More books

Between having my hours at work cut and catching the flu this week, I've had a lot of reading time lately. I read a lot of romance, especially paranormal. Usually very "adult" paranormal, which is what most of this is. A few mysteries thrown in, a bit of fantasy.
The Mane Event (Shelly Laurenston)
The Beast in Him (Shelly Laurenston)
Pack Challenge (Shelly Laurenston)
Go Fetch (Shelly Laurenston)
Here Kitty, Kitty (Shelly Laurenston)
All of those were re-reads and well worth it. Incredibly funny paranormals, pretty high "steam" level.
Also re-read the entire Others series by Christine Warren, all 12 books. Again, paranormal romance. The first 6 books are pretty explicit, the last 6 are a tiny bit tamer. Not much though.
Several anthologies:
Belong to the Night
Night's Edge
Must Love Hellhounds (my copy is missing 30 pages so I haven't finished it yet)
Unbound

A Harvest of Bones (Yasmine Galenorn) - the latest in her mystery series, she's always a sure bet. Cosy mystery, a little romance and a paranormal twist.
Obsidian Prey (Jayne Ann Krentz) - the latest in her futuristic series set on Harmony. Again, a guaranteed good read, if you like a light blend of sci-fi and romance.
Pleasure (Jacqueline Frank) - Book 3 in her Shadowdwellers series. Pretty good but I liked the Nightwalkers series better. This one kinda seemed all over the place, I wasn't sure whose story it would be until several chapters in. ****SPOILER (a tiny one)****
It started off with one couple and then jumped to another. Then back to the first couple, whose issues had all been magically worked out. Apparently, their relationship was just a means of getting the woman worked into the lives of couple 2, so that a last minute life-saving could occur. Kinda disappointing, since couple 1 was interesting enough that I would have loved to read a book just dealing with them.
Sea Glass (Maria Snyder) - an exceptional example of what the right author can do with YA fantasy. This is book 2 in the Glass series, a spin off of her Study trilogy (Poison Study, Magic Study, Fire Study). I absolutely love this woman's writing. Vivid in every way. Not only can I see what she's describing, I can almost hear what the main character is hearing and damn near feel her emotions. Snyder is an incredible writer, able to tell a story from the character's teenage POV without diminishing the emotional weight of the conflict or making the girl seem too mature. Opal (the main character) comes across a fairly mature but still young and rather inexperienced. Despite going through some fairly serious problems in the first book (Storm Glass) and the first half of this book, she's still pretty naive at first. Watching her mature, not always in good ways, is fascinating.
To Crave a Blood Moon (Shari Kohler) - another paranormal romance. Not bad but not great either. This book is a good example of what I don't like about series. I love the continuity, I absolutely love getting more of the story and revisiting favorite characters from earlier books. I hate when it seems that a book was written mostly to set up the next book or two. And that's kinda what this one felt like. The main story was pretty fair but all the extra, dangling little story strings just irritated me.
What a Dragon Should Know (G. A. Aiken) - Aiken is the alter ego of Shelly Laurenston and she's a fine writer no matter which name she's using. This is the latest in her Dragon series and it's well up to the standards of her earlier stories. My favorite part of any Laurenston/Aiken book is the humor. She's just one of the funniest writers I've ever come across. I like the fantasy setting, dragons, magic, barbarian warriors, female assassins and so forth. Best of all, this is one writer who can make me laugh loud enough to scare the dog. Quirky characters (not just the female ones either), snarky remarks, pranks and troublemaking. Just too much fun to put down.
Sugar Daddy (Lisa Kleypas) - This one is not a new release, it's not a paranormal and it's not something I would have picked up normally. I'm glad I went with the impulse to give it a try. Sugar Daddy is a contemporary novel set in Texas. It's not really what I consider "romance" despite the boy-meets-girl parts of the story. The story starts when the female protagonist, Liberty Jones, is 14 and living in a trailer park in Welcome, Texas. She meets Hardy, who she loves with all the enthusiasm a teen aged girl can produce. That's where the book turns away from typical romance. Instead of getting married and living happily ever after, Hardy leaves and Liberty finds out just how hard life can get. Left to raise her younger sister after their mother's death, Liberty gets thrown into the adult world at 18 with no preparation and no safety net. The story becomes more about Liberty learning to take care of herself and her sister than anything else. Since the story is told in first-person, the reader gets a pretty detailed view of Liberty's mental processes. The writing style is fairly conversational, so reading was more like listening to this woman reminiscing over coffee. The story is more about Liberty, her relationship with her mother and sister and growing up than anything else. The title refers to other's assumption about Liberty's friendship with a much older, wealthy man. Most of the people around her think, since she's young, pretty, poor and half Mexican, this guy must be her sugar daddy. Liberty takes a lot of flack from some and never lets it bother her. She knows the truth and seems to feel that she has more important stuff to worry about. This was a thoroughly enjoyable book, one I'm glad to have read. I'll probably read it again and I'll definitely take a look at any other contemporaries Kleypas writes. Her characters and plots are realistic without being abrasive, likeable and everyday types.

