Happy New Year!

I finished Patricia Cornwell's "Scarpetta." I must admit that it's an improvement over her last 5 or so novels. Except for the fact that she and her niece, Lucy, were rather forgiving of her former side kick, Marino, after his faux pas in the last novel it was written very well. Her commercials bet the reader that they wouldn't be able to guess the ending, but I did. The murder was of a "little person" and the suspect was her "little person" boyfriend. They had a fixation with Kay Scarpetta and she came to New York to work the crime scene and the bodies of both the dead girl and the suspect. Kay has left the south and moved to Boston with her now husband, Benton Wesley. Her niece has also moved from the south and taken up residence in NYC. Marino is now working for the D.A. of NYC as an investigator. Hopefully this means that Patricia Cornwell is back on track!

No big plans tonight! I worked till closing at the new job and hubby made a trip to the grocery for some crab legs and steaks. YUMMO! Since I work tomorrow I have to not stay up too late tonight. I'm sure we'll make it till midnight.

I got a piece of mail from my insurance lady. She is now my least favorite person in the world. I did not need the reminder that I had reached the 59 1/2 age and am now eligible to draw out my pension without penalty. Gee, thanks for that lovely reminder! Talk about pouring salt in the wound.

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year!

A wonderful Christmas

A very wonderful Christmas was had by all. It was a video Christmas for the majority of the family. With so many of our "chickens" leaving the nest we decided to give out the new mini videos so that they can be easily downloaded and put online for sharing with other family miles away. They seemed to be a big hit. It was great to have everyone under the same roof for a change. I couldn't find a replacement at work yesterday. I was scheduled for 11:30 to 4:30. Unfortunately a co-worker got "sick" and had to leave and I got her hours. I was there till 9:30. That wouldn't have been too bad except I was scheduled to show up at 5:45 this morning. I'm totally worn out! A nap might be in order. Not letting me much time for reading!!

One of my gifts was a book of 1001 books I need to read before I die. I thought long and hard about this one. I've read a few already. They're classics afterall and I try to read them once in a while. Well do I read one a week and die in 1001 weeks; one a month and die in 1001 months; or one a year and hang in there for almost a 1000 years more. (Remembering I've read some of them already.) Think I've figured it out!

Merry Christmas!

Spent most of the day working the part time job and now everything is locked up tight and I'm home getting ready to start cooking for tomorrow's feast. WIth a little luck maybe no one will notice that there is only one small bowl of cranberry sauce. Whoops! Every year I go through the same worries. Did I forget something in the food line that I should have had or did I forget to get a gift for someone. Then I worry that everyone will like what they get. Oh my! Our Hawaii son and his wife are coming tomorrow afternoon and we're really excited. The whole family is anticipating his return. Every minute of his time here will be taken up by different family members trying to steal a few more minutes with him. I have to make due with tomorrow since I was put on the schedule for work on Friday and will be leaving the house mid morning. By the time I return he'll be gone! Lining up having everyone home for the holidays in the future will be even more difficult with our daughter moving to Washington state this summer. Two kids so far away will be hard to plan around.

Broke down and got Patricia Cornwell's "Scarpetta." Sounds like it might be better than her last 5 or so. Anyway, we'll see!

KnitTwo

I finished "Knit Two" by Kate Jacobs. At first I wasn't able to get into the book but then after remembering the characters and getting them back in perspective, things were looking up. In the first book ("Friday Night Knitting Club"), the main character was Georgia Walker who founded and ran the Walker and Daughter yarn shop. Friendships were developed at their Friday night meetings and at the end of the book, Georgia died from ovarian cancer. "Knit Two" picked up with the rest of the characters, including Georgia's daughter Dakota, and where their lives are now after 5 years without Georgia's influence. She may be dead but her influence continued on. The daughter is now a freshman in college and her father who had not been a part of her early life is now trying to get her to be more than what she desires and that is to build a career around her pastry baking abilities. The other friends have also changed. One is the mother of twins and a professor, one is now a lawyer instead of a publisher, one is directing music videos, one is running the yarn shop and creating her own designs in bags, and the eldest is going to remarry after being a widow for many years. All the stories are woven together like one of Georgia's afghans. Makes me want to get out the knitting needles and make an afghan but I already have tons in the closet.

Bah! Humbug!

I was sitting here secure in the fact that I had very little shopping to do yet for Christmas when I discovered that one of my major gifts is lost in transit. It will take a few days to track it and that means it won't be here before Christmas. I definitely want it since the price was excellent so I will be bugging the company for a replacement. I'm just sorry that my gift will be late for my daughter-in-law! I was going to get a gift card from this same company (Sears) for one of the kids but that isn't going to happen now. I don't want to go out in the crowd and have to be jostled or stomped on by the crazies. Bad enough that I have to go to the grocery store and stock up for the big day.

I heard some information recently about the effects of cholesterol medication on memory and also the fact that it makes you extremely tired. My doctor had increased my dosage and I wanted naps everyday and was struggling to remember certain words. Got really scary! I decided to stop taking them for a while and see what happens. Well, I don't know yet about the memory or the napping but I do know that I no longer have the severe tremor in my hands that I've been going to the neurologist for. Fancy that! The regular medication that I was on seems to be doing the trick again. Seems I'll be having a long discussion with the family doctor about that little side effect. Looks like I'll be doing something else to lower the cholesterol. Oatmeal, maybe!

I'm reading "Knit Two" by Kate Jacobs. Loved her first book: "Friday Night Knitting Club," but this one isn't going as well as the first. I'll finish before I pass final judgement.

A wonderful adventure

I just finished Clive Cussler's latest. "Artic Drift" It touched on the Northwest passage expedition of the Erebus and Terror ships in the 1840's. There is only speculation as to what happened to the ships and the crew but Cussler took a few liberties and made an excellent Dirk Pitt adventure out of it. Dirk Pitt is a serial character of Cussler's. So is his fictional company called NUMA. All the books are about ocean adventures. I really enjoyed this one. Set mainly in Canada in the not to distant future. The world is suffering from global warming and there's one really sick guy out there who can distroy all the good everyone is trying to do. Send out Dirk Pitt and his sidekick, Al Giordino to save the day. If you like adventure, oceans and antique cars then you'll love Cussler!

Enjoying a little wintry mix. Not enough snow but I'm hopeful that we'll get more.

Cravings

My Mom used to make some interesting meals. We were poor and one pot meals were a standard. We saw a chicken or a chunk of beef on Sundays but otherwise it was something unusual. Tomato gravy, Hungarian goulash (not really, but that what she called it), and tuna curry on rice. Once in a while I find myself wanting to have these tasty morsels. Recipes, no! My Dad threw them out and it's up to me to recreate the dish. I can do the goulash. That's just throwing ground beef in a bit fry pan and adding celery, onions, a can of tomatoes and some macaroni. Simple but pretty tasty. I used to love the tuna curry dish but neither of my husbands liked it. Mom's been gone for 17 years and so it's been well over that since I had any. Today I decided to try to replicate it. YUCK! I think I went way too heavy on the curry. I'll let you know when my acid reflux tames down. I hope it's totally out of my system by tonight or I'll be paying the price for that experiment. Kind of cured my craving for the time being. My brother mentioned an onion sandwich. Tomato sandwiches and onion sandwiches were more common than peanut butter in our home. If I was staying home for a day or two than the onion sandwich wouldn't be such a bad idea.

Tonight's the big company holiday party. Free food at the local sea food restaurant. Can't beat that!

Readding the latest Clive Cussler. Won't be ready to review for a while.

Dean Koontz

The latest novel by Dean Koontz is "Your Heart Belongs to Me." Excellent which is pretty normal for Koontz. The main character is Ryan Perry who has it all. He's made his fortune in software and has more money than he'll ever need. He's 34 and has a great girl friend. There's only one problem........he's starting to suffer attacks. Can't breath, chest pains, and more. A trip to the doctor confirms the worst. He has very little time to live unless he gets a new heart. Take this roller coaster ride and see what getting a new heart costs in dollars and emotions. Can't say more! Enjoy this quick read. Now I'm going to read the latest Clive Cussler.

Happy 80th Birthday, Uncle!

Took an hour and half drive to attend an 80th birthday party for my last surviving uncle on my father's side. Boy did they get him good! He was totally surprised. Not only were a hundred people waiting to yell surprise but his son was there from Colorado to surprise him even more. The biggest turn out of cousins that I've seen in years that didn't involve a sad event. Naturally in two and a half hours everyone was ready to leave. Don't know what it is about them that they feel the need to pack up and rush out. Stopped and did a little Christmas shopping at my favorite Polish Pottery shop in my home town on the way through. My friend from Michigan got lucky!

Waiting for the latest Dean Koontz book. Was hoping it would be in the mail yesterday but no such luck. Keeping my fingers crossed for tomorrow. In the meantime I guess I'll start the latest Belva Plain book.

The tree is decorated and we got a dusting of snow on Saturday to make me holiday ready. Now all I have to do is get motivated to shop. Well, there's the other thing..........$$$$$$$$$$$$$. Got some good ideas for gifts, I hope.

Whew!

I asked for more and I got it. Just this week though. My co-worker went hunting so I got about 34 hours clocked in. Most of those were starting at 6:00 a.m. so and ended at 4:15. Today was a short day so I'm enjoying the down time. Back to just a 14 hour week next week. Bummer!

I've been reading "A Salty Piece of Land" by Jimmy Buffet. Well, I feel like I was dropped into the middle of a story. Characters show up that he makes you feel like you should know but don't. It's wacky! I'm trying to finish it but I'm not enjoying it. Too choppy! If it's a sequel, then I wish it would say so. Good thing I didn't spend a lot on this one. It was in the reduce rack at the store. I won't be buying anymore Jimmy Buffet books. I think he had too many Margaritas! No thumbs up for Buffet.

