Technology SUCKS!

If you are all wondering where I have been the last few days, It was because of technology.

Sunday night, I shut down the desktop and the laptop to go to bed, wake up Monday morning and nothing – no dial tone, no dsl, NOTHING.

Thank God I had my mobile, so that I could partially check up on things albeit, a short time, as you all know cellphones/pda’s aren’t the greatest to be connected to the net with for stuff you really have to do.

So, between getting a tech to come and see if it was my modem, or the line itself on Monday, it took them nearly THREE days to get it sorted and come to my house to see what the problem was….a junction box…

So I am back for tonight, tomorrow I am off to St. Catharines for the day to get some of my sons stuff for back to school on the 8th of September.

Technology is great when it works, but once it goes down it really goes down.

I’m wondering, was it better before we had all of these new fangled gadgets, or is it better now, and when it goes down or isnt available, do you feel like you are going through withdrawl?? Are you cranky??

Just wondering…

Saturday…wait..Sunday Catch Up

Well, what a fast few days it has been.

1. I reviewed “My Little Red Book” and sent a link off on twitter yesterday after writing it to someone who is well known around the world and “WHAM” 750 hits to that page in a matter of 30 minutes. I didn’t get much reading done yesterday, was busy discussing the merits of the book. Then at midnight when I finally looked at the stats page of that one page – OVER 2000 hits and people keep coming to see about the book. YAY!

2. Earlier this week, I had the immense pleasure to interview JA Konrath aka Jack Kilborn who has done the Lt. Jack Daniels series of books and is starting a new book which is due to be released in April called AFRAID. The review AND the interview will be posted on March 22, 2009. So, if you are a fan, then I suggest that you mark it on your calendar. All I can say is wow!.

3. I can feel the starting of Spring, can you ?? The air smells so fresh and new, I can see the buds on the trees spurning new life. The grass is green and birds are singing. I get a bit excited this time of year, after a long and very snowy winter I am ready to celebrate the beginning of a new and vibrant season.

That is it for now, I think. I hope that I haven’t forgotten anything. If I have then I will have to try and remember it for next time.

Hope you are all well !!

I am off to read

Saturday Catch Up

Now that I am all caught up on blog reviews, and happenstances from the past week, Here I am updating you on what’s to come here on the blog.

1. I have been asked to review AFRAID by Miriam at Hachette. Then today, I received a email from the author, J.A. Konrath who also writes under the name Jack Kilborn for the same book. Funny how things like that happen isn’t it?.

2. I will be interviewing the author as well and posting it on the blog, so if you have any burning questions, forward them to me via the email me link on the profile.

3. From earlier this week, I mentioned that I will be possibly opening my own independent bookstore. Right now, I am gathering information, and slowly in between reading at a breakneck pace, getting a business plan in the works.

4. I have quit smoking! It is day 2 that I have been on the patch, and so far so good. I have the gum as well, but it gives me the most irritating taste and feel in my mouth…YUCK!! Yesterday was an ok day, except for the fact of the wanting to grab one when I sat down, and when I got on the computer. Today, it has been more of the patch aching when it releases a dose.

5. The fundraiser is a go! I have had 4 Publishers / People in the publishing industry make a donation – Super Props to HarperCollins Canada, Raincoast Books, DK Publishing, and Julie Wilson @ Seen Reading. I hope to have a few more, but this is a REALLY great start for a really worthwhile cause. The raffle for the books will be during Education Week May 4th – 8th, 2009. You have all done me so proud!!!

6. I will be hosting more giveaways on the blog, as them come to my attention, so don’t fret! I will be giving out more free books since it has been such a fun thing to do.

That’s all for now, Hope you are all well, content and reading !

Marci

Yes, I realize I have been a bit quiet…

This last week or 2 have been a tad busy for me. Council meetings, plans for the school my son attends, and among other things getting things done that I absolutely have to get done.

Today was Shrove Tuesday or known by “Fat Tuesday”, and since my son attends a Catholic School, we on the parent council cooked pancakes for all of the children today. There was approximately 400 children in the school today and over a period of 3-4 hours, we made about 800+ pancakes for the entire school. What a job!