So, what have you read lately?

It's been awhile

Two months since I've posted. Not enough time, energy or inspiration. Plenty of happenings, few of them interesting. The interesting ones were mostly not good. Yes, my aunt did pass away. No, my uncle did not. He is still not well, though better, and has been moved to a long-term care facility. Wench's grandmother also passed away. In between, there have been visits from my mother and sister, visits to my grandmother, possible progress in rebuilding relationships with certain family members and probable degeneration in my professional relationships. All other connections seem to be stable, or at least about what I expect. Also, some (hopefully) minor health concerns. (I'm not trying to be vague to solicit sympathy, there's just no use going into detail until I know. I'm not sure this will ever be an appropriate place for details, nor am I certain I'll ever wish to share any details.)

Most of my free time lately has been taken up with old movies and books. I hadn't intended to post the above, all of that just popped out. Now that I've gotten it out of the way I can get back to my original purpose in this post.

Book recommendation:
Touchstone, by Laurie R. King. Mystery, set in England, in 1926. There are numerous reviews available through a Google search and I'm not interested in doing another. Just pick up a copy and read it. It's not light, it's not sweet and it doesn't have a normal happy ending. This book is, however, so good I stayed up to finish, didn't skip a single word and just had to put this post up. Touchstone is a keeper. Now go read something.

Family update

Latest news on that:

Uncle J - the aneurysms are repaired but he isn't doing well. He has very serious heart problems (quadruple bypass, blood pressure is wonky, lungs bad etc etc) and the doctors felt, at the time the aneurysms were diagnosed, that surgery was higher risk. But things got bad enough that surgery became less of a risk. The surgery went well, recovery has not. As of last night the drs. have given him a paralytic and are using a ventilator and a balloon pump to keep his heart and lungs going. They are keeping him like this for a while until they think his heart and lungs have rested enough to function minimally. Also, they are giving him anti-coagulants to increase the chances his heart will be able to pump. (yes, anti-coagulants 48 hours after major surgery is not good, this is considered "last resort measures") As of this morning, there has been no change so he is still not doing well. The best hope they can give us is that at least he's not getting worse.

Aunt Ro - hospice is saying 6-8 weeks. Her husband is saying not even that long. The cancer has spread pretty much everywhere and she is in near constant pain. Aggressive forms of breast cancer are just that, really aggressive. Not much else to say since not much has changed. Just getting worse.

For those who have sent good thoughts and prayers, thank you so very much.

Cuteness

These are 2 of my nephews, sons of my youngest sister.
This is James
And this is Dero
and that second pic is just way too cute. Made my day perk right up so I wanted to share. Now I just gotta figure out how to get out of sending pictures of me.