Short Stories

I've never enjoyed reading a book of short stories. I like a nice story with substance and not just a chapter's worth. I didn't realize when I bought "Ordinary Life" by Elizabeth Berg that it was a book of short stories or I would have probably not bothered. In this case it was rather enjoyable. One of the stories was a follow up of "The Pull of the Moon." Gave the husband's reply to that novel about a woman leaving home to "find herself" and sending letters back to her husband about what she was experiencing. Anyway, I enjoyed most of them but am anxious to read a real book now. Looking forward to the new Dean Koontz book but I have to wait for the free shipping from Amazon to kick in and get it here. Anyway, if you're into short stories then click the above link.

Off to a 5 hour shift in retail!

Yummo!

A big success! The turkey got done early with stuffing bursting out of it. Everything else came together well. Went to my daughter's by 10:30 and we had the meal ready to serve and everything cleaned up by 1:00. By 2:30 we were moaning from our gluttony. It's now 8:30 and I still haven't made room for desert. Maybe by tomorrow!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Never fails! I've got a 27.5 pound turkey, 8 extra thighs, two huge amounts of two different kinds of stuffing and tonight I find out that our large crowd went from 20 something down to 14. Geez! What a waste! Not to mention the ham. Everyone's invited for turkey day!

Getting in the holiday spirit

Every year Mary Higgins Clark and her daughter, Carol Higgins Clark, join forces to write a little Christmas novel. The same characters are thrown into a new adventure and it becomes a fun, quick read. This year it's "Dashing Through the Snow." The characters are an older couple who won the lottery after spending most of their life doing house cleaning for other people. A private detective married to a homicide cop. The parents of the P.I., mother a famous author and father a mortician. This time they're headed to New England where a group of employees from a local grocery store have won the lottery. It's usually 5 of them that play but this time one of them had dropped out of the group to save his dollar. That was the catalyst that got the whole adventure rolling. Reading this was like reading a golden book for adults. Fast and fun.

Strange

It's strange. Even though I'm not hosting Thanksgiving Dinner, I'm still obsessing about it. Woke up in the middle of the night worrying that since there are more people coming this year that there might not be enough stuffing and turkey. I'm used to over planning so there are leftovers for everyone but with the count now being up in the 20's I'm losing my confidence about having enough for all. And then there's the ham. I have to admit there are some huge eaters coming and it will seem like there are 30 some people there. I couldn't get a 30 pound turkey this year. I'll be lucky to get a 24 or 25 pounder. With a tray full of extra thighs, I'm hoping to make up for it being smaller. So many prefer the dark meat anyway. Spent my afternoon chopping onions and crying. Then there was all the celery to chop, too. I'm trying to get a lot of it done early so my weird work hours won't be an issue. I'm actually headed to work for just two and half hours tonight. I thought the 3 hours and 45 minutes shifts were a drag. This is insane. I think I'm getting punished for getting the assistant manager in trouble for hitting me. Pay backs! Next week when I'm headed in there for 5 days, 3 of which start at 6:00 am and last 9 hours I'll probably be wishing it was one of those 3 hour days.

Comedy of errors

On Saturday I went to the AT&T store to purchase new phones for Hubby and myself. It had been three years and the battery life was pretty much shot on both of them. I get a discount through my place of employment that I needed to activate so I took care of all things in one visit. Wrong! When I arrived home I discovered that my new phone wouldn't charge. I called tech support and they said they couldn't figure out why it would turn on while plugged in but wouldn't hold a charge or stay on more than a few seconds. It just kept shutting down. Return it they said. Hubby's worked fine. I put my old battery in the new phone and it worked so that's when I realized I had been given a bad battery with the new phone. Back to the store today after I made a call to complain to customer service. It got me a $25 discount from my bill so that was worth something, anyway. The guy at the store told me to bring everything with me just in case it wasn't just the battery so off I went. Got about half way there and discovered I didn't have the new (dead) battery. It was back in the house. Back I went to the house and I was going to just forget it till another time but I started dwelling on the fact I still needed to purchase things for my portion of the Thanksgiving meal. Off again! I went to the phone store first and was given the new battery. Discovered the original one was for the model Razor phone that I was giving up instead of for the new version I was getting. Now I have the right one and hopefully I'm set. Off to the grocery store. Rushing through I was almost finished when the fire alarm went off. Nobody was leaving so I figured it wasn't a big deal even though management and security were rushing to the delicatessen part of the store. Sure enough, over the load speaker comes the announcement to abandon all carts and leave the store immediately. What luck! Apparently it was an electrical fire or at least it smelled like it. I was done, just needed to check out and here I am stuck out in the cold waiting and hoping to get back in to rescue my cart of goodies. The rescue trucks came and they climbed on the roof and checked it out and then left. After about 45 minutes of waiting outside we were let back in and the few of us that stuck it out found our carts and proceeded to checkout only to find all the abandoned groceries on the belts from people who had decided not to wait and had just left. We cleared out the check out areas and I managed to get through unscathed. An offer of 10% off would have been nice for all they put us through but no such luck. Anyway, I'm good now and with a little luck I'll avoid having to go back before Thursday. I was glad to be back home and will be even happier not to have to go out again till tomorrow.

Wally Lamb

I've read Wally Lamb novels before and enjoyed them. His new one, "The Hour I First Believed" is very interesting but very depressing. I'm only about half way through but so much has happened to the female character that I feel the need for the Xanax or Valium that she ends up dependent on. It starts with the tragedy of Columbine High School and continues on with Post Traumatic Stress and the horrors that one woman suffers. If you're a fan of Lamb, you'll definitely want to read it. You might want to break it up with something a little light to help the tension.

Plans are in the works for the Thanksgiving festivities. Not many step children this year but my daughter's in-laws are coming and so is my son's mother-in-law. We'll miss the rest of our family and hope they are having a good time wherever they are. This Christmas will be a mixed event. My step son in Hawaii is returning with his wife for the holiday. Unfortunately we found out that my step daughter and her family are moving to Washington state in the spring. It will be the last we'll all be together for quite some time. Hopefully the oldest will put in a showing and we can all be together for a group picture. I've always wanted to see the great northwest and now will be our chance if we could afford that trip. Maybe on our way to Alaska some day.

James Patterson

The was one of Patterson's Alex Cross mysteries. That's about the only one of his books that doesn't show up with multiple authors on the jacket. This one takes him to one of his most gruesome murder scenes and the discovery that the female victim is his first love from his college days. The murderer is an African "tiger." Murder for hire. His possy is a gang of young boys as young as ten that swope in and commit these horrible crimes. Alex tracks him to Africa and is exposed to torture and the autrosities of life there. He meets up with a reporter and is given the secrets about what is really happening in this land of turmoil. The US government makes him leave and go back to Washington and what awaits him there is his worst nightmare. Needless to say, it was a fast read and a page turner.

Now I get to go back to the Wally Lamb novel that I was reading before I set it aside to read Patterson. Not that the Lamb novel wasn't good, it's is extremely sad. I'll be back to it tonight.

Hopefully more hours at work. The other evening girl is leaving so hopefully since I've agreed to work nights now they will fill my week up so we can have a little Christmas this year.

A Dexter Surprise

I thought I'd seen the last of Season 2 of Dexter and then I had a Netflix surprise. One more show came through on a disk 4. No season hanger for me. Everything got wrapped into a nice neat little package and I'm good for another year. I don't have to wait to see what happens. Dexter had his revenge on everyone who was out to get him and we can start fresh with another year of problems. I'm a happy camper.

No Hard Feelings

The election is over,
The talking is done.
My party lost,
your party won.

So let us be friends,
Let arguments pass.
I'll hug my elephant,
You can kiss your a--!

Jeffrey Deaver's latest

I'm a big fan of Jeffrey Deaver's novel of his character Lincoln Rhymes. When I discovered that his latest book, "The Bodies Left Behind" was not part of that series, I thought I'd probably not enjoy it as much. Wrong! It was great! Kept me glued to every page. It all started when a youngish couple heads to their vacation home for a relaxing weekend only to become victims of an horrendous crime. The husband tried to dial 911 but didn't get more than "This" spoken before the call disconnected. Being out in the middle of nowhere near a lake next to a state park, the local police decided to send their deputy that was closest to the spot to check it out. Little did she know she'd fall into the worst night of her life. What twists and turns! I couldn't even come close to guessing who was guilty and who wasn't. Looks like I have to wait until 2010 for the next in his Lincoln Rhyme's series.

Another sequel

I read "The Gold Coast" back in 1990. Needless to say I don't remember anything about it. Nelson DeMille has written a sequel to it called "The Gate House." Fortunately he filled in all the blanks that would otherwise have driven me nuts. I could not put this book down. I've always enjoyed DeMille's books and this was excellent. The main character us John Sutter who has just returned from many years in London to his former residence and that of his ex-wife. She's from a wealthy Gold Coast family on Long Island. Their marriage ended 10 years prior to this when she had an affair with a Mafia Don and when it ended she killed him. For some reason she escaped punishment and continued to live her life as a rich socialite while John decided to take his wounded pride and leave the country on his sailboat and spent three years sailing the world then running out of money and staying in London to work as a tax attorney for misplaced Americans. He's now returned to say his final goodbye to a former family servant of his former in-laws. She's dying and he's her attorney. She lived in the gatehouse of his wife's former family mansion with a life tenancy. His wife is living in the guest cottage which was their home for 20 years and it is just a stone's throw from the gatehouse where he's taken up residency while his client lives her last days in hospice. Upon his first meeting with his former wife they decide that they can bury the last 10 years and start fresh but not without some roadblocks along the way. Her parents and their hatred for him for one but the major one is the son of the former Mafia Don who is suddenly out for revenge. DeMille's humor makes this book even better. I found myself chuckling out loud. I would say if you haven't read him then get a copy of "The Gold Coast" and then read "The Gate House."

