karenmarie's 75 Books Challenge for 2014 #2

Thread the second. It's been a very slow reading year for me. Usually by now I'm around 60 or 70 books.....

1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 12/5/13 1/3/14 ****
2. W is for Wasted by Sue Grafton 12/30/13 1/3/14 ***1/2 484 pages
3. The Time Traveler's Guide to Medieval England by Ian Mortimer 1/3/14 1/12/14 **** 292 pages
4. The Gods of Guilt by Michael Connelly 1/12/14 1/14/14 **** 387 pages
5. The Mystic Arts of Erasing All Signs of Death by Charlie Huston 1/14/14 1/19/14 ***1/2
1421: The Year China Discovered America by Gavin Menzies 1/19/14
6. Anansi Boys by Niel Gaiman 1/25/14 1/26/14 ****
7. Big Brother by Lionel Shriver 1/26/14 1/30/14 ****
8. Hunting Shadows by Charles Todd 1/30/14 02/02/14 ***1/2
9. Sunshine by Robin McKinley 02/02/14 02/11/14 ****
10. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman 2/11/14 2/13/14 ****
11. The Darwin Conspiracy by John Darnton 2/13/14 2/19/14 ***1/2
12. Reamde by Neal Stephenson 2/20/14 3/9/14 ****1/2
13. Emotionally Weird by Kate Atkinson 3/9/14
14. If Kennedy Lived by Jeff Greenfield 3/13/14 3/15/14 ***1/2
15. The Last Detective by Peter Lovesey 3/15/14 3/20/14 ****
16. Diamond Solitaire by Peter Lovesey 3/20/14 3/21/14 ****
17. The Summons by Peter Lovesey 3/21/14 3/25/14 ****
18. Bloodhounds by Peter Lovesey 3/25/14 3/29/14 ****
19. This is Water by David Foster Wallace 3/28/14 3/28/14 ****
20. Concealed in Death by J.D. Robb 3/29/14 4/1/14 **
21. One Summer: America, 1927 by Bill Bryson 4/1/14 4/6/14 ****
22. Upon a Dark Night by Peter Lovesey 4/7/14 4/12/14 ****
23. The Vault by Peter Lovesey 4/12/14 4/15/14 ****
24. The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters by Gordon Dahlquist 4/15/14 4/23/14 ***
25. American Hippopotamus by Jon Mooallem 4/24/14 4/26/14 ****1/2
26. Life After Life by Kate Atkinson 4/27/14 5/2/14 ***
27. The Source by James Michener 5/10/14 5/24/14 *****
28. Accused by Mark Gimenez 5/24/14 5/26/14 ***1/2
29. Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King 6/5/14 6/8/14 ****
Sinai Tapestry by Edward Whittemore 6/9/14 abandoned 6/19/14
30. Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver 6/20/14 6/23/14 ****1/2
31. By a Spider's Thread by Laura Lippman 6/21/14 6/29/14 ****
32. The Last Place by Laura Lippman 6/29/14 07/04/14 ****
33. Baltimore Blues by Laura Lippman 7/4/14 7/5/14 ****
34. Charm City by Laura Lippman 7/5/14 7/6/14 ****
35. Silkworm by Robert Galbraith 7/8/14 7/19/14 ****
36. Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz 7/19/14 7/22/14 ****
37. The Devil's Feather by Minette Walters 7/22/14 7/27/14 ***1/2
38. Darwin's Blade by Dan Simmons 7/27/14 7/29/14 ****
39. The Gunslinger by Stephen King 7/29/14 8/3/14 ****
40. The Diagnosis by Alan Lightman 08/03/14 08/09/14 ***
41. Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor 8/9/14 8/12/14 ****
42. A Symphony of Echoes by Jodi Taylor 8/12/14 8/15/14 ****
43. A Second Chance by Jodi Taylor 8/15/14 8/17/14 ****
44. A Trail Through Time by Jodi Taylor 8/17/14 8/21/14 ***1/2
45. Forever Odd by Dean Koontz 8/21/14 8/24/14 ****
46. Brother Odd by Dean Koontz 8/24/14 8/30/14 ****
47. The Long Way Home by Louise Penny 8/30/14 9/1/14 ****
48. The Flight of Gemma Hardy by Margot Livesey 9/1/14 9/4/14 ****1/2
49. Personal by Lee Child 09/04/14 9/7/14 ***1/2
50. Kill and Tell by Linda Howard 9/7/14 9/11/14 ***1/2
51. Veil of Night by Linda Howard 9/11/14 9/13/14 ***
52. Shadow Woman by Linda Howard 9/13/14 9/13/14 ***1/2
53. Odd Hours by Dean Koontz 9/14/14 9/14/14 ****
54. Odd Apocalypse by Dean Koontz 9/14/14 9/20/14 ****
55. The Serialist by David Gordon 9/20/14 9/24/14 ****
56. Crossbones Yard by Kate Rhodes 9/24/14 9/27/14 ***1/2
57. Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh 9/27/14 10/1/14 ****1/2
58. A Killing of Angels by Kate Rhodes 10/1/14 10/2/14 ****
59. Murder List by Julie Garwood 10/2/14 10/4/14 **1/2
60. Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner 10/4/14 10/7/14 ****
61. Corpsing by Tony Litt 10/4/14 10/10/14 ****
62. The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths 10/10/14 10/10/14 ****
63. The Caves of Perigord by Martin Walker 10/10/14 10/13/14 ***1/2
64. Mystery Girl by David Gordon 10/14/14 10/18/14 ****
65. Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls by David Sedaris 10/18/14 10/18/14 ***1/2
66. A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra 10/18/14 10/26/14 ****
67. Jack of Spies by David Downing 10/26/14 10/31/14 ***1/2
68. The Devil's Cub by Georgette Heyer 10/31/14 11/1/14 ****
69. The Quiet Gentleman by Georgette Heyer 11/1/14 11/2/14 ****
70. Regency Buck by Georgette Heyer 11/2/14 11/3/14 ***1/2
70. The Convenient Marriage by Geogette Heyer 11/3/14 11/4/14 ****
71. The Toll-Gate by Georgette Heyer 11/4/14 11/5/14 ***1/2
72. The Somnambulist by Jonathan Barnes 11/5/14 11/9/14 ***
73. The Nonesuch by Georgette Heyer 11/6/14 11/7/14 ****
74. The Black Sheep by Georgette Heyer 11/9/14 11/10/14 ****
75. The Unknown Ajax by Georgette Heyer 11/11/14 11/13/14 ****
76. The Night Journal by Elizabeth Crook 11/13/14 11/15/14 ****1/2
77. A Perfectly Good Family by Lionel Shriver 11/15/14 11/17/14 ****
78. The Post-Birthday World by Lionel Shriver 11/17/14 11/20/14 ****
79. Revival by Stephen King 11/20/14 11/22/14 ***1/2
80. Thinner by Stephen King 11/22/14 11/24/14 ***1/2
81. Goodnight Nobody by Jennifer Weiner 11/24/14 11/29/14 ****
82. Fly Away Home by Jennifer Weiner 11/29/14 12/2/14 ***1/2
83. A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray 12/2/14 12/12/14 ***
84. The Shining by Stephen King 12/12/14 12/26/14 ****
85. The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell 12/26/14

Who knew southern summers could be like those in New England?

Only in the 70s yesterday, with rain. In August. In North Carolina. Not in the mountains. Who knew, indeed.

Today is daughter's 21st birthday. There are balloons, cards, candy, and a book for her The Old Man and the Sea. She has said that now she's not in school, she can actually read and is looking forward to reading "classics" and building a library. Good news to a bibliophile's ears.

Today we make a carrot cake with cream cheese frosting for said birthday, go to Angus Barn in Raleigh NC for dinner, and acknowledge the change in legal status for daughter.

The big question is, do I start the second Dark Tower book or read another Odd Thomas, or something entirely different? Fun choice.

Hmmmmm... Odd Thomas would be my choice, I think!

Yes, get Odd!

Angus Barn - yum!
Happy Birthday to the young adult and her parents!
Happy New Thread too!!! And enjoy the clammy weather while we have it. There's a lot of summer left, I fear.

is your mood for something light or heavy? that's how I decide, I'd go with Oddie as well.

Hey Doc and Larry - I didn't get Odd, oddly enough. I went to a second hand bookstore in town when I had a few minutes (and a gift certificate....) and bought a book by an author that is on our Bookclub's list for next year. The bookclub book is Einstein's Dreams but I found a book called The Diagnosis. So I started it and am almost done with it. Like I wrote on my other challenge thread, it's poignant and strange.

beeg - my mood was for something NOT a mystery/thriller yet not Odd. Hence the veering off the path, so to speak. That's why I love having so many books tagged "tbr" - I can find something to suit any mood.

Hi Peggy! We're still having clammy weather a week later - rain, only in the 70s. Husband got in a mowing after work yesterday because it's supposed to rain all weekend. And it did start raining last night and we've already had about 1". NOT summer in NC, for sure. Fine with me - I'm from southern California and hot humid weather is not my idea of summer. Hot dry weather is, and is much easier for me to take. The grass is still lush, the plants are all doing well, the trees don't have one yellow leaf (a sign of dryness) on them.

This weekend is mostly staying at home out of the weather. I want to make a Lemon Meringue Pie - I have lemons and all the other normal baking stuff. Daughter's birthday is also my MiL's birthday - the one who passed away in March. Her favorite dessert was Lemon Meringue Pie, so I think that's what I'll do today or tomorrow.

I do think I'll start Forever Odd after I finish The Diagnosis.

I just finished The Diagnosis. It's one of those books when you read the end of a paragraph and turn to the next page and there ISN'T a next page you get pissed off. The ending saddened me. And there was one tantalizing bit that never got resolved.....

Huh.

Onward to Forever Odd.

And veered away from Forever Odd to Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor. Thank you, RD!

