What I have been reading...

OK, so I have been doing some reading! A lot of reading.. ok, not a lot.. but a little bit of reading...


Dawn gave me this book for my birthday.. OMG.. I cried.. It was good.. very easy.. just notes that were left of the refrigerator between a mom and daughter.. Good read!!


Then of course.. well, I needed to finish the latest series.. this was good. ok, a little muddled at the end. But all and all.. a good read.. will try to get Hannah to read all of the books..


Another book that Dawn lent me.. OMG.. this was so good.. so sweet.. so summer read.. I know most have probably already read it.. but if you haven't... like I said.. a good summer read...



And then there is Genesis.. Ms Willems, Hannah's reading teacher asked me to read this and let her know what I thought.. if it was appropriate for 6th graders..
well.. this was great! a lot like The Giver... but not.. a total surprise at the end.. a bit more than what a lot of the 6th graders could handle, but if you have one of those precocious kids.. well.. they might like it...

I have a couple more books to read.. and to tell you the truth.. it's been nice to get back to all the reading...

thanks for stopping by..
leave me a note!
shawn

The Messenger

OK, so I read this book.. I guess I should have read Gathering Blue after The Giver, but I didn't know that they were related..
So anyway.. I read this mainly because I did enjoy The Giver.. EVEN though it was slightly disturbing. I am still thinking of what the message was in the book.
So... anyway.. at the point where I am with out a book again.
I have pretty much made my mind up that I am going to quit SU.. or stop being a demo.. or what ever you do.. I tried, I guess I just never really got enough of a following to make it worth while. I will be using my friend Deb as my consulantant. I have until the end of the month.. OK, actually, I think I will have until the end of April.. I will be put in "pending"... so I will just make sure that I have my paper up to date, and enough of it.. and if there are any sets that I have to have.. I am trying to decide if I want the Big Shot or not. That is one I have to think about.
Tomorrow is my wonderful hubby Pat's birthday!! He will be 41!! I am sure that he will be happy that I told "the world" that he will be 41.. but well.. So I will make him his favorite dinner of country pie, and an apple pie.. since he likes that more than cake..
That is about all..
Leave me a message...
shawn

books I have been reading....

OK, so I have been reading some more of the Percy Jackson series that started with The Lightening Thief.. Which I liked... so this was number 2.... I didn't like it as much as The Lightening Thief.. but I liked it enough to go on to the next book...


...and #3.... Which I liked much better than #2... this one was more entertaining..
I haven't read #4 yet.. and #5 comes out this spring...


Then Hannah's reading teacher had asked her to read The Giver... and suggested that I might want to read that one first as well...
BOY... this one was a book that made me think. There are some really strange things that happen in this book. I wonder how someone comes up with this stuff.. It was a quick read.. and I liked it.. but when I got done with the book.. I just went..."hm"... and then "hm" again...

shawn

Newest book

I have been volunteering in a reading classroom on Friday mornings, and this was the book that they are reading right now. I thought that I should read it as well, so on Friday, Ms. Willems lent me the book. I have to admit.. I loved it! There are 4 books the series.. so I have a few more to read..
It is also nice, because Hannah is reading the book as well. So I will have something to talk to her about too.
Well, I hope that you all had a good weekend!
shawn

The Gate House

I just finished this book by one of my FAVORITE authors.. Nelson DeMille. I LOVED this book.. It is a sequel to The Gold Coast!! LOVED it..
Sorry no new cards to post yet.. I am still trying to make some new ones.. and when I do, I will post the pics..
shawn

Book update

I forgot to tell you about the latest book that I read. Now, I wouldn't get this book, but the author is actually Pat's parents neighbor. I got the book when we were home this summer.. I thought I should read it before going home for Thanksgiving.. After all, Pat's mom Rita lent it to me.. The book was predictable, and sort of hard to read..

Anyway.. here is the description of the book..

Catherine Grafton has returned to the home of her youth, once a beautiful manor house and farm in northern England. As she gazes on the disintegrating structures, she recalls the last time she saw her home--one filled with wealth, a life of ease and a loving but strict family? In the bright fall sunshine of 1641, just before her eighteenth birthday, Catherine saddled her horse Maudie for one last adventurous fling before becoming "the proper, responsible young woman" required by her father. Mystery, danger, intrigue and love all await Catherine at the end of her ride. Her destiny is sealed from the moment she rides out of the Grafton stables and arrives at the cottage of a Puritan family in the deep woods. A fateful accident from a dangerous thunderstorm in an unfamiliar forest, amnesia, death of a soldier, the family's involvement with Puritan exiles and a trip across northern England bring Catherine closer and closer to her destiny. During the journey, she comes face-to-face with the political and religious tidewaters of the reformation and her loyalty is increased as her newly-found friends help Puritan exiles. She is challenged to meet her destiny and begins to discover what is important to her--family, faith and love.

shawn

Barefoot

Well, I finished the book.. It was wonderful.. sad, happy, funny.. you name it.. A summer read.. Karen said that she like Elin Hilderbrand.. and I have to agree..
Well... off to start a new book....
shawn

Sasha Update and new book...