Fewer hours

This is a really short week for hours on the job. I'm suffering! There's a rumor that the girl that started at the same time as I did might be leaving and I'm keeping my fingers crossed since that would probably mean more hours for me. I'm not schedule now until next Wednesday. I noticed that my hours are a little heavier the week of Thanksgiving which means I'm working the night before the turkey goes in the oven. That's the one week that less hours would have been better. I'm not scheduled for black Friday. I guess that's a good thing!

Happy Birthday!

My grandson turns 12 today! I'm bummed! Where did that little "Q" ball headed guy get to. It seems like just yesterday that he was a little fussy guy. Now he's all football and hair! It was bad enough that my kids are grown. Now I have to watch the grandchildren age. Of course looking in the mirror is no picnic. Happy Birthday Jasper!!

"Homeplace"

Another Anne Rivers Siddons novel. I had this paperback lying around for quite a while and since I enjoyed her last novel, I thought I would put this one to rest. This one started in the south in the early 60's. Racism was rampant! Young Micah (female) was born and her mother died. Her father never forgave her for taking his beautiful wife from him. At 18 she made the the worst mistake she could in her racist father's eyes. She went to a sit-in during a Civil Rights Rally. She got arrested. Her Father threw her out of the house. From there she made her way on her own to become a rather well known journalist. A failed marriage and her daughter's desire to live with her estranged husband left her with a decision. Her Father, now sick with cancer and a stroke, wanted her to return to the small town in the south. No welcoming arms awaited her. Just a shell of a man. Time would tell whether there would be a healing of the break in their relationship. Some sinister plots were thrown in the mix to make it a very page turning novel.

Lots of new books are out tomorrow by favorite authors. Hmmmmmmmmm!

Dexter

I finished my marathon watching of the second season of Dexter. When I first watched the first season they had showed it on regular television so it was quite different then what you get when you see it on DVD. The "F" bomb is every other word spoken and nudity is rampent. Unfortunately I'm hooked on the show. I need to know what's going to happen to Dexter. Now I'm hanging out there until a year from now and the next season is released. He's in a real "pickle" now! I wish they would have followed the book when dealing with the police sargent that is stalking him. Oh well, that's what happens when you give up your rights as an author. It is a gory show and my hubby can't take it other than in small doses so I waited till he was working and watched it. This last season wasn't as bad as his first season in the gore department. Now it's back to the latest novel to calm me down.

A different story

"Off Season" is Anne Rivers Siddons' latest novel. It opens with the main character of Lilly as an eleven year old girl at her parent's vacation home on the coast of Maine. She's the tomboy leader of the gang until she meets Jon. A 12 year old who is her first love. Her life is changed drastically by events that summer and with her Mother's breast cancer. She becomes a recluse along with her father. It isn't until she's 18 and meets the dashing Cam that she turns her life around. After 38 years of marriage she loses her husband. She returns to the coast of Maine to spend the summer and spread his ashes in the place he loved best. It is a journey that begins with good memories and ends with a revelation that takes the wind out of her sails. A wonderfully written story!

An interesting work week. Hubby has shorter hours but unfortunately we're not on the same schedule. I pass him on his way home as I'm going in. I hate working in the middle of the day. Much rather have those early morning hours. Never get much done when you have to break up your day mid way. Always feel the need to head back to bed for a nap.

One more day

Well, if all goes as it should we will no longer be exposed to the endless commercials from the Presidential candidates. Tomorrow is the day! Whatever the outcome, at least that is the blessing.

I just finished "Testimony" by Anita Shreve. The first chapter was rather shocking. It established the whole book. A small private school is rocked by a scandal. Three basketball stars over 18 are caught on tape having inappropriate relations with a 14 year old girl. She was the instigator but they should have known better. The novel went on to describe what all those that knew the boys went through prior and after the scandal. So many lives ruined! The story just won't stop. Even years later there seems to be someone that wants to bring it back to the front burner and let it simmer. No one is left untouched from the head master to the parents. A good read.

Running out of Berg

I'm down to my last two Elizabeth Berg novels. Her new one isn't due out till Spring of next year. "Durable Goods" is the first of three novels about Katie, a young girl on the cusp of womanhood. I've read and reviewed the other two and finally found the first one. It was good to have the information held within this first novel and now the puzzle pieces all fit together. Katie is an Army brat and her Mother has died of cancer leaving her with her 18 year old sister and her abusive Army Father. Time frame is the early 60's in Texas. It's hard to make friends when you move as often as they do. She's been waiting for the events her body needs to go through to make her a woman and she finally wakes to the big day. It's almost the end of the school year when her father announces another move and this time to Missouri. Her older sister refuses to leave and disappears in the night with her boy friend. Now she's alone with just her father and headed for a new life in a new state. I'm sad to have to say goodbye to Katie's life. Having grown up in that time frame so much of what she experienced were things that I did too.

Another year without trick or treaters. This makes about 22 years. It's kind of sad to not see those little faces in their scary little costumes. We live rather remote and there aren't any little ones in the area. I was going to wear my witch's hat to work today but couldn't find it. I'd like to have the power to put a curse on at least one member of management. She smacked me across the back the other night to get my attention instead of using my name and calling to me. Something like that is totally unacceptable and I could have probably gotten her fired. Of course I would have had to have the witnesses admit that they saw it happen but they are other employees that probably don't want to rock the boat. When I told Hubby about it he was so furious I thought he was going to burst a vessel. He was demanding I quit but that wouldn't be smart right now. I'll just stay as far away from her as possible and hope that we don't have another incident.

James Patterson strikes again

This was a different kind of novel for James Patterson. It was co-written by Hal Friedman who is the father of the main character. "Against Medical Advice" is a novel about a young boy that develops Tourrets Syndrome and OCD. Just before he turns 5 his life is thrown into turmoil with uncontrollable tics and involuntary utterances. Shuttled from one Doctor to another and put on medications that would knock a horse out this true story is so moving you can't help but feel all the pain this young man goes through. It gave me a whole different insight into this dreadful syndrome.

Another novel

Kathy Reichs is what she writes. She has the degrees and the talent. What she does in real life shows in her writing. Sometimes the technical lingo makes my eyes glaze over but it's real. Her latest novel is "Devil Bones." It covers what is believed to be some witchcraft or devil worship. Throw in a headless body and the death of a well liked detective. The main character is Temperance Brennan and she's a forensic anthropologist and a chief medical examiner. She's always working the case from the lab to the streets. An excellent read!

Hours cut

I've noticed a considerable drop in my hours at the new job. Apparently between the economy and the season it is the time they cut way back on part timers. Unfortunately it's not a good time for me to have my hours cut. I was thrilled today when the night girl came in and announced that she couldn't take her Thursday night hours. I raced to the coordinator and begged her for those precious 4 1/2 hours. Just hope I remember to tape ER which I'm going to miss because of this night time work schedule. Oh well! Got's to do what I got's to do! I was warned that the cut backs will get worse. It is very slow. The night girl was complaining about the job and how she's tempted to walk out. Says she doesn't need the hassle! You go girl!!!! More for me!

We're up and running with the new coffee pot. Happy birthday, Hubby! Nice gift for him.

Coffee fix

We discovered yesterday that our year old coffee pot had bit the dust. Disposable electronics! We had three old ones that I have no idea why we had kept but they all went out to the garbage pickup this morning. We had a French press that we used for yesterday's and today's consumption but we headed off to the local (25 miles) Sam's Club. Of course while you're there to buy a coffee pot you have to get coffee, some meat, some pens, a couple of books, a shirt and then there was the $40 annual fee that we needed to renew. We decided on a one cup at a time Cuisinart. A little more than we wanted to spend but then maybe it would last a little longer than a year. Got home and put all the goodies away and got the coffee maker out of the box. I decided to read the instructions which I never do and followed them to the tee. After a call to their service number we were told to reset it by unplugging it and waiting an hour. If it didn't work then; take it back to the store. Well, it's back in the box and tomorrow hubby will make the 50 mile round trip to return it to Sam's. The dilemma is whether to try another just like it or just go somewhere else and get another kind. Decisions, decisions! I'm so tired of having to replace everything so quickly. I think we've had 10 microwaves over the years. Crockpots? I've lost track! Electric shavers? Every year! Televisions? Too numerous to mention. Cell phones? Oh my! I must say...I've had the same alarm clock for about 25 years. Guess I just jinxed that one. Suggestions for a coffee maker are welcome.

A different read

This novel by Andre Dubus III is "The Garden of Last Days." The setting is Florida in September of 2001. The characters are April, her 3 year old daughter Fanny, her landlady and babysitter Jean, AJ, a regular at the strip club where April works and Bassam, her last customer on a fateful night. Jean suffers what she thinks is a heart attack leaving April without a sitter for Fanny. She calls the strip club and is told that the manager would keep an eye on her and let her stay in the office and watch Disney videos and sleep until April gets off work. AJ is a man newly separated from his wife and child and hanging in the strip club making time with one of the strippers. He's thrown out for holding her hand. He's drunk, angry, and lonely. Bassam is a Mideasterner on a mission in a few days time and deciding to enjoy himself at the "gentleman's club." He pays for April to attend him in a private room. He's throwing money around and she grabbing it up. These elements lead to a page-turning narrative. It's set in the seamy underside of American life at the moment before the world changed. If you loved "House of Sand and Fog," you'll love this one.

Another Author comment

Got a response from the author on my review of Geoffrey S. Edwards' novel, "Fire Bell in the Night." Pretty cool that they take the time to search for reviews (or pay someone to do it). Makes me want to search for other books by him. Guess that's the plan.

