tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-108909402012-02-12T00:18:17.341-06:00bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.comBlogger4781100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-6472965249853747872012-02-07T15:45:00.000-06:002012-02-07T15:47:27.057-06:00<div>3:45 PM / 15:45</div><div><br /></div>Books I started reading, but haven't finished that have gathered on my nightstand: <div><br /></div><div><i>The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus</i> by L. Frank Baum (fiction)</div><div><i>Mere Christianity</i> by C. S. Lewis (nonfiction)</div><div><i>The Red Book: A Deliciously Unorthodox Approach to Igniting Your Divine Spark</i> by Sera Beak (nonfiction)</div><div><i>The Jungle Book</i> by Rudyard Kipling (fiction)</div><div><i>Lasso Your Heart </i>by Betty Cavanna (fiction)</div><div><i>Livin' La Vida Dorka</i> by John Kovalic (comic)</div><div><i>The City of Dreaming Books</i> by Walter Moers (fiction)</div><div><i>The Graveyard Book</i> by Neil Gaiman (fiction)</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-647296524985374787?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-41548256720144278282012-01-31T17:25:00.000-06:002012-01-31T17:25:00.528-06:00<div>5:25 PM / 17:25</div><div><br /></div>I had these thoughts while driving home today, after I spotted a mother with a baby in a car seat / carrier standing at a bus stop.<div><br /></div><div><ul><li>That sucks that she has to take the bus with a baby.</li><li>If she's going to talk on the phone and peer down the street looking for the bus, maybe she should move the baby back from the curb.</li><li>(a few blocks later) I wonder if I should have offered them a ride.</li><li>(a few more blocks, after it's started to pour rain) Oh, man, I'm still not sure if I should have offered her a ride, but I really hope the bus picked them up already.</li></ul></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-4154825672014427828?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-74041725269481052882012-01-14T23:30:00.002-06:002012-01-14T23:34:14.756-06:00<div>11:30 PM / 23:30</div><div><br /></div>I was sick all through the holidays and I think the week I began the reckoning posts, I was pushing a little too hard to be healthy and capable of staying up late and stuff like that. So, I had to take a break and sleep a whole lot. Things are much better now, though, except for a rather lingering cough, so I was able to finish the reckoning of the Silly Lists. You can look for one more equally dull post that will include a few books that for one reason or another, I didn't attach to any of the lists.<div><br /></div><div>In the unlikely event I still have a reader or two that I don't actually talk to, it may interest you to know I'm getting married in April. I will be an instant aunt when I get married, as Mr. Bitter's brother and sister-in-law had a baby boy last week. Of course, there are already a couple of little boys among my friends who are a lot like nephews to me.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm rather certain there was supposed to be more to this post... but I've lost track of whatever it was. </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-7404172526948105288?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-27698011587739030272012-01-14T23:19:00.003-06:002012-01-14T23:29:41.458-06:00<div><span>11:19 PM / 23:19</span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>In case it's not clear, the underlined headings in these reckoning posts are links back to the original relevant Silly Lists posts.</span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><a href="http://080181.blogspot.com/2011/01/silly-lists-series-christian.html"><span>Christian</span></a></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>Original List:</span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span><i>Friendship Cake</i> by Lynne Hinton</span></div><div><span><i>Hope Springs</i> by Lynne Hinton</span></div><div><span><i>Forever Friends</i> by Lynne Hinton</span></div><div><span><i>Christmas Cake</i> by Lynne Hinton</span></div><div><span><i>Wedding Cake</i> by Lynne Hinton</span></div><div><span><i>A Month of Summer</i> by Lisa Wingate</span></div><div><span><i>The Summer Kitchen</i> by Lisa Wingate</span></div><div><span><i>Beyond Summer</i> by Lisa Wingate</span></div><div><span><i>Tiger Lillie </i>by Lisa Samson</span></div><div><span><i>In Search of Eden</i> by Linda Nichols</span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>I didn't read any of these or any other Christian fiction in 2011. I have no idea why not. I just didn't. So, not so good here.</span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span><a href="http://080181.blogspot.com/2011/01/silly-lists-series-nonfiction.html">Nonfiction</a></span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>Original List:</span></div><div><i><span><br /></span></i></div><div><span><i>Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks: </i><i style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">An Epic Quest for Reality Among Role Players, Online Gamers and Other Dwellers of Imaginary Realms</i><span style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> by Ethan Gilsdorf</span></span></div><div><span style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span>Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street by Michael Davis</span></span></div><div><span><span style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i>This Book is Overdue:</i> </span><i style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All</i><span style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> by Marilyn Johnson</span></span></div><div><span><span style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i>Running the Books:</i> </span><i style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">The Adventures of an Accidental Prison Librarian</i><span style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> by Avi Steinberg</span></span></div><div><span><span style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i>This I Believe: On Love</i> edited by </span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(17, 17, 17); text-align: -webkit-auto; ">Dan Gediman</span></span></div><div><span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(17, 17, 17); text-align: -webkit-auto; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(17, 17, 17); text-align: -webkit-auto; ">What I actually read:</span></span></div><div><span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(17, 17, 17); text-align: -webkit-auto; "><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span>a few essays from <i>This I Believe: On Love</i> edited by Dan Gediman</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span><i>Beginner's Grace: Bringing Prayer to Life</i> by Kate Braestrup</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span><i>The ABC's for UU Newcomers: A Brief Introduction to Unitarian Universalism</i> by William Cleary</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span><i>Maphead: Charting the Wide, Weird World of Geography Wonks</i> by Ken Jennings</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span>I still want to read the books on the original list, but I really, really loved the books I read by Kate Braestrup and Ken Jennings. </span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span><a href="http://080181.blogspot.com/2011/01/silly-lists-series-mystery.html">Mystery</a></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Original List:</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><i>Whose Body?</i> by Dorothy Sayers</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><i>A Red Herring Without Mustard</i> by Alan Bradley</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><i>Smokin' Seventeen</i> by Janet Evanovich</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><i>Heads You Lose</i> by Lisa Lutz and David Hayward</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">What I actually read:</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><i>Heads You Lose</i> by Lisa Lutz and David Hayward</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">I only read one of them, and no other mysteries. I didn't even particularly like the one I read. I love Lisa Lutz' Spellman series and I do hope David Hayward tries writing on his own sometime, but <i>Heads You Lose</i> didn't work for me.<br /><br />It's pretty strange I ended up not reading the Alan Bradley and Janet Evanovich books, given I've read the books in their series that precede the ones on the list. I'm behind by two books in both series now. </div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><a href="http://080181.blogspot.com/2011/02/silly-lists-series-to-re-read.html">Re-Read</a></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Original List:</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><i>Ring World</i> by Larry Niven</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><i>Faking It</i> by Jennifer Crusie</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><i>Pay it Forward</i> by Catherine Ryan Hyde</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><i>Evening Class</i> by Maeve Binchy</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FPgG0IrunN4/TxJj9Vw7Q6I/AAAAAAAAAos/l3DubTa0VGk/s1600/046.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FPgG0IrunN4/TxJj9Vw7Q6I/AAAAAAAAAos/l3DubTa0VGk/s320/046.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697726384042623906" /></a></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">I didn't re-read anything this year, unless it was by listening to an audiobook, but I know I didn't do that much.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-2769801158773903027?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-33328403508830822042012-01-03T00:15:00.001-06:002012-01-04T10:12:47.341-06:00<div>12:15 AM / 00:15</div><div><br /></div>So, tonight I had the genius (not really) idea to highlight titles from the list I actually read. Then I remembered Blogger stopped letting me make any edits to the font, like changing the font or the font's color, a couple of years ago. I tried it anyway, but no luck.<div><br /></div><div>So, onward, without color.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://080181.blogspot.com/2011/01/silly-lists-series-speculative-fiction.html">Speculative Fiction</a></div><div><br /></div><div>Original List:</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Shades of Milk and Honey</i> by Robinette Kowel</div><div><i>Ruby and the Stone Age Diet</i> by Martin Millar</div><div><i>The Wizard of Oz</i> by L. Frank Baum</div><div><i>Heart's Blood</i> by Juliet Marillier</div><div><i>Reaper Man</i> by Terry Pratchett</div><div><i>American Gods</i> by Neil Gaiman</div><div><i>Elantris</i> by Brandon Sanderson</div><div><i>The Name of the Wind</i> by Patrick Rothfuss</div><div><i>Dandelion Wine</i> by Ray Bradbury</div><div><i>Good Omens</i> by Terry Pratchett &amp; Neil Gaiman</div><div><i>Wee Free Men</i> by Terry Pratchett</div><div><i>Catalyst</i> by Anne McCaffery &amp; Elizabeth Ann Scarborough</div><div><br /></div><div>What I Actually Read:</div><div><br /></div><div><i>A Game of Thrones</i> by George R. R. Martin</div><div><i>Among Others</i> by Jo Walton</div><div><i>A Discovery of Witches</i> by Deborah Harkness</div><div><br /></div><div>That's right. I read nothing at all from the list. I did buy a paperback of <i>Elantris</i> and have Brandon Sanderson sign it, though. I'm that much closer. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://080181.blogspot.com/2011/01/silly-lists-series-general-fiction.html">General Fiction</a></div><div><br /></div><div>Original List:</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Room</i> by Emma Donoghue</div><div><i>The Matchmaker of Perigord </i>by Julia Stuart</div><div><i>Labor Day</i> by Joyce Maynard</div><div><i>Girl in Translation</i> by Jean Kwok</div><div><i>The Peach Keeper</i> by Sarah Addison Allen</div><div><i>Between the Bridge and the River</i> by Craig Ferguson</div><div><i>Made in the U.S.A.</i> by Billie Letts</div><div><i>The Incident Report</i> by Martha Baillie</div><div><br /></div><div>What I Actually Read:</div><div><br /></div><div><i>The Next Queen of Heaven</i> by Gregory Maguire</div><div><i>Room</i> by Emma Donoghue</div><div><i>The Incident Report</i> by Martha Baillie</div><div><i>Skipping a Beat</i> by Sarah Pekkanen</div><div><i>The Peach Keeper</i> by Sarah Addison Allen</div><div><i>Sweet Jiminy</i> by Kristin Gore</div><div><i>A Novel Bookstore</i> by Laurence Cosse</div><div><i>The Tender Mercy of Roses</i> by Anna Michaels</div><div><i>The Fixer Upper</i> by Mary Kay Andrews</div><div><i>The Bird Sisters </i>by Rebecca Rasmussen</div><div><i>Hunting Unicorns</i> by Bella Pollen</div><div><i>The Mermaid Garden</i> by Santa Montefiore</div><div><i>Savannah Blues</i> by Mary Kay Andrews</div><div><i>Savannah Breeze</i> by Mary Kay Andrews</div><div><i>The Postmistress</i> by Sarah Blake</div><div><i>Girl in Translation</i> by Jean Kwok</div><div><i>Then Came You</i> by Jennifer Weiner</div><div><i>Sarah's Key</i> by Tatiana de Rosnay</div><div><i>The Borrower</i> by Rebecca Makkai</div><div><i>Love Walked In</i> by Marissa de los Santos</div><div><i>The Family Man</i> by Elinor Lipman</div><div><i>Blue Christmas</i> by Mary Kay Andrews</div><div><br /></div><div>I did half way decent on this list! There are two I started but couldn't get into enough to finish them. The are <i>The Matchmaker of Perigord</i> by Julia Stuart and <i>Between the Bridge and the River</i> by Craig Ferguson. I loved Craig Ferguson's autobiography, <i>American on Purpose</i> and at first I loved his novel too, but ultimately, it just wasn't for me. <i>Loved Walked In</i> was not on the original list, but it might as well have been. It would have been if I'd thought of it when I was making the list. Several of these disappointed me, but probably none more than <i>The Postmistress</i>. I've actually read <i>The Peach Keeper</i> twice. I listened to it on audio as 2011 came to a close. </div><div><br /></div><div>(<a href="http://080181.blogspot.com/2012/01/silly-lists-reckoning-part-one.html">Part One</a>)</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-3332840350883082204?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-74843573245807649352012-01-02T23:26:00.002-06:002012-01-03T23:04:25.954-06:00<div>11: 26 PM / 23:26</div><div><br /></div>A year ago, I started a <a href="http://080181.blogspot.com/2011/01/silly-lists.html">sort of project</a> that I knew was doomed from the start. It was driven by some manic need I had to make lists of books I wanted to read last year. I'm not doing it again this year... no manic need to make lists right now... but I will try to look back and see how what I did read compared to what I listed at the start of the year.<div><br /></div><div><a href="http://080181.blogspot.com/2011/01/silly-lists-series-romance.html">Romance</a></div><div><br /></div><div><span>Original List:</span></div><div><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span><i>The Heir </i>by Grace Burrowes</span></div><div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span><i>Born in Fire </i>by Nora Roberts</span></div></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span><i>Born in Ice </i>by Nora Roberts</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span><i>Born in Shame </i>by Nora Roberts</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i>The Fairy Godmother</i> by Mercedes Lackey</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i>One Good Knight</i> by Mercedes Lackey</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i>Fortune's Fool</i> by Mercedes Lackey</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i>The Snow Queen</i> by Mercedes Lackey</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i>The Sleeping Beauty</i> by Mercedes Lackey</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i>Sugar Daddy</i> by Lisa Kleypas</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i>Blue-Eyed Devil</i> by Lisa Kleypas</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i>Smooth Talking Stranger</i> by Lisa Kleypas</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i>My Nerdy Valentine</i> by Vicki Lewis Thompson</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i>Gone with the Nerd</i> by Vicki Lewis Thompson</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i>The Flame and the Flower</i> by Kathleen Woodiwiss</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i>The Unsung Hero</i> by Suzanne Brockman</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i>When I Fall in Love</i> by Lynn Kurland</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i>Goodnight Tweetheart</i> by Theresa Medeiros</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br /></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">What I did read:</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br /></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i><span >The Heir</span></i> by Grace Burrowes</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i><span >The Fairy Godmother</span></i> by Mercedes Lackey</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i><span >Sugar Daddy</span></i> by Lisa Kleypas</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i><span >Blue-Eyed Devil</span></i> by Lisa Kleypas</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i><span >Smooth Talking Stranger</span></i> by Lisa Kleypas</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i><span >Born in Fire</span></i> by Nora Roberts</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i><span >Born in Ice</span></i> by Nora Roberts</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i><span >Born in Shame</span></i> by Nora Roberts</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i>The Soldier</i> by Grace Burrowes</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i>A Kiss at Midnight</i> by Eloisa James</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i>When Beauty Tamed the Beast</i> by Eloisa James</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i>The Virtuoso</i> by Grace Burrowes</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i>Lady Sophie's Christmas Wish</i> by Grace Burrowes</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br /></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">I hadn't realized Grace Burrowes would publish three more books over the course of the year. Of course, when I wrote the original list, I also didn't know how much I would enjoy<i> The Heir</i>. <i>The Fairy Godmother</i> and the rest of the series should probably have been on the speculative list, instead of the romance list. I chose not to continue with that series. </div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br /></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><a href="http://080181.blogspot.com/2011/01/silly-lists-series-childrens-young.html">Children's &amp; Young Adult</a></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br /></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Original List:</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br /></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i>Speak</i> by Laurie Halse Anderson</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i>Dear Mr. Henshaw</i> by Beverly Cleary</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i>The Graveyard Book</i> by Neil Gaiman</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i>The Outsiders</i> by S. E. Hinton</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i>The Blue Sword</i> by Robin McKinley</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i>The Door in the Hedge</i> by Robin McKinley</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i>The Hero and the Crown</i> by Robin McKinley</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i>A Great and Terrible Beauty</i> by Libba Bray</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i>Rebel Angels</i> by Libba Bray</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i>The Sweet Far Thing</i> by Libba Bray</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i>Holes</i> by Louis Sachar</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i>Sources of Light</i> by Margaret McMullan</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i>The Invention of Hugo Cabret</i> by Brian Selznick</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i>13 Little Blue Envelopes</i> by Maureen Johnson</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i>Peace, Love and Baby Ducks</i> by Lauren Myracle</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i>Lasso Your Heart</i> by Betty Cavanna</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br /></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">What I actually read:</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br /></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i>Sources of Light</i> by Margaret McMullen</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i>How I Found the Strong</i> by Margaret McMullen</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i>13 Little Blue Envelopes</i> by Maureen Johnson</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i>The Last Little Blue Envelope</i> by Maureen Johnson</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i>The Outsiders</i> by S. E. Hinton</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i>Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children</i> by Ransom Riggs</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i>Paper Towns</i> by John Green</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i>The Boy Next Door</i> by Betty Cavanna</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i>The Name of the Star</i> by Maureen Johnson</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i>Peace, Love and Baby Ducks</i> by Lauren Myracle</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i>The Strange Case of Origami Yoda</i> by Tom Angleberger</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i>Let It Snow: Three Holiday Romances</i> one each by Maureen Johnson, John Green &amp; Lauren Myracle</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i>OyMG</i> by Amy Fellner Dominy</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i>The Burmudez Triangle</i> by Maureen Johnson </div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br /></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Observant readers will note that I read a Betty Cavanna novel, but not the one on the original list. I'm not sure how that happened. I read a lot of Maureen Johnson's books in 2011. There are still three, four if you count one to be published later this year, that I have not read. I think it's likely I'll read them all this year.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-7484357324580764935?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-51530774179178222342011-12-31T14:00:00.002-06:002011-12-31T18:49:22.777-06:00<div>2:00 P.M. / 14:00</div><div><br /></div>This list has been put together from journal entries and may not 100% complete or in exact chronological order.<div><br /></div><div><i>The Next Queen of Heaven</i> by Gregory Maguire</div><div><i>The Heir by Grace</i> Burrowes</div><div><i>Room </i>by Emma Donoghue</div><div><i>The Incident Report</i> by Martha Baillie</div><div><i>The Fairy Godmother</i> by Mercedes Lackey</div><div><i>A Game of Thrones</i> by George R. R. Martin</div><div><i>Sugar Daddy</i> by Lisa Kleypas</div><div><i>Blue-Eyed Devil</i> by Lisa Kleypas</div><div><i>Smooth Talking Stranger</i> by Lisa Kleypas</div><div><i>Among Others</i> by Jo Walton </div><div><i>Scenes from an Impending Marriage</i> by Adrian Tomine</div><div><i>Skipping a Beat</i> by Sarah Pekkanen</div><div><i>A Discovery of Witches</i> by Deborah Harkness</div><div><i>The Peach Keeper</i> by Sarah Addison Allen</div><div><i>Sources of Light</i> by Margaret McMullen</div><div><i>Heads You Lose</i> by Lisa Lutz and David Hayward</div><div><i>How I Found the Strong</i> by Margaret McMullen</div><div><i>13 Little Blue Envelopes</i> by Maureen Johnson</div><div><i>The Last Little Blue Envelope</i> by Maureen Johnson</div><div><i>Born in Fire</i> by Nora Roberts</div><div><i>Born in Ice</i> by Nora Roberts</div><div><i>Born in Shame</i> by Nora Roberts</div><div><i>Sweet Jiminy</i> by Kristin Gore</div><div><i>A Novel Bookstore</i> by Laurence Cosse</div><div><br /></div><div>listened to <i>I'm Down</i> written &amp; read by Mishna Wolff</div><div><br /></div><div><i>The Tender Mercy of Roses</i> by Anna Michaels</div><div><i>The Soldier</i> by Grace Burrowes</div><div><i>The Fixer Upper</i> by Mary Kay Andrews</div><div><i>The Outsiders</i> by S.E. Hinton</div><div><i>The Bird Sisters</i> by Rebecca Rasmussen</div><div><i>Hunting Unicorns</i> by Bella Pollen</div><div><i>The Mermaid Garden</i> by Santa Montefiore</div><div><i>Savannah Blues</i> by Mary Kay Andrews</div><div><i>Savannah Breeze</i> by Mary Kay Andrews </div><div><i>The Postmistress</i> by Sarah Blake</div><div><i>Girl in Translation</i> Jean Kwok</div><div><i>Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children</i> by Ransom Riggs</div><div><i>Then Came You</i> by Jennifer Weiner </div><div><i>Sarah's Key</i> by Tatiana de Rosnay</div><div><br /></div><div>bits and pieces of <i>Planet Wedding: A Nuptialpedia</i> by Sandra and Harry Choron</div><div><br /></div><div>listened to <i>The Mighty Queens of Freeville</i> written &amp; read by Amy Dickenson</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Paper Towns</i> by John Green</div><div><i>The Borrower</i> by Rebecca Makkai</div><div><br /></div><div>listened to <i>Marriage and Other Acts of Charity</i> written &amp; read by Kate Braestrup</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Beginner's Grace: Bringing Prayer to Life</i> by Kate Braestrup</div><div><i>The Boy Next Door</i> by Betty Cavanna</div><div><i>The ABC's for UU Newcomers: A Brief Introduction to Unitarian Universalism</i> by William Cleary</div><div><i>A Kiss at Midnight</i> by Eloisa James</div><div><i>When Beauty Tamed the Beast</i> by Eloisa James</div><div><i>Arabella</i> by Georgette Heyer</div><div><i>The Name of the Star</i> by Maureen Johnson</div><div><i>Maphead: Charting the Wide, Weird World of Geography Wonks</i> by Ken Jennings</div><div><i>Missed Connections: Love Lost &amp; Found</i> by Sophie Blackall</div><div><i>Biblioburro: A True Story from Columbia</i> by Jeannette Winter</div><div><br /></div><div>listened to <i>The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid</i> written &amp; read by Bill Bryson</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Love Walked In</i> by Marissa de los Santos</div><div><i>The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt</i> by Caroline Preston</div><div><i>The Virtuoso</i> by Grace Burrowes</div><div><i>Peace, Love and Baby Ducks</i> by Lauren Myracle</div><div><i>The Next Always</i> by Nora Roberts</div><div><i>The Family Man</i> by Elinor Lipman</div><div><i>Blue Christmas</i> by Mary Kay Andrews</div><div><i>Lady Sophie's Christmas Wish</i> by Grace Burrowes</div><div><i>The Strange Case of Origami Yoda</i> by Tom Angleberger</div><div><i>Let it Snow: Three Holiday Romances</i> one each by Maureen Johnson, John Green and Lauren Myracle</div><div><i>OyMG</i> by Amy Fellner Dominy</div><div><i>The Burmudez Triangle</i> by Maureen Johnson</div><div><br /></div><div>listened to <i>Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)</i> written and read by Mindy Kaling</div><div><br /></div><div>In Progress:</div><div><i>Darth Paper Strikes Back: An Origami Yoda Book</i> by Tom Angleberger </div><div><i>Girl at Sea</i> by Maureen Johnson </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-5153077417917822234?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-68425198686133018462011-09-26T20:05:00.002-05:002011-09-26T20:10:23.345-05:00<div>8:05 p.m. / 20:05 </div><div><br /></div>Today I gathered most of my reusable bags and washed them. Then I hung them up to dry and thought about what an odd bunch they are. Then again, reusable bags aren't supposed to be about pretty or matching.<div><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OoM0g55qPIg/ToEh1yIgjEI/AAAAAAAAAoI/F7tTb3y38nc/s1600/007.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OoM0g55qPIg/ToEh1yIgjEI/AAAAAAAAAoI/F7tTb3y38nc/s200/007.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656839814828297282" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>That said, I've been considering investing in some of <a href="http://www.chicobag.com/p-16-chicobag-original.aspx">these</a> or <a href="http://www.chicobag.com/p-35-chicobag-original-repete.aspx">these</a> for the sake of probably being able to keep two or three in my purse at any time and they would be pretty and matching. There are two stand-out drawbacks to this:</div><div><br /></div><div>1. $$$</div><div><br /></div><div>2. Clearly, I already own a lot of reusable bags.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-6842519868613301846?