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Karen J is now reading Haunted.
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Karen J rated Precious Angels: A True Story of Two Slain Children and a Mother Convicted of Murder (Onyx True Crime, Je 853) 12 hours ago.
Karen J finished reading Precious Angels: A True Story of Two Slain Children and a Mother Convicted of Murder (Onyx True Crime, Je 853) 12 hours ago.
Karen J is planning to read The Liars' Club: A Memoir.
Karen J reviewed Losing It: And Gaining My Life Back One Pound at a Time 3 days ago.
“ It seemed shallow, like some girl's childhood diary. ”
Karen J rated Losing It: And Gaining My Life Back One Pound at a Time 3 days ago.
Karen J finished reading Losing It: And Gaining My Life Back One Pound at a Time 3 days ago.
Karen J rated Murder Most Royal 5 days ago.
Karen J finished reading Murder Most Royal 5 days ago.
Karen J’s last login was 3 hours ago. show recent activity »
Rated 5 stars
I've heard that Paranormal Activity was frightful! I don't know if I can watch it, I may wait for DVD and then decide. I just remember watching The Possession of Emily Rose, I woke up every night for like 2 weeks exactly at 3am. I was SCARED! Totally freaked me out. And 30 Days of Night, I'm actually glad I didn't got to the theatre for it, scared the bejeebers out of me!I got Hunter a zhu zhu and she LOVES it! Anything that will make noise like that, she loves. And I have 2 for Christmas, I just need 1 more before the holidays because all the kids want one so that they can let them lose on the house! I saw the ad about the 50 this morning, but I wasn't willing to go stand in line for them, I'm not redy for the lines yet! But you know, they do this every year with a toy, they say can't keep up with demand, but these things have been flying off the shelves for months so they've had plenty of time to kick up production and there should be no reason for a shortage. It's giving people a job, it's an affordable gift, why have the limited number? The week after Christmas the shelves will be full of them, they do it every year and I just can't understand it. Were you one of the lucky 50?Yes, I can't wait for live trees. My sister always has one and it does't go up till like a week before Christmas, I can't wait that long. And our living room is to the back and you can't see our tree there so I bought one to put in the dining window that can be seen by people, otherwise it's like we're all decorated but we don't have a tree. And actually it works out well, I put family gifts in the living room and teachers, friends, etc. in the dining so it's much easier to find those gifts that go early. Putting the trees up this afternoon, I wanted to do it last night, but when Patrick went to get them from the attic there were spider webs so we decided to set off a bug bomb up there so we don't bring anything into the house. I killed a black widow at the garage door the other day, a little freaky about that. I know they're around, but seeing one...I get chills. So going to start on the trees in a bit, the kids are excited! Still working on Her Fearful Symmetry, I've got so many different things going that reading is a bedtime only treat now. I really don't get to read as much this time of the year, it's like this every year. I got John Grisham's Ford County the other day, and I haven't read him in a while, I really enjoyed his early stuff though, and I'm hoping that it is like his earlier stuff. Who knows when I'll get to it!
I've never seen the original, and after the remake, I don't think I want to. Did watch A Haunting...and I agree with your hubby. The series is laughable, I don't believe most of them. But Georgia and Connecticut were ones I wonder about. But I think the movie went overboard and it just wasn't believeable. Have you ever paid attention to the real people on the show? Where do they find them? Anything to get on tv.Finished The Center of Everything, loved it! Samuel really hit home, I was worried about how Tina as going to handle him, but bravo! And how could you not love Evelyn? Spunky, say it as it is, and mature beyond her years. I really did enjoy it. Another thank you for a great recommend!Picked up Her Fearful Symmetry today, can't wait to see how it is compared to The Traveler's Wife. That's one of my all time favorites, I'm curious to know if this one will come close to it. I will be glad to get this week over, I'm about start in with some of the baking, and will be doing it all day tomorrow! And since I felt on my deathbed last weekend, I'm planning on getting the trees up this weekend! So I'll be glad to get them up and just enjoy them and know that Fall Festival is over.
