Wordless Wednesday

Storm Aftermath

Can you see the car?

How about now?

Just snow.

See the shiny? That is ice over the snow.

Now can you see the car?

Smooshed Car port.

Can you see the car from my bedroom window?

That was such a pretty tree.

Smooshed car port with tree.

About 20 min after I took these picture we lost power. It was out for just a few days not bad really. I do keep things on hand for power outages. Lights, camp stove, extra blankets, two warm cats, and if the water is lost I have 5 gallon jugs of water that I keep filled. The only thing I missed was a hot shower. There are still places in the county without power, and they think it might be the middle of the week before it is all on.

We did get about 14 inches in abuot 5 hours. That is a  lot of snow. These picture were taken the day after the storm.

Ursula, Under and Snow

Snow, snow, we have gotten a few inches of snow in the past few days. Not bad really, that is usually all we get in a year. It is here for a day or two, then gone. A wonderful thing. I got a few great pictures of a few inches of snow. Having said that, I really really hope that the weather forecasters are wrong. I really hope that they are wrong. It is now Tuesday morning at 3am by Wednesday night we are to have 14 inches. FOURTEEN INCHES, the papers are saying that the roads should be impassable by tonight. I don't know what that means, does that mean at 4pm or sometime toward midnight?

Oh, well will find that out tonight.

This weekend, I finished Ursula, Under by Ingrid Hill. I do not often read fiction that is not fantasy, so the Orange Reading Challenge IS a real challenge for me. What makes it a challenge is that I deal with real life problems at work, and in my free time, I would rather deal with giant bugs eating people, unicorns, dragons, and knights. I did like Ursula, Under.

The book was written in the now, and in the past. Sometime centuries in the past. Each chapter could have been its own short story that led to the outcome of little Ursula. Ursula, running after a deer, falls in a hole and needs to be rescued. Each chapter tells the tale of the ancestors who came before her and the actions that led to her being alive. It is an interesting way to look at what it takes to create a person.

I would recommend this book, to any who are interested in family history, and the possibilities of the past leading to the now.

Quote from page 237..
"It becomes more and more apparent that she is not merely neurotic, eccentric, unpleasantly quirky: it is clear that the queen has gone over the falls in a fragile bark, left the river of sanity, and gone adrift in the open sea."

What Are the Little Things...

What are the little things that get you excited? Get your mind out of the gutter. For some people it is shoes, and I don't get that one but whatever. 

For me it is the first of the new month. It is not that the past month is gone, it is not the changing of time, seasons. It is the library. Each  month on the first or soon after the library gets a paper called the Book Page. I love the Book Page. Each month, it reviews new books, adds for books, and questions from readers/writers.

Each month I pick up my copy of the Book Page and I read every page. There are times that I am not interested in anything that they talk about. More often than not there are at least one or two items that I want to read or look into. Sometime there is a book on every page. There are books listed for everyone, audio books, fiction, non-fiction, kids, and young adult.

If your library offers the Book Page check it out.

First one Done

Duma Key by Steven King. This book is for two reading challenges the TBR and the Whats in a Name 5. For the Whats in a Name challenge a Key is something that is kept in a purse, pocket or backpack.

This is the first King book that I have read in a very long time. When I was a teenager I read him like there was no tomorrow. I read everything he wrote. Then one day I picked up his new and latest release and just could not finish it. I do not know if I had changed, his writing had changed or what. The magic was lost to me.

Last year one of my co-workers gave me Duma Key she wanted to talk to me about the book. Having had lost the magic, I put the book on the shelf and left it there. This is the best Steven King I have read in a long time.

The main character Edgar Freemantle has a accident that almost kills him. To recover he moves to Duam Key. There he meets Wireman, and Elizabeth Eastlake. As he heals he paints, his paintings have the power to heal, kill, and destroy.

I read all 770 pages in about 12 hours. The book had an interesting affect on me. I should explain that when I read the words are not just words. I can see, hear, smell what is on the pages. Each character has a voice, a look, or a little quirk that fits each person. So, when I read a few lines about a picnic basket I could hear the panic in his voice.

This is what I read that freaked me out so much. Italics the authors:
"That basket.
Elizabeth's dammed picnic basket.
It was red."

Wordless Wednesday NOT

Looking through my pictures I realized that I did not have any that I want to share. Guess that means this weekend I get to go out with my camera. WOOHOO a date!

Reading Challenges

So this is the reading challenge post. I signed up to do two this year one I posted about here, this one is the TBR challenge. The other is posted about here.

I have thought about signing up for a few more challenges but then realized that there are some that come up on a monthly basis. The one for January is the Orange Challenge it is hosted by The Magic Lasso. For the Orange Challenge I am going to read Ursula, Under by Ingrid Hill.

I am also going to be doing the Support Your Local Library challenge hosted by Eclectic Bookshelf. The rules are linked here. That is a lot of reading. Woohoo. I had better get started on something.