I'm about 3/4 of the way through and lovin' it. Pods and T-rex and bitch fights.... good stuff.

Just One Damned Thing After Another is on sale for .99 cents on the Kindle. Just snagged a copy.

I love that series, I think RD should get a cut of the proceeds

Yay Larry! Hope you like it.

Hi beeg - I think he should too.

Rain, rain, rain. I love it. It's supposed to be in the SIXTIES tonight - here, in central NC, in the dog days of summer. Strange indeed. But it's cutting the air conditioning bill.....

So far RD should get a cut on 3 of the Chronicles of St. Mary's series - I powered through the first two and have started the third one.

Wonderful stuff.

Daughter left this a.m. for Wilmington, so the house is quiet again. And it will be much, much neater, too.

>13 karenmarie: I have mildew between my toes and mushrooms sprouting in my ears, and I don't care. This is wonderful August weather here in southeastern NC too. Look out for next week though.

Hi Peggy - mildew and mushrooms indeed. We're not quite so damp, but it looks like early June here. Green, lush. The grass hasn't stunted. Amazing. However, it's supposed to start today here - 91F.

Gotta love Kindle - it is telling me I'm 64% through the 3rd Chronicle of St. Mary's.

Yeah, I'm sold on Kindle, too. All those books for less than $5, which seems to be my limit on ebook prices. So many 50s-60s pulp books available now. Sweet

It's been cloudy here in the Nation's Blah, but little rain other than a really spectacular storm front several days ago. I'd like to see more rain.

We've had a lot of rain, tonight, Larry. The storm interrupted Amazon Streaming Video for a while.

We've been watching the series Six Feet Under, and have just the last two episodes in the last season to watch tomorrow night. Amazing, devastating, hilarious.

I still only read about 10% Kindle as opposed to book-books, though.

Daughter is back in Wilmington. We arranged to have furniture sent out there today, and she sounds good. Of course, now she'll have to find work to pay her bills..... very strange. Really empty nest, now. Sigh.

Well, off to read about Max and Leon.

Sometimes books just demand to be read.

I just finished Forever Odd by Dean Koontz, the second in the Odd Thomas series.

It's a book that opens up time into excruciating detail and works. Odd Thomas sets out to rescue his friend Danny Jessup. The action moves to an earthquake-and-fire-destroyed gambling casino and takes place in less than 24 hours. It was a rollercoaster ride. Definitely 4 stars - excellent, in my rating system. Koontz teases, too - I looked up the name of the female "voice on the phone" (trying not to be a spoiler) and it fits nicely with the name of someone(thing) else described in detail almost, but obviously not, as a side note.

I'm supposed to read Telex from Cuba by Rachel Kushner for our next bookclub meeting on September 7th, but will indulge Odd Thomas for the 3rd in the series.

I'm not a fan of Koontz, but I did like Odd Thomas. Koontz's tendency to moralize works when the protagonist is a moral avatar. I'm glad you're liking your books.

Plastic was big fun. I'm really surprised that so few people on LT have a copy.

Telex from Cuba sounds both deadly and earnest. Another reason why I've never found a book club that I thought I could stick with. That does it! I'm going to start the LT Cheezy Mystery Book Club. Ideas for first read. The only requirement for consideration is that the book have absolutely no redeeming values whatsoever and, if possible, an agreeably high body count. Low priced Kindle books may be best to start.

That was fun

Thanks, beeg. Got the jimjammers out yesterday, for sure.

Went to my every-three-week deep tissue massage and chiropractic appointment. I wish I could go every day. I always feel so good, physically and mentally, when I visit Dr Ny and Kathie.

*smile*

I just finished Brother Odd by Dean Koontz. At one point I didn't like it, but by the end, I was glad I persevered. I particularly loved Boo the dog, Elvis, Rodion Romanovich, and a new character introduced at the absolute very end.

So the big question, again: Odd Hours, the fourth Odd Thomas Book, or the newest Louise Penny, The Long Way Home?

I'm inclined to read the Odd Thomas.....

I just finished the long way home

I hope you liked it, beeg, because The Long Way Home won. I'm on about page 25. For some strange reason I thought there were only 4 Odd Thomas books and thought I might as well finish the series, but there are 7 books and a couple of novellas, so switched gears and am indulging in the Penny.

Happiness is a new book.

I just finished The Long Way Home. It is one of those books that I need to think about a bit, but overall I really liked it a lot.

I actually think I'll write a review....

But now it's time to find another book.

Odd Hours? The Flight of Gemma Hardy? The Chase?

?

The Straw Men, by Michael Marshall. One of a trilogy, and one of the most startling series I've read. Kray-pay stuff.

I also liked Pig Island, by Mo Hayder. Religious fanatics just aren't nice people, it seems.

I plowed through three book cases today; I bet I dumped 40 books; stuff I know I will never read, or Victorian classics probably available free on Kindle or certainly in the lie-berry. I'm within shoutin' distance of complying with the Unbreakable Rule (books only in/on shelves.) I'm so proud of me.

Are you caught up with St Mary's? the latest made my eyes leak.

I've finally reviewed Ancillary Justice, an Early Reviewers win, in my thread...post #224.

Five major SF awards won by this book, and I can't for the life of me comprehend why. Not a bad book, but it's...~meh~

Straw Men sounds seriously Kray-pay. *shudder* I'll add it to the wishlist. Well. *blinks* it was available to be mooched on Bookmooch. So, with 27 points, I can easily spare one, and so mooched it.

I like Mo Hayder, too. Not moochable, but on the wishlist.

Good for you, Larry, dumping 40 books. The artistic dishevelment near the bookcases was getting to you, eh? I'm considering pruning, perhaps this coming weekend. Always gotta make room for more books.

Hi Beeg! Yes, all caught up. The most recent one had two of the funniest moments of the series - think swans and flour - but overall the convolutions and time warping and more personal stuff sorta got in the way of what I found truly interesting - the reporting of historical events.

And one of my favorite bits, from the first book, is when Max reflects on the fact that in real life T-rex and other carnivorous dinosaurs smell of rotten meat and blood and are covered in same - why do pictures always show them so clean and without broken teeth or horrible scarring from the many battles they've been in? Dinosaur documentaries will never be the same for me.

Hello RD! I myownself frequently don't like the books the critics like. ATD is one of my abiding principles.

..... and the winner was The Flight of Gemma Hardy, a very engaging book. Gemma Hardy is an Icelandic Cinderella. Both parents die, uncle brings her home to be a member of his family. Wife and 3 children endure her until Uncle dies, then mistreat her horribly. She's sent off to be a working student at a private school in 1950s England. So far I'm absolutely loving it. Gemma is a joy.

And, now off to get jammies on (never mind that its only 6:42 p.m. and the sun's still out.....), read for a bit, then watch Roger Federer at the US Open.

A blissful evening is anticipated.

---and I hope that the evening lived up to the anticipation.
I'll certainly think about *Gemma Hardy*. Sounds like the perfect antidote to terminal seriousness!

Roger won, bliss. He is playing so cleanly, so powerfully, so intuitively. Such a joy to watch. He reminds me of the Roger of 5 years ago. David Foster Wallace wrote an article about him and talked about Federer moments - things you see that you blink and just shake your head, wondering how a human can do that. There were several last night, several during his match with Granollers.

Gemma is coming along. I'm learning all sorts of interesting things about birds and the Orkneys. The book is so beautifully written. It flows and reminds me, in a vague, happy way, of some of the descriptions by Dorothy Sayers of remote parts of England in the 1920s and 1930s, although this is the Orkneys in the 1960s. The land, the sea, the local people. Good stuff.

you got me with The flight of Gemma Hardy

Hi beeg! I just finished it, about 10 minutes ago. A beautiful book. Makes me optimistic and warm and fuzzy.

Yay, I can use all three

Gah, I got read of both Marshall and Hayder after I read them or I'd have sent them over. The Marshall trilogy is pretty easy to find in used books stores. Hayder's book may be more difficult, not sure.

I've eschewed tawdry fiction of a book written about tawdry fiction. That's progress, right?

Hi beeg - The optimistic warm fuzzies have accompanied me all day. And, I got the newest Jack Reacher in the mail, too. OWFs plus books. Can't beat it.

Thank you for the thought, Larry. I'll be able to dig them up for sure.

Tawdry fiction of a book written about tawdry fiction eschewal. Yes, indeed progress. I count progress in baby steps these days.

Tawdry is such a good word. So is eschewed. Thank you for feeding my word habit.

AND, finally, Roger Federer plays Gael Monfils tonight at 8 p.m. Bliss.

The bliss almost turned to bewilderment. Roger lost the first two sets but "roared back" and won in 5 sets. He saved 2 match points in the 4th set. Husband and I aged a couple of years during the match.

So I went to bed at nearly 1 a.m. and am now stunned with lack of sleep. The alarm was very cruel this morning.

I re-started Telex from Cuba yesterday, got through about 25 pages comfortably, then it just stopped working for me. So I'll go to bookclub Sunday night for the company and food/wine.

Amazon delivered yet again yesterday - the newest Jack Reacher Personal. I read a 2 and a half pages before keeling over last night after the tennis match.

Yay Jack Reacher. So far a good read.

Insomnia. Its dark outside and quiet inside (husband is asleep, therefore NO TV is on). I've got a wonderful cup of freshly-ground-beans-with-well-water coffee (black, no sugar, not flavored), my book, a short turn here on LT, then back to sleep in probably an hour or so, just before dawn.

Roger plays today after the Djerko-Nishikori match, which I actually want to watch because I want to see Nishikori. I hope he beats the shit out of Djerko. Malicious, me?

Roger plays Cilic, 6'6" to Roger's 6'1". I'm hoping, as always, for Roger to win. He's predicted to win, but he was against Monfils and almost lost. 2 sets down, 2 match points down. My hero.