"The Dark River"

A novel by John Twelve Hawks. This is his second novel that I've read and even though I'm not into fantasy fiction (other than Harry Potter) it has been an interesting read. It was a little difficult to remember the first book but after a few pages it didn't really matter since everything was pretty much explained again. I know there will be another since the ending left me totally hanging along with two of the main characters. It is a dangerous world inspired by the modern technology that monitors our lives. Under constant surveillance by the "Vast Machine," a computer network run by a group known as the Brethren, society is mostly unaware of its own imprisonment. Gabriel and Michael Corrigan, brothers who were raised "off the Grid," have recently learned they are Travelers like their missing father. They are part of a centuries old line of prophets able to journey to different realms of consciousness and enlighten the world to resist being controlled. Michael joins the enemy and Gabriel takes on the responsibility. The Travelers are protected by Harlequins who remain emotionally detached from their Traveler but defend them to their death. It was a good read and something different to enjoy.

Making myself known in the real estate world today. Taking my office duty and listening to the sound of silence from the phones that in a perfect world would be ringing off the hook. So far I've had one computer generated call which I got to hang up on. I finished my book too early and now I have to find something to occupy my time for another hour and a half before I can close everything down and head for home. Maybe I can find an online game to play to keep me occupied.

A wonderful day in the neighborhood

Well the Christmas decorations have hit the store. All the little elves are busy putting up the phony trees and the inflatable yard decorations. I'm humming along to the tunes now but by next week I'll be prying the batteries out of the boxes to shut them up. I'm looking at one of those phony trees to buy for our house. Learned my lesson last year and unless I get a live tree that isn't more than two feet high then it's artificial for me. I'll put a bowl of pinesol under the tree and no one will be the wiser.

I was all alone the whole afternoon yesterday. The early shift girl went to a meeting and the backup went home sick. I was to have my lunch break between 2 and 3 and when my partner returned at 2:30, I mentioned that I was late taking my lunch. She was leaving at 3 so I was informed I would have to take a half hour. Ohhhhhhhhhhh! the Nazi management don't like that! They question each and every minute that you have different then what they assign you. To top it off, the scheduler had me leaving at 6 and the night girl coming in at 6:30. I had to stay an extra half hour. Ohhhhhhhhhhhh! more trouble in Nazi land! I'll be brought before the tribunal and tortured. Torture was handed out to me in droves when I had to try to deal with customers and no one was around to back up what I was doing and whether I was doing it right. Guess I should have paid more attention during my hour and forty five minute training session the other day. So what if I'm still missing 12 hours and 15 minutes. Sink or swim! So there I was, singing Christmas caroles to entertain the customers so that they wouldn't think I was totally inefficient. Finaly out of boredom they wandered away. It's terrible to stand there praying for no one to come up and bother you until the end of my shift. I can handle most things but they're still a few that get me panicked. Maybe I'll take up tap dancing and then I can really WOW them to cover my ignorance.

I'm working my way through a fantasy fiction book. I don't often read them but I read the first one a few years ago and enjoyed it and this is a sequel. Hopefully I'll finish by this weekend.

On the money

I zipped through Elizabeth Berg's "The Pull of the Moon" in a matter of hours. Now this is my favorite! She explains exactly what I feel yet so eloquently. The character, Nan, leaves home. Just packs a bag and gets in her car and heads west. Leaves her husband (she loves him dearly) and her home and heads on her adventure. Her first purchase is a journal. The book is what she writes in the journal and the letters she sends home to her husband. She's driving off the beaten track. I love that.....I hate interstates and my hubby thinks that's insane. I want to experience every curve in the road and what there is to see. "When you take the small roads you see the life that goes on there, and this makes your own life larger." The fact that Nan has long hair at 50 and even though at that age it looked sort of silly, but she always had long hair, and didn't feel herself without it. Or someone asking your age and you say 64 so you'll look young for your age. That's me! Nan stops in a trailer park and meets a woman there and they chat and have lunch. Totally different personalities but they find a common thread. One stop is at a farmhouse where an 86 year old woman is shelling peas and Nan asks if she can just sit on the porch step and listen to the peas drop in the bowl. Their conversation leads to the woman disclosing the beautiful poems her husband had written to her over the years but never showed her. She found them after he passed away. Or the conversations she used to have on that porch with all her friends as they shelled peas or husked corn. She was the last of them to still live in her own home. The rest were gone or in nursing homes. The last stop was a lemonade stand with a young girl manning the stand. She sold her lemonade for 50 cents. She also sold her poems for 50 cents. She was fresh out of poems but said she would go write her one if she would watch the stand for her. The poem had a bridge over a river full of monsters with a land of purple fields and yellow clouds. She became Empress Nana Exsanna Popana. With that she turned and headed home ready to face what was yet to come.

ER

The show; not me in one! I love that show! I've been a devoted fan for all time. This is the 15th and final season. So far this season, they've killed off one of our favorites. The left us hanging last season to see who was really in the ambulance that blew up and this season started with everyone surviving but injured. Poor Greg didn't survive his injuries. Last week we said goodbye to Abby. She was first a nurse; then became an intern; then a nurse again when money was tight; then a doctor again. Anyway, she got the hunky doctor to marry her and Dr. Luka left the show last year with just a drop by once in a while. To save her marriage she's off to a new hospital with Dr. "Hunk." The ending of the show was superb! She didn't tell many that she was leaving until the end of her shift and when she danced with Frank around the receiving area I had my hanky out. When she walked out the door and her friends were gathered the waterworks were heavier. Then she walks to her car and Dr. Luka gets out (rare and final appearance) and gives her a kiss and loads her in the car for their goodbye. (I saw Dr. Luka live and in person several years ago when I had a layover with my daughter, grandkids, and her mother-in-law in Chicago. Even better looking in person.) They are bringing back Carter who left quite a while ago. I don't know why, there won't be anyone but a few nurses there that remember him. The three that would have; just left! There's even talk of somehow incorporating Mark back into a show and he was killed off ages ago. You can be sure that every Thursday night I can be found on my sofa watching ER from 10:00 to 11:00. Whatever they have in store for the rest of this final season will probably cause me to cry. If only George Clooney would drop by!!!!!!!!!! That would make me smile! I don't think I ever want to get hooked on a show again that I'm so addicted to.

A little southern history

"Fire Bell in the Night" written by Geoffrey S. Edwards explores tension between North and South, black and white, that gripped Charleston, South Carolina in the summer of 1850. John Sharp is sent by the New York Tribune to cover the trial of Darcy Calhoun, a farmer accused of harboring a fugitive slave. As the trial begins, John quickly realizes that not everything is as it appears in the genteel city of Charleston. A series of mysterious fires in white establishments brings the state militia, a curfew for the black population, and rising tension at the courthouse. The story was gripping and the similarities between slavery in the south and the abuses in the industrial New York City slums are brought to light. Very good read and a definite page turner.

"The Secret Life of Bees"

I read this book sometime ago and they've just released it as a movie. The author was Sue Monk Kidd. I kidnapped my granddaughter and we went to see it this afternoon. Exceptional! I had forgotten enough from the book that I wasn't ready for everything that was happening so it made it even better. The actresses were superb. Young Dakota Fanning did a wonderful job as usual. She's the main character who is living in the south in 1964. Her mother is dead and she's surviving under a roof with a less than loving father. Civil rights is the topic everywhere. I can't say more or it would ruin it. This is a must see movie and bring your hankies! Great to have a girl's day with the granddaughter. Don't get many of those chances anymore.

Foot stuff

The year started with my neck problems and I've worked my way down to my feet. The foot thing happened in January but was minor compared to what was going on with the herniated disk in my neck. Now that I spend so much time on my feet, I definitely needed to do something to alleviate the issue. It is definitely plantar fasciitis (heel spur) that is causing the problem. I got a good explanation from the doctor on what causes it and what cures it. No cortizone shot which was a relief to me. I had to get a night splint which holds the foot in the walking position while I sleep or sit for long periods of time. I also had to come home and dig out my orthodic inserts that the foot doctor made for me 17 years ago. Apparently being flat footed is a major cause of this problem. God knows, I'm as flat footed as a person can be. I also bought a pair of Crocs since they're recommended to help, too. I love this foot doctor! He did bunionectomies on both of my feet back in 1991 and made walking possible again until this recent heel spur thing. He's confident that I'll be good as new soon.

Ha ha Oprah

I was checking out "O at Home" magazine on a break today. She shows her library in her California home. All her first editions and such. Actually has a guy who works full time at getting her first editions or signed copies. I wasn't impressed! There was mention that she had another bookshelf in the hallway and more in the powder room. (Hadn't thought of expanding in there but I'm sure my extra bath would not be big enough for bookshelves.) No softcover books on her shelves. All of her Oprah Book Club picks are softcover. When she weeds out her books she sends them to women shelters or prisons. Weed out books! How can you get rid of books. That's like amputation of a limb. She said that she was going to throw them out but found she couldn't do that and dug them out of the garbage and donated them. Anyway, couldn't she just put them in one of her many other houses? Her artwork limited her shelf space. Gee, I have that same problem! I would love to have a library and be surrounded by my treasures but it would have to be one like they have in those castles in Europe. Two storied with ladders that roll around to reach the uppermost shelves. I used to like Oprah but that was in her Baltimore days when she was one of the masses. What is the attraction! No, I'm not jealous of her billions......well, maybe at little!

Berg Lover

I picked up another Elizabeth Berg and I think this is one of my favorites so far. I'll say it again.....she's the best! "Never Change" was written in early 2000 and the character (Myra) is a well trained nurse who used to work in the ER and is now in her 50's doing home visitations. Never married and never dated much. She never had close friends but classmates would go to her for advise. She always remained aloof because she didn't think she was wanted. Her clientele vary from drug users to the elite in the community. She gets a call to add another patient to her clientele list and its a former high school classmate. He is dying of a brain tumor and refuses all treatment. He knows time is limited and that there is no hope for a cure just an extension of time through chemicals and suffering and he's not having that. He's thrilled to have Myra as his nurse and through his struggles she is changed. Couldn't put the book down! Even read it on our road trip to a special aunt's 75 birthday party. I think there are a few Berg novels I haven't tracked down yet but I'm on a quest. Of course, what will I do when I've read them all. She was threatening retirement!