We got Silver Bullet for Haley. She didn't like it as much as The Lost Boys though. I rented Last House on the Left for Patrick and me, I wasn't too impressed. It wasn't really a Halloween movie though, more just a parent's worst nightmare. And I think those are the worst ones, where it's not something so far fetched that you laugh at the possibilty, but instead never want to let your children out of your sight. But I also got A Haunting in Conneticut, I just haven't watched it yet. I've seen it on Discovery though, their series "A Haunting"? I don't believe a lot of the ones that are on it, but this one I did. And the one in Georgia. There's a few more that I ride the line on, but some are just utterly unbelieveable. The Ring gave me the weebies. And this comes from a girl who has grown up surrounded by the Bell witch legends, Adams is about 45 minutes away, and the park named after the family is about 10 minutes. Growing up here, you get accustomed to those kind of stories.I wish Patrick would do Christmas shopping! That's my job, every year. And even though I set a budget, I still blow it. And when it was just the girl's, I went overboard. But as we've added children and they've started to get older and "toys" started getting more expensive, I'm glad we changed some rules. But my Mom grew up really poor, and Christmas at our house growing up...she tried to compensate I guess, it was always a lot. But now Patrick? Complete opposite, they didn't celebrate the way we did, so we've had to come to a happy medium with our kids. And it's nice, I'm still going to blow any budget I even think of, but the rules help me from going to wild with it.I love gift cards! You can hit the sales after Christmas and get so much more, or save them for that special spluge, instead of getting something you really don't want. But we've stopped exchanging with most extended family, just my Mom and nephews now. My sister wanted to stop between us, and the rest of the family (aunts, uncles, cousins) they decided a few years ago to just get together but no gifts, everyone's got their own families now, it just gets to be too much. So I'm ok with that, again gifts I really don't want but have to act excited over? So I really just have the kids and Patrick, it lets me spend more just on them. But I miss it too, I remember growing up and Christmas back then, it's different now.Allergies are back, thought I was on death's door yesterday and didn't sleep hardly at all last night, I couldn't breathe! It's the South. Anytime there is a weather change...But I'm going to grab a quick nap, I hope. Hopefully we'll get some killing frost this week and I'll be over the worst part.
You are not the only one to wonder what a cake walk is! The first time I heard it I couldn't imagine walking on cake! But you walk in a circle while the music plays and when it stops, you're standing on a number and they draw a number and call it out, if you're on that number you get to pick a cake (or cookies, fudge, cupcakes). And most of the cakes are really simple ones, sometimes you do find some really creative ones, but then the person can only make one and if everyone did that, the cake walk would be over before the festival even started because it's such a popular booth. I cheat. I will make a batch of cookies or fudge, but divide them to where I get 2 prizes out of one batch. And I bought this cupcake pan this year, it makes 4 giant ones, they're in 2 parts and you put them together, but they are so cute. I'm making containers for them now so they don't topple over, then I will be baking! And to be a T-1 school, it's based on the number of students receiving free or reduced lunch. And since that's income qualifying, most of the kids don't receive it at our school. Even the ones who probably could get it, it's a pride issue and they won't. So we have a lot of fundraisers. Ryder attends pre-k at another elementary across town, they have 1 fundraiser a year. We have 4 major ones, and constantly have small ones going. Trash for Cash is the biggest. Capris Sun pkgs, boxtops, Campball's...constantly ways to earn money for the school so the parents literally aren't paying fees almost like a private school to educate our children. I think all schools should receive the same regardless. I know the reasoning, not wanting the kids in a poorer area to get an education that is less than a prominant area, but when those schools get everything they need and we have to hold fundraisers to get anything, they've definately unbalanced the scales they were trying to even.I'm so glad you've had the flake friend experience too, I thought it was just me. But me and the girls are staying in, going to grab a semi-scary movie (Haley is just now starting into them) and see if we have any trick or treaters. Patrick is taking the boys out, Spiderman and Bumblebee. I'm glad we get to turn the clocks back an hour tomorrow!And I know what you mean about saying "no" to things, I do it all the time. But I always start on Christmas early. I have to. But we have some rules about it. Under the tree, it's things they need; clothes, shoes, stuff like that. They never get excited about the gifts from me and Patrick. They do get small gifts from each other that are "fun", and from Grammy. But Santa brings the fun stuff. And we've changed that too. An accquaintance told how her family did it and I loved the idea, so only one big Santa gift now, and then stockings. My Mom is going simple this year too, a small gift and money. That way they can go after Christmas and buy whatever they didn't get. And there'll be giftcards, so they'll have fun after Christmas too. But I don't go fall and winter shopping for their clothes other than what I absolutely have to, and the weather doesn't really turn cold until then anyway, so I actually save some doing that. Next year, I'm doing a Christmas club. I say it every year, but I have literally got to do it now. It's too hard finding the extra cash, and we don't charge! I refuse to pay for Christmas for 6 months afterwards! But it's my favorite holiday, and I way overspend, but my budget is still very small compared to others. And I'm doing a lot more homemade gifts this year too. I know I won't be the only one doing that.We don't bring out the boots until it's in the 30's...And coats? Sometimes I still don't wear one if I'm just running to my car and then dropping off. I've got heat in the car and hate driving in a coat! 68 is still flip flop weather!Well, I'm off to get a few things done before tonight. Have a safe and Happy Halloween! Enjoy the candy, it's not bad for you on Halloween!
