Year in review

All in all this was not the greatest of years. I won't be sorry to see the end of 2009. Losing a family member usually does throw a monkey wrench into the mix. I've got to hope that brighter days are ahead. My deceased brother's widow has already moved on to a new relationship and the kids don't seem to be overly traumatized so I should get on with it, too, I guess. Even if he wasn't a shining star in the universe he was still part of the family and is missed by me.

We were invited to my daughter's house for a New Year's party this year. I think we're going but don't know how late we'll stay. Guess I should come up with something to take along. Hmmmmmmmmm!

Patterson's latest

This is a little different twist for James Patterson. He took the Pharaoh Tut and tried to determine who killed him. He threw us back to the 1300's BC to Tut's reign, to the early 1900's for the time of Howard Carter who discovered and unearthed Tut's tomb, and to the Present Day when Patterson was writing the novel. Interesting way of writing this novel. Of course, it's speculation but it made for good read.

Well, Christmas is over and it was very nice. Nine for dinner which makes it nice since we can all sit around the table together. The gifts were exchanged and I was given a Dyson vacuum by my kids. I had hinted that my current vacuum was on it's last suck and now I'm the proud owner of a powerful monster that is sucking the dirt from the basement right up through the first floor. I still have gifts under the tree for the great grandkids but I haven't heard from them. They were to have come for Christmas night and I didn't get a call to let me know what happened. I don't think I want to keep the gifts for too long or the kids will outgrow them and they will be useless. I think everyone had a pretty good time but it was sad we didn't have the whole family together for the day.

Fun new series of books

James Patterson has written the first of probably many for the young. I enjoy his Maximum Ride series so I thought I would check out "Witch & Wizard." It's an interesting concept. A young brother and sister are part of a society that has been taken over by a New Order and they are suspected of being a witch and wizard. Until pressed into action they did not realize that they had these powers. Suddenly they are taken prisoners by the New Order and are to be executed. With their new powers manage to escape and suddenly are in charge of rescuing all the children that have been taken captive. Fun read and we'll see how Patterson and his co-author handle this new series.

Snow fell yesterday and covered us with about 15-16 inches of the white stuff. I missed a full day of work and waited nervously for hubby to make it home. I was due in to work today at 10 and our road wasn't plowed and our driveway was a mess. Hubby didn't want me to go but I felt I needed to try. I got stuck in a snow drift up to my fenders and after struggling for about 10 minutes with my 4 wheel drive, I finally managed to get it lose and backed about a 1/4 of a mile back to the house. At the entrance to the drive I found a young guy with a plow and I asked him if he'd plow our drive for $50 and he seemed thrilled. About that time a plow from the township went through and opened the road that I had just been stuck in. I made it to work and was only 8 minutes late. Now I'm sitting here well after closing time waiting for an electrican to come and fix a light fixture in the vault which could be a potential fire hazard. Due to company policy, we can't have an unequal amount of people of the opposite sex in the store so being the only parttimer with hours available, I was chosen to wait with the two department heads for the electrician whose arrival time is after 9. Of course, then he has to fix the light and it being a Sunday and probably double time, he could take all night to do the repair. In the meantime the roads are probably refreezing and I'll be crawling home. Hopefully I'll make up for some of the hours I lost yesterday.

Time is getting short and I've still got gifts to buy and food to get before Christmas. Well, really I need the food before Tuesday when my stepson and daughter-in-law show up. First of the big meals will be cooked that evening and then again on Friday. At least I have Tuesday and Wednesday off to prepare for Friday.

Geez Louise!

I'm the first one to want a ton of snow but this could be more than even I asked for. It was to start later today but when I got up this morning there is already 5 inches on the ground. Hubby is at work doing an early shift and I was scheduled for the closing shift. Doomed! Six more hours of this and I'll never get out and he'll not get back. The possibility of more than a foot of snow. Maryland may get two! Normally I would be doing back flips but not when a loved one is out there in it.

Our new chairs came yesterday and I was suspicious right from the start when I realized that one of the boxes was open. Sure enough; magic marker on both arms of one chair. My son-in-law picked them up for me to save the delivery charge and now I have to deal with the store to get another one in and pick it up. I'm not sure that I like sitting in them. They're pretty but I think we settled. My hubby knows that it's his fault we're getting these new chairs so I'm waiting for him to say that he's sorry he got them. I know it's coming!




I finished Lauren Willig's "The Temptation of the Night Jasmine." It's another sequel. Eloise is doing research for her thesis and has picked the Victorian Age spy, The Pink Carnation. Her now boyfriend is the owner of tons of diaries and letters from that era and his ancestors were spies. Through her research she provides an ongoing story of the current spy. Two stories in one. Eloise and Colin's relationship and in this one Duchess and Duke Dovedale. It's a fun historical novel.

Two more books

I need to finish two more books to make 60 for this year. I feel I've fallen behind a bit but after all there is this crazy job I'm working that keeps getting in the way of my addiction.

I went to a Holiday buffet today at my friend/former client's vineyard. She's the one who I sold the house to and then helped plant the grapes vines and harvest the grapes for many years. In fact, it's about 16 years now. She called me ages ago and asked me to get ready to list her house and then when I showed up with the numbers she decided to sell it herself. Well, just as I was once again ready to hang up my real estate license she has dangled the carrot and told me that she's having no luck selling it herself and that she will be listing with me soon. I really hate to pay out that fortune in dues that needs to be paid by the end of this year on a promise. I only stayed a couple of hours at the party since I had to come to work tonight. Hubby was working the early shift so he didn't get to go at all. Her buffet was a little disappointing. She usually puts out a nicer spread but I guess it was her ex-husband who did the majority of the cooking when they were still together. If I wouldn't have showed up with a cheese cake she wouldn't have had a dessert. I make more for Hubby and I for a regular meal then she had for about 20 people. Hope no more showed up after I left or they will be sadly disappointed.

The tree is up but not decorated. Can't seem to get to it. Boxes of decorations are sitting all over the floor but they need some magic to make it to the tree. I did get some shopping done but the gift cards I bought were supposed to down load to my computer for printing and they didn't do it. Now I guess I have to cancel them and re-purchase so I can have them sent to the house instead. What a bunch of hooey! Still have quite a few on my list to buy for. I think I'm off tomorrow so maybe I can get some more of it done.

Still

Still haven't finished my shopping; the tree is not up; the house isn't cleaned and I'm ready to tear my hair out. I hate this!




I read the latest Dean Koontz and I thought it was going to tie together at the end of the book but I feel like something is missing. There were so many character lines running that I think I missed the wrap up of a few. He spent a whole book building us up and then tried to wrap it up in a few pages and it didn't come together for me. Even woke up this morning trying to still figure it out.

A much needed day off

After a full week last week I'm grateful for a day off. Hubby has a doctor appointment early today and then we have a rare day together. We should hit the stores and try to make a dent in the Christmas shopping. I've asked for suggestions for gifts and gotten only one reply that was reasonable. I haven't even put up the tree yet and have, once again, no desire to do it. I'm sure I will but there's no rush since no one is expected until my stepson and his wife arrive on the 22nd. I'm not sure what they are expecting from us. We have our Christmas celebration on Christmas afternoon/evening and their arrival before Christmas is throwing a monkey wrench into the plans. I can't imagine having two get togethers. I guess he will have a "thing" at his mother's house where his siblings will be invited but then to see his step siblings he will have to make other arrangements. I can invite my daughter over since she lives nearby but to have everyone here would take away from the actual day. Oh the complications that have arisen. We were so spoiled by having all our chickens close by and now that's ruined. The stepson will be leaving on a plane at 6 am on Christmas morning to get to the airport to make the journey to his in-laws where they will spend Christmas this year. They are alternating the holidays between the families and that is so hard to do. My stepdaughter has informed us that she and her family will be in Florida at her in-laws this year. The older stepdaughther will be working and the remaining stepson is not being very social. Looks like our family meal will fit around one table this year.

Trying to work my way through the latest Dean Koontz novel. Very good but haven't gotten to the point where it all comes together to make sense. Like 20 different stories waiting in the wings.

Had a lovely snow fall a few days ago. Dropped an unexpected 7 inches on us but fortunately not on the roads. Didn't stick there until later in the day and by then we were pretty much home. Just a little slussy. Next morning it was a little slippy driving to work. Hearing we might get another snow later tonight. Snow usually helps put me in the spirit of the holiday but not so much yet.

Oh if only I could win the lottery!

Oh to be one of the lucky ones that wins the lottery and lives wealthy ever after! To be able to tell my current employers to "stuff it." I can't believe the changes we're again forced to endure. I just want to leave but in this crazy economy I'm stuck!




