Sidetracked

So I didn't hold up my end of the deal, you know, the blog every day thing because I have been plowing through Dark Angel. Yup, that's right, I don't show up 'cause I am watching old TV.

Redo greenery tomorrow and make whipped short bread. Basically ready for Christmas.

I can update.

I have simply not updated because nothing has happened and I didn't want to.

But I made butter tarts today. I have finally got Christmas baking in my house. Totally not leaving it to the last minute or anything.

It snowed last night. Slushy wet snow that will be gone tomorrow. But still, snow.

It's begining to look a lot like Christmas! la da la la la.

P.S. I loved the Hobbit. Even the extra bits.

The Hobbit

Tonight is Hobbit night. I have my ticket.

Three hour movie starting at ten at night, an hour drive to get home and I have to be at work tomorrow morning. At seven, in the morning. Who said I wasn't dumb.

On the other hand, I am totally fan-girling. SQEEEEEEE!!!!!

 LOTR was my early teen years. This is transporting me back. I am so excited.

WOOHOO

Ick, I am ... guess.

I couldn't let it go for two days, but all I really have to say is neocitron is my friend.

I read Princess of the Silver Wood - Jessica Day George the third in a series. It came out yesterday, and I have to say that one aspect of owning a kindle was being able to have access to something so soon after release. The story combined Little Red Riding Hood and Robin Hood, and I enjoyed it.

Sn*t & stuff

I am failing at this Christmas baking thing. On the come down from singing sick I continued to be sick today. It is the sore throat back to haunt me. This illness appears to cyclical. I'm experiencing take two. I get better, it comes back. Sucks.

Anyway, the point of me sniveling (pun) about being sick is that the last thing I want to do is stick my hands in pastry. So no butter tarts.

I do on the other hand get to stop obsessing over German and listen to fun music again.
This has been playing bunches in my house.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSUFzC6_fp8

 We have the Ep. and I love their version of  "O come, o come Emmanuel" it has addictive properties.

Re-reading A Posse of Princesses - Sherwood Smith, I really enjoy her work, and apparently reading new material is beyond the powers of sick brain. Sigh.

This has been an update. Talk tomorrow. Over and out.

I feel lighter

Concert done. Week over. De-stress has begun.

Umm... I think I said that I was going to elaborate on my life, and be a little more informal, but tonight I have very little to add.

Second week of Advent started today.

OK, talk tomorrow.

Getting better

I know, I know, I missed yesterday. These things happen.

As the week progresses my brain gains space. Three of this weeks performances are done. Now I just have to do the personal concert. You know, the solo bit. AHHHHH! Help me. Rescue me. Take me to a private island. Ok, freak out over.

I got to be part of a choir which sang at an ordination today. The music and mass were lovely.

So, I am now just sitting watching Jamie Oliver's Christmas specials and not going over my German words for two of my songs and generally being a lousy student.

Second week of Advent starts tomorrow.

Day five

 Fifth day of Advent

Days do not have enough hours to do all the work and still have fun time. But I don't want to give up fun time, so the days need to grow more hours. Just saying.

In other news, Happy St. Nicolas Day!!! I hope you ate your body weight in chocolate.

I have to do junk in my life and yesterday I was loquacious, so this is it.

Stress Bumps

I suffer from anxiety. I also get stressed. Both happen at the same time on an all to frequent basis. But over the last four years I have worked to get them under  into the realm of "normal".

My stress bumps came back this week. Stress bumps are literally what they sound like. I get these weird bumps on my knuckles. The doctor could not figure out what they where, when we asked. They get dry and sore. And they only show up when I am so stressed-out-of-my-ever-loving-mind that the stress has to become external.

I think the last time I got stress bumps was music festival six years ago? Seven? Five? (Before my voice got sick, and I got to quit music festival.) I am not sure. I could look it up, because I know what I was doing, but I am too lazy. It was the last year I got sent to provincials. For MF that year I had seven solos, two choir groups, and two dance numbers in the space of a week and a half. I would never preform if given the choice. I don't like it. It does not thrill me. In fact IT STRESSES ME OUT. So do I think it is a coincidence that the last time I had growths on my hands was the last time someone asked me to preform that many times in a week, and they came back for the first time in years, in a week that I have to preform four times in a week? No, not a fluke.

Talent and desire do not always line up. Just 'cause I can sing and preform well does mean that I want to. Ever. But I do, because God judges us on the talents that we do not grow. But it is painful.

Not that anyone will be able to tell from my peaceful countenance. It took me hours in front of a mirror to master looking calm. But I also learned that one, because people can hear better if you look happy. Go figure.

Rant over?

Well, that was full of Advent cheer, wasn't it? People always want you to sing around Christmas. Sheesh.

Lets put in a picture.

Evergreen

So unlike past years I actually got to cut greenery in the daylight when it is not raining. I felt special.
The house also looks more like Advent. Here are a couple before shots.

The end results are lovely but you can't tell. I can't take pictures. I will of course put them up, but they are not pretty.

Not once did I ever say it wouldn't be messy.

And the after shots.

I have resigned myself to the fact that December is not freezing and it rains and no snow and it just has to be a balmy 12 degrees, but Christmas without evergreen is not something I could ever come to grips with. So decorating in our house has lots of green. Lots. I only showed you the beginning.

Maybe tomorrow I will get in some baking. I want it started before St. Nicholas day. (fingers crossed)

And I will be back on all local stations tomorrow.

BEDA, kinda.

I am already a day behind on Blog Every Day Advent. Or a modified version of BEDA. I will not call it blogmas until after the 25th of Dec.

Yesterday was day one. I have not put up the advent wreath, I did not post. I went to work at 6:30 AM and got back to the house at 10:30 last night. I thought that was a legitimate reason for not starting yesterday. I was not at work that entire time, I went to a birthday party for my cousin. December and January are birthday months in my family, on both sides. Anyway, there will be updates, and from here on out I will probably still miss days.

So, shall we do this? Yup.

Greetings.

I started an insightful post about abridged and original books and simply ran out of steam.

I am thinking about doing an Advent marathon and then the 12 days of Christmas on the days they are supposed to be. You know, after Christmas. But I don't know if I can. I think I will try, but we are heading into concert and exam season. Between the 4th and 9th of Dec. I have four things, one of which is my own concert. Yikes. I don't have enough time. And you know, Dec. carries on in that fashion. Always has, probably always will. Sigh.