A pleasant Saturday ahead.

Djerko lost, yay. Roger lost, boo hiss. We may watch the match Monday night between Nishikori and Cilic, but I would have left work early to get home in time for the 5 p.m. start. Now I'll ease home at my normal time and pick up the match sometime in the first set, possibly even the second set. Husband hates Serena so we haven't discussed watching the women's match today, but we may watch just to support Wozniacki. The match starts at 4:30 at the soonest. Should be over by the time I have to leave for bookclub.

I finished Personal by Lee Child, the 19th Jack Reacher. It had its moments, most of them near the end. I didn't pick up the tell, but as soon as the tell got mentioned, I realized I should have. Good for Lee Child to disguise it so well from me.

Tonight's bookclub. I haven't read Telex from Cuba and won't even skim it. Our bookclub is loosey-goosey about the issue of actually having read the book - sometimes up to half us haven't finished it. We just keep our mouths shut and let the ones who've read it discuss it. I will probably say WHY I put it down, but won't be vitriolic or vehement or any other V word.

I feel compelled to read Odd Hours, the fourth Odd Thomas book by Dean Koontz.

Stress for me = thrillers and mysteries.

Oh yeah, mind movies are the bomb for stress.

I've listened to a couple of Jack Reacher audio books. I remember being impressed with Killing Floor and kind of 'meh' with the last one (don't remember the name, or even the plot, but I listened to it a couple of summers ago.)

Bookclub was fun-ish. Lots of people disliked the book, Telex from Cuba for the reason I put it down, but they mostly managed to finish it, and some even liked it. Go figure.

Hey Larry - I like the Reachers, but don't LOVE the newer ones like I loved the earlier ones. Killer Floor is the first. I personally like 61 Hours the best, I think. This year has mostly been stress reading.

We watched Cilic beat Nishikori in straight sets, just like he did to Roger on Saturday. I would have loved to see Roger and Nikishori, or, heaven forbid, Roger against Djokovic. This one was mostly bleh, with a few good rallies here and there.

Off to read.

Have you ever read The Cabinet of Curiosities by Preston/Childe? I think it's the most entertaining thriller I've ever read. Along with The List of Seven, but that might be more of a personal fav. Both are available everywhere, new and used.

I'm listening to Cabinet again in the car.

Thanks, Larry! The Cabinet of Curiosities is now on my wishlist, drat you. And, The List of Seven was available on Bookmooch, so I mooched it.

I'm in a romantic thriller frame of mind, enjoying women who run up against testosterone-to-the-nth-degree men and fall for them while the tttnd men rescue the women from the baddies.

Sheesh.

But they are fun, and the author, Linda Howard, actually writes reasonably well. I have even seen a properly used semicolon or two, and her characters are amusing.

Pathetic, I know.

Okay, enough of the romantic thrillers.

Odd Hours is now open to the left of me on the desk, next to the cup of freshly brewed coffee (freshly ground beans with my own good well water).

Yay.

Still keeping odd hours?

Don't get Incubus, you'll be sorry. Pretty crummy.

Okay, Incubus off the list.

I'm not keeping Odd Hours anymore, I'm in nearing the end of Odd Apocalypse. It's the most evil of all the books so far IMO. *shiver*

What's the apocalypse like?

End of the world, people screaming, you know, that kind of stuff...

:)

LOL!

Plagues, zombies, the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man.

half way into Odd Hours I realized I had already read it, after checking on LT sure nuff, even had the same reaction. Still gonna finish it as I can't remember it.

Hi guys~ Odd Apocalypse really creeped me out. Tesla, time travel, vicious creatures, a hint of a horrible future. ***small spoiler***Odd crossed the gun line two books ago, and continues the trend in this one.

I started Deeply Odd but it didn't appeal - it will another day, I'm sure - so I started and am halfway through a really fun book (even with a serial killer on the loose) called The Serialist by David Gordon. Our hero is not the serial killer hinted at in the title - he's a serial writer - different genres over the course of his career. There's a precocious "prelegal" student he tutors, the sister of one of the original murder victims, an FBI agent determined to keep our hero from writing the murderer's story so he can write his own memoir..... funny, strange, perverted, and well written. Who could ask for more?

You had me at perverted. Just snagged a copy. 32% of LTers wrote a review for it. Wackiness.

The Serialist is in the bag and should be delivered to me at work Thursday. I get to meet Miss America that day. Yee-ha!

Hi Larry! I finished The Serialist a couple of days ago. It was an excellent read. I just discovered that he has a second book, Mystery Girl, and have downloaded it to my Kindle.

I have also just finished Crossbones Yard, the first in a series by Kate Rhodes. Alice Quentin is the heroine, a psychologist in London who has a traumatic background that drives her every move and decision. She is stalked by a copy-cat murderer. It's very well written, and the ending was not even remotely predictable to me. Not to say others might not figure it out, but it gob smacked me. I've ordered her second book, A Killing of Angels, and pre-ordered her third book The Winter Foundlings too.

And, since the hardcopy of my bookclub book can arrive as late as October 14th and I need to have it read by October 5th, I've also downloaded Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh.

Why do I need the alarm to get up at 6:10 during the week but usually wake up early on Saturdays? Drives me crazy. I woke up at 5:30 and here I am, drinking coffee and getting ready to start Sea of Poppies. It's not even light out yet.

Nice, you've got the whole day ahead of you. Sounds good to me.

My copy of the Serialist came from Amazon. I bought it used, condition very good, but when it got here it was dirty and water damaged so I sent it back. I'm going to order another copy from a different vendor.

Wow, Larry, I'm sorry that happened. I've had books that are a bit tatty, but NEVER when I order them in Very Good Condition. Give 'em hell.

Last week got away from me. I missed 3 days of work. I've got a sinus infection but the damned doctor wouldn't give me an antibiotic. She said wait two days..... so I called yesterday and followed up today. They'd better give me an antibiotic today 'cuz I feel crappy.

The advantage of being sick enough to stay home but not too sick to stay awake is that I read three books this week.

Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh. A wonderful, marvelous book. Historical fiction, 1838, India and the sea. I'd love to listen to an audio version, because the language is absolutely brilliant. It's a mixture of English, Indian, and martime language, and I found myself reading sentences aloud to get the cadence and exuberance of the language. It's the first of a trilogy.....

A Killing of Angels the second in the Alice Quentin series by Kate Rhodes. Very good, but a tad repetitive on the story line.

Murder List by Julie Garwood. Hunky man, beautiful shy woman, a killer. Fun. I'll donate it to the Thrift Shop.

Now it's time to find another book, which is a nice problem to have. I feel too puny to do much. I went to work on Friday, feeling pretty good, but have had a minor relapse. If I had gotten the antibiotic when I felt I needed it, I think I would be feeling better today. Hmmph.

I'm sorry you're not feeling well, that sucks. I left the Amazon vendor really crappy feedback.which book did you decide to read next?

Hi Larry - finally got antibiotics and am feeling human today, fortunately.

I'm reading two books: next month's bookclub book Devil in the Grove by Gilbert King and a no-brainer fun book Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner. Plus today husband was watching Sunday Morning and they were profiling Gillian Flynn and the movie of her book Gone Girl. I really liked that book, and may re-read it.

Today is the first play of the new Playmakers Repertory Company season in Chapel Hill - Vanya and Sonya and Masha. My MiL and I used to go, but since she passed away, her sister gave me her tickets to use. So, I'm taking my neighbor and friend Louise.

And tonight is bookclub to discuss Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh. I really enjoyed this book - 1838, India, East India Company and opium. Several stories intertwine until about halfway through or so when they are all on board the Ibis, sailing across the Indian Ocean.

Glad the antibiotics are working. I was sick last winter for two months and it started the same way...but did get a lot of reading done. Taking a BB on Sea of Poppies.

Hi mysterymax. Still feeling a bit puny, but better than yesterday morning. I'm taking the Dayquil today - I forgot it yesterday and about 2 p.m. was headachy and sore-throaty and ear-achy. So I swigged 3 ibuprophen and 2 Tylenol sinus and felt better. (I know, I know....)

Good in Bed is so much better than the title. It's a wonderful, serious, pathetic, and funny book.

Yesterday was the Friends of the Library Semi-Annual Book Sale. I always take the day off, and in the last year or so I've also taken off the next day, which is today.

I just finished a wonderful book, Corpsing by Tony Litt, finished my coffee, gotten the dishwasher started and am now going to catalog yesterday's haul. I spent more than usual, which was fun, and had a strategy to get to the audiobooks, which worked.

Audiobooks (CDs):
Doctor Sleep by Stephen King
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce
The Ice Master by Jennifer Niven
The Bookseller of Kabul by Asne Seierstad
Bad Monkey by Carl Hiaasen
The Narrows Echo Park The Overlook Harry Bosch boxed set by Michael Connelly
The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery (I tried reading it, didn’t like it, but sometimes listening works for me)
Transmission by Hari Kunzru
Dreams from my Father by Barack Obama

Mass Market Paperbacks
A City of Strangers by Robert Barnard
Death of an Old Goat by Robert Barnard
Out of the Blackout by Robert Barnard
The Skeleton in the Grass by Robert Barnard
The Cherry Blossom Corpse by Robert Barnard

Trade Paperbacks
Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith
A Novel Bookstore by Laurence Cosse
Back with the Tide Memoirs of Ellen Douglas Bellamy
Joyland by Stephen King
The Devil’s Star by Jo Nesbo
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer
Un Lun Dun by China Mieville
Fever of the Bone by Val McDermid
The Caves of Perigord by Martin Walker
Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier
Goodnight Nobody by Jennifer Weiner
Jack of Spies by David Downing
Fear Not by Anne Holt
Christine Falls by Benjamin Black
His Majesty’s Hope by Susan Elia MacNeal
The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths

Other Media
CD – Baroque Piano
DVD - All That Jazz
DVD – Sense and Sensibility

Hardcovers
Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls by David Sedaris
See’s Famous Old Time Candies by Moos Pick
Midnight in Europe by Alan Furst
The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd
Last Words by George Carlin with Tony Jendra
Fly Away Home by Jennifer Weiner
The Next Best Thing by Jennifer Weiner
77 Shadow Street by Dean Koontz

WOW! That's a great list. *sigh*
I'm glad that you're feeling better. I thought know that RobCo is the sinus capital of the world, but maybe N.C. is the sinus state. Sorry you had to go through more of it than necessary.

