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

:booking:
1. How many books would you say you read in an average month?
2. In a year?
3. Over the last five years?
4. The last 10?

Ooh, this is an excellent series of questions for me today! Yes, I am aware it is Saturday. When I checked on Thursday the questions were not up yet, and I am just getting back over there.

I have read 0 books this month. I am not sure I have even finished one this year. Wait, yes I have. I read Tuck Everlasting last month. I have no idea what my score is for the last 5 and 10 years. Interesting then, that I would say these are excellent questions, isn’t it? Here is what I have done that makes them good: in the new blogs I have set up, I have made sure that I will have to read in order to generate fresh content. I have effectively forced myself to indulge in a great pleasure. Since I am already interested in all the topics, I have set myself up for a great deal of fun!

Here is something I’m not quite sure how to handle: I took my book to the living room couch (not coaster furniture, btw, just an old hand me down in a slip cover) to read the other night, and family members who had not talked to me while I was sitting behind them at the computer suddenly became chatty. See, I am thwarted. I did put the book down and converse with them, of course. I’m no fool, and I realize that investing time with people is irreplaceable, and that printed matter can wait. But now you may understand why I have to call it “work” to get in time with a book.

Technorati Tags: booking through thursday, reading

I read a short story tonight. I’m still mulling it over, have not yet decided what I think of it. It is called A Wire Man, and comes from a new book, Hunger and Other Stories by Ian Randall Wilson. I wish there were time for me to read the whole book, or at least another couple of stories before having to give an opinion.

The story, for me, was difficult to follow for a little more than the first half. It seemed as if the introduction, the background, was interspersed too much with the current action. Or something. It just wasn’t quite right, it was….jumbled. It then began to flow more easily, and the last quarter was read with breathless speed. BUT, and it’s a very big but, if I were telling this story, not writing it, this is *exactly* how it would come out–all in a rush, with frequent backtracks and repetitions, and jumbled-ness. So, I’m left thinking the author achieved his purpose after all. Did he mean to leave me needing to read the story again to feel like I understood? I don’t know, but if so, he was successful.

In truth, I do not know if I like the story or not, and it will be several hours before I do know. I’ll be thinking on it for at least that long, and therefore, the author has definitely met the ultimate goal of all authors which is to have someone thinking about what you have said, even when they are no longer looking at your words– compelled to read those already read words again, and also to find fresh ones.

Technorati Tags: A Wire Man, Hunger and Other Stories, Ian Randall Wilson

I watched this movie with DD#1 Monday night. Ya’ll my one word synopsis is: gross. Lots of gore and nastiness, and I am glad I wached it without a big-screen and accompanying HDMI cable. Johnny Depp was a little more stilted in this movie than in others I have seen him in. It may have been the role. Over all I found him much more relaxed as an actor in “What’s eating Gilbert Grape?” I’d really like to see that one again. Sigh. I let DD#1 take it with her to Colorado and while she came back, the movie did not.

Technorati Tags: Johnny Depp

I just have to share this! I’ve found a politics forum! I poked around quite a bit and it seems the forum was just opened in November, so it’s still quite new. I was quite pleased to see an area for political jokes. So often people get all wrapped up in the seriousness of politics, and forget how funny it can be. Yes, it is indeed serious business, but a sense of humor can certainly help defuse tensions. I also like the Political History area, history being one of my favorite subjects!

If you back out of the forum to the front page, there are links to many of the major news sources. That seems pretty balanced with the NYT represented as well as FOX. If they’d add the CSM to the list, I think that would be a pretty good one-stop headline shop. It’s handy to have them in one area, and nice to be able to see what’s going on in the world before you enter the forum proper.

Technorati Tags: politics forum