That, by the way is where the other post went. To the land of memorising songs. Or in some cases, learning.

Right, well, hopefully you will be hearing so much from me, that you will want to shoot me.
I want a cap gun for Christmas. (Side note)

The stuff that counts.

Do I talk about voice much on here? I don't, do I? Weird. It takes up most of my life.

Because I finished the repertoire part of my exam in June, all my music is fairly new. And by new I mean under a year and a half old. Stuff doesn't become perfect quickly. Anyway, this means that for the concert in three weeks I have been doing fun stuff. I get to sing a Christmas carol and I get to re-polish two old songs that are my favorites. It is incredibly gratifying to redo a song that has not been dusted off in eight? years. I have new skills and new emotions. The poetry is different and the same. Songs have power regardless of what grade the book says they are in.

I am also sick, so working on songs with easier range is always a plus, when the goal is not to stress to tighten my instrument.

I think next time I have to talk about the link between no singing and my inability to regulate my own emotions.

Wanna see what I have as my desktop? I knew you did.

 

Pretty, no?

Sucking at life.

 Come join my snivel fest.

I have a soar throat. I would rather hug the toilet bowl for 24 hours straight than have a soar throat.
I did not get sick, really, for 3 years and then I get a soar throat? Blarg.

In other horrible news, I can't read. I simply cannot focus long enough to get into a book. I have many that I am simply dying to read. I even bought them. No "they have to go back to the library" no "I borrowed from friends" just "I can't concentrate 'cause I have the attention span of a gnat."

Blarg! BLARG!!!! Gah.

I don't feel good.

The biggest loonie ever.

Today I earned a loonie that I worked three years for. I am so proud. I figure this feeling is like when people frame the first dollar that they make. It is certainly not my first, but I feel proud anyway.

Amazingly I was tipped for the first time today, for carrying feed. I have loaded 30 bags of feed, all wieghing 40lb in to someones truck in the rain and never been tipped. But today a lovely gentleman with old world class tipped me for carrying out his corn.

I think I will frame it.

A MONTH!

Where did time go? Huh?!
Time for an update. It has been almost a month since I last thought I should try my hand at this.
So,  the happenings of my life.
My poor cat had surgery, and now has a very ugly hair cut.

Tolliver in his cone and sweater.

I got sick for the first time in three years. That threw a kink into my life for almost two weeks.

Winter has arrived. Rain and dark. I am in happyville. I know, I know, I'm crazy sauce. Nobody likes dark rainy days. Well I do, so suck it up.

Why haven't I talked about TV this season? Doctor Who and Downton Abbey and all the regular things and I haven't said anything? Crazy.  I kinda liked Rory & Amy's ending. I did not like killing Sybil. I still like Tom Branson.

 All in all good stuff. Just waiting for Christmas now.

I also haven't been updating the book count. Silly me. Seven? Eight? I actually lost count.

Been re-reading "A Civil Contract" by Georgette Heyer. It is solidly one of my favorites of hers. Not gooey romance, but the building of a relationship and marriage. I really like this one. I am trying not to over use the word love. Finding substitute words in the English language should not be that hard, I simply have a limited vocabulary.

Wanna see the manly buck who wandered into our yard? I took pictures.

Sorry about the phantom camera. I couldn't go out side for fear of disturbing him. He was almost on the porch.

Now I have to go eat carrot cake. Toodles.

I need to get in gear.

I have been thinking of doing a photo project where I take a picture of the same place at the same time for a year. There is a field on my way to work that is gorgeous in any weather, and I thought it would be interesting to watch the light change and other things. Any way, should I start now or wait for Spring? I don't know.

Actually I do know. I am simply too apathetic to make sure that my camera has batteries and that I have it with me in  the mornings before work.

I will try and get on that. Because I would really like to have the catalogue of the year.

Bibliogeek x 8 in the last week and half. At least I am doing something with my time.

Bits and Bobs

Anxiety. I have a disorder. New things are always had because of this. But it is one of the reasons I disappeared off here. If I can figure out a way to sink through the floor, well I will never be back. I can only focus on so many things when my brain is on fritz. Blogs get dropped.

I haven't finished any new books. Been re-reading the ending of three that I have virtually memorized. I do this particularly when stressed because the ending of books are organized. They have a conclusion, the world for those characters temporarily make sense, ordered, in control. If my life can't be in control, I want someone else's to be.

In my lesson this morning I noticed a bag my teacher has with many sayings and quotes. The one that caught my attention was "Do one thing that scares you every day." I want to only do one thing a day that scares me. I was told that it wasn't an option. If only I could limit it to just one. Instead I find it easier to count the moments I am not scared.

My Island has had the longest dry spell in 107 years. I like the rain. This sun thing has me slightly down about the mouth. It should rain, maybe for a week, and really heavy. Then I can feel like my inside pieces fit. (Maybe. Chances are that only 2% of the problem is no rain.)

Every time I paint my nails black someone invariably asks if I am going goth. No, I just like the colour black. But since it is chipping I guess I will go paint them burgundy. It is Autumn, I can get away with colour like that.

Mumisms

There has been talk flying around my house about only and youngest children. It made me think of all my mum's favorite phrases. I thought I would do a list.

1. No blood, no sympathy. (I have really early memories of this one.)
2. Life isn't fair. You were not born with a ticket on your toe saying life would be fair. (This eventually got shortened to "No ticket.")
3. You don't have to like it, you just have to do/eat it.
4. I am not here to win a popularity contest. (Often said if I told her that she was mean or I didn't like her at that moment in time.)
5. It only gets worse with age. If you think this is hard, just wait. (High school needed to be put in perspective, apparently.)
6. Suck it up Princess!
7. This one is not a exactly a saying, but she would rub her fingers together. World's smallest violin. (In other words, she so did not care.)
8. Oh cry me a river. 

Those were the common ones that I grew up to. My sweet mother. She was the soft parent. And I still ended up spoilt. (But only a little bit. For an only I am bearable sometimes.)

Thanks mum. I now have all the ammunition with which to raise children.

Three for the price of one.

I need an official book counter. This one is about three books and on my label count it will be one.

