Chelle's 75 in 2012 Challenge (take #6)

Welcome to May!
One of my favorite months is here! Flowers blooming, weather warming, I'm a year older (Which usually means new books!)
Welcome to my May Thread :)


Peggy's Cove, April 2012

Planned reads for May
Gods of Gotham by Lyndsay Faye
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens (Audio)
Insurgent by Veronica Roth
Wind Through the Keyhole by Stephen King
11th Hour by James Patterson
Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
Rabbit, Run by John Updike
They Thirst by Robert McCammon
The Eyes of Darkness by Dean Koontz
Bodily Harm by Margaret Atwood
Calico Joe by John Grisham
The Lacuna by Barbara Kingslover (Audio)

Currently Reading:


My Threads:
12 in 2012
Orange January/July
1001 Books to Read Before I Die




Books Read in 2012
May
46) Stiff by Mary Roach (audio 8 hours even, 3*)
47) Gods of Gotham by Lyndsay Faye (414 pages, 4*)
48) Bodily Harm by Margaret Atwood (3.5*, 301 pages)
49) Calico Joe by John Grisham (3.5*, 198 pages)
50) Chaotic by Kelley Armstrong (3*, 95 pages novella)
51) Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck (455 pages, 5*)
52) The Wind Through the Keyhole by Stephen King (3.5*, 309 pages)
53) 11th Hour by James Patterson (3*, 391 pages)
54) The Eyes of Darkness by Dean Koontz (3*, 366 pages)
55) Insurgent by Veronica Roth (525 pages, 4*)
56) Rabbit, Run by John Updike
57) Lover Reborn by JR Ward (4*, 572 pages)

Pages Read in 2012

Books Read in 2012
January

1) Lord John and the Hellfire Club by Diana Gabaldon 3* (ebook, novella, 73 pages)
2) The Tiger's Wife by Téa Obreht 4.5* (338 pages)
3) Hurricane Story by Jennifer Shaw 3.5* (92 Pages) (ER book)
4) The Drop by Michael Connelly 3.5* (388 pages)
5) Kill Alex Cross by James Patterson 4* (364 pages)
6) Dead Cold by Louise Penny 4* (405 pages)
7) Eragon by Christopher Paolini 3.5* (ebook, 509 pages)
8) The Hangman by Louise Penny 3* (ebook, 99 pages)
9) Cannery Row by John Steinbeck 4* (ebook, 301 pages)
10) The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai 2* (324 pages)
11) The Cruellest Month by Louise Penny 4*(454 pages)
12) The Murder Stone by Louise Penny 4* (422 pages)
13) The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny 4.75* (384 pages)
14) Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny 5* (470 pages)
15) A Trick of the Light by Louise Penny 4.5* (339 pages)

February
16) A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle 3.5* (232 pages)
17) Hells Angels: Into the Abyss by Yves Lavigne 3.5* (339 pages)
18) Bay of Fundy: A Natural Portrait by Scott Leslie 4* (167 pages)
19) The Wayward Bus by John Steinbeck 4* (261 pages)
20) Blood Red Road by Moira Young 4* (459 pages)
21) Dissolution by CJ Sansom 3.5* (400 pages)
22) 77 Shadow Street by Dean Koontz 2.5* ( 451 pages)

March
23) Darkest Powers Bonus Pack by Kelley Armstrong 3* (eBook, 3 novellas 287 pages)
24) I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore 4* (440 pages)
25) The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley 4*(304 Pages)
26) Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austin and Seth Grahame-Smith 3* (319 Pages)
27) A Century of Policing: The Ontario Provincial Police 1909-2009 3.5* (128 Pages)
28) The Power of Six by Pitticus Lore 4*(406 Pages)
29) Night of the Living Dead by John Russo 4.5* (144 pages)
30) Return of the Living Dead by John Russo 3.5* (161 pages)
31) Dark Fire by CJ Sansom 3.5* (384 pages)
32) Cinder by Marissa Meyer 3.5* (387 pages)

April
33) If You Ask Me: (And of Course You Won't) by Betty White (audio: 2:17) 4*
34) Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie (533 pages, 3.5*)
35) The Night Eternal by Guillermo Del Toro & Chuck Hogan (371 pages, 4*)
36) The Moon is Down by John Steinbeck (188 pages, 4*)
37) I'm Starved for You by Margaret Atwood (74 pages ebook novella, 3*)
38) Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez (4*, 348 pages)
39) We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver (eBook (no page count), 5*)
40) Heat Wave by Richard Castle (Audio, 6 hours 23 minutes) 3*
41) The Calling by Kelley Armstrong (326 pages, 3.5*)
42) The 39 Clues: Cahills vs.Vespers Book One: The Medusa Plot by Gordon Korman (Audio, 5 hours 22 minutes, 2*)
43) Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton (3.5*, audio 9 hours 46 minutes)
44) The Mask by Dean Koontz (140 pages novella 3.5)
45) The Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King (Novella, audio 3 hours 57 minutes, 4*)

46) Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach
Read for 75 books in 2012, 12 in 2012:Category #3) The Real Deal: Non-Fiction/Biography
3*

An amusing book about what happens with our bodies when we are finished needing them. Droll and sometimes sarcastic, Roach takes us through many uses for the human cadaver in the past and present day. Those who generously donate their bodies to science offer new medical students the opportunity to practice surgery or give researchers real bodies to test theories on. People who donate their organs give someone else a second chance at life or a second chance a sight.

Roach takes a subject that is usually a touchy one and makes it straightforward and somewhat humorous.
“Many people will find this book disrespectful. There is nothing amusing about being dead, they will say. Ah, but there is.”

“The human head is of the same approximate size and weight as a roaster chicken. I have never before had occasion to make the comparison, for never before today have I seen a head in a roasting pan.”

While some things grossed me out and made me cringe a little, the thought of human bodies as compost was a little icky, Roach did have me chuckle or nod my head in agreement a few times. Enjoyable but odd read.

Recommended for those that can handle morbid topics.

Hi Chelle! Nice new thread. I look forward to seeing what happens in your life and with your reading:)

Hi Calm! you are number #1! :)

That photo was gorgeous in the smaller size on your previous thread, but it is breathtaking at the new size! Congrats on the new thread. I had Stiff out from the library and read just the very beginning, but had to return it before I got back to it. She does a good job of combining humor with a morbid topic. I need to check it back out and finish it.

Hi Chelle,
Happy new thread! And what a fascinating cadaver book.....a little part of me wants to read it and a little part of me doesn't :)

Chelle- Hey, nice new thread! Number 6, that's impressive. From your old thread, I'm glad you loved The Shawshank Redemption. I read Different Seasons way back in the early 80s and it still resonates. Have you read the rest of those stories?
I loved Stiff too. Roach Rules!

You're on a bit of a roll, Chelle, with The Shawshank Redemption and Stiff. I loved both of those. I need to read some more Roach!

Very moody shot of Peggy's Cove Chelle - love it! Congrats on your latest thread and here's to you continuing to settle in to your new home. How far is the lighthouse from where you will be honeymooning?

Hi Chelle - just catching up on your other thread and see that congrats are due for choosing such a lovely place for your wedding.

Marking my place, Chelle!

Nice new digs Chelle and did I read correctly.... congrats on being 'a year older'!

Stopping by to say hi! Love the picture! Congrats on being a year older. I"ve never read Shawshank Redemption but I've certainly seen the movie and very much enjoyed it! I saw the version with Tom Hanks in it.

Hi, Chelle! Lovely new thread!
Chiming in as a great fan of King - Shawshank is a great story, and it's one of those movies that I get sucked into anytime I find it whilst flipping through the channels.

Hi Chelle. Happy new thread! So glad you got your wedding venue sorted out. Peggy's Cove is going to to be gorgeous!