And this is what I hate...

about Facebook. The people who pop up and want to friend you that you'd really rather not know are still walking the earth. Or at least don't care one way or the other.
I'm trying to decide what to do about a message I received today. One of those hey-are-you-who-I-think-you-are messages. From someone I last spoke to about 12 years ago, someone who decided to take sides in my divorce from the Gimp. Obviously, it wasn't my side. Also, obviously the side taking wasn't done nicely, nor did the friendship end well. But end it did. So, I accepted that decision (not gracefully, no, but what 20-something is graceful in the midst of divorce?) and moved on. I haven't actually thought of this person in about 10 years.
And, now completely out of the clear blue I get a message from this guy. My first reaction is why? What possible reason could he have for looking me up this far down the road? Really, what need is there? I certainly haven't felt the need to reconnect. Why would this man decide to contact a former friend he ditched so long ago? Is it an attempt to resurrect a long buried friendship? If so, I can't imagine that going well. The relationship has been dead over a decade. While it may no longer carry the stench of decay, it's certainly not something I want to see shambling around like a reanimated corpse. And then there's the whole question of is it a squishy zombie with the bulging, pus-dripping eyeballs or a dried up zombie, leathery and raisin-eyed? Neither of those is at all appealing.
So, I'm trying to figure out exactly what my response will be. Obscene rejection, dignified fuck you or no response of any kind. I'm leaning more towards no response, simply because I have the sneaking suspicion this will be a squishy one. One little poke and it will explode, spraying rotten bowels and maggots everywhere. Not really a clean up job I'd volunteer for.

btw - there is no doubt in my mind he knows exactly who i am, i have 2 very unusual last names. so unusual that i am the only person by one of those last names in the entire state. not to mention, i look almost exactly the same as i did then, at least as far as i can judge going by photos. so beyond the why bother of reconnecting, there is the why be coy issue. i despise coy.

what I'm reading

Books I've read over the last week or so:
The Court of the Air by Stephen Hunt.
The Perfect Poison by Amanda Quick.
Complete Fairy Tales of Oscar Wilde.
Edge of Hunger by Rhiannon Byrd.
Nauti Intentions by Lora Leigh.
You're So Vein by Christine Warren.
Beyond Heaving Bosoms by Sarah Wendell and Candy Tan.
The Immortal Hunter by Lynsay Sands.

I'm trying to decide which book to start next. The Scarlet Pimpernel, Time Enough for Love (Heinlein, not a romance) or The Difference Engine. Hmmm...

As close as I get to religion most days

Orison

Bright Lady, hear me
fill me with Your love
banish the chill from my soul
Bless me with the warmth of Your embrace
Mother, I have need of Your bounty
Grandmother, grant me Your wisdom
Maiden, impart t0 me Your courage
Sweet Goddess, heed my pleas
lend Your ears to my prayer
Your child wails in darkness
Grant me the light of Your presence.

An occaison where sloth could be seen as a virtue

'cause it means I'm too damned lazy to strangle someone until their eyeballs pop out and bounce around like Ping-Pong balls.

Greed:	Low
Gluttony:	Medium
Wrath:	Very High
Sloth:	High
Envy:	Very Low
Lust:	Medium
Pride:	Medium

Discover Your Sins - Click Here

Okay, now I get it

Since things have started to edge back to normal (I'm back to only working 10 hours a day, six days a week) I've been able to catch up on some reading. Not that it made a dent in my TBR pile. BL decided my reward for busting ass and working waaay too much was to give me all the books I'd squirreled away (to buy eventually, I have to budget these things). I tried to say no, I really did, mostly because I didn't think she knew just how many books I'd set aside. She didn't care. Which means a big bag and a small box came home. The fact that lots of the books are used really didn't make a difference either. I was a little concerned since this time most of the used books I'd set aside were kinda pricey. She didn't care, she told me to take them home. And while I feel a tiny (very tiny) bit guilty, the guilt is mostly off-set by the satisfaction of knowing I now own all of the Travis McGee series, most of it in the early Fawcett editions. In very good to fine condition. Not something most people would get excited about, but then again non-collecting readers mystify me on my best days.