First Shades of Milk and Honey - Mary Robinette Kowal

This is the Australian cover. I like it best.

and is sequal Glamour in Glass,

 and thirdly Anna Dressed in Blood - Kendare Blake which has one of the best titles I have heard in awhile.

Shades and Glamour are Jane Austen with magic. I enjoyed them greatly. But I was most appreciative of the language. The author made a dictionary of the words Austen used and flag checked her books by that, so the language is authentic and it never once jars you out of the land she has placed you in.

Anna was gruesome and funny and all I would ask from a ghost hunting story. I think along with re-tellings of the twelve dancing princesses I might have to collect ghost hunting stories.

I bought all three of these on my kindle. It was at the recommendation of RED and I am very glad that I liked and wanted to own all three. Since I did. Own them I mean.


 

Keeping it brief.

Back to being a book blog. I feel guilty just stating what I finished reading and leaving it at that, but I don't really want to get into anything right now. I have things happening IRL, just not ready to talk.

Onwards. Bad Luck & Trouble - Lee Child
And I re-read A Quiet Gentleman -Georgette Heyer

And that is all I have to report to my dear Book of Knowledge.

Owning Tolliver

This unintentionally turned into a book blog.  I have not finished a book in a while. Can you tell?
But I thought I would add some personal thoughts. Because that is what it was supposed to be. None of the thoughts would finish. They were fragments floating around. Not being whole, not being BIG. I could not do anything with them.

I am going to try, anyways.

One of the trials in owning a cat is animal disposal. There is always the continual getting rid of dead things bit, the hard part is when they are not dead. Two nights ago Tolliver, sweet thing, was going to keep playing with his poor captured mouse. It was paralyzed and squeaking and he was going to keep tossing it in the air and not killing it. I thought the compassionate thing to do would be to kill it.

Mouse dear, was on the deck, which right now has a carpet. I didn't factor this in. I thought that if I could bang the head in that would be fastest. It took too many thumps with a metal watering can to crush the head, because of the rug. But I finally did crush the skull in two and severed most of its neck. But, Heavens, it took forever. I felt traumatized. It is much much worse than banging on a fish. Poor mouse.  

Yes, I think I will rap that up. I will tell more stories later. Sorry to be yucky. Just thought I would what has bean going on in my life.

As every cat owner knows, nobody owns a cat.  ~Ellen Perry Berkeley

Team Human

I think about things other than books. Just not often. (Kidding, kinda)

A couple of days ago I finished Team Human - Sarah Rees Brennan & Justine Larbalestier, it was lighter than I was expecting given the authors, but good.

It got me thinking about writing with some one else though. I have read books that are collaborations but often in a back and forth method between writers. In letter form or like that. This was not like that. There was no break in the story, it was told in one voice, and I wondered what that must be like. Does one person take the lead and another edit? Just how would that work for a thing like a book.
Just wondering.

Oh... my mum is in Ravenclaw.

Back to our reality.

Fire - Kristin Cashmore

In the back of this book there is a section where the author is talking about building a fantasy world, and the words and language that can't be used of else it jars us out of their created world. And yes, when someone is not careful the language it can disrupt what I am reading, but the thing that brings me out the most often,  is the use of contraceptives.  I don't know if it is just because the editor tells them that if something sketchy is going to happen between characters they better put it in, or if we have lived so long in the land of messages of  "safe sex" that if they don't talk about it they feel a gaping hole where the mention of contraceptives has been since they were little.

Anyway, it always brings me back to reality. Especially in fantasy where the setting is quasi medieval. I get lulled into thinking that I might not have to deal with my reality, just the bigger reality of good vs. evil, and then contraceptives enter the picture and lines get blurry again.
In spite of this I did enjoy this sequel to Graceling. I will be reading Bitterblue.

It is slightly disturbing the things that have made it into the subconscious of our society.

Enchanted

*Drum roll* Today's topic is once again books. Surprise!
I bought this book on a whim. RED was considering two books and could not make up her mind, I said pick one and I will get the other. So she did, and so did I. I had never heard of this book, never read a review, had no idea what it was about, and definitely had not read it first. So for flying blind I really liked it.

If you have ever read fairy tales, then some (or all) of the threads in here would be familiar. Which makes sense. In the acknowledgments it is stated that it started as a challenge to write all the fairy tales in one. It is clever and funny, and considering that you can see the ending happening in the first page builds some lovely tension.
Also, pretty cover.

Enchanted - Alethea Kontis

Maybe at some point I will talk about something, anything else. Maybe.

Books, books

This is unintentionally turning into a book blog. I appear to only update when I have to add to the book count.

Went book shopping on Sat. with tremendous results. Nine new books in total. Just finished two of the new ones.
Shadow in Hawthorn Bay - Janet Lunn
This was a quasi sequel to Hallow Tree, which I have read to pieces. It was interesting to re meet characters and the second sight aspect was fun.

And City of Bones - Cassandra Clare, which I have been seeing around for so long I thought it was a travesty that I had never read it. Like a lot a books published now it is in a series, so I will be reading more of them.

Inbox

Keeping life organised has never been one of my failings. I can for the most part keep it together. But I am terrible at keeping my email inbox tidy. I was judging whether I had new mail based on if the inbox was reading higher than 93. No, I am not making that up. So, I decided to do the big girl thing and instead of cleaning the house I cleaned out my inbox. Now it is reading 1. I can't find one unread email. Some where between 2006 and now there is an unread email hanging around in my inbox.
Oh well, never said I could make it spotless.

I finally gave into a Summer craving and reread Girl of the Limberlost - Gene Stratton-Porter
I kept telling myself that I had to read some of the new material that was hanging around before I could cave and reread Summer books. I caved.

Going back through email I came to the realization that at least in 2006 - 7 I was much more active on facebook. I have some many more messages that I never bothered to delete. Now my most common message from facebook reads like this "Christina, you have notifications pending."
Yup, I don't hand out on facebook much anymore.

Wanna see my new shoes? OK.

Pretty, ya? Fluevog's. They restored my faith in pretty shoes after the lousy seasons Spring/Summer 2012 turned out to be. I didn't like the shoes that came out this year. Sigh.

I needed to talk?

Olympics, weather, books, struggles with the parish priest, work, meeting new family, new shoes, these are just a few of the things that have been occupying my mind recently.

I could if pressed speak on any of these. Badly, but I could. Much to my shame trying to translate that into writing is harder.