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-65623727669110449542011-02-07T21:45:00.002-06:002011-02-07T21:45:33.620-06:009:45 p.m. / 21:45<br /><br /><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/6899">Ring World</a></i> by Larry Niven<div><br /></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/21565">Faking It</a></i> by Jennifer Crusie</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TVC7PJEY9vI/AAAAAAAAAmw/csfI8bpOdVE/s1600/Faking.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 116px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TVC7PJEY9vI/AAAAAAAAAmw/csfI8bpOdVE/s200/Faking.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571158607864067826" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/32503">Pay It Forward</a></i> by Catherine Ryan Hyde</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TVC7PpFHj_I/AAAAAAAAAm4/07b-VFl33iE/s1600/pay%2Bit.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 124px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TVC7PpFHj_I/AAAAAAAAAm4/07b-VFl33iE/s200/pay%2Bit.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571158616457056242" /></a><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/4239">Evening Class</a></i> by Maeve Binchy</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Chronicles_of_Narnia"><span class="Apple-style-span" >The Chronicles of Narnia</span></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'MS Sans Serif', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Geneva, Lucida, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">Previously: <a href="http://080181.blogspot.com/2011/01/silly-lists.html">Introduction</a>, <a href="http://080181.blogspot.com/2011/01/silly-lists-series-romance.html">Romance</a>, <a href="http://080181.blogspot.com/2011/01/silly-lists-series-childrens-young.html">Children's &amp; Young Adult</a>, <a href="http://080181.blogspot.com/2011/01/silly-lists-series-speculative-fiction.html">Speculative Fiction</a>, <a href="http://080181.blogspot.com/2011/01/silly-lists-series-general-fiction.html">General Fiction</a>, <a href="http://080181.blogspot.com/2011/01/silly-lists-series-christian.html">Christian Fiction</a>, <a href="http://080181.blogspot.com/2011/01/silly-lists-series-nonfiction.html">Nonfiction</a>, <a href="http://080181.blogspot.com/2011/01/silly-lists-series-mystery.html">Mystery</a> </span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-6562372766911044954?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-59080187336567704402011-01-24T09:30:00.001-06:002011-02-07T21:43:53.406-06:009:30 a.m. / 09:30<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TT2Z0ZA2SeI/AAAAAAAAAmg/1SByz43T0RE/s1600/herring.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 133px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TT2Z0ZA2SeI/AAAAAAAAAmg/1SByz43T0RE/s200/herring.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565773839846492642" /></a><br />Mystery may be a stretch for one of these books and for another, I'm honestly guessing its genre. All but one will be published sometime later this year. <div><br /></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/39368">Whose Body?</a></i> by Dorothy L. Sayers</div><div><br /></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/9964440">Red Herring Without Mustard</a></i> by Alan Bradley</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Somokin' Seventeen</i> by Janet Evanovich</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Heads You Lose</i> by Lisa Lutz and David Hayward</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'MS Sans Serif', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Geneva, Lucida, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">Previously: <a href="http://080181.blogspot.com/2011/01/silly-lists.html">Introduction</a>, <a href="http://080181.blogspot.com/2011/01/silly-lists-series-romance.html">Romance</a>, <a href="http://080181.blogspot.com/2011/01/silly-lists-series-childrens-young.html">Children's &amp; Young Adult</a>, <a href="http://080181.blogspot.com/2011/01/silly-lists-series-speculative-fiction.html">Speculative Fiction</a>, <a href="http://080181.blogspot.com/2011/01/silly-lists-series-general-fiction.html">General Fiction</a>, <a href="http://080181.blogspot.com/2011/01/silly-lists-series-christian.html">Christian Fiction</a>, <a href="http://080181.blogspot.com/2011/01/silly-lists-series-nonfiction.html">Nonfiction</a> </span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-5908018733656770440?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-61591950004658074372011-01-18T07:00:00.007-06:002011-01-18T07:00:02.013-06:007:00 a.m. / 07:00<div><br /></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/9050484">This Book is Overdue</a>: How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All</i> by Marilyn Johnson<div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TTUCb3GoUHI/AAAAAAAAAl4/pWZq4FdE8eE/s1600/overdue.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 138px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TTUCb3GoUHI/AAAAAAAAAl4/pWZq4FdE8eE/s200/overdue.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563355592357597298" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/9808969">Running the Books</a>: The Adventures of an Accidental Prison Librarian</i> by Avi Steinberg</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TTUCnc00DFI/AAAAAAAAAmA/g3BqWjRj4uE/s1600/runningbooks.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 137px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TTUCnc00DFI/AAAAAAAAAmA/g3BqWjRj4uE/s200/runningbooks.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563355791461977170" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/8485805">Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks</a>: An Epic Quest for Reality Among Role Players, Online Gamers and Other Dwellers of Imaginary Realms</i> by Ethan Gilsdorf</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TTUCz75UlUI/AAAAAAAAAmI/Hd1imMKsxgA/s1600/freaksgeeks.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TTUCz75UlUI/AAAAAAAAAmI/Hd1imMKsxgA/s200/freaksgeeks.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563356005960815938" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/6385097">Street Gang</a>: The Complete History of Sesame Street</i> by Michael Davis</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TTUC9bDbnqI/AAAAAAAAAmQ/m_5PER3qsm8/s1600/streetgang.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 128px; height: 190px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TTUC9bDbnqI/AAAAAAAAAmQ/m_5PER3qsm8/s200/streetgang.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563356168943541922" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/10534808">This I Believe: On Love</a></i> edited by Dan Gediman</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TTUD6jeSOwI/AAAAAAAAAmY/SSuHSDqAWFI/s1600/love.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 140px; height: 198px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TTUD6jeSOwI/AAAAAAAAAmY/SSuHSDqAWFI/s200/love.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563357219175676674" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Previously: <span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://080181.blogspot.com/2011/01/silly-lists.html">Introduction</a>, <a href="http://080181.blogspot.com/2011/01/silly-lists-series-romance.html">Romance</a>, <a href="http://080181.blogspot.com/2011/01/silly-lists-series-childrens-young.html">Children's &amp; Young Adult</a>, <a href="http://080181.blogspot.com/2011/01/silly-lists-series-speculative-fiction.html">Speculative Fiction</a>, <a href="http://080181.blogspot.com/2011/01/silly-lists-series-general-fiction.html">General Fiction</a>, <a href="http://080181.blogspot.com/2011/01/silly-lists-series-christian.html">Christian Fiction</a> </span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-6159195000465807437?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-42369418118974955782011-01-16T13:00:00.000-06:002011-01-16T13:00:01.386-06:001:00 p.m. / 13:00<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TTEeYUVu6mI/AAAAAAAAAlY/UH7dIoU_PMU/s1600/fcake.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 129px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TTEeYUVu6mI/AAAAAAAAAlY/UH7dIoU_PMU/s200/fcake.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562260417904831074" /></a><br /><i><br /><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/72205"></a></i><div><br /></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/72205">Friendship Cake</a></i><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/593140">Hope Springs</a></i></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/171523">Forever Friends</a></i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Lynne Hinton</div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/9159866">Christmas Cake</a></i></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/9416342">Wedding Cake</a></i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><i><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TTEffdX8P0I/AAAAAAAAAlg/Bny9-WcI9YA/s1600/summer.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 124px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TTEffdX8P0I/AAAAAAAAAlg/Bny9-WcI9YA/s200/summer.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562261640100724546" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/5027699"></a></i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/5027699">A Month of Summer</a></i></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/8457201">The Summer Kitchen</a></i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Lisa Wingate</div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/10187771">Beyond Summer</a></i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/20154">Tiger Lillie</a></i> by Lisa Samson</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TTEgUCZeO7I/AAAAAAAAAlo/0dW2d1c_scc/s1600/tiger.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 119px; height: 180px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TTEgUCZeO7I/AAAAAAAAAlo/0dW2d1c_scc/s200/tiger.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562262543392455602" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/2357393">In Search of Eden</a></i> by Linda Nichols</div></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TTEgpgqEP7I/AAAAAAAAAlw/GsAhIclM3sY/s1600/eden.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 127px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TTEgpgqEP7I/AAAAAAAAAlw/GsAhIclM3sY/s200/eden.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562262912292372402" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'MS Sans Serif', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Geneva, Lucida, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); ">Previously: <a href="http://080181.blogspot.com/2011/01/silly-lists.html" style="color: rgb(180, 68, 92); ">Introduction</a>, <a href="http://080181.blogspot.com/2011/01/silly-lists-series-romance.html" style="color: rgb(180, 68, 92); ">Romance</a>, <a href="http://080181.blogspot.com/2011/01/silly-lists-series-childrens-young.html" style="color: rgb(180, 68, 92); ">Children's &amp; Young Adult</a>, <a href="http://080181.blogspot.com/2011/01/silly-lists-series-speculative-fiction.html" style="color: rgb(180, 68, 92); ">Speculative Fiction</a>, <a href="http://080181.blogspot.com/2011/01/silly-lists-series-general-fiction.html">General Fiction</a></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-4236941811897495578?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-78805781861083896352011-01-14T22:00:00.000-06:002011-01-14T22:24:01.021-06:0010:00 p.m. / 22:00<br /><br /><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/9837747">Room</a></i> by Emma Donoghue<br /><div><br /><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/4171195">The Matchmaker of Perigord</a></i> by Julia Stuart</div><div><br /></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/7936738">Labor Day</a></i> by Joyce Maynard</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TTEczNsotmI/AAAAAAAAAlQ/oul7k-KdRGI/s1600/labday.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 140px; height: 198px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TTEczNsotmI/AAAAAAAAAlQ/oul7k-KdRGI/s200/labday.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562258680955057762" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/9582729">Girl in Translation</a></i> by Jean Kwok</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TTEb96jQ8yI/AAAAAAAAAlA/5vcMj1WtWn4/s1600/girl.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 133px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TTEb96jQ8yI/AAAAAAAAAlA/5vcMj1WtWn4/s200/girl.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562257765282411298" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/10205938">The Peach Keeper</a></i> by Sarah Addison Allen</div><div><br /></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/785125">Between the Bridge and the River</a></i> by Craig Ferguson</div><div><br /></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/4802642">Made in the U.S.A.</a></i> by Billie Letts</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TTEan1IL10I/AAAAAAAAAk4/rOMWEUXBysw/s1600/USA.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 129px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TTEan1IL10I/AAAAAAAAAk4/rOMWEUXBysw/s200/USA.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562256286357903170" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/8283104">The Incident Report</a></i> by Martha Baillie</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'MS Sans Serif', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Geneva, Lucida, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); ">Previously: <a href="http://080181.blogspot.com/2011/01/silly-lists.html" style="color: rgb(180, 68, 92); ">Introduction</a>, <a href="http://080181.blogspot.com/2011/01/silly-lists-series-romance.html" style="color: rgb(180, 68, 92); ">Romance</a>, <a href="http://080181.blogspot.com/2011/01/silly-lists-series-childrens-young.html" style="color: rgb(180, 68, 92); ">Children's &amp; Young Adult</a>, <a href="http://080181.blogspot.com/2011/01/silly-lists-series-speculative-fiction.html">Speculative Fiction</a> </span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-7880578186108389635?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-23964921394513346722011-01-12T09:00:00.000-06:002011-01-11T21:58:37.725-06:009:00 a.m. / 9:00<br /><div><br /></div>(mostly fantasy)<div><br /></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/9286553">Shades of Milk and Honey</a></i> by Robinette Kowal</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TS0jK4yHodI/AAAAAAAAAkY/SIxKXqzMM_E/s1600/milknhoney.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 135px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TS0jK4yHodI/AAAAAAAAAkY/SIxKXqzMM_E/s200/milknhoney.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561139784820695506" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/1374320">Ruby and the Stone Age Diet</a></i> by Martin Millar</div><div><br /></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/20410">The Wizard of Oz</a></i> by L. Frank Baum</div><div><br /></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/8222573">Heart's Blood</a></i> by Juliet Marillier</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TS0julPI1GI/AAAAAAAAAkg/cUKGG2QaoQI/s1600/blood.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 137px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TS0julPI1GI/AAAAAAAAAkg/cUKGG2QaoQI/s200/blood.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561140398048990306" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/1044489">Reaper Man</a></i> by Terry Pratchett</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TS0kD_ZOdTI/AAAAAAAAAko/Nc3JTcHE0HM/s1600/reaper.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 123px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TS0kD_ZOdTI/AAAAAAAAAko/Nc3JTcHE0HM/s200/reaper.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561140765847876914" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/2280068">American Gods</a></i> by Neil Gaiman</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/5347613"><i>Elantris</i></a> by Brandon Sanderson</div><div><br /></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/2410323">The Name of the Wind</a></i> by Patrick Rothfuss</div><div><br /></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/2460">Dandelion Wine</a></i> by Ray Bradbury</div><div><br /></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/5794">Good Omens</a></i> by Terry Pratchett &amp; Neil Gaiman</div><div><br /></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/1043958">Wee Free Men</a></i> by Terry Pratchett</div><div><br /></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/8531094">Catalyst</a></i> by Anne McCaffrey &amp; Elizabeth Ann Scarborough</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TS0lNRQeE7I/AAAAAAAAAkw/Fd0xqiyzQQU/s1600/cat.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 131px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TS0lNRQeE7I/AAAAAAAAAkw/Fd0xqiyzQQU/s200/cat.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561142024773440434" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Previously: <a href="http://080181.blogspot.com/2011/01/silly-lists.html">Introduction</a>, <a href="http://080181.blogspot.com/2011/01/silly-lists-series-romance.html">Romance</a>, <a href="http://080181.blogspot.com/2011/01/silly-lists-series-childrens-young.html">Children's &amp; Young Adult</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-2396492139451334672?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-55112039478443541262011-01-10T21:00:00.001-06:002011-01-11T21:54:28.314-06:009:00 p.m. / 21:00<br /><br /><br /><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/2298201">Speak</a></i> by Laurie Halse Anderson<div><br /></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/6168">Dear Mr. Henshaw</a></i> by Beverly Cleary</div><div><br /></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/4479754">The Graveyard Book</a></i> by Neil Gaiman</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TSvE-YyOERI/AAAAAAAAAkA/wQMDrqZXZgc/s1600/graveyard.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 129px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TSvE-YyOERI/AAAAAAAAAkA/wQMDrqZXZgc/s200/graveyard.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560754741003030802" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/22993">The Outsiders</a></i> by S. E. Hinton</div><div><br /></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/26673">The Blue Sword</a></i></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/52200">The Door in the Hedge</a></i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>by Robin McKinley</div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/50616">The Hero and the Crown</a></i></div><div><br /></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/32099">A Great and Terrible Beauty</a></i></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/45579">Rebel Angels</a></i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>by Libba Bray</div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/2931191">The Sweet Far Thing</a></i></div><div><br /></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/1638">Holes</a></i> by Louis Sachar</div><div><br /></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/9339822">Sources of Light</a></i> by Margaret McMullan</div><div><br /></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/1729243">The Invention of Hugo Cabret</a></i> by Brian Selznick</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TSvGVqMgejI/AAAAAAAAAkI/LKc9bmu8Y0Y/s1600/hug.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 140px; height: 198px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TSvGVqMgejI/AAAAAAAAAkI/LKc9bmu8Y0Y/s200/hug.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560756240325311026" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/9806610">13 Little Blue Envelopes</a></i> by Maureen Johnson </div><div><br /></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/6773089">Peace, Love and Baby Ducks</a></i> by Lauren Myracle</div><div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TSvG_QI8B0I/AAAAAAAAAkQ/cPBhr-xLINk/s1600/plbd.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 127px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TSvG_QI8B0I/AAAAAAAAAkQ/cPBhr-xLINk/s200/plbd.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560756954885523266" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/1215342">Lasso Your Heart</a></i> by Betty Cavanna </div><div><br /></div><div>Previously: <a href="http://080181.blogspot.com/2011/01/silly-lists.html">Introduction</a>, <a href="http://080181.blogspot.com/2011/01/silly-lists-series-romance.html">Romance</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-5511203947844354126?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-70345339647622555032011-01-09T13:00:00.003-06:002011-01-11T21:55:43.284-06:001:00 p.m. / 13:00<br /><div><br /></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/10180802">The Heir</a></i> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>by Grace Burrows</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TSnxwru8XII/AAAAAAAAAjg/ja5D2VBmb2A/s1600/Heir.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 122px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TSnxwru8XII/AAAAAAAAAjg/ja5D2VBmb2A/s200/Heir.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560241033641221250" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/24650">Born in Fire</a></i></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/24651">Born in Ice</a></i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span>by Nora Roberts</div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/24652">Born in Shame</a></i></div><div><br /></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/522">The Fairy Godmother</a></i></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/387092">One Good Knight</a></i></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/2339723">Fortune's Fool</a></i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span>by Mercedes Lackey</div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/4206597">The Snow Queen</a></i></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/9740235">The Sleeping Beauty</a></i></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TSny3-5ZXHI/AAAAAAAAAjo/PHTDZwX_7TY/s1600/godmother.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 126px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TSny3-5ZXHI/AAAAAAAAAjo/PHTDZwX_7TY/s200/godmother.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560242258556050546" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/1273133">Sugar Daddy</a></i></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/3764861">Blue-Eyed Devil</a></i> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span>by Lisa Kleypas</div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/8165841">Smooth-Talking Stranger</a></i></div><div><br /></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/1645800">My Nerdy Valentine</a></i></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/897139">Gone with the Nerd</a></i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span>by Vicki Lewis Thompson</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TSn0XbQ5whI/AAAAAAAAAjw/1OMt1yGY1QU/s1600/nerdy%2Bv.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 118px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TSn0XbQ5whI/AAAAAAAAAjw/1OMt1yGY1QU/s200/nerdy%2Bv.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560243898258407954" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/72686">The Flame and the Flower</a></i> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>by Kathleen Woodiwiss</div><div><br /></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/79990">The Unsung Hero</a></i> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>by Suzanne Brockmann</div><div><br /></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/39595">When I Fall in Love</a></i> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>by Lynn Kurland</div><div><br /></div><div><i><a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/10296714">Goodnight Tweetheart</a></i> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>by Teresa Medeiros </div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TSn2JCQtB4I/AAAAAAAAAj4/JC6WK91c4Sk/s1600/tweetheart.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 128px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TSn2JCQtB4I/AAAAAAAAAj4/JC6WK91c4Sk/s200/tweetheart.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560245850051774338" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Previously: <a href="http://080181.blogspot.com/2011/01/silly-lists.html">Introduction</a> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-7034533964762255503?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-82828781996309445582011-01-09T11:11:00.002-06:002011-01-11T21:59:32.184-06:00<div>11:11 a.m. / 11:11</div><div><br /></div>I've recently been making lists of books in a previously abandoned notebook that's been sitting on my desk. It started with just making a sort of reminder list of some romance novels I thought I'd like to read once the holiday season passed and, along with it, my desire to read holiday fiction. Since then, though, I've gone on and started lists of fantasy books, children's &amp; young adult, etc. that I'd like to read this year. I've even gone back and added to the romance list, figuring I'll probably want to read more later in the year. <div><br /></div><div>These are very silly lists because I won't read even half of the books on them this year. There are probably already more books than I can actually read in 365 days on the lists and it is inevitable that I will find more books I really, really want to read as the year progresses. None the less, I would like to share my silly lists of books to read with you in series of blog posts. Feel free to laugh, both at my choices and at the notion that I could actually read so many books in one year. </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-8282878199630944558?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-33412188521567112872011-01-05T10:00:00.001-06:002011-01-05T10:28:42.891-06:00<div>10:00 a.m. / 10:00</div><div><br /></div>Mugs are important in the winter time when I want to drink lots of hot chocolate and hot tea. I have here, in no particular order, just the order if which the photographs were uploaded, all 18 mugs in my single resident house. I'd get rid of some but there seems to be some reason to hang on to each one, even if I never drink from it. <div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TSICiNJ6tSI/AAAAAAAAAjY/Z0EjQQuIRIg/s1600/006.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TSICiNJ6tSI/AAAAAAAAAjY/Z0EjQQuIRIg/s400/006.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558007676798678306" /></a><div style="text-align: left;">The dice mug is actually Mr. Bitter's mug. He's my most frequent visitor and I decided he deserved a mug of his own.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TSIChyBe4mI/AAAAAAAAAjQ/8-JDGoSCcrE/s1600/005.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TSIChyBe4mI/AAAAAAAAAjQ/8-JDGoSCcrE/s400/005.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558007669515543138" /></a>This one says I HATE MONDAYS on the other side. I saw it sitting on top of my grandma's fridge one time and commented that one just like it had been my favorite mug in the staff room at work until the coworker who owned it, and most of the other amusing mugs, left and took it with her. So Grandma just gave it to me there on the spot. </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TSIChsfASjI/AAAAAAAAAjI/-SkxXDQcEWI/s1600/004.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TSIChsfASjI/AAAAAAAAAjI/-SkxXDQcEWI/s400/004.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558007668028754482" /></a>This one is from <a href="http://digityourself.blogspot.com/">snappyjdog</a>. She visited New York City and the U.N. around the time I was participating in a model United Nations my final year of college and she brought me some souvenirs.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TSICUeYRu_I/AAAAAAAAAjA/tnN5rIUaLPI/s1600/003.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TSICUeYRu_I/AAAAAAAAAjA/tnN5rIUaLPI/s400/003.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558007440904141810" /></a>My mom made this one. There are more like it at her house. She told me to take this one when I moved out. It is, of course, one of my very favorite mugs. </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TSICUBZ-4XI/AAAAAAAAAi4/Jdlzz0IwACw/s1600/002.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TSICUBZ-4XI/AAAAAAAAAi4/Jdlzz0IwACw/s400/002.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558007433126666610" /></a>This one came from my boss. We did a secret Santas thing two years ago and she had my name. </div><div>I recently found the note that was with it and I will share and edited (for privacy) version of it with you.