My Book Blathering...

I cannot believe it's been a week since I've posted! I've read so much in the last week, yet haven't put that information anywhere...not here on blog, LibraryThing, nothing! The odd thing is, I spend so much time on the computer yet this 'to do' item doesn't get done. I don't understand myself sometimes! LOL

I've finished two books - Cold Blooded by Lisa Jackson and Fantasy in Death by JD Robb. Both books were very good! Expect their reviews soon. They are both mystery/thrillers with a little bit of hot, steamy...uh, romance included. Why do some of the mystery books have to have some 'romance' included? Why does it have to be so detailed? Any why do I just basically skip over those pages? The things that make me go hmmmm...

I have started a different genre of book - Secrets of Eden by Chris Bohjalian. I meant to use this as my Tuesday Teaser but since it's now Thursday..I guess I'll pass. It's starting out a little bit disjointed but I hope it will start making more sense soon. I read his Midwives in 2008 but not any others. Have you read any of his? What about this new one? Will I like it?

I am looking to get involved in some literacy volunteering in the area. I'm just starting the process but figure this is a great area for me to volunteer given my love for reading. Do any of you do this? What can I expect? I'd also like the kids to start volunteering somewhere but having trouble finding good choices for them. But we'll get there. Among all their other activities, of course!

Look soon for a new give away! I think it will be a good one.

I love going to the book store and being where other book lovers are. Since I have gotten back into blogging, all I've done is read about the BEA convention in NY in May. I am dying to go. Lots of my favorite authors will be there - Adriana Trigiani and Caroline Leavitt just to name two. And just think of all those other future potential favorites that I could fall in love with while there. And to top it off, I could meet some of my favorite book bloggers too. Cause they will be there, of course! I need a lottery winner to feel they need to sponsor me to go. Anyone interested?

Okay, I think I'm done rambling now. What are you reading? Why do you like it? Talk to me!

All this snow!

All this snow, the cold, the kids only going to school 2 days in the last two weeks, being cold, hot water heater struggling (can't take a warm 'full' bath), work being busy......oh and being cold. I am behind on everything. How can that be? I haven't left the house in three days. Yet I am. So I am going to have a few 'out of sync' posts....like posting my Tuesday Teaser today...on Wednesday. I'm a rebel like that! LOL You know you still like it though.

Going to see Adriana Trigiani!

I have been in love with Adriana Trigiani and her books ever since our book club read Big Stone Gap YEARS ago. (I had to go check the book club files...it was in spring 2002!) We even chatted with her way back then and got Milk Glass Moon baseball caps from her. Was very fun!

So, needless to say, I've read all of her books. I am on the wait list for Brava, Valentine at the library. It is the second in the series after Very Valentine. However, I think I might have to go buy it. Because I am going with my sister to see her at the Thurber House here in Columbus on Thursday.

It's called An Evening with an Author. The blurb says: All Evenings with Authors events begin at 7:30 p.m. The featured guest reads from his or her most recent work, chats about writing, and then there is a question-and-answer session with the audience. Each event closes with a coffee and cookies reception and an opportunity to buy the author's book(s) and get them signed.

I realize this type of event is not new for most of my blogging friends. But it's new to me! I've chatted with a number of authors on the phone but have never been to a reading/signing. So I am quite excited!

Contrasting climates

Last Saturday, I was in Phoenix, Arizona with friends just hanging out and enjoying the sunshine. We went to the spa for a day, went on a couple of tours of Frank Lloyd Wright's home, Taliesen West (because we all read Loving Frank last year), and ate outside lots of meals. I can't say it was 'pretty' because it was SO different from what I know. Plus it's still winter and, while not dead, nothing is blooming or vibrant. I think I would really enjoy it and would be able to call it beautiful in a couple of months. But it was warm and very interesting! And good company.

Then I come home. To Ohio. Where, although not as bad as further east, it had snowed 8-10 inches while we were gone (okay, not really sad about it happening while we were gone). But. The very next day...more snow. Two full days of snow. Two full days of no school for my kids. Then another late day after that. Which, with the odd school schedules, only gave me 3 hours home alone. So, while I think the snow is quite lovely, beautiful, etc to look at, I am quite ready for it to all go away.


And to be warm again. Can I move to Phoenix for the winter? Am I old enough to winter somewhere? Because it would be too hot for me in the summer, I think. I think I'm more of Hawaii person. Maybe I'll just move there?

Catching up!