Well, I was informed that some people had to read on my BFF's blog that Sasha was doing ok.. Well, I thought I had better update what happened.. Like I said before, when we adopted Sasha she had an upper respiratory infection. She was on antibiotics, and we thought she was doing well. After she was done with the antibiotics, she went down hill FAST!! She had her 1st vet appointment on Saturday.. and by that time, had not eaten since Thursday. She weighed a little over 5lbs on that visit. Dr Voss prescribed more antibiotics and said if she didn't eat by Monday, she would recommend coming in... Sasha may need hospitalization.. So we babied Sasha.. tried to force her to eat.. nothing.. So Monday night, Hannah and I took her into the vet again. We were lucky, we got to see Dr Voss again.. They weighed Sasha.. she was down to 4.5lbs.. and VERY dehydrated. I was told she was a "VERY sick little kitty". They said that they would need to keep her, and give her and IV and some strong antibiotics. They made no guarantees..
So Hannah and I left Sasha, not knowing if we would see her again.. I was a mess.. major tears..
But the Vet was great. I called Monday night.. she was on her IV and they had a humidifier pointed into her cage.. They would have someone there all night with her.
The next morning.. after a long night.. Dr Voss called to say that when she came in Sasha was eating like crazy!! She looked great.. She said she had some sores in her mouth and was giving her pain meds as well.. but if things went as they were, she could come home that night. She would call before she left for the day.. She called later to tell me Sasha hadn't stopped eating all day!! She was good to go anytime after 5!!
So Tuesday, Hannah and I went to pick her up!! TOTALLY different cat!! OMG!! She ate a can of cat food that night!! she was frisky.. and looked wonderful!! Wednesday she ate 4 1/2 cans of cat food.. and she was making up for lost time!!
So we have been spoiling the little sweetie since!! Sorry I hadn't posted..
Sorry no pics either.. Pat has the camera at work again!!




Which brings me to my newest book.. Barefoot.. so far, it's about 3 women who go to Nantucket for the summer.. all with different problems.. seems like an easy read.. will let you know..

So I haven't done much stamping lately.. but looked at some for my Christmas cards.. made a couple proto types.. will have to start soon if I want to be done before Thanksgiving...

more later
shawn

Book... Chipmunk...

Well, I finished the book.. I can't believe all the drugs that she did, and that she lived through it!! I am talking a lot of drugs!! She was pretty open about it. It is amazing that she kept out of the headlines for everything she did.. Then you look at people like Danny Bonaduce.. I am sure that by what Maureen said, she did at least as much cocaine as he did!! I guess she just lucked out that the National Enquire wasn't hounding her!!

Any way.. the book was OK.. it was sort of well.. Bradyish!! If that makes any sense..

Well we have this rotten little Chipmunk at our house!! AND I mean rotten!! Today he was skirting around on the deck, jumping on the screen door.. eating my plants.. and stealing a towel... He torturers the squirrels... and is VERY noisy!!

You would think that by looking at how cute he is.. he would be a nice chipmunk... BUT NOOOOO!!!

Sasha seemed to like watching him be naughty!! It sort of startled her when he jumped on the screen!!

She is still feeling yucky!! Hoping that she will feel better later tonight or tomorrow.. otherwise.. back to the vet tomorrow..

shawn

New book... Dream Car... other thoughts...

Well I got a new book last night while Hannah was at clarinet lessons.. That is the bad thing about her having lessons at Schmitt Music.. it is right next to a Barnes and Noble.. Any way, I have loved reading the autobiographies lately, and thought that this one sounded good. I started it while waiting for Hannah.. Not a long reading time, 30 minutes, but enough time to know, I am going to like this one as well...

And, as I was reading Jeannie's blog, she talked about her dream car.. so it made me think a little.. and came up with this.. It is a Volvo S60 R.. OK, I like this car because it is Edward's car in the Twilight books.. Somehow it just made me want the car too!! And I guess I do like the looks of it!!