I finished Clive Cussler's latest novel, "The Wrecker." It's a new series and this was his second novel. A different concept from his normal NUMA based stories. This is about a detective with the Van Dorn detective agency and a railroad tycoon who is being plagued by a man known as "The Wrecker" who is trying to destroy the railroad's progress and divert the wealth to foreign factions. Excellent story and not a book to be put down.

Still stuffed!

Had a lovely Thanksgiving dinner. I trotted down the road with a 28 lb. turkey and 4extra legs and thighs, a ham, two kinds of stuffing and sauerkraut. Destination was my stepdaughter's house. Everyone brought something and we had a great meal. Still missing my two stepsons but Christmas is coming and hopefully they'll be here for that.




Finished the latest James Patterson book, "I, Alex Cross." This was a great read. The nice thing was that he wrote it himself without any help! Alex Cross is back on the police force and working his magic in this one. His own niece has been murdered in a horrible way and he tracks the killer to the most famous address in Washington, DC.

Terrible James Patterson novel

I just read the worst James Patterson novel......"The Thomas Berryman Number" is the worst novel I've read by one of my favorite writers. It's an old one that I found I hadn't read and I'm sorry I found it. Even sorrier that I wasted the money to buy it. Get the picture? Not posting a link. Don't waste your time on this one. EVER!

Time is growing short for the Thanksgiving Day festivities. I'm dining with my step daughter this year. Her husband is a doctor and he's on call so we're going to their house. Of course I'm taking the turkey, ham, two kinds of stuffing, gravy and some other stuff. Everyone is contributing so we're hoping for a good turnout. Guess I'll be up late on Wednesday getting my share done. Hubby has to work early on Thanksgiving Day so I'm on my own with the prep.

Hard Day's night

I awakened at 1:30 this morning and that was it. I had to be at work at 5:45 and work till 5:15. Needless to say, I'm one bushed Momma! I'm trying to stay awake so I can have a good night's sleep tonight since I work till closing tomorrow night.




I finished "The Girl Who Played With Fire" by Stieg Larsson. This is a sequel to "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" which I finished not long ago. I'm loving this author! We have the same characters again and this time Mikael Blomkvist rescues Lisbeth Salander. We get a lot of background on the strange Lisbeth that we didn't have before. The book left me hanging so I know there's got to be a third book coming. Great read!

Short stories

As I've said....I'm not a fan of shortstories but John Grisham's new book is wonderful. "Ford County" is filled with stories about a southern town in Ford County. Lots of stories that are so John Grisham! Definitely one to pick up and enjoy.

My hubby and I decided to go out to eat and we headed to Maryland to a restaurant we hadn't been to in 20 years. I went there 40 years ago and other than an addition to accommodate the waiting crowds and a gift shop, it's the same. Friendly Farms Restaurant is an all you can eat place. You order your "meat" choice and then they bring the old fashioned farm goodies for as long as you can eat them. Just one serving of the meat but everything else keeps coming. Been in business for 50 years. Don't think we'll wait another 20 years till we go back.

Another day; another title

I recently discovered that there was one or two James Patterson books that I haven't read. Unbelievable, but true. I just finished "Hide and Seek" which sounded familiar but apparently I didn't read it. For most of the book I thought I was reading a Danielle Steel novel. At the very end it turned into a James Patterson book. I guess back in 1996 he was writing his own novels and not co-authoring everything so I had forgotten what the real James Patterson was like. Interesting read.

I have three glorious (probably rainy days) off. I guess it's almost 4 since I only worked 3 1/2 hours this morning and I'm home by 10 am so it's almost like an extra day. Should be raking leaves and splitting wood but the rain is preventing that so I guess I'll just have to ignore the housework, too, and read my new John Grisham book. It's short stories and I'm not a fan of those but I've heard that this is some of his finest writing so we'll see.

Blaaaaablaaaaablaaaa

I finished "Enemy Women" by Paulette Jiles. Very interesting novel about the civil war and the Union army imprisoning women who they suspected of having dealings with the South. Took place in Missouri where half the state was for the south and the rest, the north. One such prisoner was Adair Colley and she was imprisoned after her father was taken by a vigilante Union group, beaten and hauled away while their house was set fire and all of value stolen. Adair and her sisters headed north to find their father and instead were separated when Adair was put in prison. She was friended by a Union Major and while he went south to fight in the final stages of the war she used the money he left with her to bribe her way out of prison and head back home. A great story of life during and after the war.

I've been informed at work that I have to have my hours cut because I've had too many for too long as a part time worker. This is the reward for not ever calling out sick; taking shifts that are 10-12 hours long when others don't show up; and working wherever they need me standing on my poor feet that have heel spurs now in both of them. Great reward for all I've done. I was even told that if I wanted to get another job that they would work around my schedule. What a kick in the teeth. Right at the holidays when every penny is needed, they pull this stuff. ##$^^$@#&&!!

A different kind of book

I always read Dean Koontz so when his latest, "A Big Little Life" came out, of course I got it. It's a memoir to his late Golden Retriever named Trixie. Most of his book jackets for the last 10 years or so have pictured him with a Golden and even before that he's written about such wonder dogs. Apparently after years of having no pets he and his wife got a dog from an organization in California that trains service dogs. Trixie was doing that until an injury to her "elbow" kept her from returning to that job and therefore needed a home. The Koontz household became the home for this phenom. No other words to describe this animal. I've had pets before but I feel that I've been cheated out of the experience that they had with theirs. Maybe when you are childless and have pets then it's a different experience. Anyway, if you're one of those people who live your life through your pet then you will want to read this one.

A great overnight read was James Patterson's "Miracle on the 17th Green" I'm not a golf lover but this was a good story of family and going for your dream even if you're older and everyone thinks it too late. The golf jargon put me off some but I muddled through.

Hubby's birthday today! Got to spend the evening with 3 of our 6 kids and some grandkids. Great surprise for hubby and yummy meal!

Dexter

I love the show "Dexter" on Showtime. The language is not to my liking but the show is great. I've read three of the books. Just finished Jeff Lindsay's "Dexter by Design." I wasn't too thrilled with this one. The other two were better but this one left me thinking that there must have been a multi-book deal and Lindsay was struggling to meet a deadline. The show doesn't track too much with the books but are usually enjoyable. This one had Dexter chasing after a man who stabbed and almost killed his sister and when he discovers that he made a huge error he becomes the one being chased. The story went all over the place.

Stupid me

I wrote my schedule down wrong and off I went to work this morning only to find out that it's tomorrow morning that I'm working. At least I didn't punch in before I found out. With nothing else to do sinnce I drove all that distance, I went to the grocery store and spent more than I would have earned. Logical, right? Nothing worse than a day off with part of it wasted on traveling when I could have been reading or sleeping. Got to check my schedule better in the future. That's the second time I had that happen.

I'm now mobile with my blog, I think. Not that I have that much to say but I might as well put my phone to use and just in case I get creative I can now do it from my mobile device.

Ahhhhhhhhhh!

A day off after to grueling 10 + hour days on my feet. Today I'm reading and trying to stay off the heels.




John Saul has written another fantastic thriller! This one is "House of Reckoning." After the untimely death of her mother, Sarah Crane is forced to grow up too quickly. Her father has become a drunk and ends up in prison after a bar fight and an accident that leaves Sarah crippled. She's put in foster care where she's treated as nothing more than a servant. She has special artistic abilities and when joined with her new friend's abilities they become a powerful team. Read this one in less than a day!

Electronically challenged

I got my new phone and it didn't come with a book. It came with a CD that you need to have the internet to open. Unfortunately I can't open it. I'm winging it and trying to figure out how to do all the things I now can do on this little gizmo. I still have a few weeks to decide whether I want to keep it or not. Still wanting something more but don't want to spend the extra to have it.




As much as I've said about Patricia Cornwell in the past I bought her new book anyway. Her last one was better so I thought I'd give her another shot. She's back on track with her characters but I found some very disjointed areas in this novel. She talks about characters that I don't remember reading about and suddenly they are important to the crime. I thought maybe I missed something in the last book that I should have remembered. Maybe Patricia thinks she's the only author that people read and that they absorb everything from each novel and remember it a year or more while she writes the latest. I read 60 books a year or more and I can't be expected to remember all those details. Anyway, except for a few problems like that it was a pretty good read. Good to see all the main characters back to normal and doing well.

My hours have been cut so drastically at work that I'm begging for more and hoping that someone will call off sick so I can pick up their hours. It worked two weeks ago and this week. Last week was horrible. I must admit that my feet were much less painful when I didn't have to stand on them for more than 4-5 hours a day. The last two days I've been on them for over 10 each day. Thanks to all those sickies that gave me a full week's work.

