I blogged some time ago about wanting to listen to Wally Swinton’s Rhythm and Blues radio show. I was successful today, and am embarrassed to report that it was my own error that prevented me from listening before. I am so used to on-demand audio and video that I missed the fact that you have to tune in between 3 and 6, Monday-Friday to catch the show.

I listened to several songs today, and they were delightful. I have to admit I was surprised by some of the language Wally used, but his history lessons were very intriguing. It’s always interesting to me to find out the story behind the story. He had quite a bit to say before Mrs. Jones, and I had to chuckle as he was talking– Wally, I’ve always heard it as “young, dumb and full of bubble gum.”

I’d really like to be able to hear the show when I have time to listen, since I can’t keep the headphones on for very long while the kids are awake. A podcast would be an awesome addition to the regular show, even if it were just the first hour. Having the show repeat would be an even better option in some ways, because then I could catch the whole thing later at night.

Technorati Tags: Wally Swinton, Rhythm and Blues radio

I did an in depth analysis of this book over on History Hound, so I will keep this one short.

This is a quick read, but covers a lot of historical ground, about 2000 years all told. It tells the story of the earliest people from a Biblical point of view, but adds in details from various other fields of study. Written in the narrative, it is engaging and easy to follow. Well worth a read just to understand more of the culture of the earliest Biblical times.

Technorati Tags: History Hound, book review, Adam and His Kin

It was video conferencing time tonight at my house. That’s an awfully fancy term that just means I gathered around the tv with my oldest girls and we watched a movie. I’d seen Fried Green Tomatoes before, but it was quite awhile back. I’d forgotten quite a bit of it, including the ending, so it was almost like seeing it for the first time. If you like a good story, you’ll like this movie, and if the sound of soft southern accents pleases you, you will love it. Be forewarned: you’ll get hungry about halfway through, LOL!

There are several scenes that show racism for what it is and was: quite ugly. It’s by no means the theme of the movie, but it plays enough of a part to bear mentioning. I would not recommend it for anyone under 13 for this and other reasons, including just a bit of salty language and some violence. Still, it’s a good flick in my opinion, and I enjoyed it. Again.

Technorati Tags: Fried Green Tomatoes

1. Do you lend your books to other people? If so, any restrictions?
2. Do you borrow books from other people? (Friends or family—I’m not talking about the public library)
3. And, most importantly—do the books you lend/borrow get returned to their rightful owners??

Not unless I am prepared to never get them back. I’ll buy a book and gift someone with it, but generally I prefer not to lend to anyone out of the house. Exceptions are sometimes made on this but it’s rare.

No, I do not borrow other people’s books. I’m afraid they will get damaged or lost or loved to much.

See 1 & 2, LOL!

Technorati Tags: booking through thursday

I did indeed gather up my reading materials, but I fear you would be bored out of your skull if I listed it all for you. There are 2 magazines, and 5 in-progress books. There are also another 5 books for my upcoming reading pleasure. And that doesn’t include the 9 library books I have, either!

Now I just need a relaxing vacation in which to read them all. I’m picturing sand, large sunglasses, big straw hat, huge umbrella and gallons of iced tea. And about 2 weeks, LOL! Of course, that’s not going to happen, but I. am. going. to. read. these. books. And I will review them for you as I finish them!

Technorati Tags: magazines, books, reading

One of the hobbies I used to indulge in is embroidery. I’ve made several nice pieces, including a pillowcase doll for one of my step-daughters. I quit doing it for several reasons, but a lot of it had to do with being tired of all the flowers. Really, there’s just so much florality I can take. I found something today that has me thinking about picking up the floss again, though. It’s clipart ready to digitize for embroidery, and there is some really cool stuff there.

I also used to cross-stitch quite a bit, but I am just not sure I can see it anymore, and I am too chicken to dig it out and find out that I can’t. It’s all buried in the bottom of my closet. Perhaps when I get around to cleaning that out (and it shouldn’t be too much longer), I’ll try it. Then if I can’t do it, I can tell myself that I was just cleaning the closet anyway

I have 6 of those floss organizing boxes, ya’ll, crammed absolutely full. That’s a lot of floss to just be sitting there.

I’ve been trying to post more about the things I do for entertainment over here on this blog of mine. I do enjoy movies and books and such as this. When I run out of ideas, I have a buddy who helps me out. Deb runs a blog called Two Dog Zoo, and she writes about music, media, movies, tv and more…. Yeah, I stole her tagline, cause it just describes her blog so well.

When I check out her movie category, I know right away if a movie she has seen is good for the whole family or not. And if she hasn’t seen one, she’s upfront about that as well, listing reasons why she wants to see it. She also dishes out the latest celeb gossip, so I can find things to laugh about.

This blog is a fun read, and her quick wit comes through in her posts. And she’s a mom, too, so I trust her advice.

Technorati Tags: music, movies, celeb gossip

I had the opportunity to day to listen to the first chapter of a podiobook. This is a book for grown-ups due to subject matter and language. It is the story of a young soldier coming home from the war in Iraq. I found it compelling from the first sentence: it opens with a fire fight.

This first chapter goes on to detail Chet Brown’s actual homecoming, where he searches the cheering crowd for his loved ones and finds………..no one. No friends, no fiancee, no family. He rents a car and drives home, which for him is Atlanta, where he finds both denial and betrayal. To find out the rest you will have to listen for yourself, and I highly recommend you do so.

This is the first book by Charles Sheehan Miles, and he is reading it aloud for us in anticipation of releasing his second book. You can listen to this first chapter at Prayer at Rumayla by Charles Sheehan-Miles, and once there, you can subscribe via XML feed or iTunes. This first chapter was released on the 1st, and I was unable to locate any kind of schedule for the other chapters.

The reviews from those who’ve read the print version in it’s entirety indicate that it will be well worth listening to the entire thing. I only wish I had a copy of the book: when the podcast ended with (I said I am not telling you the rest and I am not. When you listen yourself you will know what I would have put here.), I really wanted to “flip the page” to find out what happened next.

Technorati Tags: podiobook, Charles Sheehan Miles, Prayer at Rumayla