</div><div><br /></div><div><blockquote>I had intended to get you a gift card for Pier 1 and wrap it in the mug, which I bought at a Pier 1 when I was setting up my first apartment. I bought a different mug for each of my friends, and one for myself, and a few spares. The idea was that each friend would have his / her own mug at my house and feel a little bit more at home there. Anyway, this mug was the one that was mine and is the only one of that set still in existence. But it has always reminded me of Pier 1 and of really good friends and my first place. And it seems like the right time to pass it on. I didn't make it to Pier 1 to pick up the gift card, so I've included that special kind of gift certificate that you can use at most any store. </blockquote>The "special kind of gift certificate" was cash, if you couldn't guess. This one is one of my favorites too but it gets too hot in the microwave so I don't use it as much as some others. I need to start using my kettle more and then I can use this mug more. This was also the inspiration for getting Mr. Bitter his own mug. </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TSICT8tzLkI/AAAAAAAAAiw/twyMKacUSyk/s1600/001.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TSICT8tzLkI/AAAAAAAAAiw/twyMKacUSyk/s400/001.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558007431867608642" /></a>Mugs from Target. That place is full of stuff you don't need but so, so want. I think I at least got the second one on clearance.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TSICTn7HTGI/AAAAAAAAAio/-YCQfDjw7X4/s1600/010.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TSICTn7HTGI/AAAAAAAAAio/-YCQfDjw7X4/s400/010.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558007426286308450" /></a>More mugs from Grandma. She gave me the God's Blessings Are Forever mug when I was confirmed in the 7th grade. She was my sponsor so she should be nagging me about not going to mass anymore but she doesn't, which is okay with me.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TSICTSoR0aI/AAAAAAAAAig/DYbFL68ig0k/s1600/007.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TSICTSoR0aI/AAAAAAAAAig/DYbFL68ig0k/s400/007.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558007420570161570" /></a>Holiday mugs: Saint Patrick's Day, Christmas, Halloween</div><div><br /></div><div>Admittedly, as an Irish girl (50%, anyway), I celebrate Saint Patrick's Day year round, more or less, but I'm not sure I've ever used that mug.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Christmas mug is another one from my Grandma, I think. I've had it a long time and my brother has one too. I actually like it and usually get it out and use it around Christmas. </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TSIB9yzGUvI/AAAAAAAAAiY/Ea6Iuc3mMho/s1600/006.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TSIB9yzGUvI/AAAAAAAAAiY/Ea6Iuc3mMho/s400/006.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558007051248358130" /></a>Smiley mugs. I have a thing for smiley faces, although not as much as I used to. I think these might have all come from the florist my mom used to work for.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TSIB8lxyTjI/AAAAAAAAAiQ/uus9FtRqnRU/s1600/005.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TSIB8lxyTjI/AAAAAAAAAiQ/uus9FtRqnRU/s400/005.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558007030573321778" /></a>Aside from that Christmas mug, which I hadn't exactly thought of as just mine until I moved out, this is my first mug. It has tips for saving the Earth on the other side. It is a rare example of something I asked for at the grocery and actually got.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TSIB8AW0MrI/AAAAAAAAAiA/54zzRlBfDNU/s1600/013.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TSIB8AW0MrI/AAAAAAAAAiA/54zzRlBfDNU/s400/013.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558007020528087730" /></a>This is one of those cool mugs that reacts to heat. It's a global warming mug, so when you put hot chocolate or tea in it, the continents start to shrink as the ocean fills up. I never drink out of it because I think I must have some how cared for it wrong and the coating that makes it do its trick is slightly sticky now. It's another gift from <a href="http://digityourself.blogspot.com/">snappyjdog</a>. </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TSIB715n3kI/AAAAAAAAAh4/AJcYH88MoqE/s1600/011.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TSIB715n3kI/AAAAAAAAAh4/AJcYH88MoqE/s400/011.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558007017721290306" /></a>I bought this one at a dollar store on the way to camp at a state park. I'd gotten word that all the people I was on my way to meet were running late so I was killing time when I stopped for lunch. I remembered I'd forgotten to pack a mug and bought this one. </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-3341218852156711287?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-50924379040027189212011-01-03T11:00:00.000-06:002011-01-03T11:01:35.235-06:00<div>11:00 a.m. / 11:00</div><br />I ended up with a total of $55.00 in Barnes &amp; Noble* gift cards this year. With my gift cards + about $20.00 of my own money in the end, I purchased four books and a CD. <div><br /></div><div>On my first gift card spending trip, I chose <i>Book Lust To Go</i>, Nancy Pearl's fourth such book, because I have compulsive need to own her books. I have her first two signed! Then I picked up a copy of <i>The Outsiders</i> by S.E. Hinton because one of the gift cards was from Mr. Bitter's mom and she was talking about her signed copy of <i>The Outsiders</i> the day she gave me the card. I added a Christmas CD, <i>Christmas Spirit</i> by Los Lonely Boys to the pile, checked out and actually left the store with some money still on one of the cards. </div><div><br /></div><div>I went back on New Year's Day with the remainder I left with before, plus an additional $10.00 card and picked up <i>The Invention of Hugo Cabret</i>** by Brian Selznick and <i>Sources of Light</i> by Margaret McMullan. I'd nearly picked up <i>Sources of Light</i> on the first trip and couldn't stop myself the second trip. I originally picked up <i>Hugo Cabret</i> because I was thinking my mom had given me one of the gift cards and she loves that book. That's wrong, though, my brother gave me the card. However, since I really didn't want to go pick up a copy of <i>GoodFellas</i> from the movie section in honor of my brother, I went ahead with the book my mom loves. So, I went to make my purchases. I had overestimated how much was left on the one gift card and probably should have stuck to one book but I went ahead and paid the remainder to get both books. I felt happy driving away from the store with my new books in the backseat. </div><div><br /></div><div>Mr. Bitter had quite a quantity of Barnes &amp; Noble gift cards this year too and he put them together to claim Munchkin Quest: The Munchkin Board Game for his own. Haven't gotten to play it yet but looking forward to it. </div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TSH_nGe7ICI/AAAAAAAAAhw/YEtXhnmO0Ig/s1600/002.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TSH_nGe7ICI/AAAAAAAAAhw/YEtXhnmO0Ig/s400/002.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558004462372200482" /></a><br />*Where I live, there aren't really any independent bookstores to speak of. I have my choice of Borders or Barnes &amp; Noble and generally prefer Barnes &amp; Noble.<div><br /></div><div>**T<i>he Invention of Hugo Cabret</i> is the only <a href="http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/caldecottmedal/caldecottmedal.cfm">Caldecott</a> winner I'm aware of being shelved with juvenile fiction, rather than with picture books. </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-5092437904002718921?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-92153249726632468312010-12-01T21:50:00.002-06:002010-12-01T21:52:41.321-06:00<div>9:50 p.m. / 21:50</div><div><br /></div>In the unlikely even I have a reader / readers who isn't / aren't already reading Pardon the Egg Salad, I want to make sure everyone sees velocibadgergirl's <a href="http://velocibadgergirl.blogspot.com/2010/11/fin.html">final NaBloPoMo post</a> for this year.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-9215324972663246831?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-27857465513837353432010-11-30T21:10:00.001-06:002010-11-30T21:10:01.004-06:009:10 p.m. / 21:10<br /><div><br /></div><div>And thank goodness for that. I'm glad I've participated in NaBloPoMo this year but I'm also glad it's ending. I don't want to write tonight. I didn't want to write last night. Tomorrow I can write if I want to but I won't have to write in order to fulfill a goal, finish out a contest. I've got to get some quality sleep tonight. I'm tired, I'm grumpy, I still have to finish putting the trash out and I'm wondering if the hairball on of my cats coughed up on the sofa is going to leave a stain. No one wants to sit on a stained sofa. For $500.00, that's a nice sofa. After almost three years, though, the cat are starting to take a toll. I love them though. Cats are so can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em. I think they feel the same way about humans. They find us really useful for some things but other times they just want us out of their way.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks for hanging out this month. I didn't do this for you but it's still nice when people read and comment. My next post will be whenever I damn well feel like it. </div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TPW7kp3Wb_I/AAAAAAAAAhk/IG2Hm8DXaHI/s1600/002.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TPW7kp3Wb_I/AAAAAAAAAhk/IG2Hm8DXaHI/s400/002.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545544754564329458" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Blessed Evil Darling Kitties</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-2785746551383735343?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-69139468952351419862010-11-29T23:45:00.000-06:002010-11-29T23:46:50.790-06:0011:45 p.m. / 23:45<br /><br />Playing Magic: The Gathering is something else I never thought I'd do, much like reading romance novels. I thought it'd always be too out there for me. It's a good game, though... especially when I win. I only play with Mr. Bitter and don't have a strong desire to play the game with anyone else at this time. I tend to get things, mostly numbers, mixed up and might not be able to avoid feeling stupid playing with other people. <div><br /></div><div>Opening a new pack of cards is like a little, tiny mini-Christmas. You never know what will be in there. Of course, that's one of the drawbacks to the game too; buying more cards all the time. If you're not playing in official tournaments (and I am so not) you don't <i>have</i> to buy new cards but most people do, from what I gather. It's hard to resist and it keeps things new and interesting. </div><div><br /></div><div>I haven't spent a lot of time on deck building yet but I do know I don't like to let go of cards. My red and green deck is kind of ridiculously big because I can't decide what to take out. Most of my favorite cards are green but I really like Fling and Goblin Balloon Brigade from the red. </div><div><br /></div><div>I need to come up with storage for my cards. Right now I just have stacks on a bookshelf. </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TPSPEqx-0pI/AAAAAAAAAhU/uV5U3cDmN7g/s1600/001.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TPSPEqx-0pI/AAAAAAAAAhU/uV5U3cDmN7g/s400/001.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545214351566099090" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TPSPE-PpwpI/AAAAAAAAAhc/R4kogcFuAj8/s1600/004.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TPSPE-PpwpI/AAAAAAAAAhc/R4kogcFuAj8/s400/004.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545214356790821522" /></a><br /></div><div>My cat Mabel is pretty into Magic too. She likes to sit with Mr. Bitter while he sorts his cards. Sometimes we give her the advertising cards that come in booster packs to play with. I you flick one across the room, she'll run after it and pounce it and probably chew on it a little. </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TPSOy4prewI/AAAAAAAAAhM/WE_tjzmO8Dw/s1600/003.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TPSOy4prewI/AAAAAAAAAhM/WE_tjzmO8Dw/s400/003.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545214046051728130" /></a><br /></div><div>She's not as vicious as she looks in the picture. I think she was just meowing. </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-6913946895235141986?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-46371312735110553952010-11-28T21:50:00.001-06:002010-11-28T21:50:27.356-06:00<div>9: 50 p.m. / 21:50</div><div><br /></div>In his <a href="http://080181.blogspot.com/2010/11/mr-bitter-interview.html">interview</a> today, Mr. Bitter described his hair as simply being brown. That's only the beginning, though. <div><br /></div><div>First of all, it is a rich, chocolaty brown; very dark. When it's not cut too short it curls itself in wild, wavy tendrils. It's more wavy when he's attempted to tame it and more curly when it's been left to its own devices. I've tried to put stuff, like ink pens, in it to see if the tangly curls will hold things. It doesn't work but it looks like it should. Some days it's almost like his hair is an animal; a separate living organism riding atop his head. I find it endlessly fascinating. </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-4637131273511055395?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-74719501310400821432010-11-28T15:45:00.002-06:002010-11-28T15:46:13.424-06:00<div>3:45 p.m. / 15:45</div><div><br /></div><div>I wrote a series of fifteen questions and asked Mr. Bitter to fill in the answers. It's almost as insightful as the <a href="http://080181.blogspot.com/2010/11/oh-magic-8-ball.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Magic 8 Ball interview</span></a>. Actually, it's more insightful but no thanks to my questions. </div><div><br /></div>1. Have you ever tried sushi? <div><span class="Apple-style-span">Yes. In fact, I've made sushi once. My friend said it was delicious. I hated it.</span><br /><div><br /></div><div>2. Why are you bitter?</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">I'd love to tell you, but it turns out that when I talk about it I just annoy people. So, I will instead list a few things that are bitter that people enjoy:</span></div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span">Dark chocolate</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span">Coffee (I however despise coffee)</span></li></ul></div><div><br /></div><div>3. Do you mind sharing attention with two cats, Mabel and Fizzgig?</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">I have a lot of attention and affection to give. Spreading it between two cats is not a problem.</span></div><div><br /></div><div>4. What do you like to read and what are you currently reading?</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Mostly, I like to read books. But frequently I read the internet. I am currently reading question number 5 and attempting to formulate a witty response.</span></div><div><br /></div><div>5. If you won the lottery, would you go to Disney World? </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Yes. (I know, not that witty)</span></div><div><br /></div><div>6. What are some of your favorite television shows and movies?</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">The only show currently on air that I hate to miss is Chuck. I also watch Castle occasionally. I am a big fan of Firefly and rewatch episodes on a semi-regular basis, particularly Jaynestown and Trash.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">As for my favorite movies, well, here's a bulleted list (in no specific order):</span></div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span">Hudson Hawk</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span">Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span">Spies Like Us</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span">Grosse Pointe Blank</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span">Ghostbusters</span></li></ul></div><div>7. What music do you enjoy?</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">It's questionable whether or not what I like is actually music. I enjoy classic rock, bad eighties music, and basically anything composed by Jim Steinman. In my truck, I am currently listening to Aim and Ignite by Fun. My favorite tracks are Be Calm, Benson Hedges, and All the Pretty Girls. I'll skip I Wanna Be the One and At Least I'm Not as Sad (As I Used to Be). In middle school I had a history of music class where I heard a lot of classical music that I really enjoyed, but nowadays I can probably only recognize Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries. There's more to go on this list, but I'd have to start naming individual songs instead of genres.</span></div><div><br /></div><div>8. Do you like to bowl?</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Moderately.</span></div><div><br /></div><div>9. Do you consider yourself athletic?</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Absolutely not. I may occasionally exhibit athletic tendencies, but I would not consider myself an athletic person.</span></div><div><br /></div><div>10. What activities do you enjoy in your free time?</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">I try not to enjoy things. Especially in my free time. It detracts from my bitterness. But, it is not uncommon to find me either</span></div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span">Playing a video game</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span">Reading a book</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span">Staring intently at a blank word document attempting to will creativity into existence (someone once told me it works better if your hands are on the keyboard, but then I'd have to have something to type)</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span">Sorting Magic: The Gathering cards (I use the full name because someone might think I had a magic trick deck.)</span></li></ul><span class="Apple-style-span">During the brief occasions I'm with people who can stand to be around me for more than five minutes, I enjoy board games. My favorite is Carcassonne. </span></div><div><br /></div><div>11. Do you like spending time outdoors, working in the yard, camping, etc?</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Really it depends on the weather. But given ideal conditions, I enjoy activities such as camping, bicycling (or, I would if I still had a bike), and tennis.</span></div><div><br /></div><div>12. How long have you known me?</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">I believe we have known each other now for five years.</span></div><div><br /></div><div>13. Will you please describe your hair?</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Brown. If that is not an adequate enough description for you, I think you aught to take a crack at describing it.</span></div><div><br /></div><div>14. There's a rumor you're working on a novel; do you care to confirm or deny this?</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">I will confirm it as long as you have a very loose definition of working.</span></div><div><br /></div><div>15. Are you looking forward to Christmas?</div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">It is, supposedly, the most wonderful time of the year. Actually, Christmas tends to make me more than a little crazy. There's all the house cleaning that needs to be done so people can come over, and the stress of trying to pick out gifts as near to perfect as possible (and the fact that each year I have less and less money with which to pick out awesome gifts). It's always worth it, though, for about five minutes. For five minutes, people think you are one of the most amazing people in the world. But then, life takes hold again and you have to rush to someone's house or the turkey is overcooking or some tragedy has just occurred. That, or people remember what a pain in the ass you are.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Response 4 addendum (placed down here so as not to detract from my snarkiness above): </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I mostly read fantasy novels. The first fantasy novel I read was The Hobbit in fifth grade (I remember wanting to read it in third grade, but Mom said it was probably too much for me). After that I began reading the numerous Forgotten Realms Dungeons and Dragons tie in novels. I would read these frequently through high school (although I gave up on R. A. Salvatore pretty early; not a huge Drizzt fan). </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>In the early years of high school I started reading Piers Anthony; first his Xanth novels, and then the Incarnations of Immortality. I made it up to Swell Foop in the Xanth novels when I just couldn't read them anymore; I won't even read the older ones that I liked. I read all of the Incarnations of Immortality, but I'd recommend stopping after On A Pale Horse. Seriously. After that they're awful.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>In my junior or senior year I discovered The Wheel of Time series. I thought the first books were awesome in their stories; I thought the later ones were awesome in their sheer mass. Books 4 through 11 were a trial to read (with the exception of book 6). There came a point where I wanted to give up on them, but I was in too deep. Book 12 was quite an improvement; I feel that the main character's disposition seriously improved by the end of the book, and there was a battle scene that I read multiple times. I haven't read the newest one yet, but I will.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I don't read as much now (I don't have teachers to ignore). </span><span class="Apple-style-span">I have lately (within the past year or two) taken a liking to Brandon Sanderson's novels, my favorites being Elantris and Warbreaker. I also like Jim Butcher's Dresden novels, and if Pat Rothfuss ever finishes The Wise Man's Fear I'll probably devour it in a couple of days, after rereading The Name of The Wind to refresh since I can't remember an ounce of it.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Also, my all time favorite novel: Neuromancer by William Gibson. It's science fiction. Read it. Go on, check it out at your library ASAP and read it!</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-7471950131040082143?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-16087030674984926972010-11-27T23:25:00.001-06:002010-11-29T09:18:50.164-06:00<div>11:25 p.m. / 23:25</div><div><br /></div>I have company tonight and they are distracting me way too much for me to really be able to write. So I'd like you to enjoy Jim Henson's La Choy commercial from early in his career. The dragon in the commercial is sort of like an early Big Bird, or at least the costume or puppet works about the same. I didn't know about the La Choy Dragon until I saw the Muppet exhibit currently up at the <a href="http://www.msichicago.org/">Museum of Science and Industry</a>. I love him, though! I'm also posting one of the amazing Harry Belafonte's performances on the Muppet Show. He's working with Fozzie Bear and other Muppets to sing this song.<br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4bfdaR4xMeU?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4bfdaR4xMeU?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/6AjovHGK-TA?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/6AjovHGK-TA?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-1608703067498492697?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-71728160590692172352010-11-26T23:55:00.002-06:002011-01-03T11:10:03.118-06:0011:55 p.m. / 23:55<br /><br /><div>I was never going to read stupid romance novels. Never. </div><div><br /></div><div>That changed, though. I love romance novels now. I have a romance with the romance genre! </div><div><div><br /></div><div>I've really been reading romance novels for a little over a year now, I think... or maybe closer to a year and a half. I know it had a lot to do with <i>Beyond Heaving Bosoms: The Smart Bitches' Guide to Romance Novels</i> by Sarah Wendell and Candy Tan. This book made me more interested in a genre, that if I'm being honest, had had me curious for years. Around the same time, I also thought maybe I should read some for professional reasons. I'm a readers' advisor and I didn't really know squat about romance novels back then. Before <i>Beyond Heaving Bosoms</i> and that little professional decision, I just read romance novels every now and then and usually tried to make excuses to explain that they weren't really romance novels. I think the number of romance novels I've read in my whole life has probably doubled in the past year. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm new to the genre and it's such an enormous genre that sometimes I find the romance section at the library or bookstore overwhelming. So many of them look good and I've hardly read any of them! Also, I haven't stopped reading all the other kinds of books I've always been reading so I'll probably never catch up. This has just compounded my problem of never being able to read all the books I want to read.</div><div><br /></div><div>Let's see... I've loved Jennifer Crusie since back when I was trying to explain that I wasn't really reading romance novels. I like Nora Roberts more than ever. Lisa Kleypas is one of my favorites now. I wanted to love Katie MacAlister but I don't. Rachel Gibson, Vicki Lewis Thomson and Loretta Chase seem alright so far but I've only read one each of those ladies' books. Lynn Kurland is another good one, although her novels aren't as steamy as some people might want their romances. </div><div><br /></div><div>I actually read one of those Harlequin series ones, one called <i>The Cowboy's Baby</i> by Patricia Thayer. It's part of Harlequin's Baby on Board series. That one I actually kind of regretted. </div><div><br /></div><div>I don't know that I'm necessarily trying to convince you to read romance novels. If there's a lesson here, it's that you don't know if you don't like romance novels or fantasy novels or young adult fiction or memoirs or whatever category of reading if you've never bothered to read a few books from the category in question. It's don't judge a book by its cover on a broader scale. </div></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TPCcfnbfJMI/AAAAAAAAAhE/I9r7kWxDg6U/s1600/005.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TPCcfnbfJMI/AAAAAAAAAhE/I9r7kWxDg6U/s400/005.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544103208267228354" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-7172816059069217235?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-36397162146117949912010-11-25T22:00:00.000-06:002010-11-25T22:01:42.542-06:00<div>10:00 / 22:00</div><div><br /></div>I woke up in a pretty ungrateful mood. I think it had a lot to do with the weather and wanting to go back to bed even though there wasn't time for that today. Oh, yeah, and there was cat barf on the living room rug. I really had to work on being thankful for awhile this morning. Things got better and my mood changed and it was really an alright day.<div><br /></div><div>So, while I try to be thankful every day, here are some things I've thought of today to be thankful for:</div><div><br /></div><div>my parents, my brother and all of the rest of my family</div><div>Mr. Bitter</div><div>good friends </div><div>Mabel and Fizzgig, my cats</div><div>good books</div><div>my job and accompanying benefits </div><div>my co-workers, especially my boss and desk buddy</div><div>good music</div><div>my home</div><div>a working furnace </div><div>good, fun games</div><div>people who have a good sense of humor</div><div>my nice car</div><div>reasonably good health</div><div>tasty food</div><div><br /></div><div>I hope you had someone to celebrate with today and that it was a good, happy celebration! Thank you for reading!</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-3639716214611794991?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-13485812730126153682010-11-24T23:25:00.001-06:002010-11-24T23:30:31.240-06:00<div>11: 25 p.m. / 23:25</div><div><br /></div>I'm going to become the Cream Soup Casseroles Queen. I've been in charge of green bean casserole for my family for years now. Last Easter I made broccoli casserole (a longtime standard in <a href="http://evilducky77.blogspot.com/">evilducky77</a>'s family) for Mr. Bitter's family. It was such a hit I think I've committed to making it for all future holidays, including tomorrow, that I celebrate with his family, or at least his dad's part of the family. I actually have a recipe for green bean casserole from scratch but I'd rather try it out sometime when I don't actually need to take it to a celebration. My family is... well sort of easy-going but I fear what might happen if I mess with their green bean casserole. So anyway, while others are Queen of Pies from Scratch or something cool like that, for now I'm Cream Soup Casseroles Queen.