I have been watching the Olympics. One observation about becoming an adult is that there is less time to obsess about things that when I was younger I had the time to fixate on. It was always easier with the Summer Olympics too because I wasn't in school, I could if I wanted to spend almost all day watching sports. I knew the stats, I knew the events. Bursting full of useless info I was. Now, not so much.

Saturday and Sunday this week I was on the mainland and hot. It was hot at home I heard, but I didn't care that it was hot here, I just cared that it was hot were I was. I was nowhere near a body of water and it was almost 40 degrees. Blarg.
Just in case anyone is curious I function in Celsius. Yup, I measure in feet and inches and drive in kilometers and temperature in Celsius. I am a child of parent raised in imperial taught both American curriculum and am still staunchly Canadian.

I finished Insurgent -Veronica Roth
Still good. It did not hold the tension as well as, say, Hunger Games, but still good.

Jeepers. I hope you didn't read all this.
We will talk aobut my new shoes later.

YA Lit.

Has YA lit. been discussed here? I can't remember.
In most situations I prefer YA to its adult counterpart. Because it is being written for a younger audience the language used to describe the difficult topics is often less harsh. And they don't out right describe skwicky situations. The other thing I find sometimes is YA lit. is better written simply because it cannot rely on shock value, and the people it is aimed at is still supposed to be learning and forming opinions on the use of and the speaking of the English language. Please don't take any of the above to be that I don't read adult works or the that all YA is best, simply that some authors write YA better than adult.
Sharon Shinn is in my opinion one of these people. I have time after time enjoyed her YA books better.

I thoroughly enjoyed Summers At Castle Auburn.

I felt the need to write something, when all I really wanted to do was record that I had finished another book.

musings on food

Have you ever thought consciously about your philosophy with food? I only sorta had. Not to much, just covering the principle that I like food, alot, and that my love of food was stronger than my vanity.

But I think I might have to re-evaluate not only my food philosophy but also the language I use to talk about food. As mentioned often language is powerful, both the negative and the positive.

One of the many things about food that I have been thinking about. All because of a book.
Things follow me about on the internet, but this book followed me out into real life. It kept popping up, so when I saw in on a shelf for sale, I had to get it.

French kids eat everything (and yours can too) - Karen le Billon

Really interesting take on eating habits, in fact if the thought of examining your food philosophy has crossed your mind give it a whirl. Or if you have picky eaters.

IRL

For a couple of months every year people, strange people, come home. And I vacate the internet to go hang out IRL. For a few months every year I have friends. In the plural. Whom I can see. And talk to. Connect with on a deep and personal level fueled by years of mutual understanding and experiences.

No, I am not lonely for most of the year, and yes, I have friends. It is just nice to gather in groups.

Book completed;
Without Fault - Lee Child

To Whom it May Concern

To anyone who recieves customer service,

Please don't be grumpy. It never helps anything.Use this as an opputunity to practice cheerfulness. Pretend to be ok with your life for as long as it takes to get through a line. If the line is long, and you didn't want to be there, chances are high that the cashier is just as frazzled as you are, but they HAVE to smile.

Please don't complain about prices to the cashier, unless it is a very small business and they happen to own the company. The person behind the counter did not decide the price, they have no influence over the price, and definatly did not make you pick up the item in question. If you feel the need to comment on a price chances are high that the last twenty people before you also felt that need. It never makes any ones day better to complain about something that can't be fixed. Please just, don't.

Thank you for listening.

I finished "Why Gender Matters" by Leonard Sax. It amazes me how much common sense is having to be put back into the way we think. For instance, here is a statement that is no longer taken for granted, Boys and Girls are really different. And you think "Duh". Good book.

At work? Really?

I thought about doing this in vlog form, but it isn't counting books for me.

So, I sent my folks off to Long & McQuade with a list, that year-is-ended-and-I need-new-books list, and then I went to work. Around 11 AM I got a phone call I was expecting.

 It was L & M saying, Umm... We don't have the exact book you are looking for? What are you after? So I say "C'est l'extase" by Debussy. L&M says ummm..? I ask if you can search books be songs, fortunaetly she says yes. And then asks me how the title is spelt. OK, I think, I can do this maybe, I mean, I have a year of French under my belt, I have maybe seen the title splet twice? and I am dyslexic, and phonetic speller. No biggy. So I sound out the closest thing that I can come up with. L&M asks "is that an exact spelling?" I don't know, I am at work, without my syllabus. So I ask her to look it up in the new syllabus, and would you believe it, but the reason she could not find it in the RCM Syllabus is becaus they decided to move those Debussy songs from ARCT to Grade 10. GRRRRR. Also, they have scratched "Come Scoglio". Sigh

I re-read Mastiff by Tamora Pierce. I have a wierd relationship with her. Not nearly as bad as Malissa Marr, but I broke that in half and never have to go back and read her book ever again.

RIG gives us the...
Fork

This is a medieval dining skewer. Is that close enough?

P.S. Yes, I bought the new syllabus.
P.P.S. Any spelling mistakes are on my head. Spell check appears to not be working.

I read. Just not always new stuff.

Re-reading books totally counts. It has too, because if it doesn't... well it just has too.

I was talking to RED earlier about the fact that even if we aren't reading books, we are reading something, and that something is often re-reading a book. I have books that I read annually, like an event. I keep coming back to them and garnering more from them, I keep falling in love with the characters, or it is the first re-read and I discover little clues that the author planted early that not knowing the out come I didn't catch the first time, but now make me all tingly on the second time round. 

So I need to count re-reads, in my effort to count how many books I read in a year. I just need to figure out what the label should be called.
Biblio-stalgia? Ya, I think I will go with that.

I have access to the RIG today.
And it came up with... CELLS.

So I give you cells.

Nitty Gritty

These are the topics that should be discussed in depth. My cat, dumb brains, and of course, Cheese.

I should just call this the saga of Tolliver. This post should come with a picture of my cats tail. I got to take him to the vet again, because something bit his tail and he now has wounds and antibiotics and the end of his tail keeps hanging limply down. It looks pathetic. Mostly because of how much is shaved. He looks like a badly shorn poodle.

So that is the cat.