Thanks, Peggy - I had so much fun!

When I lived in California I got bronchitis a lot (I'm convinced that it was a combination of LA smog and second hand smoke from parents smoking like chimneys). When I moved to NC I got sinus infections AND bronchitis - up to 10-12 times a year. I've been here 23 1/2 years now, and I don't get bronchitis any more and very rarely get sinus infections. I'm still somewhat puny - today, a second day off, all I did was laundry, dishes, an errand into town, then reading and dozing. I hope to finally get over it by the end of the weekend.

I've picked up one of the new books - The Crossing Places and so far its very good.

The Crossing Places was excellent. It's so much fun to be able to just sit and read for as long as I want to! I finished it last night and started a new Friends of the Library Sale find - The Caves of Perigord by Martin Walker. Here's the description:

When a young American woman, who works at a London auction house, receives a 17,000-year-old fragment of a cave painting from a British soldier, she sets out to find the fragment's true origins.

It pushes lots of my buttons - Anglophile, archaeology, looting of countries' heritage, mystery. Plus, the cover is gorgeous. :)

Yesterday was $5/bag day at the Library Sale. Here's what I grabbed in about 10 minutes - husband was with and I felt pressured:

A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra - Advance Reader's Edition - extremely interesting sounding, extremely irritating front and back covers font
(what turns out to have been a third copy of Red Sky at Morning by Richard Bradford, one of my favorite books of all time)
(what turns out to have been a duplicate of Love and Will by Rollo May, a book I adored I college)
Open by Andre Agassi - I have read it, but it's nice to have a hardcover copy with a dust jacket in good condition
A Dual Inheritance by Joanna Hershon - Advance Uncorrected Proof
Luka and the Fire of Life by Salmon Rushdie - Advance Uncorrected Proof
Cross and Burn by Val McDermid
Sedition by Katharine Grant - Advance Reader's Edition
The Alexandria Link by Steve Berry
The Small Hand and Dolly - two novels by Susan Hill
In for the Kill by John Lutz
The Points of my Compass by E.B. White
King Rat by James Clavell for my friend Marie

Today is making a book box for Marie - she's got major health issues and reads voluminously. I try to keep her in books. Laundry, possibly friends of husband's over to watch the Dallas game at 4:30. I made stew yesterday and there's enough for 4 in case they come over. Cornbread or biscuits can round it out. Have to think about dessert.

The Caves of Perigord is a very good read. I am enjoying it.

Back to work tomorrow. Blech. 4 days off is Not Enough Time Off. But, Tuesday I have an appointment to get evaluated for cataracts surgery, so will leave work at 1 p.m. and get home by 3:30 or so (it's too far to get back to work to do anything meaningful).

Looks like we're on at the same time 😊

Karen, you have a good life.

Book envy!!!!

Hi beeg!.

Hi Larry! I do have a good life. Sometimes I don't remember that. Thanks for the reminder.

Many books. I spent yesterday morning cataloging them and putting them on the right shelves. The rest of yesterday was spent getting ready for Geoff and Diane and then having them over. Much football. I was very tired by the end of the evening.

Back to work. As I said above, blech.

Work sux! Lottery rox!

I'm toying with the idea of...getting rid of books. I've already gone through the First and Second Great Cull (3-4 hundred total), but the sheer number of books on the shelves is beginning to bug me. Who lives in an apartment and has 2,500 books? Book hoarders, that's who.

Heresy. I probably won't do it.

Work does suck. If I played the lottery I might win..... I have fantasies about winning, quitting my sucky job, and reading, losing weight, and volunteering for a worthy cause.

Getting rid of books? I just did it myownself, and it's not as painful as the words sound. Now I have room for new, better books.

Having 2,500 books in an apartment would be comforting to me, Larry. I have 4,180 catalogued in LT here at the house (note that I cleverly say catalogued, because there are 20 boxes in the garage, a combination of in-law books to keep and give away), and am finally realizing that that is a good number. We'll see what I say in a year - do I have more or less books than that?

I just finished the second book by David Gordon, Mystery Girl and loved it. Strange, funny, eloquent, intelligent, interesting. I want another book by him!

I woke up at 4:30 this morning. Disgusting. I'll probably nap later. Gotta find another book.....

... found Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls by David Sedaris. It was just right for a lazy Saturday on the sofa, dozing and reading..... and I finished it. Easy, enjoyable reading.

That's a very good $5 bag, I think. I'll just say again that retirement is wonderful even if you don't have much money. I can sit on the sofa and read and doze to my heart's content, and my heart never gets enough. Glad you got to enjoy some of the same!

Okay, so I don't know why it took me so long to find you, but here I am karenmarie! :-)

Yes, Peggy! I might have gotten another, greedy soul that I am for books, but husband kept offering books I didn't want and was clearly out of his element. Sigh.

Hello Stephanie! Welcome.

This will be confusing. This was a double post that I just saw, so am turning it into a message from Sunday 10-26-14. I just finished A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra. Such a good, well written, sad, inspiriing book.

Life: a constellation of vital phenomena: -- organization, irritability, movement, growth, reproduction, adaptation.

Off to find another book again....

I just finished Jack of Spies by David Downing, another of my Friends of the Library Sale finds. Very well written historical fiction about a British "agent" just prior to and at the start of WW1. Germans, Irish revolutionaries, Mexican oil wells, a love interest..... I really enjoyed it.

Now I will be reading Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier, recommended by my friend at the Library Sale Rhoda.

Aak! I didn't get the Hitchcock in the mail this Saturday. I'd like to say it's because I was out late on Halloween, but no. Sorry, I will mail the thing soon. I don't think you mind, I just hate saying I'm going to do something then not do it. Bugs me.

No problem, Larry! I certainly don't mind. But I feel the same way about trying to do the things I say I will. Lately I've been so sick that I've been missing things on my list like crazy. The September sinus infection never really went away and poleaxed me last week. Stayed home Wed, went in half day Thur then got an appointment with my doctor, stayed home the rest of Thur and Fri. Stayed in jammies all weekend and didn't go to Uncle Sandy's funeral and didn't go to bookclub. Feel like a heel, but would probably have pneumonia by now if I'd gone to either.

I'm on augmentin for 14 days and prednisone for 5 days and still feel like the bottom of a birdcage, as my MiL would have said. Home again today. I am feeling marginally better - say 15% better - still can't talk much and for some strange reason am having problems swallowing liquids like I usually do - in large gulps - so am having to sip delicately, a chore. Throat's still sore, head still hurts, weak as a kitten. Blech.

Am doing a bit of work from home, but only what's necessary, not a full day.

I'm still reading Remarkable Creatures, but have sloughed off a bit and am in a Georgette Heyer romance frenzy - have re-read The Devil's Cub and The Quiet Gentleman and am in the middle of Regency Buck. It's Peggy's fault for mentioning These Old Shades in her thread - got me interested in total fluff, which works well when my head's about to explode.

:)

I'm happy to take the blame for getting you into something manageable while you're feeling so bad. Honestly, if trouble swallowing, throat sore, head achy, and weakness are "better," you have been one sick puppy. I hope those meds will kick in quickly and kick that infection OUT!

Hi Peggy! Just posted on your thread - great minds and all that. I'm trying so hard to not do anything strenuous and not jump up all the time and clean things or do laundry or go outside. It's hard, but then I get whupped and go lie down in the library and read for a while.

I used to feel guilty for missing work and would go in sick as a dog, but my company is the pits these days and amazingly, the guilt has just gone away. If I'm sick, I'm home. (if not gone completely away, gone away enough to not let it get to me!)

Oh man, I'm sorry. I knew you weren't feeling well but I didn't know it was still affecting you. Lots of sleep, vitamins (don't care what the docs say -NOW- they help), and lots of reading and binge watching teebee.

Feel better.

Oh owch, sorry that you are so sick. No fun. And good for you for less guilt when taking time off.

Hi Larry and Stephanie - still sick. Home now since last Wednesday except for Thursday morning. Doctor again today - remote possibility it's whooping cough - REMOTE - but there are cases in the county. Nasal swab *shudder*. Xray, too. Home, reading, resting, playing the computer very rarely. Doctor is puzzled. However, one small bright spot - was able to take two swallows of juice without choking. But now my ear hurts.

This sucks. Resting a lot, Larry - not doing anything around the house (well, I did wash jammies today....., but not by hand :) )

Back to the thrilling adventures of Horatia Winwood Rule - who is leading her husband on a merry go round in Georgian England. I'd forgotten how much I liked The Convenient Marriage by Georgette Heyer.

So sorry you have a sick :(

Thanks, beeg. It is definitely not fun. But I just finished The Convenient Marriage and now have the happy problem of finding another book.

Jeez, can't they give you anti biotics or anti virals? Have they given you anything for the pain? I have this thing about doctors, I really hate them.

Have you read The Somnambulist? Mondo great fun.

I have a new 11 ounce boss of me. A long hair black rescue kitten named Parker or Captain Spiffy, not sure which yet. Pics as soon as he sits still.

Oh ugh Karen ... just ugh ... hope your health starts improving soon.

How's the ear? A lot of time with mondo illnesses break slowly, but once they start they can fade quickly, so hopefully with your being able to swallow you'll start to feel better faster now. If it's any consolation, you'll be singing in the choir soon.