Other thoughts... I have decided that I am a bad blogger!! I mean, I love to read other people's blogs.. I have a huge list of blogs that I will check in on.. check out who is on their blog rolls.. read blogs for hours... And some of the blogs I check daily.. Well, I was checking a blog this morning.. and thought to my self.. hey they haven't posted in awhile.. gee.. that sucks... Then I thought about my own little blog.. And that I am not always good at posting either!! I love it when I check out a blog and there is something new there!! I love it when I look and there is a great card displayed!! But like I said.. me.. well.. I am just not a great blogger I guess.. AND to top it off.. I did make a card last night.. for Boss's Day.. But guess who took the camera to work with him because he is working on a power point... So even if I wanted to take a picture and post it.. I couldn't...

AND... one of my friends Karen, is leaving for a Disney Cruise this morning... Talk about jealous!! We went on one 4 years ago!! BEST BEST BEST vacation EVER!! They are doing the 3 day one.. I told them it wouldn't be enough.. I a SO jealous... did I say that before??

So I am going to try to post a little more often.. Not that I even know who all reads this.. I know a few people do.. but maybe you all don't care...

Kitty and Puppy update: Sasha is doing great.. she is sleeping with Hannah at night.. she still seems to have her upper respiratory infection thing going on.. she will go to the vet this weekend, as she is done with the meds... Hannah picked the Sasha name part out.. I pick out the Blu part when Dawn told me we needed a middle name..

Gretel is doing well with her.. you can tell she still jealous... she has become a bit more affectionate.. which is good.. She likes Sasha's food, so that is one thing we have to watch out for. She has become a bit more playful too!! (I KNOW)

shawn

Book...

As I said in my last post.. a new book.. When Hannah and her friends went to the water park, I read my latest book. The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes. It was really a good book. Pulled you in.. It is about a kidnapping and murder. About a missing baby... easy read.. quick and good, just like I like it!!

shawn

Lost and Found

Well, the other day I said I had started a new book.. Lost and Found. Well, I finished it tonight. It was really good.. It is about a mother and daughter who go on a "game show" sort of like Amazing Race.. and what they find out about themselves.. Each chapter is written from one of the contestant point of view.

Ok, you could figure out what was going to happen, but still a good book in the long run..

And YES Karen, I am holding onto it for you to read..

shawn

Book

Karen had read this book, and posted it on her blog.. so when I needed a new book to read, I thought I would get this one..

Well... it took me forever to read.. Not that I didn't like it.. It was an okay book. It just didn't invite me in.

I didn't give up.. I read it, it got better as it went on.

That's about all on the book front.. I did start a new book.. will post more about it soon.. It seems to be an easier read.. and so far.. I keep thinking about Karen as I read it.. (think Amazing Race!)

more later

shawn

Finished Book

I finished the book, "If I Am Missing Or Dead" by Janine Latus. WOW!

This is from Janine Latus's web page:
ABOUT THE BOOK
In April 2002, Janine Latus's youngest sister, Amy, wrote a note and taped it to the inside of her desk drawer. "Today Ron Ball and I are romantically involved," it read, "but I fear I have placed myself at risk in a variety of ways. Based on his criminal past, writing this out just seems like the smart thing to do. If I am missing or dead this obviously has not protected me..."
That same spring Janine Latus was struggling to leave her marriage -- a marriage to a handsome and successful man. A marriage others emulated. A marriage in which she felt she could do nothing right and everything wrong. A marriage in which she felt afraid, controlled, inadequate, and trapped.
Ten weeks later, Janine Latus had left her marriage. She was on a business trip to the East Coast, savoring her freedom, attending a work conference, when she received a call from her sister Jane asking if she'd heard from Amy. Immediately, Janine's blood ran cold. Amy was missing.
Helicopters went up and search dogs went out. Coworkers and neighbors and family members plastered missing posters with Amy's picture across the county. It took more than two weeks to find Amy's body, wrapped in a tarpaulin and buried at a building site. It took nearly two years before her killer, her former boyfriend Ron Ball, was sentenced for her murder.
Amy died in silent fear and pain. Haunted by this, Janine Latus turned her journalistic eye inward. How, she wondered, did two seemingly well-adjusted, successful women end up in strings of physically or emotionally abusive relationships with men? If I Am Missing or Dead is a heart-wrenching journey of discovery as Janine Latus traces the roots of her own -- and her sister's -- victimization with unflinching candor. This beautifully written memoir will move readers from the first to the last page. At once a confession, a call to break the cycle of abuse, and a deeply felt love letter to her baby sister, Amy Lynne Latus, If I Am Missing or Dead is an unforgettable read.

