2008 Book Wrap Up

For years now I have been keeping a "Books to Read" list. It is full of old favorite authors, authors or books people have suggested or ones that caught my fancy. I don't even bother to count how many books are on it anymore...somewhere around 1500, I think. When I find an author I like, I like to ready everything they've ever written. Every couple of months I go through and review and update my list. Now that I use the library almost exclusively for my reading material, it makes it very easy to just pull a title off the list, put it on hold and go from there. I've been following this pattern since I started my books to read list back in high school in '85 or '86. There are titles on there that have been there for years and never been read. I don't want to take anything off because I might miss something really great if I do.

Well, this year I shook things up a little.

I did all kinds of things in 2008 that I haven't done in ages in my reading. I know you are all going to think this is really weird, but us bookworms get set in our little reading ways and it takes a lot for us to change. This year I went hog wild and just let myself browse and pick books off the shelf that caught my fancy that weren't on my book list. *GASP* I know, it's shocking, isn't it? Not only that, I allowed myself to choose a book by its cover. *GASP* *GASP* I even chose a book just because I liked the title. *scream of terror* I really went out of the comfort zone on that one. And - this is the really weird one - I started choosing books based on the PUBLISHING COMPANY. *fainting dead away in shock*

And you know what? It was great. I found some amazing authors and some terrific stories I wouldn't have ever read because of my strict adherence to a 25 year old habit. In my browsing, I came across a bunch of short story anthologies and discovered some authors that I really, really liked. I read some of their regular novels and found some great stories. I was introduced to a publishing company called Brava (part of Kensington books) that had so many great authors that I started going to the library and just pulling out books published by them, knowing there was a good chance it would be something I liked.

I was really on a paranormal kick this year. I love books about magic, vampires, were-animals, fairies, and all those great fantasy-type topics. I like them as romances or romantic/comedy/mysteries most of all. My favorite paranormal author that I found this year was Kim Harrison (thank you Shiloh, for the suggestion). I just fell in love with her Hollows series and go so caught up in the stories. I can't wait for the next one to come out. Alyssa Day, Sylvia Day, HelenKay Dimon, Candace Havens, Angela Knight, Kathy Love, Katie MacAlister, and Erin McCarthy were some of my other terrific finds with a paranormal bent. Oh, and I also read (well, listened to, actually) Eragonand really enjoyed it. I can't believe a 17-year-old wrote that book. Amazing. I'm in the middle of listening to the second one in the series called Eldest.

I discovered a couple of great mystery authors. Dana Stabenow writes a couple of mystery series about people that live in Alaska. I've really enjoyed the peek into this mysterious and fascinating land. I also discovered Lisa Scottoline who has a mystery series involving an office of lawyers in Philadelphia.

As far as just plain old fiction authors, I discovered Christopher Moore. Well, his books actually fall under the paranormal umbrella because his books are about some really weird stuff. His book You Suck: A Love Story was one of the ones I chose by its title. Any book that starts out "You bitch, you killed me! You suck!" has got to be good. I highly recommend any of his books that I've read so far. They have made me laugh out loud.

The book that made me think and disturbed me the most was The Ungodly by Richard Rhodes. It's a fictionalized story about the Donner Party and really brought home what the pioneers had to go through to get the West settled.

I just about finished listening to all of Dick Francis's books this year. I think there are two more titles on his list that I haven't read. I'm sad about that because I think he's a terrific storyteller. He's getting up there in age and I'm afraid we won't have too many more new titles of his to look forward.

All in all I finished the year with reading 115 books and 82 audio books. Not exactly my best year quantity-wise, but I enjoyed every book I read. Even the Dog the Bounty Hunter biography.

Merry Christmas!

Okay, it's official. I'm sick of the snow. I've been stuck at home since Friday night and am now throughly sick of the white stuff. Greg & I tried to shovel the car out today to go to my parents to celebrate Christmas and he threw his back out. I did mention it probably was a bad idea for him to shovel snow, but he knew I wanted to go and made the extra effort for me. And now I've broken him.

So I hope everyone is having a better Christmas than we are. I'm paying bills and cleaning off my desk. Wow, do I know how to celebrate the season or what?

I need to go charge my camera battery so I can take some more snow pictures. It's pouring down snow right now and because it's starting to melt, everyone has huge icicles hanging from their roofs and cars and lights. They are very pretty, actually, but I wish they'd go away!

Huh, the first white Christmas we've had in a zillion years in the Portland area and I just want it to go away. I'm so ungrateful.

Letter From Santa

Dear Friends

I have been watching you very closely to see if you have been good this year and since you have I will be telling my elves to make some goodies for me to leave under your tree at Christmas.

I was going to bring you all gifts from the 12 days of Christmas but we had a little problem….

