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Sunday, December 28, 2008

2008 Reading List

Well, this list just gets more pathetic every year. I'm almost embarrassed to post it this year, but here goes. Less than 20!

2008 Reading List

1. Hard Row by Margaret Maron (M) (series) (library)
2. Beautiful Children by Charles Bock (F) (Powell’s) (free download)
3. Schuyler’s Monster by Robert Rummel-Hudson (NF) (new book from Amazon)
4. Certain Girls by Jennifer Weiner (F) (library)
5. Savage Run by C.J. Box (CF) (series) (library)
6. Winterkill by C.J. Box (CF) (series) (library)
7. Strange Piece of Paradise by Terri Jentz (NF) (library)
8. In the Woods by Tana French (CF) (library)
9. Home to Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani (SF) (library)
10. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (F) (library)
11. The Likeness by Tana French (CF) (library)
12. Winter Study by Nevada Barr (CF) (series) (library)
13. Bones to Ashes by Kathy Reichs (CF) (series) (library)
14. Oral History by Lee Smith (F) (used PB)
15. She’s Come Undone by Wally Lamb (F) (used PB)
16. The Night of the Gun by David Carr (NF) (library)
17. Off Season by Anne Rivers Siddons (F) (library)

Did I even post the list from 2007? I couldn't find it. Here is, plus a link to 2006.

2007 Reading List

1. Deception by Denise Mina (CF) (library)
2. The Rock Orchard by Paula Wall (F) (library)
3. Sea Glass by Anita Shreve (F) (used)
4. Amagansett by Mark Mills (F) (library)
5. Summer Reading by Hilda Wolitzer (F) (library)
6. The Rabbit Factory by Marshall Karp (CF) (library) (Powell’s)
7. Red River by Lalita Tademy (F) (library)
8. Bad Blood by Linda Fairstein (CF) (library)
9. Bloodthirsty by Marshall Karp (CF) (library)
10. The Night Gardener by George Pelecanos (CF) (library)
11. The Scold’s Bridle by Minette Walters (CF) (used paperback)
12. Dark Hollow by John Connolly (CF) (library)
13. The Woods by Harlan Coben (M) (library)
14. Winter’s Child by Margaret Maron (M) (library)
15. The Straw Men by Michael Marshall (CF) (library) (Powell’s)
16. Fourth Comings by Megan McCafferty (YA) (library)
17. Sacred by Dennis Lehane (CF) (used)
18. Apprentice to the Flower Poet Z. by Debra Weinstein (F) (bookcloseouts)
19. Kill Chain by Meg Gardiner (CF) (library)
20. Mercy Falls by William Kent Krueger (CF) (library)

Friday, December 12, 2008

Happy 10th Anniversary


A surprise delivered to work this morning for my 10th wedding anniversary.

Monday, September 22, 2008

Off Season by Anne Rivers Siddons


How did I not know this was coming out? How did I not know that this has been out for the past month? From one of my most favorite authors? Who hasn't had a new book out since 2005? I was randomly checking the NY Times best seller list today and there it was (#21). And I was just in Borders on Saturday. Good thing it's the end of the day. I'm off to the library on my way home!

Wednesday, August 06, 2008

Hannah Montana Fever

We were babysitter-less on Monday, and I was thinking about taking a day off anyway, so I took the girls to see the Hannah Montana tour bus, a promotion sponsored by Great Clips to promote the release of the Hannah Montana concert DVD and the "Camp Rock" movie.

It was actually less crowded than I thought it would be, but there was still a good turnout, considering how hot it was, baking in the blacktopped parking lot. The activities available were karaoke, "rock star" hair-dos by Great Clips, giveaways (trading cards, magnets, poster) and the main attraction, a chance to board Hannah Montana's tour bus.

Big H jumped right in and did the karaoke, which surprised me, because she can be shy sometimes. She sang very quietly, but she did it all by herself. Disney videotaped each song and gave it to you on a SD card, but unfortunately, ours didn't work when we got it home.



The wait to get on the tour bus was timed, so we went and got some lunch in the A/C before it was our turn. We were on the bus for all of three minutes, hardly worth the wait, but Big H thought it was cool to see an actual Hannah Montana guitar and wig and where she slept while on tour. It was worthwhile, since Big H enjoyed it - and it was free!