I can't believe that it's time to be planning the holidays already. I think we're having a small gathering at Thanksgiving. We know the Hawaii gang won't be here and I haven't heard from some of the Maryland gang. Might just be a dining room group around one table.

Good read

I finished the Harlan Coben novel "Fade Away." The main character is a sports agents who used to be a basketball star in his high school and college days. When he got to his professional debute he was taken out by another player and his knee was gone along with his career in basketball. Suddenly he's called to play.......he's 32 and other than games with friends he hasn't played in years. The knee is still an issue. The "Dragons" want him to fill in for a missing player. He'll be a bench warmer basically but he will just be using being on the team as a means to find the missing player. He's not only is a sports agent, he's been a former FBI undercover agent who still dabbles in solving mysteries. His best friend was also an agent and is now head of a reknowned security firm. Together they unstoppable. Like I mentioned in the previous blog, this writer is very funny. I totally enjoy reading him and trying to figure out the ending.

Just get me through the day

The foot pain is getting so much worse and I'm counting the minutes until the foot doctor appointment next week. I limp off the job every day and rush home to soak my feet in ice water. Yesterday I sprained my wrist so I'm down to one functioning limb. What a joke my life is! I managed to pick up quite a few more hours of work this week since one of the other workers is off due to a death in the family. Glad for the work but wish I was tougher. Maybe with time!

Trying to get finished with my latest book. I've had the 6 am shift most of the week and it's difficult to find the time to read. My latest is a Harlen Coben novel. He writes an on going series once in a while about a sports agent who was a former basketball star. He's also a lawyer and former FBI undercover operative. Busy guy! I enjoy his books though because he has a really great sense of humor and I find myself chuckling through the pages. Maybe by the weekend I can get a chance to finish up.

Sometimes.......

When you're a woman, you just have to read a good romantic novel. Can't be helped! And if you're going to do it then the one to read is Nicholas Sparks. Yes, a male romantic novelist. Of course, on his bookcover it says story teller but we women know that he's more than that. Come on, he wrote "The Notebook", "Message in a Bottle", and the new movie out, "Night in Rodanthe." Well, he's done it again with his latest, "The Lucky One." The male character (you need one of them) is a college graduate and signs up with the Marines (just like Dad). He ends up in Iraq at the start of the war. While jogging around the camp early one morning he finds a picture half buried in the sand. The background is of a country fair and the rest is of a beautiful blonde woman wearing "Lucky Girl" on her t-shirt. He tries to find the owner but is unsuccessful so he keeps it in his pocket. It becomes his lucky charm. Friends are falling around him but he seems to be able to walk away from all the encounters with the enemy. His best friend is sure that it's the picture and tells him that he owes it to the woman to find her and thank her. The journey takes him cross country, on foot with his dog, to a small town in the south. Now, how does he repay this woman with a small child and an ailing grandmother? Got to read this one, ladies! You won't put it down.

Poor Queen Mary

After I got used to the new style of writing by Philippa Gregory, I thoroughly loved the latest novel. Written through the eyes of three characters; Mary, Queen of Scots, George Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury, and his wife, Bess of Hardwick. Alternating chapters gave us their story. Queen Mary flees to England from Scotland with Queen Elizabeth's promise of sanctuary and finds herself imprisoned as the "guest" of George and Bess. They are a newly married (though it is her 4th and his 2nd) and think that by serving Elizabeth in this capacity it will give them even more fame and riches. Instead it throws them into bankruptcy in their attempt to keep the imprisoned queen in her extravagant lifestyle. She is weaving a web of treachery and treason which is uncovered by the countries spymaster, William Cecil who is Elizabeth's right hand man. The treason causes the deaths of many great and powerful men. The strongest woman eventually won! I have to say, I did enjoy Bess the most. She went from poverty to being a very rich wife in a time when a woman's husband owned everything. All of her husbands increased her wealth and her fame and ended up leaving her with their entire fortunes instead of the typical sytle of passing it all to the oldest son. She learned the things necessary to run the farms, coal mines, etc. efficently and increased her lands and fortune only to see it squandered by her new husband on the care and keeping of Queen Mary. She managed to get part of her lands away from him in a legal agreement and they parted leaving him to take care of the Queen on his own. In the end she restored her loses while he went down in ruin. If you're a history buff, then this is the book to read.

Adventures for the weekend include a little real estate and then topped off with a big family reunion to be held at my daughter's home on Sunday. Lots of shopping to do for that. Our family is known to pack in the food. It will be great to see everyone. These are the cousins from my mother's side of the family and all of us are within 10 years of age. We are lucky to have some of our off spring coming, in addition to our last surviving Uncle and his wife, and the widow of another Uncle.

OK

I did the big squeeze today and all is well. They sure don't let you have any hints along the way. I suffered through 9 mammogram pictures then went to a sonogram. Since I did feel something before going in there, the look on the women's faces had me convinced of the worst. Their expressions are deadpan. I literally dropped into a chair when I met with the doctor and he showed me that the pictures were all clear. No explanation of what I felt but I'm just glad it's nothing to worry about. I will definitely be more diligent in the future. Always was until I ran into a problem with my former gyn. Never met the woman for all the years I went to that office. Always dealt with her Nurse Practitioner. Suddenly the NP is gone and the gyn is introducing herself. Needless to say she found all kinds of problems and I was under the knife. Nothing she did was successful and it was pure torture. I no longer want anything to do with her. Sure hope the new office is better! I miss the old NP! Wish I could find where she went.

Sold a house to a young couple about 8 or 9 years ago. I stayed in touch as I usually do with cards throughout the year. When it was time for them to head back to their hometown they called me to sell their home. Love them for that! I was successful and off they went. Her job was still local even though she was now living 4 hours away and she had to come back every so often to touch base and hang out with her manager. Our phone would ring and she and sometimes both of them would ask to stay with us. We were generous for quite a few years but it turned into abuse when the children started coming and I was asked to babysit while she did her office time locally. No compensation! I started to be unavailable and I thought they'd finally gotten the hint. Last night she called and said she'd missed talking to me and how was I doing. Sure enough, she needed a favor. She lost her job locally a few months ago but a friend of her's from here lost her mother recently and the funeral is this week. She's bringing both babies (2 and 4) and wondered if I could watch them while she goes to the viewing or funeral. She caught me in a generous moment (and after all it's a death) so I agreed to rush home from work tomorrow to spend my evening watching her kids. She had just mentioned how they fight all the time so I'm just thrilled to have them here for 3 hours or so. I'll bet that she asks if they can stay. She already has her foot in the door with the little ones so what will I do? I don't have a baby proof house anymore. Oh dear!

Rain, rain, rain.........

Through a torrential downpour we made our way north to the big 60th class reunion. It's only about a 2 hour trip on a good day but with road work and rain that kept visability at a minimum we arrived around 2:00. Gave us time to take a quick nap before heading for the "ballroom" where the reunion was to be held. What a crowd! Little did we know that they had not just combined 3 years worth of graduates but had combined 17 years worth of graduates. 1947 through 1964! Still being the youngest in the room was a good thing! A whopping 10 classmates were there from hubby's class. They all had the negative attitude that this would be their last one. What a bummer! When they parted it was with hugs and "well we probably won't see each other again." Sad! It was hysterical to watch that crowd out on the dance floor doing every dance but the Charleston. At least if they were celebrating their last reunion then it was with style. We made an early night of it and were back in our room by midnight. Most from our "group" had called it a night hours before but we stuck around with the last stragglers. We're talking a lot of loud music and a lot of hearing aids that were turned to the "off" position. One guy said that his battery had been drained! We took a spin through the cemetery on the way home to visit the in-laws graves. Still no headstone for them and they've been gone for years. It was hubby's brother's responsibility as "whatever" and he never did what was necessary. We got the information needed and will finally do what should have been done so many years ago. We were soaked from our visit since the downpour continued all weekend. I did manage to get some information from some tombstones that might be helpful in the search for hubby's ancestry. I hate that I only have his grandparents names and nothing beyond. Hmmmmmmmmmm! Secrets!

I was anxious to start the Philipa Gregory novel that just came out but am a bit disappointed so far. Her style is different. She's got each chapter as a dialogue from the main characters and so far I'm not sure I like that style. I haven't gotten too far into it so I should wait to pass judgement.

Mammogram Monday

I'm facing the dreaded squeeze on Monday. This time there's a possibility of a mass or lump so it's a very stressful time. In the meantime I have to attend the dreaded reunion trip this weekend. Now I dread it even more. I guess anything that will keep my mind off of the Monday event will be a blessing.

Almost finished with "Nectar From a Stone" by Jane Guill. I've read enough to know that it's a very good read. Another historic fiction. The mid 1300's with Wales as the setting. The hundred years war is over and if you're Welsh then your less than the dung on the bottom of a shoe as far as the English are concerned. Young Elise (half English and Welsh) has buried her family from the plague but was contracted to marry before her Father's death. Suffering a cruel marriage where beatings and worse were doled out regularly; Elise stabbed her husband during one of these beatings and thought him dead. She and her maid threw him in the river and took his money and ran. Unfortunately he survived and in pursuit. The journey is filled with interesting information. Fascinating that women in the 1300's we treated like those in the 1970's here in America without repurcusions.

The Keepsake

A novel by Tess Gerritsen. I've read most of her novels and they're full of suspense. There's a medical examiner, a female detective and a male detective. The serial killer in this one turns his victims into mummies, "bog bodies", and even did a shrunken head. Someone with an archaeological background was definitely involved. The next victim is a young archaeologist that is working at a remote Boston museum and living a secret life. Her Mother is the true target but she's hidden away for most of her life to keep she and her daughter safe from the lunatic stalker/serial killer. It was a fast read and good page turner. Along the lines of Kathy Reich and early Patricia Cornwell.