Hi! Been a few days, trying to finish up Halloween and Robert has Fall Festival next week so been busy with that. His class is doing a scrapbooking basket and was out all day getting stuff for that. I think it turned out really nice, and it was so easy for me to get the stuff because I'm in Nashville anyway picking up Hunter, so no one has to make a special trip. And of course, always find things for me. Entering my really busy craft season now, reading goes down during the holidays.But I was picking up some books for another basket and was looking in the bargain section (the theme is recyling books and what you can get for so little) and found The Center of Everything for $1. Picked it up and it's my "in the car" book right now. Not very far but am really enjoying it. Have to take Haley to piano in a bit and I'm going to read it while she's in there. Did you rate it a 5?Have a ton of baking next week for the festival's cake walk. I'm dreading it, but our school isn't T-1 so we don't get funding like other schools in the county so we have a lot of fundraisers. And since I just don't want to live at the school, I do things that can be done from home. This is the first year I haven't volunteered to work the festival in years, and I know I should, but I'm going to bake instead and take a year off.Storms moving in, going to lose my connection so I'll talk to you later!
I've read Laura Moriarty, but it's The Rest of Her Life, and I enjoyed that one. I'll check out the one your reading because I did enjoy her writing. Rereading The Help, and I still love it. This time I'm savoring it, making notes for bookclub, I hope everyone else enjoys it, but how could they not?Glad you had a great time. My brother was scared of heights, his lips would turn blue, get really pale. He went through air assault to jump out of a plane in the military to try and conquer it. And he still wasn't crazy about heights, but he handled them much better after. Was able to fly at least without a full on panic attack. And know about those mattresses. Patrick unfortunately was kicked to one when we went to Michigan, the boys jumped in the bed with me, and he got on it. He woke up on the floor with the mattress surrounding him. His nephew's had used it when they had been up last, and they had jumped on it and put a slow leak in it. He slept on the couch after that. And doesn't it just make appreciate your water heater? Go a couple days without it and it's like they've reinvented fire.I got tired of Weeds too. Couldn't watch it anymore. It just got too stupid, it's a horrible word but there really isn't any other way to describe it. Love The Tudors, they just went through Ann Boleyn so quickly,I wish they had drug out that storyline much longer. I'm hoping they go all the way through Elizabeth, but then there's no more Tudors, so...I enjoy Dexter, but sometimes...it feels a little like a circle, like the storyline is the same, with just a few changes hoping you don't notice it's still the same. But right now, it's actually good.Time to get kiddies ready and in the bed, where does the time go?
