TinaV95's Joyful January

Hello all!! Welcome to my 2014 reading challenge, wherein I declare that this year will be AMAZING!



I'm Tina (on the right) and that's my one & only love, Lisa on the left.

In addition to reading 75 books (I'm really shooting for 100, as I reached that number in 2013 for the first time EVER), I have a few additional reading goals for this year:


1. Read more OFF THE SHELF
2. Participate in (and complete!) Mark's American Author Challenge
3. Read more classics -- (I'm horribly behind on those)
4. Purchase less books
5. Cull more from my shelves
6. Be less afraid of the huge tomes on my shelf -- hence, allow myself to count books over 500 pages as 2 books
NEW GOAL
7. Finish some of my ongoing series OR officially abandon the ones that need to be let go

Plans for Mark's American Author Challenge:

January - Willa Cather Death Comes for the Archbishop Purchased and waiting on my shelf

February - William Faulkner The Hamlet Will borrow from the library and read this with Roberta so as to lessen the suffering ;0)

March - Cormac McCarthy The Road Was already on the shelf, so no guilt there

April - Toni Morrison Beloved Was already on my shelf, no guilt

May - Eudora Welty Delta Wedding Recently purchased and waiting

June - Kurt Vonnegut Slaughterhouse Five per Richard OR Galapagos per Kathy

July - Mark Twain The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Recently purchased and waiting on my shelf

August - Philip Roth Haven't decided

September - James Baldwin Haven't decided

October - Edith Wharton The Buccaneers? Maybe, per Kathy

November - John Updike I barely made it through The Witches of Eastwick, so I may boycott this month BUT... Roberta says I can read a short story and still be considered a purist, so there you go!! :)

December Larry Watson Montana 1948 per Richard, Ellen and several other mentions

Gladly accepting suggestions for the undecided months! :)

Read in January
1. Hexed Kevin Hearne 4.5 stars
2. Death Comes for the Archbishop 4.5 stars
3. The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner 3.5 stars
4. Midnight Riot 4 stars
5. Changeless 4 stars
6. Babbitt 2.5 stars - 3 stars (still thinking)

List of 2014 Book Purchases

To increase my accountability and guilt simultaneously!

1. Still Life
2. The Miracle Worker
3. Hush: Moving From Silence to Healing
4. The Sexual Healing Journey
5. Divergent
6. Montana 1948
7. The Heart is a Lonely Hunter
8. The Daniel Plan
9. You are Not Your Brain
10. Clockwork Prince
11. Changeless
12. Wintergirls -- signed by the author & got to meet her SO THIS SHOULDN'T COUNT AGAINST ME!! :)
13. The Impossible Knife of Memory -- DITTO above! How could I NOT get at least two books???
14. Blameless
15. Heartless

Number of Books Culled

1-11-14
Took 14 books to the used book store!

My super complex RATING SYSTEM
...for the curious. Simply put, I love reading. So here's how my little brain works:

1 star -- I HATED it.
2 stars -- Barely managed to get through it, but I recognize and appreciate the talent of any writer.
3 stars -- Yeah, it was good. I enjoyed it.
4 stars -- I REALLY enjoyed reading this one!
5 stars -- I LOVED THIS! I AM GUSHING! THIS IS THE BEST EVER.

Favorites of 2013

Graceling trilogy
Cinder
A Monster Calls
The Book Thief
Girl of Fire and Thorns trilogy
Chocolat
Mr Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore
Hounded
Maus: A Survivor's Tale
The Gift of Years: Growing Older Gracefully
It's Kind of a Funny Story
To Kill a Mockingbird

Hi Tina!

Hi Nora!! You're first!!! Welcome, welcome!

And a very Happy New Year!!

Looking forward to more Tina in 2014! Starred!

Purchase less books. I considered joining you on that one.......but not for long. I will join you throughout the year Tina. xx Rookie of the Year 2013.

Found you! I've got you starred, and I'm ready for another year of reading adventures!

((((Kerri)))) Hiya!! Thanks for the star!

So glad you have your thread up! Have you starred!

Here's Tina! Now the 2014 party can REALLY begin. :-)

By the way, Mark has flipped Faulkner and McCarthy in the AAC, so dig out your Billy F. in February and leave Cormac on the shelf until March.

LOL, Paul!! I would never expect you to join me on that resolution! I actually look to you to help me feel less guilty! ;) I think I will actually feel less guilty on buying if I can cull more. I've got an entire shelf cleared on a small bookshelf and I am very proud of that! I haven't actually taken the books to the used bookstore yet, so I'm hoping I don't go back through that bag and change my mind! LOL

Mamie I haven't found your thread yet, but I found Abby's! I'll be off to find your thread (and several others) as soon as I get this last post constructed! I can't wait to see what other gems you and Abby throw my way this year!

Hi Abby!!!! I just mentioned you!! I'm so glad you've joined us this year! I can't wait to see what all fun we find together!

Awww, Julia!!! That just made me smile~~~ UHOH... Better flip those months around quickly! And get myself to the library sooner, rather than later, huh?? Thanks for the heads up!
ETA -- Flipped on the AAC post! Thanks!

Hey, you made it to the new year!

Hi, Jim! I did finally make it! I got busy with the holidays then didn't know where to go! Thankfully I saw you post the link on Richard's thread and here I am!

.

Happy New Year, and Happy New Thread !

So I can find you....and try to keep up.

Found you! Starred you!

Tina never fear for I am here! I got you starred and I'm ready for our reading adventures in 2014 and all the commentary that makes me laugh.

Happy New Year to you and Lisa!

Happy New Year Tina & Lisa! Hope 2014 is kind to you!

*GASP* it's it's nonono I can't believe it IT'S MRS. LISA! Here before 1/1/14!

I suggest Slaughterhouse-Five for Vonnegut and Montana 1948 for Watson.

*smooch*

Hi Tina! Welcome to 2014! Happy New Year to you and Lisa!

I'll be reading Montana 1948 for Watson since Stasia sent it to me via the Xmas Swap. :-)

Tina, I have to toss in some Vonnegut suggestions for you: Galapagos for a fun time (I recommend this one first every time) or Mother Night for a more serious topic. But really, you can't go wrong.

As for Edith Wharton: The Buccaneers is a good one, and there's also a tv series made from it. :p

Hi Tina!
Love goal #6! A good way to get those honkers read!

Wishing you and your 'one & only' the best year ever.

Hey, for November, couldn't you substitute a different author? Maybe Carson McCullers or Sinclair Lewis or John Hersey?

Happy New Year, Tina! I hope you have a wonderful 2014, with Lisa!

Are you all clear on the AAC? Any questions, let me know!

Dear Tina, I wish you a happy, smooth, productive, satisfying 2014 --- and .....

Tina - Your warmth and good spirits in shine or sleet in 2013 have marked you at as a priceless cog in the wheel of the group.
Happy New Year to you and Lisa and all your loved ones, dear lady.

Tina, a very happy New Year to you and Lisa. Wishing you all best in 2014. I look forward to reading your posts again this year and watch you reach your ultimate goal of 100 books, which I am sure you will do! I think I will be joining you on reading more off the shelf and purchasing less books. I have about 250 books on my shelves that am yet to read, (I do feel a little guilty about this). Good luck with your reading challenges, but I am sure you wont need it :)

Hi Tina! Happy 2014! I hope it is an amazing year for you. Can't wait to see what you read and where life takes you. By the way, I barely made it through The Witches of Eastwick, so I'll join your Updike boycott!

Hi Tina and happy new year!

Happy new year, Tina and Lisa! may 2014 be chock full of wonderful!

Happy new year Tina! Wishing you only good things this year!

A belated Happy New Year to you and Lisa! I hope 2014 is a great year for all of us, filled with wonderful books, good friends and lots and lots of joy.

Starred and saying hello and thanks for your great input on my thread about ratings. Just read your entire 2013 thread, (LOVED IT) and am looking forward to a very joyful 2014: for you, Lisa, me and the rest of our friends on LT.