It's February so it's time for a "best of" post, right? LOL I know, I am WAY behind. I have made it a goal for 2010 to be more purposeful about my days and my time. I have worked on the non-computer portions and that includes this blog.

So! I've updated the header. I have a number of posts written and ready to go over the next few days along with a plan for more after that. I also plan on getting back to reading other book blogs so I can get more ideas on what to read. I've missed all of you and am wanting to reconnect.

So, in a groundhog-like fashion, I am back.

My newest Christmas ornament! I LOVE IT!!!

My VERY TALENTED friend, Lisa Clarke, of Polka Dot Cottage, decided to make a small set of family ornaments again this year! This made me VERY happy to hear and I immediately ordered. I got ours in the mail today and this made me very Happy! LOL Can you tell I'm in love? Just look at the details! The hair, the freckles, the dog. The heights...scary to think my girl is just that much shorter than me, but she really is! My boy's hair sticks up in real life just like this one! And this is proof that my blonde hair is real. Really it is. (Okay, it used to be.)


Lisa is SO talented! She makes jewelry (I own multiple pairs of her earrings as do most of the ladies in my family). She makes fun flip flops. She makes scarves and hats and aprons and skirts. And many, many other things. I am in awe of her. You have GOT to click on on of these links and go check out her store. It's all her. Oh, and she's got a blog too and is quite humorous. I suggest subscribing to her blog - you won't be disappointed.

Okay, back to my rabbit hole. I wish I had more time to give this blog more attention, but I will some day, I promise!

I blame it on...

I feel like I'm finally becoming me again. Is that weird?

About a year ago my husband started a new job in a different state. However our house didn't sell until January. So for four months we lived apart during the week and I was sort of a single mom. Yet I was still able to blog, scrapbook, work, take pictures, and keep up with everything (okay ... most everything).

When we moved at the beginning of February, it was three hours away. I moved to a town where we knew no one. I did move within a half hour of my sister with her cute little boys. I was blessed to be able to continue to work my old job remotely from my home. I love my new house. My kids settled well into school. Being the social creatures they are, they made friends very quickly. Sports starting in the spring and the busyness was renewed.

But I wasn't reading, blogging, taking pictures or scrapbooking. My house was a wreck. I wasn't really me. (well the house being a mess is probably the real 'me' LOL)

I blame it on...

- Depression - clearly I went through a depression. Knew it, wasn't any option but to go through it. Also gained a few pounds. What's up with that? I mean, I was already depressed... did I need to do something to further that issue? LOL

- Facebook - I had just joined facebook last fall and got thoroughly addicted. It seemed like such a great way to keep in touch with my wonderful friends that I left and to meet up with friends I haven't seen in almost a lifetime. However, do you know how easy it is to spend hours on facebook without really anything to show for it? And when you are supposed to be working from home and your work computer is on the same desk as your home computer.... it's quite easy to do both. Or to pretend to do both. And it was just so much easier to think of short statuses than entire blog posts. Too much effort was needed to blog. Plus, I needed to be reading to blog about reading.

- Not knowing anyone.

- The library - this sounds odd doesn't it? But my new library does not work well with my swiss cheese memory. When I put books on hold and they come in, it sends one email. One. And I only have three days from the time of that email to pick up the books. I'm sure that's a reasonable time for normal people, but I can never seem to get there to get the books. I either need a longer time or more reminders. But they aren't asking me for ideas. So, having no books to read just contributed to the no reading.

I'm not sure why or how, but I am reading again. I've been focusing on my favorite genre of serial killers and murder mysteries but am getting the itch to read a good women's friendship book. Getting an itch to read is good.

I have people to talk to - at the soccer and volleyball games, I have people who actually choose to sit by me. And they talk to me. On purpose. I'm being funny but have been working very hard to not become stalker lady and scare away potential friends. We've been getting together with the sister and her family. We even invited one of hubby's high school and college friend over along with her family and had a great time.

I'm still addicted to Facebook and don't see that changing any time soon. LOL

So, what did I miss during my hiatus? What good books are out there that I need to put on my tbr list? Any changes to the book blogging arena that I need to know about? Any new blogs? Talk to me!

Our pond residents

About a week after I got the pond cleaned out, we started having visitors. These two are the most noticeable. They are coming more frequently and this is the first time I've been able to see them, go into the house to get the camera and come back out with them still in the pond. I think they are getting used to the front door comings and goings as long as we are quiet. Now, should I be working to keep them from coming back or just get used to hosing off the rocks? (Note: we live in a very active neighborhood, not in the country. No idea where these ducks live when not at our house.)