Hi Larry - I've been on a megadose of augmentin since last Thursday. Prednisone for the inflamed sinuses since Sunday. Zithromax a month ago, so 2 different antibiotics within the month. I just got up a few minutes ago - generic Nyquil sucks so woke up at 1:30 and was awake til about 4:30 or so. However, ZZZQuil works great..... Still choking some, still sore throat. My eyelids are swollen - always a sure sign that I'm sick. Anyway.

I have not read The Somnambulist. Sounds wonderful. ..... You will never believe this, but I have it on my shelves. In the sunroom, S15. Just walked over and found it. Perhaps after my fifth Georgette Heyer - The Toll-Gate - I will start it. Thank you!

Parker or Captain Spiffy? I like both names and am glad you have someone to keep you in line! Pics would be appreciated. My 2 kitties are keeping me company and being their usual cute selves. Kitty William even got a sliver of bacon this morning.
Inara is still hanging out in bed on the microfleece sheets which are so warm when one keeps the bedroom cool.

Ear hurts off and on. I sure hope it breaks soon. As to singing in the choir - my sister has the singing voice in the family, a beautiful pure soprano. Right now I croak along, but depending on what key, I can at least carry a tune and have a reasonable range. :)

Ugh indeed, Stephanie. Thank you. I'm working on it by doing whole bunches of nothing. I am what I would call "marginally better" today. I will do a bit of work - just checking e-mails and trying to finish a project - no one will get this, but there are problems in costing if the phantom components aren't flagged on the Cost Estimate 1 view of the material master. I ran a background job yesterday of all bills of material and will see if I can get it to successfully download to excel, then bump it up against the material master to determine which components aren't flagged. Then we can decide which ones SHOULD be flagged. There. That made me feel better - my mind still works.

I finished The Toll-Gate and have started The Somnambulist. A very strange book, Larry - so far so good.

I hope you like it, recommendations are always tricky, subjective things. I almost jetted The Somnambulist at around page 20 because I thought it was going to turn into a pastiche, but it pulled up from the nose dive. Kinda, kinda reminds me of The List of Seven which rocked totally.

I like it so far but I don't love it. It's intriguing and very well written.

Quotes from The Somnambulist by Jonathan Barnes

“You will recall that, at the beginning of this narrative, I promised there would be several points in the story at which I would tell you a direct lie. I’ll be honest and confess that this is one such juncture. Everything you have just read concerning (spoiler removed) is a fiction.

Gruesome old sentimentalist, aren’t I?” p 220

“I have long believed the city, the country, indeed the world at large to be run by precisely the wrong kind of people. From the government to the great financial institutions, the peerage to the police force, our lives are controlled without exception by the stupid and greedy, the venal, the rapacious, and the undeservedly rich. How much more comfortable would it be if the rulers of the world were not the cognoscenti of the bank balance, the ballot box, the offshore account, but were drawn instead from the ranks of the everyday—honest, kind, stout-hearted, commonplace folk.” P 227

“Despite his myriad faults, Moon was occasionally capable of feats of good nature, which peered out from beneath his carapace of misanthropy like a splinter of sun glimpsed through clouds.” P 231

So much fun to read! The story is strange and intriguing. I just learned more than I ever suspect I wanted to know about Samuel Taylor Coleridge. The combination of a good book and a smartphone with search engine is irresistible.

sigh, at least it was a cheap book ;)

I have no idea how I acquired it - probably Friends of the Library Sale some years back. That's exactly why I have the variety of books I do, to find something that exactly hits the spot.

Visited the ENT today. What I have is viral and has attacked my sinuses and voice box (both inflamed) and my left vocal cord is, I hope temporarily, paralyzed. Home, DO NOTHING until I go back to him next Monday. He's thorough - throat swab, bloodwork, endoscopy, antiviral and Tylenol codeine. My throat really hurts after the endoscopy and now I have a temperature. My f&^@*#ing company will now take all my remaining vacation days before disability kicks in. I'm depressed.

But I finished The Somnambulist, probably about the same time as SomeGuyInVirginia, last night..... I am glad I read it but there is no explanation of who or what the title character is, unfortunately. A mystery.

Today, before and after the ENT/gas fill up/lab visit for bloodwork/pharmacy/grocery store/pharmacy foray, I re-read The Black Sheep by Georgette Heyer. It's amazing how many of the phrases and even whole paragraphs came back to me almost verbatim..... scary how many brain cells we have tied up in ephemera, isn't it?

Off to drape myself over the couch, get sympathy from husband, doze, watch Monday night football, then go to bed early.

😕

Hi beeg!

My husband offered to pay for my sister to visit me from California. He's very sweet sometimes.

awww, that's so thoughtful! I'm trudging through Anne Rice's new book, but I have a feeling I'm going to put it to the side once Uncle Stevie arrives. I hope you feel better soon, I have all kinds of cyber comfort for you.

btw The Somnambulist is the first book of a... something, so that could be why there are loose threads.

Karen, I'm sorry that you've been hit with such a strong virus. I'm glad that you have a thorough doc, and I'm waiting to hear word of some improvement......it should come vent a terre (which may be not exactly right, but it's what I remember. The Toll Gate is a favorite!)
Glad you can read!

I love cyber comfort! It helps, beeg. Thank you.

vent a terre indeed! I'll take it, Peggy. I'm starting The Unknown Ajax next.

Not feeling noticeably better, but am doing NOTHING, like the doctor told me to. A few work e-mails, sitting on the couch drinking lots of water and watching an Amazon Prime movie.

I'm enduring. And trying not to talk. It's distressing to know that even with nobody around except two cats, I find myself talking out loud. I have to consciously NOT talk. So far I'm not answering myself..... :)

Hi again beeg - are you talking about Prince Lestat? If so, I guess I'm behind the times since I thought she was going all Christian on us. Are you still trudging? (maybe I should go over to your thread to see if you've finished it.....) Nope. Don't see it finished yet. :)

Or have you moved on to Uncle Stevie?

Trying soooo hard to DO NOTHING. Am mostly succeeding after a brief foray into stupidity on Thursday. I ended up working about 5 hours from home Thursday and was so exhausted by the end of the day that I only got on the work system from home for about an hour on Friday.

Today I have a little vertigo. Strange. Just not feeling totally in control of the balance thing. We're still going out to run errands - even I, who love to stay at home and veg am getting a bit antsy. I think I'll let husband do all the stuff at the dump, just sit in the car like a queen while he is laboring. It's only 34F out now. Husband said it was 24F when he left the house this a.m. to get his car serviced.

I am reading the most wonderful book - The Night Journal by Elizabeth Crook. Intriguing, good characters, a mystery.

I finished The Unknown Ajax just before this and it was as wonderful as I remembered.

Back to my book.....

Oh - forgot to say that my sister couldn't come. She had forgotten a doctor's appointment needed for her case against her psycho hose beast boss from 4 years ago. Sister has cause-and-effect proof that this .... woman..... gave her high blood pressure and stress cardiomyopathy - broken heart syndrome. They've already offered her $30K, which she's refused.

But it's actually better she's not here. I know I'd try to rest, but we'd be talking a lot and I just know I'd be overexerting. As my daughter would say, "It's all good."

Hi Karen, sounds like you're on the mend, I did finish up Prince Lestat she had gone all Christian but maybe there's not as much $$? She started a Werewolf series that isn't horrible, but I miss her earlier style. The Somnambulist arrived, but I have to say (which I never thought I would) I much rather read on the Kindle now that I need reading glasses for the hardbacks, I can kiss those paperbacks goodbye. I checked out The Night Journal but don't want to spend that much on the Kindle edition so into the wish pile. Yeah, today I'm hanging with Uncle Stevie, every once in a while he lets me loose to run a load of laundry.

Slowly but surely, getting better.

I finished The Night Journal and thought it one of the better books I've read this year. I kept wanting to know more and when things started getting unpredictable, it kept getting better and better.

And then I couldn't find a physical book to read so looked on my Kindle to see what I had downloaded that I might want to read. I found A Perfectly Good Family by Lionel Shriver. I've already read We Need to Talk About Kevin and Big Brother and devoured both of them, and am on the way to doing that with this book. I also have The Post-Birthday World on my shelves.

Happy dance.

I just realized that I hit the 75 book goal on November 13th.

This has been a rough year - I usually hit this goal in the summer.

But, here I am and will probably end up reading another 10-15 books.

Cool! Congrats!!

My reading has been way down this year, too.

Yay for feeling better, that's a very big deal. Congrats on getting the 75 mark. I'm listening to a Lee Child book, 61 Hours, driving to work. One and a half disks left, I think this is my third Jack Reacher novel?

Even with a week off at Christmas, there's no way I'm going to hit 75 books read.

Thanks, drneutron! Some years go like that, don't they?

Hi Larry: My doctor told me to stay home again this week. I've now officially lost my last 11 vacation days for the rest of the year - my fuckwad company makes you use vacation before FMLA. They never used to do this..... just my luck. And just their meanness.

So I'm going to work about 1/2 hour a day to check e-mail, not the 2-3 hours per day I've been working to try to salvage something out of this mess.

I love Jack Reacher, and 61 Hours is one of my two favorite-est ones. Bad Luck and Trouble is the other one. All are good, those two are outstanding.

I just finished A Perfectly Good Family by Lional Shriver and started The Post-Birthday World. Everything I've read by her is thoughtful, intelligent, and beautifully written.

Thank goodness I've got so many books in the house that are TBR. One less stressful thing.

ETC message.

The Post-Birthday World is an amazing book. It was hard to figure out at first because it presents alternate timelines for Irina McGovern and two men in her life, Lawrence Trainer and Ramsey Acton. Not an easy read by any means, but definitely worth it to me.

Uncle Stevie showed up in my mailbox yesterday - Revival. Today's read.

