1. Music feeds the mind, body and soul.
2. A sleepy hug from SF is what I like first thing in the morning.
3. The first thing I said this morning was: "do we have to?".
4. Snow crab legs and a salad; it's what's for dinner tonight.
5. It's all been worth it to get to this point in my life.
6. Floating in the pool with music and a cold beverage is what I feel like doing right now.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to finishing the Clementine and some quality time with SF, tomorrow my plans include going to the gym and then to see "Eat, Love Pray" with SF and Sunday, I want to swim and start on the Multnomah!
Friday, August 13, 2010
Thursday, August 12, 2010
What are your reading habits?
Amy posted this on her blog. It was due to a post she read on Chan's blog called “How Do You Book?” I loved the answers on both, so I thought I would keep it going. It also fits right in with the swap that Amy is running and I am a participant in. Not to mention that I know that Amy is my spoiler
1. Favorite childhood book?
Wow, what a difficult one. Growing up in Memphis our dad fixed everything in the house. When our TV broke he was going to school at night and working all day. So, we all took up reading more than we already did. I read every book in the childrens' section before I entered the eighth grade. I would say that The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame is at the top of the list. So much so that when my original hardback version was lost I promptly purchased a new version. The only lament was that I could not find a hard-back version.
2. What are you reading right now?
Currently I'm reading The Victorian Internet by Tom Standage and Shoe Addicts Anonymous by Beth Harbison. The first is the second book from my July Out of the Box Reading group. I will reserve any reviews until I finish. The second was part of my birthday package from Megan back in 2008. She gave me five wonderful books and I am just getting to them. So far it is an easy read and I am enjoying the change of pace from some of my previous choices.
3. What books do you have on request at the library?
None at the moment, as I have six paperbacks on the shelf as the "Next In Line" candidates.
4. Bad book habit?
Interesting question. I don't have any that I can think of at the moment. I treat all of them with reverence. So much so that you can hardly tell that I have read them, when in fact I have read all of them at least twice.
5. What do you currently have checked out at the library?
Nothing, because of question number three.
6. Do you have an e-reader?
Not yet, but I am considering one for a number of reason. I like the idea that I can "take" a large number of them with me which is ideal for travel and vacations. I also like the fact that I can load PDF files which would allow me to take my knitting patterns with me when I travel or go to knit night. I doubt it will ever replace actual books for me but it would be a welcome addition as a supplement.
7. Do you prefer to read one book at a time, or several at once.
Normally I have at least two going at one time. I like to keep a non-fiction/learning book in the mix so sometimes I have three at a time. I really do try and divide my attention to them equally but I will admit that if one gets me more involved than the other it will garner all of my attention until I am ready to move back or I finish with it.
8. Have your reading habits changed since starting a blog?
The habits have not changed but the variety of genres and authors has been complemented by those I have come to know. It has changed how I write and how I view a few things in general.
9. Least favorite book you read this year (so far?)
So far, it would have to be My Lesbian Husband. I read it after it was recommended to me. The title did have a certain appeal for personal reasons but I found the book slow and choppy. I realize that it is her memoir, so I tried to be objective but it took me three months to finish. That is too long for me, especially when you consider that I can read one book from The Wheel of Time series in a few weeks and they are each at least 700+ pages and tiny print (7.5 font).
10. Favorite book you’ve read this year?
So far it would have to be The Beekeeper's Apprentice. It was book number one from the July Out of the Box reading group and I was immediately drawn in and engulfed in the book. I am now a Mary Russell addict and I will be getting the remainder of the series as soon as I get at least four of the six books in waiting finished.
11. How often do you read out of your comfort zone?
Not nearly as often as I should. I have a tendency to get hooked by an author and read everything they have published. Or, I see what books are similar by looking at the profiles on Amazon/Barnes and Noble/Borders and reading from those.
12. What is your reading comfort zone?
Dystopian, Sci-Fi, Mystery and historical romance
13. Can you read on the bus?
I have to go completely with Amy's answer, as it is EXACTLY what I would have written, "Not unless you want me to puke on you. I can’t read in any moving vehicle, save for an airplane."
14. Favorite place to read?
I have two places. When the weather is not so horrid I love to read out by the pool. I take my glass of water and don my wide brimmed hat and sit in my favorite lounge chair poolside. The sound of the water from the spill over out of the hot tub into the main pool is quite soothing. It is not as loud as our actual waterfall so it does not deter from the serenity of the surroundings. Otherwise, I prefer to read in "my room". I have a wonderful Danish Drop chair (similar to the one in the link) that was my parents' first chair when they were married. I love to go in there, turn on the ceiling fan and open the curtains and blinds. The serenity of the room allows me to fully engage in the characters and the plot without distractions. I have never been able to read before going to bed, as my mind will not stop with the book even after I go to sleep. I will wake up exhausted every time.
15. What is your policy on book lending?
This is a sore one for me. I let one person I really trusted borrow my original copy of The Great Gatsby. Mind you, it was paperback and I had read it at least four times that I could recall. I cried when he returned it. The front cover was missing. Several pages had been torn and taped. Several more had edges missing, torn or chewed. And there were stains on numerous pages. He didn't offer any apologies or offer to replace it. I don't think I have ever lent one since. If I no longer want a book, I will add it to a box for local schools in poor sections of town and then drop off the box when it is full. At least then I don't have to know what condition they wind up in after reading.