Thought I would share this funny little anecdote;
there was a business card on the back counter at my work and when I passingly glanced at it, I had to frown. It read,
"Name's Mobile Sharpening Services"
What I should have thought was, someone who goes around sharpening knives and things.
What I did think was "How do you sharpen a cellphone?" Ummm... Huh?

I don't live in the UK, I am not British, I have never, out loud, referred to a cell as a mobile, but I do watch to much British TV, obviously.

I have issues. They just don't happen to issues worth having.

Yay, for being done exams. I love cheese. I can't breath and have been snoring up a storm, I have continuous bruises under my eyes, but gosh I love cheese.

Now we have moved to birds.

Just for the sake of an update, I thought I would add that in two days my sweet little kitty went form ineffectively catching flies to full blown hunting. Yesterday it was five shrews, today it was a shrew and a full grown starling. There are feathers everywhere in my house.
Cute cat. (Please hear sarcasm.)

This is what he is now.

I just finished a book about zombie apocalypse called-
Hollowland by Amanda Hocking

Stupid Cat

I feel this is more fitting for my twitter account, but since I don't use i,t this is going here.
For the live update, it is 11:51 AM and I am up to 5 shrew rescues this morning. I am getting really good at grabbing them. Much to my chagrin.

Superwoman

I have spent my morning rescuing shrews. Quite literally. My sweet little kitten finally figured out how to do more than empty a nest of baby birds. Three shrews and it isn't even noon yet. I am supposed to be practicing, not rescuing rodents.

Like a Phoenix

I have a valid reason for disappearing this time. My computer died a tragic and very final death. But now I have a new one. This also happens to the first computer of my life that has never belonged to someone else before coming into my possession. This one is all mine.

About every two days in my computer drought, I would have an idea with the tag in my mind, oh I should blog about that. Yup, not going to happen. And now I don't remember any of those lovely, insightful or humours anecdotes. I have found free books on my kindle though, so I am at biblio-geek x 6? Something like that.

Have you ever planned dinner on a remembered amount of protein, only to go to the fridge and find out that the remembered amount is from last night? I just did that. So, supplementing dinner is tonight's challenge. It would be so much easier with bread and cheese, but those two are on the verboten list.

I am back.

Keep your sanity.

Holding onto sanity is harder during some months versus others. May and June suck. But beyond that... This is simply to say that I finished two books yesterday. I could talk about some of the things going on in my life,but I am getting ready for a concert and an exam that has my life resting on it, plus working part time and still you know, getting my laundry done, my brain doesn't translate that into stories, it translates it into AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH! KILL ME NOW! So the books; Graceling by Kristin Cashmore And Adam and Eve after the pill by Mary Eberstadt. Oh, and my computer died. Really. I am not making this up. iPads are not in the running for a replacement. Nope. Never.

Getting through.

Good Grief! I might never have mentioned that I don't enjoy phone and yet somehow I spent almost 2 hours on the official lines trying to sort out RCM related madness. The first fax that I had to send off at the beginning of March... (not forming coherent sentences blah blah blah.) Anyway, I have no brain I have been chopped, diced, and filleted. Long and short of this weird day is, I did not get registered for my split exam and had to redo it all today under pressure. The situation RED and I are functioning under is odd enough, we are the first people in Canada to do the grade 10 voice split exam. Every time we phone head office we have to do this song and dance just to get through that this is something offered even though no one seems to now that. Did I mention that we are the FIRST people to do this? Ever? Yeah, we have the head office in a tizzy.

My brain is on the fritz. I would take the time to edit this but I kinda don't want to. So if it is full of errors, it is on my shoulders. My sun soaked shoulders. Yup, that is right, the sun came out. No, I am not sunburnt yet.

I did talk to RIG though. And we have....

Picnic Basket. I could not find a funky take on this.

Quote: The phrase "working mother" is redundant.  ~Jane Sellman
Because yesterday was Mother's Day.

BTW, I say and spell it Mum. Because I can.

Over and Out
 

Trying to do laundry.

I am never sure how to start little stories that don't really have a beginning but I still want to share. I just had to laugh at myself today.
So before I went to work this evening I knew I had to put on a load of laundry for the simple fact that I was running out of clothes. But I also knew I had to shower first because I can't run the washer and rinse my hair simultaneously. And what happened? Yes, I forgot to put on the laundry, and I didn't realise until at work I was asked to do ... Laundry. So there I was transferring from the washer and this bolt struck me. A total head desk moment. Call me a forget-it-often flower. Shower? Check. Laundry? Nope.
So all I really wanted in that moment was to go home and do my own laundry, because a) I had remembered that I have no clothes. b) I just really wanted to go home. Stuck at work doing the chore I had forgot to do at home which has slightly more dire consequences. (NO CLOTHES)
Oh, the irony.
Oh well.

I finished Penhallow finally. My gosh it was weird. No one died until about 70% of the book was finished and on top of that, the murder was describe as it happened and then, yes, more weird stuff, it was not solved by the police and then it ended. Like I said, weird.

I happen to like both Agatha Christie and Georgette Heyer. They can both be a little formulaic, but always enjoyable. But on the odd occasion they come up with loopy books. I just have to sit and shake my head. This one goes in the funky pile.

No RIG tonight.

Quote:
There is no snooze button on a cat who wants breakfast.  ~Author Unknown

Family Pictures

It is so easy to not write on this blog, but I am trying to not disappear totally.
My family had a professional portrait taken for the first time in 20 years yesterday. My father and I have evaded mum and her desire to capture us on film for a long time, but we caved and the end results were more pleasing than I anticipated. When we get our copies I might scan them in and show the world. Might.

Quote: Life is simple, it's just not easy.  ~Author Unknown


Random Image Generator.

I think RIG is being cheeky. We haven't needed sunglasses yet, and I am loosing hope that we will need them at all.

Have you won the lottery?

I haven't. But I never buy a ticket, so that might influence my chances a little.

The currency of money for random services rendered can sometimes lead to odd days. Today was one such day. I receive a paycheque so that I can write cheques to other people and then my money is gone and I receive that which I pay for, and then go back to render service for money, in order to repeat the process.

One of the problems with being in school is that I pay people money to teach me, so that I can earn more money, but since I haven't got the higher paying job yet, I am still not rich.

This is only on my mind because I got a Summer performance dress today and it wasn't cheap. I got what I paid for, and I can and will wear it for the next ten years, but I would much have rather bought books. Because I am like that.