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-1348581273012615368?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-5782574038923942152010-11-24T23:04:00.001-06:002010-11-24T23:08:04.191-06:0011:05 p.m. / 23:05<div><br /></div><div>From this point forward, my boyfriend will be known here on the blog as Mr. Bitter. He's just not happy if he doesn't have something to be bitter about.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-578257403892394215?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-50877019875869897772010-11-24T14:45:00.000-06:002010-11-24T14:45:00.711-06:00<div>2:45 p.m. / 14:45</div><div><br /></div>Since I was sick at the beginning of the month sleep was a real chore for a couple of weeks. Even once I was feeling pretty good during the day I generally felt awful or couldn't stop coughing or a combination of the two and trying to sleep was an unpleasant experience. In the middle of last week I finally started sleeping well again. And now it's all I want to do. Okay, not exactly but I rarely wake up feeling refreshed. I generally wake up feeling potentially drugged and wanting to go back to sleep... even if I've pretty much had a full night of sleep. Naps have been pretty appealing too although I haven't really had time for them. Maybe I'm not actually sleeping well. Maybe I just think I'm sleeping well and the need for extra sleep is to make up for the low quality. I've also been staying up late a lot so maybe if I stop doing that so much it'll work better. I need to actually go to bed at 10:00 p.m., my official bedtime.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-5087701987586989777?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-6848380177151916522010-11-23T07:20:00.000-06:002010-11-23T07:21:21.536-06:00<div>7:20 a.m. / 07:20</div><div><br /></div>When the November schedule came out at work and I saw I would have the day before Thanksgiving off, in exchange for working the Saturday after, my mind was filled with thoughts of laying around reading or watching movies. Now I'm realizing it might not work out that way but I should be able to squeeze in a little reading or a movie.<div><br /></div><div>I don't think cats know how to savor their food. I fed them and then got my own bowl of cereal and about the time I settled in with it here at the computer, the cats entered the room and commenced synchronized post-breakfast bathing. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm going to see the new Harry Potter movie tonight. I've been seeing way more movie in the theater than I for awhile. I've seen four or five movies in the theater since August and that's really a lot for me. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm a slow eater and yet my cereal bowl seems to empty so quickly.</div><div><br /></div><div>One of the cats is acting put upon because I won't let her in the bedroom this morning. She owns this house after all; it's just not fair!</div><div><br /></div><div>I think I actually forgot for a few minutes that I have to go to work today. Time to post &amp; run.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-684838017715191652?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-35679852738129627392010-11-22T21:45:00.000-06:002010-11-22T21:45:59.533-06:00<div>9:45 p.m. / 21:45</div><div><br /></div>I know a lot of moms would probably like to slap me upside the head for saying this but I wish they'd outlaw video screens in minivans, etc. or at least the ones that hang from the ceiling. I've heard people say those flashy new billboards that light up and change are too distracting and could cause accidents but I find it far more distracting to drive behind a minivan at night with <i>The Little Mermaid</i> or a Bugs Bunny cartoon playing. Kudos, though, to the family watching Bugs Bunny for choosing something so classic. <div><br /></div><div>I understand it's supposed to me my responsibility as a driver to watch the road and not the screen in the car ahead of me but it's difficult. I mean, it is pretty much in my direct line of sight. It's not unlike being in a restaurant where a football game between two teams you've never heard of is playing on a television and you keep watching just because it's there.</div><div><br /></div><div>I have a feeling this is probably less of an issue out on a highway or interstate; basically not city traffic. I may be able to concede the point that these irritating devices can by lifesavers for parents on long car trips but I suspect when I'm behind people in town they're just going to the grocery or somewhere. I rode along to the grocery without video many, many times and that's hardly the worst part of my childhood. I'm always a little shocked when I hear moms leaving the library ask their kids which DVD they want to watch in the van on the way home. I doubt many of them live more than 15 minutes away.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, in conclusion, really not a fan of video in moving vehicles at this point in my life.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-3567985273812962739?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-12488559555892704032010-11-21T23:30:00.001-06:002010-11-21T23:32:21.984-06:0011:30 p.m. / 23:30<br /><div><br /></div><div>It has occurred to me that tossing some videos into a post without any real explanation other than short time and writer's block might not have been the best thing to do. So tonight I want to say a little more about Taylor Mali. <div><br /></div><div>Taylor Mali is a poet and former teacher. A lot of his poems are about teaching and students; they also tend to be humorous. Well, my favorites are humorous. I have a copy of his book called <i>What Learning Leaves </i>and I also gave copies to a couple of friends of mine who are teachers. I have tremendous respect for teachers and I love Mr. Mali's poem called What Teachers Make. It does a pretty damn good job of explaining exactly why good teachers deserve our respect. I strongly recommend that if you skipped over the videos I shared in <a href="http://080181.blogspot.com/2010/11/ack-watch-some-videos.html">yesterday's post</a> that you go back and watch them. Then, if you want to know more, you can visit Taylor Mali's <a href="http://www.taylormali.com/">website</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/TaylorMali">twitter</a>, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Taylor-Mali/107817299238983?ref=ts">Facebook</a> and / or <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/taylormali">YouTube channel</a>. </div><div><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TOn_dVMhMKI/AAAAAAAAAg0/SabZIwTkmSM/s1600/004.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TOn_dVMhMKI/AAAAAAAAAg0/SabZIwTkmSM/s320/004.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542241695827046562" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-1248855955589270403?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-58787272425694526902010-11-20T23:15:00.000-06:002010-11-20T23:27:16.726-06:00<div>11:15 p.m. / 23:15</div><div><br /></div>I've just gotten home from a great evening with great friends. I have 45 minutes to post something if I'm going to stay in NaBloPoMo and I have no idea what to write about. So, tonight I'm going to simply supply you with a trio of Taylor Mali videos. <div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/tpog1_NFd2Q?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/tpog1_NFd2Q?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/SbnQfFaxkno?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/SbnQfFaxkno?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/tshNfYWPlDg?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/tshNfYWPlDg?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-5878727242569452690?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-19251645320082319062010-11-19T23:15:00.001-06:002010-11-19T23:15:57.518-06:00<div>11:15 p.m. / 23:00</div><div><br /></div>Until a couple of minutes ago, I was writing a completely different blog post but the articles I wanted to link to weren't available. So, maybe another time.<div><br /></div><div>For about the first 15 - 30 minutes of my work day it looked like it would be a living Hell kind of day but it got better and went remarkably smooth considering how short-staffed we were. I've never been the only person working reference for an entire day before. </div><div><br /></div><div>I've spent my evening snug in my little house. I have the weekend off work and I'm looking forward to it. </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-1925164532008231906?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-563826880725083722010-11-18T23:20:00.000-06:002010-11-18T23:23:41.531-06:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">11:20 p.m. / 23:20</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>2010 hasn't been the best year but it hasn't been a bad year either so I'm not sure why I'm mentally rushing towards 2011. I've been feeling like we're days away from the end of the year for a couple of months now which is just silly. Anyway, I got the idea earlier to try go back over what I've read this year. Then I realized I've got another six weeks of 2010 reading. None the less, here is a rough list of what I've read so far in 2010. I'll be using my journal to make this list. It probably won't be 100% complete but it should be close. I'll be leaving out books I started but did not finish. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">When You Reach Me</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> by Rebecca Stead</span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Stardust</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> by Neil Gaiman</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">In January, I hugged a book called <i>All Cakes Considered</i> but I didn't read it.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">La's Orchestra Saves the World</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> by Alexander McCall Smith</span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Makers</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> by Cory Doctrow</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Listened to <i>A Wrinkle in Time</i> by Madeleine L'Engle, read by Barbara Caruso on CD</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Fire Girl</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> by Tony Abbott</span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The Postcard</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> by Tony Abbott</span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Steamed</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> by Katie MacAlister</span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">First Light</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> by Rebecca Stead</span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">(Flavia de Luce #1) by Alan Bradley</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Listened to <i>An Abundance of Katherines</i> by John Green, read by Jeff Woodman on CD</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Bed of Roses </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">(Bride Quartet #2) by Nora Roberts*</span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Wild Ride</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer</span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">(Flavia de Luce #2) by Alan Bradley</span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The Girl Who Chased the Moon</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> by Sarah Addison Allen</span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Happy All the Time</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> by Laurie Colwin</span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> by Marian Keyes</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Re-read <i>Where the Heart Is</i> by Billie Letts and <i>Sunshine</i> by Robin McKinley</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Savor the Moment</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> (Bride Quartet #3) by Nora Roberts</span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The Help</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> by Kathryn Stockett</span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Hey Cowboy, Wanna Get Lucky?</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> by Baxter Black</span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Bloodsucking Fiends</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> by Christopher Moore</span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Saving CeeCee Honeycutt</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> by Beth Hoffman</span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Fly Away Home</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> by Jennifer Weiner </span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Spooky Little Girl</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> by Laurie Notaro</span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Dreaming of You</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> by Lisa Kleypas</span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Simply Irresistible</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> by Rachel Gibson </span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Then Came You</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> by Lisa Kleypas</span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Mine Till Midnight</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> (Hathaways #1) by Lisa Kleypas</span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Seduce Me at Sunrise</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> (Hathaways #2) by Lisa Kleypas</span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Tempt Me at Twilight</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> (Hathaways #3) by Lisa Kleypas</span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Married by Morning</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> (Hathaways #4) by Lisa Kleypas</span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Love in the Afternoon</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> (Hathaways #5) by Lisa Kleypas</span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Murder Past Due</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> by Miranda James</span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The Tower, the Zoo and the Tortoise</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> by Julia Stuart</span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Maybe This Time</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> by Jennifer Crusie</span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Red Hook Road</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> by Ayelet Waldman</span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The Lace Reader</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> by Brunonia Barry</span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The Map of True Places</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> by Brunonia Barry</span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Devilish</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> by Maureen Johnson</span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Will Grayson, Will Grayson</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> by John Green and David Levithan</span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Lord of Scoundrels</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> by Loretta Chase</span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Mad, Bad and Blonde</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> by Cathie Linz</span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Happy Ever After</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> (Bride Quartet #4) by Nora Roberts</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">*unsure if I read <i>Vision in White </i>(Bride Quartet #1) by Nora Roberts in 2009 or 2010</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-56382688072508372?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-43528895915097638572010-11-17T22:05:00.001-06:002010-11-17T22:10:54.460-06:00<div>10:05 p.m. / 22:05</div><div><br /></div>Didn't fully recognize how tired I'd become until I got home. I'm a bit cranky. Little things have been aggravating me in such way that once I've calmed down a little I wonder if I haven't come a little unhinged. <div><br /></div><div>Today I gave up on reading <i>Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day</i>. It's not bad exactly... just isn't good enough to keep going when there are other books waiting. So, I turned it in along with two other books it was clear I wouldn't get to before they'd have to be turned in. </div><div><br /></div><div>I've been experimenting with almond milk as an alternative to... well, milk. I like it alright on cereal but I'm less certain about other applications. Noticed for the first time to night a small note on the carton that says to use it in seven days after it has been opened. That could be a problem.</div><div><br /></div><div>When the weather starts to get cold, as it is now, I get more tempted to let the cats sleep on the bed at night. I have to force myself to remember that they will inevitably wake me up 1 - 3 hours before the alarm goes off and that I will at that point regret not shutting them out of the bedroom for the night.</div><div><br /></div><div>In crappy news, I had PAY STUDENT LOAN on my TO-DO list for today. This was all fine and good until I logged in to pay and discovered I didn't pay last month. I need an accountant and a maid. It's not that I don't have the time and money, I'm just incompetent. I don't really have enough money for an accountant or a maid, though. </div><div><br /></div><div>Just remembered my grandpa is in the hospital. For some reason, I've been having trouble getting properly upset about this. I guess it's just so not surprising since he's been having more and more problems and he didn't seem to be doing too well when I saw him Sunday. Grandma seemed more annoyed than concerned; that did kind of bothered me. They usually don't call us when this stuff happens but one of my aunts happened to call them, I think, and she spread the word. My parents went to see him tonight but I had to work. I don't know what visiting hours are but since they live an hour away it wasn't realistic for me to go after work.</div><div><br /></div><div>I should really go to bed.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-4352889591509763857?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-20329648596638349322010-11-16T23:40:00.000-06:002010-11-16T23:41:11.499-06:00<div>11:40 p.m. / 23:40</div><div><br /></div>Tonight I'm conducting an interview with my Magic 8 Ball.<div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><b>1. Do ticking clocks make you crazy?</b></div><div><br /></div><div>IT IS CERTAIN</div><div><br /></div><div><b>2. Have you ever tried sushi?</b></div><div><br /></div><div>REPLY HAZY TRY AGAIN</div><div><br /></div><div><b>3. Have you ever tried sushi?</b></div><div><br /></div><div>CONCENTRATE AND ASK AGAIN</div><div><br /></div><div><b>4. Have you ever tried sushi?</b></div><div><br /></div><div>CONCENTRATE AND ASK AGAIN</div><div><br /></div><div><b>5. One more time, have you ever tried sushi?</b></div><div><br /></div><div>MY SOURCES SAY NO</div><div><br /></div><div><b>6. Did you vote in the last election?</b></div><div><br /></div><div>MY SOURCES SAY NO</div><div><br /></div><div><b>7. Do you enjoy long walks on the beach?</b></div><div><br /></div><div>MY REPLY IS NO</div><div><br /></div><div><b>8. Do you like cats?</b></div><div><br /></div><div>WITHOUT A DOUBT</div><div><br /></div><div><b>9. Do you know all of the words to The Star-Spangled Banner?</b></div><div><br /></div><div>AS I SEE IT YES</div><div><br /></div><div><b>10. Do you have a driver's license?</b></div><div><br /></div><div>AS I SEE IT YES</div><div><br /></div><div><b>11. Are you a pick-up man?</b></div><div><br /></div><div>MY REPLY IS NO</div><div><br /></div><div><b>12. Do you like ice cream?</b></div><div><br /></div><div>IT IS CERTAIN</div><div><br /></div><div><b>13. Do you enjoy </b><i><b>Monty Python and the Holy Grail</b></i><b>?</b></div><div><br /></div><div>YOU MAY RELY ON IT</div><div><br /></div><div><b>14. Do you read novels?</b></div><div><br /></div><div>BETTER NOT TELL YOU NOW</div><div><br /></div><div><b>15. Would you like a drink?</b></div><div><br /></div><div>MY REPLY IS NO</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I feel like I know my Magic 8 Ball so much better now!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-2032964859663834932?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-65042971215766629342010-11-15T10:10:00.000-06:002010-11-15T10:10:32.105-06:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >10:10 a.m. / 10:10</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >I yanked this off of velocibadgergirl over at <a href="http://velocibadgergirl.blogspot.com">Pardon the Egg Salad</a>.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></span></div>A - Age: 29<br /><br />B - Bed size: full</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br />C - Chore you hate: I hate cleaning the kitty litter boxes but I love my cats so I do it anyway. If I didn't have cats, it would be mowing the lawn.<br /><br />D - Don’t eat: meat<br /><br />E - Essential start your day item: breakfast<br /><br />F - Favorite board game: I can't pick just one!<br /><br />G - Gold or Silver: silver<br /><br />H - Height: somewhere about 5'4"<br /><br />I - Instruments you play: kazoo<br /><br />J - Job title: readers' advisor<br /><br />K - Kid(s): zero<br /><br />L - Love or lust: I'm supposed to pick one?<br /><br />M - Mom’s name: not telling<br /><br />N - Nicknames: Mac, among others.<br /><br />O - Overnight hospital stay other than birth: nope<br /><br />P - Pants or pantyhose: Pants<br /><br />Q - Famous Movie Quote: I'm not good at movie quotes.</span></span><div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;">R - Right or left handed: Right</span></span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;">S - Sibling(s): one brother</span></span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;">T - Time you wake up: Usually anywhere from 6:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.,depending on the day of the week. </span></span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;">U - Underwear: Yes, I wear underwear.</span></span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;">V - Vegetable favorite: An actual vegetable, not a fruit? Maybe carrots. </span></span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;">W - Ways you run late: Loosing track of time, forgetting something really important until the last minute, bad luck on the road</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><br />X - X-rays you’ve had: Well, teeth... I had some x-rays around the age of 12 when they thought I might have scoliosis. I had a CT scan a year and a half ago because I was having bizarre headaches. </span></span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; ">Y - Yummy food you make: cupcakes, banana bread, macaroni and cheese</span></span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;">Z - Zoo favorite: big cats</span></span><br /></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-6504297121576662934?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-55655366818925753782010-11-14T22:00:00.000-06:002010-11-14T22:00:00.441-06:00<div>10:00 p.m. / 22:00</div><br />Okay, I feel semi-obligated to start with today's visit with my grandparents, uncle etc. since I wrote about not really wanting to see my uncle in last night's post. He wasn't there. He and my cousin have moved out. I'm sure with the holidays coming, I'll see him soon, though. The visit was mostly good with some intense moments of crabbiness. As examples, the BBQ restaurant where we were supposed to pick up the main course for the meal we'd packed turned out to closed and later I accidentally sparked an argument between Grandma and Grandpa when I couldn't find a bottle opener. Grandma gave me a small stuffed turtle. <div><br /></div><div>The rest of my day was alright and probably would have been great if I hadn't been quietly, needlessly dreading the evening. I went to Barnes &amp; Noble and had a Blondie Blast-- a blondie with m&amp;m's in it. I love those too much. I bought Christmas cards while I was there too. </div><div><br /></div><div>I've read about half of <i>Wicked Appetite</i> by Janet Evanovich now. I'm enjoying it but I'm withholding more elaborative thoughts until I finish it. </div><div><br /></div><div>I've been watching a lot of <i>The West Wing</i> on DVD lately. There are episodes from seasons 1 - 4 that I practically have memorized but I'm on season six now and I've only watched it once before, about six years ago so it's almost like watching brand new episodes. Okay, that's probably a bit of an exaggeration. </div><div><br /></div><div>If you've been keeping up with me this month you know I've been taking pictures of pretty fall leaves out and about. Well, just in the past couple of days I've discovered my own gum tree is gorgeous this year. I honestly don't remember it turning so beautifully the last two autumns I've lived here. </div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TOCvXudgP8I/AAAAAAAAAgs/TX8LHn1xuWw/s1600/003.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TOCvXudgP8I/AAAAAAAAAgs/TX8LHn1xuWw/s400/003.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539620363809341378" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-5565536681892575378?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-59595563520578689352010-11-14T00:01:00.000-06:002010-11-14T00:01:00.357-06:00<div>12:01 a.m. / 00:01</div><div><br /></div>Slightly Lighter: <div><br /></div><div>I'd like to share this blog post by young adult author Maureen Johnson on author James Frey and his latest jerk move. <a href="http://www.maureenjohnsonbooks.com/2010/11/13/the-james-frey-problem/">http://www.maureenjohnsonbooks.com/2010/11/13/the-james-frey-problem/</a></div><div><br /></div><div>Way Lighter:</div><div><br /></div><div>For discussion: Did Commander Riker, 1st officer under Capitan Picard on the starship Enterprise, become a better Starfleet Commander when he grew a beard? It certainly made him look more authoritative. </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-5959556352057868935?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-37119162063506149542010-11-13T23:10:00.000-06:002010-11-13T23:11:17.618-06:00<div>11:10 p.m. / 23:10</div><div><br /></div>This could get me in trouble if it falls into the wrong hands but it's what's on my mind tonight. So it's what I'm writing about. <div><br /></div><div>I'm supposed to go see my grandparents tomorrow evening. That's not a big deal; I love my grandparents. It's just that one of my uncles and then one of my cousins recently moved in with them. The uncle is fresh out of prison. I'm not sure about the details; it may have been a really minimum security situation the past year or so. I'm not really sure what he was in for either. He's been in and out of prison most of my life so I guess it's habit not to tell me much about it since I was a little kid when he started getting in serious trouble. I think was usually drug related but that's as much as I know.<div><br /></div><div>I don't want to see him. Mostly it's the awkwardness of seeing an uncle I was never close to and haven't seen since high school... I think. See, I can't even remember for sure when I saw him last but I think I was about 17 so that would have been well over ten years ago. I told someone earlier today that it's not that I'm angry with him. Later I admitted to myself that sometimes I'm a little angry with him because of how his behavior has affected his kids. Now... maybe I'm just cranky because it's getting late and I got up early and went to work today but... yeah, okay, I'm kind of angry with him. I'm not 100% sure why. Maybe it's just hard not to be a little upset with someone who's messed up so big so many times. Maybe it's because of what he's put my grandparents through. Maybe it's his kids... they're young adults now and I think they really believe it will be different this time. God, I hope it is different this time but there's so much room for doubt. I've heard about his plan for his new life. It's not a bad plan but from the sound of things he has no idea what it's really going to take to get there. </div><div><br /></div><div>Is it really fair of me, though? Is it fair to be this judgmental when I haven't even seen the guy and said welcome home, welcome back to life? Maybe it feels wrong because he's my uncle, he's older... no one ever told me to look up to him but I wasn't taught to disrespect him either. I have this memory of him trying to teach me to tie my shoes and I always wonder why he couldn't always be like that. He's really not all bad. I don't even think he's stupid. It's more than a little possible he has an astounding lack of common sense and I have heard him called stupid more than once but it's probably not quite accurate. </div></div><div><br /></div><div>Alright, I'm winding down, emotionally. I think I had better stop here. </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-3711916206350614954?