Happy New Year, Tina!

Hi Tina! There are some interesting people and books in the American Authors challenge, looks really nice. Hope you have a good reading year!

Found your thread, Tina and stopping by with wishes for a Happy New Year and all the best in 2014!

*Starred!*

>19 mckait: hehe, love that cutsie image :)

Hi Tina! How goes it so far this year? I wish for you great things. Happy reading!

Happy New Year Tina! Have a great 2014.

Happy New Year, TIna! I have you starred and am looking forward to your 2014 adventures in reading and life.

Happy New Year Tina! Sooooo you and Paul are going to buy fewer books this year? Bwwhahhaahaha. Well, we'll see how that goes.

I finally made it over to the party, Happy New Year Tina, hope that 2014 is an amazing year for you and Lisa.

Kath I love your little guy!! Thanks for stopping in to star me!

Kathy Hey! Thanks for the star! :) As far as Updike goes, I'm trying to be a "purist" for the sake of Mark's challenge. So, Roberta suggested I just find one of his short stories and count that. Then, I'll read another American author for the 'real' novel. I'm sure I have one sitting on the shelf. I think I even have a few that might qualify in this challenge. I'll ask boss Mark though for clarity. ;0)

Ro I knew you'd be here!! :) Happy belated New Year to you!

Chelle Hey there! Happy belated New Year to you and yours!

Richard I know, it's amazing! I made it before the ball dropped! :) Mrs. Tina says hello (as she yawns by 9:30 at night... lol). AAC suggestions duly noted!

Ellen Happy New Year to you too! I think Montana 1948 will be my Watson choice, as it seems the general consensus.

Cee Hi there! I was afraid I might get judged on that goal, but I've been avoiding the big ones all 2013 long for that reason, so I borrowed the idea from someone (I'm sorry, but I can't remember who... Kerri, I think) and figured that might help me be less hesitant to go for the huge ones!

Mark Hi! I think I'm all clear... I just will need to substitute / add an author after I read an Updike short story in November. I think I have an unread Irving or Steinbeck on the shelf. I'll look and see and be sure whoever I add meets the challenge. I'm no good at geography, so I'll need to google. LOL

Peggy LOVE the picture!!! Thanks for all the kind wishes!!

Paul Awwww, Paul... You just made my heart smile with those kind words. Thank you!!!

Nicole Thanks for all your well wishes! I'm glad you're here! I'll have to try to find your thread -- did you start a new one in the 50 group or are you going to join us here finally?

Amy I'm so glad I'm not the only one who slogged through it. I loved the movie, but the book just didn't resonate with me AT all.

Diana Hi! Thanks for stopping in! Happy New Year!

Lynda Thank you Lynda ~ and Happy New Year to you!

Abby Happy New Year to you, my friend! Hope this year treats you like the special wonder that you are!

Julia What a lovely thought! I think those are wonderful wishes for us all! Happy New Year (belatedly) to you!

Marianne You read ALL of 2013's thread??? Good Lord, woman! Are you a masochist?? hehehe I'm so glad you stuck around for 2014 after reading all the ups and downs that were our life in 2013! Glad to have you here! :)

Mickey Happy New Year to you!

Paws Thanks! Hope you have a great reading year as well! See you soon. :)

Lori Hey... thanks for stopping by! All the best for you in 2014 as well!

Katie YAY!! Thanks for the star! :)

Megan Kath picked a cute one, huh? Wishing you all the best for 2014!

Rhian Hi there! Happy New Year!

Rhonda Yay! You're here and I'm starred!! I love stars ~~ that means repeat visitors!!!!

Bonnie Yeah, I think you misread that... I think Paul was saying there was NO way he was going to resolve to do that. ;)

Adrienne WELL... you know what they say: "Save the best for last." :) Just glad you made it!!

Tina, I found you! Boy, there are a LOT of threads out there.... I'm looking forward to following your adventures this year! Happy reading!

Hi Tina I have joined the 75 group this year, I will try to keep up with you all. I would post a link to my thread but I am on my phone which doesn't allow me to do that. I will do that for you when I jump on the computer next. Hope you and Lisa are keeping well :)

Edit: Here is the link to my thread for this year, Tina. http://www.librarything.com/topic/163254

Hi Tina! Stopping by to wish you and Lisa a very belated Happy New Year. I see we are sharing a read for this month's AAC in Death Comes for the Archbishop. I haven't started it yet but hope to do so soon.

Just wandering through......

Joanne I KNOW, right?!? There seem to be a ton out there this year! How will we ever keep up??

Nicole Yay!! I'm thrilled you're joining this group!! WhoooooooHooooooo! I'll be off to find and star your thread in just a bit!!

Heidi Thank you -- and happy belated New Year to you! I haven't yet started Death Comes for the Archbishop either, but since I just finished my first for the year, she's up next!

Ellen Hey!! Thanks for the wander through! You are certainly keeping up better than I am, dear friend! ;)

Book 1
Hexed ~ by Kevin Hearne
Why Now? Cause I wanted to... it's the second in a series



I love this series!!! A HUGE thanks to Roberta who not only introduced me to this series, but gifted me with an audible membership for Christmas so I could hear the audio book! The audio series is even better than the print (IMO) because of how great the narrator brings life to the characters (specifically my favorite -- the doggie, Oberon)... and because of how much easier it is to hear the correct pronunciation of the Celtic words than trying to read them and reflect back to the pronunciation guide constantly during the reading.

4.5 for this fun, urban fantasy (2nd book in the series installment)

Woohoo! Book one done.
Glad it was a raging success for you too :)

While gradually taking holiday items away, I went through cards and found yours. Thanks again for your kind outreach which occurred at a time when I really needed moral support.

All good wishes for a wonderful New Year.

Tina - a quick fly-by to wish you a wonderful weekend my dear. Have a stinking headache coming on and I want to rush and take a tablet or three so as not to spoil Walter Mitty later.

Megan Thanks, dear! It was a fun one!

Linda Awww... you're welcome! I hope you know how much you are loved and appreciated here. I hope the new year brings you pain free days and nights of peace!

Paul Thanks for the fly-by!! Now, go fix that headache! Quickly! I know how badly those can be. :(

I'd love to go read some more threads as Lisa sleeps on beside me... but I really need to try to get some rest or I will never want to wake up for church in the morning! If I didn't get to your thread tonight, I'm sorry.... there are just SO many I've starred and want to keep up with that I can't get to you all at once!

Obviously, it's your own fault for being so interesting and engaging. ;0)

#53 - Yes, but you have completed a book. I have not yet done so this year.

This is my next-to-last thread visit for this evening, because I am heading to bed with a book. I'd like to finish at least one before Monday (when classes start again on campus and my life will once again become a busy stress test).

Enjoy your Sunday, Tina!

Tina - I just missed you but thanks for stopping by my thread. I love that you loved Hexed in audio. Luke Daniels does an amazing job! I love his The Morrigan character. She's a bit scary. Actually, she is probably a lot scary if you piss her off.

I responded to your post on my thread with a huge Tina like response.

Tina, your first review of the year is great but I hope you understand that I simply cannot start any more new series. NO, don't try to talk me into it. I simply cannot do it. Can. Not. Do. It.

I knew you'd understand. I hope you and Lisa have a wonderful Sunday!

Julia - I plan to make it back around to your thread tomorrow and do some Iron Druid warbling over there. Even Richard succumbed to Tina's and my warbling on this series.

Tina - You are off the hook. I will do the talking into. ;-)

OMG! I have become Mark!

It's impossible to keep up with threads. We all know it, and yet we all apologize if we don't. Me included. Since we all understand that there is life and reading outside of LT, we should ALL including me... just go where we can, when we can, stop apologizing and think good thoughts.

( The think good thoughts is tripping me up lately... )

I hope you have a lovely sunday!

Uh oh.... I spy another Iron Druid Chronicles fan. Roberta almost got me with her great reviews of the books last year but I fortified my will power and have managed so far to dodge that series bullet. Not sure if I can continue to withstand the great reads onslaught.... I must remain strong and not cave. I must. *whimpers*

Happy Sunday, Tina!