Resolutions

As today is the last day of the year, I suppose I should post about my resolutions. I do not have any grand scheme to do anything great. There are a few reading challenges that I will start on the first. Those if I have not already posted about, I will post about later.

My goal for the year is to finish all of my crafting projects before I start any  more. That does not sound bad, right? Wrong. I have been working on one cross stitch pattern now for two years. The project is a large one but that is not is what taking so long. Every 5 stitches is a color change and that takes time. When I am done with that one I will post a picture. There is another, cross stitch pattern that I am half way finished with that is of a Victorian house in California. As with the larger one when it is done, a picture will come up.

I also have 3 crochet items that I am working on. A scarf, a blanket for a queen size bed, and then a throw for the couch. The throw I need to get a different hook for, the one I have now is two small. Not sure what I am going to do with the blanket, I don't like the colors that I am using for it. I might just use it for winter nights when the power goes out.  Pictures of each will come up as they are finished.

So reading, and crafts those are my New Years resolutions. Happy New Year, and if you go out and party be careful driving home.

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday- View from the Space Needle

I am going to hell.

I am going to hell, and I am enjoying every minute of it. It started with Samuel L Jackson reading Go the F*k to Sleep I found that link through someone, and now it is saved to my favorites. Then through Carl at Stainless Steel Droppings I met Patrick Rothfuss's The Adventures of the Princess and Mr. Whiffle.

I loved both of those books. They made me laugh, think, remember. The book by Mr. Rothfuss I had to read and look at the illustrations a few times to understand what the story was really about. I love that in a book.

Today, I met an author by the name of Simon Max Hill. The man tells the story of a grandpa who won't wake up. Grandpa Won't Wake Up is a sick twisted little tale that still has me laughing. When I read the book in the bookstore I was laughing so hard that people were looking at me strangely. So if you like Go the F*k to Sleep, and The Adventures of the Princess and Mr. Whiffle, look the Grandpa Won't Wake Up. Just look at the cover art work.

Why I was AWOL

On Dec 7th, my Honey flew in for a few days. When she was here I did not do much on the Internet. Blogging, the Book, none of it.

She flew in just after one pm. So for a late lunch we went into Seattle and ate at the Crab Pot. Yummy, I had the blackened salmon linguine, and she had a bucket of steamer clams. We, shared as there was a ton of food, and every bit was tasty. 

After we ate we walked a short way to the Ye Olde Curiosity Shop there we say a few mummy's, bat and a few mermaids. That place is so neat, I love going in there. Not only is it a shop but it is a museum as well. There were some carvings out of a nut that looks like ivory.

Honey had never been up in the Space Needle so that is where we went next. I am honestly amazed that we both did so well up there. I do not do good with heights, that is why I do not like to fly. Honey does not do well up on the edge of things. So here we are up nearly 500 feet and both of us were just fine up there. Both of us. The night was clear and cold, the views up there were spectacular.

Saturday we drove to Portland had lunch with my aunt. Then went to Cavalia. OMG is all I have to say about that. I got shivers at times watching that show.

Honey flew out Monday, and I did not really want to to much of anything that day. Then Tuesday it was back to work.

Not Wordless Wednesday

What are the cats finding so intersting?

Discovery of Witches with a rant

I liked this book. I know a lot of other people have read and reviewed. I love the plot, the set up and I can't wait to read the next installment. That being said there are parts of the book that made me gag, and have to put it down.

It is not as if there is any gratuitous violence or sex in it. I loved the fact that the book was written so that sex was absent. It was great that it was implied, I have an imagination I am an adult I can figure out what two people do in a locked room with a bed. I don't need to read about throbbing manhood or heaving bosoms. I loved that there was no sex. WooHoo one up for the author.

RANT STARTING

No, what made me gag was when they talked about how cool, his flesh felt under her warm hands.Every time the author talks about how cool his flesh felt, how good that was, all I could think about was a steak left on the counter, right before cooking it. EWWWW!! That does not feel good, it is icky.

 I get the lust and desire for power. That some people want power at all cost. I just don't get how vampires can be sexually attractive. They have no heart beat. NONE! (Basic anatomy stuff coming up.) If there is no heart beat, there is no blood flow, blood flow is what is needed to have an erection. How can a vampire have an erection to consummate a relationship? Sleeping with the dead is called necrophilia. A vampire is dead, necrophilia. NASTY.

END RANT.

That being said, I loved the way the books main character was raised by her lesbian aunts. I loved that the main plot of the book was not about who you love, but that you love, and that it should not matter to others who you love. When the next book comes out I am definitely going to read it.

Oh The Fates

Happy Thanksgiving all.

I thought that today  might be a quiet day. A day of sleeping then work, but the fates had other things in mind. My plans for a Thanksgiving meal is a simple one. A sandwich, or a bowl of chili. Not happening.