Are WalMart employees not the most unhappy employees you've ever met? They never smile. They always seem as though I'm a bother to them, and I hate that! It's my money I'm spending. I go there as little as possible, hopefully a Target will come soon. I'm in Nashville a few times a week so I stop in there to avoid WalMart, but it's those last minutes things, or I'm not going into Nashville for a few days or something. I LOVE True Blood! I don't know if you watch Dexter on Showtime, but it's based on books too. You can watch the show and read the books because one will never give away the other, Dexter's showline is nothing like the books, and True Blood is the same. I've read all the Sookie's, and the show loosely follows the books. I actually like the show better because I warn you, they are not serious literature in any shape, form or fashion. They are fun, but sometimes...But it's one of my favorite shows and I can't wait for the next season! I've got a while...But The Tudors will be starting soon, after the holidays, I love that one too!I totally agree about those voices! I don't know anyone who actually speaks like that! A lot of the actors are actually British, I know Jason and Bill are, and I think Eric may be too.You know though, after reading an author for a while, you pick up their "formulas" and their books slowly start to lose something because you know what's going to happen next, it's always the same. Like a soap opera. Change some names and places...I think it happens with everyone eventaully. You're wary to read an authors' new one because you know you've already been there.We did get a generator, all the food we were about to lose more than paid for it, but you had to roll it. The whole house wasn't powered all the time, so it was rough. I was so excited to get hot water back (electric water heater), I think I ran it out getting that first hot shower in days! Boiling water on a gas grill was no fun... Now you know why I'm not a big camper. I love going out, but I want to camp inside with an actual bed and electricity!Hope you enjoy you're weekend though! Power's been out and my phone has been down, hopefully it's fixed and this isn't just temporary.
I agree about WalMart. Unfortunately, I live in a small town where we basically have only a Walmart and a Kmart, and even though I do most of my groceries at Kroger's or smaller grocery stores, sometimes I have to go to WalMart for things because I know they are much cheaper, and I can't rationalize paying $5 more for laundry detergent just to avoid them. But their practices have really hurt so many things in this country, and now they're starting on authors and the publishing industry. I got the price for the books, but I wasn't giving it to WalMart. And I had book club the other night, and this topic came up. As a consumer, you want a good price, but pricing the books this low, it hurts authors, because publishers may decide not to pay very much for a book and drop the price to where they actually sell more. Then you have the independant book stores cannot price match that low, they'll go out of business. I've heard we're getting a Target here, it's been planned but with the economy they've held off on doing anything, so maybe soon they'll come in and I will never have to cross WalMart's threshold again!And mentioning book club, guess what we're reading for next month? The Help, finally! Now I can rationalize reading it again because even though I remember it, I need to refresh my memory! That is literally my favorite book this year and still cannot thank you enough for mentioning it, I would have missed it if it hadn't been for you! I hope the rest of them enjoy it.Camping sounds fun! Definately take a book. So many times I think I won't need one; I've got too much to do, I won't have any time...I get stuck in traffic or something with nothing to read! I always make sure there is something in my bag, just in case. And we've warmed up some during the days, but we're having those cool nights, had frost a few nights earlier this week, so I'm loving the wether right now. Seeing all the reds, yellows and oranges against a blue sky, I love fall. I just wish it lasted longer. I have a feeling we're in for a bad winter this year. Snow doesn't bother me, it's the ice. We can sometimes get some major ice around here and then you're just stuck. Right before we moved to Maryland, we had an ice storm and were out of power for 2 weeks, and we lived on a main highway. We don't now, so I really don't want to even think of that happening again, but it's a huge fear!Have a great weekend! I"m writing The Illuminator down so I don't forget. Talk to you when you get back!