Hi Chelle, nice shiney new thread. I love the picture.. Did I ever mention that I have my Kitchen and my bathroom decorated in Lighthouses.. I absolutely love seeing your pics.. :)

Well I may have over planned my month of May. I am behind on a few of my 12 in 2012 categories so I bought a few books and borrowed a few from the library. Pending delivery of books my May planned reading is:
Currently Reading:
Gods of Gotham by Lyndsay Faye
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens (Audio)

To Read:
Insurgent by Veronica Roth
Wind Through the Keyhole by Stephen King
11th Hour by James Patterson
Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
Rabbit, Run by John Updike
They Thirst by Robert McCammon
The Eyes of Darkness by Dean Koontz
Bodily Harm by Margaret Atwood
Calico Joe by John Grisham
The Lacuna by Barbara Kingslover (Audio)

So that's 12 books. I may be over reaching a tad here but we shall see!
****

6 Hi Mamie! You should grab Stiff again from the library. It was incredibly odd but interesting!

7 HI Megan. Stiff is no too gross, just a little ;)

8 Hey Mark! I read Different Seasons in high school when I went through my King addiction. I read most of his books a looong time ago. I should go back and read some of my favorites
Have you read anything else by Roach? I've seen that she has some other books that might be interesting

9 Hi Julia! Nate went back to work for his block of shifts so I got on a little reading (listening) roll while I worked on invitations. My reading tends to eb and flow now depending on when I have alone time

10 Hi Paul! That lighthouse is about 10 minutes from the resort. We are going to go back sometime when the weather warms up and spend a night there so hopefully I can get a less gloomy and more sunny photo!

11 Thanks Kerri! We can't see the gardens yet as they are doing construction but we are hoping the grounds look as beautiful as pictures from previous summers

12 Consider your place marked Nancy! :)

13 Thanks Lori! Being a year older sucks but birthdays usually mean new books :)

14 Hi Deb! Shawshank Redemption is not a very long book so you should grab it sometime. The movie was good but so was the book!

15 Hi Amber! I don't know why but Shawshank tends to be one of those movies that plays all the time eh!

16 Thanks Kathy! I was very excited to go visit Peggy's Cove last weekend and I'm looking forward to going back when it warms up! It was very chilly taking pictures!

17 Hi Monica! Glad you liked my lighthouse picture! I also have my bathroom decoration with lighthouse, well one lighthouse, and seashells. Nate thinks I'm silly ;)

Chelle- I've also read Bonk and Packing for Mars, which remains my favorite Roach book.
I saw that you were hunting for a copy of Grapes. See if we were all neighbors, I could lend you a copy. I think I have 3 sitting around here somewhere.

*waving* at Chelle

I love the 'If you think reading is boring' pic!

Happy Belated Birthday, Chelle! I missed it the first time through.

Mark I appreciate the offer to loan ... just curious why you have 3 copies of Grapes of Wrath?
I found the copy I was looking for on amazon and ordered it. For some reason chapters didn't have many and there were none available in nearby stores

Hi Stasia! A friend posted it on facebook and I thought it would be appropriate for LT!

Thanks Mamie, I'm still a year younger until Sunday and then I get older ;)

>20 alcottacre: huh, I must have missed that first time around ....what a great image! I wonder how long that person would have to sit there to read all of them....

I own a beautiful hardcover of it and then picked up a sturdy paperback, better for dragging around and I think I ended up with another paperback, maybe from my daughter.
It's my favorite book of all time, so it's okay.

Sorry Megan, I think I added that pic after I made the thread. So it probably wasn't there the first time you looked. It's probably less than some LT'ers read in a year eh!

Glad to see it's your favorite Mark! I have a feeling I am going to like it too, that's why I wanted a hard copy of it instead of an ebook.

I really liked Roach's Packing for Mars Chelle and I picked up Stiff at that time but still haven't read it. Must move it up. LOVE the picture of Peggy's Cove and the reading pic hah!

Oh dear.. I'm behind again.. but your photo is gorgeous!

Birthday on Sunday ... snap:)

Hope you are having a great day.

I've enjoyed Roach's books. I've read Stiff, Bonk, and Packing for Mars. Stiff was my favorite.

Chelle, LOL your not silly for your decorations.. :) If you are then so am I.. LOL

ok Bonnie, Maybe I'll have to add packing for mars to my wishlist then. I picked Stiff up randomly at the library but I'll have to read more from her someday

Thanks Kath :)

Thanks Calm, I am having a great day. It was sunny and warm here so I spent a large portion of the day on my porch swing with my book and the dog. Glorious! I love spring!

Bonk eh? Morphy, Roach does pick some odd names. I'll have to check them out!

haha Monica, I guess neither of us are silly then. Nate just leaves me to the decorating anyway so he really can't complain if he doesn't like it!

47) Gods of Gotham by Lyndsay Faye
Read for 75 books in 2012, 12 in 2012:Category #5) Oooh something shiny!: Books I randomly pick up
4*

Gods of Gotham is a work of historical fiction set in New York city in 1845; the year of the first police force in NYC and the great potato famine in Ireland. Timothy Wilde was a barman until a fire burned down a large portion of Manhattan and left him with a disfigured face. Tim's brother Val has gotten him a position on the newly assembled Copper Stars police force working in the poverty stricken 6th ward. Tim is about to give up his position and walk away from the force when he stumbles into a little girl covered in blood. The events that follow force Tim to deal with horror after horror and tax him to his limits and tests his abilities to be a proper police officer.

I found this book very easy to get absorbed into. Tim is great character that I couldn't help but love and want him to succeed. I will be keeping and eye out for the sequel!
Recommended

I'm glad you liked Gods of Gotham.

Nice review - I want to read that! Adding it.

Hi Chelle, it looks like you and my husband share the same birthday. We are going away for his birthday weekend, he wants to spend some time with someone who's even older than him, so we are go to be visiting his older brother. Have a happy birthday!

haha thanks for the Snoopy Mark!

Thanks Mamie, glad to help you add to your wishlist!

Hi Judy! Hope your hubby has a great birthday weekend! We haven't figured out what we are doing yet. Dinner with some new friends tonight and going to see The Avengers and hopefully Sunday will be nice and sunny and we can get out and do something fun

Great new thread, Chelle. I'm a big fan of lighthouses...not too many of those in Missouri. We pass a lighthouse replica on our drive to Kansas City to see the grandkids. Maybe I can get hubby to stop so I can snap a picture of The Lighthouse Baptist Church! Lol.

I only have one copy of The Grapes of Wrath. It is one of my favorite books, but I've reread it too recently to join in the GR. I will eavesdrop on the discussion, however. I hope you like it as much as Mark and I do.

I am so stealing that poster image in MSG. #2. It amazes me when I hear people say that reading is boring. Have a Happy Birthday on Sunday!

Happy (early) Birthday, Chelle!

Glad to see you liked Gods of Gotham - I got it as an ER a few months ago and still haven't read it...

Nice new thread Chelle! Love the pictures up top :)

Sooooo happy for you guys and your new home! Congratulations!

Happy early Birthday!
Enjoy your Sunday :)

Lovely new thread, Chelle! I like May, too. :-)

Thanks Donna! I am trying to talk Nate into taking the "lighthouse drive" from here to Halifax. There is supposed to be 40 lighthouses on that stretch of road, quite the scenic drive.
I am waiting for my copy of Grapes of Wrath to arrive in the mail. Hopefully next week sometime

Thanks Katie! Hope you enjoy Gods of Gotham when you get it to!

Thanks Kara! Nice to see you around the threads!

Hi Ellen! The only thing that would have made this May better would be if I had a garden that had Lilly of the Valley blooming. I miss having a spring garden but I will be planting those for next year once my garden is in!
***

Last night Nate and I went out for my birthday dinner. We went to a local fish restaurant and I had a nice piece of haddock and some fried clams Mmmmm! Then I got to meet some of Nate's coworkers and we went to see The Avengers, which I thought was pretty great.

Today we are going to head into town for brunch at Cora's (If I can talk sleepy Nate into it!) and then to buy my birthday presents! Nate hasn't had time to shop because he was working so much so I told him not to bother with a surprise present as I already knew what I wanted. We will be going to buy some cherry trees today as my present.

Hope everyone is having a great start to their weekend!

Happy Birthday Chelle! Hope you had a perfect birthday dinner! Enjoy your weekend. Hugs!

Chelle - The lighthouse drive sounds wonderful! Sounds like you will be having a good birthday weekend. I always tell Craig what I want for birthdays and holidays, and he always listens because he is really terrible at picking out presents. And I really hate surprises. I know most people love them but not me. Oh, well, we all have our limitations! My kids (and Craig) are dying to see The Avengers movie, so we will probably try to squeeze it in before he heads down to Georgia to start the new job. Have a great rest of the weekend and a very Happy Birthday tomorrow!

Happy birthday Chelle.

