Cleaning is a necessary evil for me. I am not one of those people who clean when they are stressed (not sure if they are blessed or cursed), when I am stressed, I like to bury my head in a book. I am also not one of those people who enjoy cleaning, cannot even fathom that one. I guess it just is a never ending cycle and that really irritates me sometimes. I mean take laundry for example, it is never done, you do loads and loads of laundry, think that you are finished, and then poof, you go to bed and there is more laundry to be done the next day. Same with the dishes, unless you eat on paper plates and use disposable silverware (I have thought long and hard about switching), there is alway more dishes to be done. I can't even get away from cleaning at work, I have to clean there too. Ughhhhh....
OK, rant over, back to cleaning.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Friday, March 4, 2011
Book Reviews: Useful?
I admit that I read book reviews, even the ones with spoilers. I can't seem to help it, especially if it is a book that I am on the fence about reading. There are several authors and series that I don't usually read the reviews because no matter what, I will be buying their books or am committed to the series, a good example is Laurell K. Hamilton. A fair amount of people have not been thrilled with her latest in the Anita Blake series, but I love her work and that series and will continue to buy them until she stops writing it! But besides those few authors that I buy no matter what, I tend to read reviews. I do take a grain of salt with any review, after all it is that person's opinion and they may care about situations and stuff that I do not.
This post came about yesterday, when I was reading some reviews about a book that was on my To Be Read list and just came out. After reading the reviews, I have decided to put off on buying the book, I will probably read it eventually, but not right now. The reviews highlighted certain events in the book that I know would bother me and generally piss me off. It is a little easier for me to decide not to read this book right now, because I am not invested in the series, there have only been 2 other books. I read for enjoyment and to escape real life for awhile, I try not to read stuff that will irritate me. I am very much a comedy, adventure, romance girl, I don't tend to go for the drama or depressing stuff (I am that way with movies too).
That got me thinking what other deal breakers (with books) I have come across and realized the biggest one is cliff hanger endings. I understand the overall story arc from the series being left unresolved, but it bothers me when most of the main story is left unresolved, it is kinda like that To Be Continued 2 part TV show that seem to always end the season. What I have started doing is if I know about the ending, I wait to buy the book until the next one comes out, buy both of them, and then read them both as 1 big book.
I know that some people would say that it ruins the experience of reading the book and it is all about the journey, but it doesn't ruin anything for me, I still enjoy every minute and every page.
Anyway, that is my opinions on book reviews and how I use them. Now I am off to read!
This post came about yesterday, when I was reading some reviews about a book that was on my To Be Read list and just came out. After reading the reviews, I have decided to put off on buying the book, I will probably read it eventually, but not right now. The reviews highlighted certain events in the book that I know would bother me and generally piss me off. It is a little easier for me to decide not to read this book right now, because I am not invested in the series, there have only been 2 other books. I read for enjoyment and to escape real life for awhile, I try not to read stuff that will irritate me. I am very much a comedy, adventure, romance girl, I don't tend to go for the drama or depressing stuff (I am that way with movies too).
That got me thinking what other deal breakers (with books) I have come across and realized the biggest one is cliff hanger endings. I understand the overall story arc from the series being left unresolved, but it bothers me when most of the main story is left unresolved, it is kinda like that To Be Continued 2 part TV show that seem to always end the season. What I have started doing is if I know about the ending, I wait to buy the book until the next one comes out, buy both of them, and then read them both as 1 big book.
I know that some people would say that it ruins the experience of reading the book and it is all about the journey, but it doesn't ruin anything for me, I still enjoy every minute and every page.
Anyway, that is my opinions on book reviews and how I use them. Now I am off to read!
Monday, February 21, 2011
The mess kids make and other misc stuff
I am sitting on my coach trying to find a free patch of carpet to look at and wonder how my wonderful son could possible make such a mess! He manages to pull and dump things that are almost his size or more, I just don't understand. Oh, well, he does seem to make a bigger mess when he is home with hubby by themselves, maybe it is the destructive male nature or mommy just cleans up after him more. Questions to ponder another time.
It is President's Day, holidays have kind of lost something for me, I think it is because I don't get them off of work. It does not matter what day it is, I still have to be at work. The work of firefighting and emergency services is a 24/7 job and there are no breaks. It is worth it to help people, but sometimes I miss my holidays.
I was looking in the mirror the other day and realized the gray was slowly winning across the front of my hair. I got my first gray hair at 16, so I am used to them to a certain extent. I have met my threshold and am investigating at home solutions. I would love to say that I would go to a salon every six weeks or so and get it done professionally, but that is not going to happen. I have a hard enough time getting my hair cut more than once or twice a year, I know that I will never do the upkeep for professional color. It would be easy to blame that on having kids, but I never did it before either! So, we will see how it goes, I will write about the experience!
It is President's Day, holidays have kind of lost something for me, I think it is because I don't get them off of work. It does not matter what day it is, I still have to be at work. The work of firefighting and emergency services is a 24/7 job and there are no breaks. It is worth it to help people, but sometimes I miss my holidays.