Have a few days off the new job. One day of work on Thursday and then off for the weekend since it's hubby's class reunion weekend. Really have gear up for this event. Briefly met a few of the classmates 10 years ago but haven't seen any since then and this time they've invited two other classes to join them. Sure hope there's name tags! Also glad that we're only going to for the one night instead of the three day event they scheduled. Have the reunions more often and for one evening instead of every 10 years and a weekend long event.

A sequel

I finished "Flying Changes" by Sara Gruen. It's the sequel to "Riding Lessons" that I read recently. It takes the life of Annemarie Zimmer through even more ups and downs. From her life changing and almost life ending fall from her horse in her teens to her 40th birthday. Okay, it's a bit sappy at times and somewhat predictable but it was a fun and an interesting read. Just what I needed for a day off. If you're into horses you'd really enjoy this book. I was hoping for the Philippa Gregory book for my next one but that would entail getting out of my pj's and driving eleven miles to the closest bookstore. I've got quite a few other books waiting to be read and I'll pick her book up next time I have a chance.

"Mistress of the Art of Death"

A novel by Ariana Franklin set in the 1100's. England has a serial killer. His victims are small children. They have suffered dispicable injuries. A well known "detective" is brought from Salerno and along with him comes a "doctor of death." Not only is "she" a doctor but she's interested in the dead and studies their bodies. Since being a woman doctor is not accepted in England she brings another male friend to pretend to be the doctor and she the assistant. Like reading a 12th century Patricia Cornwell novel. The story line was good but I wasn't overly thrilled with the style of writing. I found it difficult to read without finding myself drifting and having to re-read different sections. I was glad to finish it and move on to something else. Today is all about some chores and keeping off my very sore feet.

First paycheck

Well if it's any indication of what's to come then I'm in trouble! I got my first paycheck today. The hourly rate was wrong and I was short 16 hours. When I asked about it I was told that they'd straighten it out by the next check which is two weeks away. We're talking $300. Why would I want to wait that long for that kind of money. Why do they think I took the job? It was my day to walk around with the zone manager to learn the layout of the land. I bet I walked 4-5 miles. I was dragging my butt out of there this afternoon in tears. Finally made the decision to go to the foot doctor to do something about the heel spur. Painful shot can't be as bad as the last two weeks of agony. Tomorrow is my first day off in 9 days and I'm thinking it will be good to just soak in a tub for about 4 hours. Back to real estate on Sunday for a change.

Still trying to get through my latest book. Not something I'm really enjoying even though it's an historic fiction. Hopefully I'll wrap it up tonight if I don't fall asleep first. Philippa Gregory has a new one out which I have to get my hands on. She never lets me down.

The grandchildren are here for an overnight. Nice to spend some time with them.

New Job

I finished the training today and got to go "shadow" at my new post. Unless they plan to give me a big raise then I think I will be searching for another job elsewhere. This is way above the pay scale that they put me in. It's amazing that everyday you learn something new that isn't necessarily a good thing. Like how they change your schedule on you after it's been given out or that you have to do mandatory meetings on your one weekend off. Next week's schedule is for only 14 hours which isn't worth it for traveling money. From 9 days straight to two spread out over a full week. I wish Border's would call! If I'm going to be on my feet all day at least I'd be surrounded by books.

Off to dinner at the daughter's house! She's earning brownie points that her siblings aren't getting.

Neurologist

I had a bunch of appointments this week during around my hectic new job training. Felt like I was running to and fro. Yesterday was a trip to a neurologist. My "essential tremor" has gotten really bad and is now spread from the right hand to the left. I could somewhat control it until earlier this year and it seemed to get worse in February which was also the time I had the neck surgery. The surgeon assured me that the surgery wouldn't affect my tremor. Funny, the neurologist told me it can and most likely did. I've never spent an hour and a half with a doctor before (unless he had me in surgery). This guy was thorough. He had a full page of hand written notes till he got done and did a bunch of tests. First thing is to go back on the non-generic brand of medication I was taking before the insurance company insisted that I take something cheaper. After I take this for about two weeks I'll make a determination as to whether it is improved or not. If not there's another drug that I can take that will hopefully help. This one will probably make me feel like I've been drinking a lot. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm! Now I know why my brother doesn't have as bad a tremor as I do. He does drink a lot! I'm grateful that my children haven't inherited the tremor which I inherited from my grandfather on my mother's side. Unfortunately the doctor mentioned that just because they haven't shown signs of it yet that they could possibly have it happen as they get older. Sorry guys! I just want to get to the point that I don't slop my soup down my front. I'm close to needing a big spoon for everything I eat now.

One more day of off-site training in Harrisburg and then it's all on the job. I'll be glad not to have the drive anymore. I haven't had a chance to go to the real estate office for two weeks. How quickly it's become unimportant!

I was checking for comments on my blog and discovered one that was written when I blogged about Barbara Kyle's book "The Queen's Lady." The author herself wrote one! Wow! Glad I gave her a good review!

Latest book

I finished "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. Guernsey is a small British island between England and France and during World War II it was occupied by the Germans. The time frame of the novel was 1946. The main character is writer Juliet who is living in London. She receives a letter from a gentleman in Guernsey requesting help in locating a book. The correspondence continues and enlarges to include all the people that are members of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society. It also includes Juliet's publisher and also her best friend. During the war there was little food left on Guernsey even for the occuping Germans and they were reduced to coming up with whatever they could to vary their meals of potatoes and turnips. One recipe was making a pie out of potatoes and peels. The locals on Guernsey united once a month to read and debate their choice of books as entertainment in an otherwise tragic time. It continued and so did their friendships. Juliet is drawn to them through the correspondence and comes for a visit to meet her new friends in person. The story is wonderful and was written entirely in the form of letters to and from the characters. It took a little while to get all the characters in place but once they were it was a great read.

More training.....

I went to my first day on site at my new job. Spent the whole day staring at the computer taking one course after another with tests after each lesson. By noon I had a throbbing migraine from the headset that I had to wear. While I'm taking this training they have people parading through the room having conversations with the HR rep. and having meetings. The worst is that I have two more days of computer lessons and videos then I head back to two days of off site training in Harrisburg for the weekend. By next week I'll be shadowing someone. Sounds like I'll have the really early shift which wouldn't be bad if hubby didn't have a later one. I'll be ready for dinner by 4:00 in the afternoon like all good senior citizens and he'll be wanting his at 6:30 when he gets home. Bad planning. Didn't even get a lunch break today.

Guess my reading time is now cut. I still carry a book with me in the hopes that a few moments will appear for me to read a few pages. My latest read is "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. Wasn't sure about it when I first started reading it but I'm really enjoying it now. More later...........

Lots of family gatherings coming up. A reunion for more cousins that my daughter is kindly offered to host. Everyone will bring something so it will be just be me making a large meat dish, providing paper/plastic stuff and drinks. A birthday party for one of my aunts will be the next weekend. The hubby's reunion is soon and will take up two days since it's a few hours away and we get to stay over. Sure hope I can get all these days off.

Last days of freedom

My last two days before heading off to the new job. Had to fit some doctor and dentist appointments in this week. Figure I need to get all that out of the way if I'm going to work this wacky schedule that they've put me on. Also finished Sara Gruen's "Riding Lesson." I'm not a horse person but I did enjoy this book. Annemarie has been groomed to be an Olympic Equestrian rider when the worst possible thing happens. Her horse falls and she's badly hurt. The horse had to be put down and she spent the next 15 months in the hospital wondering if she'd ever walk again. Fast forward 20 years and she's headed back home after a failed marriage with her rebellious daughter in tow. She discovers her ailing father is in the final stages of ALS and can no longer work the horse training facility that they run. Her mother is busy with the father's needs and Annemarie takes over the running of the stables. She discovers a horse that is identical to her horse that was put down so many years ago and he's rare. A brindle which is something most people never see. Here's another and she's fascinated by him. Since he's been rescues from a "kill pen" she takes it upon herself to get him back in shape. Through investigation she discovers his real background and that leads to a whole different situation. Her obsession with this horse is causing her to lose focus on the stables and the management of everything involved. A very good read and I've discovered there is a sequel which now I'll have to find and read also.

Wonderful little novel

Sally Gunning's "The Widow War" is a wonderful read. Set in 1761 in the small town of Brewster, Massachusetts on Cape Cod. Lydia Berry is tending her home when she's informed that her husband has drowned while whaling. Little did she know what that would really mean. In a world where women had no rights, she would become a "burden." A woman could only inherit one third of her home and whatever she brought into the marriage in the way of possessions. The rest went to the nearest male heir. In her case it was her son-in-law. Before she knew what was happening she had a room in his house with a trunk of her clothing and nothing else. Her daughter was resentful of another female in the house even though Widow Berry just wanted to help, not interfere. She was expected to stay in her room and only use the "hearth" on certain days and times to do her baking and cooking. She just wanted to return to her home and live on her own. What she goes through to accomplish this is an amazing story. Facing starvation she is forced into becoming a housekeeper for a Native American neighbor therefore becoming an outcast in her community. Her only friend is her lawyer who is trying to fight for whatever rights he can get for her. I remember reading the wills of my ancestors where the wives are barely mentioned and when they are they get a pan, a dish, a fork and a knife. How sad that their lives were reduced to just those few things.

My orientation was filled with "it's all about the customer!" An hour's travel (each way) in miserable weather just to hear that comment over and over. They could have just told me that when I was hired and saved the journey. I struggled through the long session and the rainy drive home. The fact that I'm facing two more days of that next weekend is not something I'm looking forward to. The rest of the training will be on computer or by shadowing a fellow employee.