Sounds like you've got a lovely birthday planned - hope it's the best one yet!

All the best for what sounds like a terrific birthday weekend, Chelle!

Cherry trees! Yay! Great present, Chelle, and happy birthday!

What a lovely idea for a present. They are so beautiful:)

Have a wonderful birthday.

Happy Birthday Chelle!!!
Cherry trees, love them, both the fruit as the flowering ones, I can't wait to find out what you picked!

Gods of Gotham was not my cuppa.. I think I sent mine to rd or someone?
Sounds like a good birthday weekend for you, enjoy!!!

Happy Birthday weekend, Chelle! It all sounds great!

Lighthouses are like strawberries for me -
only love the real thing (no imitations)!
I want to live in a lighthouse - for real.
I would sooo love that lighthouse drive... wow. Maybe someday yet.

Cherry trees are a fantastic idea - they will probably blossom every year on or around your birthday ;-)

Love the Peggy's Cove pic!!! somewhere lurking around I have a pic of me in a bright yellow raincoat (bought on another continent, but looks like an ultra-long sailor's slicker) and a sou 'wester hat, standing not far away from there. Drove down with a cousin of mine and an ex-bf of mine from college, who went back to Halifax after grad school in the states and has never left since... (he even works in the same law firm as his brother...)

Hope the bday weekend continues to be fab. Lighthouse drive would be wonderful. Actually, anywhere by the sea would be wonderful.

>41 ChelleBearss: There is supposed to be 40 lighthouses on that stretch of road
sounds fantastic, I hope you get to do that, Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday weekend, you should post pictures of these neat sounding lighthouses!

Wishing you a day full of whatever you want. Happy Birthday, Chelle! (Thought I'd stop back on the actual day) Hope it's a good one!

Thanks for the birthday wishes Mark, Mamie x 2, Paul, Amber, Julie, Nancy, Calm, Anita, Kath, Cee, Suz, Megan & Marie!

I got to sleep in late today, yay! It's a little overcast today so I think we will save the lighthouse drive for a nice sunny day. We might go for a hike in a local park or we might hang out here. Not sure yet

Yesterday Nate took me to Cora's for brunch and I got my all time favorite breakie Eggs Benedict Mmmmm
Then he took me to get my trees! We bought two Lapin Cherry trees, 2 raspberry bushes and a strawberry plant (The store only had one strawberry plant left). Hopefully the landscaper should be here this week to finish backfilling our lawn and then I can plant these babies and get my gardens started!

43 Mamie did you get to see Avengers yet?

51 Cee living in a lighthouse would be so cool. Can you imagine the view you would always have!

52 Suz I think there are probably people all over the world that have a picture of themselves in front of that lighthouse. It's quite the popular vacation spot! I hope to get a picture of us in our wedding gear in front of it! :)

No - my kids have been sick, which is such a bummer as Craig only has a few days left before he heads down to Georgia. Keep your fingers crossed, perhaps if everyone is feeling better we can go tomorrow or Tuesday.

Sounds like you are having a great birthday weekend, definitely a lot more interesting than mine.

Looking forward to pictures as you get your garden started.

Happy belated birthday, Chelle.
You'll have fun in the next few years, building your garden at your new home, making it yours, putting in the plants and flowers you want.... We've been in this house 4 1/2 years and the garden is just starting to come alive in the manner we want!

Happy birthday, Chelle! Sounds like it was a lovely weekend!

I got to see The Avengers on Saturday. Loved it :-D

Glad you got a great birthday! Many happy returns.

Happy Belated Birthday Chelle, sounds like you had a very nice one. I had such a busy weekend I wasn't able to read or get on LT that much. I did post some pics on my thread last night of my furkids.. and my new supposed "temporary" addition to my household. That evil Kitty is not taking to very well. He is hissing and swatting at her.

Belated birthday wishes to you, Chelle. Sounds like you had a great weekend.

Belated happy birthday, Chelle! I had a blast at The Avengers when I went to see it on Sunday.

Just making sure that I'm not missing anything :)

57 Sorry to hear your family is sick Mamie! Hopefully health comes to your house quickly

58 Thanks Calm, it was a good weekend and Nate still has days off until Wednesday. I seriously doubt I'll get a good garden going this year as the builder still has come to do our lawn. I feel like we are living in a hilly hay field!

59 Thanks Ellen! I imagine it will take a few years until I am happy with the landscaping here

60 Thanks Kerri!

61 Thanks Kathy! Glad to see you enjoyed the movie too!

62 Thanks Monica! I'll have to pop over to your thread soon and see your pictures! Hope evil kitty adapts quickly for you with minimal blood shed!

63 Thanks Roni! It was pretty good

64 Thanks Micky! Glad to see you liked the movie! It's been a long time since I went to a movie like that, I had forgotten how great they can be on the big screen!

64 HI Kath! :)
***
Today was an around the house day. Ran a few errands in the morning and then we spent the rest of the day outside! Since it was sunny and warm we washed the cars and then I sat and read while Nate waxed his jeep. Finally managed to finish my Atwood book, not as good as others of hers but it was good enough for a sunny afternoon! Hope you all had a nice sunny day too!

48) Bodily Harm by Margaret Atwood
Read for 75 books in 2012, 12 in 2012:Category #1) Birthday Books: From the year of my birth 1981

Rennie is a young journalist who has found her life coming to pieces. Surviving breast cancer has left her struggling with her life and her sadomasochistic relationship with Jake has come to an end.
Rennie decides to run away from life temporarily and takes a travel piece on a small caribbean island. However Rennie arrives at the island in the middle of an election and unrest and finds herself mixed into things that she has no business being mixed in.
This novel is all about power and as with any Atwood book I came away with more unanswered questions than I did answers.

49) Calico Joe by John Grisham
Read for 75 books in 2012, 12 in 2012:Category #5) Oooh something shiny!: Books I randomly pick up

Paul Tracey has had little contact with his father over the years until he gets a call saying his father is dying. Paul knows that this will have little impact on his life but feels it is time to close some open wounds from his past.
"After a few minutes, I admit the truth - life without Warren will be the same as life with him."

Paul revisits his childhood as the son of a major league ball player and the son of the most hated man in baseball in 1973. Paul will travel many miles to try and make Warren face up to the wrongs that he did in the past and get closure for themselves and for the man who Warren ruined everything for.

John Grisham steps outside his norm of writing legal thrillers and delivers this touching story. You don't have to like baseball to enjoy this story.

I havent had much luck with Margaret Atwood, apart from the kids one she wrote and illustrated, Up in the Tree, the kids love that one and I do too :)

Well Chelle apparently I missed your birthday but it sounds like it was lovely. Happy Belated!

A very happy belated birthday to you, Chelle! I hope you had a great day and weekend:)

Happy belated birthday, Chelle!!! It looks like you had a great day. I think trees make great gifts. They have a way of marking time like nothing else can and they celebrate your new house and a new year perfectly.

Megan I find Atwood's book can go either way. I've loved some (Oryx & Crake, Alias Grace) and some I wouldn't recommend (Bodily Harm). Some of her writing has a literary feel to it and other books have a sci-fi feel. She is hard to pin down, for me anyway. I'm going to try and read The Handmaid's Tale at some point this year and then I'll probably go off Atwood for a while.

Thanks Bonnie, Callia & Lynda! It was a good birthday! I was happy that Nate had the days off from work
***

Sorry to all my LT friends that I haven't been visiting much. Nate is back to work for 5 days now so I should have some more free time to socialize! However I am on the last leg of invitations now, we got the go-ahead from Nate's work so I can finalize them and wrap and address them. I'm going to try and finish them today and tomorrow so they can be mailed on Monday. I'll try and visit everyone soon!

On the book front I probably won't finish another one for a few days. I'm about 3 hours into listening to David Copperfield and since it's 36 hours long I'll be with it for a while. I'm hoping I can get into it a bit more as it hasn't caught me yet.
As well a few days ago one of my book orders came in and I got my Centennial Edition of The Grapes of Wrath. It's a fairly long one too so I should be with that one for a few days too.


It's a rainy gross day here and the wet dog is sulking. Hope you all get to stay dry today!