One day on the weekend, I was complaining to a long time dear friend of mine that lives in British Columbia about the fact that in the area I live in there really isn’t any great independent bookstores other then”Coles” or “Chapters” that even carry the book I wanted to buy. And, her being the empowering person that she is, I mentioned that I should open a bookstore (as a joke), has now been rolled into that I am actually looking into what opening a business would involve. So now, I am thinking about what I would want to get out of a independent bookstore – customer service, friendly service, you know the usual kind of stuff.

I finished The Italian Lover last night in the midst of trying to get some sleep for an early morning wake up call via my alarm clock, and since I am lacking a bit of sleep, and relaxing, I will honestly try and get it blogged tomorrow or the next day. I realize that I have been going gangbusters on the book front lately, with every few days a new one, I started Little Giant of Aberdeen County today getting the prologue out of the way, so maybe if I have a few minutes between doing the running around I have to get done tomorrow I will try to get a few sentences in.

I NEED Your Help!

While I was at my son’s school volunteering last week, I had heard that the school’s Breakfast Program wasn’t going to be able to sustain itself until the end of the year.

Upon talking with the Principal and gaining his approval, i am set on embarking on getting some Publishers that would be willing to donate books to be raffled off, so that we can raise some money for the program. And, Hopefully inspire some kids with what they are reading or with what they want to read.

I am proposing this take place the week of May 4th to 7th, 2009, Which in our school board is “Education Week”.

So, This is my OFFICIAL Challenge!

I challenge all of the Publishers that frequent my blog, to donate some books for this worthwhile cause… Because we all know that nutrition is directly related to learning and if they don’t have the proper nutrition, then they won’t learn or want to learn as much as they can.

So, use the email on my profile here to get a hold of me, and let’s see what we can do to raise some money, and give great books away!

I have one publisher willing to give …what about YOU !

** EDIT**

This is what I had an idea for types of books…

The Twilight Series – Stephenie Meyer

Neil Gaiman Books – The Graveyard Gook , Coraline…

Any other ideas, send them on, My son who is 10, likes war based books, he currently reading My Passchendeale book !! (and has been since before christmas)

**UPDATE** I have TWO publishers that are donating, and one person C’MON!!!

Books or Movie Adaptations ??

I had the privilege of receiving the book – The Diving Bell and The Butterfly from my wonderful friend Deanna @ Harper Collins Canada. She is a wonderful person and sent me this wonderful book and I came across the movie adaptation…I won’t tell you where, but I am glad to have had the opportunity of watching the movie after I read the book.

Now, my question is, do you all prefer the book or the movie adaptations of the actual books?? Don’t get me wrong, they are in this case great. Lately, I have noticed that there are an actual large amount of books that have been adapted to become movies – Slumdog Millionaire, Frost / Nixon, Revolutionary Road, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button just to mention a few.

Does it depend on the actors in it ? What parts of the adaptation that are taken from the actual book? Anything else that comes to mind I want to know. Some adaptations are just way off the mark, in terms of the content. I won’t go any further to skew your though pattern, I just thought it would be interesting to see any differences or attitudes that are happening.

I will need a day or two to think about my review and what I want to say about it. Don’t fret, I will be back posting my review as soon as I get my thoughts straight, and have the light on where I am typing. ( I am presently typing in the dark on my laptop and only have the light from the monitor).

OT – Is It Christmas Yet ??

Well, now that I have a few minutes breather in between running around like a chicken with my head cut off, and baking an enormous amount of baked goods.. ( the kids in my son’s class is getting to decorate gingerbread with me tomorrow) Gingerbread, Oatmeal Chocolate Cranberry Chunk Cookies, and 6 Layer bars, I say I’m about done.

Wait… I think I realized I was done yesterday running around looking for couplings for piping bags for the icing I made for my son’s class. The lady in one store says to me ” Well, there is a place in Mississauga that sells everything” But who in their RIGHT MIND would drive 2 hours to Mississauga to get 3 couplings that cost a dollar a piece and then drive the 2 hours back. I may want the couplings, but NOT that bad. Then went onto discuss what I am going to do – making piping icing, and icing paint (with different colours). To which this reply was classic ” Are you just a Mom, or do you do this professionally?”….. Um, I am just a Mom that likes to do and share things at Christmas time…Do I really need to have a profession or a calling in life to be able to do something?