Well, I'm safe from that book bullet because I already have the first three books in that series in the stacks - now I just need to get to them!!

Hope that you are enjoying a weekend full of fabulous, young lady!

Happy New Year, Tina! I'm finally back home and futilely trying to catch up on the 2014 threads--my own isn't even set up properly yet. I'm looking forward to reading Hexed and Hammered--I bought them both after reading Hounded in November, but had ROOT challenge books and other necessary reading to complete in 2013 to keep me from getting right to them.

Roberta is a big ole book bully. No thread is safe from her book-pusher ways! The New Mark, indeed. ;-)

Hi Tina- Keeping warm down there in Georgia? I wanted let you know I plan on starting Hounded, which I snagged on audio, after you raved about it. I will NEED to be immersed in fantasy tomorrow and be as removed from reality as possible. Hope you are having a perfect Sunday.

Admittedly, took me some time; but found and starred!

Hi Tina!

#54 - Congrats on the first book of 2014! I'm glad it was such a joy. I haven't ventured into urban fantasy yet, but my mind is open.

I'm on my iPhone since Lisa has possession of the laptop, so my responses may be shorter than usual & lack the bold emphasis cause it's just a hassle on this tiny screen. I'll also have to post more than one response probably so I'm asking for forgiveness in advance. :)

Ellen -- I hope you were able to finish your book as planned and catch some relaxation in there as well. Classes starting back mean much more stress I would guess and lots less time for LT.

Roberta --- I'll definitely need to go check out what a "Tina like" response looks like! LOL... I loved his take on The Morrigan (crazy sex healing magic, what?!?!) but the widow too -- his voices just crack me up. Jim Dale is still my all time favorite narrator, but Luke Daniels has just become my second favorite!! Oh, and warble away, Mark, Jr. ;)

Julia --- Dear, there's no need to feel guilty. If you simply don't want to be a member of the coolest crowd around (LOL), don't read Hounded... ;)

Kath --- You are so right on point, but we all continue to apologize! I guess I just want everyone to know that they are all / each one important to me. But there are only so many hours in a day....

Lori --- I'm not usually a book pusher. Really. But in this instance, I just really, really enjoyed the first two. Roberta can speak more fully on the further ones in the series, as I'm still a newbie. But no pressure. :)

Mamie --- Well, I haven't caught you with a bullet in forever, dang it! ;) Read Hounded soon. I hope you love it!

Roni --- You've got them both waiting? Lucky duck! Can't wait to see if you like Hexed as much as I did!

Mark --- You did??? I bulleted the king of book bullets?? Whooo hoooo! I hope it hits the target with you!

Piyush --- You made it!! Yay! Thanks for the star!

Kerri --- Not a fan of urban fantasy huh? I'm sounding like Roberta now, but this series would be a fun one to start. Or the Mercy Thompson series is another fun series in a similar vein. Wonderfully fun brain candy!

Tina - Let's just call ourselves Mark's Minions! Bwahahaha!

>65 lkernagh: Lori...*I* liked Hounded. As in, liked liked. Would even read more of. Will eventually write a review of.

Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated.

*smooch* for the Mrs.es!

#75 Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated. Is *gasp* Richard recruiting?

*squee*

^ Ack! et tu, Richard?! Nooooooo....... darn it all. ;-)

There you are! Since I've been sans computer over the New Year I keep realising I've missed starring some peoples threads. Glad to have found you again for 2014 - and glad you liked Hexed too. I'm just about to start Trapped :)

Ro Bwhahahahahaha!!! *giggling evilly and rubbing hands with dastardly glee!!!!* Okay, so really just smiling pretty darn widely, but still. :)

RICHARD GASP. FAINT. Whoooooo Hoooooo!! *Smooch*

Lori You might as well give in now and come over to the dark FUN side!! ;)

Bekka I'm glad you found me too! I'm hoping I've found everyone, but I'm sure I have missed a few! There are just SO many threads out there right now. Oh, you make me want to skip my promised AAC reading and go straight on to the next, but NO. I promised and will be a good girl and will pick up Death Comes to the Archbishop tonight instead of getting to the next Iron Druid installment. Promises, promises. ;)

You *know* a phauntaiseee nawvelle is good if *I* praise it. I hate them all. On principle.

xo

>80 richardderus: hey, you took the words right out of my mouth!
I consider myself a fantasy reader in another life, but not this one.
And as for series's's's....it's enough commitment for me to get through one book, let alone a whole pile of them.
*back in my box*

oooh, I've put Hounded on my WL, because it sounds pretty cool.

*Waves at Tina*

#82 oh Kathy, *to the sound of Queen* Another one bites the dust!

#79 Oh go on go on go on... I'm about to go to bed to read and am supposed to be reading Proust...

Ha! I just picked up Hexed an hour ago instead of starting Death Comes for the Archbishop. However, I'll start the latter tonight.

Richard Mind if I ask what that principle is? Have you just always hated them or was there a particular reason / book that began the hatred?

Megan So no fantasy for you in this life at all, huh? Well, different strokes for different folks! I'm sorry we can't sway your opinion!

Kathy A convert!!! You won't be disappointed!

Roberta Perfect song choice, my friend!! ;)

Bekka and Roni You two ladies are being bad influences!!! :) I'm very easily influenced -- especially when it's something I really want to do anyway...

Right now I'm LT'ing as we prepare to "watch" the BCS bowl. Lisa is a huge FSU fan. I'm going to pay attention periodically. LOL Unless she starts to give me the eye, then I'll put the computer up and pay more attention to the game; otherwise I'm going to try to catch up on some of the hundreds of threads I have starred and maybe find some that I have missed. Later tonight I will try to start more into Death Comes for the Archbishop. I've read the prologue, but haven't gotten past that yet.

" I bulleted the king of book bullets??" By golly, you did! If I was a little less self-effacing I might use that as a topic heading. LOL.

I didn't have a chance to listen to a lot of Hounded but enough to know I like it so far.

YOU SHOULD use that Mark!! I give you permission!! LOL I'm glad you like Hounded so far! :)

Checking in over here. I really wish the library would get in my copy of Death Comes for the Archbishop - all of you will be done, and I'll still be waiting. I have Hounded in the stacks - sounds like I need to get to it!

Tina, please offer my congratulations to Ms. Lisa on the FSU national championship. I didn't watch the game but pretty much everyone I follow on Twitter seemed to be, so I got almost play-by-play results. Sounds like a really exciting finish!

Mamie, don't fret. I have yet to start DCftA, either. I am frantically trying to read the library books I have before they come due.

Just checking in with you, Tina! Being back at work has seriously cut into my LT time - I hate being so far behind.

Hope the new job is going well!

The King of Elfland's Daughter *shudder* encountered when I was 18 *retch* killed my soul for at least three decades.

All my life I've responded to majgickq and Randommely capitaliced and mysSpelt words like in phauntaiseee books with a curled lip and a heavy sigh. I feel the same way about the Bible..."no, really y'all, c'mon c'mon no one believes this guff do they?"...because it's all so improbable and badly thought out.

Then there's stuff like the Potter books, Tigana, a few others...limpidly clear and untricksy and just plain good. It makes them all the more enjoyable that they're in a genre I don't normally care for at all.

Good evening Tina. Stopping by to say hello. I love the opening photo. I'm sure others have mentioned...you and Lisa look a like. How much fun is that!!!!

Mamie Don't worry... you read so fast that you'll probably still blow by me! ;) Plus, even if we are finished, we'll all still be talking about it because it's so beautifully done. And yes... Hounded soon, please. ;)

Julia I will tell her you said so!! :) She was miserable in the first half, but a very happy woman come the second half!

Katie I know what you mean! I keep popping in periodically and everyone is posting so rapidly that I just can't keep up. And trying to keep up here is cutting in to my book time, so I'm not finishing as fast as I'd like there either. It's a cycle! *New job is a dream, by the way! Thanks for asking!