I can't help laughing at your touchstone for "The Handmaid's Tail" -- mostly at the idea that that is a working touchstone! I'm looking forward to the sequel, "The Handmaid's Left Foot," where she goes to Ireland and contracts a terrible disease.

haha Thanks Julia! I guess you can tell that I'm still half asleep! It's funny that The Handmaid's Tail worked fine with the touchstone but when I put in the real The Handmaid's Tale I get a work by someone else about Atwood instead of the real book! Oy!

I'm going to start The Grapes of Wrath tonight.

Brides to be never have time.. we can wait :). Just pop in now and then and let us know you
and your world are doing just fine.

all done!! YAY!! Just waiting for a couple of Nate's friends to send their addresses and then I can mail them, hopefully by Friday or Monday at the latest!
Sigh, it's so nice to be finished!! Now tomorrow I need to clean my house and put away my craft supplies and then READ! （*^_^*）



76 Hope you enjoy it Ellen! I'm only about 20 pages in so far but I think I'll enjoy it

77 Hi Kath! World is just fine! How's yours? I'll be by your thread soon!

Chelle, I love the leaf pattern table in the first picture. Very pretty!

Thank Callia. It's a table runner my mom made me a million years ago! Doesn't really match my new living room but I like it too much to get rid of! :)

Oh that's really special! It's beautiful:)

>78 ChelleBearss: Nice.

Hey Chelle! Anyone fortunate enough to receive one of those truly lovely boxes in the mail will be totally swept off their feet! I get tingles just thinking about it.

I agree with Lynda: even the boxes look amazing! Well done, you!

Beautiful looking invitations Chelle. I'm sure that any one who receives one will be delighted.

Those are amazing - what lovely presentation. You must be so proud. And ready for a well deserved break! Congrats on getting them finished.

I agree! I would feel extremely special if I were to recieve such a lovely invatation:)

Thanks Callia & Ellen! :)

Thanks Lynda! The ladies at the post office Ooohh'ed and awww'ed over them when I took them in today.

Thanks Amber! Next project is going to try and make bouquets! I'm going to take a couple weeks off before I start that though.

Thanks Calm! I am hoping my guests receive them in the mail by the end of next week. Seems to take about a week to send a letter back to Ontario.

Thanks Mamie! Nate was happy when I was finished - meant he got his living room back and all my craft stuff got put away! It's nice to not have bits of scrap paper everywhere ;)
***

Well with 50 million wedding things running through my head I'm not surprised that I can't focus on a book! Nate is on nights this weekend and I was looking forward to lounging on the couch reading but I keep putting my book down and picking up the laptop instead. I need to turn my brain off!
I'm now about 1/3 into listening to David Copperfield and I'm enjoying it more than the beginning.
I'm about 90 pages into reading Grapes of Wrath.

I'm going to make a cup of chamomile tea and shut my computer off and hopefully read more of Grapes of Wrath

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Thanks Chelle, you as well!

Hey Chelle, I see you read Mary Roach...she's my favorite author! And I'm not just saying that because I have a total author-crush on her. *Sighs dreamily* Was that your first book by her? ALL of her books are fantastic, Spook was my least favorite and I think I gave it a 4-star rating. She's amazing... *Stifles another sigh*

78: Congrats on finishing those one-of-a-kind invitations, Chelle. I see you found the starfish you were searching for. It's a good thing you're taking some time off before your next project. We wouldn't want you too stressed out or we'll be seeing you on Bridezilla! Lol.

Stephen which Roach was your fave? This one was my first one but she is so odd that I think I want to read more. Who would ever even think to write about book about the uses for dead bodies. Odd. Just odd.

Thanks Donna. I couldn't find the starfish without going over my budget so I compromised and put starfish pictures on the address labels and then put a white seashell and lots of tiny shells inside the invitation box. I think they turned out nice without the starfish inside.
Nate has kindly asked me to wait before starting my next project as he likes the way our house is right now, clean. When I start another project I'm sure it will become messy again with craft supplies.




I probably won't be online tomorrow but Happy Mommy's Day to all the wonderful LT Moms! Hope everyone has a wonderful Sunday.
Since I can't be with my mom or mom-in-law Nate and I mailed them cards with Cora's gift certificates. (Cora's is a great breakfast restaurant here, delish!) Thankfully they already received them so hopefully they can brunch there tomorrow.

Favorite Roach? Well, ummm, okay, you are probably NEVER going to guess, but it's the one about sex. What? It's hilarious. Personally, however, I would recommend Packing for Mars. The topic won't make you cringe as often as the ones about sex/dead bodies (except for the whole concept of going to the bathroom in space...) and it's still just as funny as her other stuff. If you are up for it, though, Bonk is seriously good.

Thanks, I will add them to my wishlist! I hope my library has them. I've seen others recommend Packing for Mars too
(And I wasn't surprised that it was the sex book. Men, sheesh! ;)

I've only read Bonk and Stiff so far, but I liked Stiff a bit better. They were both good though, and I can't wait to get to her other books.

94: Hehe! Hey wait a minute, I see women reading romance and erotica books a whole lot more than male readers... =P

Glad to see you liked them both Katie. My library has both Bonk and packing for mars so I should be able to get to them at some point

haha Stephen, you won't catch me with any of those romance books. Give me a good ole horror any day instead!

51) Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

Read for 75 books in 2012,
12 in 2012:Category #8) Such a Rebel: Banned Books,
1001 Books to read before you die
5*

*** Will include spoilers***

I find it very hard to believe that this novel was first published over 70 years ago as some of the main topics, like unions and labor disputes, are still affecting people today. Steinbeck took real life occurrences and turned them into a masterful novel about survival and strength.

Tom Joad and his family have lost their land during the depression and Oklahoma Dustbowl and have decided to migrate to California for work after seeing a handbill advertising the need for fruit pickers. Unfortunately they are not the only family with this idea and the highways are packed with thousands or hundreds of thousands of people trying to find a better life.

After heartbreak on the road the family arrives in California and they quickly realize that it won't be as easy as they had thought. With thousands of workers applying for every open position it becomes very hard to find work. When they do find work the wages are well below what they should be because the farmers know that for every worker that wants 30 cents an hour there is a man with a starving family that will work for 20 cents so he can bring home some food that day.

This book will pull your heart strings in one paragraph and make you angry in the next. Steinbeck does a great job of taking you on the journey with the Joads and you can feel their pain and their happiness. The joy they feel when they see the California valley or when they find a government camp with working toilets and running hot water. The heartbreak and pain they feel when a member dies or when there is not enough to eat. You can be proud at the strength they hold and how they take care of each other, even in their weakest states. This is a novel that will stay with me for much longer than the time it took to read it.

"Rich fellas come up an' they die, an' their kids ain't no good an' they die out. But we keep a'comin'. We're the people that live. They can't wipe us out; they can't lick us. We'll go on forever, Pa, 'cause we're the people."

97: I'm with you there! Well, actually, gimme science any day, but still! Y'know what's funny? The science fiction and fantasy in my local library is shelved in the same aisle as the romance novel, sci-fi/fantasy on one wall and romance on the opposite. I swear they did that on purpose. Once I was an awkward 19-year-old boy browsing the fantasy novels with two similarly-age girls discussing romance novels romance novels and the men on the covers...talk about humiliating! :P

I so love the centennial editions of Steinbeck's novel. I've read a couple from the library and they are awesome. I so want the box set.

Thumb for an excellent review of The Grapes of Wrath, Chelle. You make me want to drop everything and reread it right now!

A great review for one of my all-time favorite books - so thrilled that you loved it!!!

Chelle- Great review of Grapes! My favorite book of all time. American writing does not get any better than this. Hope you are having a wonderful weekend.

Hi Chelle, gorgeous invitations. You must be so relieved to have that done (and so well). Now on to the next "to do." Excellent review of The Grapes of Wrath BTW.

Chelle - part way through The Grapes of Wrath and thoroughly immersed in it so, if you'll excuse I only skimmed your review but noticed the stars so you are definitely in agreement with me. Hope your weekend has gone great and that your preparations continue apace.

Just stopping by to wave hello! Glad to hear you got your invitations out. I was kind of rooting for you to have starfish though. I love starfish!

Hi Chelle, just catching up. Great news that the wedding invitations are on their way, that's one major thing out of the way!

Grapes of Wrath is one of my five top favorite books of all time, your review was great and caught the essence of the book. When it comes to writing, it's pretty hard to beat Steinbeck!