I failed sewing in high school! A big, fat F! Luckily, I didn't actually need that credit to graduate...But Patrick bought me a sewing back when the girls were little, I wanted to make costumes, sat in the box for almost 2 years before I ever opened it. Still have no idea how to read directions or understand the terms, so I stay with costumes only. They only have to last a few hours, for one night, sometimes they make it. But I'm a hands on person, so if I look at it and play with it, I can usually figure it out. I do curtains and crafty things around the house, but those are my limits.I think homes are just cheaper here. I've watched programs on TLC and HGTV and home prices in other areas are frightening to me, I couldn't imagine. Patrick has a sister who moved to California a few years, from Florida which has a higher cost of living, didn't stay but a couple of years, but when they sold their home, it listed at almost a million! Sold for that too! And it wasn't a huge home, no land, it was a nice area, but that blew my mind! They were able to buy a huge home, right on a private golf course (her husband's dream) when they transferred to Michigan for way less. Her husband is a Southerner, like me, and couldn't take the winters so they're back in Florida, but they didn't do as well leaving Michigan. But overall, I get the impression California is just very expensive to live in. People I've known that have moved in from other areas of the country, think living here is much cheaper than where they've come from. You get more for your money, like your friend in OK. And I feel for you on home value. You can't sell, even if you don't want to, it's just knowing you're stuck. And who knows when you're going to be able to have options again. I hope for so much, but who knows when things will ever really recover? From what I heard on the rumour mill, who knows what's really true, she decided she wanted the Hollywood life again, missed being there. And he liked the slow pace of life here, away from Hollywood. I wonder if his wife didn't think it would be more like a "vacation" home, just visit, not actually live? But 90210 ended, career kind'a stalled I guess, it's cheaper to live here!I've always enjoyed Goldie Hawn, I think I could read her and enjoy it. Like you, not agree with everything, but enjoy a different view maybe. I ordered Sarah Palin's new one. Walmart started a price war with amazon Thursday. They were selling 10 new pre-release books for $10 each, free delivery to your home, amazon matched. Walmart went to $9, amazon went to $9. That's where they are right now, so check out walmart.com for the titles, I went to amazon because, no taxes, and with a $25 order, free shipping, so it's cheaper all the way around. And if it goes lower before they're released, amazon will give the lowest price, regardless of when you ordered, I don't know about Walmart. Great, cheap Christmas gifts. They're all due out by next month, so you'll have them in time.We have skipped fall and went straight to winter around here, was in the low 40's last night, expecting some frost tonight and down in the 30's. I had to turn on my heat and now I'm spending my day changing summer linens for winter ones. Just heard the buzzer, so I'm off for now. Talk to you soon!
Lava cakes are incredible, chocolate. But you bake them in small ramikins and when they are done and have cooled a bit, you turn them upside down onto a serving dish and they're baked on the outside, but a warm sauce is on the inside so when you take a bite, and it opens up and oozzes out. So easy to make, I found the recipe on a french cooking site, but deadly if eaten on a regular basis. All that butter! And I'm not a foodie either. I love Top Chef, but I wouldn't touch most of what they make on it. I'm a basic meat and potatoes girl. But I love baking. And most of the cookbooks I buy or recipes I get excited about, they are all about the baked goods. This year, for a lot of small gifts, I'm going with the homemade stuff. I have a small box that I'm going to decorate and I think I'm going to do some homemade butter mints to go inside. Trying to cut costs wherever I can and one batch of mints will make around 300, so I'm doing the homemade. And the butter mints? There's not a lot of butter in them, but they have a smooth, buttery taste. My mom used to make them when I was young, lost the recipe, then I found it online earlier this year, and found the soft molds to use in making them. I was so excited.My uncle is a contractor, and our old home was not handicap accessible, would have cost a fortune to adapt, and we wanted to move closer to her school without leaving our county, so it all worked out. But a lot of people custom build around here, I guess because there's a lot of land that hasn't been developed yet (they're working on it though!). We didn't go up much in size, we've got about 2500 right now, but we didn't finish the upstairs, and as the kids grow, I want to open that up. I was too scared to have them up there, with us downstairs, because of the storms we get around here. And I want to convert the garage to a family room, wish I would have done it when we built, but...I made some mistakes building, but I still love my house. I have a huge front porch (that's most people's favorite thing about it) and a large back porch. And an enormous kitchen, which feels even larger because we opted not to put in the island because of Hunter and wheelchairs, etc., but I'm hoping to put one in in the future. I don't know how it is on the West Coast, but in the South, the kitchen really is the main room. This is where we all converge, family gatherings always happen in the kitchen, big or small, kitchen or gathering, everyone gathers around the kitchen table. So I wanted a huge one. You mentioned Tori Spelling and 90210, guess who actually lived across the road from me at our old home? Luke Perry. I never met him, and you couldn't see his home, the drive was further down the road and the farm is about 200 acres, but he was right across the road. I believe he still owns it because to sale it, the people who could afford to buy