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-44763575079573503172010-11-12T18:00:00.003-06:002010-11-13T06:37:07.643-06:00<div>6:00 p.m. / 18:00</div><br />Today I really wanted to go for a walk and enjoy what's left of fall with my boyfriend (who still doesn't have blog nickname). I wanted to go to a state park I love one state over but didn't really plan well. By the time we were really going to go, it was too late to drive there and get a good walk in before dark. So, we went to a large city park near where I live. It was absolutely gorgeous all except one thing. That park is where they set up a huge Christmas light display every year that people pay ($ goes to charity) to drive through. The display opens in about two weeks and they've already got a lot of it set up. It kind of marred the fall scenery. In the end, though, it was a really nice walk and I got several good pictures. There are some beautiful trees over there and the late afternoon sun had them lit up. I even took a few of the darn Christmas lights because it occurred to me the Christmas lights in the fall setting were interesting in a way and probably not as many people see them during set-up as will see them when they're lit up in a few weeks. It's also unseasonably warm today so we were walking in short sleeved shirts. It was kind of weird all around... beautiful but weird.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TN3Nv0tAKHI/AAAAAAAAAgk/6NSgZSjFaz8/s1600/027.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TN3Nv0tAKHI/AAAAAAAAAgk/6NSgZSjFaz8/s400/027.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538809338220521586" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TN3NvpXH5aI/AAAAAAAAAgc/IBVvTbeb9ac/s1600/019.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TN3NvpXH5aI/AAAAAAAAAgc/IBVvTbeb9ac/s400/019.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538809335175964066" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TN3NvUEtCSI/AAAAAAAAAgU/hQmIcsFEAVk/s1600/018.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TN3NvUEtCSI/AAAAAAAAAgU/hQmIcsFEAVk/s400/018.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538809329461561634" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TN3NvHBF23I/AAAAAAAAAgM/1rAcsToLZpU/s1600/004.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TN3NvHBF23I/AAAAAAAAAgM/1rAcsToLZpU/s400/004.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538809325956750194" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TN3NuYUSyDI/AAAAAAAAAgE/cTt3RyASVqE/s1600/010.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TN3NuYUSyDI/AAAAAAAAAgE/cTt3RyASVqE/s400/010.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538809313420822578" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-4476357507957350317?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-27780163594452888112010-11-11T23:01:00.001-06:002010-11-11T23:04:56.178-06:00<div>11:01 p.m. / 23:01</div><div><br /></div><div>My sense of time, where we are in the month of November, what day of the week it is and all of that is completely out of whack from the time change, being out town, then being sick, missing nearly a week of work in the end, working two days and then having tomorrow off. I don't know what's going on if I'm not looking at clock and a calendar. </div><div><br /></div>I started reading <i>Wicked Appetite</i> by Janet Evanovich last night. Still reading <i>Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day</i> by Winifred Watson on breaks and lunches at work. In the car I'm listening to <i>The Help</i> by Kathryn Stockett. I've already read it; I often re-read via audiobook. <div><br /></div><div>Tonight around the house I've been listening to a new music CD I checked out from the library called <i>The Sound of Sunshine</i> by Michael Franti &amp; Spearhead. It's entirely new to me but I like it so far. It's upbeat music. </div><div><br /></div><div>Going to have to cut this post short. I've waited too late tonight and I'm tired and quite frankly, cranky. So every time I try and think of something from my day worth adding I just think about how tired I am and then I think about how I'm feeling kind of cranky. It's a little circular and a lot unproductive. </div><div><br /></div><div>NaBloPoMo has its pluses but I feel like in my case it often ends up being about quantity rather than quality, or better yet both. I think both would be ideal; 30 posts in 30 days with about a 90 - 95% overall quality. That sounds good. </div><div><br /></div><div>I need my sleep. </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-2778016359445288811?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-35421238018910199342010-11-11T07:08:00.002-06:002010-11-11T07:12:04.267-06:007:10 a.m. / 07:10<div><br /></div><div>I'm working today so my main observance of Veterans Day will be to answer the phone and confirm that yes, we're open. Here is a little <a href="http://www.vfw.org/Community/Buddy-Poppy/"><span class="Apple-style-span" >poppy history</span></a> for you though. </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-3542123801891019934?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-6006205672634847462010-11-10T22:50:00.001-06:002010-11-10T22:50:51.777-06:00<div>10:50 p.m. / 22:50 </div><div><br /></div>Mostly done with the icky sicky business today so I went back to work. That was mostly successful except for a serious freak out over annual insurance papers that I have to turn in tomorrow. I spent the first hour kind of out of it in both a wow I haven't been here in awhile sense and also in a still a little sick head swimy kind of way. My condition improved though and I accomplished more than I expected to.<div><br /></div><div>Hopefully as I get back to business as usual I can provide higher quality blog posts. Don't hold you're breath though; I won't be held responsible for what happens if you do. I want the next interruption to my general routine to be less like getting sick and more like my fabulous weekend at a big cabin with friends. </div><div><br /></div><div>I finished reading <i>Ruffles and Drums</i> by Betty Cavanna. I liked it but not like I remember loving <i>Accent on April</i> and <i>The Scarlet Sail</i>. I'm tempted to re-read those now since they're short little books. It's more likely that I'll start in on one of the books in the stack that was waiting for me at work today. So, it will be <i>Luck Be a Lady</i> by Cathie Linz, <i>Wicked Appetite</i> by Janet Evanovich or, a rare nonfiction selection, <i>Running the Books: The Adventures of an Accidental Prison Librarian</i> by Avi Steinberg.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TNt1d1TaPxI/AAAAAAAAAf8/V81Hfk9Vyvs/s1600/Luck.aspx"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 124px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TNt1d1TaPxI/AAAAAAAAAf8/V81Hfk9Vyvs/s200/Luck.aspx" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538149322167303954" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TNt1dsqTKHI/AAAAAAAAAf0/JZ1YYU5AgQc/s1600/wick.aspx"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 132px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TNt1dsqTKHI/AAAAAAAAAf0/JZ1YYU5AgQc/s200/wick.aspx" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538149319847389298" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TNt1drwm7tI/AAAAAAAAAfs/jFytzcW00C4/s1600/books.aspx"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 136px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TNt1drwm7tI/AAAAAAAAAfs/jFytzcW00C4/s200/books.aspx" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538149319605415634" /></a></div><div><br /><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-600620567263484746?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-72368192349871748232010-11-09T21:15:00.001-06:002010-11-09T21:16:32.946-06:00<div>9:15 p.m. / 21:15</div><div><br /></div>Tonight I deleted a lot of stuff from my sidebar thinking less is more or whatever. The one major addition I made after all the subtracting is a twitter widget. I'm not sure I like it. Please tell me what you think about it. I tried to add at twitpic widget too but that didn't go well at all. I'm not sure if there's something wrong with the code or if it only works on left sidebars. Anyway, take a look at my new twitter widget and tell me what you think.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-7236819234987174823?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-15661786795927475022010-11-09T16:00:00.000-06:002010-11-09T16:00:00.981-06:00<div>4:00 / 16:00</div><div><br /></div>Be sure to check out these blogs too: <a href="http://www.velocibadgergirl.blogspot.com/">Pardon the Egg Salad</a> by velocibadgergirl and <a href="http://digityourself.blogspot.com/">The Dig-It-Yourself Garden</a> by Snappy J-Dog or just J-Dog. Both of these bloggers are good friends of mine who are also participating in <a href="http://www.nablopomo.com/">National Blog Posting Month</a> this year.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-1566178679592747502?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-52600618185789743612010-11-09T14:00:00.002-06:002010-11-09T14:09:47.610-06:00<div>2:00 p.m. / 14:00</div><div><br /></div>I haven't purchased any of these... yet. For now I'm just pretending I can have anything I want from <a href="http://etsy.com/">Etsy</a>. If you happen to be reading this past the original post date, keep in mind the links probably won't work anymore if the listings have changed. <div><br /></div><div>....................................................................................................<br /><div><br /></div><div>I probably look at earrings more than anything else on Etsy, so that's where I'll start.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'd have <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/61234664/pi-day-earrings">pi symbol earrings</a> which I could mix and match with <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/58038053/pumpkin-pie-earrings">pumpkin pie earrings</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>Of course I need <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/59214108/question-mark-earrings">question mark earrings</a> for working at the reference desk. </div><div><br /></div><div>I must have <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/60965285/scrabble-letter-dangle-earrings-choose">Scrabble tiles to dangle</a> from my ears!</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/61214318/lego-thin-tile-dangle-earrings-choose">Lego earrings</a>? Yes please!</div><div><br /></div><div>No sense in being too picky since this is all pretend so I'll take <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/61266738/mini-green-dice-stud-earrings-free-gift">green dice studs</a> too.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'll take some pretty glass bead earrings like <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/42450889/lampwork-glass-earrings-green-spiral">these</a> or <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/61016157/earrings-artisan-lampwork-glass-cobalt">these</a> and yes <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/53851316/green-opaque-luster-stained-glass">these</a> too for when I want be a bit more classy. </div><div><br /></div><div>....................................................................................................</div><div><br /></div><div>There's more to life than earrings, though, so I'm moving on to other items now.</div><div><br /></div><div>These <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/57005269/artie-the-owl-set-of-3-handmade-block">cards</a> might make nice Christmas cards or just anytime, keeping in touch with a letter cards. </div><div><br /></div><div>Who could resist this <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/59239923/owlies-two-tiny-hand-knit-stuffed-owls">cuteness</a>? </div><div><br /></div><div>If I could just get behind the notion that wrapping something around my neck is a good thing, I imagine this <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/18910885/zap-hand-knit-wool-blend-striped-scarf">bright stripey scarf</a> might make me smile on a cold winter's day.</div><div><br /></div><div>I usually don't buy leather except occasionally for shoes but this <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/31348462/autumnal-library-11-antique-and-scrap">beautiful book necklace</a> made with scrap leather is a fine item. </div><div><br /></div><div>I could find peace in the bottom of my cereal <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/56442036/navy-and-green-peace-bowl-hand-thrown">bowl</a> each morning. </div><div><br /></div><div>I am a hoarder of birthday candles and on the right cake these <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/60851410/on-sale-happy-beeswax-birthday-candles">beeswax b-day candles</a> would be so very charming. </div><div><br /></div><div>This <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/48515347/on-sale-honeybee-pillar-candle">honey bee pillar candle</a> is charming all by itself! </div><div><br /></div><div>I'll try a <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/40888434/chai-tea-bliss-premium-10-oz-soy-jar">chai tea soy candle</a>, oh, and also a <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/40888432/snickerdoodle-bliss-soy-10-oz-premium">snickerdoodle soy candle</a> too. </div><div><br /></div><div>I need a good pair of <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/61117061/convertible-fingerless-gloves-mittens">convertible gloves</a> or glittens!</div><div><br /></div><div>....................................................................................................</div><div><br /></div><div>This concludes today's imaginary Etsy shopping spree!</div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-5260061818578974361?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-26623226169038578972010-11-08T21:50:00.001-06:002010-11-08T21:50:25.260-06:00<div>9:50 p.m. / 21:50</div><div><br /></div>I felt fine yesterday morning when I woke up in a big cabin filled with some of my best friends but later at home, almost from the moment I let myself start winding down from the weekend with a nap and a hot shower, I started feeling not so great. At first I figured I was just still really tired. Then I figured I was tired and my allergies were really getting the best of me. By bedtime, though, I had to admit I was sick. <div><br /></div><div>I'm not good a being sick. Should I have pushed myself today to unpack or is it good that I was in bed either reading or sleeping most of the day? I don't really feel like writing either but it's NaBloPoMo and I'm tired of being in bed anyway so I'm pushing myself to do at least this. </div><div><br /></div><div>Since I was sick today, in between naps I made it through the second half of <i>Happy Ever After</i>, the fourth and final book in Nora Roberts' Bride Quartet. It was good but I'd have liked a more detailed epilogue a little further into the future. I suppose next I might read <i>Ruffles and Drums</i> by Betty Cavanna. I finished <i>Mad, Bad and Blonde</i> by Cathie Linz on Thursday before I threw myself more fully into getting ready for the weekend at the cabin. It ended up being just good enough that I'll probably read the next one, <i>Luck Be a Lady</i>. I've made no further progress on <i>Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day</i> by Winifred Watson because it's in my locker at work, where I haven't been since Wednesday. </div><div><br /></div><div>This morning I fell back asleep in between deciding I'd have to call in sick and actually making the call. I dreamed I went to work to say I couldn't stay. In the dream, I worked in some sort of clothing retail store, rather than a library. Customers kept asking for help and I had to help them so I wouldn't seem rude and I couldn't get to my boss to say I was sick because the customers were keeping me busy. </div><div><br /></div><div>Not sure if I have a bad cold or a mild flu. It's mostly like a head cold but so bad I'm a little dizzy sometimes plus I just feel weak and this morning I was achy everywhere. </div><div><br /></div><div>By the way, all of those nature photographs in yesterday's post are from my weekend trip. It was a beautiful weekend, even if it did end with me getting sick.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-2662322616903857897?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-43981422098750061782010-11-07T16:55:00.000-06:002010-11-07T16:55:37.247-06:004:55 p.m. / 16:55<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TNctnoJq2gI/AAAAAAAAAeA/Y_hWfN1Z26U/s1600/075.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TNctnoJq2gI/AAAAAAAAAeA/Y_hWfN1Z26U/s400/075.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536944425691437570" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TNctlrKNaCI/AAAAAAAAAd4/TTeLPXOA1ro/s1600/071.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TNctlrKNaCI/AAAAAAAAAd4/TTeLPXOA1ro/s400/071.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536944392139270178" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TNctleWlHHI/AAAAAAAAAdw/4lsw87vCTJQ/s1600/055.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TNctleWlHHI/AAAAAAAAAdw/4lsw87vCTJQ/s400/055.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536944388701494386" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TNcsuKXUX9I/AAAAAAAAAdo/Xk1LFEhdC7w/s1600/054.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TNcsuKXUX9I/AAAAAAAAAdo/Xk1LFEhdC7w/s400/054.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536943438443077586" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TNcstz_YJ_I/AAAAAAAAAdg/nhp1kqvtxr8/s1600/052.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TNcstz_YJ_I/AAAAAAAAAdg/nhp1kqvtxr8/s400/052.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536943432437082098" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TNcstYYa_2I/AAAAAAAAAdY/Ii5YzLFtUEg/s1600/050.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TNcstYYa_2I/AAAAAAAAAdY/Ii5YzLFtUEg/s400/050.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536943425025933154" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TNcsswu0g6I/AAAAAAAAAdQ/NZMFk7O5B2g/s1600/045.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TNcsswu0g6I/AAAAAAAAAdQ/NZMFk7O5B2g/s400/045.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536943414382461858" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TNcsscczz9I/AAAAAAAAAdI/FdtaAmEc99k/s1600/041.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TNcsscczz9I/AAAAAAAAAdI/FdtaAmEc99k/s400/041.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536943408938209234" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TNcr6_XjZiI/AAAAAAAAAdA/31FWUxLFB-0/s1600/040.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TNcr6_XjZiI/AAAAAAAAAdA/31FWUxLFB-0/s400/040.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536942559317943842" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TNcr6bO7AfI/AAAAAAAAAc4/SsU4Wu5LYWw/s1600/039.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TNcr6bO7AfI/AAAAAAAAAc4/SsU4Wu5LYWw/s400/039.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536942549618065906" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TNcr5jPPEgI/AAAAAAAAAcw/vpKXriHP9Uo/s1600/038.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TNcr5jPPEgI/AAAAAAAAAcw/vpKXriHP9Uo/s400/038.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536942534586995202" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TNcr40xTDVI/AAAAAAAAAco/Nk-fyqS1lSM/s1600/035.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TNcr40xTDVI/AAAAAAAAAco/Nk-fyqS1lSM/s400/035.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536942522113396050" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TNcr4dSIdUI/AAAAAAAAAcg/nxT3CR4O_y4/s1600/021.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TNcr4dSIdUI/AAAAAAAAAcg/nxT3CR4O_y4/s400/021.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536942515808662850" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-4398142209875006178?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-65779296302063701242010-11-06T12:01:00.003-05:002010-11-06T12:01:00.521-05:0012:01 p.m. / 12:01<div><br /></div><div>Author websites used to be my go-to resource for figuring out what order a series of books goes in. Most of the time this works but every now and then an author doesn't have a website or the books page isn't organized by series and it gets confusing. So what I usually do instead now is go to to Google and type in the author's name plus fantastic fiction. <a href="http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/">Fantastic Fiction</a> is a British website that does a really good job of keeping up with nearly every author, their books and what order they go in. </div><div><br /></div><div>Okay, time for an example. I'm going to use Nora Roberts just because she's the author who's come to mind here as I write. In actuality, her website <a href="http://www.noraroberts.com/books/trilogies.html">lists her trilogies and series</a> very nicely but I'm having a hard time right now thinking of an author who's website I've had trouble with. Anyway, if you go to Google and type in...</div><div><br /></div><div>Nora Roberts Fantastic Fiction</div><div><br /></div><div>...then her <a href="http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/r/nora-roberts/">profile and book list</a> will either A) be the first result on the list or B) pop right up if you've used the I'm Feeling Lucky button. This works nearly every time. Once or twice it's landed me on the profile page for one of the author's books but it's easy enough to navigate from there to the author's profile. </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-6577929630206370124?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-23117522807133290122010-11-05T08:00:00.002-05:002010-11-05T08:00:15.522-05:008:00 a.m. / 08:00<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Gratuitous kitty pictures!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TNMsm_iW8kI/AAAAAAAAAcY/8fUjG11D8bg/s1600/002.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TNMsm_iW8kI/AAAAAAAAAcY/8fUjG11D8bg/s400/002.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535817415370666562" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">They're not enemies but I don't find them like this every day.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TNMsmkQekQI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/7odqvugLARw/s1600/001.JPG"><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TNMsmkQekQI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/7odqvugLARw/s400/001.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535817408047911170" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I don't let them into the bedroom all of the time but I was reading a lot the day I took these and wanted the company. They seem more prone to cuddliness on the bed for some reason. </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-2311752280713329012?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-87971641507323142172010-11-04T13:05:00.001-05:002010-11-04T13:08:35.938-05:00<div>1:05 p.m. / 13:05</div><div><br /></div>Last Thursday I was on a roll. I cleaned two rooms in my rather untidy house. I mean I really cleaned them... there was dusting and vacuuming, mopping and unearthing of surfaces not recently seen. The cats were perturbed. I got so much done.<div><br /></div><div>Today? Today I really need to be getting stuff done. I have places to go, people to see. Nothing is getting done. I am completely disorganized, although I've finally managed to make some lists. I'm just distracted by every little thing today. At least I'll no longer be distracted by the question of what to blog about today since clearly I've opted to rant about my own lack of... something. </div><div><br /></div><div>I've been reading and it's not even that good of a book. I'm about halfway through <i>Mad, Bad and Blonde</i> and it has moments of awesomeness but overall it's a bit bland and has a lot of stereotypes in it.</div><div><br /></div><div>If I can't get my shit together, I'm going to have to skip going to an author talk tonight. Honestly right now I don't even feel like going but I might regret it later if I don't go.</div><div><br /></div><div>And it's kind of turning into a cloudy day. I do so much better on sunny days, I swear. </div><div><br /></div><div>Damn, I'm a big whiner today.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-8797164150732314217?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-91399087702138553322010-11-03T23:20:00.004-05:002010-11-03T23:34:56.341-05:00<div>11:20 p.m. / 23:20</div><div><br /></div>Feeling so overwhelmed by everything I need to line up by Friday afternoon I'm having trouble putting together lists of what needs to be done. I feel like it'd be good if I just went to bed. I know I'd think clearer in the morning but I don't want to wake up to this mess with no plan at all. I need to know where to start in the morning.<div><br /></div><div>Work was weird tonight. I had a woman who's family is going through bad times and I nearly lost control. I thought I was going to cry and I kind of think she's the kind of person who'd have tried to comfort me and that just would have made it worse because she's the one with the problems that need comforting. I couldn't really find what she needed. I ended up suggesting she ask the therapist for title suggestions. Then even if we don't have them she can go through interlibrary loan.</div><div><br /></div><div>Then later, one of our regular patrons, a little boy, told me he wasn't allowed to look at books tonight. I don't know what that was all about but I can't imagine a good reason for it. I heard his grandma tell him no books tonight but I hadn't realized she meant he couldn't even look at some while she was busy using one of our computers. It was odd too because I'd just found and re-read <a href="http://080181.blogspot.com/2006/11/no-books.html">this post &amp; attached comments</a> this morning.</div><div><br /></div><div>Oh, drat; I'm really not supposed to blog about work anymore. It's just that so much happens there!</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm really feeling good about doing NaBloPoMo this year but I didn't want to get entirely away from writing with pen and paper, something I've been doing more of in the past year than I was for awhile. So, before work today I gathered my journal, a couple of letters from a former co-worker and a blank card. After work, I took myself to the cafe in Barnes &amp; Noble where I wouldn't have a computer, cats, housework etc. to distract me. I wrote in my journal for a bit and then wrote a reply to the former co-worker who moved many states away two months ago. I have to say that while absolutely nothing else in my life has been organized this week, I planned and executed that exercise beautifully. </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-9139908770213855332?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-10212558198671291192010-11-03T10:40:00.001-05:002010-11-03T10:40:00.127-05:00<div>10:40 a.m. / 10:40</div><div><br /></div><a href="http://nancypearlbooks.wordpress.com/">Nancy Pearl</a> often writes about out of print books she wishes someone would put back into print. I read an interview with her about a month ago in which she mentioned she'd like to see all of <a href="http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/c/betty-cavanna/">Betty Cavanna</a>'s books back in print. I would have to agree with her on this lady author. I have my mom's old copies of <i>Accent on April</i> and <i>The Scarlet Sail</i>. I believe I read them in high school. I've gone back and re-read all or parts of <i>Accent on April</i> over the years. They're sweet, classic teen romances. I don't know if they'd resonate with the <a href="http://www.ellenhopkins.com/">Ellen Hopkins</a>*crowd, but I do believe they could still find an audience today. <div><br /></div><div>Since all of Betty Cavanna's books are out of print currently, I've added as many of them as I could to my <a href="http://www.bookmooch.com/">Bookmooch</a> wishlist. I was lucky enough to be able to get <i>Ruffles and Dreams</i> right away. It came in the mail just two days ago and I haven't had time to read it yet but I'm looking forward to it. The two that were my mom's are contemporary stories, or at least they were when the were written. <i>Ruffles and Drums</i> takes place during the Revolutionary War, though, so it should be a little different.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TNGBmz6TFBI/AAAAAAAAAcI/YTtNn4wPNdQ/s1600/002.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TNGBmz6TFBI/AAAAAAAAAcI/YTtNn4wPNdQ/s400/002.