99 Stephen that's pretty funny, I can almost picture you blushing!
I have the centennial editions too, they just look classy to me

100 Thanks for the thumb Nancy! I hope you enjoy it!

101 & 102 Thanks Mamie & Mark, I can see why it would be one of your favorites!

103 Hi Bonnie! I am SO glad to have those invitations done. BUT I made a to-do list yesterday and it's really scary looking! We are heading into Halifax tomorrow to get some of it done.
Who knew it would be so hard to pick music for during the ceremony!

104 Hi Paul, have you finished Grapes yet? I hope you are loving it too!

105 Hi Morphy. Yes, I was sad that I couldn't have the starfish but to order online would have pushed back the date I could mail them and to buy in stores here they were way too expensive. So I put starfish designs on the address labels and that made me happy :)
I will have starfish on my wedding cake though!

106 Hi Judy! I am amazed that I have enjoyed most of the Steinbeck books very much! I read East of Eden a long time ago and loved it but I never thought to read the rest of his books. I am very thankful for the Steinbeckathon!
***

Nate has 7 days off work this week so we are trying to get some wedding stuff planned and then are just enjoying the nice sunny days! Trail walk and BBQ today :)

52) The Wind Through the Keyhole by Stephen King
Read for 75 books in 2012,
12 in 2012:Category #5) Oooh something shiny!: Books I randomly pick up,
3.5*

King's latest edition in the Dark Tower series is actually meant to come after the fourth book. While stuck hiding out from a storm Roland tells his ka-tet a story within a story.
Roland tells the kat-tet of his early days as a gunslinger. He was sent to rid a town of a "skin-man" that had been terrorizing the people. While helping the town he finds a young boy that had barely missed becoming prey to the beast and while trying to keep the boy calm Roland tells him a story about a young man and a magical quest.

Chelle, it makes me happy to see another Grapes of Wrath fan here. I've read it several times over the years and my admiration for it continues to grow. I loved Packing for Mars, which is the only book by Roach that I've read.

Best of luck with your scary to-do list. I can only imagine how many details there are to plan a wedding. My husband and I were married in a German civil ceremony almost 45 years ago. I'm not even sure we're legal as I don't speak German. Lol. My kids planned their own weddings. I did get to help Lori pick out her wedding dress and I hand-addressed the invitations. The checks that were written were our biggest contribution!

Hi, Chelle! I thought I'd better not read your review of The Grapes of Wrath too closely until I finish the book, but I'll come back. I'm really enjoying it - they've just gotten to California.

>98 ChelleBearss: Big thumbs up from me, and congratulations on being in the Hot Reviews!

Chelle, I'm headed over to thumb your review of The Grapes of Wrath. Nicely done. I'm about 1/3 through and I can't believe I didn't read this when it was assigned in 11th grade. It's so powerful.

5 star read on your latest Steinbeck. Good for you!

I'm having a really emotional night tonight and I think I'll be heading to bed early.

Nate and I watched some of our old coworkers on TV tonight on the program Canada Sings. OPP Team Glee went on the show to raise money for the Dave Mounsey Memorial Foundation that was created after one of our officers died in the line of duty on his way to a car accident. I didn't know Dave but I was friends with his wife and this foundation is dear to me. One of Dave's passions was working with the community to raise awareness and money to have defibrillators in community centres and arenas. The Dave Mounsey Foundation continues his work and has donated many defibrillators in the community and will continue to do so
The OPP Team
http://www.globaltv.com/canadasings/teamcoachecast/index.html?n=opp

The Dave Mounsey Foundation
http://www.davemounsey.com/index.html

After watching the show I got a message stating that a friend had died tonight. He was an officer and I worked with him directly for a few years and he was a big supporter of my move and gave me a glowing reference. I don't have any details yet on how he died and I am very sad that I won't be able to go home for his funeral.

I think I'll head to bed now. I hope every one of you if having a better night than I am.

My deepest sympathies Chelle! I regret the loss of what sounds like a wonderful friend. ((((((Chelle))))))--a hug for you

Oh dear Chelle, I am so so saddened to learn of your loss. I wish your friend a safe journey home, with our thanks for all that he did for us.

Stopping by to visit your thread Chelle. Words cannot express the sorrow at reading about the sudden loss of your friend. Heartfelt condolences for you during this time.

Chelle - deepest condolences from me and mine to you and Nate over the untimely loss of your friends. One of them has a lasting memorial by way of the foundation and the other passed away giving selflessly for others...small consolation to you and their nearest and dearest but still something to be proud of nevertheless.

oh (((((( Chelle ))))))) I am so sorry.

Oh, I'm so so sorry to hear about the loss of your friend. I'll be keeping you in my thoughts, Chelle.

My heart goes out to you. I'm so sorry. *hugs*

I'm sorry for your loss, Chelle.

I'm so sorry, Chelle.

Thanks everyone. I'm feeling better today but so sad for his family. It appears that it was not on the job and possibly suicide. He was a good man and will be missed.

Today Nate and I had planned to head into Halifax and work on finishing some wedding stuff and I think we are going to keep our plan to get our mind off of things. Hopefully we can get some things done and set my mind at ease about how much we have left to do

Hope everyone has a good hump day.

Oh Chelle, what sad news. I'm sorry for your loss.

OH Chelle, such sad news.. It is always hard loosing someone like that. I know I still remember the losses over the years of some of the officers we have lost in my 21 years of service as a 911 dispatcher. I feel for you and am sending you big (((((((HUGAS))))))))

Sorry about your loss, Chelle. {{{{Chelle}}}}

Thanks everyone! The support here on LT is amazing!

I'm feeling better and Nate and I had a successful trip to Halifax yesterday.
I took a picture of the bouquets I wanted into a florist and they quoted me $200 each bouquet. UM NO! Apparently orchids are expensive ... who knew!

So we stopped at a craft store on our way home and Nate helped me pick out fake flowers and supplies and today we made bouquets. I made almost exactly what I had planned (couldn't find the exact flower color) and we saved over $700! It was quite the bonding experience with Nate helping me pick out flowers and acting like a goofball in the store to cheer me up.

Not much happening on the reading front. I am still at about chapter 20 in David Copperfield and I fear I will still be reading/listening to that into June. I'm about halfway through 11th Hour and it's decent. Not as good as the first few books in the series but still enjoyable since I'm busy and needed something light.

I will try and visit everyone's threads over the next couple days. Hope you are all doing well!

Chelle, I'm glad you and Nate had a successful trip. The savings you managed are quite remarkable! You can spend that money on books now! :-)

I may have said this before, but I thought David Copperfield picked up around chapter 32 or so.

I'm sorry to hear about the loss of your friend. Keep taking care of you.

53) 11th Hour by James Patterson
Read for 75 books in 2012,
12 in 2012:Category #5) Oooh something shiny!: Books I randomly pick up
3*

Lindsay Boxer isn't letting pregnancy slow her down while she investigates two different sets of murders. A millionaire with ties to drugs has been gunned down in the washroom during a school pagent with a gun that has been stolen from police evidence lockup. Could it be a vigilante cop?
Meanwhile two heads have been found in a bizarre scene and Lindsay must find the bodies along with the murderer.
11th book in the Women's Murder Club series, and while it was a good read it certainly wasn't the best of them all.

So glad to hear that you and Nate had a good day together. I get all misty-eyed and romantical feeling when I read that you two have been on an outing together, remembering those pre-wedding days with Tomm and how wonderful they are.
And way to go with the bouquets! Smart and thrifty lady!
(Can we see flower pictures?)

You are really making this wedding your own. From location, to invitations and now flowers.
It will be just wonderful, I'm sure...

You are clearly a very talented and clever young lady!

Your day out sounds fun and you are very talented to be making so many things for your wedding. I think artificial bouquets sound great - they will always be a memento of the day:)

Hope you have another wonderful day.

129 Thanks Ellen. I really doubt Nate will let me spend that on books, well, maybe just one book ;)
I'm starting to like David Copperfield but I am finding it hard to find time for it. I don't listen to audio books when Nate is home and it's too dense to read before bed. I'll try to read more once Nate goes back to work on Monday

131 aww Amber lol! I figured Nate would be bored picking out flowers with me but he was goofy and made it fun! He got some jobs during the flower arranging too.
This is my bouquet. I think I need to add some more gems to it


This is the bridesmaids (and mine in there too)


I am still working on the flowers for the guys and the parents.

