Norabelle414's part III: In which Canada has all the best things, like hotties and snow

I know this is completely irrelevant to the topic title, but LOOK AT IT:



I dedicate that picture to Eris and Richard.

Goals for 2013:

• Attend the big giant Philadelphia spring LT meet-up
  
• Help plan (and attend) the Washington DC spring and fall LT meet-ups
  
• Read 75 books
  
• Finish Wolf Hall
  
• Read War and Peace
  
• Catch up on my LTER reading / reviewing
  
• Read more books than I acquire (acquire fewer books than I read?)
  
• Be less hermit-y
  
• Tag all of my books owned and read by decade in which they take place
  

Previous Threads:
2013, part II
2013, part I
2012, module eta

Books read in 2013:

January:
1) The Country of the Blind and Other Science-Fiction Stories by H. G. Wells
2) Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
3) In the Belly of the Bloodhound: Being an Account of a Particularly Peculiar Adventure in the Life of Jacky Faber by L. A. Meyer
4) The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N. K. Jemisin
5) The Cosmic Serpent: DNA and the Origins of Knowledge by Jeremy Narby
6) Redshirts by John Scalzi
7) Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger
8) Mississippi Jack: Being an Account of the Further Waterborne Adventures of Jacky Faber, Midshipman, Fine Lady, and Lily of the West by L. A. Meyer

February:
9) Looking for Alaska by John Green
10) John Dies at the End by David Wong
11) Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan
12) The Ghost Map: The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic--and How It Changed Science, Cities, and the Modern World by Steven Johnson
13)

March:

I'm going to try keeping a closer eye on the books I acquire throughout the year. Perhaps that will keep the numbers down.

Books acquired in 2013:

January:
1) Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger (free)

February:
2)

March:

Currently reading:
Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger
Why Evolution is True by Jerry Coyne (library)
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

Currently listening to:
Mississippi Jack: Being an Account of the Further Waterborne Adventures of Jacky Faber, Midshipman, Fine Lady, and Lily of the West by L. A. Meyer (80%)

Coming soon:
John Dies at the End by David Wong
Pyg: The Memoirs of Toby, the Learned Pig by Russell Potter
The Iron Thorn by Caitlin Kittredge
Angelology by Danielle Trussoni

BOOKS READ: 6
BOOKS BOUGHT: 0
BOOKS ACQUIRED: 1
BOOKS DEACCESSIONED: 0

DAYS REMAINING: 342
BOOKS REMAINING: 69
DAYS PER BOOK: 4.96

(Hermit days in the past week: 5)

Nice new thread, and nice intro pic!

*giggles intensely at the opening pic* Thanks, Nora. That made my day.

I agree that Canada certainly seems to have a disproportionate share of all the best things. The snow, they can keep, but it would be right neighborly to send some of the hotties down south for a visit. :)

Eww, snow.

Yum, DT.

That is all.

Now, Nora, you can't have a new thread without a picture of THE hot Canadian.

Without further ado:



Look! He got all dressed up for the occasion!

I'm going to pretend The Gosling is looking up fondly at David Tennant, and thinking Bad Thoughts.

Paws, you know Ryan took out a restraining order on you, right? Just sayin'! Be careful out there!

Just dashing through to get caught up, dont mind me.

No one has done any such thing. I just thought Nora needed some decorations on her shiny thread.

10: Amen! The opening pic is awesomesauce, BTW.

Just passing through for a dose of Canadiana, if you know what I mean... but I'll settle for the gent in the first pic, thank you very much. :D

*waving* at Nora - before I become hopelessly behind on your threads once again

Hi Paws, Micky, Julia, Leah, Kathy, Laura, Faith and Stasia! Please help yourself to some tea while the cookies are baking.

mmmmm, cookies.

I'm making the Nutella peanut butter cookies that Chelle posted on Stephen's thread yesterday. Only without chocolate chips. Because I was too lazy to go to the store.

Ermergersh!!! Those look delicious! Are they?

Yum! (Also, I like your teapot.)

Yes, very nice teapot.
And thanks for the biscuits.

I'm just going to leave your thread open on my laptop and drool all day. David is my favorite. Ever.

>20 UnrulySun: Yep! I had to eat some of the less Nutella-y ones. Quality control, you know.

>21 LauraBrook:, 22 Thanks! It whistles, which makes me happy.

>23 scaifea: Indeed.

__________________________________

Well, we've got about half an inch of snow on the ground this morning. DEFINITELY better than nothing, but I still want more!

Again, I invite you to my neck of woods if you want snow. We got a bunch yesterday.

Oh those cookies look dangerously tasty.

I've tried to blow some of our snow across the sea to you, Nora, but apparently my lungs don't have enough capacity for any major snowfall.

As comfort for there being too little snow for your liking, here's a plush TARDIS to cuddle up with:

It's a talking TARDIS!!!

Thanks for the snow, Micky and Paws! And thanks for the TARDIS Paws!

____________________________________

Well. I decided I was going to be responsible after work today and put my clean dishes away instead of leaving them in the dishwasher until the sink is fully of dirties like I usually do.

As I was putting a mug on a shelf, one of the brackets holding the shelf up broke, and the entire shelf fell to the counter, shattering all of my wine glasses, mugs, and bowls. While I was standing about 2 feet in front of it.

I didn't get hurt at all, but I get to deal with the management office and the renter's insurance company all evening. And without even wine or tea or soup to console me.

Son of a bitch.

Just drink straight from the wine bottle.

I find that not only is gulping straight from the bottle effective, somehow it makes things better faster. I think it's the desperation. I did it last week because pour the wine in the glass and drinking from the glass while mostly reclined in bed was too difficult.

ETA: Bravo on the renter's insurance. I never had it but sure could have used it a couple of times.

I'm Paul now? ;)

I agree with Laura and Leah - drink from the bottle. Perhaps drink the whole bottle.

Oh DEFINITELY drink the whole bottle. You deserve it.

>30 LauraBrook:-33 That's why I love you guys.

>31 leahbird: Unfortunately the deductible for my renter's insurance is $250, which is far more than one shelf-worth of IKEAware. I'm going to send pictures to the management office and they are sending up an engineer to fix it up and then they will decide if I should submit to the insurance company or what.

>32 PawsforThought: Aaah! I swear I saw his username there a minute ago! Sorry . . .

_______________________________________________

My GIGANTIC mug that holds half a pot of tea survived, as it is sitting dirty in the living room. I'm currently drinking wine out of a plastic juice glass. So I'm okay.

*tips Nora's cup a little further back...*
Drink up now!

Aw, that sucks. Shelf collapse -- yet another thing that one can't anticipate. But renter's insurance is very wise... and we're glad you weren't injured.