Was this really tacky? I know I shouldn't talk money, politics or religion in public, but this isn't really public and I never once mentioned an amount. That is just wrong. So I didn't. Have I spoken yet about politics? I know I've talked religion and I just did money. My word, there is no hope of my ever learning social graces, is there?
Sigh. I did so hope to grow into a socially acceptable young lady.

I have no random image generator once again, so the picture is up to me.

Ascot Races, 1926

Pretty, no?
Quote: When I have money, I get rid of it quickly, lest it find a way into my heart.  ~John Wesley

HAPPY MAY DAY

Ending on a high note.

And we come to the end of a month of nothings. Did I add to the overall goodness of the world? Have I said a single thing that could improve anyone's life? Probably not. Has my typing got much better? Not really. I have to start at the beginning again and unlearn all my bad habits. But I am not letting any of these insignificant things deter me. I will not be brought down. Positive thinking and all that junk.

This years BEDA reminded me of this years Lent. Not a lot happened.

 My gosh, I am having one of the most groan worthy, first world problem riddled years. I laugh at how sad I think my own lack of growth is. Good things have happened, I still have a job, I am preparing for one of the biggest exams of my life and I want to b***h about my lack of personal and spiritual growth. Can anyone say goof?

On an upbeat, I made mini shortcake so we can have strawberry shortcake for dessert tonight.

Wow. I am a bucket of cheer. I am actually quite happy. It just is not apparent form the above.

So, I hit a minor stumbling block on the books from the library but I picked up Penhallow again. My kindle tells me I am over half way now. Gosh, I have never taken this long on Georgette Heyer. I think I am losing my touch. Maybe I don't know how to read any more? Oh well.

My new random image generator came up with a...

Rock. So there we have it.

Quote: “A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.”
― George Bernard Shaw

Pesto, food of minor gods.

My mum must approve of my pasta habit. She bought me a treat, one that she hates the smell of and still she loves me enough to buy something that makes her feel sick. Pesto. I adore pesto. I could and do eat it on everything. I eat pesto the way some people eat ketchup. And because of the herbaceous smell and bright green colour it feels healthy. My mummy loves me. Bunches. For which I will forever be thankful.

The random image generator had to go home so it could go to work. I have to come up with an image on my own. I can promise it wont be nearly as funny.
...

I tried. I just don't have that particular talent.

So have this instead.

Quote: “It would seem that you have no useful skill or talent whatsoever," he said. "Have you thought of going into teaching?”
― Terry Pratchett

DAY TWENTY-NINE

Counting down the days.

At several points today I had the thought, "oh that would be a great post", but being at work or wherever, I could not write it up, and am now left at the end of the day with brain suck once again.

BEDA is almost over and I cannot say I will be sorry. I might keep posting more often than I had been, but definitely not every day. The well of interesting things to say is not that deep in me.

For my record keeping I just finished The False Prince - Jennifer A. Nielsen

I think everything I ever say is that I have nothing to say. Which might be totally true. Some people are here to have thoughts and others must be here to hear thoughts. I hear. I feel that listeners are not appreciated fully. But someone has to listen to all the hot air being blown over the world.

I'm not feeling particularly lucid right now, so I am cutting myself off there.

And the random generator once again comes up with the most odd junk. Really.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bactirium that causes most cases of tuberculosis.

 

DAY TWENTY-EIGHT

Because I'm lazy. Or something.

I was thinking of doing an unofficial 7 quick takes but I don't have that much  raw material.

But here we go..
1. I love the 2005 edition of P&P. The characters have been made real and believable, which if you take straight Austen, they can be a little goofy. don't get me wrong, I LOVE Austen,just that it was nice in the movie that the people were believable.

2. Also both the cinematography and soundtrack were awesome, which is very important to me. I can't think of a time when I have ever loved a badly shot movie just because the story was good.

3. When I have to only feed myself I never want to cook, which is sad because if it is only me I can make whatever I wanted with no food preferences to ruin my life.

4. I happen to really like fictional characters with sticky fingers. Have I ever told you that?

5. Yup... drawing a black. I ran out after four. Sad really.

6. “You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write it for children.”
― Madeleine L'Engle
I happen to love children's books. I often think they are better written.

7. The image generator came up with a bat wing this time. my goal is to play slightly on the suggestion, so without further ado... a bat wing.

DAY TWENTY-SEVEN

We are really close.

Please use your library.

Library's should be utilized as often as possible. I just hitchhiked on someone else card and consequently I have to many books to read. One down, five to go.

Nothing to say otherwise. Really.

This is for my new thing of cataloging how many and which books I read in a year.
The Morning Gift - Eva Ibbotson

The random generator of images asked for a screwdriver tonight. I hope this is the random item they were thinking of.

Quote: “Opera is when a guy gets stabbed in the back and, instead of bleeding, he sings.”
― Robert Benchley

DAY TWENTY-SIX

One should never have days off. They make one more tired when one has to go back to work. Also If one gets up at 5am one's eyes get tired by evening and one can't finish one's book. Blarg.

This is only for the sake of BEDA. If I wasn't doing it this would never exist.

Random Image

The random generator asked for a bear claw. It did not specify what kind.

Quote:“Never trust anyone who has not brought a book with them.”
― Lemony Snicket, Horseradish: Bitter Truths You Can't Avoid

DAY TWENTY-FIVE

Not a movie review.

If I only discover little personal quirks once, they just pass out of my mind, because I am not reminded. Last night I was reminded of one I discovered in Disneyland. I am a giggler.  People have many different  responses to excitement, like a ride, some gulp, some scream, some grip, others look away. I laugh.

Last night I went to watch Cabin in the Woods. I would not recommend  this movie unless you enjoy the genre of horror. It was my first horror film, but I have experienced horror on Supernatural and I knew that I could enjoy it. But I had a fear. I didn't want to scream.

Fortunately there was no screaming, only much giggling.

This is not going to be a review of Cabin in the Woods. I suggest you only watch it if you like horror, Joss Whedon and are old enough to get into an R-rated movie. All I really wanted to say was I'm happy I'm a giggler.

Now for an image of randomness from my personal generator.

This is a blue button.

DAY TWENTY-FOUR

Not Shopping.