So, like I don't already have plenty to read (and re-read in the case of the MacDonald's), I picked up a used copy of Twilight tonight before I left work. I'd intended to finally get around to reading Stephenie Meyer's first book while getting an oil change tomorrow. Unfortunately, that's not gonna work so well. After I finished Casey Daniels' Night of the Loving Dead (not bad, the ending was a bit of a disappointment because it was too damned easy, but cute series and great light reading) I thought I'd pick up Twilight and read a few chapters before heading to bed. Aaannndd...
I finished the book. Yep, read the whole thing in just under 3 hours. And enjoyed it, way more than I expected to. I thought I'd get irritated, since the main character, Bella, is about 20 years younger than me. I liked her though, she was funny, quirky (her reactions were) and oh god do I sympathize with her klutziness. I can't walk across a room most days with out tripping over, bumping into or bouncing off something. I also liked how she sees herself as just so very ordinary and is so shocked when others don't.
So, now I get it. I promise I'm not turning into a squee-ing fan girl, if that were possible I'd have done it over Shiloh Walker's Hunters series. But I certainly enjoyed the books and understand why so many customers have recommended the series. I'll get around to the rest of the books sooner or later, I'm limiting my ration of angst this week. But the next 3 are definitely on my shopping list.

My favorite line from the book: "I decided as long as I was going to hell, I might as well do it thoroughly." Yes, I laughed. And thought of Pitbull and Wench. And gasoline chaps.

oh god i am tired.

inside of my forearms looks like someone whipped me with bridal wreath switches. upper arms and legs are bruised up. my back feels like someone kicked me and my shoulders are one giant knot. even my hair is tired.
yep, it's moving day at the BookNook. Pitbull and I started packing boxes about 1130, BL and family came about 2 pm. 5 adults and 5 kids. The 3 male types loaded the truck while the women packed. Moved 3 truck loads over to the new location. After the 3rd, we all trooped over to the new place and started unloading boxes and bags and shelving. didn't leave the new place until after 7 pm. I started work about 930 this morning, cleaning out 2 storage areas and a hallway and moving display racks. and tomorrow we do it all over again, starting about 830 am.
i've scraped up the energy to shower and wash a few loads of clothes but now i hear the bed calling me.
at least i get to take a couple hours off tomorrow, going with Pitbull to BR. she's getting a new tattoo. and i'm getting food from Caliente. that's all the incentive i need to start work early.

ps - BL starting calling me "General" about 3 hours in. By the end the whole group was calling me "Commander" - yep, i was bossing around the owners. one of the kids said i worked them like rented mules. *grin*

My new pretty

New tattoo - finally! I've been procrastinating, then made the appointment. First time I showed up, Inkman didn't have power. Soo, rescheduled for today. Got there about 2 didn't leave till 5ish. The guy, btw, is a total sweetheart. At one point I had to tell him "Wait, let me stop giggling!" And of course, he does incredibly awesome work. He said he'd make my butterfly look like it could flutter its wings and fly away. And dammit, he did.
Toward the end, he somehow dripped some ink on me. I hear him say "Hang on, I've dripped all over your back." Before I even started laughing, he said "Stop that! Dirty minded!" Pitbull said he was grinning and twinkling too. He told me he knew I was gonna laugh as soon as he said it. Considering everything else that had come out of my or Pitbull's mouth by that point, I'm sure he wasn't too surprised. (The remarks about how/why I could smoke a cigarette so fast were fairly typical me.) Anyway, I'm thrilled, in case you can't tell.

Slightly strange day though. After getting this done, we headed back for the store. I changed clothes, picked up my car and headed for the funeral home for Uncle George's wake. Well, second wake, I didn't make the first one and I'm gonna miss the funeral tomorrow. No way I could not make an appearance, especially given how much I loved the man. So I went, and of course everydamnbody just had to hug me and try to pat my back. I lost count of how many times I said "Don't pat my back" but it was way too many. I didn't really feel like explaining why to most people so I just said my back was really really sore. (Small town in the South, everybody will mind your business and give you their unsolicited opinions) I did tell my dad why and showed him the pic from my phone. His reaction? He rolled his eyes, shook his head and then took a closer look at the pic. Told me it was beautiful and he was glad I was happy.

And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest

I sit here staring at this screen, wondering how to find the words to express how very sad I am, knowing that no matter which words I choose, none will even come close to describing the true measure of loss I and many others feel at this moment.