Some days it isn't worth chewing through the restraints

Just finished Michelle Richmond's "Year of Fog." Excellent read! Wanted to carry it with me everywhere so I could read it nonstop. One of the books I found in a used bookstore in Cambridge. Abby Mason - photographer - is planning to marry Jake and become the stepmother of Emma. In a perfect world! It's a foggy day in San Fran and she and Emma are walking the beach looking for sand dollars and suddenly Emma wants to pull away and rush ahead to look on her own. Abby glances down and sees a dead seal and the few seconds she takes to snap some pictures is all it takes for Emma to disappear. Months of searching.......Abby won't give up. Even when everyone else has she continues. Her memory of that day is the only thing that can makes a difference. It leads her on a bizarre trip to another continent. Wonderful story.

Another book from New England

I finished another of the books I purchased in Cambridge. This one is Anita Diamant's "Day After Night." A moving novel of life after the concentration camps of a handful of women who managed to make it to Israel and the promise of a new life. What they found was another camp. They were held there by the British because they had no relatives or papers to get them released. Two hundred people living in barracks. A very interesting and informative read.

A very short work week is ahead of me. Originally only 12 hours spread out over 3 days. I got an extra 5 thrown in tomorrow by a co-worker who can't make her shift. You give your all to these people and this is the thanks.

A little book from Salem, MA

I picked up Katherine Howe's book "The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane" in Salem, MA when we were on vacation. It looked interesting and it was. A grad student looking for a topic for her dissertation finds a link to a previously unmentioned "witch" who was executed in the Salem witch hunts in Salem, MA and she's drawn into a search to find the missing "receipt" book that was the witch's (and her predecessors) journal, almanac, recipe book. Were they really witches or were they just women with special abilities? They had strong religious beliefs and were just helping their fellow man through illness and childbirth. Very enjoyable.

I have gone from working almost a regular schedule of 35-40 hours a week to a mere 12. OUCH! If I would have known this was going to happen I would have not gone on vacation and saved money. This is terrible! I've gotten training in several other departments and still can't manage to pick up extra hours. I think the scheduler is playing games with me. She knows I want her job and she's making me suffer for it. Apparently good reviews and employee loyalty are not rewarded.

A different hat

Today I put on my realtor garb and went to what is referred to as a Realtor Marketplace. It's where vendors (mortgage companies, title companies, home inspectors, pest inspectors, etc) get together and give freebees away to realtors. In the past we used to get some good stuff. Calculators, and such. Economy has hurt everybody and today was just a mass of pens, a couple of chip clips, sticky notes. I really did just go to stock up on pens. My supply was running low and drying up. I arrived at 9 and was on my way home by 9:42. There's a free luncheon but I wasn't in the mood to fraternize with all those realtors.




I finished "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" by Stieg Larsson. It took me a couple of chapters to get into it and then I didn't want to put it down. The author is Swedish and the setting was Sweden so other than not recognizing places it was a great read. The main character is a journalist who was trapped by a libel conviction and headed to prison for a few months. He's hired by one of Sweden's most well known industrialist to figure out who killed his niece 40 some years ago. He's currently jobless and other than the time he'll spend in jail he figures he can do some investigation. He ends up hiring a young pierced and tattoed punk prodigy to help him do his investigation. A great combination of a murder mystery, family saga, and financial intrigue.

Homer and Langley

I've never read E.L. Doctorow before but I did enjoy his novel about "Homer & Langley." Two brothers whose lives span the 1900's in NYC. Born to wealthy parents and living on 5th Ave. Homer is a budding pianist when he loses his sight and his older brother Langley goes off to WWI where he is gassed and returns home a different person. Both parents died while he was away from Spanish flu so Langley takes over care of his brother. Langley is now suffering mental problems from his injuries. He's become a "Hoarder." As year pass he fills the house with everything from stacked newspapers to a model-T car. This is an interesting read.

Jammie Day

Since vacation officially ended yesterday, I was blessed with an additional day off today before hitting the early shift at work tomorrow. I took advantage of it and stayed in my jammies and read the latest Kathy Reichs' novel, "206 Bones." Excellent book! As I've mentioned before, Kathy knows her stuff since she is what she writes about. She's a forensic anthropologist and that's what her character, Temperance Brennan does for a living. This storyline took us to Quebec where she also works and there she had to solve four old murders that were discovered to be a serial killing. Needless to say, this was a page turner which kept me reading the whole day long.

Home again

We're back and in relatively good shape. Pulled into our driveway yesterday late afternoon/early evening. Got the car unloaded and then collapsed in front of the television to watch what we hoped would be a good Penn State football game. At least it started out as good but ended badly. I went to bed and read.




Finished Dan Brown's "The Lost Symbol." Extremely good read as are most of his books. Also very thought provoking. This one is about the secrets of the "Masons." Does the pyramid exist? Is there a hidden treasure somewhere in Washington, D.C.? What are the Masonic secrets? Of course we had to have a bad guy and of course we had to have Robert Langdon to unravel the mysteries. It's a gotta have book!

Vacation

We drove up the coast through every major city along the way....thanks to our GPS. What a disaster! Driving through Boston was a nightmare. Ruined my desire to go to all those bookstores I was promised. All I wanted to do was get out of there. Salem, MA was too commercial. Freeport, ME promised an afternoon of shopping at LL Bean but that quaint old store is now replaced with a town full of outlets. Three or four of them are LL Bean but none carry large sizes so it was a worthless trip all around to go there. My poor feet are just throbbing with each step I take and hubby is limping around with his hips bothering him. We hit Plymouth on the way back through MA. Been there; done that, but did it again. The stupid museums were a waste of time and money. In one they showed a spinning wheel that said...It's rumored that the Pilgrims spent time spinning but they didn't have access to spinning wheels like this one. DUMB! We decided to go to Cape Cod after that and stopped at Hyannis for one night. Boring! Hubby wanted to go to Provincetown but it was too far and all I wanted to do was head home. Too many little towns with too many shops. One last stop in New London, CT to sleep and now today we get to head home. All-in-all it was an expensive, not very interesting, trip. I wish we would have stayed home and spent the money on new garage doors.

Vacation

We left today for our trip up through New England. It took us several trips in and out of our driveway with things we forgot but finally we were underway. Our stupid GPS took us through inner city Newark, NJ and then tried dumping us on Broadway in NYC. Can't understand why she insisted we get off of I-95. We're staying the night in Groton, Connecticut. Heading to Boston/Cambridge tomorrow.

Finished Clive Cussler's, "Spartan Gold". Excellent! He writes adventures about several different characters but this was a new introduction and I'm liking it a lot. It's a husband and wife team who have the time and money to go on treasure hunts. This one was filled with riddles and travel all over the globe. Of course there were bad guys in pursuit. I'll look forward to a continuation of this duo.

Dirty, rotten, no good..........

My day in bookkeeping went fairly well. My new schedule has me returning to the "desk" after vacation. Apparently the part time bookkeeping job is only 16 hours a week which is not near enough hours for me. I'm hoping one of the assistant managers will go to bat for me and see if I can get more time in the vault. She realized that I haven't been properly trained and if I'm going to have keys and codes then she feels I should have more. Hope she's successful because it sure is frustrating. I work hard, offer to fill in when needed, cover other people's hours when they call off, and have never missed anytime except when my brother passed away.

Another long day at work then vacation. I'd like to just sit throughout the whole thing since I know that is what my feet need to get better. It was so much better today when I was able to sit during my job instead of stand. I didn't come limping home like I usually do. Unfortunately it's 3:45 am and I still haven't fallen asleep. I've tried all the usuals. Breathing, counting sheep, etc. Nothing! I'm sure it's just anticipation of going away and the frustration of things changing at work.

I'm hot and heavy into the Clive Cussler book. Very hard to put it down so at least I'm filling my sleepless hours with good reading.

Changes

I've been at the new job now for just slightly over a year. I interviewed last spring for the bookkeeping job because one of the regulars was having a baby. I was scheduled for the training and at the last minute it was given to someone else (who was pregnant and due this summer) because according to my supervisor, I was already trained for my current job and it didn't make sense to send me to bookkeeping to train and bring another girl to my job to train her. Just send the other girl to bookkeeping and keep me where I am. Fine! Human Resources stepped in and followed up on my request and a couple months ago I was told to take the computer training laid out for me and then I could get hands-on training in the "vault" for bookkeeping. I could be a backup or get extra hours by being trained in several areas. Fine, again! Training was like pulling teeth. I've had a total of 6 hours of hands-on training. Last week rumors went flying that there were all kinds of changes coming. Department heads being moved. My co-worker being sent to another department which means a vacancy on the "desk." Who will replace her? Why the girl who beat me out of the bookkeeping training ages ago. She's had her baby and is back. She's the one they didn't want to train for the desk while I went to bookkeeping training. The Assistant Manager let it slip the other week that I was going to bookkeeping, but I knew that. One night only and two days before my week's vacation. No other discussion. Could it be that I'm actually moving to this new job? Tonight is the night and I'm really not prepared. I got very little training but have been assured that I'll be okay. You need pass codes and keys if you're in this position. Nothing was said so I just waited. Yesterday, with no fanfare, I was given the code and keys and I'm thinking I just might be the new part time bookkeeper. Apparently one of the full time girls (she's a dead beat and doesn't show up a lot) is being transferred and now they are filling her slot with a part timer. Me? I'm waiting for confirmation of all this when I see the schedule due out today for the week after next when I return from vacation. Will I be off the "desk" and off my very painful feet? I wouldn't mind doing both jobs but when on the desk I have a "till" which relates to money and money comes from the vault which relates to a conflict if I'm working there. Can't have a till the day before or the day of working in the vault. Limits my availability.