Oh Richard I'm so sorry that The King of Elfland's Daughter ruined an entire genre for you. :( I am glad that you have given some a try and have found them to be worth their salt! Harry and Hounded among them! I'll stop bothering you about the "F" word. You have fair reason to be hesitant. *smooch*

Linda Hi dear lady! I hope you are feeling well! Thanks for your kind words about the photo! We have heard that before. Folks generally ask us "Are you sisters?" and we just grin and say "Um. No." ;) Depending on how bad / mischievous Lisa is feeling, (or where we are) she might go a little further and give more detail "This is my partner/wife" or something. People usually look stunned / shocked / appalled at that, so I prefer she just lets it go at a "No, not sisters." response usually.

So I was doing a brief catch up on threads yesterday and I was on Laura's thread (lauralkeet) and she mentioned fictfact and how Paul Cranswickhad gotten a few folks over there listing their series. When she mentioned that I remembered seeing that some time ago and thought / said... "Well, okay. If you insist."

I have terrible news. Just horrid. I stayed up late entering series. I didn't even enter all the ones that I've just read one book and know I'll never read another (although I did enter some before I made that decision). According to this terrible site, I have 82 ongoing series and I'm only current on 12. ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? That's like 14% or some such nonsense.

So now, I feel like I must revise some of my reading goals for 2014 to include either nixing some of the series I've actually abandoned and won't continue (just let it go, Tina) or finish some of them.

Hoo boy. I may have bitten off more than I can chew for this year.

The good news is that all of my series are fun, fantasy, silly, or just plain brain candy reads. Still there is no telling how many hours of reading / listening that is.

OH, and please go find me if you are there already.... I looked for you Paul Cranswick. I'm SweetT95 over there.

Oh Tina the "are you sisters" story reminds me of a hilarious story about my Dad. Background first though.

My Dad has a bit of a naughty streak in him. He as two sisters. The youngest sister, Patricia is just as naughty as my Dad, probably more. The older of the sisters, Virginia, is very prim and proper. Both of them are retired now but used to work in the same circles. My Dad was a vocational teacher and taught agriculture, meat processing etc. before becoming an administrator for the school district. My aunt was a home economist/nutritionist and worked for various counties in South Texas and various community college systems.

At one of their association meetings in another county my Aunt Virgie walked up to my Dad. The woman he was speaking with introduced them and asked if they knew each other. My aunt was using her married name at the time. My Dad did not even skip a beat and said, "oh yes, we used to sleep together." My Aunt just about died!

My Dad said later, "Well your grandmother had me, your uncle Pablo and Virgie all sleeping in the same bed so I was telling the truth." My poor Aunt, because my Dad does stuff like that to her all the time.

Oh, Roberta that is PRICELESS!!! What a great story! I like your dad!

Tina don't get sucked into that! Just list it and forget about it. Once in a while assign a month as catch up. I do that in February for Fantasy February and September when Judy has her Series & Sequels. You can catch up on mystery series during March mysteries or May Murder and Mayhem. Last September I took a couple of days off work just to catch up and it was a nice fun little staycation. I felt accomplished but I wasn't overly worried. I just read what I could.

Don't suck the joy out of your reading.

Tina my Dad is mostly funny unless you are on the public receiving end of one of his snarky ones. Unlike Mamie's Dad he isn't always uplifting in his quick wit. Still, I'll keep him.

Don't feel too bad about your series Tina, according to fictfact I have 254 series listed, which includes series I've finished, am currently reading and the ones I'm interested in. I'm in no hurry to finish them off or dwindle down my list, I think it's actually growing.

I stopped adding series at 43. It was so depressing! I need to catch up on the ones I've read, though.

Tina- Just a quick check-in! The polar vortex is moving on. Hooray! Is Oberon a hoot, or what? He might need his own spin-off.

I found you on FictFact, Tina. :-)

I also found you on FictFact! And I love Roberta's story - too funny!

Have a wonderful weekend, Tina, but don't get lost on FictFact! :-)

Hi Tina! Stopping by to wish you a great weekend!

Tina, we will never catch up on our reading. At least we will never be bored!

Roberta Those are all wonderful ideas to catch up. So I just need to think February, March, May, and September. :) I can do that. And any other times I have time or WANT to squeeze in a fun one (like Iron Druid!). Do keep your dad for sure!! ;) Oh, by the way, I started listening to Midnight Riot and guess what??? I love it!! You hit it out of the park again! Thank you for another great recommendation!

Adrienne I saw that number and thought...seriously??? Is she crazy??? ;) Thanks for the follow over there! I'm following you now too!

Richard So you're saying that 43 is not indicative of a truthful number of series? That's just when it depressed you so much that you stopped adding??? I've also started following you, King Richard, my dear (and thanks for adding me!)

Mark I hope you are finally starting to warm up, my friend!! I SO love Oberon -- he's the best, isn't he??

Julia & Mamie Thanks for adding me ~~ I'm following you both now!

Diana Hi!! It would be SO easy to get lost in that madness! Have you been over there?

Abby Hey there! Hope you have a great weekend as well!

Rhonda You are SO right about never catching up, but it sure is fun to try! :)

Book #2
Death Comes to the Archbishop
Why Did I Read Now? "Mark's Thingamabob" otherwise known as the American Author's Challenge



Beautifully written, lyrical scenery, slow moving but fully involved story telling.

4.5 stars

Wow! I got home this evening and found a box from Amazon. I thought it was the thermometer covers they haven't sent me yet. It was a book from my awesome friend Tina!

Thank you dear. You are truly one of the most thoughtful people I know.

((((Roberta)))) You know why. Enjoy, my friend.

Book #3
The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner
Why Did I Read This Now? To finish a series



Sue me... I read and *gasp* enjoyed the Twilight series. When I saw on FictFact that I was just lacking this tiny book to be considered "current", I snagged it off the shelf. It has been sitting and waiting for several years. It was kind of neat to see that they made a donation to the Red Cross for each book sold. That made me giggle.

Yah, for "Mark's Thingamabob"! Actually, that sounds kind of gross. I am so glad you loved Death comes. I only have a few pages left, myself and it is wonderful.

Tina

Periodically people will tell me I look like Bette Midler. A few years ago I was shopping at a discount store. A woman kept following me. Finally, I asked if I could help her. She wanted my autograph. I politely told her if I was the Divine Miss M, I would not be shopping at the dollar store. I laughed. She didn't find it funny.

Regarding needing to reset your goals, one can easily become discouraged. I've wanted to complete all Newbery books, all Caldecott books and then then read other non award winning books by the winners of Newbery and Calddecott awards. I panicked when I realized I couldn't complete those goals in a timely fashion. Along the way, I gave up the stress and now it is pleasant reading them periodically without the stess.

Happy weekend to you and Lisa.

Cool--a completed series! I think that people like to make fun of the Twilight series, but really it's good for what it is. I read it a few years ago with my daughter. Then I kept telling her she was NOT allowed to date a vampire.

#112 & #115 Wasn't the life purpose of Twilight was to be made fun of? To provide endless source of entertainment, to be able to mock and taunt the otherwise serious readers, specially if the reader is a guy, it is so much fun!

On a more serious note, I stand by my initial response after reading the first book, "Whinings of a teen-aged girl", to which my Twilight-fan friend (who happens to be a guy) replied, "Oh, so you are already on Book 2!" That instantly killed whatever motivation I could have mustered to continue with the series.

Oh, and I would so very much love to date a vampire, or turn into one, whichever is more feasible and practical.

Just dropping to say hi :) the Cather seems to be a hit with everyone - I've been meaning to read more after enjoying The Professor's House a few years ago.

*wanders off to contemplate dowloading it...*

I'm with you in the Twilight love. I own all the books myself.

Tina we all have our guilty pleasures and fun reads. I'm not into Twilight but I LOVED Sookie Stackhouse! Now that she is over I am indulging myself in Iron Druid and Rivers of London series. I also absolutely love the Cinder series!!!