Also, there are always Canadian hotties to comfort you. :)

Thanks everyone! I remained pretty frazzled for the rest of the night. I'm still astounded that I didn't get a scratch. There is glass EVERYWHERE in my kitchen. I ordered a pizza and watched TV/read for the rest of the night. I'm going to go ahead and count yesterday as a non-hermit day, though. I did chat with the engineer, after all.

After receiving the photographs I took, and hearing the opinion of the engineer ("Those plastic shelf brackets are shit."), the management decided that it would not be fair for me to have to pay the $250 deductible to the insurance company. So they told me they will deduct from my rent up to $125 if I bring them receipts for replacement items. Looks like I'm going back to IKEA soon.

YAY! That's a decent thing for the management to do. Most management companies I ever dealt with were decidedly less than decent about stuff like that.

That is a very decent thing for the management company to do! I'm so happy when I hear about people and companies doing the right thing. I can't even get my landlord to admit that snow plowing and de-icing the parking lot and sidewalks is a legitimate business expense for him. In Iowa. In the winter. Sigh.

Yay for nice things happening after the glassware massacre of 2013!

37. That's great, Nora. Nice that you won't have to fork out the money for the glassware (or at least not all of it. Good to know there are decent people in management.

I know how scary it is to have shelves of glass crashing down around/over you as I've been through a similar incident (though in my case it was bottles of wine).
I'm glad you didn't get hurt.

Thanks Leah, Julia, Micky, and Paws!

Tonight I went out with 2 of my friends to see Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters. It was delightfully cheesy. And it got me out of the house!! Hooray!!

Sorry to learn about the 'shelf malfunction' and the ensuing broken glassware, Nora. Glad to learn you were not hurt and nice to see the management for where you live were reasonable to deal with over the situation. Nice solution.

To help perk up your weekend, I thought I would decorate your thread with a pic.... I can't remember if Adam has made an appearance on one of your threads yet:



Apparently, he has a Master's degree in Marine Biology.

Can't send any snow your way.... we haven't had any yet this winter. *sniffles*

I just read about the disaster, Nora. I'm glad you're ok! And it sounds like your landlord is being really nice about it, which is great.

You are lucky to have such a nice landlord. Sorry to hear about the dish disaster.

37: There is glass EVERYWHERE in my kitchen.
Well, it's a good thing you don't have cats... I guess it'll be awhile before you wander around the apartment in bare feed.

>43 lkernagh: Oh la la! Thanks Lori!

>44 bluesalamanders:, 45 Thanks Blue and Morphy!! Things definitely could have gone much worse, it's true.

>46 qebo: I managed to get most of it cleaned up yesterday. I still have some parts of the counter to go over, but the floor is as clean as it's going to get. I am keeping a pair of shoes by the kitchen though, so I don't forget and go barefoot.

Book #7: Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger - The first book in the new series by the author of Soulless. It takes place in the same world as the Parasol Protectorate, but 22 years earlier.

Sophronia Temminick is definitely not a lady. She likes to run around and get dirty and break things and generally get into trouble. So her mother sends her to finishing school. Upon reaching the very odd finishing school (which floats in the sky over the moors and must be reached by riding on the back of a werewolf), Sophronia quickly realizes that there's more than one kind of finishing going on. She has classes in dance and deception, modern language and weaponry, music and intelligence-gathering.

The supernaturals are just side-notes in this book, but there's way more steampunk and that makes up for it. It's totally engrossing and the world-building is great. I loved all of the characters and I can't wait for the next book!

Book #8: Mississippi Jack: Being an Account of the Further Waterborne Adventures of Jacky Faber, Midshipman, Fine Lady, and Lily of the West by L. A. Meyer, read by Katherine Kellgren - Audiobook from the library - When we last left Jacky, she had led her kidnapped classmates to safety and sunk the dread slaver Bloodhound. Upon arriving in Boston harbor, she is immediately captured by British sailors who are after the bounty that is still on her head. The quick thinking of her loyal friends gets her free, but now she must go on the lam, lest she be captured again.

Accompanied only by her trusty valet Higgins and her trusting second mate Jim, Jacky disappears (well, as close to "disappearing" as Jacky can ever get) into the wilds of 1806 America. Her plan is to acquire a ship (of course! Where would Jacky be without a ship??) and sail down the Allegheny River to the Ohio River, down the Ohio to the Mississippi River, and down the Mississippi to the great city of New Orleans. She gets there, of course, but not without a million adventures along the way.

Ah, Jacky. I fall more and more in love with her in every book. This is definitely the least realistic of the books so far, but who cares??



Currently reading:
John Dies at the End by David Wong
Why Evolution is True by Jerry Coyne (library)
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

Currently listening to:
My Bonny Light Horseman: Being an Account of the Further Adventures of Jacky Faber, in Love and War by L. A. Meyer (2%)

Coming soon:
Pyg: The Memoirs of Toby, the Learned Pig by Russell Potter
The Iron Thorn by Caitlin Kittredge
Angelology by Danielle Trussoni

BOOKS READ: 8
BOOKS BOUGHT: 0
BOOKS ACQUIRED: 1
BOOKS DEACCESSIONED: 0

DAYS REMAINING: 338
BOOKS REMAINING: 67
DAYS PER BOOK: 5.04

(Hermit days in the past week: 1)

I'm making chili! I totally fudged a recipe so keep your fingers crossed for me.

Beautiful thing about chili... it often reacts well to mistakes. :)

Hope you enjoy.

Thanks Sarah! Here's the chili at 2.5 hours (out of 7)

I'll take a bowl whenever it's done, if you don't mind!

Looking good! It looks quite similar to my own chili.

MMM, that looks just about right I'd say!

I see you're reading John Dies at the End. I finally ordered myself a copy of it because I couldn't stand it any more! I'd been wanting to read it for a long time and then I noticed there's a movie too. So I figured it was time. :) I'm sure I won't get to it very soon though, but I'll be watching for your review.

Hi there, nora :)

I was directed here by someone who said we share a lot of books in our library... and who do I find but David Tennant at the top of your latest thread. Huzzah - we must be kindred souls to at least some extent!

I'm so sorry to hear about your shelf explosion crisis. That must've been harrowing to deal with. And to think, you were only trying to keep up with housework. It just goes to show that sometimes, the upkeep just isn't worth it.

At least you have an alternate wine-holding device!

-Esquiress/ kcrisell

#48: A new series by Gail Carriger? I am in! Thanks for letting me know about it, Nora.

>55 Esquiress: Hi Esquiress! Welcome!