it, would custom build themselves around here. His wife was from Nashville, so that's why they built here, and from what I heard, she's the one who went back to CA when they divorced and he kept the house here. I guess he commutes when he's working or something. But it's quiet here, people really leave you alone. I remember I worked at KMart when I teenager and one day Johnny Cash walked in wanting 10 bags of dirt, he owned a big farm just outside of town and it wasn't a biggie to just walk in and be able to get what he wanted and not have people bothering him. But there are so many country stars in Nashville, I've been at Home Depot, at the mall, and Alan Jackson will come in, or Faith Hill will be shopping, most people just leave them alone. But I bet it's that way in CA too, there's celebrity's everywhere so it's no big deal, only the tourists make a scene.That book sounds interesting, and I'm really not a nonfiction girl. I'm working on Professor... and a new one, When Autumn Leaves, I'm hitting that busy season where my reading really slows down for a bit, until after the holidays. And seriously, during this time of the year, I'm doing good to read one book a week. Halloween is little less hectic this year, Haley decided she's too old for costumes, and the boys wanted costumes that were beyond my sewing ability. I miss making them though, I've made they're costumes for years, most of them. Last year Hunter was Cat in the Hat and the boys were Things 1 and 2. Haley went with a friend and they decided to be hippies, she ruined my Dr. Seuss theme. But since Halloween is a little easier, I'm starting in on Christmas, since I never have enough time with that, thought I would get a jump. Now it's time to get some kiddies up and ready to go pick up Hunter at school, she's only there 1/2 days on Fridays. They're all back in school next week, but we still have the budget issues and school may shut down on the 26th if they don't fix them, and I don't know if they're going to be able to do it. So, may be getting another break soon.
Julie Powell wrote a followup? I will so not buy it, read it, nothing! And to write about an affair? That is unbelievable. And someday I would like to read Julia Child because of Julie and Julia, so yes, I guess I can thank her for introducing me to her. I grew up knowing her name, but was never interested before. Her life seems fascinating though. And I watch Top Chef, and french cuisine is one of the hardest to cook properly, it's always a challenge for the chefs to do, so to pick it up later in life and do it so well...When we read Julie and Julia, we all had to bring a french dish to the bookclub, and I really did enjoy that part, but I choose a simple one, lava cakes. There were incredible, but wouldn't eat them more than once a year. I made 16 of them and went through almost 4 pds. of butter!Maybe one on one Buzz Aldrin is much nicer but large crowds does something to him. A lot of people are like that. And his book is about being a recovering alcholic, I just did not get the impression that the recovery was very successful. But I have also read The Time It Takes To Fall (debut book) and it's about the Challenger explosion, the author Margaret Lazurus Dean was also there and she was adorable. She actually got to introduce Buzz Aldrin, but her character's dad worked at NASA and was obsessed with the explosion, I think everyone connected with NASA was, it was such a shock, so I think your Dad's reaction was very normal. They put man on the moon, and then to have it happen, I think it affected those working for NASA in a very profound way.But I loved the festival, I do every year, I was so worn out though. I've found a cute bag on wheels that I'm going to get for next year! That's so pathetic to have so many books you want signed that you need wheels, but...I carried around at least 50 pds all day Saturday and maybe it was just that there were so many good authors this year, I just know I can't do it again next year, I'm getting too old! And I got to be able to run from the homeless. It had turned off chilly, so they were really congregating around the library. I know most are harmless, down on their luck and everything, but some aren't and you don't know which is which. I always want to give money, but there's so many...you can't do it without being bombarded. Not an area I want to be by myself in.We only have carpet in the bedrooms (allergies) but because flooring was towards the end of building the house, I got talked in to laminate for the rest (baths have tile), 1.was almost out of money and laminate was cheaper and 2. because of Hunter's equipment, it wouldn't scratch and gouge like hardwood. But I hate it too. It does scratch and gouge, and I just hate it. I want to tear it all out and lay hardwood, but that's a costly project, so need to do it a little at a time. And I want to start with bedrooms! I even want my bath and the small bath that guests, and everyone, uses in hardwood. But with tile right around the tubs and showers.I'm so glad you said that about The Road, I would read a few pages and put it down, then try again, and still put it back down, so I just have to hang in? He's a very dark writer, and sometimes I'm just not in the mood for dark. I've noticed I pick up a lot more light, easy reading in the winters, so I guess even the seasons effect what I read. I started The Professor and The Housekeeper last night, so far I am enjoying it. The Professor was a mathmatician before an accident that left permanent brain damage and now his memory is only 80 minutes long. At 80 minutes, he doesn't remember meeting you, or who you are, why you're in his home, etc. I think I'm going to enjoy it. It was one of my free books from the weekend, so no loss if I don't enjoy it.Haley hasn't read that series, I'll check it out for her. She now knows about Santa (first Christmas knowing, but she's suspected for a while) and she's asking for giftcards; ITunes, Barnes and Noble, so on. Which I love shopping for all the kids so I'm a little disappointed, but she's at that age where she's also starting to get hard to buy for, so...
