys really talk like that with each other. Yep.

My favorite parts were actually just the three friends talking and driving around in the car. That brought back nice memories of being with my two best friends in high school, minus the plotting to kill people. I miss those days sometimes, though maybe it's a good thing we aren't still driving around like that in our forties.

I give this movie an "okay," though I recommend skipping seeing the show in the theater.

Has anyone else seen the movie? What did you think?

This and That

2011-07-20T10:45:00.001-05:00

I know, enough with the car already, so one final note to say that, of course, the body shop found $900 more worth of damage once they had the car and started making repairs. When does that not happen when it comes to cars and houses needing work done? That leaves the total bill at just under $4000. She drops her head in despair. . . .

Moving along, Herb and Maya recommend Star City Shores to anyone in the Lincoln area. Basically geared to children and teenagers, the city-owned water park features water slides and a large pool. Herb said they actually felt cold during their visit yesterday afternoon, which is amazing since we're in a heat advisory now from the high humidity and temperatures.

I found a cool site for purchasing cards, courtesy of an article in Saudi Aramco World. Saanya Hasan Ali, along with the help of family and friends, makes cards that she sells online. The money she raises through her site goes to Pennies for Education and Health (PEH) to sponsor children in India for education and health.

Another blogger, and now I can't remember which one, mentioned FairMail. Based in Amsterdam, photos taken by youth in Peru and India are placed on products like cards and bookmarks. The photographers receive 50% of the profits from sales to finance housing and education.

Hope you're having a good end of July!

Blogs I Love

2011-07-19T16:11:00.000-05:00

Here's some more of the blogs I love to read:

In Spring it is the Dawn is from a Canadian blogger living in Japan. She's a prolific reader and a photographer, leading to a very visually-oriented blog. I've followed her posts for years, and I bought some cool cards made from some of her photographs at one point.

China Through My Dutch Eyes is a title that pretty much covers exactly what you're getting from the blog.

Skeptic in Qatar is from a Canadian living and working in Qatar since 2006. Most of the blogs I read happen to be written by women, and this is a male blogger. At one point, I wanted to move to Qatar, which is how I stumbled across this blog.

Allie & Muffin

2011-07-18T12:36:00.001-05:00

"Why are you whistling? Did you need something? What? You're taking pictures again? Why don't you take more photos of the little girl? We're busy looking out the window and watching the grass burn in this heat."

The Truth about Vampires by Theresa Meyers

2011-07-16T13:26:00.000-05:00

[Full disclosure: I'm a member of the Harlequin Readers' Panel, meaning I receive free books and participate in surveys for Harlequin every so often. This particular book is from the Harlequin Nocturne line, and I paid for my copy.]

Theresa Meyers' first installment in her Sons of Midnight series, The Truth about Vampires (2011), is a satisfying read.

Kristin Reed is a Seattle reporter in the midst of writing a Pulitzer-worthy (she hopes) series about how vampires happen to be real. Dmitri Dionotte is the second-in-command, or trejan, for his clan, and he's tasked with making sure Kristin reveals just the right amount of information to allow humans to feel comfortable about vampires walking among them.

Throw in a group of rogue vampires who aren't exactly thrilled about humans knowing they exist and human fear and paranoia, and you have a little mystery/intriuge to go with your vampire-human romance.

I felt a little wishy-washy about Kristin, though I loved Dmitri immediately.

I enjoyed the book enough that I plan to read the next book in the series, The Vampire Who Loved Me, soon.

My overall personal rating of The Truth about Vampires is a B-.

Feeling Off-kilter, Part 2

2011-07-15T13:18:00.000-05:00

I'm feeling so out of sorts that I didn't even finish the point in my last blog message. Let me try this again.

So, we decided to save some daycare money by having Maya stay with Herb. With daycare costing $30 a day and our insurance deductible at $250, we certainly didn't save any money after I damaged my car.

At least we have insurance, though. The estimate for my car repair stands at $3000 and approximately a week in the shop. Ouch! That's what happens when a newer, more plastic car meets an older, steel-bumpered car--the real car wins.

But each day is a new day. . . .

What are you looking forward to for the weekend? Maya and I plan a movie of her choice for tomorrow afternoon, and I'm buying fresh-off-the-farm sweet corn for dinner tonight.

Feeling Off-kilter

2011-07-14T11:43:00.000-05:00

So, Maya spent the last three days with her dad instead of going to daycare while I went to work. They had a great time, including swimming and visiting the Lincoln Children's Museum. Since Herb's daytime temp job ended last week, the goal, besides giving them "alone time," was to save the cost of daycare. Sounds great, right?

Herb had Maya at his shop yesterday afternoon, and I went there to get her after work. Parking by his shop is a bit of a problem, leaving me foolishly excited when I saw an open spot on the street near his building. I managed to clip the front bumper of the car behind the open spot as I attempted to park. Fortunately, his car had no damage, though my car is in sad shape. I'm not looking forward to hearing the repair estimate later today as there's a scrape in my rear passenger door and a bumper partially pulled away from the body of the car.

I know--I'm lucky no one was hurt. This definitely falls under the category of something I won't even care about in five years, likely a lot less time even, but I'm very upset and frustrated about the mistake and the cost. Ugh.

As Maya noted last night, "It's just a car, Mom. Nobody cares about hurting a car. I *was* planning to buy it when I'm older, but oh well."