Anyways, After I chuckled while leaving the store without the couplings, I walked home in the wind and spattering of rain, and made yet another double batch of gingerbread. This morning I made the 6 layer bars, and the oatmeal chocolate cranberry cookies…. So, my house is smelling like a cookie factory. So tomorrow is the cookie decorating extravaganza, and Thursday morning is the Council Christmas breakfast….Which I thought I had quit last year…wait then I volunteered for the Christmas Gift Shop, and got sucked back into the vortex they call women lol

Back to baking!!

OT – Randomness

I am just now taking a break from making my famous Cinnamon Buns. 2 Batches….

Yes, my one friend told me today I was crazy for doing it, because of all the work involved – making the dough, kneading it by hand, and so forth. But, I told her it’s been ages since I have made them, and it’s a nice treat once in a while…. 22 grams of fat PER bun. I’ll leave it at that. I think we all have to take a break from everything once in a while, otherwise (at least I think) that things become monotonous and dull.

As, I am waiting for the dough to rise so that I can roll out the dough, and put the filling in, and into the pan overnight to raise one last time before I stick them in the oven first thing in the morning.

This afternoon I finally got my Wally Lamb book. I ripped it out of the packaging like a little kid and hugged it in front of my mail lady that delivers parcels LOL (She must think I’m crazy now) but she’s nice and we talked about the weather – she wanted to know if it was going to snow more, I believe it is going to rain and snow tomorrow. Thank God I don’t have to go and do anything tomorrow.

I have also been talking to a friend I haven’t talked to in ages. It’s funny that at one time you had some things in common, and a few years later it seems as though you don’t anymore, or things have changed so to speak. Anyways, I got invited out for drinks…We’ll see what happens.

I had to go out and buy my son a brand new winter coat. I bought him one last year, and this year the zipper went bust, got it fixed and a week later it was really broken. So, I ended getting him one that was partially one that resembled a military theme (he wants to enter the military ) So, when he got home from school, he seen it immediately and thanked me, and said he loved it.

The old one is presently sitting beside the door to outside. Ready for garbage day…I hate throwing things out like that except I could get a new zipper installed but it would cost $40. I nearly had a small stroke when the lady told me that.

Saving up for a really big present for my son… a Xbox 360…I’m getting small stuff on the way to that as well. Stocking suffers, and the like….then a few gifts for his close friends.. and that’s it.

Thank God tomorrow is Friday !

OT – Thoughts…

I am presently knitting and needed a break to give my hands a short break (I am nearly finished) and mindlessly wandered around some blogs other then those posted on my blog. What I have found … wasn’t all the interesting to me.

For me, reading is about getting a book opening it up and taking a journey or a break from the everyday world. To some of the bogs I visited, it seems to be more of a commercial investment or a job instead of just doing it because it’s enjoyable to do to learn about new places, ideas, and people. (Please do not take this as me being judgemental in any way).

When I was younger, I used to love to go to the library and look around all of the stacks of books for hours (yes, I said HOURS) on end, and choose 2 or 3 and go on my merry way home to open up and delve into what was either a great book or one that passed the time.

Now that I am older, (and hopefully wiser), I tend to choose books that I can learn a bit from – History, Places, People, basically everything or that peaks my interest. Sure, I am picky when to comes to certain things, but shouldn’t what you read be a choice as well? When I look at descriptions of books, I think to myself Would I be interested in this? Would it peak my interest? Have I read this genre before? Would I be willing to give it a try and keep an open mind about?

Some blogs I find are just TOO busy with contests, giveaways, and advertisements. It is just a mess of useless information, and most likely, the inside covers of the books descriptions, when you could just type what you felt and liked or disliked with a general description of what the book was about. What is the saying… Keep it Short and Simple S*****?

To be totally honest, I get enough of that when I open a paper, television, or even online.

