I am NOT a Happy Camper!

Sunday I wanted to watch the superbowl.. and indeed I did watch ONE hour of it before I turned it off.  It wasn’t the teams I didn’t want to see, and it wasn’t the scores I didn’t want to see…rather it was the LACK OF not seeing what I wanted to see, which was the GAME!  I am not a happy camper!

My one hour went thusly:  5 minutes of football,… 10 minutes of commercials… 5 minutes of football… 10 minutes of commercials.. 5 minutes of football… well you get the idea!  And what was the crowning glory of it all you ask?  It was each time they came back to the game and then TOLD ME WHAT HAPPENED WHILE I WAS GONE!  Hello?  This is TELEVISION folks!  If I wanted to HEAR what happened I’d have turned on the radio!!

Don’t get me wrong.. I understand the commercials for this particular game is mega-big-time… and they are funny…but when did it become more about the commercials and less about the game????  I will not watch another superbowl game!  …but I am glad to READ this morning that the Saints won!… but I am still not a happy camper.

(at least these people got to see it without commercials!)

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Ah.. did I mention that I got up at 4:30 am yesterday to see the night launch of the shuttle? ah.. no? well.. I got up …it was scrubbed.  and I couldn’t get back to sleep… I am not a happy camper.

Did I mention I slept past 4:30 until 5 am this morning?  And did I mention the launch went off “on schedule”?  

I am not a happy camper!! AAARRGGHHH! 

And to add insult to injury there are only 4 more launches for the Shuttle before that program shuts down..

Want more?… the President is going to take the money away from the Moon shot!!!!……… nope.. I am not a happy camper.

 American astronauts will not return to the moon as planned if Congress passes President Obama’s proposed budget.

The Resident Squirrel

After my 2 mile walk on Friday, I took my camera outside to snap a photo of our resident squirrel’s home..

…as I was doing this.. the resident squirrel showed up !

… and checked me out to be sure his home was safe…

Then he jutted up….

…and down, his tree to show me this was HIS tree!

I was tired and sweaty from my walk and just left him on his tree acting all squirrely!

Ya Gotta Love Maxine!

 

Magic & Malice

Magic & Malice  by Patricia C Wrede

Hardcover: 420 pages
Publisher: SFBC Fantasy; SF Book Club edition (1998)
ISBN-10: 156865684X

 

As I had to do if you wish to read this book you will have to find a used copy.

The book is a combination of two books that Ms Wrede has written: Mairelon the Magician and Magician’s Ward.  I will post them as two individual posts.

I just finished reading the first part of the book: Mairelon the Magician.

As a paper back:

Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Starscape (April 15, 2002)
ISBN-10: 0765342324

From School Library Journal

YA– This historical fantasy borrows many of the conventions of the historical romance to create a frothy tale that should appeal to a broader audience than would a straightforward fantasy, romance, or historical novel. Kim is surviving the streets of some London in never-never land by disguising herself as a boy and working at the least objectionable and illegal tasks offered to her. She knows that her age is bringing her masquerade to an end, so when fortune throws the mysterious, but apparently honorable, Mairelon in her path with the offer of a job and a destination, she takes the opportunity. From this point, the plot plunges headlong into a convoluted story involving magic, disguised noblemen, sacred vessels, and a “put all the subjects in the same room and we’ll solve this mystery” conclusion. Trying to stay one guess ahead of Kim and one behind the dashing Mairelon will keep the pages turning. Although Kim is a somewhat vague conception, Mairelon qualifies as a fully realized romantic hero.

I quite enjoyed the first of the two books joined in this hardback version.  I have read other books by Patricia C Wrede and enjoyed them so when I found this older book I thought I’d give it a go.

As it turns out it’s a bit of a mystery surrounded by magicians and magical artifacts , truths and lies… not a bad combination.

I did have a little difficulty though (not enough to make me put it down lol).. first off I found it had a bit many characters to try to remember them all and how they connected or didn’t connect.. but I plowed on..

Then there was the fact of some of the language used.. “blimey, it ain’t easy!” (my own quote heh)

There were words such as:  “I ain’t no flat” (flat? huh? ), or “you’re bosky”(bosky?).  How about “gammoning the cull”? (uh gammoning? cull?), or “Bilking old Tom out of a tog and kicks” (tog & kicks?? lord help me!)