16. Do you ever dog-ear books?
NEVER! I own at least three dozen book markers and use them or an index card zealously.
17. Do you ever write in the margins of your books?
Never. I write the date purchased in the front sometimes but I never write in the books.
18. Not even with text books?
Depends on the book and the subject. I had some books that I used in the first two years of college that showed no visible signs of use and I got almost the full price back from the book store when I sold them.
19. What is your favorite language to read in?
When I was still in high school I could read French but I am out of practice so English is the best I can do at this point.
20. What makes you love a book?
Good question! Many times it is just the author that makes me love the book. If I like their style I usually like all of there books. That is not always true but I would say that 90% of the time it happens to be so. Otherwise, I have to like the plot. If the plot pulls me in then I look to the characters to keep me enraptured.
21. What will inspire you to recommend a book?
I have always enjoyed sharing book recommendations. My sister and I share them most often, as she reads about three books a month since she takes the train to work and also takes it to see my parents from time to time. I envy here that she can read in moving vehicles, as it seems I am the only child in my immediate family that cannot. We are pretty blunt when we review books, so I know upfront if she thinks it is a thumbs up or a thumbs down. I think that her living in NJ and working in NYC makes her fairly blunt too, so I know I can count on that when I ask her.
22. Favorite genre?
Toss up between Dystopian and Sci-Fi.
23. Genre you rarely read (but wish you did?)
This sounds odd even while I type it but I wish I could enjoy westerns and historical fiction more than I seem to be able to do.
24. Favorite biography?
25. Have you ever read a self-help book?
Many of them over the last thirty years. Some were work related but most were personal. Some were pre-divorce from John and some were after I started my relationship with SWCNLBN. I found each one to be helpful and I have retained many of the lessons learned. I think that these books are often misunderstood and people often feel ashamed of admitting the reading of such material.
26. Favorite cookbook?
Hands down, Relaxed Cooking with Curtis Stone. I fell in love with him when I was watching Take Home Chef on TLC. I was sad to see the show end and have followed him ever since. I want to get his other books as well.
27. Most inspirational book you’ve read this year (fiction or non-fiction)?
I don't have one yet. I have been concentrating on enjoyment thus far. I think that Water for Elephants will likely qualify and it is next up in the queue. I also have The God of Small Things in the queue and I am not sure about it but my sister was moved by it.
28. Favorite reading snack?
I don't usually eat while I read. I don't want to risk damages to the book. I do indulge in hot tea while reading indoors and adult beverages if reading in the evening. While outside it is usually water or cranberry juice over crushed ice.
29. Name a case in which hype ruined your reading experience.
Oddly enough, I can't think of any. I try whenever possible to read the book well in advance of seeing any movie based upon a book. That way I can understand the movie better. I can say that I have only seen one of the Twilight movies and have no real plans to see the rest but I did not read any more of the books either. They fall outside my genre base and that sums that up in a nutshell.
30. How often do you agree with critics about a book?
The only critics I care about are my friends and relatives. I cannot recall ever buying a book because it was on any particular top reading list or show.
31. How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews?
I try to be objective with my reviews but if I think it blows then you will know that by my review. If you have questions about my review, ask me.
32. If you could read in a foreign language, which language would you chose?
Wow! German or Russian would top the list but I would also add French back in there too.
33. Most intimidating book you’ve ever read?
Haven't found it yet but I'll be sure to let you know when I do.
34. Most intimidating book you’re too nervous to begin?
Same answer as number thirty-three.
35. Favorite Poet?
Seriously, who can pick just one. I have a few: Khalil Gibran, Edna St Vincent Millay, Carl Sandburg and William Shakespeare.
36. How many books do you usually have checked out of the library at any given time?
Five is normal. Of those, three of them are usually reference materials such as cook books or knitting books and the remaining two are for pleasure.
37. How often have you returned book to the library unread?
Can't recall ever checking out one that I didn't read.
38. Favorite fictional character?
Gandalf from J.R.R. Tolkien's books.
39. Favorite fictional villain?
O'Brien from Nineteen Eighty-four. Classic antagonist in a dystopian society.
40. Books I”m most likely to bring on vacation.
I have never really been one to take books on vacation; however, the addition of an eReader may change that. I do; however, bring crossword puzzles and knitting.
41. The longest I’ve gone without reading.
Not more than three months. I have never been able to leave books alone and prefer them over TV. Only my knitting gets more of my attention than books.
42. Name a book that you could/would not finish.
Haven't found one yet. I always finish one once I start it, no matter how long it takes or how much I may dislike it.
43. What distracts you easily when you’re reading?
Not much, as I try to devote time set aside to read so that there are less likely to be distractions. Exceptions are phone calls or the pets getting into mischief. They are a lot like kids...if it is too quiet it is best to check out what they are doing.
44. Favorite film adaptation of a novel?
I think that I would have to go with the Lord of the Ring movies. I think that Peter Jackson did an amazing job at taking Tolkien's visions and translating them to the screen. I also think that technology was in Jackson's favor to be able to create the images.
45. Most disappointing film adaptation?
Flowers in the Attic was the worst to me so far. I was a HUGE V.C. Andrews follower and had read everything she had published up until 1990. It was nothing like the book and I still regret spending money to see it.