Shopping on the internet is by far my favorite way to shop. I don't have to deal with pushy sales people. There are no rush decisions, I can add something to the cart and think about it for days. Right now as I type, I am shopping for new summer sheets. My old one are dying. Like coming apart at the seems, dying.

But I have to think some more. Which is why the interwebs are amazing.

DAY TWENTY-THREE

Many Half Baked Ideas

Um... I have half formed ideas for several posts, but this is April, and I never fill out my ideas anyway. I gave up doing that when I finished my last exam with essay portions.

I was yawnig so hard this morning I thought my jaw was going to dislocate.

Growing friendships is work. Very rewarding work.

Trying to keep up with a bunch of sports without spare time is rough. (Case in point; I am watching a hockey while doing this.)

I pre-ordered the second season of Sherlock today. I almost bought it in Oxford. It was sitting behind the counter in Blackwell's and I sooooo wanted to buy it, but any DVD I bought there would never work here, so I refrained. I tacked it up to just another thing I have against living here. I love it most of the time, unless it comes to books, TV and choirs. Also old stuff.

My days are not long enough. Or I am just to dang tired to take advantage of the remaining day. I don't even have kids and I'm this knackered.  Sheesh, what a wimp.

I have to start practicing actual typing again. What I do is just not going to cut it.

Quote: A gentleman is one who never hurts anyone's feelings unintentionally.
Oscar Wilde

This baby rattle is an act of randomness. I asked for a suggestion of an object. This is what I got. Why do baby toys have to make so much noise?

 DAY TWENTY-TWO

Recreate?

Why the constant need to recreate stuff?
And yes, Blogger I am targeting you right now.
I get redoing some things, but, but...
Oh fine. I like when people rewrite fairy tales. Not always, but there has been more than one successful retelling done. I also collect versions of  the Twelve Dancing Princesses. So I can't be totally against the re-vamp.
Mostly I don't like it when people move stuff on my computer, I am too close to being a Luddite, that this messing with things always leaves me close to the edge of not being able to find anything. And I have control issues, I don't like not being able to find junk.
GRRR! Oh well. I must carry on.

Quote: A room without books is like a body without a soul.
 Cicero, (Attributed)
Roman author, orator, & politician (106 BC - 43 BC)










DAY TWENTY-ONE

Work shmorck.

Got called into work tonight. BOOM! That was the sound of all my plans.

But this morning I finished a book. So that was better. And I think I came up with the name for the tag I am going to use to track my book progress. Biblio-geek. How does that sound? Huh? Yeah, thought so too.

It was the Dragon Tooth one. I liked it, also it was the first in a series, which is always good, if it continues to be well written and interesting.

Now I have to go finish my laundry. It got interrupted.

DAY NINETEEN

Ramblings.

I can't seem to read and work at the same time. I mean my books do not progress. At all.
So I can't talk about that.
The sorting news we got yesterday.
The Canucks look like they are winning but the game isn't over yet.
I'm tired?  But that isn't a topic.
Gosh, my brain is a barren wasteland.
I painted my fingernails mint green?
Really I have nothing to add to the over all info of the world that will not suck.
So I think I will leave it at that.
DFTBA

DAY EIGHTEEN

I can breathe now.

So much happier now. And validated. I was right all along and someone just told me so. Nice feeling being right. Also I get to act just as happy as I feel because RED is in Ravenclaw. So no one wants to cry.

(Happy Dance.)

Did I say tonight would be more interesting? I lied. I do so periodically. Not often, but it does happen.

I am just fangirling. And yes, that is a word. Don't mind me. Tomorrow might be more sane? Maybe?

DAY SEVENTEEN

Sweet Jehoshaphat!

One of the reasons I don't blog everyday and/or read more than one book at a time is that I simply don't have time to execute everything to my satisfaction.

I still have not finished any of those books I talked about the other day. And this writing thing is an after thought at the end of a busy day. So don't expect eloquence.

I had to colour my music today. That was different and fun. Hopefully it works. 

Gosh, I am dead on my feet. So this is the end of an uninspiring post. But... tomorrow I am being sorted in to a house in Pottermore. That post should be more fun, if I am not crying in a corner. I am anxious. I might tell you the results though. Maybe. Oh boy. I so don't want to be Gryffindor.

My preferred house is the top right corner. Fingers crossed.

DAY SIXTEEN

I have had a day.

So my day to this point.
5:00am: Up and get ready for my day to begin.
It takes me forever to eat in the morning because my tummy isn't awake and it doesn't want to eat.
7:00am till 2:pm Work.
2:30 Divine Mercy service in which I had to lead all the singing.
My mum broke the news when she picked me up that we where haveing company for dinner. So at
3:40pm we went grocery shopping.
When we got home my email had finally arrived from Pottermore, so I spent some time doing that.
Then 5:00pm our company arrived and they just left.
There is a very important hockey game on, and I am knackered.
Over and out.

DAY FIFTEEN

This is why...

I never read more than one book at a time. Because It takes forever to finish even one of them. GRRRRR.
These are the books I am currently reading. (No judging!)

The Dragon's Tooth by N.D. Wilson

There will be no synopsis because I haven't finished these ones yet. Soon, but not yet.

Penhallow by Georgette Heyer

And lastly; A Brief History of Britain 1066-1485 by Nicholas Vincent

If I had something Catholic in that mix it would basically be my insides as books. Oh, that image is yuck. Never mind.
I think I will come up with a codename that I will use to indicate that I have finished a book, and then the tag numbers on here will count them for me. Good idea?

To Start My Old Age

I think my allergies are getting worse as I get older. I had to drug myself up on Benadryl just to make the world clearer and my skin stop itching. Also I spend my mornings doing that. (Arrow pointing down)

I love spring?
It is almost bedtime so I think I will leave this short.
More tomorrow? Maybe?

Title.

I listen quite well, but I don't actually have much to say, or at least not everyday. Which is one of the hardest parts of BEDA.
Did I tell you about Tolliver? Well, we left for the weekend and I when come home he is limping. Yup, that is right, his first cat fight results in a trip to the vet. He is not even a year old. This cat is going to cost me before he dies.
I am reading three books right now. Normally I will read one at a time, so this is distracting.
Would anyone like to know what I am reading? Should I count how many books I read in a year?
Don't know.
I think in the future we should talk about the books I re-read.
Anyhoo...
Going now.