Friday, July 11, 2008

Real Live Teacher

My "Real Live Teacher" blog is defunct, but I incorporated the posts into this blog. Keeping two blogs was too much and there hasn't been much to update on the teaching front since Little H was born. I really need to get motivated and make some decisions about teaching. If you want to read any of the teaching posts, just click on the teaching tag.

Country Music Question

Can someone please explain to me why Brad Paisley's "Waiting on a Woman" single, which was originally on the "Time Well Wasted" album, was included on "5th Gear" as a bonus track (although not on the version I have - maybe only on versions sold at one specific store, i.e. Target) and is now his latest single? Because to me, having listened to "Time Well Wasted" a million times, it seems old and not really a new single. I would much rather have seen/heard "Better Than This" released as a single, since it's my favorite track on the album and a great summer song.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Worst Album Covers Ever

A long slideshow feature, but worth it. From the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

1. Cody Matherson – Can I Borrow a Feelin’? … And Lazy Eye Therapy
2. Roger … He gets bonus points for using the word “facet”
3. Orion Reborn … I’m pretty sure that’s Lyle Waggoner in disguise
4. The Frivolous Five – Sour Cream and Other Delights … I think there’s a dirty joke about “sour cream” in there somewhere
5. Harry and Terry Live … I hate ventriloquist dummies
6. The Handless Organist … At least she’s smiling, or is that a grimace?
7. Have Harp, Can’t Travel … As if the harp isn’t already the most difficult instrument to transport, let’s make the little person carry it
8. Les Baxter – Space Escapade … Judging by everyone’s smiles, maybe it should be called “Space Sexcapade”
9. Bathroom Baritones, Bathing Beauties … I’m sure everyone had a record player in their bathroom in the 1950s
10. Merrill Womach … not just an organist, but an undertaker, too. And he has a MySpace page!
11. Truckers Dream … every girl’s dream
12. Skidrow Joe … I think the name says it all
13. The Braillettes – Our Hearts Keep Singing … Worst. Name. Ever. for a musical act
14. Weela Gallez … I hate monkeys even more than I hate ventriloquist dummies
15. Don & Seymour … I’d like to see more of Don
16. Manfred Sings Love Songs – With a New Accent … I think every artist should put out an album using a different accent at least once
17. Cajun Music – This one actually looks fake (apparently not – he’s the king of Louisiana rockabilly)
18. Little David Wilkins … If only Chris Farley was still alive, this a SNL sketch waiting to happen
19. Rick McKnight – Free Indeed! … from jail, I’m guessing
20. Organ and Firelight … I don’t want to see anyone’s organ by firelight
21. Chicken Coupe de Ville – this one looks fake, too (wrong again – thanks, MySpace!)
22. Music for Dreaming … Last night, I had this dream where I was a giant sleeping in the snow. Then I rolled over and crushed an Alpine village.
23. Wayne & Charlie – Rapping Dummy … I’d actually like to hear this one, but only if he says the word “dummy” in Fred Sanford’s voice
24. The Incomparable Steve Warren – Reflection … literally
25. The McKeithen’s … featuring The Great Gazoo
26. Slim Goodbody - The Inside Story … Hey, don’t mess with Slim Goodbody (the only artist I’ve actually heard of on this list)
27. “Happiness” with Ron Johnson … Because “Happiness’ should always be spelled in a creepy, bloody Halloween font
28. Drums and More Drums … I’m laughing too hard to think of an octopus joke.
29. OK, that made me stop laughing. I’m too frightened to even think of something funny to say.
30. Disco Tango – No thank you, Tommy Seebach
31. Joyce … I didn’t know Dorothy Michaels released an album under a pseudonym
32. ET – Best Friends … Rick James wannabe or lovable alien?
33. Ali and His Gang vs. Mr. Tooth Decay … I bet this was a big hit in its day (and only the second name I recognize)
34. The Electric Amish – A Hard Day’s Work … You’d think they would play acoustic guitar
35. Jonah Jones – I Dig Chicks … And I use the most literal imagery I can find for my album covers to hide my homosexuality
36. John Bult – Julie’s Sixteenth Birthday … Also known as the day John went to jail
37. Anchor’s Away … this one isn’t that bad, since pirates are back in style
38. Gary Dee Bradford … The record company didn’t want to spend any money on album artwork, so they just used his school picture
39. I couldn’t read the title of this one, something about rainbows, but it looks more like it should be about nightmares
40. Understand Your’e Swede – Even if you disregard the misplaced apostrophe, this title still doesn’t make sense
41. Thank You for the Dove … that just pooped in my hand
42. Superman – Every Night and Day … in bed
43. The Best of the Singing Postman … The Cryptkeeper Postman!
44. Country Church … They look like they would be fun to hang out with
45. All My Friends are Dead … In the category of morbid death story songs, this beats “Last Kiss” hands down
46. Happy Louie, Julgia and the Boys … Only Louis is happy because he’s the only one getting it on with Julgia
47. Mike Terry – Live at the Pavilion Theatre … pre sex change operation
48. Moscow Nights – no one ever had that much fun in Moscow
49. Foster Edwards’ Orch. … Who abbreviates orchestra on an album cover? (I’m avoiding the obvious elephant in the room joke.)
50. Ken – By Request Only … Steve Warren could have used this cover (see #24)