>112 TinaV95: I did too, Tina. And continue to. That's right, I re-read them and still enjoyed them. :P

Hi Tina, glad you enjoyed the short second life of Bree Tanner. I've had it on my shelf for years and have just never gotten around to it. Hope you are well.

*smoochings* just cause

Mark I do believe it was either Roberta or Julia who first used the term, "Mark's Thingamabob." I just happened to find it amusing and steal borrow it. I'm glad you're loving DCftA as well!

Linda I think finding the Divine Miss M anywhere would be quite the treat... She probably didn't laugh because she was so disappointed! :) Good thing to know you're a twin for such a lovely lady! Regarding the series... You're right. I probably should just relax and not stress about it too much.

Rhonda I love that you read it with your daughter... and that you told her she isn't allowed to date a vampire. Even a sparkly one that only hunts animals?? C'mon, mom!! They're the good kind! :)

Piyush I'm not sure what Meyer's original purpose was, but she certainly did get a fair share of laughter and joking. I also have to agree with your whining comment. Bella did her fair share of that -- especially in the second book. But she wasn't actually my favorite character. I think I enjoyed the series despite her and her flaws or maybe because I saw some of me in those flaws. Who knows... ;) I'm not telling. lol

Bekka I don't think you'd be disappointed if you downloaded DCftA.

Abby & Micky I'm glad to know I'm not the only one! We are a rare breed around here!

Roberta And now you've hooked me on both of your guilty pleasure series too!! I loved Cinder, but I haven't gotten any further than the first one yet. I must get to Scarlet soon, though.

Nicole Have you read the other Twilight books yet? The Bree Turner was a super quick read if you ever just want something to fill a few hours.

Richard **smooches** back, my dear!

It was Julia and Kerri over on my thread. I used it third! Mark was there and I was shocked he did not say it sounded gross. I took that as full license to use the phrase. Bwahahaha!!!

Tina - I have a copy of Scarlet I bought to pass on to my niece but she wanted to read it so bad she bought her own copy the day it came out. So now it just sits and stares at me. PM your address and I'll mail it to you.

So today I took 14** books to the used book store, where I get points to reduce the cost of other book purchases. This is to make up for the small online purchase I made last week.

**Here's the thing. I have another huge bag full to take. I culled one whole bookshelf and have three more to go. But they will only let you trade in one weensy bag at a time (read that: 'normal people' sized bag), so all I could take in today was 14.

Also, while I was there trading in, I picked up 3 more books. So in all, I've purchased 7 so far this year. They are:

1. Still Life -- yes, I've finally succumbed to all the rage over Penny and this series!!
2. The Miracle Worker
3. Hush: Moving From Silence to Healing
4. The Sexual Healing Journey
5. Divergent -- I HAD to get this one because I loaned my copy out and I can't remember to whom... Now I must re-read it and Insurgent before I can get to Allegiant. What's a girl to do??
6. Montana 1948 -- based on suggestions from Richard, Ellen, and many others, I figured I might as well purchase for Mark's "thingamabob" ;)
7. The Heart is a Lonely Hunter

So I used it fourth, and since he didn't object before then, now it's a full-on coined phrase!!!

PM'ing now. I'll mail it back when done!! I'll probably read it aloud to Lisa. It's the ONE audio I've ever been able to get her to listen to and enjoy. She is SO not a reader. It's very sad. ;) I keep telling her if she would just give YA a chance, she would enjoy it.

Hey Tina!

I didn't mind the Twilight books when I read them (before the movies), actually found them perfectly enjoyable fluff even if I did want to wring Bella's neck sometimes. What turned me off them was the fangirling that happened with the movies.

Tina - Not read Twilight nor am I going to. Kristen Stewart is delightful but the idea that she would fall in love with pasty Pattinson considering his state of undead is too ludicrous a concept.

I will go and look you up on fictfact but I refuse to take the plaudits undeservedly for introducing it to the group. That honour belongs to dear, accident prone Caro. It is just that I probably make a little bit more noise than her, she being extremely ladylike and all.

Like Richard I haven't kept up on there that well in the last six months or so and an update is long overdue.

Have a wonderful weekend, xxxxxxxx

>95 TinaV95: Hoo boy. I may have bitten off more than I can chew for this year.
Hehe, yea, but imagine if you had bitten off less than you could chew! That would be a disaster :P

>112 TinaV95: yay for getting a series finished. It feels good, doesn't it. You can expect no legal action from me for enjoying the Twilight series. I just love it when people love reading- full stop.

>126 TinaV95: great job on clearing out he shelves, and for $$$ to purchase more! I must do the same.....I have a BIIIIG boxof ones that didn't sell at the garage sale of a few weeks back, and am thinking to off load them at the only place I know who takes used books. Just for a few pennies off a *drool* new *dribble* book

I am dying to read Montana 1948 as well! I have been on the lookout for it for ages, but no luck yet. The thrill of the chase means that when I finally bag that baby, I'll be in heaven. ;)

Tina, I would like to say yes I have read the tiger twilight books but that would be only half true. I read and really enjoyed the first three and started the fourth got about half way through the fourth and never picked it up again. I think that was four or five years ago now. I got a bit bored with it to be honest but maybe I should try to finish it off at some point.

#129 So I guess we can rule you out from belonging to Team Edward!

Oh, and I joined Fictfact too, it is too much of a time-sapper!

Hi Tina, I don't belong to FictFact and I probably won't join simply because I don't read a lot of series so I don't have a lot to remember or sort out. But if I did I could see how it would be helpful. And I haven't read any of the Twilight books nor have I seen the movies. I guess I'm not in with the in crowd these days haha.

Just leaving a drive by hug..!
Take care

Hiya, Tina - just trying to stay caught up! It's practically a full-time job this time of year...

Tina, when it comes to book planning, "A reader's reach must exceed her grasp, or what's a library for?"

I'm glad my appellation "Mark's Thingabob" has caught on! It seems like the perfect description to me, not gross at all!

Congrats on getting rid of some books. I hop you're planning to fill the empty spaces with new ones. I know, I am SO not helpful. ;-)

Kathy I pretty much agree with your take on Twilight... "perfectly enjoyable fluff even if I did want to wring Bella's neck sometimes. That is a great description!

Paul I wouldn't expect such a serious reader like yourself to attempt such fluff as Twilight, my dear!! So, Caro is the one who introduced FictFact? Well, I heard it first on your thread so that's where the idea was planted first!

Megan I figure that if I give a significant number away, I can get a few more... right??? **See next post for further confession.** I hope you find Montana 1948 soon!

Nicole I enjoyed them, but I do totally get that they are not for everyone! :) The fourth was long, but the ending was worth it (if I remember from that many years ago).

Piyush LOL at the Team Edward comment for Paul... What's your user name on FictFact so I can find you?

Bonnie I'll echo what I said to Paul... I realy don't expect serious readers to enjoy or attempt books like Twilight or some of the fluff that I read. :)

(((Kath))) Return hugs!!

Katie I SOOOO understand about trying to keep up with the threads these days!

Julia I hope Mark's not too upset about our "new name". I think it's rather funny. ;) Just wait for the next post to see my next book haul...

So.... we went to eat at the newest Cheesecake Factory today. This was our third try; all the other times we've been the wait has been 2-3 hours, so we went after morning service and had no wait. The "problem" is that the restaurant is very, very close to a very nicely sized Barnes and Noble...

I JUST went to the used book store yesterday, so I really shouldn't have gone into the B&N, but Lisa was SO accomodating! I said I needed to set a limit, so the agreed upon amount (hahaha) was $10. I said there was NO way I could walk out with spending $10, so she agreed to spend $10 too.

Here's where the problem arose. She left me. Usually she sits in the eatery drinking iced coffee or something and I bring books to her and she monitors how I'm doing that way (I usually set myself some sort of budget and blow it).

So I didn't pull a Paul or anything, but I didn't stick to $20 either. Here's the haul:

Changeless
Clockwork Prince
You are Not Your Brain
The Daniel Plan

I didn't buy them all...Lisa bought half, but I more than doubled what I agreed to spend. :) Good thing she's so agreeable!!