>56 alcottacre: You'll love it, Stasia! It's YA but it retains Carriger's sense of humor and absurdity. The first book is going to be available in early February (the 5th?)

______________________________________________

Holy crap! Did anyone else just watch Downton Abbey??!?!?

Nora, I'm just speechless about DA. In total shock. Disgusted really. I don't know what to do with myself.

I know he's not Canadian, but this picture needs to be seen:

I skipped your E&E review because I'm already reading it myself, but hopefully I'll remember to go back to it later.

Whoops, I skipped some people. Here's the finished chili, to make up for it:


Looks pretty much just like it did at 2.5 hours. Smells better though.


bowl, with rice

>52 LauraBrook: ^that bowl's for you.

>53 thornton37814: It's pretty much the laziest chili ever. Meat, beans, tomatoes, onion, garlic, Penzey's Chili 3000 spice mix. That's all.

>54 UnrulySun: It's pretty good. I'm on page 60ish, I think. It's not the usual type of thing I'd read but I'm finding it refreshing.

>60 _Zoe_: Eh. My review isn't particularly insightful. It's also guaranteed 100% spoiler-free, if you want to read it now.

Mmmm, thanks, it hit the spot!

#59 by @norabelle414> ohhhhhhhh, I just... I can't....

I know! Who else in the world could pull off a BROWN VELVET SUIT?!?! And look at his hair! How does he get it to look so good??

Looking forward to getting my hands on that Carriger book. :)

hair............... It's just glorious. And those brow ridges. And those freckles.

STOP IT! I've got to get it together.

64. How? By being divine.
Also - wonderful freckles.

>66 leahbird: He can build my cathedral anytime!

I got a picture dedicated to me?! And it's David being dirty?! *intense fangirl squealing*

Nora, you are the best! *tackles with a hug*

Ooooh, Nutella cookies and chili! *attempts to consume computer screen*

>65 MickyFine: Micky: It is good. She's so good at world-building and writing characters. I think she knows it, too, because she's planning on writing all of her books in short series. She gets to start over every 4 or 5 books! What a great idea.

>66 leahbird:, 67 Leah, Paws: I want to have his freckledy British babies.

>69 ErisofDiscord: Eris! You're back! I've missed you!

_________________________________

My best friend from college wants to rekindle our two-person book club that we attempted right after we graduated in 2010. Here's hoping it goes better than the first time.

Our first book will be Paper Towns by John Green, which I picked up from the library yesterday.
I've renewed all my other library books that I haven't finished yet (Pyg, Why Evolution is True, and John Dies at the End) because I have not yet resigned myself to returning a book to the library unread.

I prefer short series to OMG we're on the 20th something book will it never end?

>71 Morphidae: Carriger said in an interview I read recently that she is "one of those readers that publishers hate" because she won't start reading a series until it is totally finished. So she writes that way too. I like the way that she is keeping the world that she's built, but expanding it by writing new series in the same world. There are 3 or so characters that appear in both the Parasol Protectorate and Finishing School series, but you don't have to know that AT ALL to understand or appreciate Etiquette & Espionage.

I'm only 50ish pages into Soulless but I'm loving it so far! :)

>73 LauraBrook: Hooray! The only thing I wish I had known while reading the Parasol Protectorate series is that each book in the series is an homage to a different genre of the Victorian Era. So while the first book is decidedly a romance, the following books are not. But they're all great!

> 70

Paper Towns?! I adore John Green and his books! Good choice for renewing that little book club of yours!

74: Good info to know - thanks!

Nora, I didn't realize that about the Parasol Protectorate. So what were the other genres? Is there somewhere she talks about that, I could go read?

I got it from a Q&A she did with io9.com a couple weeks ago: http://io9.com/5975327

Here's what she says about what genre each book is (it's like 3/4 down the page)

"They are all parodies: Soulless = Victorian romance (ah la Gaskell); Changeless = classic Gothic (a la Walpole); Blameless = Boy's Adventure (a la Haggard); Heartless = Cozy (a la Doyle); and Timeless = fictionalized travel (a la Kipling)."

Paper Towns is an excellent choice for your book club of two. Hope you guys have a great discussion. :)

*Sigh* The library and I are a dangerous combination. I got an email today that Looking for Alaska is ready for me to pick up. I didn't even remember that I was on the waiting list for that. And there is a decent length waiting list so I can't renew.

On the other hand, I've been on the waiting list for Warm Bodies for two months. And I'm still #4. And they only have 3 copies.

>79 MickyFine: I am looking forward to reading it, but my friend wants us to pace ourselves at 40 pages per week. That's just unbearably slow. And it's the reason that our group didn't really work out last time.

How long is the loan period from your library? Because I know from experience Looking for Alaska is on the shorter side and is a super quick read.

Why do you guys have to read at the same pace? Are you meeting every week to discuss it as you go? I understand you're chafing with that limit, as I tend to read about 50 pages a day (dependent on density of text, font size, book size, etc.).

>81 MickyFine: the loan period is 3 weeks. Maybe I will put my other books aside and zip through that one this weekend.

Well she lives in SC so it is a virtual book club through Facebook. That way we don't have to actually be in the same place at the same time, we just leave messages for each other. We don't usually end up talking about the books much (besides "it was good" or "it was boring" or "I liked this character"). So we just check in with each other once a week to see what we're thinking about it. If we just had an ending point, like "finish in a month", I would read the whole thing in a week and then forget what happened or spoil something for her, and she would wait until the last minute and then not finish it in time.

Wow, that sounds... not so fun. Hopefully you can fudge it a little and read faster. Maybe make some notes on what happens every 40 pages? Or encourage her to read faster!

But at least it's an excuse to chat with your friend at least once a week, and that's a good thing. :)

> 80
Looking for Alaska is fantastic. It won't take you long at all, and it's beautiful.

Well my friend and I are going to discuss the first 40 pages on Monday, which is do-able. Any by that I mean I read the first 40 pages yesterday, but at least I only have to wait 3 days to talk about it. I'll ask her on Monday how much she thinks she'll be able to read next week and maybe we can read more.

Meanwhile, I'm on page 60 of Looking For Alaska.

_____________________________________

Some random, non-book-related thoughts:

New Girl: Oh man, this week's episode was amazing. Winston was great. Schmidt and Cece were great. Nick and Jess were . . . ahem. I can't wait until the episode is posted online so I can watch it again. Especially . . . certain parts.

The Office: I totally get that there are like 3 episodes left in the series, ever, and so there are no rules anymore. But this thing with Pam and the camera guy is just weird.

Did anyone else know that Martha Jones from Doctor Who is on The Carrie Diaries?? I don't have much interest in watching that show . . . . but, MARTHA! So maybe I will.

