Alicia

Random books from my shelf

Public Notes

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  Dragonfly says

  Oh, and yes that one was a kindle deal, too:) Love searching amazon for cheap kindle books!

  Posted 9 months ago. ( send a note )

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  Dragonfly says

  LOL I like it so far but, even if it turns out to be a stinker, it was less than a buck! I also just read a mystery called The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths. The book has a lot of faults (especially the use of present tense which is distracting) but I really liked it. I think it was about $3.79. It's not perfect but I liked the main character. One scene made me very angry but overall, a good mystery.

  Posted 9 months ago. ( send a note )

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  Dragonfly says

  Hi,
  Just a quick note...reading a pretty good book (so far!) on my kindle...The Hanover Square Affair by Ashley Gardner. It's only $0.99! Reminds me a bit of C.S. Harris. :)

  Posted 9 months ago. ( send a note )

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  Dragonfly says

  Hi! How have you been? Sorry it's been so long...my laptop (MY BRAND NEW LAPTOP!!) died. I had to replace the hard drive - did it myself so the same crappy hard drive brand wouldn't be put back in. I'm up and running now! Yea me!
  
  I'm sorry to hear about your MIL. *hugs* At least you were able to be there for her. Even if she didn't know who you were, she wasn't alone and you were there to help.
  
  Southern gothic red necks! omg
  
  I haven't read much of anything lately that has been good. It's been a blah book year. Got two Noras to read, though. Those are next in my tbr pile.
  
  I do have a copy of The Winter Sea...in the tbr pile...the ever-growing tbr pile...one of these days, I may actually read half of what's in there!
  
  It's been so hot...the yard is a mess...the wildlife has gone crazy. I keep finding all sorts of weird visitors out in the yard looking for food and water...big deer...Bambi...foxes...raccoons...I'm waiting for lions, tigers and bears...oh my! Bears may not be too far off, though...yikes.
  
  Kitties are good...rotten and fat. Yuck, a rat! Mine are strictly indoor kitties so they've haven't killed rats or mice but they are pretty handy when it comes to spiders...let me rephrase that - they sit and stare at them until I notice the standoff and come and kill the nasty little things.
  
  My aunt is about the same. She now has this awesome device that helps her to communicate. It works using only her eyes. She can type by focusing her eyes on the letters and then she can play the message to us. It also allows her to go online and use email or Facebook...she even can read kindle books on it. It has been a tremendous help and it makes her feel less isolated. It's a brilliant piece of technology.
  
  My laundry is buzzing...must go and actually do something productive!
  
  Talk to you soon

  Posted 10 months ago. ( send a note )

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  Dragonfly says

  Hi,
  I haven't read The Stolen Crown yet but it's only $2.51 today, not sure how long it'll stay cheap! :)

  Posted 1 year ago. ( send a note )

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  Dragonfly says

  Quick note...will write more later:)
  
  Yes, The House of Velvet and Glass - reading it now! I pre-ordered a hard copy of it as soon as I heard about it! I'm almost finished The Rose of York. It's not bad but definitely not as good as Penman...but pretty much all his-fic is dull in comparison to Penman. My biggest issue with The Rose of York is it's maybe a little heavy on the romantic side...not in the let's rumble in the bed way but in the flowery language and lovey dovey sort of way. You can tell a woman wrote it! LOL
  
  We can loan books to each other but only certain books have the feature...Stolen Crown is not one of them...grr.
  
  Off to look up Sherwood Smith! Be back later with a longer note!

  Posted 1 year ago. ( send a note )

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  Dragonfly says

  Hi,
  
  Sorry to hear that you’ve been sick. I hope you’re feeling better now.
  
  *hangs head in shame* No, I haven’t finished The Night Circus yet. I found it needed more attention than I could give it so I plan to start it again when I’m feeling less…well…muddled.
  
  I’ve been hitting some good Kindle deals lately. Downloaded a book a few days ago that I’ve been interested in for some time…The Rose of York by Sandra Worth…more his-fic. Not bad, but she’s no Penman. Got it for $2.99 as well. I also just downloaded The Stolen Crown by Susan Higginbotham for free – been interested in her for awhile as well. Apparently, I’ve got the Kindle bargain-hunting thing down!
  
  I really liked The Rose Garden – a nice escape. Though, I admit, a part of it confused me – when you finish it, we’ll need to compare notes!
  
  I liked The House at Tyneford a lot. I agree about the father’s novel…wtf?! I started to wonder if there was ever a novel in the first place…if maybe he lied and gave her blank pages to give her hope? My sappy take! LOL Ending was a bit off to me as well…but I overlooked it since I liked the rest of the book so much.
  