Headed out on Saturday for vacation. We haven't made any definite plans. Just thinking of heading up the New England coast. Hubby got it in his head after reading an article in a magazine that we need to go to Cambridge, MA and check out the 30 bookstores located there. He apparently is either going to torture me by taking me there and letting me just gawk in penniless frustration or he's won the lottery and has been waiting to spring it on me when we get there. I need to jot down a few titles before leaving so I'm prepared and also print out my list of books I own so I don't buy more of the same. Of course I could just take my laptop and hope they have the internet available but then my hands would be full of computer and less room for books.

I'm in the middle of Clive Cussler's new novel and Dan Brown's is due in the mail (hoping it gets here before I leave so I can take it with me) anyday. I pre-ordered it months ago or I could have just bought it in Cambridge. Anyway, it's on my schedule to read next so I hope it gets here in time.

More reading......

The one I just finished was Nicholas Sparks', "The Last Song." He's a great author but you always need a tissue at the end of his novels. This was a little different. An almost 18 year old Veronic Miller is forced to spend her summer with her father whom she hasn't talked to in 3 years. He abandoned them and she is not going to forgive him. Her 10 year old brother is really into the visit but she's determined to make everyone's life miserable. Once a famous concert pianist, she gave it up to punish her father since she got her talent from him. Throw in a summer romance and a brush with the law and suddenly her life takes on new meaning. Loved it!

Another Patterson

This James Patterson novel is a bit different than his normal Alex Cross novels. "Alex Cross's Trial" is a novel about Alex Cross writing a novel about his great Uncle Abraham (1906)who lived in the south where the KKK was reeking havoc on the blacks. Ben Corbett was a young upcoming lawyer who had fought with Roosevelt in Cuba. He's summoned by the President to go undercover back to his home town in Mississippi to determine how bad the situation is. He almost becomes a victim of the lynchings that he's been sent to investigate. His contact in Mississippi is Abraham Cross. What he uncovers is shocking. A very good read and of course you can't put it down.

Good read

Finished a book by Heather Gudenkauf. "The Weight of Silence" was a very good read. On a pre-dawn summer morning a young two young girls disappear into the woods. Seven year old Calli Clark is sweet, gentle, a dreamer who suffers from selective mutism brought on by tragedy that pulled her deep into silence as a toddler. Her best friend, Petra Gregory, also is missing. They are not together in the woods. They are taken there by two different people under two different scenarios. This novel is a true page turner as you wait to see what has happened to the girls.

Finally got the latest Patterson book so I'll be reporting on it soon.

Missing my reading time

I've been so busy lately that my reading time has been cut drastically. I just finished "The Monster of Florence" by Douglas Preston and Mario Spezi. This is a true story about a serial killer that started his killing in the 1960's in Florence, Italy. His favorite prey were young couples that were enjoying the local private lanes and forrests to do a little love making. He'd shoot the male and then the female. He would drag the female from the car and if she was still clothed he would remove them and then mutilate the body. The Italian police force were so inadequate that they tried just about anybody they could think of to try to close the case. Many lives were ruined by false arrests. These same bumbling idiots are now in charge of the murder charge against Amanda Knox. The American student charged with murdering her roommate. Having read about these idiots, I'm even more convinced of how wrong the charges are against this young woman. God help her!

A Philippa Gregory novel

I just finished Philippa Gregory's "The White Queen." She is great at Historic fiction and I'm a great fan of hers. This novel was about the War of the Roses or the Cousins' War in the mid to late 1400's. King Edward has won the throne away from the White Rose Lancastarians. He meets and marries Elizabeth Woodville, a widow with two sons. They marry in secret till he is sure of his reign. Their rule is rocky. Constant fighting to maintain the Red Rose rule. At Edward's death his son, Edward, is to become king with King Edward's younger brother, Richard, acting as regent until 12 year old Edward comes of age. Richard declares himself king and young Edward disappears. To this day, no one knows what happened to King Edward's sons. The story ends with Henry Tudor making his return to England to battle for his rightful place as king. Gregory does a great job of filling in the missing pieces even though they are fiction. This is the first of a new series set amid the deadly feuds of England.

Poor brother

Like my elder brother and I haven't experienced enough heartache this summer but to top it off his house was robbed this week. Homeowners insurance in Florida is a rarity since the hurricanes have made it impossible to have it. A lot of people were cancelled and he was one. So nothing that was lost will be covered except his one purchase that we made at Bass Pro Store in July when he was here. Fortunately I put it on a Visa card and it has purchase protection. With luck we can recover at least one of his loses. His laptop, camera, GPS, many guns, tools, etc. are gone. I feel so sad for him. They went through all his drawers and dumped them. They definitely knew what they were looking for.

On a lighter note......41 years ago I met a great girl when I started my first real grown up job in corporate America. We were just newly turned 19 and we hit if off wonderfully. I soon discovered I was pregnant with my first child and didn't stay on that job for very long but we stayed friends. She came to visit quite often and we've kept in touch over the years. Not seeing each other a lot but when we do we make up for the years in between. She came yesterday early evening and stayed overnight till around noon. What a great visit it was. I'm hoping we get to make a trip to her place in the near future. It's a nice drive to Cumberland, MD.

Finally getting the training as a bookkeeper at work. They dragged their feet but I managed to get a couple days worth of work in the vault. Of course they aren't scheduling me in there for at least the next few weeks so I'll probably forget everything I learned. I've been managing to work at least 40 hours lately but I noticed they're trying to cut that, too. My latest schedule is on 26 hours. Can't remember how long it's been since I had such short hours. I was hoping for more since vacation is in a few weeks and the money would have been nice.

Almost done with my latest book.

Finally........

I think this is the longest I've ever taken to read a book. It was good......just long and being a paperback it was difficult to get into a groove. The fact that we got Directv and I was also making a baby afghan were also distractions. Anyway, it was an old Dean Koontz book called "Strangers." I figured out the ending a few chapters into the book so it was surprise at the end. A handful of people from different areas of the country were experiencing different changes in their lives suddenly. Sleep walking, fear of the dark, fugues, obsessions with the moon to name a few. Their common denominator was a stay in a motel in Nevada two summers ago. Something happened there that caused the government to brainwash them to keep them from talking. Someone is helping them remember with little hints. This novel was written in the 70's and was probably the longest novel Koontz ever wrote. I thought I'd read all his novels and suddenly I discovered I'd missed some so I was on a quest to fill in the blanks. I don't think I'll succeed since there are so many out there that he wrote under different names and may be hard to find now. Anyway, good book and fun read.

Roof's all better

With the help of my son-in-law and my son, we got our roof fixed in a few days time. It's still obvious that something happened. New shingles on a roof that is 10+ years old are definitely something that stands out. A great job was done by all. The guilty guy never showed up to help even though he promised. He also hasn't showed up to finish his job. The good thing about having the roof demolished was spending time with my son for two evenings.

Haven't had much time to read. I've been working on a baby afghan for a co-worker's grandson who will be born in September. It's finished now so I should be able to get caught up on my reading now.

Tragedy on the roof top

I hired a co-worker to cut down some dead trees to prevent them from falling on our house. He said he had a lot of experience so we hired him to do the job. He cut us a deal on each tree and we set the day for Saturday. Hubby was here in the morning and early afternoon and I was due home just after he was leaving. The tree guy showed up at 8 and got to work. First tree came down okay and the second one went right on top our roof. What a mess. Two giant holes in the garage roof. The ridgevent is crushed, two trusses are splintered, the soffit is crushed, plaster on the inside of the garaged is crumbled, the lantern is bent, the garage doors are dented, and the rain spouting is ruined. I work with this guy so I could hardly come home and yell at him and tell him he was worthless. No matter how much I would have liked to do that. I was very kind and told him that "stuff" happens. Fortunately my son-in-law is a great builder and came to our rescue. He starts the reconstruction tomorrow evening with some help from my son. Our dread is that even though we have a bunch of shingles leftover from the original roofing job, they are new and the ones on the roof are 10 plus years old. Fading has taken place and it will be obvious. Sad day for Hubby and me!