Tuesday, June 03, 2008

In the News

Designer of Pringles can is buried in his invention

After I read this headline, I imagined a giant Pringles can-shaped casket, but alas, his ashes were buried in an actual Pringles can. I’m kind of disappointed.

Disappearing act: Revue is robbed

Although this is a serious crime, any article that features the phrase ‘breakaway pants’ makes me laugh. It figures a male reporter was assigned to the story. You can practically hear him trying not to laugh out loud as he writes this story.

Wednesday, January 09, 2008

A Day Late and A Dollar Short

Of course, now they come out with this - Bindi Partyware. Where was it when I needed it back in September for Big H's birthday? I guess we were just ahead of our time.

Back in September, Big H had a Bindi-themed birthday party. We made our own invitations using graphics from the "Bindi the Jungle Girl" site on Discovery Kids. We went with a green theme for the plates, napkins, etc. and a general jungle animal theme for everything else. We had animal print balloons and all of the little girls received animal print tote bags with an animal print notepad, pen and stickers. Very cute, but I love those Bindi favor boxes. I might have to order a few, along with the stickers, for Big H.

Speaking of stickers, they would have come in handy on Halloween, when Big H dressed up as Bindi. I made stickers with my Xyron machine for her shirt, but those would have been perfect. Here's a pic of Big H on Halloween (the sticker is hidden under the snake but looks like it is embroidered on her shirt, just like Bindi's).













For the record, since I was MIA from updating in October, little H was a bumblebee.



Wednesday, January 02, 2008

2007 Reading List

Well, I thought last year's list was pathetic, but 2007's was even worse. I was able to sustain my reading rate even with less free time at home by reading over my lunch hour, but now I'm usually running errands or working over lunch, since I come in a half hour later now due to the bus schedule. I also blame "The Wire." Mark and I have been working our way through all four seasons of the series on DVD since August and it's all-consuming. I can't read and watch TV at the same time when it's on - you have to pay close attention! We finished the last disc of season 4 on New Year's Eve and just signed up for digital cable with free HBO for 60 days so we can watch Season 5 when it starts on Sunday. Anyway, I digress. Here's my 2007 reading list. As before, the abbreviations are: CF - crime fiction, M - mystery, F - fiction, SF - southern fiction, not scifi, YA - young adult and then in parens, where I got the book (usually from the library). Unofficial New Year's resolution - go back to reading more!

1. Deception by Denise Mina (CF) (library)
2. The Rock Orchard by Paula Wall (SF) (library)
3. Sea Glass by Anita Shreve (F) (used PB)
4. Amagansett by Mark Mills (F) (library)
5. Summer Reading by Hilda Wolitzer (F) (library)
6. The Rabbit Factory by Marshall Karp (CF) (library) (via Powell’s)
7. Red River by Lalita Tademy (F) (library)
8. Bad Blood by Linda Fairstein (CF) (library)
9. Bloodthirsty by Marshall Karp (CF) (library)
10. The Night Gardener by George Pelecanos (CF) (library)
11. The Scold’s Bridle by Minette Walters (CF) (used paperback)
12. Dark Hollow by John Connolly (CF) (library)
13. The Woods by Harlan Coben (M) (library)
14. Winter’s Child by Margaret Maron (M) (library)
15. The Straw Men by Michael Marshall (CF) (library) (Powell’s)
16. Fourth Comings by Megan McCafferty (YA) (library)
17. Sacred by Dennis Lehane (CF) (used)
18. Apprentice to the Flower Poet Z. by Debra Weinstein (F) (bookcloseouts)
19. Kill Chain by Meg Gardiner (CF) (library)
20. Mercy Falls by William Kent Krueger (CF) (library)