I was looking in the mirror the other day and realized the gray was slowly winning across the front of my hair. I got my first gray hair at 16, so I am used to them to a certain extent. I have met my threshold and am investigating at home solutions. I would love to say that I would go to a salon every six weeks or so and get it done professionally, but that is not going to happen. I have a hard enough time getting my hair cut more than once or twice a year, I know that I will never do the upkeep for professional color. It would be easy to blame that on having kids, but I never did it before either! So, we will see how it goes, I will write about the experience!
Monday, February 14, 2011
Happy Valentine's Day!
Happy Valentine's Day to everyone, whether you have a significant other or not, enjoy some chocolate and celebrate that all the good chocolate will be 50% off tomorrow! I have conflicted feelings about this holiday (most of the time, it isn't even on my radar, except seeing all the candy), on one hand, it is nice and romantic with all the pretty flowers and hearts and chocolate, but I don't think you should have to wait for a holiday for romance or to be romantic. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy flowers and chocolate (chocolate happens to be one of my favorite food groups!), but ordering flowers or buying a box of chocolate is relatively easy, I feel real romance is a bit more complicated. My husband has gotten me flowers before and I love them, they let me know that he is thinking about me, but the gestures that I really love are the things that he does that I know he doesn't like, but still does them anyway for me. One great example is while on a trip to NYC, he went on the Sex and the City tour with me.... really, he went on it and sat through all 3 hours of it as part of my birthday present (I love SATC!). It was fantastic and he was such a good sport about it! So our fabulous plans for tonight consist of ordering take-out, maybe Chinese or Italian or Greek, and hanging out at home with our son. Exciting... maybe not....but it works for us!
Friday, February 4, 2011
Happy times!
I hit -8 pounds today!!! Very excited, bundled up my little angel and went to Borders, bought Archangel's Consort and Loose Ends, finally! But, before I dove into the books, I figured I had better write a post. I am pretty proud of myself for sticking with my book goals and not buying the books until I lost my goal poundage, it seems to be working pretty good. A cookie just doesn't compare to a new book. Not sure why I didn't think of this years ago....
In other news, trying to finalize the Girl's Weekend plans, very excited, can't wait to see my ladies! Researching hotels now. We also have these e-mail threads going on, it is so great, I feel more connected to my BFFs than I have in awhile and I love it! I think everyone having a smart phone or the equivalent really helps, just jot a quick email from anywhere and boom.
Work is ... work. Haven't run any cool calls lately, which is a good thing for the general public, but kinda bored. I need to practice with the chainsaws, so that is my goal for next week. I did figure out a good way to start them, use the weight of the chainsaw to your advantage, work smarter not harder! (Honestly, no matter what, it is pretty awesome to say I am going to work and play with chainsaws!)
The darling boy is doing good, his newest thing is to say, OK, or uh-huh and nuh-huh. It is really cute, he is also doing so good on his letters! He points to signs and says the letters he sees.
Everything going good, family goal for today, get the Christmas decorations down and put away... yeah, I know, we are THOSE people, oh, well.
Off to dive into Archangel's Consort and eat my salad!
In other news, trying to finalize the Girl's Weekend plans, very excited, can't wait to see my ladies! Researching hotels now. We also have these e-mail threads going on, it is so great, I feel more connected to my BFFs than I have in awhile and I love it! I think everyone having a smart phone or the equivalent really helps, just jot a quick email from anywhere and boom.
Work is ... work. Haven't run any cool calls lately, which is a good thing for the general public, but kinda bored. I need to practice with the chainsaws, so that is my goal for next week. I did figure out a good way to start them, use the weight of the chainsaw to your advantage, work smarter not harder! (Honestly, no matter what, it is pretty awesome to say I am going to work and play with chainsaws!)
The darling boy is doing good, his newest thing is to say, OK, or uh-huh and nuh-huh. It is really cute, he is also doing so good on his letters! He points to signs and says the letters he sees.
Everything going good, family goal for today, get the Christmas decorations down and put away... yeah, I know, we are THOSE people, oh, well.
Off to dive into Archangel's Consort and eat my salad!
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
5 pounds down!
I am very excited this morning, over 5 pounds down! Yay for me! Not quite the 8 that would get me the three books that came out today, but I do get to go to Borders and buy the two 5 pound books, Killing Rocks and Mercy Blade. Maybe a latte also, been loving the sugar free vanilla nonfat ones lately!
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Finally feeling better!
Finally got on some antibiotics last week, and guess what?! My face doesn't feel like it is going to explode anymore, the sinus infection is getting beat down! Yay!!!! Going to try and actually work out tomorrow, we will see how that goes.
Weight Watchers is going good, the new Points Plus Program is pretty awesome, especially because I can do it on my phone! We will find out Tues, if I get to go buy my books that come out that day, come on -8 pounds.
Weight Watchers is going good, the new Points Plus Program is pretty awesome, especially because I can do it on my phone! We will find out Tues, if I get to go buy my books that come out that day, come on -8 pounds.
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