I realize our lives have become somewhat attached to being online, and have to be connected 24/7, and be able to be “accessible” at all times, but enough is enough.

I just hope that my comments on books are appreciated and hope that it gives the person reading it an opportunity to be able to take a quick peek inside my thoughts and feelings as I read the book. That is what I am aiming for, no more no less. Maybe it will get them to read the book, maybe it won’t.

To my followers – THANK YOU !! and to new readers WELCOME !!

My rant is now over… resume your normal activity this has been a public service announcement

PPS I have my new glasses too…. Thank God I can see the way God intended !!

Fabulous Fall Fiction What I have Read So Far

Well, I’m back to reading … after the glasses disaster, and the break I needed away from reading for a bit… It lasted about a week. The books on my new bookcase were making me feel guilty letting them lie there sad and not being read as they should be. Do I sound like just a bit of a nut yet ???

This is as far as I have reached in the challenge so far…

The Sealed Letter – Emma Donoghue

Home – Marilynne Robinson

Ritual – Mo Hayder

Anathem – Neal Stephenson

I have The Hour I first believed and The Given Day on order ..hopefully they will arrive soon, although, Wally Lamb’s book isn’t due until after the 11th of November.

I have Goldengrove on my bookcase waiting ever so patiently to be next in queue..along with some other books I have been wanting to read that I have purchased – Passchendaele, Remembering the Bones, and Dreaming Again, as well one or two more coming in the mail.

** Edit** I have read Goldengrove so that makes my total to 5 books read for the reading challenge and #6 is being read now – The Given Day by Dennis Lehane (edited November 21,2008)

OT – Instead of reading I have been doing …….

Knitting! Yes, I do have other interests then reading at a breakneck pace thanks to Deanna at Harper Collins haha You know I love reading… you have the picture.

A teacher at my son’s school just recently had a bouncing baby boy to add to the school family, and me as nice as I am knitted her along with a few other gifts, a pair of baby booties and bonnet to keep the little head nice and snugly warm.

It has been nice to take a break from reading. Although, I am missing it. I really needed to take a break, I just wasn’t feeling the feelings when I start a book all excited about starting the first page and then learning about all of the characters and their stories. But, now as things start to wind down with people I know and getting back to normal, I am getting the itch so to speak to read again. So much, that I ordered a few books I’ll be returning to the library this week because I cannot possibly read them before they are due back. And with a few that are already on hold for other it wouldn’t be fair to me If i kept them any longer ( and pay late fee fines) when they are excited to be getting the book after I am done with it.

So, here is the picture of the baby bonnet and booties… my son actually asked me tonight when I was stitching them all together if I could make him a pair … ( He’s 10) funny guy…

OT – New glasses on order…

Last weekend, while my son and I were having a quiet bike ride through the gorgeous colours of fall, I hit a bump in the trail and my glasses flew off my head out in front of me and I ran over them….THEN… my son ran over them and said “Mom, did I just run over your glasses?” Yes, you did…. So, after going to survey the damage, and total write off… you guessed it…. time to get new glasses.

I don’t mind wearing them, and I do have contacts as well, it is just easier for me to put on my glasses then get all my supplies needed for contacts, take them out of the case, inspect them, clean and rinse, and then insert. Then wait a few minutes while they get turned properly to the point where I can at least see my hand in front of my face… ( yes, I know you are probably chuckling at the sight of me doing all of this)

Sooooooo anyway, I hopped on my bike to go to the mall to look for new frames (which I hate doing) …Last time it took me 3 hours to select the frames I had that are now destroyed….Because, I am really particular about how they look and what not… Yes, I am picky!

After I get there, I’m met by the manager who tells me the In’s and outs since the last time I was there, what I am able to afford and so forth. Then I am aimlessly walking around the store looking at frames, trying on some that look absolutely hideous, too big, too small, you know how it goes if you wear glasses.

So, I finally find a nice pair of Ray Bans, a soft metallic brown colour rimless at the bottom of the frames, and dainty. So, hopefully, in the next 2 weeks I will have my new glasses, unless they screw up my prescription like they did last time… bifocals in both lenses instead of only one lens.