Nicholas Hoult is really attractive.

Yes, New Girl was kick ass. My sister and I love it. We want to live in that apartment with those weirdos.

What is the deal with their bathroom though? It's a weird bathroom.

True. I think I'm immune to weird bathrooms because I've never lived anywhere (except my parents' house) that had a normal bathroom...

OMG, just watched New Girl, I was laughing so damn hard! Do you guys want to play Real American with me some time?

Yes! I want to play so badly.

This is what I picture when I think of Nich Hoult:



But on searching for a picture of him, I found this one: o.O



**********
It's funny-- I like new Girl and I watch it irregularly. But I had the latest episode recorded and watched the first ~25 minutes of the half-hour. I didn't see the good part until MUCH later! I nearly deleted it without checking to see if I'd finished it!

>85 norabelle414:.
What do you think of Looking for Alaska so far?

Ugh sorry about your kitchen disaster! Nice of your management company to be decent like that though!

Yumm to your cookie pictures! Nate loves that recipe. I should make it again sometime soon (or maybe after we lose our vacation weight!)

I can't see Nic Hoult without thinking of this:



or, you know, this...

94. Same here.

Skins! You know they're making a new season right? Apparently Effie is still making appearances.

The originals were the only ones I cared about. Great show.

Yeah, I stopped watching after season 2. And no way in hell was I going to watch the US version.

Leah, Laura, Kathy: I found the good part on YouTube, for your viewing and re-viewing pleasure: http://youtu.be/kY8WimVNHfw

>92 Esquiress: Paws: it is good so far. But I'm not very far in yet, so we'll see. I almost always like boarding school stories though, so it has promise!

>93 ChelleBearss: Chelle: Thank YOU for the recipe!

>94 leahbird:-97 I haven't seen Skins yet! But it is in my queue.

The US version SUCKED. I watched half an episode and nearly barfed, it was that bad.

Couldn't get into anything past season 2 either, but I peeked at it a few times to give it a try. Meh. I'll probably give the new one a try at least once, if it's available to the US market.

And speaking of sucks, Nora, thanks for the scene. :) He makes a lot of sucky noises,which I think must have been added in post-production but it was kind of weird. If you watch with the sound off though-- epic!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE her face afterwards. Cause it's the exact face you make after something like that. It's perfect.

The BEST part of the episode, though, the part my sister and I have been cracking up about ever since, is when Schmidt sees Nick on the window ledge! His face is HILARIOUS! And then he faints. It was just perfection!

My favorite part is when she calls Sam to come rescue her and he's like "what's going on here?" and then he just grabs a beer and joins the mob.

Besides the Schmidt/Cece moment, when she ruins her date so that he can get laid.

Cece is my favorite character.

I just wish Nick wasn't so... depressing. He's a bit weasly and prickly. I guess that's part of his appeal to some women, but I can't get into him. I like Winston more.

All I could think of in the second picture is... why does she have four arms? What movie is that from?

105. It's not a movie. It's from the TV series Skins (the UK version). Nick Hoult played one of the major characters in the first two seasons.

>105 Morphidae: It confused me too. I think she is lying under a comforter that has a picture of a body on it.

107: Yep, Nicholas and his best friend (male) are laying under the cover that has a picture of a naked couple on it. Not that I've watched all 4 seasons of Skins or anything *coughItotallyhavecough*

107 & 105. That is a printed duvet cover. The people lying underneath it is "Tony" (Nick Hoult) and his best friend "Sid" - both guys.

108. You do know that there are 6 (SIX) season of Skins, right?

109: Yeah, I thought I'd heard that, but Netflix doesn't have them on disk yet and I'm too much of an old (and broke) lady to have anything that streams it onto my TV, so I've gotta wait. Which isn't too bad, considering all of the TV that I'd really like to see - Skins 5 & 6 can cool their heels. :) Thanks for reminding me to check again, though! Paws, have you seen them all?

>110 LauraBrook: Depending on how far your computer is from your TV, you can just buy an AV cable to use the TV as a second monitor. I got mine for $12 and it is the best money I ever spent.

110. No, I only watched the first two seasons and a few episodes of season 6.

111: It's at least 20 feet, I'm guessing it'd be a bit more than $12 for a cable. Thanks for letting me know that that's a possibility, though, I'll have to investigate!

112: How was 6? You get so used to the characters, I'm wondering who that cast was. I didn't think I'd like Effie that much after the first 2 seasons, but she grew on me.

113. It was alright. I wasn't invested in the characters as I'd never seen their earlier episodes but I liked what I saw. Poor Alo (or "Beaker", as I thought of him) was quite sweet.

My two-person-book-club buddy texted me yesterday night to say she was done with our section, and so we discussed the first three chapters of Paper Towns yesterday instead of today. It was a great discussion, partly due to the fact that we video chatted this time instead of just leaving Facebook messages. Now we're scheduled to read through the end of Part 1 by Thursday. So, all my worries about the book group are eased. I'm so happy. I do love her so.

_________________________________________

Book #9: Looking for Alaska by John Green - I wasn't terribly thrilled with this book, but the author definitely has potential. It's just a coincidence that I have a serious disdain for underage drinking and adults that condone it, and that happens to be what this book is all about.

Alaska herself is a caricature (a Manic Pixie Dream Girl, to be exact), and I saw her fate coming from the moment Miles met her. But I liked many of the other characters, and I liked the writing style a LOT. So I'll continue with this author.



Currently reading:
Paper Towns by John Green (library)
John Dies at the End by David Wong (library)
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

Currently listening to:
My Bonny Light Horseman: Being an Account of the Further Adventures of Jacky Faber, in Love and War by L. A. Meyer (20%)
The Ghost Map: The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic--and How It Changed Science, Cities, and the Modern World by Stephen Johnson (15%)

Coming soon:
The Iron Thorn by Caitlin Kittredge
Angelology by Danielle Trussoni

BOOKS READ: 9
BOOKS BOUGHT: 0
BOOKS ACQUIRED: 1
BOOKS DEACCESSIONED: 0

DAYS REMAINING: 330
BOOKS REMAINING: 66
DAYS PER BOOK: 5.00

(Hermit days in the past week: 0)

I had my first hermit day in over a week yesterday! I'm finally getting out of the slump that started when I was sick. I finished season 4 (as far as Netflix goes) of Mad Men, so now I'm watching Robin Hood.

>115 norabelle414: Yay for all the good news! Glad you've discovered a love for John Green. I highly recommend trying out Vlogbrothers as well, if you haven't already.

>116 norabelle414: Yay for hermiting! I am more than willing to chat with you about Robin Hood as you go along as I just finished watching it. :)

...now I'm watching Robin Hood.