A very wonderful man died yesterday. As a child, I called him Uncle George and have continued to do so occaisonally as an adult. Uncle George was co-owner of a local funeral home, started by his father and uncle, continued by George, his brother and his children. In a small Southern town, this means he touched the lives of nearly every person to live here in the last 65 years. I don't know many people in this area who, upon hearing his name, didn't recognize it and usually have a story to tell. George was a truly amazing person. Always ready with a smile and hug for someone who needed it, he provided support and caring at one of the most difficult times in our lives. George and his family handled Shadow's final arrangements and gave me the love and encouragement I desperately needed.
I don't think George, or anyone in his family, ever saw what they do as just a job. For them, it seems to be more of a calling, an outpouring of compassion and an example of what is truly meant by "a generous heart."
I know his family is grieving, hurt more deeply than I am. My heart breaks for all of them, the son who was my childhood playmate, the daughter whose friendship I cherish as an adult. His wife and other children, who I admire and respect. All of them, my tears are more for them than for myself. George's passing leaves a hole in this town, one that can never be filled. I know that it is much deeper for them.
I've copied something over to include here which made me cry and smile (the bolding is mine):

George asked for this special message to be shared in his obituary: “To all my friends, family, and loved ones: I was able to love because you let me love!! Spread it daily. Never let a day go by that you don’t tell someone who needs it that you love them. I am alright with my God. He knows my heart. I bet my life on Him. I ain’t worried. May that peace be all of yours. And never forget that service to humanity is the best work of life. And that today is the first day of the rest of your life.”

Those words are so very much how George lived, a small view of a large heart. So I sit, wiping tears, mourning the loss of such an incredible person. Sad to think that those who never met Uncle George will be denied the privilege and pleasure of his company. And I, who has not truly prayed in years, offer up a sincere prayer that God welcomes Uncle George with open arms and grants grace to his family. Rest in peace Uncle George, you will be missed by all of us.

Now it's just getting ridiculous

My TBR pile, that is. It decreased by 4 over the weekend despite taking off Saturday afternoon going to BR with Pitbull for tattoo, toy and shoe shopping. And Sunday picking up 3 bookshelves the BL gave me (big ones!). Today, the pile increased by 8. Which means a total of 83. Yeah, that's a bit much.
Most of it is fiction and I'm really bad about picking up non-fiction, reading a bit and then putting it aside while I go on a mental vacation. So The Great Influenza (Barry) , Stiff (Roach), Lies My Teacher Told Me (Loewen), The Roots of English (Claiborne) and Maiden Mother Crone (Conway) stay in the pile longer than they should. There's a copy of Truman Capote's In Cold Blood waiting too.

As for the fiction, well I'm completely incapable of passing up anything that looks interesting. So I've a huge pile of stuff. Tim Powers, James Blaylock, William Gibson, Jocelynn Drake, Melina Morel, Devon Monk, Shirley Damsgaard, Andre Norton, Robert Asprin, George R.R. Martin, Jeffery Deaver, Phillip Margolin, Eileen Wilks, Jefferson Bass, Louis L'Amour, Patricia Briggs, Charlaine Harris, Beverly Connor, Alexis Morgan, Victoria Dahl, Jana DeLeon, Sally Smith O'Rourke, Jim Butcher, Charles Grant, Simon R. Green, K.E. Mills, Agatha Christie, Robert Heinlein, Dennis McKiernan, Oscar Wilde, Roger Zelazny, Katie MacAlister, Maureen Child, Lydia Joyce, Mary Janice Davidson, Mercedes Lackey, Elizabeth Kostova, Dorothy Gilman, Julie Garwood, Lewis Carroll, Shiloh Walker, J.R. Ward, Phillip Pullman, Charles DeLint, Diana Palmer, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Iris Johansen. And 6 anthologies.
Oh yeah, 2 in my bag. Annette Blair and Budge Wilson.

I think I need more shelves. A lot more shelves. I've never been more grateful for a generous employee discount and trade credit.