46. The most money I’ve ever spent in the bookstore at one time?
I doubt I could really be accurate with this one. I know that I have spent several hundred at a time for college course books but that doesn't really count. For personal consideration I would guesstimate that it would be around $75.00, except during the holidays when I buy books as Christmas gifts.
47. How often do you skim a book before reading it?
Depends on the book. If it is by an author I know I won't skim art all. If it was highly recommended by family or friends I won't skim either. However, if I am trolling through the book store for new books to broaden my horizons, I will skim.
48. What would cause you to stop reading a book half-way through?
Nothing that I can think of since it has never happened.
49. Do you like to keep your books organized?
Absolutely! I am a total nerd when it comes to this. They are alphabetically stored by medium. Paperbacks are together and hardbacks are together. Reference is divided into categories and then alphabetized. I should have been a librarian I suppose.
50. Do you prefer to keep books or give them away once you’ve read them?
If space were unlimited I would keep every one of them. Since that is not the case, I keep only the ones I know I would read again and then I donate the rest. The only exceptions are reference materials.
51. Are there any books you’ve been avoiding?
Sappy romance books like Harlequin and total gore. Add Christian fiction to that as well.
52. Name a book that made you angry.
Can't recall one that made me angry but the very nature of the dystopian genre is rage against the establishment. I guess that is why I like them so very much.
53. A book you didn’t expect to like but did?
Probably All the Pretty Horses. I was a fan of Cormac McCarthy from his book Blood Meridian so I had expected to like this one as well. I think I should possibly revisit this one, as I read it while I was starting the first phases of my divorce and was not really in the mood for romance I suppose.
55. Favorite guilt-free, pleasure reading?
I love historical romance books. Characters that I can loose myself in while I soak in bubble bath with a good glass of wine.
1. Favorite childhood book?
Wow, what a difficult one. Growing up in Memphis our dad fixed everything in the house. When our TV broke he was going to school at night and working all day. So, we all took up reading more than we already did. I read every book in the childrens' section before I entered the eighth grade. I would say that The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame is at the top of the list. So much so that when my original hardback version was lost I promptly purchased a new version. The only lament was that I could not find a hard-back version.
2. What are you reading right now?
Currently I'm reading The Victorian Internet by Tom Standage and Shoe Addicts Anonymous by Beth Harbison. The first is the second book from my July Out of the Box Reading group. I will reserve any reviews until I finish. The second was part of my birthday package from Megan back in 2008. She gave me five wonderful books and I am just getting to them. So far it is an easy read and I am enjoying the change of pace from some of my previous choices.
3. What books do you have on request at the library?
None at the moment, as I have six paperbacks on the shelf as the "Next In Line" candidates.
4. Bad book habit?
Interesting question. I don't have any that I can think of at the moment. I treat all of them with reverence. So much so that you can hardly tell that I have read them, when in fact I have read all of them at least twice.
5. What do you currently have checked out at the library?
Nothing, because of question number three.
6. Do you have an e-reader?
Not yet, but I am considering one for a number of reason. I like the idea that I can "take" a large number of them with me which is ideal for travel and vacations. I also like the fact that I can load PDF files which would allow me to take my knitting patterns with me when I travel or go to knit night. I doubt it will ever replace actual books for me but it would be a welcome addition as a supplement.
7. Do you prefer to read one book at a time, or several at once.
Normally I have at least two going at one time. I like to keep a non-fiction/learning book in the mix so sometimes I have three at a time. I really do try and divide my attention to them equally but I will admit that if one gets me more involved than the other it will garner all of my attention until I am ready to move back or I finish with it.
8. Have your reading habits changed since starting a blog?
The habits have not changed but the variety of genres and authors has been complemented by those I have come to know. It has changed how I write and how I view a few things in general.
9. Least favorite book you read this year (so far?)
So far, it would have to be My Lesbian Husband. I read it after it was recommended to me. The title did have a certain appeal for personal reasons but I found the book slow and choppy. I realize that it is her memoir, so I tried to be objective but it took me three months to finish. That is too long for me, especially when you consider that I can read one book from The Wheel of Time series in a few weeks and they are each at least 700+ pages and tiny print (7.5 font).
10. Favorite book you’ve read this year?
So far it would have to be The Beekeeper's Apprentice. It was book number one from the July Out of the Box reading group and I was immediately drawn in and engulfed in the book. I am now a Mary Russell addict and I will be getting the remainder of the series as soon as I get at least four of the six books in waiting finished.
11. How often do you read out of your comfort zone?
Not nearly as often as I should. I have a tendency to get hooked by an author and read everything they have published. Or, I see what books are similar by looking at the profiles on Amazon/Barnes and Noble/Borders and reading from those.
12. What is your reading comfort zone?
Dystopian, Sci-Fi, Mystery and historical romance
13. Can you read on the bus?
I have to go completely with Amy's answer, as it is EXACTLY what I would have written, "Not unless you want me to puke on you. I can’t read in any moving vehicle, save for an airplane."