And enjoying the eye candy, I presume.

>117 MickyFine: I think I'm going to get a few more of his books read before I start looking at his other media, so I don't get anything accidentally spoiled.

>117 MickyFine:, 118 So far, Robin Hood is just deliciously campy. In episode 3 I noted 1) Robin Hood was wearing skinny jeans and a black leather studded belt that I totally own too, 2) the sheriff was wearing a tee shirt, 3) some random guy was wearing a hoodie, with drawstring and gromets and everything, and 4) someone (i forget who) was wearing a motorcycle jacket.

>119 norabelle414: Yay! Just wait until you see some of Marian's costumes. :)

Isn't it great? So ridiculous and swoony and swashbuckley and campy. I should really watch it again, since I haven't since it aired on BBCAmerica a few years ago.

I went to the library after work today to drop off Looking for Alaska, and while I was there I checked the hold shelf and there was nothing. Then, at 9pm tonight, I got an email saying that I have THREE books to pick up. THREE! Last time I checked (YESTERDAY), I was hold number ELEVEN for one of the books, and number two for the other. I'm not sure what's going on there. But I'll be stopping by the library tomorrow after work too.

On a related note, I'm now the Foursquare mayor of my library.

>117 MickyFine:: So you're a nerdfighter too? I figured there would be a ton of them on here. You're in good company!

*Flashes DFTBA/ nerdfighter hand sign*

122. You're the what?

>124 PawsforThought: Foursquare is a website/smartphone app which lets you "check in" at the places you go (restaurants, stores, libraries, bars, etc). You get points for your check-ins, and you can earn badges (for example, I have a badge for having checked in at at least 10 different bookstores).

Whoever checks in at a place most frequently is crowned "the mayor" of that place. I'm the mayor of a Middle Eastern restaurant near my office, the store my best friend owns, and now the library.

125. Aha. I never allow my phone to check me in anywhere. Don't like the feeling of being folllowed around.

>126 PawsforThought: Well, it's all voluntary. It won't check me in unless I specifically tell it to, and I tell it who else gets to know that information. At most, it shares with my foursquare friends and a select group of facebook friends. Sometimes/places I check in "privately" which means that no one can see it but me. A lot of times I'll check in someplace as I'm leaving. So it's all about how you use it, whether you feel stalked or not.

I like it because it helps me keep track of my non-hermit days. And sometimes I get coupons to places for checking in there often.

127. I don't even have club memberships. Don't care how many percent off they'll give me for joining - I'm not doing it. I do not want my private information and shopping habits stored and used by more companies than needed. There are exactly two companies that have that sort of info on me: VISA and Amazon.

>128 PawsforThought: I loooooove loyalty cards and programs. And I love targeted advertising. I'm going to see advertisements anyway, why not see ads for things I like?? As long as I'm aware and in charge of who gets my information and what information they get, I'm totally in favor. My grocery store, for example, gives me deals on things that I normally buy. I get the regular sale prices, but then there are some deals which are only good for me, when I use my card. How great is that?

Amazon, however, is on my list of companies I really don't want to give my information to. I don't trust them one bit.

_______________________________

I'm torn on whether I want to go to the library today, or later this week. Decisions, decisions.

I'm not sure how things work in Sweden, but I would guess you are being a little bit naive to think only Visa and Amazon have private info about you. If one company has it, they will sell it to others in the blink of an eye. Which is not to say we shouldn't care about our privacy, but we should be realistic about just how much information we've already given away without even realizing it.

Nora, I've never done the Foursquare thing, but mostly because I really am a hermit. :-) I love that you are Mayor of the Library!

I want to be Mayor of my library!

I don't use Foursquare but I do sometimes remember to check-in on Facebook. I mostly do it as an in-your-face to my friends who are always posting pictures of their children and supposedly cute stories about them that I just find kind of boring. I consider my check-ins at restaurants and entertainment establishments as my declaration of the superiority of not having children and the time and money I get to keep for myself :) My husband thinks I'm being juvenile, but what does he know?
.
.
.
.
Ok, maybe it's a bit juvenile...

>131 katiekrug: Amen! I (used to) do that with posting LibraryThing stuff to Facebook.
Oh? What's that? You spent 4 hours playing Bejeweled on Facebook today? Well I read and reviewed three books this week, bitches!

129. I have no problem with loyalty cards if they're the kind that you get a stamp on and put in your wallet. If it's electronic - no thanks.
Most people I know have the same thoughts as you when it comes to targeted advertising but I can't stand it. I've made enough calculations to realise that the difference in price is negligible and I can save more money by just planning my shopping well.
I buy a lot from Amazon so can't really help but give them my information and since they know my taste in music, movies, books, etc. I figured I'd keep it in one place.

130. There are rules about how and when you are allowed to sell information about your customers. If a company sells on information about you without your knowledge they're breaking the law (that's not just Sweden, there are versions of the same law at least throughout the EU). I'm not naïve enough to think that those are the only two companies that know things about me (obviously my internet provider, local pharmacy, mobile phone network, etc. have tons of info too) but those are the two major shopping "channels" for me.

>123 Esquiress: Sure am. :D

*waves at Nora*

Hiiiiiiii Micky! I got this for you:

^^^ That picture is very oddly photoshopped. He's a beautiful man though. :D

As for the info floating about in cyberspace... it's everywhere. Just you being on your computer or cell phone sends tons of information to tons of people every day. Maybe not your bank acct or CC or ID numbers, but plenty for them to find and target you with ads. The creep factor for me, with checking in, is that people will know where I am right then. Not that I'm FB friends with anyone who'd like to kidnap me or rob my house, but the thought does cross my mind.

>136 UnrulySun: Yeah I do sometimes feel like I don't want people to know where I am right then. That's why I usually check in places as I'm leaving/after I've left. I also only check in privately at home or work.

I'll check in privately to get on-the-spot discounts. Or delete/hide stuff from my timeline. to get freebies.

But I don't actually do a lot of checking-in, or posting of any sort. About 90% of my FBing is in a private group. So, FB has my info but not the general public (or even my other friends).

I might FourSquare if I was with the times and had a phone that could do that. I'm lucky when I can send a text with my phone. Forget anything "fancy" like taking or viewing a picture. Sheesh!

ETA: If it DID have FourSquare, I'd totally be the mayor of the feed store. I bet NO ONE else that goes there as much as me even knows that's a thing.

>139 leahbird: I bet NO ONE else that goes there as much as me even knows that's a thing.
That's totally how I got to be mayor of the Middle Eastern restaurant by my office. I've only been there three times.

But Middle Eastern food is SO yummy!