Today is probably the last day that I will be off work with this awful virus thing - I'm feeling enough better to have some energy and think that, even though exhausting, I might actually make it to work Monday. My voice is slowly, slowly, coming back.

I can think of worse things to do than recovering with Uncle Stevie. I'm heating up the espresso machine with the plan of sitting outside with a latte and my dog, and of course The Somnambulist. It's pretty slow going but I'm sure it will pick up.

I'm just about finished with some inventory analysis for the Logistics Manager that he's badgering me about.

After that, couch time with Uncle Stevie!

I hope your outside with dog, latte, and book are wonderful.

okay who is uncle stevie? sorry to hear you had such a nasty virus. bluch. and you came to my thread too. thanks for that

Hi Steph!

Uncle Stevie is Stephen King. I was always a snob about him - thinking him a writer for the Masses, cheap, poorly written stuff.

But he's not. I adore most of his books and have been absolutely gobsmacked by some of them.

I just finished Revival and it was right up there with some of the books I like the best. Not as good as The Stand or Under the Dome (the book, not the TV abomination), or even Duma Key, but definitely a very good book, well worth the read if you like Things That Go Bump in the Night.

I might read another

have you read on writing? i am not a huge fan of things that go bump in the night, but what i have read has been very creative and well (mostly) written. i loved the gunslinger series.

I have On Writing on my Stephen King Shelf (S21 in my tags for locating my books), but haven't read it yet.

I have read the first Dark Tower book but, as frequently happens with me, I got diverted and started reading other things. I really did like it, actually. I had tried listening to it - what could be better than Stephen King reading his own book - but hated it. This summer I picked it up, read it.

I'm halfway through Thinner by Uncle Stevie and thoroughly enjoying it.

I like Thinner even liked the movie

Have a lovely holiday. xx

Hi beeg! I didn't even realize there was a movie version of Thinner. I really enjoyed the book.

Hi Paul! Thank you. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving - there were 11 of us. I've been very sick for about a month, and my family and all my guests helped make it a wonderful time without me getting too exhausted or having a relapse.

I finished Thinner and for some reason, after two or three false starts, picked up and finished Goodnight Nobody by Jennifer Weiner. Enjoyable fluff with a mystery, good characters, readable writing.

I'll definitely go back to work on Monday, although I have a 1 pm appoint with my GP to see if he'll clear me to have cataract surgery on December 8th! It doesn't rain but it pours. I really want to get the cataract surgery done this year if possible, on both eyes for two reasons - my vision is very bad right now and insurance-wise it will be better to take advantage of the deductible we've built up this year.

It won't be the end of the universe if I have to wait, it will just cost us more money. I'm trying to steel myself to accepting January surgeries if Dr. Corey doesn't give the green light.

Sigh.

Off to find another book.....

Good grief! Let us know what your GP says about your surgery.

I liked Thinner, too, but along with Pet Sematary it was depressing. King usually has the good guys winning some kind of victory, but not in those two. I'm just not grooving on King's new stuff. I think he ruined The Shining with Doctor Sleep. Still and all, I'm always in awe of the man.

Hi Larry!

Doctor gave the go-ahead for my cataract surgery next week. I am looking forward to having better eyesight by the end of the year (am getting both eyes done.)

After my first day back at work, I am happy at how UN-exhausted I am. Tired yes, but not bone-weary exhausted like I was while I was home sick. Last week I started feeling noticeably better, was exhausted after Thanksgiving, and have been slowly building up my stamina. Yay.

Believe it or not, I still have never read Pet Sematary or The Shining. And, of course, since Doctor Sleep is a sequel, won't read it 'til I've read The Shining.

I'm on a Jennifer Weiner binge - now I'm reading Fly Away Home and am almost done. Another good book.

Dinnertime!

GOOD for you! I'm glad that you are obviously improved. For goodness sake, read The Shining right now. It's my favorite Uncle Steve!
I've wish-listed The Night Journal. Several copies are available at PBS, but I'm a bit credit poor at the moment.
And cataract surgery - wow! I'll be thinking about you and how thrilled you're going to be to see well again!

Yes, read The Shining right away. Perfect Christmas ghost story.

you've never read The Shining??

*faints*

When you do decide to complete your education and read The Shining, read the book don't listen to Scott Campbell butcher the story on the audiobook.

*faints*

Okay, guys! I give in! Believe it or not, out of all 4,186 books on my shelves, 51 of which are Stephen King, I don't have The Shining. So, I am adding it to my Amazon Shopping Card and along with some Christmas presents, will buy it this week and start it next week.

As soon as husband finishes putting the dirty dishes in the dishwasher (I put away the clean ones a while ago), we are going to continue watching NCIS, in order. I never wanted to watch it - for years and years - and whenever I did happen to glance at the TV as I was wandering through the living room, it was always something gruesome on a table in Autopsy with Ducky gleefully holding guts or burned ears or amputated feet or whatever. Blech. But after husband finally got them all recorded on the DVR, I said I'd TRY one or two. And, now of course, I really love it and want to watch it every night. We usually get 3 episodes in before I turn into a pumpkin and crawl off to bed to read for a while before crashing.

I finished Fly Away Home and it was okay - the least favorite of the three of hers I've read.

Because Peggy just finished it and I have it on my shelves, I've started The Stranger House. I'm on page 3. :)

Off to watch NCIS.....

I think I'm in the same boat with, oh crap what's it?, Homeland? I don't have a tv but I like tv , and several friends have recommended it as being an outstanding show. I'm sure I'll watch the first episode get hooked.

Parker got out today, somebody must have come in the apartment and let him out because I know I saw him when I left this morning and he was in the middle for the foyer rug. Maintenance must have come in and let him out. I couldn't find him and was sick with worry. A neighbor saw him and took him in. Tomorrow I'm going to rain so much wrath of God paperwork on the management company that their legal department wont shit for a week. Thank God he's ok and home.

Thank God for sure. I know how I feel when one of our kitties is MIA - and we have a cat door and they're grownups! If we don't see them for an hour or two, it's "Have you seen Kitty William (Inara)?" "I'm beginning to worry about him (her?" Then when they show up, it's total relief.

Go get 'em!

And on the Homeland note, why not try to find it on your computer for free? I did a quick search (I use ixquick.com, not we-see-everything-you-do Google) and saw at least three sites that said watch Homeland for free..... Of course, then if you do get addicted, it does seriously cut into reading time. Like NCIS is doing for me right now. We watched 3 episodes last night.

So instead of continuing with The Stranger House, I picked up A Great and Terrible Beauty and am on page 21. Great start. I mean really, how many books start in "Bombay" in 1895 with a stroll through the bazaar and a discussion between a mother and her 16-year old daughter about eating cobra?

Off to get ready for work. Monday was a honeymoon sort of day. There were no stupid proclamations, idiot decisions, control issues from our corporate crapheads in Italy, etc. Yesterday morning I had a squabble with a co-worker because I showed a user how to do something and after she left my co-worker told me that users weren't supposed to perform that function, only IT could. Just another thing that IT has to do because Italy thinks users are idiots and need to be spoonfed. So I got huffy and told her "Sorry I fucked up" and "How was I supposed to know?" and turned back to my computer. Later on we had a nice discussion of Thanksgiving and what her plans for Christmas were. Honeymoon over.

>130 karenmarie: I just discovered there is another Dark Tower book called The Wind Through the Keyhole!!

Ducky and Abbey are the best characters in NCIS.

Left eye cataract surgery today - so far very good results. No pain, I can see out of my left eye better than they thought I would immediately after surgery. I go back tomorrow for a followup with the doctor, and will probably have my right eye done next Monday.

Yay.

Off to bed with my clear eye patch.

That's great, I'm really glad to hear it! Yay! for good news!

Karen, DELIGHTED to hear that Mr. Left Eye is doing well! Good for you!!!!
I am definitely not going to get hooked on any TV series. I spend way too much time playing dumb games on my Fire. I don't need one more time sink.

yay for you!

Yay, glad to hear the surgery has gone well. Very good news :)

Steph - I told husband what you said about Ducky and Abbey and he said what about Tim? And Jethro? And Ziva? And.... well, maybe not Tony so much. *smile* Anyway, we're having a blast watching things in order.

Thanks, SGiV, Peggy, beeg, and lunacat. Had a good followup exam today and the second surgery is definitely scheduled for next Monday. A month or so of strangeness, then good far vision and reading glasses, most likely. Colors are better and everything's brighter.

Back to work tomorrow - blech. And, Saturday and possibly Sunday for a physical inventory at a remote warehouse. But, then off Monday and Tuesday again for surgery. And, NO GUILT!!!

I finished A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray. It turned out to be so much less than I expected, mostly hysterial Victorian teenager angst and the Order and Circe and the Realms and, even though it wasn't spelled Majick as RD so derisively puts it, there was pseudo magic and Drama. I've removed it from my LT catalog and it's gotten relegated to the Yellow Table to be disposed of any one of a number of ways.

I am going to try to start The Shining, although how much reading time I'll get today is problematic. Have to go to work for a remote warehouse physical inventory. Can't drive in the dark - makes me too nervous and this is a strange thing - to be nervous of driving - so since husband has to participate too we'll drive together. Blech on using up my Saturday for work.

Yesterday was surprisingly easy. Worked 7 - 4:30, not 7 - 8:30 p.m. like we did last year.

My left eye is doing well after the cataract surgery/lens implantation. Tomorrow my right eye goes through the same.

Today is laundry, a bit of decorating for Christmas, present wrapping for those in California, and some for the moved-up-from-Christmas-Eve to the 20th family party. We're two members short - MiL died in March, and Uncle Sandy died in October. But one of Uncle Sandy and Aunt Ann's other sons and his family are coming, which will be a VERY DIFFERENT DYNAMIC. I'm always amazed at what some Christian parents let their girls wear here in the south - most of them end up looking like slut-bunnies. Two girl cousins will be dressed this way - they are 15 and 17, I think. Or 14 and 16. Anyway, compare that with my daughter who wears jeans and t-shirts and our other girl cousin, 16, who, being Pentacostal (and I don't know if this is just the Church they are in or all Pentacostal churches are like this) has never EVER had her hair cut, never wears makeup, and only wears non-revealing skirts, shirts, and jackets. No jewelry either. But the Pentacostals in our midst are tons of fun, always have been.