  The weather has been so up and down lately. Warm, cold, warm, cold, rainy. Yuck. It makes me want to bury my head under the covers until it decides what it wants to do. Grr. Windy as heck, too. I’m tired of having to go around daily and pick up all the stuff the wind has blown over…really annoying.
  
  I think I’d feel inclined to hit that neurologist for cancelling twice. I’ll visit the dungeon and read your post.
  
  Three kids under five years old…that is something out of a horror movie in my eyes!! They are basically walking germs, aren’t they? Ick.
  
  I should go…I’m supposed to be working (!)…and this tiny keyboard is driving me nuts! I don’t have big hands but my fingers are hitting all the wrong keys…I’m having to do rob’s (where the heck is the green one? I miss her!) trick of composing my note in Word and then copying/pasting it in Shelfari just to catch at least some of my typos! LOL
  
  Talk to you soon!

  Posted 1 year ago. ( send a note )

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  Dragonfly says

  I started reading The Night Circus but got distracted by stuff I downloaded for the Kindle. Will have to get back to it soon...:)

  Posted 1 year ago. ( send a note )

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  Dragonfly says

  LOL. Yeah, I really like this pic. Probably one of my favorites. Very me:)
  
  I’m okay. Busy at work, loads to do around the house and yard. My yard runneth over with weeds, weeds and more weeds. We had such a mild winter that apparently every single weed seed that lingered in my yard was able to sprout and create a billion weeds. Grr. Taxes…yuck. Glad I don’t do my own – though I don’t really have much to my mine. I don’t do math so someone else has to do them for me. Hello, I was an English major for a reason! Hmm, either the dogs are playing tricks on you or maybe your house really is haunted. I must say, however, this does sound like something I would do…
  
  I miss that show…guess because I could relate to some of Monk’s issues. I don’t carry wipes in my purse but I always have some in my car! I only borrow books from my mom or sister. The last time I got a book from a library was in college and I wasn’t Monk-like back then. LOL - last time I stayed in a hotel, I slept on top of the bedspread (didn’t even unmake the bed!) and I always had slippers or flip flops on!
  
  I remember reading that a new Sebastian was coming out several months back but I couldn’t remember when the release date was. Must buy soon. The only books I’ve purchased for the Kindle have been cheap - $1.99 for The Greatest Knight and $2.99 for The Rose Garden. Some books are reasonable but others are just too high. I haven’t had any issues with books coming through…yet. I know Amazon is really good about working out issues with customers.
  
  Kitties are good…disgustingly rotten as always. LOL, yep, you’re going to have to make one for Sable. Luke never should have left his blanket unattended – not with a cat around! Mine fight over one of the scarves I attempted to crochet last year. One of them discovered it on a cool day now it stays on my bed so they can “share” it. Like cats really share anything!
  
  I’ll leave you a note in the dungeon about the family.
  
  Reading some decent stuff…I just finished The House at Tyneford which I really enjoyed even if the author went a wee bit overboard on her plant and animal descriptions – felt like a nature program at times! It was a pretty good story. Not as charming and endearing as The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society but still good. Reading The Rose Garden by Susanna Kearsley now. So far, so good.
  
  Talk to you soon!

  Posted 1 year ago. ( send a note )

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  Dragonfly says

  Hi,
  LOL. No, not a lot of sweet and innocent here! Well, maybe one of my personalities exhibits those qualities:) Just not the dominant one!
  
  I'd be wondering the same thing if someone strapped that on my head...had they cleaned it thorougly after the last person?! Did you ever watch the tv show Monk? My mom calls me "Monk" - I tend to get a little, um, obsessive about germs! That's one reason I buy all my books now and don't go to the library. You did better than I would have...I would have been freaking out and begging them to pull me back out. Okay, so I have issues:) I'll respond to your post in the dungeon.
  
  Yeah, I got bored and went searching for a new picture for the dungeon. I thought this one was spot on!
  
  I haven't really done anything on Pinterest except try to get a profile pic loaded. Not sure why it won't work. I signed up for a Twitter acct and keep trying to link them but it's not working. Apparently, I'm doing everything wrong.
  
  Yep, I'm an egghead! LOL

  Posted 1 year ago. ( send a note )

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  Dragonfly says

  Just checking in on you...did you have your mri?
  