ETA -- Edited to fix dumb mistake!!!

Ha! Lisa is succumbing to our wily book buying ways. Does she do audiobooks in the car? Since you read Cinder to her I was wondering if she would like audios.

Cinder was an audio book from the library that I listened to first, and insisted that she try out. It's the only one she's liked that I've given to her to try that she's enjoyed so far. Our library doesn't have Scarlet on audio so I've not been able to get it for us. What I'll do when we get your book is read a chapter (or so) a night out loud. Maybe it will interest her almost as much as the audio?

Nice book haul Tina. I'm saving all my naughty book buying for next week (hopefully), the bi-annual book fest I love to attend starts next Saturday. That is of course if I have enough money left over after buying the kids school things and of course if I can convince the other half to let me go....... :)

#137 My username is same as it is here, "PiyushC". I am now browsing through the series starting with "B".

OMG! I did not have you starred! Obviously out of my mind.

Now am going back to read this thread in full.

I hope you like City of Bones! I have read some of the series and liked them all. They are drama ridden, but good stories non the less. I have to get myself the audio of Cinder, then I could enjoy it constantly. *waves at Tina*

Done!

Naughty Tina - now Hounded is on my wishlist. I think that I must check the library for this one as I don't think I can wait for an uptick in my wallet before reading it.

>138 TinaV95: So I didn't pull a Paul or anything, but I didn't stick to $20 either.
LOL
Looks like a great haul to me! And Lisa obviously knows you well enough to know that you can be trusted to not break the bank in your book-getting :) Right!?
I bet right now she is saying to herself *never leave Tina alone near books for sale again- EVER*

Adrienne OMG... A book fest!!! Oh, how I love those! I've only been to two, but lordhavemercy, did I swoooooon. My advice is to promise the other half he can have something splurgish that he wants in return! **I promised Lisa she could buy the FSU National Championship shirts she's been wanting! ;)

Piyush I'll go look for you in just a minute!

ABBY!! I made a stupid mistake!! NOT City of Bones!!! Clockwork Prince!!!! The second one after the book you gifted me!!! I must have been looking at the sticker on the book or had a major brain fart! I've read CoB, but it's been years. I will have to re-read if I ever decide to continue with that series. I definitely enjoyed Clockwork Angel enough to get #2 much sooner than whatever comes next after CoB. :)

Charlotte How dare you overlook me in the hundreds of threads here??? LOL... All is forgiven! I'm sure I have overlooked some of my friends and I have tried diligently to check the threadbook and make sure I've gotten everyone. But just last week I found two that I hadn't starred yet. And I was SURE I had!!! Now, on to Hounded. You will LOVE it! Just ask Roberta OR Richard OR me! ;)

Megan I'm sure you're right about that assessment, Megan!! If she knew how close my hotel was to a Books-a-Million, she would have a duck!! I am going to ask all of you here to say a special book-buyers-anonymous prayer for me. I'm only here two nights. I didn't get in until late (for me... i.e. after dark and I don't like going out by myself after dark) so I'm safe from shopping tonight. Imma need all y'all to gimme a few whammies to NOT GO TO THE BOOKSTORE tomorrow. It is literally in the shopping center across the street from me. Oh my gosh. I need 12 steps. I think I had less of a problem before I declared out loud in a goal that I was going to do better. What's up with that??????

Ladies & gents... I'm currently reading Babbitt and not enjoying it very much. I'm only 4 chapters in, but I don't like the character and I'm bored. Other books are calling me.

However, this is on the 1001 books you "must" read before you die list. Encouragement please? Are there going to be interesting developments soon? I can't pearl rule any regular book out of guilt, but the thought has crossed my mind on this one already.

If you aren't enjoying it, stop reading it!

^ That's the Krug rule. Nancy Pearl can go jump in a lake - 50 pages my foot!

What Katie said! Life is too short. The Marquis De Sade is on the list too and I'm not going to read his books. If you don't like it, don't read it.

Psst…you aren't being graded on those 1001 books. Bwahahaha!

Sort of caught up.. Now I want to read Cinder. I want to read, period.. still funking.

Life is too short to read boring books.

pant, pant, pant. I've been running all over the threads trying to catch up just a teeny, tiny bit. Ugh! I give! So, you're the last one today. Waves and howyado's. Hope all is well!

Oh, the second Clockwork book. Well, ok then. Excellent choice. I have also read that book as well; I will warn you that I did not enjoy the second one as much as the first. Not by much though. I currently have in my possession the third book but I haven't read it yet. You will have to tell me what you think of the second book.

I liked Babbitt a lot. It helps if you read it as humor/satire, not serious literary fiction.

Fraid I liked it too - I agree, accept the satire and it all gets easier.

But then I'm an adamant anti pearl rule girl - so many of the 1,001 that I wouldn't have touched were it not for the list, I've ended up loving. And I'm also a bit stubborn...

Have nothing to contribute concerning Babbitt, but I am another who does not care for the Pearl rule. Books are kind of like people - they're all different and some of them can take a little longer than others to hit their stride. I think Pearl is too arbitrary - esp. for anything that is not genre fiction. I'm more than willing to keep reading well over the 100 page mark. I'll know when the romance is over between us. Sometimes it is earlier than it is at other times. When that moment comes though - pfffft! Begone!

I'm a non-Pearl ruler too. I've read lots of books that I didn't like at all at the 50 page mark but ended up really liking once I got further into the story. Some books I disliked until the very end and only came to appreciated once I'd finally finished it (The Grapes of Wrath being a prime example of this). I would have missed out on so much if I'd given up on that and the other "late bloomers".

Dang it! Mixed opinions! :)

Can't get Internet access at the hotel so I'm on my iPhone. I'll have to give individual responses slowly & in a few messages.

Katie -- I like the "Krug" rule. We should start using that term here!

Roberta --- life is too short! I'm liking it a tiny bit better, so we'll see how it goes.

Kath --- I'm so sorry you're still in a funk. Try Cinder or Hounded?? Those are both so much fun & just fluffy, easy reads. (((((Kath))))))

Nicole -- I'm starting to agree!
Attention Everyone
Nicole Patrick is NEW to our group this year!!! She's been a friend of mine since I was in the 50 challenge category. She & I were the only folks that ever commented (so it seemed). I've sworn to her that this group doesn't really care if you make it to 75, but that the folks are wonderful!!

Please go visit her thread!!!! ***I'm on the stupid phone or I'd include the link!!!

Lynda --- It's impossible, right??? I know your pain! :)

Abby --- I'll keep you posted! I hope I'll enjoy it as much as the first. Would you say you enjoy City of Bones the same, less, or more than Infernal Devices?

Kathy -- I'll try that tactic & see if it helps. As I mentioned to Ro, I kept going last night and am liking it a little better.

Bekka --- I'll accept the satire & see. I think you may be the reason for my bright idea of trying more of the 1001 books. Thanks. ;)

Charlotte -- Anti Pearl Rule Girl! Lol. I've only ever quit one book that I can recall. The Shining.... And wayyyy past 50 pages. I do try to finish every.book.I.start. Even if it makes me miserable.

Paws --- Another Anti Pearler. Hmmm, I think your comment calling them "late bloomers" helps. Maybe I'll press on. Maybe I'll just take a break? ;)

Just realized that I've been lurking here all along and actually never have posted. I've just been enjoying the excellent conversation!
So, hi, Tina!
And now that I've (not in any way) added to said fun discussions, I'll go back to my lurkiness...

I'll post that link for you, Tina. Here is Nicole's thread: Nicole's 74 in 2014

I'm thinking that Abby likes the Infernal Devices more than the City of Bones books. I still have to start the Infernal Devices series, but I have read and liked the first three in the Mortal Instruments series. I stopped after three because I didn't like where she was going with the story in book four.