14. Favorite place to read?
I have two places. When the weather is not so horrid I love to read out by the pool. I take my glass of water and don my wide brimmed hat and sit in my favorite lounge chair poolside. The sound of the water from the spill over out of the hot tub into the main pool is quite soothing. It is not as loud as our actual waterfall so it does not deter from the serenity of the surroundings. Otherwise, I prefer to read in "my room". I have a wonderful Danish Drop chair (similar to the one in the link) that was my parents' first chair when they were married. I love to go in there, turn on the ceiling fan and open the curtains and blinds. The serenity of the room allows me to fully engage in the characters and the plot without distractions. I have never been able to read before going to bed, as my mind will not stop with the book even after I go to sleep. I will wake up exhausted every time.
15. What is your policy on book lending?
This is a sore one for me. I let one person I really trusted borrow my original copy of The Great Gatsby. Mind you, it was paperback and I had read it at least four times that I could recall. I cried when he returned it. The front cover was missing. Several pages had been torn and taped. Several more had edges missing, torn or chewed. And there were stains on numerous pages. He didn't offer any apologies or offer to replace it. I don't think I have ever lent one since. If I no longer want a book, I will add it to a box for local schools in poor sections of town and then drop off the box when it is full. At least then I don't have to know what condition they wind up in after reading.
16. Do you ever dog-ear books?
NEVER! I own at least three dozen book markers and use them or an index card zealously.
17. Do you ever write in the margins of your books?
Never. I write the date purchased in the front sometimes but I never write in the books.
18. Not even with text books?
Depends on the book and the subject. I had some books that I used in the first two years of college that showed no visible signs of use and I got almost the full price back from the book store when I sold them.
19. What is your favorite language to read in?
When I was still in high school I could read French but I am out of practice so English is the best I can do at this point.
20. What makes you love a book?
Good question! Many times it is just the author that makes me love the book. If I like their style I usually like all of there books. That is not always true but I would say that 90% of the time it happens to be so. Otherwise, I have to like the plot. If the plot pulls me in then I look to the characters to keep me enraptured.
21. What will inspire you to recommend a book?
I have always enjoyed sharing book recommendations. My sister and I share them most often, as she reads about three books a month since she takes the train to work and also takes it to see my parents from time to time. I envy here that she can read in moving vehicles, as it seems I am the only child in my immediate family that cannot. We are pretty blunt when we review books, so I know upfront if she thinks it is a thumbs up or a thumbs down. I think that her living in NJ and working in NYC makes her fairly blunt too, so I know I can count on that when I ask her.
22. Favorite genre?
Toss up between Dystopian and Sci-Fi.
23. Genre you rarely read (but wish you did?)
This sounds odd even while I type it but I wish I could enjoy westerns and historical fiction more than I seem to be able to do.
24. Favorite biography?
Hands down, The Autobiography of Eleanor Roosevelt. She is one of my all time favorite women and her quotes and insights are still as appropriate today as they were then.
25. Have you ever read a self-help book?
Many of them over the last thirty years. Some were work related but most were personal. Some were pre-divorce from John and some were after I started my relationship with SWCNLBN. I found each one to be helpful and I have retained many of the lessons learned. I think that these books are often misunderstood and people often feel ashamed of admitting the reading of such material.
26. Favorite cookbook?
Hands down, Relaxed Cooking with Curtis Stone. I fell in love with him when I was watching Take Home Chef on TLC. I was sad to see the show end and have followed him ever since. I want to get his other books as well.
27. Most inspirational book you’ve read this year (fiction or non-fiction)?
I don't have one yet. I have been concentrating on enjoyment thus far. I think that Water for Elephants will likely qualify and it is next up in the queue. I also have The God of Small Things in the queue and I am not sure about it but my sister was moved by it.
28. Favorite reading snack?
I don't usually eat while I read. I don't want to risk damages to the book. I do indulge in hot tea while reading indoors and adult beverages if reading in the evening. While outside it is usually water or cranberry juice over crushed ice.
29. Name a case in which hype ruined your reading experience.
Oddly enough, I can't think of any. I try whenever possible to read the book well in advance of seeing any movie based upon a book. That way I can understand the movie better. I can say that I have only seen one of the Twilight movies and have no real plans to see the rest but I did not read any more of the books either. They fall outside my genre base and that sums that up in a nutshell.
30. How often do you agree with critics about a book?
The only critics I care about are my friends and relatives. I cannot recall ever buying a book because it was on any particular top reading list or show.
31. How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews?
I try to be objective with my reviews but if I think it blows then you will know that by my review. If you have questions about my review, ask me.
32. If you could read in a foreign language, which language would you chose?
Wow! German or Russian would top the list but I would also add French back in there too.
33. Most intimidating book you’ve ever read?
Haven't found it yet but I'll be sure to let you know when I do.
34. Most intimidating book you’re too nervous to begin?
Same answer as number thirty-three.
35. Favorite Poet?
Seriously, who can pick just one. I have a few: Khalil Gibran, Edna St Vincent Millay, Carl Sandburg and William Shakespeare.
36. How many books do you usually have checked out of the library at any given time?
Five is normal. Of those, three of them are usually reference materials such as cook books or knitting books and the remaining two are for pleasure.
37. How often have you returned book to the library unread?
Can't recall ever checking out one that I didn't read.
38. Favorite fictional character?
Gandalf from J.R.R. Tolkien's books.
39. Favorite fictional villain?
O'Brien from Nineteen Eighty-four. Classic antagonist in a dystopian society.