The mother of the two girl cousins is a re-gifter in the most insulting, tackiest sense. She even gave a pair of gloves that her MiL had given BACK to her MiL, our Aunt Ann, forgetting who they were from. And last year she gave Pentacostal Girl Cousin's mother a gaudy, vulgar scarf with oversized gothic cross. We're all practicing to NOT look at each other during the opening of re-gifter gifts. And we're practicing how to respond graciously to whatever messes she throws at all of us. It's almost amusing, except that it's not. Aunt Ann and I have, over the years, bought personalized gifts for the girls. Aunt Ann once went to the lengths of marking the baby blocks sets with their names in permanent marker.

Ah well, the joys of family.

I have started The Shining. So far so good.

Gotta love holiday traditions

I love the idea of foiling a re-gifter by getting personalised items or marking the gifts. I think I'd take the route of either that, or of trying to regift her gifts back to her when they are inappropriate.

I'm master of the surreptitious, underhand ways of getting revenge. There are a few family members that I absolutely hate but I'm not able to be openly hostile so instead I re-gift things to them that I don't want any more, or give them the items I've made that haven't quite worked or I'm not happy with. They might never know, but it makes me feel a little better.

Hi beeg! Yes, we love holiday traditions. What with all the deaths in the family this year, though, the holiday traditions are going to change somewhat. At least we still get to see the North Carolina family members we love.

Ah, lunacat! Passive aggressive. I love it.

We're off to run errands - lunch, Walgreens to fight the Prescription Wars for husband, and find a pair of reading glasses for me that will work until mid-January when I can get prescription reading glasses.

Laundry's almost done. The biggest problem I have with laundry is getting it out of the utility room (folded or on hangers) and into the correct OTHER room of the house where it belongs. Sigh.

Re: the re-regifter- Say you love it but it's too big/yellow/expensive and hope she kept the receipt so you can exchange it.

This weekend I remembered the White Trash Cooking and how much of a kick I got out of it when I read my great aunt's copy when I was a kid. One thing I still remember, and do- I put potato ships on everything that comes between two slices of bread. Works like a champ.

Happy thoughts on the eyes and I want to know what you think of The Shining.

I'll check your thread again to see how Mr. Right Eye went - equally as well as MLE, I trust.
I'm laughing at the family dynamics. Every family has at least one stinker of some order or other. I had lunch with a first cousin last week who is the spit of our toxic (and recently deceased at age 101) aunt. We are happily agreed that the looks are the only way cousin resembles her, and we enjoyed exchanging some horror stories.
I'm also waiting to hear how The Shining is going. AND I must say that the past two days have been reminders of how lovely NC can be.

Hi Larry! Cousin Jen the Re-Gifter getting a different kind of passive-aggressive treatment! I'm actually extremely passive-aggressive on some things, and have until the 20th to consider how to respond. *smile*

I just love it when someone mentions a book and I have it on my shelves - White Trash Cooking is on K11 (meaning kitchen, first shelf above desk, top row). I remember skimming it but never actually cooking from it. Perhaps I'll take it down today and skim again.....

OMG!!!!! I am not from the south but I love to put potato chips on most sandwiches if chips are available. Especially hamburgers , but also turkey sandwiches, tuna sandwiches, roast beef sandwiches. And I remember as a kid, having butter and potato chip sandwiches on Wonder bread (yes, yes, I know, but I didn't die from it!). I also remember a baked sandwich recipe of my mothers- 3 layers of bread, some kind of filling, then dipped in egg then rolled in potato chips then baked..... I remember loving them too. Hmmm..... maybe I'll ask her for the recipe. Just for shits and giggles.

Hi Peggy! My immediate family has interesting dynamics too. My mother's sister (my Aunt J) and mother are not speaking right now. Mom is 82 and Aunt J is 79. Aunt J and Uncle T basically disowned their son/wife/grandson because they thought son/DiL were "babying" the grandson and that he wasn't really sick - even though the child has a rare, documented mitochondrial disease and they had to be careful of everything he did. Then Aunt J found out that Mom had been "seeing" son/wife/grandson socially for years (Aunt J lives in Northern CA and Mom lives in Southern CA) and knew about the 2nd grandson before Aunt J/Uncle T did so is now not speaking with Mom. Mom didn't do anything wrong as far as I can see - just see her nephew/family socially. And Aunt J didn't send me a birthday card this summer for the first time IN mY LIFE, so I guess I'm on the shit list too. *sigh*

So, two updates.

1. The Shining is very good so far. I love the way King can "be" a five year old with five year old's perceptions and intelligence level. He also can paint a picture so vividly and doesn't stint with background. It all just flows together so smoothly. I'm to the point where they are saying good-bye to Hallorann and The Overlook is starting to empty of everybody.

2. My eyes. Right eye surgery yesterday. A bit more pain than the first surgery. I still have the clear protective shield over it until I visit the doctor at 9:15 this morning, then shield(s) only at night, 2 weeks for each eye, so my left eye only has to be shielded at night for another week. My distance vision and close-distance vision make me weep - I can see! - and with 2.0 reading glasses bought over the counter I will survive until I can get prescription glasses for reading/midrange close vision in mid-January. I have been saying "Isn't modern medicine a miracle", but while husband and I were waiting for drops to take effect (3 sets of 5, then numbing medicine every ten minutes until surgery) he looked up cataract surgery on his cell phone and the earliest form was in 800 BC. Yes, BC, in India. Of course they pushed the cataract through the eye somehow and it was blown out the nose..... so I much prefer what I'm having now. The type of surgery I had was developed about 1967, I think. Fascinating stuff, and smart phones are so much fun! With a decent signal you can find out anything you want anywhere you want.

So off to the follow up appointment with my surgeon. Then we go to Walmart for stocking stuffers for daughter's stocking and some supplements for husband and then to the post office to mail the presents to sister/family. Bless my sister's heart - she told me to mail niece/niece's wife's presents to her and she'd wrap them for me. I only had to wrap 3 presents to send to California this year, and sent gift cards to go on the boxes sister's wrapping.

Talkative today, aren't I? It's amazing what having eyes-working-in-tandem again can do.

Whoa, your family sounds like my family - maybe we're related?

Great to hear the eyes went well! I'm not looking forward to what my eyes are going to throw at me as I get older - all of my older relations are long-sighted and need a variety of reading glasses, but I'm short sighted and have contacts so I'm sure I'll end up with bifocals. What fun! Before I understood about vision I was hoping that I'd have a period of not needing glasses in my forties as I changed from short to long sighted, so I was rather gutted to discover that's not how it works!

Ah, family dramas, don't you just love them?! There is something so special about being forced to be around people you hate.

It would be nice to be related, beeg. But I wouldn't wish my some of my relatives on anybody. Most of my relatives are people I'd enjoy socializing with anyway, but some of them....... yeesh.

Hi lunacat! I'm not sure I hate any of my relatives, but some I love, some I like, and some are so religious that they almost make my skin crawl. (can you tell I'm not religious? I used to say I'm monotheistic, but I'm not even sure about that any more. Even God said "Thou shalt have no other gods before me", which implies to me, at least, that there are other gods out there. Interesting. Anyway.)

I'm now sitting in front of the computer with reading glasses on, seeing things perfectly. Then, when I look up into the pastures and fields outside of the sunroom windows, peering over the reading glasses, it's clear too!!!! Not 20-20, but things will keep improving to a point and then I can get prescription glasses, probably about mid-January or so. In the meantime I can read, use the computer, watch TV, and DRIVE WITHOUT GLASSES. I have never been able to do that - ever since I was 16 and got my first drivers' license I have had "corrective lenses required" checked on my DL.

I had to get bifocals when I turned 40. I'm sorry you were gutted - perhaps you can get Lasix surgery? Several of my friends at work - who don't have astigmatism (which I have - had? - got Lasix and love it. Although they have to get it "tweeked" every once in a while.

Good post-op checkup with my surgeon - everything is progressing as it should. Husband and I went to Wally-World after to get some stuff and drat him!! he wandered off without me. I got very insecure - new eyes, reading glasses - and by the time I found him I was almost in tears. I told him to not do that again. I still don't think he gets it. Ah well, pick your battles, Karen! This one is relatively minor.

So home, will check into my work e-mail for a minute or two, then go out by myself to the post office because we forgot the package to California, then back home. Jammies, NCIS, nap, all good.

YAY! Sight Without Glasses was a book from the early 50s that my ma read. Among other exercises, I learned to read upside down to cure astigmatism and near-sightedness. It didn't, but I'm still a whiz at upside down and would, therefore, make a dandy detective.
Glad you're enjoying the day and thrilled that your eyes are already good and will improve!

Thanks, Peggy! I, too, can read quite well upside down and it's amazing what people leave out without thinking.

I've got a couple of relatives who I loathe, and who definitely make my skin crawl when I have to be around them, and they are who I spend my time being passive aggressive about. My dad's side I am mostly ambivalent towards, but it can swing to bitterness if I let it.

I was thinking about Lasix but I've heard horror stories about it and I'd rather give it more years to see what the long term is like for those with it. At the moment I'm 80% happy with contact lenses as I have ones I can wear day and night and so am not often aware of them, although hayfever season is difficult as my eyes get very dry and itchy.

I'm glad you're thoroughly enjoying the new vision though :)

Karen, that's wonderful news about the new, improved peepers! I'm so glad for you!