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535347920784790546" /></a><br /></div><div>Some libraries may still have copies of Betty Cavanna's books but the system I work for does not. They had one listed when I checked but it was marked missing shortly after I placed a hold and requested it be transferred to the branch I work at. My guesses are that the books were withdrawn due to wear and tear or because old fashioned cover pictures no longer appealed to a new crowd of readers, so they weren't getting checked out even though the stories are good.</div><div><br /></div><div>Anything out of print that you'd like to see make a return?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div>*No offense intended to Ellen Hopkins or her readers.</div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-1021255819867129119?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-22812751751950855332010-11-02T22:25:00.000-05:002010-11-02T22:25:00.813-05:00<div>10:25 p.m. / 22:25</div><div><br /></div>I really feel alive on Election Day. I get more excited about Election Day than I do about any sporting event. It's my thing, I guess. I've had C-SPAN on all night. Most of the people I voted for lost but I was expecting that. I'll just say I'm not a republican and leave it at that. It has still been an interesting evening. <div><br /></div><div>I hope you voted even if I don't agree with you politically. I believe it's an important right to exercise. My boyfriend* voted for the first time today, although he only voted on the public question and abstained on the rest. It's progress, though. And, as he points out, with the right to vote comes the right not to vote. He at least has better reasons than just not caring. I just happen to disagree with his reasons. </div><div><br /></div><div>Already looking forward to the next election and hoping we'll see some good things happen between now and then. </div><div><br /></div><div>*He still needs a blog nickname. I've never come up with one; tempted to have some sort of contest.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-2281275175195085533?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-38628524153248381742010-11-01T22:15:00.001-05:002010-11-01T22:15:00.026-05:0010:15 p.m. / 22:15<br /><br />Look! I got my badge! <div><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.nablopomo.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TM989ZUsEQI/AAAAAAAAAbw/hlkKshEVdug/s1600/nablo_typer_160px.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 162px; height: 162px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TM989ZUsEQI/AAAAAAAAAbw/hlkKshEVdug/s400/nablo_typer_160px.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534779861273153794" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Okay, not a big deal really.<br /><br />Anyway, I know my earlier post was not exactly fantastic First Day of NaBloPoMo material so I thought I'd throw second post out here. Honestly today was not the ideal day for me to start a project like NaBloPoMo but whatever. It is what it is. </div><div><br /></div><div>Today I started reading <i>Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day</i> by Winifred Watson. It was my suggestion for the book group at work this month. So far it's not as good as I'd hoped and even though it's older than some (but not all) of our regular participants, I suspect it is scandalizing some of them. I'm also reading <i>Mad, Bad and Blonde</i> by Cathie Linz. In the car, I'm listening to <i>Savor the Moment</i> by Nora Roberts. I got a copy of <i>Ruffles and Drums</i> by Betty Cavanna in the mail today via <a href="http://bookmooch.com/">Bookmooch</a>. More on Betty Cavanna another time.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've been trying to clean up my sidebar links but... it's a work in progress. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-3862852415324838174?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-42629467871603016682010-11-01T09:25:00.001-05:002010-11-01T09:25:00.075-05:00<div>9:25 a.m. / 09:25</div><div><br /></div>I did <a href="http://www.nablopomo.com/">National Blog Posting Month</a>, or NaBloPoMo, in 2006 and 2007 but I have not even attempted it since then... until NOW! I will be attempting my third successful NaBloPoMo this month. I will be writing about great and exciting things each and every day, even on Thanksgiving Day! That's the plan anyway. Also, I hope you have pretty loose definitions of great and exciting.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-4262946787160301668?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-7817073161120247922010-09-13T22:00:00.000-05:002010-09-13T22:00:02.305-05:00<div>10:00 PM / 22:00</div><div><br /></div>This will be a fairly short post. I have a simple request for teachers. If you are sending your students to the library, any library, with a specific assignment make sure the library actually has what the students need first. This issue came up twice at work today. <div><br /></div><div>One student needed an article from a long-running magazine. It had to be at least 100 years old. I'm sure somewhere in the country there are libraries that would have what she needed on microfilm but our library system does not. We have access to some great databases but they don't go back that far yet. </div><div><br /></div><div>The children's librarian discovered a third grade teacher assigned the whole class to read a book of which there are five or six copies in the entire local library system. </div><div><br /></div><div>I admire teachers very much. It's a hard job that not just anyone can do. I love the cooperation that happens between schools and libraries. It's all about knowledge and sharing. It would go a whole lot smoother, though, if teachers would check to see if the library has the needed resources before sending students to the library.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-781707316112024792?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-80723139574404891482010-08-03T23:15:00.002-05:002010-08-03T23:22:53.153-05:00<div>11:15 p.m. / 23:15</div><div><br /></div>My reading obsession actually extends beyond working in a library and collecting books. Even my wardrobe reflects my bibliophilia. Let me show you what I mean with pictures of my book loving library girl garb. These are some of my favorite clothes; a few don't really fit anymore but I haven't felt like letting go of them yet. I wanted to link the pictures to where the items came from when possible, but that didn't work out this time. So, there are links at the bottom of the post. Some of these are't available anymore anyway. A warning about the second-to-last picture-- it might be TMI for some people but I think the world needs to know something so random and awesome exists. <div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TFgUcc9_w4I/AAAAAAAAAbY/pnHDSU2G5Vg/s1600/008.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TFgUcc9_w4I/AAAAAAAAAbY/pnHDSU2G5Vg/s320/008.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501169423878177666" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">I got this one for my birthday from a T-shirt loving friend, just in time to be included in this post.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TFgUcBf1DcI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/4W1dwtm78vQ/s1600/021.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TFgUcBf1DcI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/4W1dwtm78vQ/s320/021.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501169416503889346" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">This may very well be the one I've had the longest. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TFgUTTA_AmI/AAAAAAAAAbI/_eVRqdgWOPs/s1600/013.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TFgUTTA_AmI/AAAAAAAAAbI/_eVRqdgWOPs/s320/013.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501169266587533922" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Don't tell HR.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TFgUS825x2I/AAAAAAAAAbA/Rfxp7rZ1-6g/s1600/020.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TFgUS825x2I/AAAAAAAAAbA/Rfxp7rZ1-6g/s320/020.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501169260639668066" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">I am! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TFgUSswF2LI/AAAAAAAAAa4/FE6w_BBNa90/s1600/019.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TFgUSswF2LI/AAAAAAAAAa4/FE6w_BBNa90/s320/019.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501169256316131506" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Christmas present in 2006 from one of my uncles. It's a tad large, so I mostly wear it as a nightshirt. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TFgUSPvygHI/AAAAAAAAAaw/sHTfX0mn6y8/s1600/018.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TFgUSPvygHI/AAAAAAAAAaw/sHTfX0mn6y8/s320/018.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501169248530235506" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Christmas present in 2007 from the same uncle. He came to the library with my father and insisted I open it at the reference desk. I'm not actually sure if I have a librarian voice. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TFgURsgI_GI/AAAAAAAAAao/1z5AE8GChKs/s1600/017.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TFgURsgI_GI/AAAAAAAAAao/1z5AE8GChKs/s320/017.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501169239069359202" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Since this one is wordless, I'm occasionally tempted to try wearing this one to work, maybe on one of the days jeans are allowed. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TFgT5MQUK1I/AAAAAAAAAag/GChtUiD3EMY/s1600/015.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TFgT5MQUK1I/AAAAAAAAAag/GChtUiD3EMY/s320/015.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501168818096188242" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Star Trek and reading?! *heart*</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TFgT4_09d8I/AAAAAAAAAaY/kyLKBDZg5Ds/s1600/012.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TFgT4_09d8I/AAAAAAAAAaY/kyLKBDZg5Ds/s320/012.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501168814760228802" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">I've had this one since way before the movie and all that.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TFgT4fKMaUI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/GIOdsdIknFY/s1600/010.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TFgT4fKMaUI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/GIOdsdIknFY/s320/010.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501168805990918466" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">This shirt is just all around cool; cool message and cool design. There's nothing wrong with television, but we all need to turn it off and read sometimes.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TFgT4AuRbkI/AAAAAAAAAaI/z2bW9QJoUpA/s1600/022.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TFgT4AuRbkI/AAAAAAAAAaI/z2bW9QJoUpA/s320/022.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501168797820743234" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Book Worm panties. I never thought I'd post a picture of my underwear on the internet, but who would believe these exist without a picture?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TFgT3mjDIyI/AAAAAAAAAaA/HL0cdnoTeWY/s1600/023.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TFgT3mjDIyI/AAAAAAAAAaA/HL0cdnoTeWY/s320/023.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501168790794347298" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Another birthday gift from this year from a friend who's an expert yard sale shopper. It's really more of an accessory, I suppose, but I felt it must be included here. </div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.unshelved.com/store">Unshelved</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://shirt.woot.com/">shirt.woot</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.threadless.com/catalog/line,typetees">Type Tees / Threadless</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-8072313957440489148?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-31580048145277949482010-07-25T21:45:00.000-05:002010-07-25T21:45:00.730-05:00<div>9:45 p.m. / 21:45</div><br />It is a point of pride and a point of shame for me that I work in a library <i>and </i>spend quite a little bit of my money buying books. I feel like I've curbed the habit some in the past two and a half years, but it's hard to say for sure. I'm a little less likely to buy one book almost weekly, or at least every other week, which I think I was close to doing at one point, but I'm more likely to binge and buy a whole stack of books. Tonight was a binge night. As most of me was picking out books, part of me was observing and taking mental notes. It's really a shame I didn't have Itty Bitty, my netbook, or I would have told my story from the bookstore cafe while my observations were fresh. <div><br /></div><div>I'll spare you the story of what brought me to the bookstore in the first place and move straight to the part where I knew I was going to buy at least one book because I wanted something to look at while I enjoyed desert in the cafe without being concerned about spills and whatnot. I hadn't brought a book, my journal or my netbook because this was a somewhat spur of the moment trip to the bookstore to get desert by myself. So, I went up to the fiction section before going to the cafe. </div><div><br /></div><div>I began a series of mental searches through stored biblio-information to try and determine what book I could buy with the least guilt; what made the most sense long-term. I eventually settled on <i>Any Place I Hang My Hat</i> by Susan Isaacs because I'm reading <i>Fly Away Home</i> by Jennifer Weiner and Jennifer Weiner is a fan of Susan Isaacs. I decided it was a pretty safe bet to buy a book by an author that an author I'm a fan of is a fan of. Did you follow that? If not, it was totally my fault. Anyway, I used logic, or what passes for logic in my brain, to choose the book and was feeling pretty good about it. Then I turned down the science fiction / fantasy aisle. </div><div><br /></div><div>For some reason, this was the point where I got a little crazy. This was the point when the kid-in-a-candy-store feeling became overwhelming. This was were my brain started chanting BOOKS, BOOKS, BOOKS, like Garfield chanting CANDY, CANDY, CANDY in his Halloween special. Books are so pretty with all their colorful covers drawing you in making you just certain they contain wonderful, unforgeable stories. I actually felt kind of buzzed, or electrified. I had to have more books! I decided I'd get one from each part of the fiction section of the store. I had one from the general fiction, so I set about selecting <i>Dandelion Wine</i> by Ray Bradbury, <i>Whose Body?</i> by Dorothy Sayers, <i>The Beekeeper's Apprentice</i> by Laurie King and <i>Dreaming of You</i> by Lisa Kleypas. Two were mysteries, though so I found enough sense to cut one of them from the stack. I put back <i>The Beekeeper's Apprentice</i> because it was more expensive than <i>Whose Body?</i>. </div><div><br /></div><div>By the time I paid for the final four books and was reading the first page of each one in the cafe while I enjoyed my blondie and iced chai latte, good sense was returning and I felt kind of guilty, but I HAD BOOKS!! They are sitting on my desk while I write this. I want to start reading each one of them right now, but that's totally unrealistic. Four books is too many to read at one time. Who knows if I'll even start one of them this week. But they're sitting there looking almost as good and delicious as that blondie I ate. </div><div><br /></div><div>In a few days, I might be walking past my bookshelf and see a book and wonder why I've hung on to it for so long and move it to the box of books I'll give friends at Christmas or list it on <a href="http://www.bookmooch.com/">Bookmooch</a>. It's only a matter of time before I sit down in front of the shelves and pick out a whole stack to purge from the collection. At the library, it's called weeding. I don't know if it's a habit I learned from working there or an inevitable result of my continued book buying habit. Yes, it's a habit, the buying binges, the purging... possibly it's not the most financially sound habit, but hey, at least it's legal and fairly healthy. Healthy... that reminds me I still have ice cream in the freezer. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TEz1gu2_YjI/AAAAAAAAAW4/zOHD6Y3gy8o/s1600/008.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TEz1gu2_YjI/AAAAAAAAAW4/zOHD6Y3gy8o/s320/008.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498039187795829298" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/TEz1VE8tyUI/AAAAAAAAAWw/DuzESPzqZag/s1600/008.JPG"></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-3158004814527794948?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-52376349033329970152010-06-22T19:05:00.001-05:002010-06-22T19:07:44.575-05:007:05 p.m. / 19:05<br /><br />Back in my ice cream shop days, I much preferred to work the drive through window. Now days, I'd be fine if they closed all of them. My reasons:<br /><br /><ol><li>Popular fast food restaurants, such as McDonald's, have lines that can actually block traffic on the city roads. I pass two McDonald's on my way to work that sometimes have lines out into the street.<br /></li><li>You can get stuck in them. A lot of them are set up so you can't pull out of line if you have a need to.</li><li>All those idling cars? Seriously not good for air quality. They really should close drive-thru's on ozone alert days.<br /></li><li>It's probably not much up against a Big Mac or a Whopper, but walking to the counter from a car is more exercise than sitting in the drive-thru lane.<br /></li><li>I haven't done a proper study, but I've never found much evidence that going through the drive-thru actually saves time.</li></ol>I'm willing to make an exception for pharmacy drive-thru's.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-5237634903332997015?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-83117072444834235272010-06-06T23:25:00.001-05:002010-06-06T23:32:13.075-05:00<div>11:25 p.m. / 23:25</div><div><br /></div>I've realized that more than anything else, time has become the big block to my blogging. Is it really any surprise? If you know me at all, then you know I don't get along with time. I've gotten better, and hope I'll continue getting better, but time management is not a natural talent of mine. <div><br /></div><div>I think the problem here at A Work in Progress began with a lack of things to talk about. Then I just got out of the habit. At some point I began coming up with ideas again but I no longer remembered how to make time for writing them. Some weeks I'm surprised I get the laundry done. I used to blog and get the laundry done, though, so maybe I can learn again. No promises, though. I should be outside watering all the droopy front yard flower right now, as a matter of fact. See, there's all of these offline things that need doing. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'd like to try and write about books some again, although that's harder than it used to be. When I first started blogging about books for my job, I thought I'd cross-post, but I realized quickly that would cause problems. When a book is good enough I have a lot to say about it, I'll probably say it on the blog I write for at work. So, probably that leaves me just getting to tell you what I'm reading. </div><div><br /></div><div>So, right now I'm reading <i>Hey Cowboy, Wanna Get Lucky</i> by Baxter Black and <i>The Redemption of Sarah Cain</i> by Beverly Lewis. Baxter Black is a pretty funny writer. The book is about a couple of rodeo cowboys named Cody and Lick in the early 80's. It took longer than I expected, but I'm getting pretty into this book. </div><div><br /></div><div>It's taking even longer to get into the Beverly Lewis selection. I don't read a lot of Christian fiction, but she's a big name in the genre and queen of the sub-genre of Christian fiction about the Amish. The movie based on the book, called <i>Saving Sarah Cain</i>, came into the library. It looked like it might be interesting and I looked up the book and found it was a stand-alone and decided to give it a try. It's about a rich Portland, Oregon real estate agent who's been named in her sister's will to be guardian of her sister's orphaned children, who've grown up in the Amish community of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. </div><div><br /></div><div>Side Note: A lot of Christian fiction is series. </div><div><br /></div><div>I like to read some Christian fiction every now and then because of how popular it is with the library patrons. In the past I've read one that was so dull I can't remember the title or the author right now, plus one by Karen Kingsbury (another big name) called <i>Oceans Apart</i>. I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy it. It was very compelling, even if all of the religious aspects didn't line up with my personal beliefs. After that one, I read <i>Quaker Summer</i> by Lisa Samson and I really liked it too, but for different reasons. I found it more inline with my spiritual philosophies. </div><div><br /></div><div>Before these two books, I read <i>The Help</i> by Kathryn Stockett. It's about black maids in Mississippi during the early 60's when the civil rights movement was... well, moving. It's one I strongly recommend. So far, I haven't talked to anyone who's read it and didn't like it.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, yes, I'd like to write about books a little more. I've also thought about writing game reviews. Like reviews of board games, card games and party games. They would include things like how many people seems to be ideal for playing the game... possibly emphasis on games that are fun for just two people. I've been surprised the past two years or so at how hard it can be sometimes to find games that are fun with just one other person. I've also started hosting game nights once a month, which I think would help me keep me in game stuff to write about. I wouldn't cover video games, though. A friend of mine has that covered and then some with <a href="http://crummysocks.com/">Crummy Socks</a>, <a href="http://protipoftheday.com/">Pro Tip of the Day</a>, <a href="http://pushbuttonb.com/">Push Button B</a>, and <a href="http://closeoutwarrior.com/">The Closeout Warrior</a>. Also, I guess someday I need to do #100 of my 100 Things. When all else fails, I suppose can post pictures of my cats for people who are into pictures of cats.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, here's to my great blogging comeback! Maybe.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-8311707244483423527?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-24606651091847239592009-12-13T21:30:00.000-06:002009-12-13T21:34:45.402-06:00<div>9:30 p.m. / 21:30</div><div><br /></div>I have not a clue who to credit for this, but I didn't write it. It's from a Christmas card that <a href="http://velocibadgergirl.blogspot.com/">velocibadgergirl</a> sent me last year. <div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">A Book Lover's Christmas</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Twelve Grishams Gripping</div><div style="text-align: center;">Eleven Unfortunate Events Unfolding</div><div style="text-align: center;">Ten Clancy Heroes Leaping</div><div style="text-align: center;">Nine Hobbits Dancing</div><div style="text-align: center;">Eight Plots Thickening</div><div style="text-align: center;">Seven Habits of Highly Effective People</div><div style="text-align: center;">Six Book Club Meetings</div><div style="text-align: center;">Five Little Golden Books</div><div style="text-align: center;">Four Da Vinci Clues</div><div style="text-align: center;">Three Chilling King Tales</div><div style="text-align: center;">Two Green Eggs &amp; Ham</div><div style="text-align: center;">A Potter in a Pear Tree</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-2460665109184723959?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-2054485066800562952009-12-02T01:10:00.001-06:002009-12-02T01:16:10.705-06:001:10 a.m. / 01:10<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SxYRgXIsc8I/AAAAAAAAAWk/Dcp67CfDVOk/s1600-h/grown.upFizzgig.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SxYRgXIsc8I/AAAAAAAAAWk/Dcp67CfDVOk/s320/grown.upFizzgig.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410531249996198850" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SxYRgMABKhI/AAAAAAAAAWc/J_MkLf2zP3M/s1600-h/books%26Mabel.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SxYRgMABKhI/AAAAAAAAAWc/J_MkLf2zP3M/s320/books%26Mabel.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410531247007017490" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SxYRfzj4qMI/AAAAAAAAAWU/qTMKLkFc-Jc/s1600-h/003.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SxYRfzj4qMI/AAAAAAAAAWU/qTMKLkFc-Jc/s320/003.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410531240446568642" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SxYRfmsaHcI/AAAAAAAAAWM/g8YDtz09COA/s1600-h/002.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SxYRfmsaHcI/AAAAAAAAAWM/g8YDtz09COA/s320/002.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410531236992654786" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SxYRfLfYLrI/AAAAAAAAAWE/XhX_1bVvMok/s1600-h/001.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SxYRfLfYLrI/AAAAAAAAAWE/XhX_1bVvMok/s320/001.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410531229690244786" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-205448506680056295?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-74123357317691934222009-12-02T00:45:00.002-06:002009-12-02T00:45:00.186-06:0012:45 a.m. / 00:45<div><br /></div><div>From time to time, I throw a bunch of stuff in a pot, cook it &amp; eat it, all without consulting any recipe or even thinking about it much. </div><div><br /></div><div>Things thrown into the pot tonight:</div><div><br /></div><div>pasta</div><div>(fake) ground beef</div><div>corn (frozen)</div><div>tomatoes (fresh)</div><div>condensed broccoli cheddar soup</div><div>dijon mustard </div><div>Kraft American cheese slices</div><div>salsa </div><div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-7412335731769193422?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-77919479151642840062009-10-05T10:50:00.000-05:002009-10-05T10:51:26.235-05:00<div>10:50 a.m. / 10:50</div><div><br /></div><div>Fall seems to be settling in for good, which is alright with me because I am so over hot, humid weather right now. I'm really not a fan of cold weather either though... especially not winter-cold. This is a list of things I recommend keeping in stock at home to make it through the cool months.</div><ul><li>hot chocolate</li><li>other miscellaneous warm beverages</li><li>blankets</li><li>cozy bed</li><li>knee socks and / or thick socks</li><li>flannel pajamas</li><li>normal hoodie</li><li>fleece-lined hoodie</li><li>books</li><li>cats</li></ul><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-7791947915164284006?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-23856406636402722312009-08-05T22:59:00.002-05:002010-06-06T23:26:50.621-05:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">10:59 p.m. / 22:59</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I used to post a lot about the books I was reading. I know once I posted a </span><a href="http://080181.blogspot.com/2006/09/big-novel-list.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">list</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> of the fiction I own. That list has changed a lot. I've gotten rid of a lot of those and added others. I've read some of the ones I hadn't read yet then. Maybe next month I'll post a three year anniversary of the list update post thing. Anyway, I wanted to tell you that my current percentage of read books in my fiction collection is about 60%. I'd like it to be about 40% higher, but this is progress! I've cut back on buying books in general and cut way back on buying books I haven't already read.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I'd like to link you to my Library Thing account, but I can't remember the address and wouldn't you know it, Library Thing is down right now. Of course, when it comes back, you can get to my account via the widget on my sidebar. I list books I own &amp; have read on Library Thing... except I think there are a few non-fiction titles I haven't actually read.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I thought my font issues were worked out, but I still can't fix those posts and I expect this one will not be any different.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><a href="http://080181.blogspot.com/2009/03/silicone.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">My last post</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">, which was, heaven help me, in March, was about silicone baking cups. Update on that: I don't like them very much.</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-2385640663640272231?