That really screwed up my whole week the last time… pounding headache for 2 days wearing brand new glasses that were supposedly made to order according to what I needed yada yada, until I placed them on my face for no more then 5 minutes. HA! Suffice to say I wasn’t all that impressed…

As with the old glasses, and other factors going on right now, I’m going to return a few books to the library that I cannot possibly read in time for them to be returned. I have 4 I had purchased that are sitting on my desk looking at me and saying “I want you to read me”. And me feeling guilty looking at them, I don’t have the time to devote to them as should be spent with mind blowing, GREAT books.

One good thing happening tomorrow.. My bookcase is finally arriving tomorrow some time. Then I will be able to showcase the ARC’s I have received and purchased, along with the old one I have always had, and kept through moving across Canada and back again. Oh, that reminds me, I lent out my copy of Wally Lamb’s I Know This Much is True, and have been meaning to get it back from my friend like 2 years ago…wonder if she still has it ??

So, If I am lucky enough to have a few dollars left over from buying presents for Christmas, ( It’s 62 days away!!) I may be inclined to get the ones that I haven’t had the chance to.

That, and friends that have needed me in their times of stress and what is going on in their lives.. You both know you are in my thoughts and prayers and I love you both. Hopefully, the one that is coming over to pick up the lasagna I made for her and her family enjoys it as much as I had making it for them.

OT – And the Books just keep coming !!

Went to the library this afternoon, to drop off the black tower, and pick one up that was on hold… 3 hours later they call me to say I have 6 that are ready to pick up…

they are … Coventry, Home, Ritual, The Given Day, Goldengrove ( I just bought that one), annnnnd Bones of the Hills…

Any bets on how many I can read in a 7 day period ?? LOL

Let the reading commence……..hahahahaha

http://savvyreader.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/09/the-fabulous-fall-reading-challenge.html

OT – From One Book to 6 in a week on my desk…

Last week, I was mourning the fact that I had ONE (gasp) book on my desk left to read after missing one question on the September Fabulous Fall Fiction trivia to allow me to get a book to calm my inquisitive mind and at times quite persistant. Now it is Saturday, a full week later and I have a total of a whopping SIX and one more to review for First Look coming by courier.

I just picked up Goldengrove at Shoppers after dropping off a resume to the manager of the Post Office… On a lark, when I mailing things out on Wednesday, I asked her if they were hiring. One look at me from her and ans she said “When can you start??” and “Where is your resume??” I replied to her – My resume is at home and me quite shocked that she answered me as she did, she told me to drop by Saturday and drop one off…After I purchased Remembering the Bones.

Soooooooo, today I got ready, and walked to the drug store once again – to pick up sugar they had on sale for 99 cents (baking) and going through the store, I just went in and waited in line as she was helping a customer, introduced myself and gave her my resume. As she took a look at it, she needed 2 references, wrote them down for her. Her reply – I’ll let you know for sure on Monday. GASP!!

So, I’m currently reading Black Tower, and have The Takeover for 7 days on loan from the library, have Whiskey Sour from an inter library loan, Goldengrove and Remembering the Bones purchased, The Hour I first Believed pre-ordered, and the rest on hold from the library… Wait!! library just called and said The Secret is available to pick up too… That’s probably another 7 day loan… LOL Busy, busy girl here.

I’ll ready to make another cup of coffee and get back to reading… since there isn’t much if at all on TV tonight…

Soccer is done for the season

Wow, how time flies. It was just a few months ago that we were starting the soccer season, and yesterday was the last day. Some kids can be quite mean and nasty. It makes me wonder what happens inside their own homes to make them do the things they do. From past experience, the kids do learn what their parents act and say. Even in my own home, this is true. Kids are sponges… LITERALLY!

My son was upset at one of the things one of his teammates were doing, and he can’t hide things like that very well, he gets a scowl and this mean look on his face. Then goes quiet, and short fused.

All in all, he had a great summer. Albeit, they only won 3 games (one by forfeit) but I think its a confidence builder in a way… they know how to loose gracefully, and not get upset about it.

He scored 4-5 goals this year, and was ecstatic when he did, as was I.. Who wouldn’t !!