I went to work and instead of working the floor, I am working the desk. The first phone call I get is from a nurse that I worked with and still wish I work with. She asked me what my plans are for Thanksgiving, and I told her that I am going to work. So she invited me over to get a plate of food to take to work. YummY!! Not knowing how the night was going to go I told her that if I get up in time I would be over.

The second phone call was from an ICU nurse. She asked to speak to KJ one of the nurses on our floor. KJ then runs over and tells me she needs to speak to the charge nurse. KJ has brought a turkey in for all to share. ICU Nurse has brought something to cook the bird. Who knew that bringing a turkey fryer to the hospital is a fire hazard. Who knew that they would not be able to cook the bird there. I mean its not like deep frying a turkey is dangerous. (Insert Sarcasm Sign Here)

So KJ tried to get Charge Nurse's adult kid to come get the bird and cook it. No go. So then she calls SR a nurse who had been cancelled to come get the bird and cook it. SR had never cooked a turkey before so she said that she would get a few rotisserie chicken and bring those in. WooHoo!! Food!!

Nope.. SR calls after an hour or so and asked me what she should do. There are no rotisserie chicken to be had. The choices are deli meat or chicken wings from a pizza joint. After I stopped laughing I transferred her call to KJ to make the call. KJ told SR to get whatever was easiest. So our early morning Thanksgiving meal had Domino's Pizza chicken wings.

As for the 12 lb turkey that did not get cooked. KJ did not want it she has a larger one at home to cook. So now I am cooking a turkey.

Not bad for being only 6am my time. Can't wait to see what happens tonight when I go into work.

Wordless Wednesday

2012 To Be Read Pile Challenge

I did it. I have my 12 + 2 books picked out. I have been working on the list for about 2 weeks now. Out of curiosity I looked to see what others who have joined the challenge are reading. Wow! Is all I have to say. The challenge is being hosted over at Roof Beam Reader. I could do a copy paste of the rules but, I think going to the original blog is a good thing.

My books are as listed.

#1 Mink River by Brian Doyle (2010)

#2 Duma Key by Steven King (2008) Finished January 8, 2012

#3 Witches Boy by Michael Gruber (2005)

#4 Rose of No Man's Land by Michelle Tea (2005)

#5 The Man Who Loved Books too Much by Allison Hoover Bartlett (2009)

#6 The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova (2005)

#7 Motel of the Mysteries by David Macaulay(1979) Finished February 4, 2012

#8 House of Dark Shadows by Robert Liparulo(2008)

#9 Secret Atlas by Michael A. Stackpole (2005)

#10 Kissing the Witch by Emma Donoghue (1997)

#11 Hen's Teeth by Manda Scott (1996)

#12 Onaedo the Blacksmiths Daughter by Ngozi Achebe (2010)

The alternatives are going to be:

The Poisoners Handbook by Deborah Blum (2010)

Inside of a Dog by Alexandra Horowitz (2009)

When I looked at the other lists that readers have compiled I noticed that there are a lot of classics. I read most of the more popular classics in school. I do think that was a benefit of being home schooled.

LIbrary Loot

Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Claire from The Captive Reader and Marg from The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library. If you’d like to participate, just write up your post-feel free to steal the button-and link it using the Mr. Linky any time during the week. And of course check out what other participants are getting from their libraries!


This week Marg has the link.

So I got Buddha Da by Anne Donovan. I started it at work last night, so far I like it, but it is making me talk funny.

I also got Tell Me Where It Hurts: A Day of Humor, Healing and Hope in My Life as an Animal Surgeon by Nick Trout. This is an audio book. I don't often get them and I am hoping that this one is not read in a way that disappoints me.

Downpour

I read Downpour by Kat Richerson last week. This is the 6th in the Greywalker series, I started reading them not because of the plot, characters, or because they are paranormal. I read them because they are written by a Seattle author and the setting is in Seattle. I love to read books that are written about an area that I have lived in or do live in. That is why I started the Greywalker books.

I enjoy the story, the plots, and the characters. The protagonist is a woman by the name of  Harper Blane. Harper is a PI who was a normal PI until she dies. There are several boyfriends, and one Chaos I mean ferret. Enough background.

Downpour takes place out side of Seattle in the Olympic Peninsula. Aside from the setting this one is a bit different than the others. The mystery was more focused on the supernatural than on the real world. I missed the real world mystery that was in this book. Having said that it was a good quick easy read.

I like the use of the boyfriend, and the ferret in the books. Chaos is a great comic relief from stealing shoes to trying to take on creatures bigger than she is. There is a current boyfriend who is a bit of a mystery him self. Harper and the boyfriend have an interesting relationship. I love the way that the relationship is written out. It is a part of the story, however the romance is not the focus of the books. Harper's dealing with and in the Grey are the focus of the books.

I will read the next one when it comes out.

Wordless Wednesday