  Also, I don't think Pinterest likes me...I created an acct but it won't let me change my profile picture:( I'm stuck with an egg! lol

  Posted 1 year ago. ( send a note )

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  Dragonfly says

  Saw and answered your note in the dungeon. I'm really sorry. *hugs*
  
  I got your invite...Thanks:) I don't have a Twitter or Facebook account - I'm surprised they require it. I'll have to create an account for one or the other because I really want to play at Pinterest. Twitter will probably the easiest to create an account where I don't have to put in too much personal info...

  Posted 1 year ago. ( send a note )

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  Dragonfly says

  Hi,
  
  OMG. Is the hearing loss caused by the sinus problem? Or, unrelated? Or, do they not know yet? I'm sorry...you have been through so much and it really, well, sucks that this is happening. *big hugs*
  
  Well, it's sort of between bags...too big for the mini laptop bag meant for netbooks and too small for the laptop bag meant for 15 inch notebooks. Over the weekend, I found two Vera bags that might work...my favorite pattern is rather pricey on one bag and not offered in the other. I have two Vera purses...one small, one medium. I have an eyeglass case and two freebies (a change purse that is perfect to hold my MP3 player and a mirror that I gave to my mom) that I got at the stores when I bought the bags. There are two shops within 20 miles that sell Vera...lucky me:)
  
  Yes, invite me! Please: ! :) I hadn't heard of it but I just spent an hour looking at Pinterest! I could spend days on this site! LOL
  
  I didn't like Thread Words very much. Jigsaw Words, on the other hand, is fun...and horribly addicting! There are two volumes so far. If you check the Kindle Store on Amazon each day, they have a list of the best-sellling Kindle e-books...there is a list of the free books, too. Games, too. I keep downloading free books though I haven't had the chance to read them all yet. You gotta grab them before the price goes back up.
  
  Yeah! My copy of The Night Circus arrived. Can't wait to start. I'm reading Someone Knows My Name right now. Borrowed from my sister - told you I was going to commit to reading all the stuff I borrowed from her...in baby steps!
  
  I rented the first season of Downtown Abbey and liked it a lot except for Elizabeth McGovern. She is horrible in that first season. I think she needs to go back to acting school. I watched Cranford right after it and I just loved it. So good. The remake of Upstairs, Downstairs...not so much.
  
  I would probably have to re-read the first Rothfuss - I can't remember a thing about it. I remember liking it but it being very long. Will have to look up Delaney. I'm finding y/a lit to be much more entertaining than adult lit lately. I wasted a lot of time reading that DeMille only to be left hanging...900 and some pages and no resolution. Grr.
  
  Speaking of constructive, I should get back to work:)
  
  Talk to you soon!

  Posted 1 year ago. ( send a note )

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  Dragonfly says

  Hi!
  Oh, yes, I'm very impressed! LOL I do a lot of what I want to lately. Don't care much about what I'm supposed to be doing!!
  
  I did make a typo: it's a 13 inch not a 14 inch laptop...no number pad so I have to carefully hit the little number keys at the top of the little keyboard! It's tiny...not as small as a netbook but still pretty small. I tried getting a Vera Bradley laptop case for it but they were too big:( Vera is one of my new obsessions! Doesn't take long to spend A LOT of money there...:)
  
  Sorry to hear the sinus hell remains...stupid insurance companies.
  
  I love being able to download sample chapters. It's helped me eliminate several books from my wish list. I like that some free samples are 30 or so pages - more than enough time to tell if a book is worth it or not.
  
  I will definitely look into Those Across the River. I've always been into books set in WWII and have recently started to read more books set in WWI. WWII has always intrigued me but I find myself becoming more and more interested in WWI. History nerd here, all time periods welcome:)
  
  I love the Kindle games! You must try: http://www.amazon.com/Jigsaw-Words/dp/B005IQHS7E/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1327529654&sr=1-1
  
  I might eventually get the Fire but I'm no in rush. I've looked at several tablets lately but just can't decide if I really need one...I want one but do I need it? I like the Toshiba Thrive but do I need it?! I do love my Kindle. It's so light and fast and yes - very fast and convenient for shopping! I'm going to go broke! LOL
  
  Gosh, I hope I can get out of my funk. The Lion's Game is a really good book...long as heck but good. Though, I have to say it's hard to read at times. It was written before 9/11 and the Towers are mentioned constantly. I feel sad at every mention. DeMille is a good writer. I like his smartmouthed main character...I can relate. I really want to get The Night Circus. Have you heard of that yet? I read a few chapters of it and it grabbed my attention immediately. Rothfuss...wow, I remembered liking the first one but that's all I remember. It took so long for the second book to come out. I never did read the sequel to The Warded Man. Whoops! The massive TBR pile! I will never finish all those books:)
  
  I should go...time to make dinner. Sure wish I had a frozen pizza I could toss into oven. Dang it. I actually have to do something constructive! LOL
  
  Take care:)

  Posted 1 year ago. ( send a note )

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  Dragonfly says

  Hi!
  