132 Thanks Kath! Being unemployed has made me thrifty and I couldn't justify the prices for real flowers when I could make them myself. I got a quote for a wedding cake the other day and I almost cried. No way I am paying $800 for something I can do myself. Nate thinks I am crazy but I am determined to make our cake myself. Wish me luck!!

133 Thanks Calm! I think it will be nice to keep the bouquets without them wilting. And I made a small throwaway one so I can keep mine
***

Nate and I are heading out today to meet our wedding photographer. I am very excited to meet her as her website is great. But it means eating out again as we are meeting her for lunch. My diet is not going so well ;)

Those are really pretty, Chelle! You are a woman of many talents! Cannot believe you are going to tackle the cake, too - wishing you good luck and sending good thoughts your way.

Very pretty Kara, good luck with the cake.

Nothing wrong with eating out and dieting. Hope you have a great day.

Lovely bouquets - you are really talented to do all these crafts!

Beautiful flowers! And good for you for making the cake!!

I always wonder how much the quote would be for the identical cake if you didn't tell them it was for a wedding. Yes, I am a cynical person. :)

Oh Chelle...please...voice of bitter, bitter experience here...spend the money on the cake. The stress and the frustration and the fear of making it yourself is NOT WORTH IT!

Beautiful bouquets!!

You are so talented! I would just say.. let's skip flowers, whaddya say? LOL
When we got married ( eloped) the little flower shop we found wouldn't sell
flowers to Yankees ( northerners... us..) due to the war of norther aggression, that took place
is the 1860's . True story.

rd... don't you dare.

Love the flowers!

Thanks Mamie! I actually quite like doing cakes but Nate doesn't think I will have time. I am determined to prove him wrong ;)

Thanks Calm! I tried to still eat healthy but the sweet potato fries were calling to me

Thanks Rhian! I hadn't tried working with flowers before but it's amazing the instructions you can find online!

Thanks Amber! I picked a simple design to make it easier on myself!

I know Julia, the second you say wedding people seem to up the price! It's ridiculous!

Don't worry Richard! I picked a simple design that won't take long. And it's just that I have made the wedding cake for 7 of my friends so now I feel cheated to have to pay for one! I would prefer to save all that money for future book purchases! ;0

haha Kath, too funny!
**

We met with our photographer and her husband, aka assistant, today and they are awesome! They seem so down to earth and are really funky (heavily tattoo'd and pierced). Nate loved them too so we have them booked. They are really affordable and have some cool ideas for editing and positions. We will meet with them again in June for a mock photo session, would have been an engagement session but we did that already.

One more thing to knock off the checklist from hell ;)

Thanks Callia!

Chelle, by the look of your invitations and the stunning bouquets I have total faith in you to bake a delicious and beautiful, one of a kind cake. When you began talking about a photographer I had to smile thinking aha! ssomething she won't be doing on her own. What a beautiful celebration this will be!

I too am sorry to read of your friends. Their untimely passing is indeed tragic.

Chelle - Nate is a wonder. I don't know many guys with the patience to go through all the cake, bouquets etc etc. Many of us just want to turn up and get it over with and on to the honeymoon!

Checking up on all your goings on!
sorry to hear about your friend :(
great progress on the wedding plans!
those flowers look great! really they do :)
you thinking of blinging them out a little? thought you mentioned something like that.

haha Lynda, I definitely can't take the pictures too! I'm glad that the photographer turned out to be so awesome as she is really reasonably priced. Her portfolio was great and Nate really got along with her and her hubby.

Paul I think Nate is a wonder as well! Poor guy has been outside for better parts of the last two days with a whipper snipper trying to cut down all the weeds. The builder still hasn't backfilled or hydro-seeded our lawn and poor Nate got stuck trying to clear out the wheat field that was our lawn. I'm rewarding him with homemade beef stew and an afternoon at the beach! 25c and sunny today, a great day for the water!

Hi Kara! It's really hard to see in the picture as I'm not the greatest with a camera, but there are small gems stuck to the leaves on some of the flowers and the stems that are wrapped in black satin ribbon have gems down the front. Hopefully my photographer for the wedding can get some clearer shots of the flowers.

Chelle - The weather should be regulated at a maximum of 25c - that reduction of 8 degrees would make Malaysia much more liveable.

I'd prefer a maximum of 15c and a minimum of -5c.

I think I should move to Scotland.

Hi Chelle!
I'm so sorry to hear of your friend's death. We seem to lose the best ones too, too early. So sad for family and friends :(

*********
The flowers you made up are very beautiful! I love them all.
They look lush and glamorous :)

I'm sure you can make a very nice wedding cake. The pictures I've seen you post of other cakes were great! And time-wise you are already very organized and on top of things. Since you have done wedding cakes before, you know what you are getting into. I say go for it if you have the time. If it doesn't work out at the last minute, stop at a good bakery on the way to the reception, buy the prettiest cake, and plunk your topper on it. Voila!

I trusted my aunt to take care of the cake detail. Big mistake. It was ugly, expensive, tasteless, and dry. :PP~~~ Would rather have made a cake mix... but I smiled and said it was lovely. Turned out 43 years later we are still married. So - whatever!

I was so glad to see you and Nate loved the photographer and they are reasonably priced. Srsly, I was very concerned you would try to take your own pictures.
Everything else will fade away, but pictures are most important, imho. They will keep your memories alive and give you many years of pure enjoyment.

Good for you! The wedding plans are right on target.

Oh Paul I would love it if the weather stayed just like today! Hot enough during the day for swimming and cool enough at night to still need a blanket. It's perfect! I don't know how you survive in the heat, I would feel like I was melting all the time!

Brrrr Richard, I guess you prefer it cold! You would like winter here then!

Wow Cee, thanks for the lovely message!
Sorry that your wedding cake wasn't so great. I don't think wedding cakes are such a big deal so that's part of the reason I won't pay a lot for one. If I had time I would make cupcakes instead but I find them more work. I'll post some pics when I do a practice cake.
I wouldn't try and take my own photos because they are so important. Nate's cousin is a videographer and has offered to video tape the ceremony :)

I spent 39 years in 38-42c degree summers in Texas. I ****HATE**** heat. You can always put more clothes on. Can't take enough off to be comfortable in that heat, at least not and go out in public.

wow, texas gets warm eh!! I burn bad so I guess I would look like a lobster there permanently!
I think I would take cold over 40c anyday ... but given the option I would prefer days like yesterday and today. 25c=perfecto! Especially here on the mountain, we get a great breeze

In 2007, there were 40-plus days of 40c and over in Austin. I'm sorry, no.

25 is okay. It's 23 here today, and I'm happy enough. 15 would be nicer...

I am with RD on the heat Chelle. Love my adopted country, it's people, it's food, the fact that it provides me with a living and a wife who is a rock (who I'd like to bury her under one more than occasionally) but I abhor the lack of seasons and the constant daily temperatures of 33 degrees - 27 degreees during the night.

It is nice to follow your weddding preparations Chelle, love the bouquet!

I am with Richard on temperatures and so are my dogs ;-)

Weather - another reason to live in a cool, dark, damp cave.

I love watching and reading about the wedding preparations. When's the big date?

Hi, Chelle. Kudos to Nate for the patience and hard work and you for the vision. Building the foundation for your life together - what a great time!

OH Chelle, those flowers are gorgeous. Hmm.. If I ever decided to get married again, I may have to hire you ;) I love them. That is so sweet how Nate was with helping you pick out flowers. Sounds like you have a wonderful Fella there.. :) I am so happy for you..

all-purpose *smooch*

ditto what richard said in 153!
I'll take cold over heat any day :)

wow Richard, I don't think I have ever felt a day of over 40 (even on vacation down south!) I checked the record for my home town and it's 38.2 from 1988! The highest here in Nova Scotia was 37 from the 1940's, so I guess I am safe! Texans must spend a buttload on airconditioning bills!

Paul I think I would be sad to live in a country without seasons. While I dislike winter, I love fall and spring! Fall here is so pretty when all the leaves change colours. I would miss that

Thanks Anita! I'll be working on them a bit more, I think they need a bit more bling
My dog doesn't love the heat either. He is all black fur and he gets so hot. I always find him laying in shady spots, but yet he doesn't want to come back inside either!

Nah Stephen, damp isn't my style. Give me sunshine any day!

Thanks Morphy! It's August 29th. 100 days!!