40. Books I”m most likely to bring on vacation.
I have never really been one to take books on vacation; however, the addition of an eReader may change that. I do; however, bring crossword puzzles and knitting.
41. The longest I’ve gone without reading.
Not more than three months. I have never been able to leave books alone and prefer them over TV. Only my knitting gets more of my attention than books.
42. Name a book that you could/would not finish.
Haven't found one yet. I always finish one once I start it, no matter how long it takes or how much I may dislike it.
43. What distracts you easily when you’re reading?
Not much, as I try to devote time set aside to read so that there are less likely to be distractions. Exceptions are phone calls or the pets getting into mischief. They are a lot like kids...if it is too quiet it is best to check out what they are doing.
44. Favorite film adaptation of a novel?
I think that I would have to go with the Lord of the Ring movies. I think that Peter Jackson did an amazing job at taking Tolkien's visions and translating them to the screen. I also think that technology was in Jackson's favor to be able to create the images.
45. Most disappointing film adaptation?
Flowers in the Attic was the worst to me so far. I was a HUGE V.C. Andrews follower and had read everything she had published up until 1990. It was nothing like the book and I still regret spending money to see it.
46. The most money I’ve ever spent in the bookstore at one time?
I doubt I could really be accurate with this one. I know that I have spent several hundred at a time for college course books but that doesn't really count. For personal consideration I would guesstimate that it would be around $75.00, except during the holidays when I buy books as Christmas gifts.
47. How often do you skim a book before reading it?
Depends on the book. If it is by an author I know I won't skim art all. If it was highly recommended by family or friends I won't skim either. However, if I am trolling through the book store for new books to broaden my horizons, I will skim.
48. What would cause you to stop reading a book half-way through?
Nothing that I can think of since it has never happened.
49. Do you like to keep your books organized?
Absolutely! I am a total nerd when it comes to this. They are alphabetically stored by medium. Paperbacks are together and hardbacks are together. Reference is divided into categories and then alphabetized. I should have been a librarian I suppose.
50. Do you prefer to keep books or give them away once you’ve read them?
If space were unlimited I would keep every one of them. Since that is not the case, I keep only the ones I know I would read again and then I donate the rest. The only exceptions are reference materials.
51. Are there any books you’ve been avoiding?
Sappy romance books like Harlequin and total gore. Add Christian fiction to that as well.
52. Name a book that made you angry.
Can't recall one that made me angry but the very nature of the dystopian genre is rage against the establishment. I guess that is why I like them so very much.
53. A book you didn’t expect to like but did?
When I was home on leave after my hysterectomy my sister mailed me Memoirs of a Geisha. I wasn't really up on the whole Geisha history so I wasn't too sure that I could read it. I was initially cautious as I started reading but by the end I was moved and I learned so very much about these women and the way of life.
54. A book that you expected to like but didn’t?Probably All the Pretty Horses. I was a fan of Cormac McCarthy from his book Blood Meridian so I had expected to like this one as well. I think I should possibly revisit this one, as I read it while I was starting the first phases of my divorce and was not really in the mood for romance I suppose.
55. Favorite guilt-free, pleasure reading?
I love historical romance books. Characters that I can loose myself in while I soak in bubble bath with a good glass of wine.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Monday
Well, we lived through yet another weekend only to end up at Monday all over again. Hopefully if you are in a heat advisory you are staying in the AC and getting enough fluids. I can tell you that the pool water temperature this morning at 4:30 AM was 86 degrees and the air temperature was 87 degrees, at least according to the equipment that monitors our pool. The heat has depleted the chlorine levels so we had to add another fifty pound bag of salt this morning before we left for the day.
So, Thursday SF came home and was as pale as a ghost. It seems that some one kind enough to pass on a little bug that was going around her office. She had thrown up around 4:30 in the afternoon and slept all the way home on the van pool. When she got home, I sent her straight to bed. Do not pass go. Do not collect $100 dollars. And do not pass it on to me please and thank you. I took a bottle of water into her and put it on her night stand. She slept from 6:30 PM that night until 8:00 AM the next morning. The only reason she woke up is because I needed to see if she was going to go to the dentist. A resounding no. I called them and rescheduled her appointment and left for the day. I got back around 4:30 PM and she was still asleep. She had not even been aware that the day had gone and that I had been out of the house. She got up and I got her some 7-Up. She ate some scrambled eggs and a piece of toast but complained that her head hurt so bad that it was making her sick. Back to bed. She slept the remainder of Friday and did not get up until around 9:45 AM on Saturday. Her color was back and her appetite was as well. I made her stay in the AC and she was happy to do so. We did venture out long enough to go to the movies but that was all. Sunday was also a low key day with me keeping her in the AC and hydrated. It seems she is over it all now and I did not catch it but it was not an ideal weekend.
Yes, we did go to a movie. Movies are one of our favorite past-times. We were also going to celebrate out second anniversary of our first official date. On 08/08/08 we went to a movie as our first official date. That seems so distant now but still fun to remember. We decided to go and see "The Kids Are Alright". We had seen the reviews on TV and read about it and so we agreed it was worth seeing. Funny how life often seems to resonate art. There were pieces of this film that hit a little too close to home and had me sniffling a few times. There were other times when it was hard not to choke on the popcorn from laughing. All in all it was a good movie but I could have waiting and gotten it on Netflix I think. As we were leaving SF reminded me that the movie we saw on our first date provided me with the same range of emotions. We laughed and I asked her if she was okay having such an emotional woman in her life. She called me a little idiot and I knew we were ok. Just to set the record straight, little idiot is a term of endearment when it comes from her.