Short and Dolce

If it would interest you I have a movie recommendation.
"We Bought a Zoo" is a lovely movie that can be watched by everyone. It is rated PG. I happen to be found of family approved movies. I laughed, I cried, I thought they handled grief well, the funny and the tragedy.

DAY ELEVEN

Post Script: If the Hunger Games interest you I just found this link and you might like it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=At3XDMUCZ-8

Bits and Bobs

I thought this could be some disjointed thoughts.

1) I love chocolate. I had to give in to a cliche this lent, and give up chocolate because I was suffering from an honest-to-goodness addiction. I back in chocolate land and life is so much better.

2) If I never get to have my own kids, I still have the bestest nieces and nephews ever.

3) I am going to the opera again tonight. This will be my 16th? opera, and I still don't really like them. Plus it means I will not have a good night sleep and an early morning at work.

4) I do get to go book shopping today though, so that kinda makes up for it.

I think that is it for now.

DAY TEN

Auntie Twink

I missed the last two days of BEDA for a very good reason. I was out of country without my computer. If that isn't a valid reason then I will never come up with one.
We went to the States for Easter to be with my oldest nephew, for his First Communion.
I spent a lovely two days being Auntie Twink.
But I am back on the wagon now, so expect more in the coming days.

DAY NINE

Good Friday.

This is the place were I would say something profound and fitting for the day, but I have no words.

As a cradle Catholic, I have functioned in a liturgical year my entire life. It is what I do. If I ever fell away from my faith I would probably still think in a liturgical year. I rejoice in this, because I have seen in the people around me how barren a year can be if you just celebrate the joyful part of any holyday. And on this day that secular people do not credit to be part of Easter, I am glad that I know different and wishful that they did too.

DAY SIX

I'm less grumpy.

Sorry about yesterday. I sounded... gruff? Anyway, I finished my book and Chelsea got through to the semi-finals. So after I left here things went well. I was reading "A Posse of Princesses". I borrowed it from RED, and if you would like her opinion here is a link;
http://redbookreviews.blogspot.ca/2012/03/posse-of-princesses.html
The only thing I would add is that Sherwood Smith balances the age of her heroine nicely. Often with YA the characters can sound either wildly young and not self reflective at all or just too dang old. It is a rough age to write, middle teen years. I make no claim about being able but, I like it when they nail it. Her characters recognize that they are 16 and so realize that some of their actions are silly, they are also on the cusp of adulthood and make some wise choices. I just think she captured the balance.
So, good book.

DAY FIVE

This is brief.

I want to go read my book. And watch the recorded football game. It is the UEFA Champions League.
So excuse this lame post as me doing my duty and not missing a day. I'm tired. I had to haul ten 70lb bales of hay into someone truck and then go to the gym. And I still want to go read my book.

DAY FOUR

Pennies

Down With The Penny!

My country has finally seen the light and in the fall we will stop making pennies. Huzzah! Since beginning my career in giving people change for twenty dollar bills, I have become a firm hater of the penny. Also I have seen the math and listened to some smart people talk about the penny. And New Zealand is doing just fine without it.

So, yay us! We are getting rid of our penny. I will of course save some to show my children.
On a less approving note. The new plastic money sticks together. It can make life difficult. And it just doesn't feel like money. But I approve of no pennies, so I can forgive about the plastic money, and I am sure that in time I will become used to it. I hope.

NO MORE OF THESE BABIES!

DAY THREE
Post Script: If you are interested you can watch the No Pennies things here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nU4E6SSy5Yg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5UT04p5f7U&feature=youtu.be
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77C47XYm_3c&feature=youtu.be
Have fun.

3D

I finally saw Hunger Games yesterday. Fortunately for my sake it was not as powerful as the book. I would have not been able to sit in the theater if it had been.
As an adaptation of a book I thought they did well. Having the author co-write the screen play probably  helped.
The cinematography was effective and the sound track did not distract me.
But the thing I was most thankful for was that it was not in 3D. If it had been in 3D it would have been more about the effects and not the story. Which is how had to be told if this book was going to become a movie worth watching. And I thought they did well.

DAY TWO

I don't prank.

First of all it is Palm Sunday. Just thought I would mention this so that you know I have higher thoughts in my mind, because I sound like a heathen for the rest of this. It is about...

Second, Happy April fools.

Third, it is the beginning of BEDA, again, so soon. And now if you want there will be material form moi, to read.
  
Back to April Fools. Imagination is used in so many aspects of life, and how it is used differs for the circumstance. Someone who is a brilliant creative writer might not be able to decorate a room. Etc. etc. and so forth.
I lack imagination in many aspects of my life. Pulling pranks is one. I cannot think up a decent prank, and most certainly cannot execute. Always wished I could, though. The camaraderie that pulls people together to pull off the trick has always pulled at me. I figure but don't know for sure that maybe a feeling like that exists between siblings. I had hoped that maybe they were close and that I could pull pranks and by proxy get siblings, but I can't prank. So, that was that. April Fools is just the first day of April for me. Not a day to show of a talent, and gain family. Oh well.

Post Script: I do have adopted siblings. They adopted me, so I didn't have to be spectacularly selfish. And suffer from unending Only Child Syndrome.

DAY ONE.

Post Post Script: It is the first day of April and the daffodils have not bloomed yet. Are we getting Spring? Ever?

Post Post Post Script: Should I use pictures more?

My Soap Box.

Allow me to get on my soap box. I don't often rise to this height, and very rarely about a book, if I am not directly talking to someone, and able to gauge their reaction.

But since convincing my mother to start this series,which was an uphill battle, I think I will rise and speak.
(BTW she doesn't like mythology.)

Please, if you have ever liked a book, any book, something written and then published, read this trilogy.

http://bookshelvesofdoom.blogs.com/bookshelves_of_doom/2006/02/my_letter_to_me.html

(If you have never read a librarians blog about books, now is the time. I just thought this would be a good link to start with.)

Dear Book of Knowledge,
I would never have loved con men or thieves to the degree that I do, without you, and your beautiful books, Megan Whalen Turner.
Thank you.
I fall deep into these snapshots of a different world, each shaped and written so well, that I can never go back and read just my favorite bits, I re-read from the front cover. All the time.
Really, thank-you.
Christina

I don't get on this box often, I find I am a little rusty.
Anyway, go READ.
NOW!