Thanks luncacat and Larry! For someone who can remember noticing the difference between the vision in my left eye and my right in THIRD grade (and we're talking about 1961 here!) this is ..... is.... well. Just is.

Sorry about the skin-crawly relatives lunacat. I try to stay away from toxic people - I don't count re-gifting as toxic, just mean spirited and un-Christian from someone who vomits Christianity at every sentence - so I guess I'd stay from your relatives. I think I'm fortunate in that the relatives on my side of the family, except for Feuding Aunt J and Mom, are all quite nice people and even Aunt J and Mom are nice people except for the feud. BTW - just got an Xmas card and nice letter from Aunt J - guess I'm not being feuded against. Yay.

I never wanted Lasix surgery - even if possible - I just couldn't imagine "going under the knife" for something not medically necessary. But cataracts are different and a medical condition that could eventually blind me, so it was only moderately stressful. Still eye drops to go, eye patches to wear at night, prescription glasses to get in January. And the big decision - do I go back to wearing eye makeup or not? My brows and lashes are pretty much invisible so without glasses I don't know..... but makeup. Yeesh. Haven't worn it for years. An interesting problem to have.

>153 lunacat:, >155 karenmarie: I had LASIK 10 years ago and have loved it. I was really near-sighted and contacts just weren't comfortable for me. Once I started getting a bit older, I decided I'd rather get it done and use readers instead of bifocals or progressives. I've had no issues or side effects and wish I'd done it 10 years earlier!

Hi doc! My friends love their Lasik surgery. Your experience might persuade lunacat.....

Question - can you get cataracts after you've had Lasik surgery? Inquiring minds and all that.

I had RK 20 years ago and loved it, I was big into horses and getting dirt under my contacts was a pain. Now I have cheaters scattered everywhere and wondering about LASIK as an option.

I'm too chicken to have Lasik. I get uncomfortable just getting my hair cut. (Making squawking chicken noises.)

Hi beeg! I've already dropped one pair of cheaters and put a small ..... contusion?..... in one of the lenses, so can't use them any more. I'm keeping the other set either on my nose or on my head during the day and on the nightstand at night.

Larry - being chicken is okay. After high school I never minded glasses and now am grateful for them.

So I'm posting a favorite recipe here and not cluttering up the TPBM thread, but if people want to find the recipe they can come here. It's the next post and one of my favorite Christmas cookies. I get requests for them starting in November.

Pecan Puffs
from Joy of Cooking

“Rich and devastating.”
Preheat oven to 300F.

Beat until soft:
½ cup butter
Add and blend until creamy:
2 T sugar (yes, only two tablespoons)
Add:
1 t vanilla
Measure, then grind in a nut grinder:
1 cup pecan meats
Sift before measuring:
A cup cake flour
Stir the pecans and the flour into the butter mixture. Roll the dough into small balls. Place balls on a greased cookie sheet and bake about 30 minutes. Roll while hot in:
Confectioners’ sugar
To glaze, put the sheet back into the oven for a minute. Cool and serve.

What I do differently:

I use non-stick cookie sheets, don’t need to grease. I use all purpose-unbleached flour. In the last several years I've also been using my KitchenAid stand mixer and they come out fine. Roll the balls in confectioners’ sugar while still hot, but leave on counter to cool. When cool, roll again in confectioners’ sugar.

You can also double, triple, or quadruple the recipe.

Went to my regular eye doctor yesterday. Vision is 20-30 in my left eye and 20-25 in my right eye, without corrective lenses! I'll go back on January 14th for an eye exam and a prescription for computer/reading glasses.

I'm on page 400 of 659 of The Shining. With Christmas and eye surgeries, it's taking me a long time to read it. It's quite amazing.

Too much chocolate late last night, drat. I'll probably read for a while, then go back to sleep for awhile. Then final present wrapping, house straightening, a bit of cooking, a bit of baking, and a couple we're close to and a friend who just broke up with his girlfriend over for dinner/the evening. Possibly the 26-year old son/step-son of the couple too - we don't know yet what his plans are.

Ever since I moved to NC 23 years ago and married my husband, we have spent Christmas Eve with his Dad and step-family. My FiL died in 2011, my MiL died in March of this year, Uncle Sandy died in October, and his widow is going to Florida to stay with a daughter/SiL/grandchildren for Christmas. The son/DiL/kids we've always spent Christmas Eve with were going to Utah but now aren't, but we've all made different plans for Christmas Eve. So we had our family party on December 20th and are now "orphans" for Christmas Eve. We're having an orphans party. And Christmas Day was always just the three of us until the last 3 years when we had MiL over for dinner, but now we're on our own again. It will be strange all around.

Doing the rounds with a festive Connie to wish you a very Merry Christmas full of joy, love and books.

Wishing you and your husband a nice, quiet, just-the-two-of-you Christmas!

Thank you lunacat and Connie and scaifea.

Actually it will be the three of us - we have a 21-year old daughter who's home until January 3rd or 4th. Fortuntely, the three of us have lots of fun together.

It's nice to be in a warm, safe environment waiting for friends to come over. :)

Karen, I'm so happy to have made your acquaintance this year. Your warmth and encouraging words to me mean a lot to me. I'm so grateful to have you in my life.

Merry Christmas Karen! Wow, hard to believe a year has passed since last Christmas. I'm with my folks in Williamsburg and have Parker in tow. He's been spoiled rotten by evetybody.

Hi Steph! Thank you for the cute Christmas pic and kinds words. You're a wonderful person who's had a lot put on her this year and I admire you for persevering.

Hi larry! I hope you have a fantastic time with your family. How neat to take kitty-in-tow! My niece used to do that with her cat Koby, but once she got married and they acquired two little dogs, the dogs got to travel and the kitties (wife came with one too) stay at home.

Happy New Year to both of you.

Day after Christmas - continued lazy. Yesterday I did some cooking - breakfast pizza and then prime rib/twice baked potatoes/veg for dinner - but mostly it was opening presents and stockings, eating too many sweets, and enjoying each other and our stuff. Much NCIS got watched. We spent about an hour and a half or so on the phone with my sister, her husband, nephew, my mother, niece/wife - everybody got to talk with everybody! And since niece/wife are expecting a boy child to be named Oliver in June, there was much excitement. Plus, nephew has turned his life around and is working in the Bay Area of California, sober, and if not happy, getting things stable so he can look for happiness.

Today our mission is the best sweet potato fries in North Carolina - a small restaurant in Siler City called Brownie Lu's. Daughter has loved S.P. Fries for many years now, and the other day when husband and I were out on the day after my second cataract surgery, I ordered some. Absolutely wonderful. I also want to try to see The Imitation Game, Mockingjay, and Into the Woods in the next week. I can't remember a time when there were THREE movies I wanted to see at the theater. Lucky me.

I'm about 3/4 or more through The Shining and this morning it really creeped me out. Hallorann's trying to get back to The Overlook, Danny's in a terror, and Jack..... well. It's strange - I can't easily read lying in bed right now with the over-the-counter cheaters, I do better sitting up. So I'm doing less reading at night. I suppose I could go into daughter's rec room, which has a comfortable couch with a good armrest and good reading light, but I get lazy. Ah well, them's the breaks.

Finished The Shining. Very atmospheric and creepy. I have Doctor Sleep on audiobook courtesy of the Friends of the Library Sale in September. But for now I'm going to start a Christmas present - The Bone Clocks.

WAIT! What? I didn't send you Christmas greetings when I was making my rounds? That is not right - completely wrong, in fact. So here they are too late, but no less genuine ---



Merry Christmas, Karen, and a joyful Happy New Year!

I'm thrilled about your cataract surgery. I'd maybe think about LASIK except for the bill and the astigmatism. And I'm tickled that you enjoyed The Shining, my favorite King. I haven't gotten a copy of Dr. Sleep and can't decide to spend my Christmas GC for it. We'll see.
And that recipe for Pecan Puffs is my MIL's recipe for NUT BALLS. I visited with my SIL today and brought home a container for us. How can something so simple be so good???
I hope that you like The Bone Clocks. I love this week between Christmas and the new year. I hope to catch up on my reading tomorrow because I'm dying to dive into Christmas present reading too.

ETA: Are they kidding me? Dr. Sleep is $3.75 for Kindle. I just grabbed it.

Karen, wishing you the very best of seasons greetings.

Hi Peggy! Thanks for the holiday greetings - anytime during December works for me. We're having a lazy day (again).

Everybody I know, even people who don't particularly like nuts, love Pecan Puffs/Nut Balls. We still have a few on the counter too.

My eyes are doing well, although I can't wait to see my eye doctor and get prescription ...whatevers..... computer/reading/possibly fine-tuned distance glasses. We have terrible insurance, but since we had used most of our deductible this year the hospital bills for both cataract surgeries - $6700/each - were paid for by insurance. Yay. Makes me feel good to get something back for all we pay.

I'm off work next Mon-Thur. I will log on and do a bit here and there, but unless things get too complicated and I need to go in for 1/2 day, I'll be able to spend the time at home. Husband will be working Monday and Tuesday, so I think daughter and I will go see Into the Woods one day. And watch Despicable Me at home. And just hang. I'm meeting a girlfriend for lunch on New Year's Day too.

I will have read 84-85 books this year - less than usual, but still a respectable number. At least I made the 75 book challenge - and I think you'll slide in too, right? I will miss on the 14 Categories challenge, but that's okay. I won't join any of the other challenges anymore becquse I find that forcing myself to read particular books/genres makes it feel like homework. Reading is too important to me to feel obligated in any respect towards it. So I read what I want when I want - put books down if I don't like them, even RL bookclub books, and just enjoy reading. Period. Good thing to finally realize and more important to practice it, at least for me.

Thank you, Paul - I love that picture.

Year End 2014 - 84 books read. Respectable if not up to my normal standard.

Thank you to all who came to visit.

always a pleasure hanging out with you

It always helps to post to the right year *smile*