I have been knitting up a storm as of late. My dear friend Joe posted about a secret project and when I commented he was worried about the outcome. Curious as I am, I ran to the stash and grabbed some sock yarn, cast on and knitting away. A flurry of emails drifted between us and then I realized that I was comparing apples to oranges. So, I ran back to the stash and found two skeins of JustSoya from a swap and cast on again. It took about 15 hours and I had the second one completed. Note that Sassy decided to supervise. I think she thought that if she sat on the pattern and my notepad that I would stop and pet her. No dice. Proof below:
I will tell you that the JustSoya looks wonderful and feels divine but was a pain to work with. It tended to be a bit too splitty for me, especially with the lace application (ssk/k2tog/s2kp2o). I like the fact that it is machine washable but would not purchase it myself. This was a true DK weight yarn, so I was able to do the pre-blocking measurements and after-blocking measurements and report back to Joe so he would have more insight into his own. The Handy Dandy will be gifted to my neighbor Jeannie. She saw me taking pictures of it and fell in love with the color. She and her husband Pat have decided that it is time for him to retire and they will be moving to outside Knoxville as soon as they can get their house here sold. We will miss them immensely but we have been planning to retire near Knoxville ourselves so we will see them again. Plus we can always go visit!
I have also been working on my Clementine. I have one whole half completed and am about one quarter of the way on the second half. After looking at other projects on Ravelry I think that I will do a three needle bind off in place of the Kitchener that is called for. Pictures below:
I am also working on the Red Robin for the Finish-A-Long. I am not sure if I will get the pants done but I will get the shirt finished easily. I'll post pictures of it before the 13th, as that is the deadline for the contest.
Okay, off to find a recipe for Mahi Mahi.....
So, Thursday SF came home and was as pale as a ghost. It seems that some one kind enough to pass on a little bug that was going around her office. She had thrown up around 4:30 in the afternoon and slept all the way home on the van pool. When she got home, I sent her straight to bed. Do not pass go. Do not collect $100 dollars. And do not pass it on to me please and thank you. I took a bottle of water into her and put it on her night stand. She slept from 6:30 PM that night until 8:00 AM the next morning. The only reason she woke up is because I needed to see if she was going to go to the dentist. A resounding no. I called them and rescheduled her appointment and left for the day. I got back around 4:30 PM and she was still asleep. She had not even been aware that the day had gone and that I had been out of the house. She got up and I got her some 7-Up. She ate some scrambled eggs and a piece of toast but complained that her head hurt so bad that it was making her sick. Back to bed. She slept the remainder of Friday and did not get up until around 9:45 AM on Saturday. Her color was back and her appetite was as well. I made her stay in the AC and she was happy to do so. We did venture out long enough to go to the movies but that was all. Sunday was also a low key day with me keeping her in the AC and hydrated. It seems she is over it all now and I did not catch it but it was not an ideal weekend.
Yes, we did go to a movie. Movies are one of our favorite past-times. We were also going to celebrate out second anniversary of our first official date. On 08/08/08 we went to a movie as our first official date. That seems so distant now but still fun to remember. We decided to go and see "The Kids Are Alright". We had seen the reviews on TV and read about it and so we agreed it was worth seeing. Funny how life often seems to resonate art. There were pieces of this film that hit a little too close to home and had me sniffling a few times. There were other times when it was hard not to choke on the popcorn from laughing. All in all it was a good movie but I could have waiting and gotten it on Netflix I think. As we were leaving SF reminded me that the movie we saw on our first date provided me with the same range of emotions. We laughed and I asked her if she was okay having such an emotional woman in her life. She called me a little idiot and I knew we were ok. Just to set the record straight, little idiot is a term of endearment when it comes from her.
I have been knitting up a storm as of late. My dear friend Joe posted about a secret project and when I commented he was worried about the outcome. Curious as I am, I ran to the stash and grabbed some sock yarn, cast on and knitting away. A flurry of emails drifted between us and then I realized that I was comparing apples to oranges. So, I ran back to the stash and found two skeins of JustSoya from a swap and cast on again. It took about 15 hours and I had the second one completed. Note that Sassy decided to supervise. I think she thought that if she sat on the pattern and my notepad that I would stop and pet her. No dice. Proof below:
I will tell you that the JustSoya looks wonderful and feels divine but was a pain to work with. It tended to be a bit too splitty for me, especially with the lace application (ssk/k2tog/s2kp2o). I like the fact that it is machine washable but would not purchase it myself. This was a true DK weight yarn, so I was able to do the pre-blocking measurements and after-blocking measurements and report back to Joe so he would have more insight into his own. The Handy Dandy will be gifted to my neighbor Jeannie. She saw me taking pictures of it and fell in love with the color. She and her husband Pat have decided that it is time for him to retire and they will be moving to outside Knoxville as soon as they can get their house here sold. We will miss them immensely but we have been planning to retire near Knoxville ourselves so we will see them again. Plus we can always go visit!