But no matter, I found quickly that if I kept reading I got the idea of what was being said, and although at times I thought I was reading a foreign language.. oh wait.. I was! heh.  I did enjoy the story very much.

Mairelon the magician was a pretty neat character of which you don’t learn “all” about him until the very end!

Kim, the young girl thief passing herself off as a boy was interesting too.. once again you find out some surprises at the end about Kim too!

Amazons review is quite good although I’m not sure I would list Mairelon as a “romantic hero”??.. guess you should read it for yourself and find out !

Checkin’ Up on Karl Urban

 

My mind wandered (as it does most days).  Today it chose to see what the hunk, Karl Urban has been up too. (oh how I wish they’d move faster at another Star Trek movie!)

What I found is that he is a very busy actor!  One movie, filming jumped out at me on IMdb. 

The movie titled Red.  

Release date: 22 October 2010 (USA)

Plot: When his idyllic life is threatened by a high-tech assassin, former black-ops agent Frank Moses reassembles his old team in a last ditch effort to survive.

As my eyes scrolled down …my jaw dropped open!

…just look at this cast!!!

   Bruce Willis     Ernest Borgnine     Morgan Freeman 

 Karl Urban     Mary-Louise Parker      Helen Mirren

 John Malkovich      Brian Cox       Richard Dreyfuss

 

Oh yeah! my hunk is playing with some of the “big boys”!!!! 

I am so happy for him I can’t express it !!!! 

The thought of jumping up and down and doing a back flip came to mind.. but then so did “hospital visit“, so I remained in my computer chair with a huge grin on my face!

You can count on the fact that I will be waiting on this movie to be released!!  I might even have to be first in line ! (that’s something I haven’t done since the original star trek movies!)

I find myself grinning like a Cheshire cat and doing that dance that looks like you are stirring a pot… “go Karl!  go Karl! go Karl!” oh yeah! Happy dance time!

Now.. if I could just get him to do a convention!

A Surprise Package in the Mail

Oh my!  I received a surprise package from Cath (my sis) across the pond, in England!! Thank you, thank you, thank you Cath!!!!

No sooner had I opened the package and grabbed my handy-dandy camera to take a photo , than I found the BooBoo Kitty checking out the new books!

 Irish Ghosts and Haunting’s by Michael Scott: yes, the same Michael Scott who is writing the Nicholas Flamel series of YA books!

Product Description

What is it about Ireland’s past that so haunts the imagination? More than one answer can be found in Michael Scotts’s powerful new collection of 29 tales. To start with, in a newly Christianized Ireland, monks do battle with a devilish monster that has killed a river. All the water in this collection, from rivers to lakes, conceal dangers that men and women would best avoid. Ready to tempt Ireland’s new conquerors — humankind— supernatural forces hide beneath waves, in bogs, in the very land, waiting. With his usual inventiveness, Michael Scott juxtaposes the old and the new, the ancient and modern, showing that in everyday situations, the curses of Ireland’s mythic past lie imp–like, threatening destruction.

…and Oscar Wilde and the Candlelight Murders  by Gyles Brandreth.  About all I know of this one is it’s a murder mystery and Cath raved about it!  It’s also an Import if one wants it.

When I went to take a second photo in case the first did not come out.. there was Boo again still looking at the books!

BooBoy always hides when I get the camera out so I wonder what was so fascinating to him to stay around the books while I took pictures?! Maybe Cath was cooking something good when she packaged them and the smell is on the books! One the other hand, if he thinks I am going to read them out loud to him he’s crazy!

Thanks again and again sis!!

This "n" That & January Wrap

I had a pathetic start to 2010..

But I will admit that I’ve been doing a lot of crocheting and watching more television than I normally do.

And considering it is only 4 books that I’ve read the page count isn’t too shabby … 1,756. Granted there are no chunksters but still.. there are also no books under 200 pgs.

Yesterday was nothing special but hey it’s all I’ve got to talk about

I tried making my first “doily” yesterday.  I didn’t have the cotton thread for it so I used old baby yarn someone gave me because it was quite thin..

I was surprised at my success, although it was a simple pattern.. I hope to try the pineapple stitch next.  Anyway.. it’s yarn not cotton but it works.