There was a lot to think about while reading this book. Like I said before, it is an inside look at what was "accepted" in the 70's-80's in some marriages and families.

shawn

newest book

OK, I have heard about this book for awhile, and I finally got it. It is a sister's story. Her sister Amy was murdered. There was a note tapped to Amy's desk, with the words, "If I am missing or dead" on the envelope.
I am not very far into the book, but it is good so far.
This is a hard look into what was accepted or allowed in families in the 70's.
I will let you know what I think when I am done.
shawn

Breaking Dawn

OK, I am a geek! I was the first one to get to buy the book last night at 12:01 at the Borders Books in Richfield. I knew enough to go when the store opened to get a wrist band.. and gee.. there was no one waiting when I got there.. OK the store didn't open until 10am and I was there at 9:30. The store staff thought I was a nut! I admit it.

We went to the "Launch Party" last night too. I guess I was hoping for another Harry Potter thing. NOPE!! Pretty lame.. They did a trivia contest and gave out stickers, and a debate on who was better for Bella - Edward or Jacob ( I was team Edward, just for the record), and they gave out buttons. They also had a costume contest.. But there were only a few who dressed up. They did show the trailers for the upcoming movie.. But really, it was just a long wait. I could have saved myself some boring moments if I just showed up at 11:45 to line up. Oh well.. got the book!

So I started reading some of it last night! AND, finished today! I did take Hannah to the pool, along with my book. I thought she would have more fun there, than stuck home with me just because I was reading. I took a couple breaks.. But am finished!

IT WAS GREAT!!! Just so you all know!

OK, well, off to start re-reading it.. have to see what I missed!! (I did that with Harry too, just so you know...) I really need to get a life... At least I can now do some stamping...

shawn

The Tales of Beedle the Bard

So JK Rowling wrote the Tales of Beedle the Bard for friends last year, and then did a copy and sold it for charity. Well, I didn't figure it to be long before it would make it out to the public. I mean who wouldn't want to make some more money off the whole Harry Potter thing, right? Especially since Amazon bought the book.

So it was announced that The Tales of Beedle the Bard will go on sale December 4th. Pre-order now..

Of course this is the cover for the "standard" edition. Amazon also has this really cool "collectors" edition. You also have to pay A LOT more for that collectors edition.. ($100 vs about $8). Which from what I gather, sort of looks like what she made the original 5. (does that make any sense?)

I guess I will put my order in tonight...

shawn

Harry Vs Edward

Those who know me, know that I LOVE Harry Potter! I have read the books each at least 7 times!

They have also found out about my obsession for the Twilight books, (which I have only read 3 times each). The next book, Breaking Dawn, by Stephanie Meyer comes out Saturday, (as you can see from the count down).

But today.. the Harry Potter movie trailer teaser came out!!http://movies.msn.com/movies/harry-potter-trailer/?GT1=28101

OMG.. My mind is racing a hundred miles per hour!

This is wonderful! Tomorrow night, (Friday), I get to go to the launch party for Breaking Dawn ... AND, I get to watch trailers for the next Harry movie today!

LIFE IS GOOD!

shawn

Dawn and 9/23

Now.. what do September 23 and Dawn have in common?? Well, September 23 happens to be the day that the new John Sandford book, Heat Lightning, comes out! So why would I post about a book that my best friend reads? Well, that means that I will probably have to make a run down to the awesome book store, "Once Upon A Crime" to pick up a recently autographed copy of the book for her. BUT.. here is the deal.. upon checking the website for Once Upon A Crime, I see no listing for John Sandford to autograph this book.. NO, launch party.. no anything related to this book actually! SO, will Dawn just go buy this book?? WELL... My best guess is that upon reading this blog entry, Dawn will first go check www.onceuponacrimebooks.com and see I what I am saying is actually true.. and then she will email Gary and Pat (the most wonderful husband and wife team who happen to own the book store) to find out what the deal is.. She will then email or call me with what is happening.. Not that I know Dawn well enough to predict this happening.. but I can also tell you that she is sitting reading this and laughing her butt off, and shaking her head YES.. in fact she might even be saying "YES" out loud.. The one thing I am not sure of.. will she comment on this entry BEFORE or AFTER checking the web site and emailing them??

Now, I have never read the John Sandford books before, and I would maybe think about reading them, but I am sure that I would have to actually get them from the library, as this is one book set that Dawn does NOT loan out. But the other thing, Dawn said they can be a bit gruesome too.. Me, I like the fluff stuff a lot of times.. easy peasy reading.. But I am thinking of at least trying to read one of his.. I mean Dawn EATS this stuff up!! I know that she is geedy with excitement right now after reading this...!

shawn

Next...

OK, I am going to try to read Stephanie Meyer's "other" book.. will let you know what I think..

AND... This is the cover of Entertainment Weekly.. on sale on Friday.. I am not sure if I am buying Robert Pattinson as Edward, but still, this exciting!!

MY next Harry...

shawn