I have mixed feelings about the festival, loved, loved, loved it! But there was such a line for Kate DiCamillo that I had to miss some authors talks. But she was adorable! Signed all my books with a smile a joke and was incredibly nice and I will always buy her books, she was wonderful. All of the authors were fantastic, they acted as though they were honored to be there for everyone, makes you just want to buy their books, except...for Buzz Aldrin. Biggest disappointment, was a waste of my time and money, so disappointed! I can't even explain how rude he was. Would only sign 2 books per person, wouldn't sign anything that wasn't one of his books (there were some young kids who had books with them which had him in them, refused to sign) spoke like a recovering alcoholic who has fallen off the wagon, it goes on. Worst experience with an author ever. And actually he didn't even write the book, he told it to someone who wrote it, so he's not even an author, just a jerk. Think Garrett in Terms of Endearment. Times 10. You might have an idea of how he was. And I missed some authors because of him and he SO was not worth it!Overall I loved it, will do it again next year, but I was worn out from dragging all those books all day, it turned off cold, no sun, and there were just so many today, I couldn't do them all. There's still a couple I would love to see tomorrow, but I'm too tired to go. I don't think I can do it. And a lot of homeless hang out around the downtown library and legislative plaza, which is where it's held, and I had one come up to me, got scared and took off. I'm a small town girl, was by myself at the time, I don't want to do it tomorrow, because I'll be by myself the whole time, it'll be dark when I leave, I don't think so.But the breakfast was wonderful, I got sooo many free books! Was so excited about that! I love free, it's so my budget! I took lot of pictures and will try to get them on facebook this week.We built our home and Robert turned 2 not long after, so he was all grown and decided that he could fix his own sippy of milk. A new gallon of milk, just opened, took it to our bedroom to fill (don't ask, we have no idea why) and dumped the entire thing on the carpet. I cleaned that carpet forever trying to get it sucked up, it stank after about a day so I most definately didn't get it all. But I couldn't rip new carpet that had only been down like a month out and replace it. But now, all the bedrooms need to be ripped up and replaced, I want to go to hardwood. No more carpet. Thrw rugs are so much cheaper, and easier to toss when they're gross.I'm so glad I'm not the only with doubts about that flu vaccine! I don't trust it. They just developed it, we're the guinea pigs to see if it works! Agree, no thanks!Julie and Julia is my most hated book, HATED it! The best parts were Julia Child, and there was so not enough of them. But I do not like this person, in fact, knowing that she is a real person and not a character, makes me dislike her even more. When she got to 9/11 and how it was happening in her city and this could be her moment to shine and be important...UGGGHH! I do not understand how anyone could publish her, and even more, why someone would want to read her. I read it for my bookclub, fought it the whole way, but I did do it, and wanted to read it even less when I finished. But people were raving how wonderful it was, again UGGHH! Kate DiCamillo told today that she started writing at age 30, and 6 years and 400+ rejections later, she was finally published. Over 400 times she was rejected, and she is an incredible children's author, and Julie Powell gets published easy peasy because of a blog, with absolutely no talent! That's my soapbox for today. Anytime anyone mentions her, I rant. Sorry. But it's my most hated book.I loved The Lace Reader, whenever you get the chance, it's a recommend. And let me know about The Road. I started it but just couldn't get into it, so I put it away for another time.Ok, I'm exhausted. I off to bed and plan on sleeping for a very long time.