The 12 Fiddlers fiddling have all come down with VD from fiddling with the 10 ladies dancing.

The 11 lords leaping have knocked up the 8 maids a-milking, and the 9 pipers piping have been arrested for doing weird things to the 7 swans a-swimming.
The 6 geese a-laying, 4 calling birds, 3 French hens, 2 turtle doves and the partridge in a pear tree have me up to my sled runners in bird shit.

On top of all this, Mrs. Claus is going through menopause, 8 of my reindeer are in heat, the elves have joined the gay liberation and some people who can’t read a calendar have scheduled Christmas for the 5th of January.

Maybe next year I will be able to get my shit together and bring you the things you want.

This year I suggest yo u get your asses down to Walmart before everything is gone.

Love,
Santa

More Snow

I went out today and tried to play in the snow. That was a mistake. There was a layer of ice on top of the 7 inches of snow that was out there. I walked down the driveway and back and was done. The stupid ice hurts when it breaks around your ankle.

So it's snowing pretty hard again today. I'm thinking I won't be going to work tomorrow. At least I'll have the laundry all done and folded and put away. Maybe I'll finish cleaning my closet, too!

The neighbors snow men with real snow on it!


Looking down the street.


My car. Lots more snow today, huh??


Oh, and by the way, for those of you who saw the pictures I posted of the pets the other day and think we treat Zinger like a step-cat and make him sleep in the old icky box instead of a nice cushioned bed like the others, I have to tell you that everyone fights over that bed. Carmen & Sophie have nice soft beds with heated pads in them, but everyone prefers to be in the old Costco box with the heated pad inside. I have no idea why it is the choice spot in the office but it is. Zinger gets really annoyed when he wants to sleep in the "hot box" as we call it and there is a dog in it.

More Pictures for You

Snow!

Well, the weatherman finally got it right. We've had snow off and on all week, but today it has finally decided to settle in. It has been snowing all day long. At the moment it is about 26 degrees and snowing pretty hard. We have about 5 inches on the ground here. I took some pictures to show you. They aren't anything great, but they get the idea across.

Looking out across and down the street.


My car. It was all uncovered when I got home yesterday. What a difference 24 hours makes!


Carmen looks pathetic here, but she was really in between barks to get me to throw the frisbee and quit taking stupid pictures.


Cleo


Zinger was the only one of us with any brains. He chose to stay inside. He does like his creature comforts!


Sophie eating snow. I tried to get a picture of her nose when she came up since it was covered in snow. You'll just have to imagine it.<

Running in the snow.

Simon's Sister's Dog

Christmas Carols for the Disturbed

* 1. Schizophrenia --- Do You Hear What I Hear?

* 2. Multiple Personality Disorder --- We Three Kings Disoriented Are

* 3. Dementia --- I Think I'll be Home for Christmas

* 4. Narcissistic --- Hark the Herald Angels Sing About Me

* 5. Manic --- Deck the Halls and Walls and House and Lawn and Streets and Stores and Office and Town and Cars and Buses and Trucks and Trees and.......

* 6.Paranoid --- Santa Claus is Coming to Town to Get Me

* 7. Borderline Personality Disorder --- Thoughts of Roasting on an Open Fire

* 8. Personality Disorder --- You Better Watch Out, I'm Gonna Cry, I'm Gonna Pout, Maybe I'll Tell You Why

* 9. Attention Deficit Disorder --- Silent night, Holy oooh look at the Froggy - can I have a chocolate, why is France so far away?

* 10. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder --- Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingl e Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells

It's Frickin' Freezing, Mr. Bigglesworth!

It's cold. At the moment is is 22 degrees (but feels like 8 degrees according to the weather.com site) and the east wind is blowing up a storm. We are under a winter weather watch. The TV news people are in raptures over the endless discussions of ice, cold, wind, wrecks, and school closures, as well as never-ending talk of the weather ofthe future. Will it snow? Will there be ice? More closures? They are just about needing a cigarette they are so excited.

While I completely enjoy the snow, I despise all the drama that comes with it. Even worse, this time I didn't even get any snow or ice at my house and everyone else did. So I got all the drama without any of the snow. What's up with that? It was like someone drew a line in Vancouver about Mill Plain and all the people at the normal elevations north of that line got nothing. Oh, we got a few flakes on Sunday, but they didn't last long.

The dogs think the world is coming to an end. They are ready to move to Hawaii or anyplace where the temperature hovers around a comfortable 80 degrees (I just checked it and it's 74 degrees in Honolulu at the moment - at 4:30 in the morning). They don't get out of bed much when it is this cold.

Okay, more later.

A Christmas Funny

My friend Sarah sent me this. It's too funny not to put up here. Thanks, Sarah!