Babbitt is biting, bitter, bracing satire. It's like Calvin and Hobbes' Opposite Day made flesh. Or paper, anyway. Much much encouragement to try a bit, but also to keep in mind that, if nothing is compelling you to go forward, close the cover and move on.

Tina, thank you so much. I wondered where all people on my thread were coming from. Hope all is well for you :)

" That's the Krug rule!" Sounds tough and no nonsense! And I am going to Booktopia with her. She will deal with any surly waiters or waitresses.

Hi Tina, If i'm not enjoying a book I will stop reading at any point, I have no set amount of pages to read before chucking it in, but I still try to give it a fair go.

Personally I liked Infernal Devices more than City of Bones, and like Maime I haven't read past the first 3 in Mortal Instruments (haven't actually started the 4th book yet) although I might get a wriggle on with them now that I saw a post about the last book being released in a couple of months. Another post I saw concerning Cassandra Clare is a new book being released towards the end of the month that is about Magnus Bane... another spin series starting apparantly.

My mom was completely right. I do like the Infernal Devices more the other books. Both feature girl main characters, but the girl in Infernal Devices (I think) is stronger and smarter. I started the 4th book in the City of Bones series and never finished it. I don't plan to either because I did not like what she was doing with the characters. I like to pretend that there are only three.

Fairywings- Magnus Bane? He was one of my favorite characters, I will have to look into that.

The Magnus Bane Chronicles has actually been an ongoing thing for the past year. It's co-written by Cassandra Clare, Maureen Johnson, and Sarah Rees Brennan and they've been releasing individual short stories every month as ebooks. The complete collection is supposed to be released in print and ebook format sometime this year. Here's the Magnus Bane Chronicles page on Clare's website.

Just went over and said hello to Nicole. Looks as if you've sent a whole rampage of 75ers to her!

I'm a bit of a completist myself, and loathe to give up on a book. When I turned 50, started having intimations of mortality. Calculated how many books I would likely read in my lifetime if I kept reading at the same rate, barring loss of eyesight, good health, etc.

When you see that number, things fall into perspective. "If I only have X number of books left to read, is this one worth it?" I've started to give myself permission to drop a few if they don't seem 'Lifetime Worthy.' (On the other hand, I still find myself finishing most just because I'd already invested some time into them already ... best intentions, etc.)

"Lifetime Worthy" - I like that.

#167 - LOL at Mark. I'm a total tyrant!

#170- Thanks for the info Micky, will have to look into that, I only found out about the Bane Chronicles the other day after reading a book related newsletter.

#160 Done! We shall make her feel welcome until she gets sick of all the attention, and then some more :)

Amber I'm so glad you "de-lurked" and said hello!!! HI!!! It's wonderful to have a "new" visitor any time! I'll go check out your thread after I finish posting here. Please de-lurk more often! ;)

Mamie You're the bomb!! Thank you! Sounds like you were right about Abby's call on preferences for Infernal Devices! Mom *always* knows best! And I see there is a general consensus in CoB to stop after 3. That's sad and I don't even know what she did with the characters.

Richard Yes, sir! I don't think I've ever read proper satire before so I just need to embrace it and give it another go.

Nicole You're very welcome, my loyal friend! ;)

Mark Holding back my jealousy and being completely happy for you and Katie both. Enjoy the blatant use of the "Krug rule" where necessary! :)

Adrienne It's interesting that the consensus seems to be that Infernal Devices is better than City of Bones. I've only read the first one there, but now know that I don't need to push past 3. ;) I like the idea of the spin off of Magnus!

Abby I agree with you that the heroine in ID is stronger/smarter than CoB and that made me gravitate towards it more. I also enjoyed Magnus as one of my favorites in CoB! We're sharing a brain on that one!

Mickey Thanks for sharing that information and the link! How very cool! I'll have to put that on the "to read" list at some point!

Marianne I love the idea of "lifetime worthy", but agree that I've always been a completist myself as well. I think many of us have a "problem" with that, though.

Charlotte It's good, right???

Katie Ditto my comment to Mark in #176. I'm super jealous, but trying not to be! Keep him in line, Katie! lol

Piyush Thanks so much for making her feel welcome! :)

Hi Tina,
Trying to "catch up" on threads. Ha. Admittedly skimming through.

I will go visit your friend Nicole (oh yeah, bring all your friends! We don't have enough threads to keep up with around here ---- kidding!!).

I like the Krug rule, as well, and I join you in being terribly envious that Mark and Katie will be at Booktopia together. I've met both of these fierce delightful people and that venue is in for some trouble fun!!

#161 Muahahahahahaahahahahahhhhaaaaa!

Morning Tina!

If I'm dreading to pick up a book, out it goes. I usually give it about 50 - 100 pages. Unless it's something like Middlemarch or The Expedition of Humphry Clinker where I couldn't get past the first couple of pages, much less a full chapter. Unless it's a short book, then I suffer through and it ends up getting 2 or 3 out of 10 stars.

In FictFact, I have 259 series (probably more now, it's been six months). I can't figure out how to tell what percentage of them I've read.

I've read all the Iron Druid books. I think I'm going to listen to them on audio after I finish the Harry Potters.

no catching up... just saying hi...

Ellen Yeah, don't worry about hurting any feelings here with skimming. It's just what you have to do around these parts in this crazy time to "keep up." These folks are so blasted chatty!!! ;) I love that Booktopia is in for some trouble whenever Katie and Mark show up together! That thought just makes me smile all the way around!

Bekka No evil laughs. I'm not forgiving you just yet. LOL Once I'm through with Babbitt, I'll reconsider forgiveness... Kidding, it's getting easier as it goes along. I've put in mind that he's just satirizing and I'm not trying to analyze it as much and I hate it less. So there we are.

Abby Morning, Abbster! How goes it, young one??

MORPHY I'm honored!! I'm sorry I had to beg publicly, but I'm so glad you visited!!! I'm thinking maybe there's a bit of sadist in me or why else would I feel so compelled to finish something I'm not enjoying? Especially considering Marianne's "Lifetime Worthy" concept? Except for the fact that I've had so much encouragement to continue on, I would have closed it and moved along by now. ((((Morphy)))) Thanks for coming!!

Kath I know, love. I know. HI!!

Book #4
Midnight Riot
by Ben Aaronvitch



Yet another NEW series, for which I must blame and thank the beautiful Roberta for the introduction... The UK name / book cover Rivers of London is so much more descriptive and attractive, but the story is the same. A wonderful urban fantasy that mixes elements of magic, police work, mystery, and a bit of mayhem. In a word?? FUN!

It's going fine. Finished Frankenstein this morning, so yay. Hope you have a great weekend.

Hi Tina, I am having a laugh catching up here. So how did you go with staying so close to the bookshop!? I know you are no longer in the vicinity by now, but I would have encouraged you to visit that bookshop ;)
*evil laughter*
You know, don't you?, that coming to us for strategies to have less books in your like is a non-starter ;)

((((hugs))))

Re: abandoning books? I rarely do it. And by that I mean I do it all the time, but tell myself that I am still reading it and that I intend to finish it one day. Using that method, I am "currently" "reading" The English Patient, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, How to Make Gravy, The Scarlet Letter and Wolf Hall! :)

I have become less likely to abandon books since joining LT, but I still think that there are too many good books out there to read something that doesn't work for you.

Also, I am like Megan, with lots of books shoved to the side. Sometimes a book just has to wait for the right time.

Thanks for inviting your friend to join us. How wonderful!

A good day to you Tiina!

I've been lurking, but decided I'd better out myself and say I'm glad you liked the first Aaronovitch.

Phew....escaped a bullet, Rivers of London is already on my wishlist. Well maybe not escaped so much, more like reminded of a bullet. Might have to actually go and look for a copy and move it up the list.

Hope you and Lisa have a great weekend :)

*waving by*

I have no idea what Ellen is talking about. I am the soul of decorum and passivity. Perhaps it's Mark who is Trouble with a capital T?

I'm just following Katie around the threads this afternoon.

Decorum and passivity. Uh huh. Thank goodness this is not true.