Entering a new era

We were forced to sign up for Direct TV. After years of avoiding cable, we've been forced by the government to go another route other than the old fashioned TV antenna. The stupid converter box that we had to start using in June did nothing but pixelate (?) ever since we were forced to start using it. If it rained we lost channels. If the wind blew we lost channels. If the sun was shining we lost channels. Stupid! Being forced to pay for something which we've managed to do without for all these years. Now we're hooked up to 200 plus channels and it's overwhelming. I can just see us sticking to the old standby channels that we're used to watching. NBC, CBS and ABC. I was hoping for high speed internet but that can't happen where we live. Unbelievable! If we decide to upgrade our television we'll have to pay to upgrade our dish and box. Another ripoff! Oh for the old days!

We celebrated our 31st wedding anniversary yesterday. Wow! 31 years that just flew by. We didn't spring for gifts. I got enough for my big birthday last week and I didn't need anything else. Dinner out was the plan. We decided on The Left Bank in York. The food was good but the prices were sky high. We ate cheaper in Paris where the real Left Bank is then in this restaurant. I really wanted to go back to Michael's in Timonium. We were there a week ago with my brother for his birthday and I fell in love with their seafood club sandwich. Been dreaming about another and thought we might go there for the anniversary dinner. We would have gotten better service and a special dessert for our anniversary. No dessert offered at The Left Bank. Back to the anniversary! We eloped! Yes, just headed to the courthouse in Maryland during lunch to pick up our license and decided to go get a ring and head back and get it over with. No frills! I was wearing a peach jumpsuit and Hubby was decked out in polyester double knit. We went from there to his house and shared a root beer and then headed to PA to pick up my kids and break the news to all concerned. Everyone took the news well except my son who was upset he didn't get to wear his new suit.

Back to Florida

My older brother headed back to Florida this morning. I had to work at 5:45 am so he got up to hug me goodbye before I left at 5:05. It was a very sad time! I hate to see him leave. I had hoped for some extra days with him but since it didn't happen we tried to fit a lot into what we had. One day we took him to Bass Pro Store and it cost him about $1400 to get out the door. More shopping later in the week added a few more hundred to his losses. Yesterday we had a mixed day of emotions. We went to see our only surviving Uncle on my Father's side and surprised him with my brother's visit. He's quite fond of my Aunt and they had a good time teasing one another. They are now 80 and I thought it would be a good thing for him to have that visit. I had hoped to also get to see the only Uncle on my Mother's side but we didn't get that fit in. We had to attend a viewing last night of a childhood acquaintance who happened to be the brother of our younger brother's ex-wife. We felt it was necessary to go for our niece and nephew's sake. In with the sadness there was some happiness. We got to see quite a few old friends that we hadn't seen in more years than either of us wants to admit. Anyway, he's on the road now headed south. Sure hope we can get together again soon without it being for a sad event.

Not getting a lot of reading done. I took up my crochet hook and am trying to get a baby gift out of the way. Bad time of year to be making an afghan. HOT!

Breaking down and getting direct TV on Tuesday. I found out I can eliminate our second phone line and end up saving about $40 on the phone/direct TV combo. Still no high speed internet available. Sure wish I could have bundled the three things together. At least we won't have to fool around with the stupid converter boxes anymore. We've missed so much TV with the pixeling that happens with those stupid boxes. We're headed to the age of electronics!

Thumbs down for Patterson

I didn't think I'd ever read a James Patterson book that I didn't like but I actually found one. It's an oldie and not goodie. "The Season of the Machete" was written in the 70's and somehow I missed reading it. I really did think I'd read all of his but I found a couple that I hadn't. Well, I wasted my money on this one. Setting is San Dominica. Damian and Carrie Rose are successful psycho-pathic killers for hire. Their nemisis is Peter Macdonald. Patterson was all over the place with this novel. Loose ends and twisting story lines. I finished it because I kept hoping it would get better but it didn't happen. Hope the other book of his that I bought is better!

tick tock

Coming to the rescue of a screwed up scheduler at work has given me two 10 1/2 hour days. What would have been just two regular days has gotten me full time plus this week. Why do I do these stupid things? Why is my work ethic so much stronger than my co-workers who if they can't have a day off that they request they simply call in sick and take it? I requested three days off next week to enjoy a little relaxation after turning 60 but was turned down. Too many others had requested that time and therefore I'm on the schedule. They did give me the early shift so I can get home relatively early for a couple of those days.

Tomorrow is the big party. I requested the small, intimate family thing and my daughter keeps telling me that I ruined the surprise by doing that and she had to cancel everybody else. She's not fooling me for a minute. She asked for all my cousins' email addresses recently on the premise that she wanted to give them a heads up for the upcoming fall reunion. Yea! I was born yesterday! I got a birthday card yesterday from one who apparently won't make the party tomorrow and there was cash in the card. Our whole lives we've never sent birthday cards to one another and yet out of the blue here comes a b-day card with cash. No, I'm sure it's got nothing to do with tomorrow's party! I know more than they think....and I'm cleaning the guest room and the rest of the house in the morning since I suspect that I just might have a visitor staying for a few days. I also know exactly what my husband is giving me for a gift. He ordered through the catalog that just happened to have me as the recipient and when he gave them the codes on the catalog my information came up and therefore a shipping receipt was sent to my email telling me exactly what he had ordered and when it would arrive. A coupon arrived that same day giving us an additional $20 off a $100 order so I contacted the company and requested the discount on my gift. Hubby doesn't know yet that I saved him that $20. I just hope I get to use that beautiful new fishing reel by going fishing sometime soon. Sure do miss those family vacations! That would have been the best birthday gift! Anyway, I'm really appreciative that the kids want to throw this party for me and even though I've been in the dumps lately, I'll try my best to be "SURPRISED" tomorrow at the appropriate time.

My last days of being in my fifties.....

I'm in the last week of my 50's. On Sunday I turn the dreaded 60. How do you celebrate turning 60. Cry! Scream! Get depressed! Face it head on! Unfortunately none of these are going to stop it from happening.




I just read "Plainsong" by Kent Haruf. I was very similar to reading an Elizabeth Berg novel. A handful of characters and a chapter devoted here and there to that character. From the 17 year old girl who finds herself pregnant and thrown out of her home to the young boys who's mother has suffered some kind of breakdown and left them to live far away. The weaving of this story was very good. If I run across any more of Kent Haruf's books in a used bookstore, I will definitely pick them up and take them home. That's how I got this one.

A new author

Harriet Evans wrote a good little novel called "The Love of Her Life." I wanted light hearted but it had parts that could make you sad. Young Kate Miller is from London where she's trying to break into the magazine world. She has met the perfect fellow and everything is perfect. Well......we know that doesn't work. A collapse of her world as she knew took place in one day and she fled to New York to start another life. Three years go by and she's back in London to visit her sick father and comes face to face with the life she tried to escape. Growth of this young person into a mature woman is a fascinating story.

I guess I'll try to pick up the Jason Bourne novel that I put down to read this one. Somehow the loss of Robert Ludlum and his family's effort to keep his legacy going by selling his characters to the highest bidder is unsettling. The new author just can't get in the groove to make the character what Ludlum did. Of course trying to keep him a middle aged man when we devote followers of Ludlum's novels know that Jason Bourne would be a man in his 60's now. Maybe he's hoping that "movieland" will want to make more Jason Bourne movies from his novels.

Time marches on

I finished Tana French's "The Likeness." It took a couple chapters to get into it but then I really enjoyed it. Detective Cass Maddox has been called to a grisly crime scene and discovered the victim is her look alike. Not only does she have her face; she has her identity from her undercover days from several years ago. What better way to catch a murderer than to pretend the victim didn't die and that she's recovering and coming home soon. Home is a huge house that she shares with four other people. Best friends who are all students studying for their doctorates. Who killed "Lexie?" One of the friends or an outsider? Cass finds herself being drawn into this band of friends and taking on the victim's life. Apparently no one who lives in the house shares their past. It's off limits so "Lexie" fit right in since her past included many different identities. Cass has to assume her old name but in the process she has to try to become the person that the victim had made of that identity. Interesting twist.

Looking forward to a short day tomorrow. I've worked several long weeks and come Sunday I have 3 days off. A short week this week with only 28 hours. I was hoping to take a few days off the week of my 60th birthday which is quickly approaching but I couldn't get the time. Too many other employees requested that same time off. You'd think turning old would trump just wanting time off! I know there's a little party in the works. I was promised that it will be just immediate family, but can I trust those who are making the plans? Doubtful! I haven't been in the party mood lately.