  Disclaimer: Please forgive any typos...I bought a new laptop (a 14 inch one) and I'm typing on it for the first time...the small keyboard and my clumsy hands are not getting along! It's cute, though:)
  
  How are you feeling? Still battling the sinus problem from hell? I hate problems that linger...is it waiting for a written invitation to flipping leave?! Grr.
  
  Yeah, the last 3-4 Hoffman books didn't have that same magic that started me reading her in the first place. I hadn't read anything about her lately but I can see a definite shift in her writing. It's sad...we read her for escapism and to lose that then well, what is the point of reading her? I think that's why I love The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane so much. It was a great escape...took me back to my college days when I was (er, still am) a history nerd and researched my heart out. Though, I lacked the evil dude and the hot guy!
  
  Hmm, Those Across the River sounds up my street. I've had a slow start this year...all three weeks of it. I really hoped the funk would go with New Year but so far, still blah. Though I just starting reading The Lion's Game by Nelson DeMille and it's keeping my attention. I have a ton of books I borrowed my sister and my goal is to actually read them instead of piling them up beside my bed. I'm sure she'd like them back in this decade!
  
  I have the cheapo Kindle with the special offers...the one without the keyboard. I wanted the keyboard version but when the one with special offers vanished from amazon, I decided to get the basic model. So far, no problems. I don't mind the special offers. Oh, you have to download Jigsaw Words...it's addicting! I spent days playing both versions of it. You mom didn't like it? I had already used my sister's so I didn't have any trouble jumping right it. It did take a few tries to get it to talk to my wifi. That was operator error and not the Kindle's fault!
  
  My aunt's doing okay, hanging in there. My mom's good...just had a birthday two days ago. How's everything with you and yours?
  
  I hear you...most nights I'm in bed by 10pm...but, then again, I get up before 6am pretty much every morning so I tend to run out of steam by evening. I'm glad you're done with radiation but it sure stinks that as soon as that is over, you get this sinus infection. Hopefully, it will clear up soon.
  
  I have some daffodils poking their green heads out of the ground. I haven't been able to go out and look around too much - some jerks are hunting in the woods next to my house. If they shoot me, I will come back and haunt their arses!
  
  I've not heard of The Maze Runner...will check it out.
  
  I read Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side on my Kindle. It was pretty cute, one of the better Twilight-inspired tales. It was free a few weeks ago but now it's back to around $6. Maybe it will be free again soon. Too bad it's one I can "loan" you, I'd send it your way. Maybe if I actually bought a book for my Kindle, then I would have some that can be shared...so far, I've only downloaded free stuff! LOL
  
  Okay, I should go and work. Talk to you soon:)

  Posted 1 year ago. ( send a note )

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  Dragonfly says

  Hi:)
  
  It's amazing how time can get away from you...I can't believe both Christmas and New Year's have come and gone. It's insane but I'm verra glad 2011 is behind us. It was a bad year for so many people.
  
  How are you feeling? Do you still have a sinus infection? Sounds nasty. I've never had one but I do have some minor sinus issues from time to time and they are rather unpleasant so I can imagine how horrible an infection is.
  
  How was your Christmas and New Years? Both were good for me. My family's good, kitties got lots of presents for Christmas...some they actually played with for once! It's a Christmas miracle:) Spent New Year's Eve at my aunt's - we wanted to bring the party to her and give her a day without thinking about her health. She was in good spirits...the booze helped!
  
  I've noticed the last few books by Alice Hoffman have lost some of her magic. I don't know if she's going through a dry spell or what. I've not enjoyed them like I used to enjoy her work. Then again, I'm still having the worst time getting interested in anything. I even picked up New Moon (the horror!)...Bella is the worst role model for girls EVER. I just started Snow Flower and the Secret Fan. So far, I'm really liking it. An fascinating look into another culture. I have to say the footbinding scenes were almost too much for me, though!
  
  I finally gave in and bought a Kindle. I love it. The text looks just like a book. It's pretty amazing. It's very light so it makes reading a giant book much easier. I've only downloaded free stuff for now...some classics and some other free modern books. The games are a blast...I've played more games on it than I've read books...LOL.
  
  The slogan is very me...it gets so bad because I am so disorganized...and very forgetful lately. I think a brain like mine can only hold so much info before it starts deleting it!
  
  Talk to you soon!