I'm dashing this off real quick, I'll catch up on everything tomorrow, but rain, rain, rain yesterday! A lot of the festival is outside in the open, so I debated all day whether to go or not and a friend that was going, was the same way, but we did go. I didn't get to hear Ron Rash, I'm going to today, but I did get him to sign my copy of Serena, so nice. Very, very nice man, would read and recommend him again. Karen White, adorable! I missed her talk but I did get her to sign a couple of books, she was so friendly and sweet. She's considered romance, but not like the harlequin stuff, I enjoy her. Beth Pattillo is the same way, romance but not the crappy stuff, and I got free copy of her new one that isn't out till February! It's an arc so can't be sold. And a new debut author Lisa Patton, both were so incredibly nice and just so friendly, I would buy all of these authors again just because of them and of incredibly nice they are.Kathryn Stockett is today!! Off to get ready for the breakfast, early day! But I'll catch everything up after the festival, I have a thing against Julie...
Hello! I have been so busy, I've got to catch up! The kids are on break and I'm trying to catch up on this house where it has been neglected since school started, whoo! I'm worn out but it has to be done. DCS could have taken the kids it was in that kind of shape! But since the first of August, there has not been a single night without some other commitment, school and running to get Hunter during the day, Patrick's been working weekends...I'm just glad to get it semi decent and I still have our bed and bath to go because I decided to redo the kids bath; paint, the works, and that took almost 2 days. But I have over a week before they go back. Well, Hunter is back next week, but I'm getting my Mom to pick up a little extra for me so I can be at home to finish some other things.I'm so glad you enjoyed your weekend! Wasn't it wonderful to get away for just a couple of days just for you? And I'm glad your son is better. I've just started cleaning with Lysol for everything! I've always used the wipes for kitchen and baths, light switches and stuff, but I now clean with the liquid stuff and spray everything that a wipe can't clean (fabrics,etc.). I really dread this flu season, hopefully it won't be as bad as everyone fears.Went to the pumpkin patch this morning, it rained and wasn't even 60 so we chickened out and left. Went to the bookstore instead, finished getting some books for this weekend. Can't wait! Even though it's supposed to rain tomorrow, I'm not planning on going till later afternoon, so hopefully it'll be over by then. But Saturday? I should lose about 10 pounds with all the walking I'm going to have to do, carrying all the books I want signed, it'll be a workout but I'm so excited. I'll take pictures and try to post them on facebook so you can look when you get a chance.Next week we're working on Halloween things for classes, and may even be able to start Christmas stuff too. I've got stamps and paper and patterns, I'm ready to go! I wish I could have a job just reading books and doing crafts, that would be ideal for me. Then I wouldn't have any explaining to do to Patrick because he wouldn't know when I spend money and how much!I enjoyed ...Deliverance Dane, it's a good debut, but I enjoyed The Heretic's Daughter much more, and it deals with Salem too. In fact, the author's grandmother, 9x back, was actually one of the ones hung for withcraft, so she tells a wonderful story about her history.Well, I'm going to get back to work, so much to do. I started a book the other night, but I just picked one up today that I think I'm going to start later, the cover is so gorgeous and a catchy title, Whistlin Dixie in a Nor'Easter. It's a southern flavor book and I do enjoy them!
Hi Karen...I agree with you....she talks like she was in the room too. How could she possibly come out and say something like that considering what her and her family has gonethrough and is still going through...I don't understand this nonsense...rubbish, if you will...what is wrong with people. There is only one kind of rape...and ITS A CRIME..PERIOD!you were dead-on in your post...:)
Hi Karen...did you read Charlie's latest post on her....he says words in a really different way...almost like its a code or something...and I looked on his shelf...3 books, that's it..???
Hi Karen...yes, counter-culture...trying to think of that word. But what would worry me is as we age our skin and body changes and once that starts to happen, what might havelooked attractive could end up looking obscene...do you know what I am saying...as I am typing this, I'm laughing but only because I am not covered in tattoo's...that would bea nightmare..plus, I'm a scaredy-cat...:) and I have enough addictions...!
Hi Karen J. Thanks for the request! I'll be seeing you around :DCindy
I haven't read the Virgin Suicides yet, but it is definitely on my TBR list!
Hi! I see you loved Middlesex (as did I!) and also enjoyed The 19th Wife by Ebershoff. Might I suggest The Danish Girl by Ebershoff. It's a novel inspired by the real life painter, Einar Wegener, who was transgendered. It's a wonderful book!