Finally a good page turner

First I'll start with a review of "My Sister's Keeper" (the movie) which I saw earlier today with my daughter and granddaughter. They both read the book at my prompting and together we went to see this movie with trepidation. We weren't sure of the casting and we knew that the end of the movie had been changed. Kudos to Alex Baldwin and the cast of fine young actors that played their parts extremely well even though those parts were shortened because of the movie version. I'm not a fan of Cameron Diaz and still don't know if she was the best for the part or not. Since I'm not crazy about her acting then I guess it's okay since I wasn't crazy about the character in the book. My daughter sobbed from early in the movie until the end. I joined her toward the later part. It definitely is a tear jerker and the ticket taker at the entrance warned us to have our tissues ready. Even knowing what to expect still couldn't keep the tears from welling up. I wish Alex Baldwin could have had a much longer part. I felt the trial was an important part of the book and it was downplayed in the movie.




Now, to the book de jour. James Patterson's "Swimsuit" just was excellent. It was co-authored by Maxine Paetro and I think there's more to her writing in this than Patterson's. It's just didn't ring true for his style. I could not put the book down. It's a serial killer "gone wild." A former cop turned author/journalist is thrown into covering the story and becomes the story. A must read!!

Just another day

Feeling so old and tired.............help!

Even reading isn't fun

I just finished "Roadside Crosses" by Jeffrey Deaver. He's famous for his books about Lincoln Rhyme's and does an excellent job. This is a new sequel about a CBI named Kathryn Dance. We first met her in a Rhyme's novel as a kinesics (body language) specialist. This is the third book about her and it just isn't as good as his regular sequel. I kept reading it because it was okay but it just didn't come up to par with what I'm used to from Deaver. I know my mood is down but I should still enjoy a good book.

Drifting

Just drifting and disconnected. Depressed? Extremely!

Another success by Koontz

I always enjoy Dean Koontz's books. His latest is "Relentless" and it had me hooked from page one. Couldn't wait to get home to get back to reading it. This one is about an author with a secret past who is stalked by a book critic who is "insane." Top it off with the author having a super genius 6 years old son who can do wonders with his electronics and it's a "can't put down read."

Memorial

Well, I'm set for the memorial for this Saturday afternoon. I got the church we grew up in and I found a minister that we knew when we were young so he has some background to base the sermon on. Now I just have to guess at the amount of food to provide and hope I've covered all bases. Both of my brother's older children are coming which pleases me. They were estranged from him for so many years that it's nice to know that they are joining me in this tribute. I know that at least 26 are coming and I'm planning on 70. If more show up I'll have to do some "miracle on the Mount" and try to produce more food. I'm hoping that this helps with the closure that seems to be lacking within me.

Looking foward to relaxing Father's Day with Hubby. We so rarely get a weekend day off together.

Filling the hours

I finished Clive Cussler latest novel called "Medusa." It was part of his NUMA Files so it featured Kirk Austin as the main character with his sidekick Joe Zavala. They are on the hunt for a missing underwater lab that was working on a cure for a new virus that could potentially whip out a majority of the world's population. As with all of Cussler's novels the story was full of the latest in technology and then some. As usual it was a good story and a good read.

My mind has not been on much but trying to get through this time of loss. I've decided not to make the trip to Kentucky to the Memorial for my brother but instead to hold one here for him at our little country church where we were raised. Now the burden is on me to put it all together and hope that enough people show up that I'm not sitting there all alone with platters of luncheon meat waiting for others to join me in my mourning. I know there will be a handful of people at least. I put out an email to some cousins and got a favorable response so I'm hoping that they will come through for me. Now I just have to book the church and the pastor for this Saturday and order the food. I need to contact the newspaper and put another little notice in that there will now be a memorial here and not just in Kentucky. I'll need to find some pictures of him from throughout his life to put on a poster board so people can reminice and then have a copy of the most recent picture so they can comment how awful he looked at the end.

Another good book

I enjoyed John Connolly's "The Lovers." You need to read all his books to enjoy them. There are a lot of them but you have to start at the beginning with Charlie Parker and read his adventures. I have trouble remembering everything from one book to the next but I enjoy the way it keeps me on the edge of my seat. Throw in his friends, Louis and Angel and your hooked. This book took us back to the beginning. Who and where did Charlie Parker come from. His father was a NY city cop who killed a young couple and then later killed himself. No real explanation was given and after so many years Charlie decided to find out why. He's a former cop and a former PI. He is good at what he does so he should be able to find out. When he does, his life is turned upside down. Not your average mystery novel.

My brother

The news came in the middle of the night that my brother lost his fight. The sepsis that ravaged his body after his valiant fight to survive won out and took him away. I haven't always seen eye to eye with this brother. He's made mistakes that have hurt himself and many others but he's my brother and I love him and will miss him. He came into our lives in a different way. His biological Mother came to live with us when she was pregnant with him. She had been married to my Mother's younger brother and they were divorced when she got pregnant with him. She already had a daughter my age. It's a very messy story and I'll just say that she stayed with us through his birth and for a while after. I was just 4 but I remember bringing him home from the hospital and standing in the back of the car starring at this tiny little baby with his little bracelet on. His Mother took him and his sister away and lived with her Father for a while until we discovered that she had Lupus and back then there was no cure and it wasn't long before she passed away. He came back to us and his sister went to other friends of his Mother. He was adopted by us and that was that. Good, bad and all. All but a year of his life he was with our family. I think back on all the silly stunts he pulled as a kid and the fact that he never got away with anything. He got caught "red handed" everytime. Goodbye, my Brother!

Fading miracle

I don't know what happened but I got a call today that my younger brother is "septic." Suffering from Sepsis which is a severe blood infection that is now affecting his body. They've moved him to the VA hospital and that's all I know. Our glimmer of hope is fading quickly. In his weakened condition will he be able to fight this latest attack? My older brother had a stress test yesterday and his heart is good which means that whatever he's suffering from might be coming from his brain shunt that he's had since he was in his mid 20's. If it is failing then it's major brain surgery again. The last time he had that was 30 years ago when he was healthier and younger. Oh my, both my brothers in need and here I sit. I will go to work but it's only to try to keep my mind off what is happening. Will I do my job? Yes, but probably not well. Concentration is lacking.

Poor Kevin

I've read some strange books in my day but this one ranks up there in the top 10. Kate Margam is the author of this strange novel and "Poor Kevin" is the title. It was one of the books picked up in the used book store and I guess since I lucked out with the others there had to be one that wouldn't make the list of better reads. I will just call it "strange" and let it go at that. Not worth picking up if you see it somewhere. The only reason I did was because I have a step son named Kevin and whenever we say "poor Kevin" to him he comments back that that is where pigs go when they die. I wouldn't even send him this book as a joke!

Thanks to my son I got a gift card from Amazon and was able to buy some great new books that are coming in little by little over the next couple of weeks. John Connolly's "The Lovers" is sitting here waiting for me to crack it's cover which I am about to do.

Good news

My trip to visit my brother ended up happy instead of sad. Not that there weren't sad times. We weren't sure what to expect and what was happening for the first few days but now he's making progress. There were times when I was there that we were hopeful that he might be coming out of it and starting to focus and now it seems he has. Since I've come home he's nodded his head in answer to questions, squeezed hands, and even waved his fingers at his wife. So much better than when we first got there last Thursday morning. I'm so glad his daughter went with me. She got to meet her half brothers for the first time and seemed very pleased. They are a couple of characters who made a difficult time light hearted when they could. Wish I could have stayed a couple more days to share in the joy but his daughter had to get home to the kids and I had to get back to work. If all goes well, maybe we can go see a fully recovered brother someday soon.

Kentucky

Here I sit in the waiting room of the St. Joseph's Hospital in Lexington, KY. In the last couple days we've spent a lot of time here. Visiting hours for my brother are limited and with at least five of us ready to run back there at each interval it gets rather hectic. Emotions are raw! We're on edge. Seeing him in this condition would drive anyone to the extreme. His eyes are open sometimes but there's no one there. He moves his arms but they're tied down to prevent pulling out the various tubes attached to his body. Last night his legs were moving a lot. His daughter said he was squeezing her hand last night. We're all thinking that he's responding to things that he probably really isn't but it's wishful thinking on our part. I've seen his head move from side to side but I can practically stick my finger in his eye and he doesn't close them. Me doesn't squeeze my hand when I ask him to. He doesn't shake or nod his head in answer to a question. They are just random movements even though we want them to be more. God, we want them to be more. The tubes won't come out while we are here. His wife decided she isn't ready yet so of course it is her decision to make. I'm finding out more about the night it all happened. He grabbed his head and screamed in pain and when she pried his hands away 45 minutes later his lips were blue. Why did it take 45 minutes? I don't know and I'm not asking. The damage is done. We're headed home Sunday......I'll say my goodbyes silently and hope there is still a miracle to come. Spending time with my older brother hasn't even been comforting. The highlight of the trip has been my time with my niece and my nephews and seeing her meet her half brothers for the first time. I'm so hoping that they can have a relationship beyond the sins of the parents that have kept them apart for all these years.