I hate to be the one to defy sacred myth, but I believe he's a she. Think about it. Christmas is a big, organized, warm, fuzzy, nurturing, social deal, and I have a tough time believing a guy could possibly pull it all off.

For starters, the vast majority of men don't even think about selecting gifts until Christmas Eve. Once at the mall, they always seem surprised to find only Ronco products, socket wrench sets, and mood rings left on the shelves. On this count alone, I'm convinced Santa is a woman. Surely, if he were a man, everyone in the universe would wake up Christmas morning to find a rotating musical Chia Pet under the tree, still in the bag.

Another problem for a he-Santa would be getting there. First of all, there would be no reindeer because they would all be dead, gutted, and strapped on to the rear bumper of the sleigh amid wide-eyed, desperate claims that buck season had been extended. Blitzen's rack would already be on the way to the taxidermist. Even if the male Santa DID have reindeer, he'd still have transportation problems because he would inevitably get lost up there in the snow and clouds and then refuse to stop and ask for directions.

Other reasons why Santa can't possibly be a man:
-- Men can't pack a bag.
-- Men would rather be dead than caught wearing red velvet.
-- Men would feel their masculinity is threatened having to be seen with all those elves.
-- Men don't answer their mail.
-- Men would refuse to allow their physique to be described, even in jest, as anything remotely resembling a "bowl full of jelly."
-- Men aren't interested in stockings unless somebody's wearing them.
-- Having to do the Ho Ho Ho thing would seriously inhibit their ability to pick up women.
-- Finally, being responsible for Christmas would require a commitment.

I can buy the fact that other mythical holiday characters are men: Father Time shows up once a year unshaven and looking ominous. Definite guy. Cupid flies around carrying weapons. Uncle Sam is a politician who likes to point fingers. Any one of these individuals could pass the testosterone-screening test. But not
St. Nick. Not a chance.

Closest Book

My friend Marika had this on her Facebook site. It was so cool that I stole it to put it on my blog.

Rules:
* Grab the book nearest you. Right now.
* Turn to page 56.
* Find the fifth sentence.
* Post that sentence along with these instructions in a note to your wall.
* Don't dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.


Mine was:
By three this morning my body was a vibrating mass of nerve endings, and I'd never felt so satisfied.
-Charmed & Dangerous, by Candace Havens

Oooh, steamy!

Elf Disco

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

I don’t know how it happened, but somehow it is December, the tail end of 2008. All I can say is thank goodness it’s about over. This has been the worst year for so many people I know what with family losses, money losses, illnesses, and everything falling apart. I’m glad the year is almost over and we are starting a new year soon. The only good thing that happened in 2008 was the We Live and Breathe Letterboxing Extravaganza – and that was a BLAST!

I’m a little behind in posting, aren’t I? I had most of last week off and didn’t manage to post once. I had my endoscopy/colonoscopy last week. That was fun - NOT. It actually wasn’t bad at all, since I was totally asleep and didn’t feel a thing. The worst part was the prep. You don’t want to know, you really don’t. I can post pictures from the procedure (not the prep) if you want, but I got a lot of flack last time over the pictures of my insides.

Well, Thanksgiving is over. Mr. Grumpy Pants and I didn’t do anything special. With his dietary restrictions now, he can’t have much besides meat and veggies, so we did without the traditional Thanksgiving meal. My parents were with my aunt and uncle on the East Coast and the in-laws were doing their own thing, so we just stayed home and cleaned the kitchen. Wow, do we know how to celebrate or what? We made it through Black Friday and I didn’t go out at all. In fact, I think I sat on the couch most of the day on Friday knitting and watching “Deadliest Catch” (I get really caught up in that show for some reason) and didn’t contribute one red cent to the economy that day. Yay me!

My parents came to get their kitties on Sunday. You have never seen a more relived cat than Patches was to see her people back to rescue her from the blue-room hell (the room they were staying in is blue and we call it the blue room. Not very original is it? Should we rename it Bob or Ted or something?). They were so glad to go home. I think Zinger misses them, though. He was pretty sweet on Jassmine.

So now that it is December and the days are getting shorter and I’m getting up in the dark and going home in the dark it’s time to think about the big holiday. I’m sure that it comes as no surprise to anyone that knows us, but MGP and I aren’t doing Christmas this year. No tree, no lights, no presents, just business as usual. We have so much other stuff hanging over us like the huge debt, MGP’s health, a huge to-do list and not enough energy to keep up with daily life that we aren’t going to add Christmas stress to our plates. So, please, if you were planning on getting me a gift, please don’t. I’m not going to get you one and I already have too much stuff. Unless you’d like to contribute to the “Pay Kris & Greg’s Debt Off” fund, I really don’t want or need anything. But it’s sweet of you to think about us.