Thanks Joe! I'm sure Nate will be happy when this wedding is over, just so he doesn't have to help me anymore! He has been good but I can tell the crafts are testing him

Thanks Monica! Maybe I should love for a job in the wedding industry after the wedding! lol

Smooch right back at'cha Richard!

Hi Kara! I like the weather lately, not too hot and nice and cool at night! I love when the weather is still cool enough that I can sleep with a blanket at night but get sit outside during the day!

***
It's a long weekend here in Canada for Victoria day. Nate had the weekend off and we got some outside work done. We have gone back to our diet (I'm doing weightwatchers) and our workout plan so I've been spending some time planning meals. He is back to work tonight though so I get to relax and read!

54) The Eyes of Darkness by Dean Koontz
Read for 75 books in 2012,
12 in 2012:Category #1) Birthdays Books: From the year of my birth 1981
3*

Christina Evans lost her son Danny a year ago in a horrible accident when his backpacking group's vehicle left the road. Danny's body was too mangled for Christina and her ex to look at the body. It's been a year and the dreams have started again and strange things keep happening to Tina. When Tina starts seeing "NOT DEAD" written on a chalk board in her home and then on her office printer she thinks someone has a horrible sense of humor. Very quickly Tina will find out that there is a whole lot more to Danny's car accident than she could have ever thought.

This was one of Koontz's earlier works, published under a pen name. The edition I have is a reworked edition that Koontz has "improved upon". I really enjoyed this book once I got over some of the minor plot issues.

#154 Richard: Agreed. Not a fan of heat, but I love (the need for) wearing multiple sweaters at once.

#158 Stephen: Well, it's a lucky thing for you then that you live in Ohio. (*snork!*)

Hi, Chelle! The photographers sound super cool!

Wow, Chelle, awesome wedding work with invitations, flowers, cake, photographer booked! Enjoyed your remarks on Dean Koontz; his name has appeared on NY Bestseller lists for what feels like forever - has had a long and obviously successful career.

Even not being much for weddings, I have to say that the flower arrangements are lovely.

Happy belated Victoria Day!!

I was slightly anxious at the idea of you doing your own cake -- so much potential for disaster and frustration and exhaustion -- until I read that you'd already done this for 7 friends. In which case, you should go into business doing budget-based flowers, cakes, etc. for other brides!!! (but only once you're back from the honeymoon...)

Chelle - agree heartily that the absence of spring and autumn here are a major detraction from embracing the place.

Hi Chelle- I loved Koontz in the old days but I haven't read anything by him in many years. I have a dog-eared copy of Watchers around here somewhere. One of my favorites.
Hope all is well with you!

Hi Chelle.

#67 I really like your 12-12 category of reading books from the year you were born and have only just noticed we were born in the same year! I've been slowly working my way through Margaret Atwood's novels but seem to be working backwards from her newer books to her older ones so I haven't got to Bodily Harm yet.

#78 & 134 I love the invitations and the bouquets.

#114 So sorry to hear of your friend's death Chelle. Hugs.

Hi Chelle!

100 days? wow!

No hot weather? *envy*

That Koontz sounds good..Watchers was my favorite so far, I think?

nothing going on here.. going to be close to 90F here the weekend! BOO

I had missed the 12 in 12 category of 12 books published in the year you were born. Perhaps I'll tackle something like that in 2013. I like it.

I like that idea, too, although I do not do the 12 in 12 categories. How did you find books that qualified?

Hi Chelle!

166 Thanks Amber, I think they will be pretty great!

167 Thanks Nancy. I used to read A LOT of Dean Koontz books when I was in high school but I kind of got away from reading him. It was nice to go back and read some of his earlier stuff

168 Thanks Ellen! Why don't you like weddings?

169 Thanks Suz. I had thought of selling wedding cakes before but I am always so nervous delivering them. I would hate to drop one and ruin someone's wedding.

170 Paul do you ever vacation in places that have snow so you can cool off?

171 Hi Mark! Did you read the Odd Thomas books? I think those were the last ones that I read of him until recently.

172 Hi Heather! I have also read most of Atwood's recent books and neglected her earlier works. I'm trying to fix that though. I found the 12 in 12 for my birth year was one of the categories that I neglected easily. I'm trying to play catch up right now!

173 wow Kath, hope you can find a place to stay cool! My calculations state that 90 converts to about 32 here. That's way too hot for me! It is supposed to be 20-25 here all weekend :)

174 Thanks Ellen. You are welcome to steal my category for next year! :) I might do it again next year and use Nate's birth year

175 HI Julia. It's lame, but I actually just googled "novels published in 1981" and found a wikipedia link that had a ton listed. I had to check everybook listed to confirm it was actually first published that year as a few on the list were wrong (wikipedia isn't really the greatest source but it was a good starting point for me)

176 Hi Richard!

***

So it's been a busy week here and I feel like I am playing catch up with lots of things (LT, housework, reading). My dear kitty went in today to have some of her teeth removed finally and she is still stoned 8 hours after coming home. Poor thing. I keep having to play interference with her and the dog as the dog just wants to lick her and she is so out of it that he keeps knocking her over. I've now got the pooch trapped in my bedroom with me and have given Taz freedom in the house. I was kind of hoping that she would sleep but she just wants to wander. Hopefully tomorrow she is less dopey.

My photographer informed us when we met her last week that the package that we bought comes with a photo booth for the whole night. So yesterday (and part of today while I was waiting to pick up Taz) I spent crafting, again. So much for craft time being over! I have been making photo booth props.

55) Insurgent by Veronica Roth
Read for 75 books in 2012,
12 in 2012:Category #9) Chunky Monkeys
4*

What a ride! I loved Divergent and was hoping that Roth could keep going with the second book and she did! Once again she has left me waiting for the next instalment!

Sometimes YA books get into a slump of teenage drama and hormones gone crazy, but Roth keeps the romance to the necessities and keeps the story moving page after page.
I won't give a plot summary as there is too much to give away. If you haven't read the first book Divergent, go get that one first! If you have read the first one then why haven't you read Insurgent yet??

You are so clever Chelle! Love the bouquets, and the crafty photo booth props...who would have thought of that!? I love it.
All this done and still 100 days (give or take) til your wedding, did someone say ORGANISED!?? Well done.

And, as others have said, sorry to hear about the death of your friend. Suicides can be so hard to take, his poor family.

Chelle- I'm so glad yo liked Insurgent. Joe just finished it and loved it too. I have 2 brand new copies, (one is for my daughter), so I'm hoping to get to it later next month. I am book busy!

Huh? "...a photo booth for the whole night..."
What does that mean? And what night are we talking about?

Thanks Megan! Surprisingly lots of people have thought of it! There are tons of prop sets for sale on etsy! Nate told me to just order a set, but I thought it would be nicer to make my own. I'm a dork like that ;)

Hi Mark! I think you will like it! The middle slogged a tad, but the ending rocked. I'll keep an eye out for your thoughts on it

Hi Cee! It's for the wedding. The photographers will set up a white sheet in the hall (or in our case the lobby) and they offer to take pictures of the guests throughout the night. Guests can have nice family pictures done or goofy ones with our props. Then after the wedding when I send my thank you cards out I can incude a picture of them and a picture of us. I made some chalkboard props too so people could write a note if they want when they have their photo taken
Kind of like this random pick from the internet ... http://www-static.weddingbee.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/23/leana-n03.jpg

OIC
hehehe - not what I was thinking :-}
But what a great idea!

Oh, the photo booth is such a cool idea! And I love love love that you've made you're own props. You're an amazing lady!

What Amber said! Didn't read your review of Insurgent because I am hoping to get to that very soon.

Chelle, you continue to amaze me with how organized and prepared you are. Your wedding sounds like a great time will be had by all, and with the planning and prep you are doing in advance, you and Nate will be able to relax and enjoy your day.

56) Rabbit, Run by John Updike
Read for 75 books in 2012,
12 in 2012:Category #7) Morbid thoughts: 1001 Books to Read Before I Die List
1001 Books to read before you die
4.5*

Harry "Rabbit" Angstrom was a high school basketball star and now life as an adult with real responsibilities isn't really what he thought it would be. Trapped in a crappy job and a marriage with a pregnant alcoholic Rabbit decides to flee at the spur of the moment. He has no idea where he is going, he has no idea where he wants to be; he just knows he doesn't want to stay there anymore.