Still waiting

My brother still lies in a coma. They reported that overnight he did open his eyes several times but that apparently is just a reflex action. That's more than before. He is apparently suffering from a lung infection (possibly MRSA??) that he probably got while in the hospital several weeks ago and the effects were masked by his daily use of Tylenol and aspirin. This cut his oxygen intake so drastically that by last Wednesday his personality was affected and then he went into the seizures and coma. Now they are treating the infection but what is left of my brother? I'm headed to Kentucky on Thursday to join up with my older brother and other family members. His oldest daughter who has been estranged from him has asked to ride with me. She will be meeting her two younger half brothers for the first time under the worst of circumstances.

I finished another used bookstore treasure. This one is "The Dive from Clausen's Pier" by Ann Packer. I really enjoyed it but to tell much about it would ruin it for the reader. I guess all I can say is that 23 year old Carrie Bell is left with major decisions after an accident that changed her life and relationship with her long time boyfriend, Mike. She's searching for a career, and more than that...her self.

Happy Birthday Baby Girl

It's my daughter's 38th birthday today. She's out of town with her mother-in-law and others. It's an annual thing that takes her away from me on this special day which, selfishly, I had a part in. A call placed at midnight with her Dad and I singing the silly birthday song on her voicemail is all that I got as part of her day. Hopefully they remembered that it's her birthday and are giving her a special day.

My sadness also stems from the news that my "baby" brother is extremely ill and the prognosis is not looking good. A couple of nights ago he was complaining of pain in his feet and took some medication. Shortly thereafter he became belligerent with someone on the phone and then with his wife. Later started throwing things. Not having lived around him for many years, I'm told that this is not normal behavior for him. When I knew him as a younger person, I would say that it was. Anyway, he later complained of a severe pain in his head and his wife called the ambulance which took it's sweet time arriving. By then he was apparently in a coma and suffering seizures. He lives in Kentucky so he's lying in a hospital bed far away, still unconscious, and still seizing. The doctors are trying to rule out meds as the cause which will take some time yet. When getting the information second hand through family members (some of which are his young, emotionally drained sons) then it's uncertain as to what is real. Will he wake.........will he be functional if he does. His breathing was shallow so he's on a ventilator but was that breathing sufficient while the ambulance was taking the scenic route to get to him in an untimely fashion? Will that combined with at the seizures cause him brain damage. How do I find these things out while living here in Pennsylvania. When is the appropriate time for a sibling to show up and muscle in? I know my older brother would be by my side and in someone's face in a heart beat if it were me. I, in turn, would be there for him. He's alone! I'm not, but we have a bond that is closer than the one shared with this younger brother. Unfortunate, but it happens. Your standing in your family is earned and things have happened that caused this standing to be somewhat strained. I'm saddened and distressed at this time. I guess I knew this could happen when just a few short weeks ago he called from the hospital and said he was there because of fluid around his lungs. I mentioned to my hubby then that I was concerned that his health was so poor that his chances of a long life were greatly diminished. I pray for his recovery.

A wonderful book

I just finished another one of the books I found when browsing in the used book store with my son. I loved this book! "The Miracle Life of Edgar Mint" by Brady Udall. Young Edgar's head was run over by a mailman when he was seven years old and he miraculously survived. He died on the way to the hospital but the doctor brought him back and after many months in a coma, young Edgar wakes and is pretty much normal. Okay, so he can't write but that problem is solved by one of his caring roomates. Many people want to take care of Edgar except his drunken Mother and his elderly grandmother. Edgar's Mother is an Apache Indian and his Father was a drifter from the East that was playing cowboy when he fell for the pretty Indian girl. He didn't stick around to be a Father. After some very tear jerking experiences in an Indian school he is brought to Utah to live with a Mormon family. He is continually tracked by his former doctor/life saver who is now living life as a drug dealer and user. He can't stop his obsession with Edgar! You want to laugh and cry through this one.

I'm on a 9 day late shift with no break. This is 4 weeks of late shifts but this time it's 9 days in a row on my feet. Even my assistant manager asked me who I ticked off. I've discovered that with rewards on the job comes misery. Next time they want to give me an "Employee of the Month" award, I'm throwing up my hands and running out the door. And as far as helping the Schedule Coordinator when she wants another day off............

A rare find in an used book shop

I bought a few books when shopping with my son on Mother's Day. We wondered in a used book store and came out with some goodies. "A Bell for Adano" by John Hersey was such a find. It was about an American Major who was put in charge of a small town in Sicily to stabilize it at the end of WWII. He proves to be just what the town needs to get back on track. The only thing missing is it's famous bell. Taken to be melted down to make rifles just weeks before he gets there, he takes on the mission to get the town another bell.

Benchmark

My son turned 40 today. Well, officially not till 11:20 tonight. WOW! I'm blown away by this benchmark. I handle getting older fairly well but when your child hits an age like this it is a rude awakening. I can barely believe that I'm not still 40 and now I have a son that age. When I woke this morning I instantly thought of it and wanted to just roll over and cover my head and go back to sleep. Let's go back.........it's Mother's Day 1969 and I'm waiting for the birth of my first child. Back then we couldn't find out what sex you were having. All I had was my grandmother who swore up and down that I was carrying a girl since that was the shape the baby and my body had formed. Hands down! Of course, two years later she swore I was carrying a boy and I had a girl. Not a good track record for grandma. I didn't get to celebrate Mother's Day of 1969. It wasn't in the cards. In the very early hours of Tuesday morning (two days later) the twinges started and since I was quite a distance from the hospital that I was going to have him in we didn't waste time and rushed there. 22 and half hours later my bundle of joy was born! What a beautiful child. A full head of blond hair and so tiny! How could this precious child be mine! Thank you, Son, for bring such joy to my life!

New Author; good read

I've never read Lisa Scottoline before but I enjoyed her novel "Look Again." Main character Ellen Gleeson checks her mail and sees a postcard with "have you seen this child." The picture is eerily like her adopted son. Instead of throwing it in the trash she is drawn to investigating since she's a reporter. She never expected what happened to her. Yes, she thought she would lose her son if he were really the child on the postcard but she never expected the danger.

Mother's Day was wonderful! The only downside was not seeing my daughter on the day but I got to spend hours with my son, one on one. We went to the farmer's market in Baltimore, had lunch in a French Bistro, snooped around some antique shops and then some old book shops (yippee). We went back to his place and planted the flowers and in the huge pot I got him for his 40th birthday coming up this week. Yes, flowers for my son. He lives in a house with sidewalk and patio pavers and no ground to plant in. He and his wife like to cheer up the neighborhood with flowers. Anyway, we planted the "planter" and then had an afternoon of conversation. It was lovely! Today I had lunch with my daughter and even though it wasn't for as long a period of time it was very nice to have her to myself! Thanks to both my children for making my Mother's Day special!!

Limping again

I've really done the old heel spur in now. It's erupted into an even more painful situation than I originally suffered from when I started this new job. I've been so busy that I can't sit at all and all these hours on my feet have taken their toll. I have to get back to the podiatrist. Now I just have to try to fit that into my schedule.



I finished "Boneman's Daughters" by Ted Dekker. On the nightmare scale, I'd give him an 8 out of 10. Started out with Ryan Evans, intelligence officer, captured in Iraq and suffering torture until his escape. It's a life altering time and he's determined to come home and make it up to his daughter and wife for all the time he's spent away from them. Home is Austin, Texas where a serial killer had been disrupting their peaceful existence by kidnapping young women and killing them in a most unusual way. The Boneman is looking for the perfect daughter! Do we see a connection here? The book is filled with manipulation and control. I found Dekker good enough to read again!

Great read

I've been suffering insomnia so I got another book finished. This one was an excellent read, also. Coben Harlan's "Long Lost." This is one of his sequels to his character Myron Bolitar. Bolitar was a well known basketball star in high school and then college. His first night as a pro he suffered a knee injury that put him out of the basketball business. He became a lawyer and opened his own sports agency. That's his background but he also daubles along with his wealthy friend Win in other activities. Sometimes they get involved in things that the police wish they wouldn't. This book took him to Paris to meet up with his old girlfriend and it leads to a secret that changes not only her life but many others. The ending was very thought provoking and scary. The possibility that this could happen is the worst scenario. If you want a read that keeps you on the edge of your seat and throws in a few chuckles along the way then this is the one to read.

A day read

As typical of James Patterson's books, I finished "The 8th Confession" in one day. This was his series of the Women's Murder Club. Cindy the newspaper reporter finds a dead street person and decides to write a series of article on "Bagman Jesus" while her friends and fellow club members are working on a high profile serial killer who kills their victims with an unknown method. Both investigations turn out to be out of the norm. Throw in a strange mix of personal life for each of the women and it turns out to be a very good read.