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-43649707462288377752009-03-29T21:25:00.002-05:002009-08-05T22:32:41.114-05:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">9:25 p.m. / 21:25<br /><br />I know most people love silicone bakeware, but I've always been skeptical. It just seems like the type of thing that ten years from now we'll be reading is unhealthy. So when I received some silicone cupcake wrappers from my grandma tonight, I wasn't sure how to feel. Then I remembered reading </span><a href="http://www.grist.org/advice/ask/2009/03/11/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">this</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> earlier in the month. It's not exactly advocating for silicone bakeware, but it made me feel better about silicone all the way around. It doesn't sound horribly unsafe and as far as these cupcake wrappers go, I can actually save paper using them. I might still use paper sometimes if I'm taking cupcakes somewhere I'd be afraid to loose the silicone ones, but otherwise I'll probably keep using the silicone ones. Well, unless I find some horrible flaw in their function; I've already noticed the might be smaller than the paper ones I'm used to.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SdAsCzfo2_I/AAAAAAAAAV0/veO3Dvo2rQo/s1600-h/cups02.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SdAsCzfo2_I/AAAAAAAAAV0/veO3Dvo2rQo/s320/cups02.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318799586618825714" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SdAsCg-yAtI/AAAAAAAAAVs/MxGdQAviFrU/s1600-h/cups01.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SdAsCg-yAtI/AAAAAAAAAVs/MxGdQAviFrU/s320/cups01.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318799581649175250" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And now an unrelated, gratuitous Fizzgig picture, because I haven't posted one of him since he was tiny. He's almost 10 months old now; much bigger, but still growing!</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SdAsxyM0LmI/AAAAAAAAAV8/GcBP4CHcBjs/s1600-h/Fizzgig_March2009.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SdAsxyM0LmI/AAAAAAAAAV8/GcBP4CHcBjs/s320/Fizzgig_March2009.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318800393725292130" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-4364970746228837775?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-56188689401150379662009-03-29T20:45:00.003-05:002010-06-06T23:26:50.621-05:00<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">8:45 p.m. / 20:45</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Possible Reasons I Rarely Blog These Days:</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I have less time. It's not the greatest excuse in the world; many, many people who are busier than I am find time to blog, but then again, time management is far, far from being one of my strengths.</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I think of great ideas during the day at work, but then I'm too tired to care later. Lame.</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I can no longer blog about work. At all. Ever. This is probably pushing it. There's been a big thing about social networking and what's considered public and what's not and it hasn't been pretty and I really cannot say anymore.</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I blog as part of my job now. Not often, but when I do it's usually about books, which is was I originally wrote about here.</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Life is good. Honestly, it's harder to write about the good times than the bad times. Also, I wouldn't want my blog to turn into some fluffy ode to my tiny house, my furry kitties and my wonderful boyfriend (who still needs a blog nickname). That's okay for others, but not for me; just not my style. I don't think.</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I might just be loosing interest. This blog is about four years old. That's a long time for me to engage in any hobby. Reading is one of the only things that's ever stuck like that. Maybe blogging has run its course with me. It's not an idea I'm comfortable with, but it still might be true.</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Facebook &amp; Twitter. I never really got into MySpace, but I'm a little addicted to Facebook and Twitter, although I cannot use them at all during work hours anymore. Maybe in some way they are fulfilling whatever need blogging was fulfilling before. </span></li></ul></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-5618868940115037966?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-26553880099158228352009-03-29T20:20:00.002-05:002010-06-06T23:26:50.621-05:00<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">8:20 p.m. / 20:20</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">My hope is that by devoting a whole post to this subject, I might, might not feel the need to complain for a sentence or two in every future post.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I CANNOT STAND THE WAY BLOGGER WON'T CORRECTLY PUBLISH THE FONT I HAVE SELECTED EACH AND EVERY TIME SINCE I BEGAN BLOGGING!</span><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I understand that this is probably only annoying to me but isn't that enough? They say you have to blog for yourself, not for your readers. I've tried stuff to fix it too. I went so far as to mess with the html the first time I had this problem. It didn't help. So maybe I'm just doomed to inconsistent fonts. Watch... this one will probably post correctly just to make me look like an idiot.</span></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-2655388009915822835?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-28992238358184188842009-03-04T09:50:00.001-06:002010-06-06T23:26:50.622-05:00<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">9:50 a.m. /09:50</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I'll be honest right from the start here. This is a filler. This is just me telling you that I do, in fact, know that I still have a blog. I've even had things to write about lately, but I'm so out of the habit. It may take some time to reform. Also, I'm pretty frustrated that after trying multiple things on multiple dates, the font size on my last post is still wrong; it doesn't match the others. Who knows what this one looks like. Hopefully it looks right.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-2899223835818418884?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-48107462616605158762008-12-31T20:20:00.006-06:002009-08-05T22:31:14.903-05:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><div style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; width: auto; font: large normal normal 100%/normal Georgia, serif; text-align: left; "><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">8:20 p.m. / 20:20</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I've sort of been taking a holiday... a long holiday... from ye olde blog here. Seems like that might continue, but I thought I'd stop in for a poorly thought-out rant before the new year.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It is still the Christmas season. People seem to find it a little odd that I still have my tree up and I'm still listening to Christmas music. There are more Christmas books on the shelves at work now than there were on December 1st... because everyone thinks Christmas ended last Thursday. Everyone's tired of Christmas, because they dove into it more than a month ago. I'd be tired of it after a month too. How did I end up the backwards person? Okay, I'm often the backwards person, but how in the case of Christmas? You know those 12 days of Christmas? Well, they're going on right now. The first day of the 12 days of Christmas is Christmas Day. So this is the Christmas season. Yet, I when I fuss about people putting up lights Thanksgiving weekend, I'm being a Scrooge or a Grinch. It isn't that I don't like Christmas or that I only want to celebrate it on the one day, it's just that I don't want to start celebrating while people are still eating Thanksgiving leftovers. It is not yet Christmas then! Christmas lasts until Epiphany; the day the three wise men supposedly arrived in Bethlehem to see the baby Jesus. I will not leave my decorations up all of the way until then, but I see no reason to take them down right now. I also see no reason to stop listening to Christmas music, although I doubt I'll do that more than a few more days. Oh, but Christmas parties / gatherings / celebrations of any type? I am so done with them. It is, however, still the Christmas season for a few more days. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><a href="http://080181.blogspot.com/search/label/12daysO'Xmas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">last year's 12 Days of Christmas series</span></span></a></div></div></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-4810746261660515876?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-13963985182776945442008-11-19T22:30:00.002-06:002008-11-19T22:37:50.116-06:00<span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">10:30 p.m. / 22:30</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">At least a month ago at work I found a whole stack of religious tracts by a display of pet books. It's pretty common for people to leave such things around the library, stuck in books and whatnot, but since these were all together and had different titles I wasn't sure if they were planted or just set down and forgotten. Doesn't matter, really, the point is I've always found these little pamphlets amusing. I'd have to be insane to type them all out, but I wanted to at least share the titles before I put them in the recycling.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">Disclaimer: I've nothing against the Father, the Son &amp; the Holy Spirit, but I've never seen much good (good laughs excluded) in these tracts.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><ul><li><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">God Says PLEASE do not go to HELL</span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">The Coming of the Lord Will Be Soon</span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">Consumer Privacy <span style="font-size:100%;color:#006600;"><em>Oh, wait this one's from my credit card service company.</em></span></span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">God's Wonderful Plan of Salvation</span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">I Am a Witness </span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">Think On These 5 Things <em><span style="font-size:100%;color:#cc6600;">(You need the saviour because 1. you are a sinner, 2. you are helpless to save yourself, 3. without him you will perish; 4. You may have the saviour by accepting him; 5. Now that the saviour is yours--love worship, and serve him.)</span></em></span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">You Have God's Word On It.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">Does God Lose His Patience?</span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">How to Become a Christian NOW</span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">Have You Been Asked Life's Greatest Question?<em> <span style="font-size:100%;color:#cc6600;">(If you died today, do you know for sure you would go to heaven?)</span></em></span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">Repentance: Door of Mercy</span></li></ul><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-1396398518277694544?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-75533917291114992202008-10-27T19:52:00.000-05:002010-06-06T23:36:12.093-05:00<span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">7:52 p.m. / 19:52</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">Yeah... I'm not sure I'm going to do National Blog Posting Month this year.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-7553391729111499220?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-72742291834769271052008-10-04T09:19:00.002-05:002008-10-04T10:25:05.557-05:00<span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">10:20 a.m. / 10:20</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">I grew up in lesser neighborhoods in my small city. Over the years, a lot of people have made a lot of assumptions about how bad or how hard that must have been. Even my parents occasionally act like it was a tragedy they had to raise my brother and I in that neighborhood. The truth, though? Most of the time it wasn't that bad. Our house was great and my mom made our backyard and oasis of sorts. Other neighborhood kids thought we were rich and they loved to come over and play in our yard because we had a swing set, a sandbox and even pretty flowers.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">Now, at the age of 27, almost six years after my parents sold the house I grew up in, I am finding out about the hardest part, at least for me, of growing up in a bad neighborhood. Yesterday I went on a long walk downtown with my boyfriend* and we ended up walking all the way to my old house. No one lives there now. It's falling apart. The yard is a disaster, one of the enormous oak trees has died and a huge limb from it is laying across the roof of the house. The back door and kitchen window are boarded up, as well as the garage window. Parts of the fence are torn up or even missing. It's only a matter of time before it isn't worth saving and probably no one will ever want to save it anyway. I am nostalgic and sentimental at times and unfortunately that can lead to hurt. I was surprisingly okay yesterday standing in the backyard looking at the broken window of my old bedroom. It's really kind of hitting me this morning, though. I think for me the hardest part of having grown up in a bad, decaying neighborhood is knowing that my home for the first 21 years of my life is decaying now too.</span><br /><br />*I really need a blog nickname for him, but nothing good has come to mind yet.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-7274229183476927105?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-55112540286063051372008-09-18T09:15:00.000-05:002008-09-18T09:18:49.905-05:00<span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">9:15 a.m. / 09:15</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">85. I do most things at the last minute.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">86. I enjoy having breakfast foods like scrambled eggs, pancakes, french toast, etc. for dinner.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">87. Since I'm part Irish and have an Irish last name I consider it a right to be allowed to wear St. Patrick's Day shirts, etc. at any time of year without ridicule.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">88. I sometimes daydream about training my cats to do some of the housework.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">89. I'm kind of excited about the Chevy Volt.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">90. I'm not really a dog person, but I get along alright with some individual dogs.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">91. I have never been arrested.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">92. I was once thrown out of a bar sober.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">93. I have imagined staging a rain protest with waterproof signs and chanting of RAIN RAIN, GO AWAY! COME AGAIN SOME OTHER DAY!</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">94. I have taken part in real protests.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">95. I wonder if I will start doing crossword puzzles when I reach middle age. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">96. Words fascinate me.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">97. I've had my hair cut for Locks of Love twice, but I haven't remembered to mail in the hair from the last time.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">98. I'm not a big fan of glitter.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">99. I keep a calculator in my purse. At one time it was a rather large calculator and people teased me.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-5511254028606305137?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-2536007789065847672008-09-18T08:40:00.000-05:002008-11-20T07:44:55.818-06:00<span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">8:40 a.m. / 08:40</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">Fizzgig has been out of quarantine for a couple of weeks now! He seems to be doing well.... sometimes too well. He and Mabel are getting along alright, but I haven't seen them curl up for a nap together yet.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-253600778906584767?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-9012337915611810972008-09-07T22:18:00.003-05:002008-09-07T22:20:43.738-05:00<span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">10:18 p.m. / 22:18</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">72. I'm a sucker for office supplies, especially pens, pencils and markers. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">73. I love cats but hate most "cat-people" stuff like kitten calendars.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">74. I have two cats, Mabel and Fizzgig. That's probably obvious from other posts.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">75. I more or less know all of the words to One Tin Soldier.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">76. I used to know all of the words to the Anamaniacs theme song and I still know a lot of them.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">77. I used to sing the national anthem in the shower all the time. I more or less grew out of that in college when I had roommates.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">78. I hated shopping for clothes and shoes until sometime in college.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">79. I can't pick favorite movies anymore than I can pick favorite authors, but some I might name are Dead Poets Society, The Breakfast Club, The American President, Norma Rae, While You Were Sleeping and Iron Jawed Angels.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">80. I'm not sure if Georgia O'Keefe is my favorite artist, but I must like her since I have posters of three of her paintings framed in my house.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">81. I have artwork made by several friends and family members in my house.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">82. I went to Catholic school kindergarten through eighth grade and then went to public high school. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">83. There were some really good things about going to Catholic school, but overall it wasn't very pleasant.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">84. Breakfast cereal plays too large a role in my diet... so does macaroni and cheese.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-901233791561181097?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-23623684298845679382008-09-01T11:59:00.001-05:002008-09-01T11:59:38.004-05:00<span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">11:59 a.m. / 11:59<br /><br />66.</span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SLjYM5_M16I/AAAAAAAAAPs/LPpo1oEJyQI/s1600-h/006.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240175882681505698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: left" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SLjYM5_M16I/AAAAAAAAAPs/LPpo1oEJyQI/s320/006.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><br />67.<br /></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SLjYBR_guhI/AAAAAAAAAPE/CqcUmaISNMY/s1600-h/001.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240175682966829586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: left" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SLjYBR_guhI/AAAAAAAAAPE/CqcUmaISNMY/s320/001.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"> 68.<br /></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SLjYBZccgSI/AAAAAAAAAPM/39Ue3niGH0s/s1600-h/002.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240175684967235874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: left" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SLjYBZccgSI/AAAAAAAAAPM/39Ue3niGH0s/s320/002.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"> 69.<br /></span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SLjYBT5mweI/AAAAAAAAAPU/dIquoWVIogc/s1600-h/003.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240175683478929890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: left" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SLjYBT5mweI/AAAAAAAAAPU/dIquoWVIogc/s320/003.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"> 70.<br /></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SLjYBnl6lXI/AAAAAAAAAPc/lbe_tBVyRuA/s1600-h/004.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240175688765052274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: left" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SLjYBnl6lXI/AAAAAAAAAPc/lbe_tBVyRuA/s320/004.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"> 71.<br /></span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SLjYB4DwwII/AAAAAAAAAPk/PStkRJ9syfg/s1600-h/005.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240175693185204354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: left" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SLjYB4DwwII/AAAAAAAAAPk/PStkRJ9syfg/s320/005.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><br /></span><div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-2362368429884567938?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-58600569911819850472008-08-30T00:13:00.000-05:002008-11-20T07:44:55.818-06:00<span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">12:13 a.m. / 00:13</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">In addition to my lovely Mabel, I now have Fizzgig who is about 2.5 months old. I took him to the veterinarian two weeks ago and found out he had ear mites, round worm and coccidia. They also said he might have ringworm. So, I took him home and quarantined him in the bathroom like I was told too. I went out and bought bleach to make bleach water to wash my hands with each time I handle him (something else I was told to do). The next day the vet called and told me he had giardia too. On Monday the ringworm culture turned positive. He's about done with all of his medicines for the parasites, but he has three more weeks of medicine for ringworm (it's a fungus) and he has to stay quarantined for about another week... which means another week of bleach water too. Tomorrow I have to give him a bath as part of his giardia treatment. I had expected the ear mites... the round worm wasn't too surprising, but I hadn't really expected the little guy to have four parasites and a fungus. I was holding him up at the vet and saying he's so cute and innocent looking, who'd have guessed? The vet said "Yeah, he's a little terrorist!". Since then he's also been referred to as a dirty bomb.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">Fizzgig came with his name. I might have changed it, but it's a Jim Henson </span><a href="http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Fizzgig"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">reference</span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">. I call him Fizz and Fizzy for short sometimes. In e-mails my dad has called him Fuzzbutt. My boyfriend just calls him Quarantine now.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><a href="http://evilducky77.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">Evil Ducky</span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"> and I took pictures of him the night I got him, before I knew I needed to quarantine him.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SLjWrHGWb_I/AAAAAAAAAOk/j8dAvjjyRWc/s1600-h/011.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240174202573975538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SLjWrHGWb_I/AAAAAAAAAOk/j8dAvjjyRWc/s320/011.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><br /></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SLjWrdVdhVI/AAAAAAAAAOs/eCSt3Sg2s-s/s1600-h/024.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240174208542934354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SLjWrdVdhVI/AAAAAAAAAOs/eCSt3Sg2s-s/s320/024.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><br /></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SLjWrlfA5XI/AAAAAAAAAO0/XCwgaarGB0U/s1600-h/030.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240174210730485106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SLjWrlfA5XI/AAAAAAAAAO0/XCwgaarGB0U/s320/030.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><br /></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SLjWr2tmAKI/AAAAAAAAAO8/TkKvzDUUnOY/s1600-h/025.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240174215355039906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SLjWr2tmAKI/AAAAAAAAAO8/TkKvzDUUnOY/s320/025.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-5860056991181985047?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-83170540999989516422008-08-29T23:45:00.000-05:002008-11-20T07:45:09.514-06:00<span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">11:45 p.m. / 23:45</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">I confess... my cat Mabel is quite spoiled. She has a mighty collection of little cat balls to chase around. A month or so ago I bought her a couple of dog toys too because she's kind of dog-like sometimes. She really loves her rope bone.</span><br /><br /><p><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SLjPuYl0QNI/AAAAAAAAAOc/fFCOeBqTDYE/s1600-h/013.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240166562227568850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SLjPuYl0QNI/AAAAAAAAAOc/fFCOeBqTDYE/s320/013.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SLjPb_ENUGI/AAAAAAAAAOM/8SQPPe3ClZI/s1600-h/010.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240166246138073186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SLjPb_ENUGI/AAAAAAAAAOM/8SQPPe3ClZI/s320/010.JPG" border="0" /></a> </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SLjPcFpqIzI/AAAAAAAAAOU/Cj3AJYrKoSc/s1600-h/012.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240166247905764146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SLjPcFpqIzI/AAAAAAAAAOU/Cj3AJYrKoSc/s320/012.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SLjPIyeBW2I/AAAAAAAAANs/g0cq420Yso4/s1600-h/006.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240165916339166050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SLjPIyeBW2I/AAAAAAAAANs/g0cq420Yso4/s320/006.JPG" border="0" /></a> </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SLjPJPoTrUI/AAAAAAAAAN0/JeXKiUJagw4/s1600-h/007.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240165924166937922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SLjPJPoTrUI/AAAAAAAAAN0/JeXKiUJagw4/s320/007.JPG" border="0" /></a> </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SLjPJe4EdHI/AAAAAAAAAN8/fHo7h20X1GU/s1600-h/008.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240165928259581042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SLjPJe4EdHI/AAAAAAAAAN8/fHo7h20X1GU/s320/008.JPG" border="0" /></a> </p><p><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SLjPJgkIH9I/AAAAAAAAAOE/pweU3VWxuD0/s1600-h/009.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240165928712806354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SLjPJgkIH9I/AAAAAAAAAOE/pweU3VWxuD0/s320/009.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-8317054099998951642?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-5757274010347205722008-08-21T20:48:00.001-05:002008-08-21T20:49:31.369-05:00<span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">8:48 p.m. / 20:48</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">I woke up sick this morning. There wasn't really any warning; just woke up with a nasty head cold. I thought about it for maybe a half hour. I considered the large quantity of sick time I've built up over about the last five years. I thought about how slow work has been the past few weeks. I decided it'd be best to stay home and not contaminate anyone since there probably wouldn't be a lot of work for me anyway. So I went back to bed. When I woke up again, I determined I was more sick than I had realized. I don't think I would have made it through the day if I'd gone to work. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">It's funny to me, though, because last week I could feel I was fighting something off for a few days, and I felt I beat it. I didn't ever actually get sick. This though... so out of nowhere. It feels like I looked both ways carefully before crossing the street and I got hit by Mack truck anyway.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">I have picture posts waiting to happen when I have time. I have time now, I suppose, but I also have so much snot I can't concentrate on any one activity for much more than 20 minutes, max.