I have also been working on my Clementine. I have one whole half completed and am about one quarter of the way on the second half. After looking at other projects on Ravelry I think that I will do a three needle bind off in place of the Kitchener that is called for. Pictures below:
I am also working on the Red Robin for the Finish-A-Long. I am not sure if I will get the pants done but I will get the shirt finished easily. I'll post pictures of it before the 13th, as that is the deadline for the contest.
Okay, off to find a recipe for Mahi Mahi.....
Friday, August 6, 2010
Friday Fill-Ins #188
1. Life is what you make of it.
2. Never give up, just keep going.
3. My last text message (or IM) ended in these three words: in the sand.
4. Alaskan King Crab legs and a baked potato with a salad is what I'm thinking about for dinner sometime soon.
5. On the 1st day of August my niece was born (22 years ago).
6. A trip to the gym always makes me feel lively and energetic.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to spending quality time with SF inside AC (heat advisory), tomorrow my plans include a trip to the local farmer's market and Sunday, I want to swim before it gets too hot to be outside safely and then a long over due cal to my sister and then my parents!
2. Never give up, just keep going.
3. My last text message (or IM) ended in these three words: in the sand.
4. Alaskan King Crab legs and a baked potato with a salad is what I'm thinking about for dinner sometime soon.
5. On the 1st day of August my niece was born (22 years ago).
6. A trip to the gym always makes me feel lively and energetic.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to spending quality time with SF inside AC (heat advisory), tomorrow my plans include a trip to the local farmer's market and Sunday, I want to swim before it gets too hot to be outside safely and then a long over due cal to my sister and then my parents!
Monday, August 2, 2010
Monday....
Welcome to the new week ya'll!
What would a week be like if it didn't start with Monday....who knows. We all look forward to Friday but I really do like Monday. It sets the tone for the rest of the week, so if you make it good, the week will go relatively smooth. Or so I like to believe.
Friday was a fun day. I had lunch with the every funny Christine. We ate at Taydo Chinese Vietnamese Restaurant at Highway 6 and Westheimer. I love good Vietnamese food and Christine knows where to get it. I agreed to let her choose since we were meeting near her job this time. I had the Lo Mein....YUM! It was a quick lunch but we always have so much fun. We get caught up in no time and laugh the whole time. Can't wait to the next time!
The afternoon was slow but then evening flew past. It seems like one moment it was 5:30 PM and then I blinked and it was 9:45 PM. I know that we watched TV but I really couldn't tell you what was on. I was knitting on the Clementine and I guess I was so engrossed in it that I really did tune out the TV. I managed to get all 46 rows of Chart A and the first 20 of Chart B done Friday.
Saturday was an odd day here at Chez Ruby Ringz. SF has started back up the diet she was on before we met and had to weigh in at 8:00 AM. We are up by then most Saturday mornings anyway since we "normally" get up at 4:00 AM on weekdays. I fixed a strong cup of coffee and enjoyed it poolside while she was gone. After breakfast, we ran some errands and then we worked on the pool. The rains have played havoc with the chlorine (salt provided) and we had to take a water sample to the pool place to get detailed instructions. We could test it here ourselves, but they do it for free and tel us EXACTLY how much of each chemical and salt we need to add so we don't have to guess. That took the swimming prospect out of the weekend, as we had to add the muriatic acid first and then double shock it yesterday.
That left us with plenty of time on our hands and we decided to read. I don't think it was a spoken thing. I was drying my hair after my shower and when I emerged squeaky clean SF was reading a book for a class she will be teaching soon. So, I chose to read instead of knit. I managed to finish The Beekeeper's Apprentice. I had forgotten how much I did enjoy Sherlock Holmes mystery stories. It was a delightful book and I fear that I will be acquiring the remaining nine books in the Mary Russell series. SF puttered around between chapters in her book, as it is printed in font size 9 and gave her fits. The book is far more technical than educational and I had to get the dictionary out a few times to help her with words. I knew their meanings but I didn't want to cloud the content with my context clues so I read her the verbatim definition from the dictionary. Yes, Saturday was one of those days when I know things were accomplished but it felt like they were in an alternative universe.
Sunday was just a slight bit better. We had a spot in the back yard where we have tried to grow a few plants. She has tried a few varieties of palms and we had two plumeria plants there last year. The plumerias grew and bloomed last year but the BIG freeze and snow did them in. The spot has been bare this entire time and we were in route to buy some sod when I remembered that there was a plant that I have always had at every house I have lived in since arriving in Texas, a Hummingbird Bush. I did not have my A Garden Book For Houston with me, so I had to explain to SF what I was wanting. She likes tropical stuff and we both wanted LOW maintenance since we have the pool and the motorcycle that we like to play with on the weekends. We headed to Houston Garden Centers in Missouri City to see what they had since they are running their 1/2 off sale.
Jackpot! They had a bout 25 plants to choose from and we settled on one that was already about two feet tall and brought it home. I promptly put her in the ground and dripped water on her roots for about a half hour. The butterflies and honey bees have already found her. I can't wait to see her in a few weeks after she gets acclimated to the new digs and her next wave of blooms appears. I'll grab a picture of her when she is ready. I love the flowers but the color of the leaves is just as dramatic and I think that she will actually survive the variety of weather that this particular corner of the yard seems to encounter. She is a hard one and the space is ample enough to hold her if she does ever decide to get the 12' x 12' expanse that they can attain when they have the perfect conditions. So I was able top get a burst of color and a low maintenance plant that should not be of any concern to the pool maintenance all for ten bucks!