I realize

I haven't posted any poetry or stories in a while, not mine or Shadow's. I just haven't been in the mood lately. I haven't written anything new in a while and wasn't up to reading Shadow's stuff. I'm proud of myself, I've managed to sort through some of his books and decide what to keep and what to let go. I'm trying to nerve up to do the same with all the computer stuff. Hey it's only taken me 4 years to let go of guilt and grief and start to find some peace. Every once in a while the pain is still a sharp slice but these days it's mostly a dull ache I've come to accept as part of my daily routine. And even that has started to ease. Mostly I can remember the good times, smile and keep going. Progress indeed.

I've also felt a little weird about blogging lately. Knowing that a few people I actually know IRL (Hey Lynn!) read this didn't really bother me much. Finding out that a specific someone has been reading this on the sly kinda did. I don't know why, since I tell all this stuff when asked. It just did, so I left a bunch of stuff unwritten. Yesterday I decided I was being incredibly silly, even for me. So, I'm back to just blurting out whatever thought passes through my head, never mind the consequences.

Or maybe it's all due to a lack of umm..."inspiration"

Another bright move

Once upon a time, back when I worked for Dr Lisa, our regular UPS guy was an older man who liked to pick on me and he ended up giving me my most used nickname. I wore a particular brand of scrubs. The company that makes this brand sews a small tag on the right pocket of all of their shirts. Jimmy (the UPS guy) decides since that name appears on all my shirts it must be my nickname. And then he dared me to sign for packages using that name. And every time I call UPS the customer service rep gets the giggles.
Now 4 years later it's become a habit to use my nickname when signing for deliveries especially since my real last names are hard to spell. And it wouldn't be a problem except for the fact that I am a little distracted most days.
Not too long ago, one of the city employees came by the store to do a fire and safety inspection. Everything went fine until the end. Mr. Fireman hands me the form and tells me to sign the bottom. So I did, nice and pretty. Once again, did not even realize what I'd done until the guy looks at me, grins and says "Is this your legal name?" Yep, I signed my nickname. I kinda laughed and told him no, it was a nickname and signed my real name under my nickname.
Somewhere in the bowels of City Hall, there is an official gummint document signed "Peaches".

Heaven

is a po'boy made with fresh deer sausage. Spicy enough to bite back. Yum.

And a neat little test, I found it the other day while digging for studies on facial recognition. I scored a 92% which isn't bad.
Thought I'd throw this one in too, a test on recognition of famous faces. 93%, and I did better with male faces. Go figure.

One last place, Test My Brain. So far, so fun.

My giggles for the day

I can't tell you how many times I've heard this on the radio without paying a bit of attention. Usually I listen to CDs while driving but this evening coming home I finally got over the 3 day fixation with Flogging Molly. I ended up switching over to the radio just as this song came on. Damn near died laughing. It's the ultimate stalker song! Immediately reminded me of the story How The Wench Got Her Very Own Stalker Boy (no, I haven't told it, probably won't, it's a fairly typical story of my beloved BFF gaining a stalker . It was funny for us, because we laugh at inappropriate stuff, but not exactly something you can't fill in the blanks on). I kinda like the song, but seriously:

"You gotta spend some time love, you gotta spend some time with me/And I know that you'll find love, I will possess your heart"

"there are days when outside your window"

"You reject my advances and desperate pleas/I won't let you let me down so easily"

Y'know what? I'm gonna make plans to hang out at The Wench's house, drink real coffee and talk trash about everyone we know. And let her know I've found a song that's gonna make her cringe and laugh. And just enjoy her and appreciate the fact that she's a part of my life.
And any guy who ever says he wants to possess my heart is gonna get smashed in the face with a hammer. Sorry, formaldehyde is so not my scent and really, I like my organs just where they are, thankyouverymuch. Not in a mason jar in granny's basement.

And just a few hours after I posted this, guess who I almost ran over? Stalker Boy. That "almost ran over" was literal btw, cuz the skeezy lil fucker was standing in the middle of the road. I didn't run over him, I'd have hated to mess my car up.