This photo needs a caption!

I was taking pictures of my nephew yesterday and also some of the other kids that my sister babysits. I took this picture and it just makes me smile. I know there's a very funny caption that belongs with it but I can't come up with it. Or maybe a crop or words on the bricks. Anyone have any thoughts?

Spring sprouts!

I have been enjoying taking pictures of the perennials that are popping up at the new house. I thought I'd share some of what I've got. I don't know what everything is yet but it's still fun to watch. Now I probably need to start weeding!

Need to warm up - Hawaii memories

I have many things that I do in my life: wife of 14.5 years, mother of two, engineer, avid reader, photographer, scrapbooker to name the top jobs. As I sit in my new house, I am wanting to show more of those things on my blog.

No, I don't plan on starting to share stories of my husband and children. I am not completely comfortable with putting a lot of information on my kids out on the web and I'm not the gushy type so can't talk much about my great hubby.

I want to start incorporating more of my photography and scrapbooking into the blog. I am thinking this will inspire me to do more of both, which only will make me happier overall. The problem is I'm not quite sure how best to bring them in. So I'm just going to try some things over the next week or so and see how they go. If anyone has any ideas or wants me to talk about something specific, I'd love to hear them.

For today, I am feeling very cold. The sun is out but it's very cold outside. And it's been almost a year since hubby and I went to Hawaii for the first time (not that we've been back but we will be going back at some point). So I was looking through my pictures from our week there and want to share some of my favorites.

Sunset on our first night on the west side of the Big Island of Hawaii


This picture of the black sand beach just calms me


The best fun! I highly recommend ATVing to all! That's me in the top picture. We were on the island of Kauai - it's beautiful!

Sunday Salon: Glad to be back

I am loving the feeling of being 'normal'. We are settling into the new house, figuring out where things should go, and setting up the new routine/reality. I have ordered a new hot water heater to make sure I can use the big garden tub, and have less boxes sitting around than I did last weekend. This week I also had the fun of dealing with a kidney stone. Knocked me on my back for two days. So, today's normal has a different meaning.

I was excited to start reading again this week after a few months of not feeling like I had the time. I read and reviewed The Gate House by Nelson DeMille and Devil Bones by Kathy Reichs. I am currently reading The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak. I can see why I stopped it last year but have moved past that part and am thoroughly enjoying it. Quite interesting and fun. I am reading it for the local library's book club meeting on Tuesday night. It's my first attempt at a social outing here at the new place. Hopefully I will fit in and can find some reading friends.

In opening boxes yesterday, I finally found my TBR pile of books. Yeah! I've got some good ones that I am looking forward to reading, including Sunday at Tiffany's by James Patterson. I also went to the library on Friday to pick up books I've already got on hold. (I LOVE that the new library also has the internet order/hold option - my favorite way to get books!) In the pile from the library is Knit Two by Kate Jacobs and Christine Falls by Benjamin Black. I've got lots of good books in my future!

What are you planning on reading this week?

What kind of reader are you? Quiz

As I'm catching up on my blog reading, I found this quiz through Bookish Ruth.

What Kind of Reader Are You? Your Result: Dedicated Reader   You are always trying to find the time to get back to your book. You are convinced that the world would be a much better place if only everyone read more.
Literate Good Citizen
Obsessive-Compulsive Bookworm
Fad Reader
Book Snob
Non-Reader
What Kind of Reader Are You? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

Sunday Salon: Jumping back in to blogging....FINALLY!

Good morning Saloners! We've been in our new house for exactly a week. I won't bore you with the drama that included the packing, closing, etc. Suffice it say we won't be recommending our lender and especially our actual fellow to anyone.

The kid's bedrooms were the first to be 'done', the living room and family room are mostly put together. The kitchen is done - except I don't have enough cabinets and no pantry! So furniture shopping I go this week to try to find a hutch/pantry type thing.


The picture was taken late this week after the snow started to melt. It's wierd to see the house this morning with grass all around instead of snow. I can even see the pond where supposedly I have a couple of fish 'hibernating' in the frozen pond. That's even more odd to me, but what do I know. LOL I'll be learning all sorts of new things with this house, I'm sure.