I would have thought it would be hard to enjoy a book in which I hated all the characters (and I mean all of them) but surprisingly I did enjoy it. Rabbit is a lazy, misogynistic man and his wife is a weak alcoholic that can't be on her own. Together they are horrible and apart they do horrible things.
This is a dark, depressing book in which I hoped the characters could pull it together to do what they should but felt that it would probably get worse as it progressed and I was right.
I plan on reading the rest of the tetralogy and since two of the books were awarded the Pulitzer Prize I imagine the series will only get better.

Thanks Amber! I am now trying to figure out the logistics for the cake stand, but I may break down and just buy one.

Mamie I hope you like Insurgent. I'll keep me eye open for your thoughts on it

Thanks Judy! I think I should probably find a job soon before I run out of wedding crafts ;)

Chelle- I'm glad you enjoyed Rabbit Run. I read one of the Rabbit books back in the 80s and have been meaning to read all 4. Maybe I could squeeze the 1st one in this year.

I have never heard of the photo booth concept.. it sounds delightful and lots of fun!

Hi Chelle! I just got caught up here. I love the photo booth accessories and admire your creativity! Nice review of the Updike book as well. I haven't read any of them yet.

Hi Chelle, I love following all of your wedding plans. The bouquets are beautiful and the photo booth sounds like a lot of fun! With all that is going on, I am impressed you find time for reading!

I always get Johns Updike and Irving confused....

I'm back in the LT world again and had to check up on the wedding planner. Wow! Your bouquets are gorgeous! Love the sound of your photographer. And your reading selections are kinda fun too! Thanks for sharing all the details in your life, the good and the bad. You are a wonderful person and it's a pleasure to hang out with you here.

I've just caught up on your wedding preparations, and your flowers are beautiful, just like your invitations. I have a friend at work planning her wedding and everything seems to cost a fortune. It does make you wonder how much it would be just for "flowers" or "cake" without "wedding"! I hope the cake goes well.

Chelle, I have long thought I should give the Rabbits a try, but have anticipated hating the characters. Your review is really excellent; giving me a reason to see if the writing can transcend the icky characters.

As for why I don't care for weddings, it's a long and complicated thing. And probably that simple statement isn't even accurate. The real truth is that I like attending some weddings, I almost always cry, and I've been to a couple of them recently that I found beautiful. Maybe I should say I don't care for very traditional weddings. I like it when the ceremony and ritual challenge some of the old aspects of the institution.

eta: I hesitate to even respond to your inquiry, Chelle. I don't want you to misunderstand: I'm genuinely thrilled for you, I'm enjoying witnessing your process, and I have a deep respect for the mutual commitment that a wedding represents! I just have mixed feelings with all the history and politics associated with the institution of marriage.

OMG Chelle, the photo booth props are awesome, what a great idea. This is the first time I have ever heard of a photo booth at a wedding that is awesome too. What a great way to have fun interesting pics of your guests :)

Hi Everyone. So it appears that I have been neglecting my thread and my reading this week!

Nate has been on a week off (again!) and we went hardcore wedding planning. We got the tuxes ordered, my wedding jewellery bought, my bridesmaids gifts bought, the center pieces figured out and all the supplies bought! It's been a very busy week!

I'm still working my way through my recent book Lover Reborn. It's a door stopper and it's taking me quite a while to read it. I would like to finish it today but it's Nate's last day off so I might be still reading it in June!

189 Mark I think there are 4 Rabbit books total. I plan on keeping up with them as the second book fits into my category from my birth year.

190 Kath I hadn't either until we saw it on the photographers website. We had to ask them what it was!
I hope we get some great family shots from it!

191 Hi Kerri! Thanks, they were fun to make

192 Thanks Lori! Unfortunately my reading has slowed down this month! I hope June will catch up but I kinda doubt it

193 HI Megan! I had to look up Irving actually! I haven't read anything by him yet, but Cider House Rules is on my to-read list

194 Aww thanks Kim! You are so sweet! It's nice to have you back on LT Land!

195 Welcome Susan! It is crazy how much things cost when they are wedding related. The cake cost just blew me away!

196 Ellen, don't worry about offending me, I'm tough to offend! I know there are lots of people who hate weddings. No worries! Ours is very NOT traditional so you might like it! Beachside ceremony, justice of the peace officiant, and we ordered a harpist! :)

197 Hi Monica! We hadn't heard of it either! I think it's great that our photographers offer it at no extra charge! I'll post some pictures after the wedding

Your wedding is sounding more and more organised and looks like it will be a fun and wonderful day.

Nice that you had lots of time with Nate, don't stress too much about LT and the reading ... books are patient and it is just nice to hear from you when you have the time.

Have a great day:)

Wow, Chelle, you are keeping busy and getting a lot done! Good work! So happy that you are enjoying all of your wedding planning - mine was mostly stressful. Wishing you only good things.

Chelle, I have no doubt that I would enjoy your beachside wedding with the harp! One of my colleagues got married on St. Patrick's Day (they had met on Labor Day and he proposed on New Year's Eve, so they felt compelled to keep the holiday thing going...) and one of my favorite details was a reading of the "definition" of marriage from the Massachusetts Supreme Court decision. It was cool.

May 2012 Reading Statistics

Stiff by Mary Roach (audio 8 hours even, 3*)
Gods of Gotham by Lyndsay Faye (414 pages, 4*)
Bodily Harm by Margaret Atwood (3.5*, 301 pages)
Calico Joe by John Grisham (3.5*, 198 pages)
Chaotic by Kelley Armstrong (3*, 95 pages novella)
Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck (455 pages, 5*)
The Wind Through the Keyhole by Stephen King (3.5*, 309 pages)
11th Hour by James Patterson (3*, 391 pages)
The Eyes of Darkness by Dean Koontz (3*, 366 pages)
Insurgent by Veronica Roth (525 pages, 4*)
Rabbit, Run by John Updike (4.5, 325 pages)
Lover Reborn by JR Ward (4*, 572 pages)

Number of books read: 12
Average rating: 3.66
Number of pages: 3951
Audio time: 8 hours

Fiction/Non-Fiction:
• Fiction: 11
• Non-Fiction: 1

Owned/borrowed (from human)/library:
• Owned: 9
• Borrowed: 0
• Library: 3

Format:
• Print book: 10
• Ebook: 1
• Audiobook: 1

Length:
• Short Story/Novella: 1
• Full Length: 11

Author country:
• United States: 10
• Canada: 2
• British:
• Columbian:

Author gender:
• Female: 6
• Male: 6

ETA one more book finished before midnight

Rumbling through...afraid my 18-wheeled distastemobile ran over Rabbit Angstrom...*smooch*

Ellen, my nieces wedding was ever so slightly non-traditional. Her brother stood up for her
instead of a friend ( man of honor?) and Keith's best friend is a woman, and she was Best Friend?
Both of my married kids had destination weddings, far far from home, after living together for years.
The more I see of Chell's wedding plans, the more grateful I am for that! lol~ So much hard work.
I admire your skills in getting it all done with the minimum of fuss and expenditure.

Oh and Dan and I eloped fresh out of High School ( for me ).

57) Lover Reborn by JR Ward
Read for 75 books in 2012,
12 in 2012:Category #9) Chunky Monkeys
4*

Vampire porn at it's best! I hope she writes another in this series soon!

199 Thanks Calm! I miss having time to hang out here on LT! Hopefully things will calm down once I get everything done for the wedding ... or at least maybe after the wedding lol

200 HI Mamie! I am actually not stressed yet. Maybe once it gets closer to the actual day. Hopefully I can get everything done ahead of time so I am not stressed and trying to finish things at the last minute

201 Hi Ellen! Getting married on St Pattys day would be pretty cool! At least it's an excuse to drink and be merry!

203 Richard do you plan on making Rabbit stew with that roadkill? I am guessing you didn't finish all of the Rabbit books then?

204 Hi Kath!

Vampire porn?
Omg, I have no idea what to think of that, let alone what to say. Im glad you liked it but I can 99% guarantee that I wont read that book (I never say 100%- that's a guarantee that it will somehow be the only book in a random holiday house and that Ill read it cover to cover in a day!).

haha Megan it's actually just a vampire book but has some pretty racey sex scenes in it. I guess I should go back and do a real review !

I love the J.R. Ward Brotherhood books. Vampire porn rules!