Well, it amuses me anyway

I would like to know where, in the Big Book o' Universal Laws, it says "M-A should spend an inordinate amount of time on her knees while at work." Cuz I'm gonna take a razor and slice that page out. I work at a book store, ferfuckssake. You'd think that would be a nice, quiet little job. And it probably would be except it's me, the person who can manage to do something silly or embarassing in the least likely circumstances.
The other day a customer came in looking for some old, out of print books. I'm blaming him for the entire thing, because really, what kind of grown man wants Lone Ranger books? (Joking there, I've been asked for stranger from stranger) So I tell him where to find them, he can't find them, I go back there to find them. If we had any, they'd have been on the bottom shelf on the sci-fi aisle (don't ask me why, that's just where we put them). Which is where me on my knees comes in. So there I is, on my knees, ankles crossed, checking the shelves. Didn't see any, but we've got stuff stacked on the floor a little further down the aisle. Instead of getting up and moving like anybody with common sense would do, I sat back on my heels, twisted my upper body around and leeeaaannneeedd over to look. Not at all a professional pose, unless you're a human pretzel. I turned my head to tell the guy I didn't see any and he is looking at me like I am outside my mind. And apparently I am, because I only then realized exactly what I looked like to the guy standing over me.

At least I managed to untwist and stand up gracefully. In heels, at that.

Stray thoughts

From things I've heard in passing lately, the problems with the nation's economy are not hitting as hard here in Louisiana. I'm not any kind of expert, as a matter of fact I'm pretty under-informed about the whole situation so I don't know if that's true or not. However, everytime someone talks about it in my hearing I think about a country song called "Song of the South" by Alabama. More specifically, I think of two lines from the second verse:

Well, somebody told us Wall Street fell
But we were so poor that we couldn't tell.

Even though the song is about the Depression, the lyrics make me think of quite a few of the people I know.

Thinking about all of this brings to mind the other stray thought. My toilet is making noises like a Yip-Yip and flushing itself at 6 am. What a lovely alarm clock. So either the plumbing has been invaded by fuzzy little aliens from the planet Henson or I'm about to discover an expensive problem. Yay for me. I'm calling my dad.

Sharing the lulz

I have a really warped sense of humor. But y'all know this already, right? And I love to read (this is also not a surprise). So when I find something that combines 2 of my favoritest things in the whole world, I gotta share.

Books and pervy funny:

(All links are pretty much NSFW. You've been warned)

Link #1 - Failblog. Pretty obvious dirty joke HERE. Reninded me of my favorite dirty story punchline. "EWW, what is that white stuff?"

Link #2 - Now this one is kinda gross. If you have issues with gory, skip this one, okay? If you click it, I'm not responsible for nightmares, nausea or nasty headaches. Chris's Invincible Super-Blog. Here's what you're looking for: click the link, scroll down past the first few pics, take a quick look at the picture of the ghost nurses (just because it causes an OMGWTF? moment), scroll past the ghost nurse closeup. Are you looking at the back of a guy in a blue coat? Good, cuz that's the one I'm talking about. Read the speech bubble. Spit coffee on keyboard. Choke, laugh and read again. I'm so passing that along to Mz Pitbull.

Link #3 - Sailor Jim the Storyteller on the subject of penises. If you've ever read a romance novel you understand the dilemma. And the humor of erect penii. Sorry fellas, but they are.

Link #4 - Saving the best for last. Candy from Smart Bitches, Trashy Books reviews Decadent. The review is hilarious, the comments are even more so and the LOLporn, oh yes the LOLporn. So make sure you click the link and read the comments. If the idea of teh buttsecks freaks you out, skip this one. Cuz there's lots of it. With descriptions and jokes and pictures even. I'll never be able to look at Lifesavers again.

By the way, everything here is Saysh's fault (thanks Saysh, I love you *smooch*) since she's the one who gave me the link to Smart Bitches in the first place. And Smart Bitches had the links to the other spots. Even Failblog, although I'd already seen it since Failblog is in my faves. Why did Saysh give me a link to Smart Bitches? Well, besides knowing I love to read, I'm pretty sure she wanted to pay me back for giving her the link to Desperately Seeking.....Something.

Long day

This is what I look like after sorting through 6 large boxes of funky, dusty used books. At least I'm smiling.

Sunshine and a friend

means it's time for a smoke break!

Happy weekend honeys!