The kids started their new schools on Tuesday. Started off slow for my girl as the class was a bit too quiet (and probably too respectful - 6th grader) for her liking. But she's warming up to them and slowly making friends. My boy has had no troubles having fun with his classmates in third grade. He's already sharing stories of his class and the fellows in it.

The best part of being in the house for a week now is that I am finally reading my first book of 2009! It is amazing to me that it's already over a month into the year and I haven't read any books! My goal of 100 books again this year is already in jeopardy.

I have started reading The Gate House by Nelson DeMille. I am almost halfway through it - not sure yet my thoughts. It's definitely different for a mystery - if that's what it is supposed to be.

My LOLAs met last week for the first time without me. They had read and discussed Traffic by Tom Vanderbilt. According to my reports - most read it, thought I wouldn't have made it through the book (me and non-fiction - not friends), it was interesting, most comments were about traffic issues the members had dealt with/personal pet peeves. Sounds like I missed a fun discussion.

One of my first goals here is to find some sort of book club. The local library has one that I am going to try out on the 17th. The book they are reading and discussing for February is The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak. I started that book last year but didn't get very far. So this is incentive to get through it.

Thanks for hanging out with me while I packed, moved and got settled in the new house. I plan on being here regularly again, sharing my love of books and becoming active again in the book blogging community.

25 Random Things about me

This is going around Facebook and I wanted to participate here on my blog and in Facebook!

Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you.

1. I've been married for over 14 years! That's longer than anything else I've ever done.
2. I worked for the CIA as a co-op in college. Don't ask or I'll have to shoot you.
3. I am very lazy.
4. I always said I wanted 2-4 kids, but meant 4. I had 4 pregnancies, 2 miscarriages and 2 kids. Done!
5. I love to watch NFL football! My husband is a football widower in the fall.
6. I've become a NASCAR fan over the last few years.
7. I enjoy taking pictures of people, especially children, doing things. Not so much pictures of things and places.
8. I love reading mysteries. I enjoy many other types of books, but mysteries are my first love.
9. I thoroughly enjoy writing my blog!!!
10. I went to a different elementary school every year growing up.
11. I only lived in three states - Ohio, Florida, and Indiana. I've lived in Indiana for 16 years, longer than any other state so far. Ohio will begin winning again soon! Woohoo!
12. I have very few regrets in life and I attribute that to trusting God. He's awesome!
13. My kids are my best accomplishment so far!
14. I need to volunteer to serve more.
15. I was very introverted, awkward and shy in high school. I was a wanna-be! LOL
16. I am very blessed with many friends here in Indiana that will be sorely missed. They better come visit!
17. I have completed over 20 scrapbooks. The first 17 or so are traditional paper scrapbooks. The last 3 have been digital. I LOVE digital scrapbooking!
18. My daughter is nothing like me as a kid - she's so outgoing, sure of herself, funny. She's definitely her father's daughter. And I love them both!
19. I've never had any broken bones and only been in the hospital due to babies and miscarriages.
20. I am horrible at small talk.
21. My favorite tv shows are Survivor, The Closer and CSI. But I DVR a whole lot more.
22. My boy is quite witty - I so enjoy his love of humor. And his compassion.
23. I am friends with my mom and my sister. Am excited to be moving closer to both.
24. I have great in-laws.
25. I wish I had learned to play the piano.

Still alive and kicking!

Been crazy around her with getting everything ready to move. We should be in the new house by the end of the month. So hopefully I'll be able to get back to a more normal routine of reading and posting. Know that I am thinking of everyone! And missing reading!!!! There are some great books out now that I am dying to read. And I'm excited to see all the new suggestions from out there!

I LOVE my LOLAs!

As I've discussed before, LOLAs is my book club. We've been a book club for over seven years of which only missed the first few months. I've laughed, learned and cried with these ladies. And I am going to miss them terribly.

We had our monthly meeting last night. The book discussed was The Lace Reader. I was a bit late (basketball game for my girl) so missed most of the book discussion. Sounds like the reviews were mixed. I'll let them comment here if they want to clarify.

What I want to share is how GOOD they were to me last night. As I said, I was running late - ended up being about an hour and a half late! But as I knew they'd still be chatting and eating, I went anyway. Especially because I wanted to give them all hugs and say good-bye. We'll be in Ohio by the next meeting.

They gave me an awesome going-away present! It's an ink drawing of our library. And it's beautiful!

For those who don't know, Columbus, IN is known around the world for the architecture here. I, personally, don't know diddly squat about architecture, but I know that tons of people have heard of our little city because of it. And it is fun to look at. I just don't understand it. But I digress.