Comfort Food

That's what it's like to read an Elizabeth Berg novel. Like having a big old plate of something that warms you up inside and makes you feel so good. Her latest is "Home Safe" and it was superb. Have I mentioned that I just love this woman? This time she gives us Helen Ames.......author of some renown but who is recently widowed and is now suffering from "writer's block." She went from parents who did everything for her to a husband who did the same. She's trying hard not to make her daughter her next victim. She's mathematically challenged so her husband took care of the finances and to her surprise she gets a call from her accountant informing her that there was a rather large unexplained withdrawal from she and her husband's retirement account prior to his sudden death. With this news and the now lack of income from writing she takes a job teaching a writing course at night to supplement her income. Her students are amazing. In addition she gets a mysterious call from a man in California that will change her life. Loved it!

Now for the latest James Patterson. Great to have the day off and with the blinds closed I can pretend it's miserable out and that I have to stay in and read. No wonder I'm Vitamin D deprived!

Day off with Hubby

Even though I wasn't anxious to read another Carol Higgins Clark, I ended up reading her latest. "Cursed" was another of her "okay" novels but nothing gripping. They are fast reads because they have short chapters. Once again the main character is Regan Reilly and she's in pursuit of another bad guy as a private investigator. I'm not even going to post a link. I'm happy that I have the new Elizabeth Berg novel on the way to me and also the latest James Patterson and Harlan Corbin so I'm hoping they get here today.

I'm so ready for a change of shifts. Every night this week has been a nightmare at work. My coverage for dinner last night was a woman who was taken off my job when I was hired because she couldn't do the job. Immediately upon getting there she screws up a return and I was up to my eyeballs with other problems and had to juggle three problems at once. It would have been better if they would have just kept her away and I would have gotten through things smoother. At least I get a break today but then it's another week and a half of closings. I dread seeing what the next schedule has in store for me.

Tough week

With the towing of my hubby's car at the beginning of the week and the same day finding my cell phone in the washer after it had been through the wash and spin cycle I knew I should just stay in bed. Costly week! Also a long week. I took all the advice I've heard about drying out a cell phone. Taking it a part and letting it dry for at least over night. After three days it was still wet inside the screen. That's when I stuck it in a bowl of rice. It's been a week and last night it actually turned on and looked promsing. It looked good for taking a charge. This morning it went in my pocket and off to work I went. When I got there I pulled it out to call for the door to be opened and I could hear them but they couldn't hear me. I think I have to admit that it's a lost cause especially since it won't hold a charge now. Was dead till I got home. I checked out AT&T and I'm not due for a discounted upgrade until July of 2010 so I went to Amazon.com and found a cheaper version and am hoping it will work until I can do something better in a year or so.



Finished reading Mary Higgins Clark's "Just Take My Heart." I must admit that this was one of her better novels. I've read them all. It's become a habit after all these years. This one was about an assistant district attorney who gets to prosecute a man who is thought to have killed his famous wife two and a half years ago. She was a well known stage actress and was killed in her home. A small time criminal pointed a finger at the husband when he got caught breaking into a home and stealing jewelry. He made a deal by saying the husband did it. Throw in a serial killer and it was quite a nice fast read. I'm waiting for the delivery of the latest Elizabeth Berg and the latest James Patterson. I think I have time to read another Carol Higgins Clark which I found when I picked up her Mother's book last week. Fortunately there are a few other books coming, too, that should keep me busy for a week or two.

ahhhhhhhhhhh...........

I hate titles................




Just finished "Crossroads" by Belva Plain. Once again, a very good story teller only this time from good old USA. Her subjects were the very rich but drab Gwen and the very gorgeous but poor Jewel. Both suffer from jealousy and spend years hating each other for what they don't have and they other does. Gwen marries for love but poor and Jewel eventually gets her rich man only to discover that he's in love with her hated nemesis, Gwen. Oh, what a tangled web! Too bad they wasted so many years on such pettiness as they would end up learning in a very bad way. Quick and interesting read.

day off

I finally have a day off and was all set to enjoy it when I got a call from "Hubby" at 6:44 am telling me his car had broken down about 3 miles from home and he needed me to come and get him and take him to work. I threw on some clothes and was out the door in minutes. I wrapped my good winter scarf around his mirror (red) and loaded him in the Jeep and off we went to his job. Dropped him off and back I went to call AAA and wait for the tow truck to come. Finally at 9:05 he shows up to take it away. Now I'm back home and exhausted! So much for a relaxing day off before I have to go back to the grind. I ended this week with 40 hours and I'm scheduled for 40 this coming week. I wish I could keep those hours coming. Sure helps when the pay check comes out.




Finished a Carol Higgins Clark novel called "Laced." It's her typical Regan Reilly Mystery Series and this one was set in Ireland. I found the book in a bargain bin or I probably wouldn't have gotten it. It was a fun, quick read...much like her Mother's style book. I'm looking for something to read now with a little more substance. I have a stack of books as long as my arm but nothing is jumping out at me. Maybe it's my lack of time to invest in reading lately.

A wonderful Irish storyteller

I finished the latest Maeve Binchy novel, "Heart and Soul." She's a marvelous writer and has many such books to her credit. This one tells a story of family, friends, patients and staff who are part of a heart clinic in a community caught between the old and new Dublin. Dr. Clara Casey is offered a job establishing the underfunded clinic and agrees to take it on for a year. The staff she pulls together create a saga of their own. My only difficulty was remembering the names of all the characters and their roles. Her books are the kind that you are sad when they end.

Easter was very nice. We had a great dinner at my daughter's house and it included her in-laws and my son and his wife and mother-in-law. Lots of good food and too much of it. Our stomachs are bursting. Great to be home though so we can put on comfy clothes and sneak a nap.

A new job

I received a couple of ego boosting events this week. I got a second award for Customer Service on Monday and then on Wednesday my Manager called me in to give me an Operations Associate of the Month Award. This all came just as I found out that I will be moving into a bookkeeping position. With the addition of the HR assistant coordinator position that I'm doing and now this move I will be brain fried. I'm, at least, temporarily out of Customer Service once I head to the training for the new position. It's been keeping me busy with lots of hours but now that I'm back in the real estate game it's not giving me anytime to do what I need to do there. Sure hope that I can get this latest listing on the market and sold quickly. That would be heaven. The bennies for this latest job are that it's close to the restroom and I can sit more often.

Excellent read

I just finished the new novel by Jeffrey Archer called "Paths of Glory." This was an excellent read. The characters were real and unfortunately we don't know the ending so a little liberty was taken there. The novel was about George Mallory who grew up dreaming of climbing in a time when the equipment to make that endeavor easy had not been invented. He scaled the outside of walls and buildings in his youth and soon found himself on the expedition to conquer Mt. Everest. The first attempt in the early 1920's was not a success and he thought he would never get the chance again but in 1924 at the age of 37 he was back on the mountain one more time. He was last seen 600 feet from the top. His body was found in 1999 and it still remains a mystery whether he ever reached the summit. By the end of the book you'll be a believer.

"Sashenka"

This novel by Simon Montefiore takes place starting in 1916 Russia as it sits on the brink of revolution. Saskenka Zeitlin is just 16 but already she's playing a dangerous game of conspiracy. Twenty years later she's married to a powerful, rising Red leader with whom she has two children. All around her people are disappearing. She thinks she's safe because of her long time service to Stalin until she allows herself 11 days of passion outside her marriage and that's where her life and the lives of everyone she loves changes. Fifty years later her story is uncovered by a young historian who goes deep into Stalin's private archives and uncovers her heartbreaking tale of betrayal and cruelty. A great read which is similar to that of "Sophie's Choice."

I hate the expression "between a rock and hard place" but today I find myself there. I've been friend with a former client that I sold a farm to about 15 years ago. She and her husband started a vineyard (with everyone's help they could find; mine included) and every year until last year, we harvested the grapes. The marriage ended a few years ago and she bought him out and continued running the vineyard and her own successful business. A new love in her life and her busy schedule has now convinced her to sell off the vineyard and she's called me to help her out. I've been giving her real estate guidance for many years so I got the call today. Just when I was feeling comfortable about my decision to escrow my license I'm faced with having to pull it back out and find a company that will let me work part time at it. Of course I could turn her over to another agent and kiss that huge commission goodbye. Oh my! I swear I could have continued to pay my fees and dues for the rest of the year and not gotten one call and since I've cancelled my license this is my second one in two weeks. Murphy's Law! I had hoped she'd find someone to run the vineyard for her and rent the property out until she was sure of her future.

Things have picked up at my job. I got extra hours working for the scheduling coordinator who is so busy she hasn't had a vacation since she took the job. She thinks that my record of dependability speaks well for me so she wants me to fill in for her while she takes that long awaited vacation. That means learning a whole different job on top of what I already do. The extra hours are great and I do get to sit down a little at a desk but it's a little overwhelming. Hopefully I have three Mondays of working with her to get it down "pat" before she heads off. And I was silly enough to think that when I got to be this age I could start thinking about retirement.