New Job tomorrow

I start orientation tomorrow for the new job. It's an all day event in Harrisburg. Got to be there by 8 a.m. so I guess I'll be getting up at 5:30 to be sure I make it in time. Might as well get used to it since I have my work schedule for the next two weeks and three days I start at 6 a.m. They have me working every day for 9 days straight. Nothing like easing back into the work force. Got to get a few outfits, too.

I finished "The Lady Queen" by Barbara Kyle. It was an historic fiction. Another about a ward of Sir Thomas More. This ward was totally fictional. Sir Thomas was a fanatic about his Catholism and did everything he could to rid England of heretics. Most were burned at the stake. His ward is Honor who adored him and was well taught in his household. When her early childhood friend was burned at the stake by More it ended her relationship with him. Her quest became getting all she could out of England that would end up at the stake. She was a lady in waiting for Queen Catherine and stayed with her until the Queen was sent off to a convent. It gave Honor the cover she needed to continue her quest. She became an advocate for the Protestants but never converted. No longer a believer in Catholism and not taking on the Protestant belief she would end up the way of the people she tried to save. I love those historic fictions! This one was very good. The author even threw some insights into Anabaptists which is interesting to me since most of my ancestors we Anabaptists.

Another Bourne Book

Although Robert Ludlum has been dead for years now his well known character Jason Bourne lives on. The author of "The Bourne Sanction", Eric Van Lustbader, was co-writing books with Ludlum before Ludlum's death so he was apparently given the rights to continue writing Bourne novels by the family estate. The books are okay but if they tracked with the original Jason Bourne novels then "old Jason" would be in his 60's and no longer capable of doing what this character does in the new novels. Jason Bourne was in Vietnam during the war so I can figure out the math. Van Lustbader writes a good novel and it keeps you interested but he definitely isn't Robert Ludlum. I guess he's hoping to inspire Hollywood to continue the Jason Bourne movies using his novels. In this novel, every covert operation is trying to take over control of each other. While all this is happening Jason is sent off by his mentor (a professor at Georgetown where Jason has worked in the past as David Webb, his alter ego) to Russia to uncover the Black Legion group. Lots of killing and fights to the finish take place. Of course the whole world is out to kill Jason!

Painting

I was feeling a little confidence with my oil painting ability until two days ago. I had done a stained glass rooster for a friend of mine in Michigan a few years ago and she had it framed in barn siding and hung in her kitchen window. I thought I'd do a painting of a rooster and send it to her. Her birthday was two weeks ago and I had sent it off with another small gift. The painting was framed in barn siding. I wouldn't have sent it but my hubby said it was great so off it went. I waited and waited for some comment from her and finally it came in an email. She thanked me for "remembering" her birthday. No comment about the painting at all. WOW! Not even a lie! Talk about having the rug pulled out from under you. Now I'm upset that I sent it and wasted it on her. She did comment by asking me if I was going to take other classes. A double stab in the back! Well, it's cookies and candy for her from now on.

A holiday weekend again! Thank God there's tennis on television to entertain me. I'm reading Sharyn McCrumb's "Once Around the Track" which is okay but since I'm not a NASCAR fan it's rather slow and boring for me. I know being from south central PA that I should be a fan but I can't get into it. I'll struggle through the book and consider it an "okay" story. At least hubby is off tomorrow which gives us some time over the holiday together. I guess from now on we'll both have our weekends tied up and it won't matter that the world is busy around us.

Our new neighbors just knocked on our door! I'm stunned! They just moved in. The former neighbor never came by until last year when he wanted free wood off of our lot. These people moved here from Pittsburgh and it looks like they're retired. He wants to hunt on our property which I don't think we'll be too excited about. They did invite us over and gave us their phone number. I was in my jammies so I didn't even allow them in the door. I felt bad but I'm not used to someone coming by like that. I could run into my other neighbors in the grocery store and not even know who they are. We all keep to ourselves around here. I did meet one neighbor years ago when she lost her little boy and needed help finding him. He'd strayed into the woods with his dog and I found him wandering not far from here. He was only three. They moved away about 4 years ago and now there's a new house on that lot and those people moved in a year or so ago. Haven't met them.

Family........

Last Sunday was a reunion of my Mom's side of the family. It was not as big as last year but still not bad. People hung around and chatted which years ago never happened. Today I met with some cousins from my Dad's side. Just the one I do family ancestry with and two that are my second cousins. We started with lunch and ended up going to a local museum. Nothing there to help with the family search. Now I've got the bug to work on ancestry again and I just don't have the time.

Heard about my new job. I get to go on orientation Saturday of next week and then more training the following weekend. Sure are spreading this thing out. At this rate I'll be lucky to be on payroll by Christmas.

Zapped

"Zapped" is Carol Higgins Clark's latest novel. She's the daughter of Mary Higgins Clark. She doesn't write as many books as her Mother but she does pretty well. Can't really tell the difference between the authors. I haven't read all her books like I have her Mother but there are a few on my shelves. This one was one of her sequel books about a private detective named Regan Reilly (who just happens to be the daughter of a famous novelist) and her "now" husband, Jack, the police detective. This adventure took place in NYC during a blackout. All happened in one night and I read it in one sitting. Quick read and not bad for what I'd label a beach novel. Always a happy ending!

"Child of God"

I've read some Cormac McCarthy books that I've loved and some I wasn't too wild about. This one was probably the strangest. It definitely took degradation to it's lowest. The character, Lester Ballard, roams the countryside of East Tennessee preying on the locals with his strange desires. The novel promised some humor but I sure didn't find any. I felt like I was watching a bizarre episode of Twilight Zone gone mad. I definitely don't understand the title.

Found out that the new job is still waiting for the results of my drug test. I doubt that. I think it's a convenient excuse to cover someone's incompetence.

Can't finish this one

I got through a little over half of "The Fox in the Attic" by Richard Hughes and I'm throwing in the towel. I just can't for the life of me figure this one out. It starts with finding a little girl dead in the countryside of England in the 1920's and suddenly you're in Germany. Nothing seems to tie together and if it does it will do it without me knowing. The worst of it is that I have a second book by him which is a sequel to this one. I really hate giving up on it but I have too many other books to read that can't be as boring as this one. I liked his "High Winds in Jamaica."

Still haven't heard anything about my new job! I'm not clearing my calendar further until I know something so life goes on.

What can I say....

Elizabeth Berg just writes the best books. I breezed through "Open House." Samantha is living the perfect life. Husband, son and home. Suddenly her husband leaves her and she's got to make it on her own. She doesn't want to lose her house so she takes in boarders. One in the basement and one upstairs. First is an elderly woman. The moving man that helps her carry in the furniture becomes a friend to Samatha. He's not always a moving man. Somedays he walks dogs, some times he's a telemarketer, etc. A graduate of MIT and an astrophysist that just happens to enjoy a simple life. The elderly woman stays a couple months and then marries her gentleman friend. The tenant in the basement is a weird girl named Lavender Blue. Bad attitude about life. The next tenant for upstairs is a gay man who owns a beauty shop. Samantha goes through all the emotions that are expected of a 42 year old woman who's husband leaves. How she handles it is well worth the read.

"The Night Villa"

This novel by Carol Goodman was a spur of the moment choice when I was buying my birthday books. It ended up being a good choice. My history lesson in the novel is about the eruption of Italy's Mount Vesuvius in A.D. 79 which buried a city and its people. Current day setting started with a shooting at the University of Texas campus and the main character, Sophie Chase. She's a professor of classics. After her recovery she heads for the Isle of Capri to immerse herself in her latest scholarly project alongside her colleagues, her star pupil, and their benefactor. Under layers of volcanic ash lies the Villa della Notte (the night villa) which is home to first-century nobles, as well as to the captivating slave girl at the heart of an ancient controversy. In the subterranean areas are some antique documents believed lost to the ages. New technology allows these scrolls to be read even with their age and damage. A story within a story. I pretty much figured out "the who dunit" part but it was still a good read.

Already started another Elizabeth Berg. I'm running out of her novels and I'll be so sad when I do.

Job update

I called around 1:00 today to find out if I'm doing orientation tomorrow. The woman that is supposed to be setting this up wasn't available so I asked for the assistant manager who had interviewed me. I explained to him that I was supposed to be at orientation Saturday and hadn't heard anything. He said he'd check it out and call me right back. Needless to say there wasn't another phone call and I'm assuming I won't be going to orientation for a while. I think the writing is on the wall to continue looking for a job. I know they could use my Human Resource abilities since this woman has none.

New Job

Well, I think I have the job. I was told that I did and I went for a drug test immediately after the second interview. There was a big rush to get me there so things could work out for orientation on Saturday. That was Wednesday and here I sit with no word since then. I know they have a rather incompetent woman working there. She proved that when she didn't bother calling me back to confirm my interview. Unfortunately she's in charge of getting everything together to get me on board. If I don't get orientation this week I think it will be two more weeks until I can go through it. Maybe there's a reason! Might be a better offer out there I don't know about yet. I'm waiting patiently!

Late night again watching the Olympics. This time the men's beach volley ball GOLD MEDAL. The night before it was the women winning. Terrible to get so hyped up before trying to sleep. It's almost over! Poor hubby couldn't tear himself away from the television to go to sleep and now he's going to be dragging at work today.

Slowed down on the reading for a bit. Halfway through "The Night Villa" by Carol Goodman. So far so good. There's a mystery/thriller coming; I just know it. So far it's just building up to it.

2nd Interview

Oh boy! Tomorrow is the 2nd interview. Waiting for a definite time. Hope my poor heel spur can take all the standing and walking I'll be subjected to.

Blah day....