In somewhat related news, have you been the the Ethiopian place in Adams Morgan? I ate there years ago (when I was in DC to meet with the Archbishop of Uganda, one of my professional highlights) and it was outstanding.

ETA: Apparently it's called Meskerem.

Unfortunately I don't like Ethiopian food. *sigh* I wish I did . . .

Also I don't get to Adams Morgan much because it is not very Metro-friendly.

My husband is the mayor of a house belonging to a friend of ours :) The residents themselves don't use FourSquare!

136, 137, 138. I just don't feel like feeding companies with informatio if I don't have to. It's bad enough as it is.
I do ALL of my FBing in private groups. Wouldn't even think of putting anything up publically there. I have the highest possible security settings on there. And keep my friends list very short (only actual friends and family members.

On anoter note... I do like a lot of Middle Eastern food, but so much of it has either chick peas or aubergines in it - neither of which I can stomach to eat. Sigh. Love the spices, though.

>144 PawsforThought: Chick peas are delicious (hummus is my favorite food!) but aubergines are GROSS. My mom is allergic, so I use the possibility that I might be allergic to them as an excuse to not ever ever eat them :-)

______________________________________

I got a ton of work done yesterday, including some that has been sitting around (not urgent work, just some filing) for a month or so. After work I rewarded myself with cracking open a GIGANTIC beer that I got for Christmas, and having sushi for dinner. I caught up on some TV that I've missed earlier in the week (The Daily Show & The Colbert Report), and then watched Arrow (too many shirts in this episode), Modern Family (was that kid really singing Phantom of the Opera??), and Suburgatory (Dalia in her new school was really the highlight). And then I read some of John Dies at the End and listened to some of The Ghost Map and then went to sleep.

Today I'm at work and totally bored because I got so much work done this week. Argh.

After work I'm going to the library to pick up my holds, and then doing a Google Hangout with my book club friend.

I wouldn't be surprised if Nolan Gould (aka Luke) was really singing that. The kid is a genius. Like an actual genius. He has an IQ of 150, is a Mensa member, and graduated HS at 13.

PS: I'm in the same boat at work. Rushed like crazy to get stuff done on Monday since I was going to be traveling all day Tuesday and now I'm bored too. Naturally, it won't be long before I'm underwater again. I like having breathing time, but twiddling ones' thumbs gets old. And of course no one is on LT on the days I need entertaining...

I knew that the kid who plays Manny is very precocious, but I did not know that about Luke. He hides it well ;-)

Yep!

145. No, they're not. They're horrendous. Being force-fed hummus is my version of hell

>135 norabelle414: Thanks, Nora! I do like looking at him. And pictures are best in his case because his voice does not match his face. :(

Sympathies on being bored at work. In my case, I have big projects to work on but I'm bored of them and want to do something else but don't have much else to do. On bright side, I get to go to a conference tomorrow so I don't have to do anything productive. :)

I went to the library todaaayyyYY!

I now have Warm Bodies, The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making, and Mr. Penumbra's 24-hour Book Store in my stack.

Awesome! They're all on my TBR list, and I can hardly wait to see what you think of them!

Have you not read The Girl Who... yet?!? Oh my, you are in for such a treat!

Oh good library choices! I would like to read The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making and Mr. Penumbra's 24-hour Book Store so I'll keep an eye out for your thoughts on them!

>155 ChelleBearss:: Ditto on wanting to hear your thoughts on Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Book Store. I caught that bullet from... Mark, I think?

>152 norabelle414: Yay for library visits. I highly endorse your reading of The Girl Who (this title is extraordinarily long). I'll be picking up the sequel right after I finish the book I picked up at the library today... The Well of Lost Plots. :)

>153 LauraBrook:-157 I'm excited too! I'm going to read them in the following order: Mr. Penumbra - Warm Bodies - The Girl Who, due to the first two having long wait lists.

>157 MickyFine: Micky, hooray! You're one book closer to my favorite: Something Rotten. You'll never guess who shows up in that one ;-)

__________________________________

Book club was cancelled yesterday due to Carolyn having to work late. We're going to do Saturday instead.

I went to the library to pick up my books and defend my Mayorship. The cute guy hasn't been there (that I could see) in a couple weeks, which is sad.

Then I went home, caught up on TV I'd missed from the previous day (Daily Show/Colbert Report), an episode and a half of Robin Hood, and then NBC's Thursday night comedies.
Community was just okay but I'm SO EXCITED that it is back.
Parks & Rec was really good. I love the way that April's character is evolving.
The Office was good, but it should have been REALLY good. SPOILER: The Kiss between Erin and Pete could have been awesommeeeee but it was just meh. Apparently Fox is the only network that knows how to direct a good kiss anymore . . .

And then I read some of John Dies at the End, and some of Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Book Store, and then I went to sleep.

I wasn't super thrilled with Community either but IT'S FINALLY BACK so I don't care. I love that show. And it's been a ridiculous wait. Like a freaking BBC wait. How dare they!

>159 leahbird: It's effing NBC's fault. October 19th. They PROMISED. And getting rid of Dan Harmon??? WTF??

I want to start a network that consists only of brilliant shows that were canceled because Network Stooges didn't get it and new shows that no other channel would pick up. It'll be Firefly and Community and Pushing Daisies like all day long! Who's with me! Who has billions of dollars to make it work?!?

Me me! With you, I mean. Not the billions of dollars part.

Add "Better off Ted" to that list, and "Dead Like Me", and "Heroes", and "Eureka", and "Stargate Universe"

We'll call it the Nonconformist Awesomeness Network. It will be legendary.

161-163. I haven't watched any of the shows mentioned so far except Heroes but I'm definitely in, though I have absolutely no billions of dollars.

But if there's no My So-Called Life, then I'm out.

NAN! Yeah!

My So-Called Life
Terra Nova
Being Human (UK)

I thought of another one a few minutes ago while I was in the bathroom but now I can't remember :-(

I'm loving the sounds of this TV network. I'm in :) I just don't have cable... nor billions of dollars!

I just got Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Book Store, too. I should be reading it in the next week or so.

165. I thought I was the only one who liked Terra Nova! It wasn't brilliant but it was fun. Primeval-fun.

Also, I'd like some Veronica Mars, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip and Political Animals.

Count me in! I'd also like to add

Don't Trust the B--- in Apt. 23
Kitchen Confidential (the series with Bradley Cooper)
Andy Barker, P.I.
Men In Trees

and BBC stuff

Black Books (more! more lollies!)
Green Wing
Love Soup
Hex (but only if it's more like season 1 than 2)
The Book Group
Lark Rise to Candleford
The Vicar of Dibley (again, more like season 2 and 3)

I'm sure I'll think of more. Did someone mention Arrested Development? I know it's "coming back" on Netflix, but still...

