Friday, July 18, 2014

Bored with my blog

The billionnaire's curse (Archer legacy, book 1), by Richard Newsome : A 13 year old boy inherits great wealth from a great aunt he never even knew about. Some Harry Potter elements...mean parents, girl and boy twin hang out with him and solve mystery of stolen diamonds.

The last runaway (book), by Tracy Chevalier: About a Quaker girl who comes to Ohio from England in the 1850's. She ends up in a family of people who are not willing to act as she wants to. Interesting portrayal of Quakers and activities of the Underground Railroad.

Leave no Stone unturned (a Lexie Starr mystery), by Jeanne Glidewell. Must have been a "free Friday" book on the Nook. A woman starts to get suspicious of her daughter's husband and goes off to investigate his former life. She ends up in a kind-of-unlikely bed and breakfast with a man she met from another state.

Thursday, July 10, 2014

In my computer haze

My ADD self enjoys getting involved in my computer chores. Stuff spread all around me, sitting in the air conditioned library, listening to Youtube (Anna Kendrick's Cups (Pitch `perfect's when I'm gone). I couldn't be happier!

The search (book), by Nora Roberts: The title refers to the profession of Fiona, who trains search and rescue dogs on Orcas Island. Also to the search for an abductor of women. I enjoyed the clever dialogue between Fiona and her new love interest. The evil parts were almost too evil, though. The audio book is particularly well done.

Off to another day of running around. Arthritis class, BP and RHR good, Vineland Public Library, then time for manicure and pedicure. Picking up a friend later to go see Tammy. Looks and sounds stupid but lots of famous people walking through and we have a good time at not-so-great movies.

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

A contest I can really get behind

Enjoying this summer's contest more than last summer's:
- last year had to log in miles riden or walked at the health club
- this year have to READ BOOKS (one of my favorite activities)

Prairie silence (book),
by Melanie Hoffert. A woman living in Minneapolis goes back home to North Dakota and muses about whether she could live there. She talks to some people about her life and loves (women) and finds that it can be done. The image of the old barn evokes thoughts of change and place. She rescues some boards and takes them home to make a bookcase. Her father burns down the barn with no feelings about loss. She learns a new appreciation of roots but does go back to the city to pick up her life where she left off.

Newcomb's wildflower guide (book), by Larence Newcomb: This book was recommended for a workshop. Line drawings are easier to identify plants. There is a system, which makes it easier (it is still hard). Good for Northeast USA including Pine Barrens.

My Amalfi coast (Book), by Amanda Tabberer: Woman visits lovely place in Italy, falls in love with a gorgeous young man and lives there for 18 years. She shares many photos and tales of various towns, restaurants, people and their specialities. I wish I had read this book BEFORE I went to Positano. So much more to discover. A beautiful coffee table kind of book.

The billionnaire's curse (Archer legacy, book 1), by Richard Newsome: Young man inherits great wealth from aunt he never even knew about. His useless parents go off inspecting his properties and he is left to his own devices at mansions with servants. He meets some twins and they have adventures trying to find out who killed the aunt and what happened to her diamond.

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Trying to drown out the sound of losers

Sade video of Soldier of love on Youtube helping to drown out the sound of losers cursing and carousing in the computer area. Sadly, there is nothing to be done about the odor of stale smoke emanating from an old man near me.

Peaceful day...hot and quiet in the neighborhood. Nothing I like more than watering the back yard and the bird waterer with NO NEIGHBORS. I did a few things in the back yard today in spite of the hideous temps. Tied a string around the fence, had someone put up lights that didn't work, tested lights. Garage door broke but I got it down manually.

I think I must return home. Can't take the unwashed public. Spend most of my life recently trying to AVOID irritating people and places.

Monday, July 7, 2014

Good book titles...

Well, I only have one that I just saw at the Cumberland County Library:
- I'm on Facebook. Now what?
Perhaps I should read it!?

Destroyer angel, an Anna Pigeon novel (book), by Nevada Barr. The usual elements of an Anna Pigeon novel are here...the great outdoors, the nightime adventures, the threats. I must say that this one was rather more scary than most, quite the page turner. Essentially, it is a battle between four women and the four men who abduct them, as they journey through a forest. Anna is the "wild card". There is a great deal of physical discomfort and damage and general unpleasantness. Let's just say it is quite a "revenge fantasy." One of the women is handicapped and two of the women are teenage girls.

Things that annoy me:
- the sound and the look of people chewing gum
- traffic
- change

I was unnecessarily rude to the woman who answered the phone when I called to complain about my paper not coming this morning. They are trying to have "better" customer service, but it riles me up when I have to answer so many questions each time that I call. I really PREFER to just leave a message. Especially when I have to call one or more times each week. I hate the message that "representatives are assisting other customers". I just don't like the big conglomerate feel of that.

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Caramel budino

I wrote down the name of this dessert that was mentioned in the book by Dan Brown, Inferno. Looked it up today and wish I could get it somewhere. Looks too complicated for me to make. It involves filtering through cheesecloth. Not that I haven't ever attempted that.

Today the weather has deteriorated to hot and REALLY humid. I have art class tomorrow and there are two reasons why I MUST go, even though there is no air conditioning there. Just bought a book illustrated by my art teacher. And I have a date to go swimming and out to lunch with a friend who lives near there. Also, the owner of the art studio does not accept negativity in any form, political or weather-related. So I must persevere and try to ignore my hatred of heat and humidity. Am remembering now why people try to escape the heat by traveling to other locales.

Had to go to the Laundromat this AM. Next time, I should take MORE clothes (more trips, ugh) because my laundry is getting really backed up. It is a humbling (humiliating?) experience to go to the Laundromat. No air conditioning, not many places to sit, only the poor around.

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Exercised...then ate

Felt good about getting back to aqua zumba class which just started up TODAY. I love exercising in the water - no sweat! Then met a friend for lunch and ate like a horse.
Lox and bagels and onions and tomatoes and capers and cole slaw.

South wind (book), Norman Douglas. No idea how, where or when I got this book for my Nook. It was a bit confusing with many characters living (when?) on some island (where?) talking about a lot of things. There was a volcano nearby. It seemed to be an island somewhere in the Mediterranean (Greece or Italy?) When in Italy, heard about one of the winds called a Sirroco. That wind figured in my book. Looked up Nepenthe when I got home and found that it is another name for the island of CAPRI - which I just visited! Norman Douglas lived from 1868 - 1952. He wrote this book in 1917 and it was very popular around the time of World war I. It has been described as "a conversation novel without a plot".

Inferno (book), by Dan Brown. Also read on the Nook, borrowed through the Overdrive system. Greatly enjoyed this fast moving thriller tracking down a virus before it can be released. All over Italy and then to Turkey. Many events happen in a 24 hour day and they are all life and death events and there is a lot of confusion about who is working for whom.