I am back on my eating program as well. I don't really ever diet. I have moved all of the heavy carbs back to breakfast and lunch and will be getting more seafood for dinner. I love tuna (yellow tail) and SF can have a variety of fish on her diet. Bonus for both of us. I am also eating more veggies again. Asparagus and artichokes are plentiful at the moment and I love both of them. Corn on the cob freshly roasted on the grill is a bonus this time of year as well.
I will be posting about the wine tasting from last week a bit later. It was fun and I am looking forward to more. This week is reds, so i will skip, as I prefer reds in the cooler season and whites in the warm weather.
Make the most of your Monday and get your week off to a positive start!
What would a week be like if it didn't start with Monday....who knows. We all look forward to Friday but I really do like Monday. It sets the tone for the rest of the week, so if you make it good, the week will go relatively smooth. Or so I like to believe.
Friday was a fun day. I had lunch with the every funny Christine. We ate at Taydo Chinese Vietnamese Restaurant at Highway 6 and Westheimer. I love good Vietnamese food and Christine knows where to get it. I agreed to let her choose since we were meeting near her job this time. I had the Lo Mein....YUM! It was a quick lunch but we always have so much fun. We get caught up in no time and laugh the whole time. Can't wait to the next time!
The afternoon was slow but then evening flew past. It seems like one moment it was 5:30 PM and then I blinked and it was 9:45 PM. I know that we watched TV but I really couldn't tell you what was on. I was knitting on the Clementine and I guess I was so engrossed in it that I really did tune out the TV. I managed to get all 46 rows of Chart A and the first 20 of Chart B done Friday.
Saturday was an odd day here at Chez Ruby Ringz. SF has started back up the diet she was on before we met and had to weigh in at 8:00 AM. We are up by then most Saturday mornings anyway since we "normally" get up at 4:00 AM on weekdays. I fixed a strong cup of coffee and enjoyed it poolside while she was gone. After breakfast, we ran some errands and then we worked on the pool. The rains have played havoc with the chlorine (salt provided) and we had to take a water sample to the pool place to get detailed instructions. We could test it here ourselves, but they do it for free and tel us EXACTLY how much of each chemical and salt we need to add so we don't have to guess. That took the swimming prospect out of the weekend, as we had to add the muriatic acid first and then double shock it yesterday.
That left us with plenty of time on our hands and we decided to read. I don't think it was a spoken thing. I was drying my hair after my shower and when I emerged squeaky clean SF was reading a book for a class she will be teaching soon. So, I chose to read instead of knit. I managed to finish The Beekeeper's Apprentice. I had forgotten how much I did enjoy Sherlock Holmes mystery stories. It was a delightful book and I fear that I will be acquiring the remaining nine books in the Mary Russell series. SF puttered around between chapters in her book, as it is printed in font size 9 and gave her fits. The book is far more technical than educational and I had to get the dictionary out a few times to help her with words. I knew their meanings but I didn't want to cloud the content with my context clues so I read her the verbatim definition from the dictionary. Yes, Saturday was one of those days when I know things were accomplished but it felt like they were in an alternative universe.
Sunday was just a slight bit better. We had a spot in the back yard where we have tried to grow a few plants. She has tried a few varieties of palms and we had two plumeria plants there last year. The plumerias grew and bloomed last year but the BIG freeze and snow did them in. The spot has been bare this entire time and we were in route to buy some sod when I remembered that there was a plant that I have always had at every house I have lived in since arriving in Texas, a Hummingbird Bush. I did not have my A Garden Book For Houston with me, so I had to explain to SF what I was wanting. She likes tropical stuff and we both wanted LOW maintenance since we have the pool and the motorcycle that we like to play with on the weekends. We headed to Houston Garden Centers in Missouri City to see what they had since they are running their 1/2 off sale.
Jackpot! They had a bout 25 plants to choose from and we settled on one that was already about two feet tall and brought it home. I promptly put her in the ground and dripped water on her roots for about a half hour. The butterflies and honey bees have already found her. I can't wait to see her in a few weeks after she gets acclimated to the new digs and her next wave of blooms appears. I'll grab a picture of her when she is ready. I love the flowers but the color of the leaves is just as dramatic and I think that she will actually survive the variety of weather that this particular corner of the yard seems to encounter. She is a hard one and the space is ample enough to hold her if she does ever decide to get the 12' x 12' expanse that they can attain when they have the perfect conditions. So I was able top get a burst of color and a low maintenance plant that should not be of any concern to the pool maintenance all for ten bucks!
I am back on my eating program as well. I don't really ever diet. I have moved all of the heavy carbs back to breakfast and lunch and will be getting more seafood for dinner. I love tuna (yellow tail) and SF can have a variety of fish on her diet. Bonus for both of us. I am also eating more veggies again. Asparagus and artichokes are plentiful at the moment and I love both of them. Corn on the cob freshly roasted on the grill is a bonus this time of year as well.
I will be posting about the wine tasting from last week a bit later. It was fun and I am looking forward to more. This week is reds, so i will skip, as I prefer reds in the cooler season and whites in the warm weather.
Make the most of your Monday and get your week off to a positive start!
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