Awwww, I ♥ Lark Rise. And Cranford, and all those type shows.

Add "Better off Ted" to that list, and "Dead Like Me", and "Heroes", and "Eureka", and "Stargate Universe" Yes, yes, yes, yes, eh.

I just want all the prematurely cancelled shows to come back. :(

169. Yes to Black Books. Yes to Hex (though I preferred season 2, since that's when Leon became fun). Oh, how I miss those shows.

170: Me too

171: I know, Leon was fun in season 2, but whatsherface who became the main character seemed to only have 2 facial expressions, though she did do a good job. Plus, I could always use more Fassbender in my life. :) I wonder if Christina Cole wanted to leave the show so they kind of got rid of her. I've seen her in quite a few other things (including Lost in Austen, which paired her back with Jemima Rooper from Hex), so I know she's still around. At least she didn't pull a Marian from BBC's Robin Hood - she wanted to act in films since she was getting press exposure and now what has anyone seen her in? Um, yeah, that would be NOTHING. (At least this American hasn't seen her in diddley since she made that bad career call.)

172. This European can't recall seeing her in anything either so...
I think CC did want to leave - I find it hard to believe they'd get rid of her and replace her the way they did otherwise. Seems weird. But I did love Laura Pyper as Ella Dee.

>172 LauraBrook: She hasn't been in any movies where she has a name. However, she is currently on True Blood, where she has a first AND last name. It's not a movie, but it is big shit as far as TV shows go.

Well. My plans for the evening fell through so it looks like I'm hanging out with you ladies tonight. And it will be a long night, because I took a nap so that I could keep up with my friend tonight.

_____________________________

>167 Morphidae: Morphy, Hooray!

>168 PawsforThought:, 169 Paws, Laura, all approved.

Since you watch Colbert, did you see his thing about the odious excuse for a human being State Senator from my fair state, Stacey Campfield? I just watched it online. Campfield is a giant shit but Colbert made his continuing existence almost bearable. Almost.

Watching it now. "The biggest bullies out there are the homosexual community"

Oh lordy. I'm so glad I'm out of the South. I wasn't even a voter or official resident of South Carolina and I still got stressed out by the politics.

177. I get stressed out by the politics and I don't even live on the same continent. It's just beyond me how people can think like that.

Stacey Campfield is an insane, deluded bigot who has been basically banned from or refused service at many businesses in the district he "represents" (I use the term VERY loosely). Other than needing to get the word out about how terrible he is and how he should NEVER be reelected, I wish we could stop talking about him. He's just a child who is basking in the attention, even if it's negative.

>158 norabelle414: Umm, I'm going with Oberon. ;) My initial plan was to really space out all of the Fforde's but I have a sneaking suspicion I may get entirely caught up this year.

Nora, I think it was you sometime last year that had the great links to bento boxes? Or was it Leah? I'm searching for them and can't find it.

I think we both had some. Are you looking for the actual boxes or ideas for things to go IN the boxes?

Try Nora's thread about here or mine about here.

The boxes. Thanks!

>183 UnrulySun: I've had good luck finding boxes at World Market and The Container Store.

If we're talking food containers, I have only one word: Tupperware.

Well. My plans for tonight got cancelled too. And I got ousted as the Mayor of the library today. It is REALLY not my weekend.

Dang - do you have any wine to console you? Or maybe some of this will help?

186. Sorry to hear that. Hope Laura's pic makes it better.

>187 LauraBrook: Thanks guys! That picture does make me feel better.

______________________________________

Well. This weekend I had four different sets of plans with four different people, and ALL of them fell through. So what was supposed to be a full weekend turned into a gigantic pity party for one.

Then last night I had nightmares about being in high school. And then my alarms (four of them) didn't go off this morning so I overslept by 2 hours and missed a staff meeting. And then when I got to work I found out that someone at Navy Medicine headquarters (I work at a detatchment site) managed to accidentally forward the official Navy Medicine Information Desk phone to my phone. So I've been getting calls every 3 minutes or so which are basically people looking for phone numbers of people I don't know. It's been great.

Oh, Nora, that sounds bloody awful! Hang in there. It can all turn around on a dime, and things will get better. We're all on your side and rooting for you. In the meantime, we will post pictures of hot guys on your thread, okay? :)



David Tennant is staring directly into your SOUL.

190. Great idea, Eris!

Nora, really sorry to hear about your weekend and the lousy Monday that followed it.

To make your day a bit brighter:

Young James Spader:


Look, it's Sawyer coming out of the water to give you a hug!


And since you're a science-fan like myself - cutie who gets extra points for being smart (and having cool hair).


Oh, and there's this guy...

>189 norabelle414:: What a rough weekend and Monday! Hope things start going smoother!

Thanks for the love, Eris, Paws, and Esquiress!

Three of the people who cancelled on me this weekend offered to make it up to me this evening, but so far two of them are now too busy. No word yet from the third.

____________________________

Book #10: John Dies at the End by David Wong - John and David take this crazy drug called soy sauce (well, John takes it voluntarily, David is more like attacked by it) which causes them to see things like demons and monsters and shadow men. After several seemingly unconnected monster-hunting incidents, John and David realize that something much larger and more sinister is going on. They're not particularly selfless or heroic, but they know they're the only people (still alive) that even realize what is going on, and thus it's up to them to do their best.

This book is . . . . hard to describe. It's weird, and gory, and crazy. It's a little bit like a Christopher Moore book, but much darker and gorier and crazier. There's a really nice Midwestern feel to it, too (also hard to describe). I definitely wouldn't recommend it to anyone who is sensitive to gore (there's a very realistic severed hand on the cover) or video-game-style violence, nor to anyone who doesn't like weird, weird books.

Overall I really liked it. It was longer and deeper than I expected. But it was very weird, and the jury is still out on whether I will pick up the sequel.

An indie movie was made from this book, but it's currently only showing in LA. There's going to be a screening (just the one . . ) in DC in March. Or I could rent it from Google for $7. Hmm.



Currently reading:
Paper Towns by John Green (library)
Mr. Penubra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan (library)
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

Currently listening to:
My Bonny Light Horseman: Being an Account of the Further Adventures of Jacky Faber, in Love and War by L. A. Meyer (51%)
The Ghost Map: The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic--and How It Changed Science, Cities, and the Modern World by Stephen Johnson (76%)

Coming soon:
Warm Bodies by Issac Marion
The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente
The Iron Thorn by Caitlin Kittredge
Angelology by Danielle Trussoni

BOOKS READ: 10
BOOKS BOUGHT: 0
BOOKS ACQUIRED: 1
BOOKS DEACCESSIONED: 0

DAYS REMAINING: 323
BOOKS REMAINING: 65
DAYS PER BOOK: 4.97

(Hermit days in the past week: 4)

Book #11: Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan - I don't want to say too much about this book, besides the fact that it is amazing, because part of the joy is figuring things out right along with the narrator.