  Posted 1 year ago. ( send a note )

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  Dragonfly says

  Hi!
  I know this is a few days late but Merry Christmas!
  
  I have a new slogan (taken from a decorative trivet that used to be in my grandmother's kitchen and is now in mine): "The Hurrier I Go, the Behinder I Get." The story of my life lately!
  
  How have you been? Everything okay? Talk to you soon!

  Posted 1 year ago. ( send a note )

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  Laura says

  Hello, I can across your profile and just had to say it made me smile! It's a shame that more people don't realize what can be done with a cape and a nice tiara.
  Hope you're having a great day.
  Blessings
  ~*~

  Posted 1 year ago. ( send a note )

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  Dragonfly says

  I missed you girls like crazy. Sadly, with all that’s been going on, I just didn’t have the time (or energy) to log on. I’m glad I finally made myself come back – I need some b*tch therapy!
  
  I’m sorry about the effects of the radiation treatments…I’ve known two other people who have undergone it and they, too, had horrible blisters and scorched skin. Only a few more sessions left…*hugs*
  
  Sable-Satan. LOL. Well, they usually pin me to the couch so I can’t move! Selfish little animals! They do that to me in bed as well. It’s all about them…as it should be. I know what you mean. I spend a lot of time and energy on making sure the cats are comfy and happy. I don’t know whether it’s sad or sweet…LOL
  
  Stress sucks big time. The year started off with money worries (which, like everyone else, haven’t gone away) then came all the health issues. It’s just a lot to deal with – as you know all too well. I bought all these books that sounded great but have resorted to almost all junk. I have to say my concentration level is almost at zero. I almost bought a Kindle this year (my sister gave me an Amazon g.c.) but I decided to hold off mainly because I knew I would buy book after book in the hopes of getting something to keep my attention. My credit card bill would be enormous after all that! It’s bad enough now…!
  
  I’m interested to see if his follow-up to Peregrine is just as good (there has to be a sequel, right?!). Speaking of originality, I tried reading the second book in The Warded Man series for the second time…I just can’t get past the prologue. It’s just bad. *sigh* Back to the pile.
  
  I’ve picked up the second Women’s Murder Club book…dang, they are hard to put down…I so hate to admit I like these books! I think my IQ dropped even more than yours…Dan Brown and James Patterson! Where’s rob…she’s probably fainting at our reading…hope she doesn’t see Eat Pray Love on my reading shelf! Now, that is one I don’t think I will ever finish…ick.
  
  *hugs*

  Posted 1 year ago. ( send a note )

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  Dragonfly says

  Hi,
  Thanks for the birthdays wishes. Well, I’ve been better. We had some bad news about a family member so it’s been hard to feel anything but down lately. I’ll save the details for the dungeon.
  
  How are you feeling? I’m sorry that second surgery was so awful. Do they think you will need more or was that the last one? How are you handling the radiation? Do you have a session each day…M-F? I’m sure the dogs love to nap with their mama. I wrap up with a blanket when I watch television and the cats get very excited…all three will try to fit their big buts on the blanket with me…not easy but they manage it. Where there is a cat, there is a way…
  
  The pictures were my favorite part of Miss Peregrine but, then again, I’m a history nerd. I liked the book mainly because it was original. So much of what I’ve read lately is just unimaginative junk. I’ve read a lot of…well, I can’t even call it brain candy…more like brain junk. I’m embarrassed to admit that I read a James Patterson and liked it! The horror.
  
  The cats are good…fat and rotten. I’ve been in the funk all year and now it’s just gotten worse with family news. I will be happy to say goodbye to 2011. It has sucked out loud.
  
  I’m happy for hubby! That’s such great news for you guys.
  
  I’ve not read anything outstanding…they’ve been okay or poo. The exception: the first book in Patterson’s Women’s Murder Club was surprisingly good. It’s written in a very clipped style so it never stops moving…it was actually hard to put down. Gasp. More embarrassment, I went back and read the Da Crappy Code. I saw the movie so I decided to try the book again – I had only ever read about 50 pages. Honestly, it isn’t horrible but it needed a much better editor because it runs on and on…and his constant use of lengthy flashbacks is SO annoying. Not only that but where he places them. They are in the middle of a dangerous situation and a character will go off into memoryland and have a three page flashback. Stupid. Worse, I read Angels and Demons by DB – started off with a lot of tension then sort of fizzled. My mom loaned me DB’s The Lost Symbol with a try it, you might like it attitude. Er…!
  
  *hugs* Talk to you soon.

  Posted 1 year ago. ( send a note )