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">One will be a visual portion of my ridiculous on-going 100 Things meme. I have another set of pictures illustrating how spoiled Mabel is. I so need to introduce Fizzgig, my kitten. I've only had him for a week, but there's quite a story surrounding him already.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">I have to go blow my nose. Again.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-575727401034720572?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-32194544638681597582008-08-08T08:50:00.002-05:002008-08-11T10:07:07.154-05:00<span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">8:50 a.m. / 08:50<br /><br />56. Sometimes I draw, but not often enough.<br />57. I like giving gifts almost more than receiving gifts.<br />58. I like snail mail, unless it's bills or ads... and it usually is.<br />59. If I think for too long about the natural gas used by my furnace, water heater &amp; stove, I get really freaked out.<br />60. When I was 19, I had my ears pierced for my mom's birthday.<br />61. I cannot pick a favorite author or rank authors I like, but if you tried to get me to, you would probably hear some of these names (among others): Haven Kimmel, Jennifer Weiner, Maeve Binchy, Nick Hornby, Sarah Addison Allen<br />62. I used to argue with my kindergarten teacher, which was totally inappropriate, but she sure could piss me off.<br />63. I have a bicycle, but I haven't ridden it in years.<br />64. I sort of vaguely collect bottle caps (inspired by Bert on Sesame Street) and stamps (inspired by my cousin and mother).<br />65. I like fairly big earrings, but usually not gaudy ones. Yes, there is a difference.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-3219454463868159758?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-61792926030390526422008-07-26T08:59:00.002-05:002008-07-26T09:07:29.711-05:00<span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">9:08 a.m. / 09:08</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><ul><li><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">finish processing a dozen new magazines that arrived while I was off yesterday and switch out new issues for old issues on display racks</span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">finish processing a dozen new fiction books that arrived yesterday, four of which have holds</span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">withdraw growing pile of old magazines</span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">withdraw all of the New York Times Book Review since we're no longer keeping it separate</span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">remove a waiting stack of about eight or ten books from the New Shelf</span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">re-label and / or re-case a half dozen CD-ROMs</span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">shelve new books</span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">work on on-going CD-ROM / DVD-ROM list project thingy</span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">sign into new library website blog and get myself set up there</span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">torment bookshelvers whenever possible</span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">ignore the children's librarian whenever possible</span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">help patrons as much as they'll let me</span></li></ul><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-6179292603039052642?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-75615229839773375752008-07-21T22:06:00.003-05:002008-07-21T22:39:33.006-05:00<span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">10:40 p.m. / 22:40</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">36. When I was a little kid, I loved the Beatles even though I knew almost nothing about them.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">37. The only thing I ever really miss about church is the music. I've always loved that people are supposed to sing in church, never mind actual singing ability.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">38. When I get mad at the boys at work I throw paperback romances at them.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">39. I hate cherry-flavored anything except for Cherry Coke, Cherry 7UP, Code Red Mountain Dew... and probably a couple of other partially cherry soft drinks, like probably Cherry Ski.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">40. I do not want a Smart Car.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">41. I have a three dimensional smiley face bank that I save pennies in.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">42. My last semester of college I attended the Midwest Model United Nations conference in St. Louis and it ROCKED.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">43. I'm almost incapable of putting something recyclable in a trash can.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">44. My younger brother is a mechanic and that works out to be awesome for me.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">45. As a small child, my favorite television show was Sesame Street, I think, but if not then it was Smurfs.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">46. I love visiting Chicago.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">47. Charles Addams just might be my favorite cartoonist.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">48. My computer monitor sits on a really old atlas.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">49. I have parents who are as cool as can be expected.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">50. I have super-excellent friends.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">51. I've never been west of St. Louis, but I've seen the Gulf of Mexico, Lake Michigan, Lake Erie and I've been to Washington D. C. several times.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">52. I think diamonds are overrated.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">53. I never eat all of the bananas I buy unless I bake them into bread.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">54. I'm almost half Irish and half German, but there's a little Cherokee worked in on the Irish side.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">55. I went to the high school with the worst reputation in the school system and loved every year of it.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-7561522983977337575?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-7018751562744203702008-07-15T11:22:00.004-05:002008-07-15T11:40:52.562-05:00<span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">11:40 a.m. / 11:40</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">27. I am a total sucker for donuts.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">28. I have a sweet tooth for sure, but I don't really get excited about hard candy.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">29. I am temporally challenged.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">30. I think ceiling fans are awesome.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">31. I don't think I'm very good at showing when I care.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">32. I drive a 1999 Hyundai Sonata and I never liked it very much even before playing What's Broken This Month!</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">33. It takes me a long time to make macaroni and cheese, but I can't figure out why.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">34. I love Chucks... you know... Converse All Stars... the canvas shoes with the rubber toes that come in a rainbow of colors and patterns!</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">35. I'm easily amused and yet easily bored.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-701875156274420370?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-90606525218289820132008-07-14T08:40:00.000-05:002008-07-14T08:41:07.536-05:00<span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">8:40 a.m. / 08:40</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">I was wearing my </span><a href="http://www.unshelved.com/images/store/tee-ww4b-womens-large.gif"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">Will Work for Books</span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"> T-shirt. Some woman was just about going crazy over it; she loved it. Just as I was saying "Thank you" she looked at it again. It turns out she read it wrong. She though it said Will Work for Boobs. What?!</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-9060652521828982013?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-76968996052956263562008-07-12T11:35:00.000-05:002008-07-12T11:36:36.236-05:00<span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">11:35 a.m. / 11:35</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">16. Sometimes I wonder if I should rearrange my previously mentioned top 3 to accommodate the Dixie Chicks or the Eels. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">17. I don't really like stuffed animals. Yes, I own stuffed animals. It's really rather complicated.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">18. I think that chocolate is a very good thing 99% of the time.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">19. Sex and the City is one of my very favorite TV shows, but for some reason I've never wanted to read the book.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">20. The West Wing is another of my very favorite TV shows-- possibly my most favorite.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">21. My favorite video game is Tetris. Sometimes I'm even good at it. Sort of.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">22. I love games! Few things more fun than gathering some people together and playing a good game.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">23. I actually kind of like Duran Duran.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">24. I check my e-mail obsessively.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">25. I *heart* Google Reader.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">26. I really love maps and globes.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-7696899605295626356?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-43900625369694830442008-07-06T23:20:00.000-05:002008-07-06T23:20:00.181-05:00<span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">11: 20 p.m. / 23:20</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">10. I actually do love my country. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">11. When asked what my top 3 bands / musicians are, I will say: U2, Barenaked Ladies and Simon &amp; Garfunkel, in no particular order.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">12. Through peer pressure, I have come to enjoy Chinese buffets.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">13. My new favorite pizza toppings combo is tomatoes and pineapple!</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">14. I actually have my tassels, from high school &amp; college graduations hanging in my house... but I'm not sure why.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">15. A friend recently gave my wind-up chattering teeth, and I think they're AWESOME.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-4390062536969483044?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-20107151413730930062008-07-01T23:00:00.001-05:002008-07-01T23:00:00.891-05:00<span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">11:00 p.m. / 23:00</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">So, this weekend my dear friend <a href="http://evilducky77.blogspot.com/">EvilDucky</a> is having her back porch screened in to keep it bug-free. Tonight we had this instant-message conversation:</span><br /><strong><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span></strong><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>EvilDucky:</strong> I just killed a mosquito in my bathroom </span></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">little bastards </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>me:</strong> And you think your porch will be mosquito free.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">EvilDucky plans and mosquitos laugh. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>EvilDucky:</strong> *grinds teeth *</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>me:</strong> I'm sorry; I shouldn't say that. It'll be a vast improvement, for sure. </span></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>EvilDucky:</strong> :P </span></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">I think she bit me on my arm </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>me:</strong> Now you'll turn into a mosquito! </span></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Wait... that's that other thing... </span></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:130%;">vampire </span></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><strong>EvilDucky:</strong> might be okay if I could BE one </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">I dont think they bite each other</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>me:</strong> :D </span></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">But you might try to bite me, so I'd have to try and kill you first.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>EvilDucky:</strong> it'd be a fight to the death! however, if I bit you I could lay my eggs</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>me:</strong> This is getting weird. </span></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>EvilDucky:</strong> yeah, I stop now</span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-2010715141373093006?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-68132082740002864592008-06-30T09:30:00.000-05:002008-06-30T09:30:17.172-05:00<span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">9:30 a.m. / 09:30</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">I've never done the 100 Things meme. I've decided to do it now, or at least start it now, but here's the thing: I'm going to cheat. Why not? You can't really stop me. Anyway, I'm going to post maybe 5 - 10 things at a time and then pick it up again later. I imagine by now most people know about the 100 Things meme, but just in case you've no idea what I'm talking about, it basically a list of 100 Things about the person writing the list. Mine will be 100 things about me. Eventually.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">1. I am an unrepentant vegetarian.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">2. I am a non-practicing / lapsed Catholic.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">3. I get cold easily.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">4. I buy a lot of books even though I work in a library. It's really kind of messed up.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">5. I own my own house, and sometimes that freaks me out.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">6. I blog irregularly.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">7. I've been known to talk about Kermit the Frog like he's real.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">8. Some days I like yard work, but not enough days.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">9. For about 5 seconds around September 12, 2001 I thought George W. might be alright.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-6813208274000286459?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-48671743286676891072008-06-19T21:50:00.001-05:002008-06-19T21:51:27.188-05:00<span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">9:50 p.m. / 21:50</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">I decided to take the night off. What exactly made me feel like I needed a night off is hard to explain, but the main thing is that did not mow the lawn. I'm feeling guilty about it. So, now I'm confessing to the internets.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">Okay, see, I feel better now.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-4867174328667689107?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-40932716632104042782008-06-18T07:07:00.000-05:002008-06-18T07:08:08.757-05:00<span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">7:07 a.m. / 07:07</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">This summer there is so much road construction going on in town, I think they must have had to import extra barrels from far away places. This morning I am pondering which route to work would be less painful today. It might be time to check out the winding back way that would lead me from the highway that runs past my house to the very road the library sits on. While I'm thinking about all of this, I'm shaking. Actually, my house is shaking; I'm just shaking with it. They've been re-doing the highway I've already mentioned runs past my house since well before I moved in. They've finally finished one side and this morning they're busting up the other side. I picked a great night to open up the windows.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">In other pessimistic news, there's a bulge on one of my tires, so I guess I'll be getting a new tire ASAP. I just love spending money on my car! Just freakin' love it! And I've only spent between $300 - $400 (that's if you exclude the just-paid semi-annual car insurance bill) on my car so far this month, so why not replace a tire? I hope it's the one that's three years old and not one of the ones I've only had a year and a half. I couldn't tell in the dark last night. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">I've also discovered that even though I clean a lot more than I ever thought I might, I have a dust bunny infestation. I blame the cat, because they really look more furry than dusty. I think it's what makes them look so alarmingly alive.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">Oh, the title! I didn't want to spoil the joke for those who were there, but here's an explanation for those who were not: On a road trip somewhere around the summer of 2004 it was decided that the orange road construction barrels must actually attract skunks and that's how they get killed and stink up the roadway. That's how I remember it, anyway. </span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-4093271663210404278?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-81343553188596935352008-06-11T06:45:00.003-05:002008-06-11T07:05:12.587-05:00<span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">7:05 a.m. / 07:05</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">I'm a vegetarian bug killer. As in, I am a vegetarian and I kill bugs. So sue me. Most of the time I don't worry too much one way or anther about it. Actually, being a girl, it's sort of point of pride that I can and will tackle ugly bugs when need be, rather than just screaming. It's just a bug. Okay, sometimes it's a seriously gross bug, but still, most of the time it's not really going to harm me. That leads me to the next bit: I don't actually kill all bugs. It depends on what they are and where they are. I'm actually fairly content to let some poor pale goth spider live over my shower. Crickets in the basement? Disgusting, but I let them be. Actually, so far my basement here is gloriously cricket-free. But I digress. Again. You see the event this post was born of happened not much past 6:00 a.m. today when I was in the basement putting today's work clothes in the dryer. There was a spider by the old shower drain. It was a notably brown spider. Upon closer inspection, I decided that even though it was brown and lurking in my basement, it didn't actually seem to be an evil Brown Recluse. But I killed it just in case. I have a thing with Brown Recluse spiders. I know that just about no one likes them what with them being poisonous and all, but since learning about them years ago I've sort of lived in constant fear of them... it's just an easily repressed fear that only surfaces when I see a brown spider. So this morning I killed a brown spider that was probably not a Brown Recluse because I just wanted to be sure. A similar situation ended in the death of another brown spider maybe two weeks ago at work, just outside the staff room. For some reason I'm feeling funny about having killed two spiders so close together. What has this done to my spider karma? If I kill a third tomorrow, will a trained assassin Black Widow arrive in the midwest just for me? Probably not... I have no idea where I get this stuff from.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-8134355318859693535?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-91469717453570156032008-05-28T20:53:00.003-05:002008-12-09T08:51:07.898-06:00<span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">8:53 p.m. / 20:53<br /><br /></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SD4LDFheRCI/AAAAAAAAANY/zai20pCuvf4/s1600-h/007.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205610366936957986" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SD4LDFheRCI/AAAAAAAAANY/zai20pCuvf4/s320/007.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">Maybe Mabel should wear my Summer Reading T-shirt since she seems to like it so much. I'm not that fond of it myself. I am, however, quite fond of the Summer Reading Program, which is now in full-swing. Right now reading and yard work are taking priority over blogging, but you know I can't stay away from here forever!</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-9146971745357015603?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-55040282962397977812008-05-18T10:10:00.000-05:002008-12-09T08:51:08.104-06:00<span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">10:10 a.m. / 10:10<br /></span><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SC-ijMz7R-I/AAAAAAAAANQ/mK7CsxB5j5k/s1600-h/008.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201554820254353378" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SC-ijMz7R-I/AAAAAAAAANQ/mK7CsxB5j5k/s400/008.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-5504028296239797781?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-75836188443521867082008-05-17T22:10:00.004-05:002008-12-09T08:51:09.399-06:00<span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">10:10 p.m. / 22:10</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">A week ago I played a new (to me) game with some co-workers and others. I loved it so much I got some friends* together last night to play it again. Now I'm telling you because if you like playing games, you'll like playing this one. I promise. It's probably the most awesomely creative game I've ever played, given that the players actually make the game as they go. You can read all about it here: </span><a href="http://www.geocities.com/nconner23/bwcards.html"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">1000 Blank White Cards</span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">Below are some of the better cards from last night. I don't have my own scanner, so I picked them kind of quickly to send them home with someone who does. Therefore, they aren't necessarily the best ones and I'm regretting not finding at least one from each player. Everyone had some good cards, but I think half of these were made by the same person. Some how last night it seemed more important to pick one of each color. I can be silly sometimes.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SC-Yvcz7R4I/AAAAAAAAAMg/dRC7agCdx-I/s1600-h/FOUR_hugakitty.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201544035591473026" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SC-Yvcz7R4I/AAAAAAAAAMg/dRC7agCdx-I/s320/FOUR_hugakitty.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"> </span><br /><p><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span> </p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span> </p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span> </p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span> </p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span> </p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"> </p><br /></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SC-Yvsz7R5I/AAAAAAAAAMo/5TePShtzhTA/s1600-h/THREE_pigeon.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201544039886440338" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SC-Yvsz7R5I/AAAAAAAAAMo/5TePShtzhTA/s320/THREE_pigeon.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"> </span><br /></span><p><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span> </p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span> </p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span> </p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span> </p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span> </p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span> </p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span> </p><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><p><br /></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SC-Yvsz7R6I/AAAAAAAAAMw/VfYxip63Y-I/s1600-h/TWO_thanks.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201544039886440354" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SC-Yvsz7R6I/AAAAAAAAAMw/VfYxip63Y-I/s320/TWO_thanks.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span> </p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span> </p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span> </p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span> </p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span> </p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span> </p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span> </p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><br /></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SC-Yv8z7R7I/AAAAAAAAAM4/eRuCp2wHjn8/s1600-h/ONE_rockpapers.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201544044181407666" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SC-Yv8z7R7I/AAAAAAAAAM4/eRuCp2wHjn8/s320/ONE_rockpapers.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span> </p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span> </p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span> </p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span> </p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span> </p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"> </p><p><br /></span><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SC-Yesz7R2I/AAAAAAAAAMQ/D9kGlfUTof0/s1600-h/FIVE_crickets.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201543747828664162" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SC-Yesz7R2I/AAAAAAAAAMQ/D9kGlfUTof0/s320/FIVE_crickets.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span> </p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span> </p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span> </p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span> </p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span> </p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"> </p><p><br /></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SC-Ye8z7R3I/AAAAAAAAAMY/HxMGaD543R4/s1600-h/SIX_crazies.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201543752123631474" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F4EzCdZLJW4/SC-Ye8z7R3I/AAAAAAAAAMY/HxMGaD543R4/s320/SIX_crazies.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></p></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">*</span><a href="http://evilducky77.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">EvilDucky</span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">, </span><a href="http://velocibadgergirl.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">Velocibadgergirl</span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">, </span><a href="http://butternoparsnips.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">Danger</span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">, MacGyver, </span><a href="http://anotherwaste.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">RabidMonkey</span></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-7583618844352186708?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890940.post-51413870197210607782008-05-15T16:20:00.001-05:002008-05-17T22:15:09.995-05:00<span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">4:20 p.m. / 16:20</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">Sitting at my desk (at work!) thinking about three things:</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">1. Is </span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">Twitter</span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"> digital crack? (It's down again!)</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">2. Am I ready to try adding salsa to eggs?</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">3. I'm blogging at work! I'm so bad...</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10890940-5141387019721060778?l=080181.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>bibliophile81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03763368070843390724noreply@blogger.com2