The company that Clay Jannon was working for as a web designer went under, so Clay needs a job. He happens to find a cute little 24-hour bookstore in a skinny rowhouse next to a strip club, and gets a job as a clerk on the night shift. However, the unfortunate truth of the world we live in is that normal, lovely, independent bookstores are NOT 24-hour. Something else must be going on here. Something else IS going on here.

This book felt to me like Ready Player One, but about books. It is simultaneously science fictional and nostalgic. It's about the history of books and their future, at the same time. It has that perfect combination of adventure and puzzles and friendship and urgency and an impeccably written main character. It's the kind of book that I had to stay up all night to finish, because how could I possibly sleep when this main character needed me to keep reading??

Book #12: The Ghost Map by Steven Johnson, read by Alan Sklar - Audiobook from the library - An account of the cholera outbreak in 1854 London, along with tangents on topics which the author thinks were influenced by the outbreak.

I'm not saying I disagree with anything that Johnson has to say; not at all. But I think he assumes a lot of connections that don't quite have enough evidence, and he is a bit heavy-handed with his views on the story. The parts about maps and urban living were fascinating and enjoyable, but I don't think that they had much to do with the cholera outbreak or John Snow's groundbreaking scientific problem-solving. Both topics would have been better served by two separate books: one about cholera and one about maps & cities.

I did not care for the narrator one bit. His voice was extremely low which made the book hard to pay attention to, and just generally hard to hear as his voice often could not rise above the sounds of my commute. (or my neighbor's TV)
He was also terrible at differentiating his voice when reading a citation vs. the rest of the book, so sometimes I did not know what was part of the book and what was quoted from other sources. I also felt that I was missing out due to the fact that the audiobook (obviously) does not contain the famous maps that half the story is about.

All in all, the book was very enjoyable, if not cohesive. But I should have read it, instead of listening to the audiobook.



Currently reading:
Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion (library)
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

Currently listening to:
My Bonny Light Horseman: Being an Account of the Further Adventures of Jacky Faber, in Love and War by L. A. Meyer (51%)

Coming soon:
The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente
The Iron Thorn by Caitlin Kittredge
Angelology by Danielle Trussoni

BOOKS READ: 12
BOOKS BOUGHT: 0
BOOKS ACQUIRED: 1
BOOKS DEACCESSIONED: 0

DAYS REMAINING: 322
BOOKS REMAINING: 63
DAYS PER BOOK: 5.11

(Hermit days in the past week: 5)

186: And I got ousted as the Mayor of the library today.
Does this mean there’s another mayor? Do you know who it is?

194: two separate books: one about cholera and one about maps & cities
Yeah, I could’ve done without such a lengthy conclusion and epilogue too, seemed he wanted to find Meaning beyond the facts of the case. He includes some of the same material, and expands on it, in Future Perfect, a recent ER book.

>195 qebo: The guy who ousted me is the guy who was mayor before me. He's left a "tip" on the Foursquare page of the library that implies that he goes there quite often for the free WiFi, so I don't know if I'll ever be able to beat him again.

196. At least you got to be mayor once, Nora, even if it was just the one time and not for very long. You held public office!

>197 PawsforThought: LOL! If by "public" you mean, "internet"

#196 by @norabelle414> Bah! So he's not even there for the books? That's like gerrymandering the voting districts. Or something.

Sorry to hear about the crummy Monday. Hope today has been better. :)

>194 norabelle414:: This book felt to me like Ready Player One, but about books.

Must... Read... Soon...

Loving the review of Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore!

I definitely need to read that one too. Also Ready Player One itself.

Mr Penumbra and Ready Player One are on my WL... Hmm, it's February so I'm allowed to buy two more books... and y'know, I've felt like crap for a week and a half, so instant gratification for the Nook.

being sick and/or injured is an excuse to buy any amount of books and eat any amount of fatty food. It's a fact.

Thank you for the Valentine's pic. Love it.

And now one for you, on a similar theme (I know he's not your nr. 1, but he is great):

Happy People-in-Love-Are-Annoying Day. I went a bit crazy with the great nerdy valentines this year and just made a whole pinboard for them. Check it out here, pick your favorite, and know it came straight from my shriveled heart!

Thanks Leah! Pintrest won't load on my work computer but I will check them out when I get home :-)

Blocked all the fun stuff have they? Luckily they haven't discovered LibraryThing!

You know, in the past I've been pretty annoyed about Valentine's Day. It's very clearly made up. It doesn't matter that much to people who really care about each other; it only matters to people who are single or insecure in their relationships. Etc.

But this morning while I was in the shower I remembered that I have been dumped on Feb 12, 13, or 14th three different times. And I realized that any Valentine's Day upon which I don't get dumped is actually a pretty good Valentine's Day.

So Happy It's-completely-impossible-for-Nora-to-get-dumped-today Day!

I love you all SO much!

Great attitude! In the actual spirit of Valentine's Day (you know, the spreading love bit, not the beheaded Saint bit), we all love you!

Back at ya, Nora!

*Hugs*

210. Leah, that's a great pinboard! I've seen variations on the Marie Curie one and love them all.

Happy Valentine's, Nora. :)

Good review of Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore! You've made me want to run out and grab it right now by saying that it reminded you of Ready Player One!

>215 ChelleBearss:: I felt the exact same way when I read the review!

I just finished Ready Player One, and it's the most fun I've had in ages.

Hooray! I'm so glad you liked it Katherine!

I finished Warm Bodies yesterday (review coming soon; I want to make a new thread first so Stephen can read it) and picked up The Night Circus and Graceling from the library. I'm still not the Mayor.

>218 norabelle414:: I am adding my hoorays to yours! Another Ready Player One fan!

You will always be Mayor Nora to us!! ♥

And yeah. 215. Right now.

Oooh, I really liked Graceling so I'll be interested to see how you find it.

Ahh! I want to read Warm Bodies! I bought it for my Nook last night for a little instant gratification reading, and something went wrong with the site and I still haven't got it figured out.

So Sad. :(

But I'm eager to see your review.

I'll get around to the review eventually. Everything I have to say is just elaboration on "It is awesome."

I'm going to miss Mr. Wibbly Wobbly greeting me every time I open your thread when you start a new one...

>225 scaifea: You know who to blame!

New thread! With a review! And Stephen can load it! Hooray!