Finished another wonderful novel by Elizabeth Berg. This one was "Joy School." It was a prequel to another of her novels and I wasn't aware of it until I recognized the main character. Katie is a newly turned 13 year old whose mother has died and she's an Army brat and dragged to a new school by her father. They've left Texas and her friends there. Now she has to find new friends. Not an easy thing for her. There's Cynthia who is intimidated by a domineering mother and Taylor who is a model and also a shop lifter. She's befriended by a Catholic priest even though she isn't Catholic and a 23 year old gas station attendant. The time frame is the early 60's. I can so relate to the events of the day since that is my time frame, too. Such a wonderful author and a wonderful story.

Still waiting on that second interview! Feel like I'm swimming in a fog.

Blue Smoke and Murder....

Elizabeth Lowell's latest novel is "Blue Smoke and Murder." Jill Breck is a river guide who saved the life of the son of two of St. Kilda's Consulting's premier operators. Not realizing that she would soon need their services to save her life. She suspects that the death of her great aunt from a fire was a murder. Now her life is in danger for the same reason. 12 unsigned paintings that are by a famous Western artist. These paintings can do great damage in an upcoming auction if they are proved to be authentic. She makes the call to St. Kilda's when she finds a death threat on her gutted vehicle. Doesn't hurt that the operative that they send her is not only an art expert, a former CIA operative, but not bad on the eyes. Couldn't put this down! It was fast moving and very interesting.

What a great Olympics! Go Michael Phelps! Eight gold. Unstoppable! We've been glued to the television for over a week watching the events. Our favorites are over now so there won't be the same draw now. Maybe we'll be able to throw in a movie or two.

Still waiting for the call for a second interview. Maybe they just told me that to get rid of me. We would sneak away for another staycation if it weren't for the waiting for the phone to ring.

Insomnia again...........

It's 2:00 a.m. and I'm wide awake. Haven't been to sleep yet. Just can't get there. Finished "Faces of Fear" by John Saul. For the first hundred pages I thought I was reading Danielle Steel. Kept waiting for the typical Saul terror to set in. This was a different kind of novel for him but it was frightening. Something that could happen which makes it scarier. When you get past all the set up of marriages ending and new ones starting you get into the real meat of the book. I figured out the ending pretty early on but it didn't take away from my desire to keep reading. A nasty serial killer in this one. Don't want to say more which would ruin it for anyone who's a Saul fan. If you're a parent of a young girl it will make you re-think letting them have a My Space page. Now the dilemna; what to pick next.

"The Story of Edgar Sawtelle"

A novel by David Wroblewski. This is a wonderful story about three generations of dog breeders. Not pedigrees. Just well thought out breeding, record keeping and endless training. The last of the Sawtelle line is a young Edgar who was born mute. He had hearing but no voice. Not even a grunt. He lead an idyllic life with his parents on their farm in remote northern Wisconsin. Life changes when Edgar's Uncle Claude shows up. Suddenly there is turmoil between Claude and Edgar's Father. Old arguments are fought anew. When Edgar's Father dies suddenly, Claude insinuates himself into the family and the grief stricken Edgar leaves after he fails to prove that his Uncle was responsible for the Father's death. He can't stay away forever and returns after several months to try to once again find the proof he needs to destroy his Uncle. This caused me a sleepless night. Kept trying to put it down and couldn't. David Wroblewski is a master storyteller. I'm moving this author to my list of Authors to continue to read.

One interview down and one to go. Made it through the first round and now I have to meet the manager. Might have a shot at a little higher level job then originally thought.

New job?

I'm interviewing tomorrow afternoon for a part time job at a local establishment. Nothing fancy! Just something to help pay the bills that my current job hasn't managed to do in a long time. Feel like I've worked for nothing for a year. I went on a listing appointment two days ago and it confirmed my need to seek something new for my career. The gentleman spent two hours telling me his woes. Oh please! Lost loves, poor health, and inflated ego. Get over yourself! I barely managed to get 5 minutes of real estate information stated. There were three of us up for the listing and according to the call I got from his daughter (an agent in another state), he liked me and the other woman who came after me. Well, good luck to her because I'm not sure I want to deal with this. Right off the top I have to pay the daughter a referral commission and then she wants me to give him a discount if I manage to bring in the Buyer. Once again I would be working for nothing. Apparently what I do has no value!

Feeling a little overwhelmed with stuff!

Song of Kali

The "Song of Kali" is a fightening novel written by Dan Simmons. It's set in the 1970's. The main character is a published poet, Robert, who is offered a job by Harper's to go to Calcutta to find a renowned poet that has suddenly had a manuscript surface after 8 years. Robert's wife is from there and he takes her as his interpreter along with his infant daughter. Calcutta is the foulest and most crime ridden city in the world. Filthy, stench-ridden, crawling, with vermin both human and otherwise. It is possessed of evils. Little did they know what danger they were entering into when their plane touched down. This was a truly frightening novel. Kept me turning pages till the end.

We've been staying up late and watching the Olympics every night. Since I don't exercise, I guess I have a need to watch others do it in abundance. I really enjoy the swimming and gymnastics portion. Go Michael Phelps! Even got into basketball yesterday with the US playing against the Chinese.

The Other

"The Other" is a novel by David Guterson. I've enjoyed several of his novels in the past and was anxious to read this one. Tough going at first with paragraphs two pages long. I kept going and ended up enjoying the book. Neil Countryman is blue-collar Irish and John William Barry has pedigree and wealth. They met in Seattle as teenagers at a track meet. A friendship ensued. Neil wants college and a career as a teacher. John William wants to hide away in the forest. They spent many weekends hiking through northern Washington. Little by little John William checks out of society and becomes a hermit. Neil never abandons John William even when he's living in a cave. Little did he know what his reward would be for that friendship.

Enjoyed the DVD "The Other Bolelyn" which I originally read by Philippa Gregory. The book was much better but the movie was well done. Hard to compact so much history into a two hour movie.

Had a nice evening with my daughter and the grandkids last night. They came for dinner and stayed through the first hour of the opening of the Olympics on television. Spectacular! Unfortunately we stayed awake for the whole thing and our behinds were dragging this morning when we had to get up for work.

Risen from the dead

Richard Bachman is really Stephen King and he disappeared ages ago when it was discovered. A new/old book was released by King under the Bachman name. He wrote it back in the 70's and didn't publish it. Apparently it got put in a box and was pulled out from time to time without success. Recently he decided to update it and let it be published. Titled "Blaze" this book is about a character nicknamed Blaze who when he was young he was a very good student who was always reading and excelled in school. His drunken father regularly beat him and one night he decided to throw him down the apartment stairs three times. After the kid suffered permanent brain damage (including a permanent dent in his forehead) the father was shipped off to prison. The kid went to the state and suffered through several attempts of unsuccessful fostering. He was taken under the wing of a shady character named George and the two started a partnership in crime. George was killed in a poker game gone bad and his scheme to kidnap a baby of a local wealthy couple was left to Blaze. When you're considered to be mentally challenged and you attempt a kidnapping then it's a roadmap to disaster. I really enjoyed this book and was glad to see the old Stephen King in it. Not a scary book!

Spent my birthday gift from hubby with a trip to Borders where I got to stock up on a few new books. I had a birthday coupon from Borders, a 40 percent coupon, and a $5.00 reward coupon. I ended up with over $40+ in discounts. One again I went without my list of books that I've read and ended up buying two that I already had. I'll be making a return trip in a week or so to buy the new John Saul book and taking those others back. Unfortunately my list is so large that it's difficult to haul it around. It keeps changing every few days, also. It's like trying to remember the reusable shopping bags when I go to the grocery store. I remember them when I'm in the checkout counter. The list is always in the car when I'm in the bookstore.

Missing

Hubby and I went missing last Friday! It's now Sunday and no one knew we were gone. It's our 30th anniversary today and hubby took me on another staycation. Since he loves Corning, New York, that's where we went. We tossed around several other possibilities but he wouldn't go for Hawaii or Europe. I've been to Corning with him but it's been many years. Everytime we went fishing in New York state he would take his youngest son and go off for a day to visit the glass museum that they have there while the rest of us fished. This time we stayed right in Corning at the Radisson Hotel. Just walked in off the street and hoped for a room. We were in luck even though there was a Nascar event coming to Watkin's Glen in a few days that would have ruined our chances if we'd have been a day or two later. A lovely young lady booked us in and proceeded to comp a free breakfast for us both and free desserts at their restaurant if we had dinner there. With our AAA membership we scored a fairly good rate. Great room except for the lingering odor of smoke. Can't ever get rid of that smell. When booking us the young lady told us not to miss walking Market Street in the evening which we proceeded to do. Too late to hit the shops but the restaurants were great. Had a great meal at an Irish Pub. Saturday was all about the museum and the glass market at Corning. A couple of demonstrations on glass blowing gave me a chance to get off my heel spur for a short time. Every nationality under the sun was there. Wouldn't figure it as a tourist trap for so many. Checked out this morning and headed home. The only negative was the Sleep Number beds that the hotel is so fond of. We couldn't get ours to hold the setting so we'd try one number and wake in the middle of the night with mine at 5(way too soft) and hubby's at 90 (way too hard). Just couldn't get it regulated. Definitely won't be ordering one of those. It was a gorgeous drive down route 15 through PA. Lot of it was following the Susquehanna River. Good to be home though!

Finished "City of Shadows" by Ariana Franklin. It's a wonderfully written book about a terrible time. The 1920's through 1933 Germany. A young Jewish woman (Esther) who gets tangled into the life of Anna Anderson who claimed to be Anastasia Romanov. Throw in some murders and bring in a policeman and the story becomes more intriguing. The ending was quite a surprise. Of course liberties were taken as with most historic fiction but it was "edge of your seat" good.

Since it was a long drive north and back, I also finished "Tail Spin" by Catherine Coulter. I usually enjoy her FBI series but this one left me dissatisfied. Not up to her usual with the main characters. Can't recommend this one.

Here's hoping I have many more anniversaries with Hubby!