As dusk came yesterday I took on last look outside… sometimes that little Grebe just gets to me , he looks so forlorn!

So far, this post is a thrill a minute huh? LOL.. ok I’ll finish up with the ever so exciting Chili I just  started in the pot!… please, contain the excitement~…..  (though I will admit it already smells good.. I must be hungry lol)

Living at the old folks apartments is just a thrill a minute LOL… *shaking my head*  too much to fast, I have to go sit down .. )

 

The Mysterious Benedict Society

The Mysterious Benedict Society by  Trenton   Lee Stewart.

Paperback: 512 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (April 1, 2008)
ISBN-10: 0316003956

From School Library Journal

Starred Review. Grade 5–9—After Reynie Muldoon responds to an advertisement recruiting “gifted children looking for special opportunities,” he finds himself in a world of mystery and adventure. The 11-year-old orphan is one of four children to complete a series of challenging and creative tasks, and he, Kate, Constance, and Sticky become the Mysterious Benedict Society. After being trained by Mr. Benedict and his assistants, the four travel to an isolated school where children are being trained by a criminal mastermind to participate in his schemes to take over the world. The young investigators need to use their special talents and abilities in order to discover Mr. Curtain’s secrets, and their only chance to defeat him is through working together. Readers will challenge their own abilities as they work with the Society members to solve clues and put together the pieces of Mr. Curtain’s plan. In spite of a variety of coincidences, Stewart’s unusual characters, threatening villains, and dramatic plot twists will grab and hold readers’ attention. Fans of Roald Dahl or Blue Balliett will find a familiar blend of kid power, clues, and adventure in Society, though its length may daunt reluctant or less-secure readers. Underlying themes about the power of media messages and the value of education add to this book’s appeal, and a happy ending with hints of more adventures to come make this first-time author one to remember.—

By the skin of my teeth I finished this book on the last day of January!!! I have been in a reading slump, but it wasn’t because of the book I was reading!

This is a very enjoyable book and excellent writing I might add!  The author does not write  down to YA readers. (nor is it too difficult) I’d give A+ for the great writing.

The group of four children, Reynie, Kate , Constance and Sticky made a great team and the book isn’t without it’s surprises at the very end.  No one is without their drawbacks, be it being an Orphan, a runaway or laughter making Mr Benedict fall asleep!  Quite Original, or I just haven’t read anything like it !  There are already 2 more books out following this one but for now they will have to wait. 

Book one could be read as a stand alone book should one decide not to read on.  I have not heard any reviews of book 2 or 3 but if they are as good as book one I doubt you would be disappointed.

An excellent YA book!

I will do the January Wrap (big joke) tomorrow.

January 29.2010

Last night and tonight have full moons, and we are to see Mars right next to it… but.. as it does whenever I want to see something in the sky (like the vapor trail from a liftoff) it was not a clear night, and so all I saw was a hazy moon with a halo.. *sigh*

 

But earlier in the day I did see something strange.. Woody was around and he did something I’ve never seen before.. he sat down!.. (could this really be??? why.. yes it could!)

That’s the first time I’ve ever seen that!!

He looks deep in thought.  I wonder what they think about?

Day Out

My Youngest son, Thom called me the other day and mentioned that my sister-in -law, Pat (yep, same name) wanted to go out to lunch and would I be interested.  I thought it would be nice since it was Pat’s Birthday to go out with them both.  We went to a restaurant  here in Vero but out on the island  a place called Waldo’s.

After we ate we walked out back to overlook the ocean.  This is Pat (my sister-in-law) and my son Thom.

(above: shady view.  Below: sunny view)

Mother and son…

Seagulls flew above…

… and we saw more Pelicans!  Gads from none to lots of them!!

We went over by the Indian River by the bridge .. many boats were there but I saw this one sitting all alone just begging for a photo to be taken.

It was a very nice lunch (too much food) and a beautiful day out.. there were nice views everywhere we went!  There are times I hate coming back to the old folks home.

My reading seems to have taken a dump.  The book I am reading I AM enjoying, and the author is an excellent writer but I can’t seem to read more then 2 chapters when I sit to read, I hope this goes away soon because I really want to get my tbr pile down to something “reasonable”.  I may be dreaming but I will be trying! lol