Here's our library:

Isn't it cool? I am already trying to decide where to put it in the new house. Near the wall bookshelves in the family room? Above the couch in the living room? Very fun to figure out!

I neglected to take my camera into LOLAs but our hostess for the evening took a picture of all of us. We were only missing one, but I'll pencil her in the picture later. :-) When I get the picture, I'll add it in here.

Thanks so much ladies for being such wonderful friends over the years. I have enjoyed talking about books, kids, jobs, food, husbands and many other things with you. I will definitely miss you. I will look for a book club at my new house but it will be hard to match up to LOLAs.

Sunday Salon on Monday: Post New Years Edition

It's 2009! Can you believe it? How crazy is that???!!! I'm excited about the new year. How about you? What big plans do you have for 2009? What worries you about 2009?

My big news is that we are moving to Ohio! We have bought a house in a suburb of Columbus, Ohio and will be moving the week of January 19th. It's been a hectic and stressful holidays for us - all the house stuff on top of the normal holiday stress. Can you imagine how much fun I've been? LOL I did have a wonderful time with my family and friends over the holidays so that kept me sane.

The move is bringing us closer to family but we will be leaving the friends we've made over the last 16 years here in Indiana. And that makes me sad. I will miss them. I hope to be able to keep friendships and make some that are just as precious and special in my new area.

As a result of the move, I will probably be a bit sparse on the blog. I am sure I will have a hard time justifying sitting down to read and then blog about it instead of packing or gathering. I will also have a hard time justifying reading blogs so will be even more behind on that - don't be surprised in late January to see me commenting on the posts this week!

This past week I did finally hit the 100 book mark for 2008! Yeah! I will be posting my end of year wrap-up later this week. I posted the reviews of my last books of 2008 - The Beach House by Jane Green and Fault Line by Barry Eisler. I am scheduled to review Kirk Curnutt's Breathing Out the Ghost next week as part of a book tour.

So, what can you tell me about moving? Any tips? Any watchouts? What are your big plans for 2009? Share! I'd love to chat about it all.

Have a good week!

Happy New Year!

We are all in Pennsylvania at my aunt's house. We stayed up late and my boy got me up early!!! I feel a nap coming on soon! LOL

I pray that everyone is having a wonderful New Year's Day and that the coming year will bless each one of you.

The Sunday Salon: Post-Christmas Edition

It's been a month since I've written a Sunday Salon post. I've been missing myself! LOL

We had a wonderful Christmas week. We had two families over for Christmas Eve dinner. Years ago when we decided to stay home for Christmas instead of doing the trek to all the families, we started inviting anyone who was in town to come for Christmas Eve dinner. The two families that came this year were ones that were our 'regulars' and it was so nice to have them. I started to say something about being our family here in Indiana but got all choked up when I started as we won't be having Christmas Eve in Indiana again. I just loved having them here with us.

The next two days - Christmas and Boxing Day (no, we aren't in Canada, but I love the idea of the second holiday) - were spent holed up in our house. The four of us played alot of the new Wii games we got - my favorite is Super Mario Galaxy! We listened to new music, got our mp3 players working, etc. Just a wonderful time for the four of us to spend together - especially nice with being separated and stressed so much the past months.

Amazingly I didn't take a single picture of any of the Christmas festivities! Thus, none to share. Sad, huh?

I didn't get any new books from my husband or kids. I am definitely hard to buy books as I'm not a 'keeper' of books and read so much, they never know what to buy. But I did start a new book on Christmas day - Breathing Out the Ghost by Kirk Curnutt. It's set in Indiana just 30 minutes from my house! I am reading it for a book tour in January. Mr. Curnutt even signed my book - first signed book I've gotten! It's good so far - about halfway through (too much Wii playing and not enough reading). I look forward to finishing and then chatting with Mr. Curnutt about the book.

This past week I posted my reviews of The Little Giant of Aberdeen County by Tiffany Baker and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows.

Not sure what I'll read next. I've still got a bunch of books in my book basket to choose from. The library is missing me! And I am missing it as there are some new books by my favorite authors recently released that I haven't read yet. But I am determined to whittle down the basket before returning to the library.

Tell me about your books. What did you get for gifts? What books should be on my list for the library when I return in January?

I'll be posting my top 2008 reads later this week. I will be looking for your lists as well to add to my tbr list.

Have a good Sunday!