^ LOL!!!!!

194. I want that shirt. I want it now!

Oh, that shirt! Priceless.

Tina, I'm so glad you liked Midnight Riot so much (and agreed about the UK title being so much better). The rest are even better, perhaps. I can't wait until the fourth is released here in the US.

Tina. Babbitt is one of my favorite books of all time. Gahhhh. I hope it's getting better. Is it? In any case, way to persevere and be a champion! Pearl rule, shmearl rule. :-)

Better to be a smart ass than a dumb ass!

>194 katiekrug:: *SNORK!* Love it! I'd get one, but Tomm would argue the point over 'classy' in my case - ha!

On finishing vs. abandoning books: I can't not finish a book. Just can't do it. Which is dumb, I know, especially when it's a slog and a torment. But, well, I Just. Can't. Do. It.

194 Love it!!

Hi Tina!

Happy Saturday, Tina! I hope your weekend is a great one. Do you get Monday off? This weekend is our last before the spring semester starts so I intend to savor every minute of it. I could savor better if it would stop snowing, though. :-(

Stopping in to wish you a weekend full of fabulous, dear.

OH MY GOSH! I almost bought that shirt a while ago! I had it my sweet little hands, but unfortunately, didn't buy it. I should have, it summed me up perfectly.

OH my gosh!! So much action on my little thread since I've been gone!

I want to get to you all individually and I will -- tonight!

Lisa wants me hustling out the door. She wants to go look at cars today. It's freezing (for here), but we're headed out.

I just had to post a few pictures before we ran.

I had an unannounced and last minute-ish Library Thing meet up last night! :)

The Georgia Center for the Book hosted Laurie Halse Anderson and she was AMAZING!! She's promoting her latest book, The Impossible Knife of Memory, but she touched on her story -- and how she came to write Speak, what prompted her to write TIKoM (it's really for her dad and nephew as well as all vets with PTSD). She was incredible!!

Anyway, so I asked Ardene markon if she would be willing to meet me / us (yes, I dragged Lisa of course) and she agreed!! So here are a few pictures....

First me & Ardene:

Really grainy picture, but the only semi-decent one that came out. Here's Laurie Halse Anderson during her talk. She was funny and engaging and I think has even convinced LISA to read! Now THAT, my dear friends, is what we call a MIRACLE!!!

Signing my book(s). You had to purchase something to get a ticket for her to sign, so of course I'll have to admit to buying 2. I thought that was pretty good considering they brought her entire works and I could have gone bananas.

I'm a bit demonstrative, as I'm trying to explain how much Speak touched me. I hadn't even 'recovered' the memory at the time I read the book of what happened to me in my youth, but it reached me on some level that my subconscious totally connected with. I thought it was because of the other people in my life who had been through sexual assault (at the time). I'm going to have to re-read it now with a more aware mind.

Yay for LT meetups, planned or unplanned! The reading sounds very entertaining. I'm not familiar with her books, but I'm going to keep an eye out at the library for them.

I'm having my very first on Monday with Steve (swynn), Amber (scaifea) and Amy (porch_reader, who I already know). So excited!

Last one, then I have to go. I promise to be back later and post more but the wife says it's a gorgeous day and we must go. ;)

This is my FAVORITE picture!!! Just in case anyone missed it, this is ME and freakin' Laurie Halse Anderson for crying out loud!!!!!

Cool! Looks like you had a great time. :)

Oh, how exciting! So glad you got to meet her!

Great pictures, Tina!!

Wonderful photos and looks like a really good time :)

LT meet-ups are uniformly wonderful in my humble opinion. It is nice to put a face to a name as I don't recall having seen Ardene's pic before. Ms. Anderson looks a friendly sort too, Tina, which is great. I do like authors that appreciate those that follow their work.

Can see that you are having a lovely weekend so I'll just hope that it long continues. xx

btw - good luck to Julia on her first LT meet-up; three all in one - how lovely.

Abby Up in 185 -- Did you like Frankenstein? I couldn't tell from your post and I remember liking it, so I'm curious!

Megan I actually managed NOT to go to the book store! It was a struggle, but I made it through! I know asking y'all for advice is like an alcoholic going to an AA meeting and asking the group to help her avoid liquor stores!! ;) I like your idea of not abandoning, but merely continuing to read them for an extended period. That's kind of genius!

Rhonda I do think LT is good for both encouraging us to try and finish those books that we may never have tried before and that are outside our regular comfort zone, but also in reminding us how MANY good books there are out there to read!

Linda Hey! How are you? Hope you are feeling well!

Roni I'm glad to see you've read it already, so I don't have to bullet you with it! ;) Posting pics of the pendants in just a bit, by the way!

Adrienne Sorry that I didn't "hit" you with it, but glad to have reminded you of a good one to push UP the TbR stack!

Piyush Hi *return wave*!!

Katie Methinks Ellen has your number, dear!! I LOVE the shirt!! May need to buy that myself if I can find it in my size!

Ellen Getting into trouble everywhere these days, huh?? :) Glad to see you!

Go Tina! Go Tina! Schmoozing with the the big dogs, huh? How cool. I just heard Anderson on the latest NPR podcast and she was was very interesting. She was talking about her father and his war experiences. The new book sounds very promising.
Who are you meeting next? Gillian Flynn?

Paws That is a SERIOUSLY great shirt, huh??

Julia So I can't pressure you into another new series on this one, huh??? ;) I'm so glad to hear the next ones are even better!! That's great news! **Oh, and I am off on Monday, so YAY!

Kerri Babbitt is getting better! Since I've gotten encouragement and moved further in the story (and accepted the satire, I guess), it's going much better. So, take heart. I'm not giving up!

Morphy AMEN to that!!

Amber Ha! I guess your hubby has opinions, but you could still buy the shirt & wear it anyway! :)

Chelle Hey there!! :)

Mamie Hello, dear! Wishing you a wonderful weekend as well! And Abby... what would your mother say if you bought that shirt???????? LOL

Julia You sneaked in there in between my posts! I'm excited to hear details about your coming meetup with Amber, Amy, and Steve (who I don't know, but I'm sure is lovely). I'll expect pictures. Fair warning. ;)

Jim, Amber, Roni, Kath, & Paul I had a BLAST. I guess I really am just a big old book nerd. Her opening statement was, "Man, this is a great crowd for a Friday night. I don't know whether to be really honored or feel sorry for you guys." She had me rolling from the first line!! :)

Mark Sneaky... I almost missed your post! You heard her talking about her dad? So you know how and why she wrote this last book then. She was pretty moving about how hard it was growing up with her dad facing the after math of war... I don't know who I'll meet next, but I'm sure it won't be as many folks as y'all meet at Booktopia!!

Ladies and gents.... just to promote our incredibly talented Roni in case you haven't already fallen prey to her massive craft talents.

I had her make two pendants for me and allowed my mom to choose one (of course I had to keep one for myself!!). This was for her birthday gift.



She chose the purple / green one! I loved them both so much that I couldn't decide which one I wanted her to pick, and had spent enough time looking lovingly at both of them that now I've asked Roni to make another purple one so I can have one too!

Can you give Gillian a hug for me? Nothing ridiculous, just a gentle squeeze! You know, she wrote the screenplay for Gone Girl and completely changed the final third. What?

I very much enjoy the works of Laurie Halse Anderson. I've read Speak, Wintergirls, Fever and Chains. I saw a copy of her recent book in Barnes and Noble. I'm hoping my library has it soon.

How amazing you had a mini meet up and saw this wonderful author as well. And, congratulations to Lisa for supporting your book addiction.....

Delurking to say that I have enjoyed all of the Laurie Halse Anderson books that I have read.that is so exciting that you got to meet her and hear her speak.

#209: SO COOL.

*blush*

Tina, It seems I have fallen behind in posts in only a very short time. It would be nice to meet up with fellow LT members, but I think there must be limited few who live in Australia, let alone my small state. As for the the talk that Laurie Halse Anderson gave, I am sure it would have been great. And there is nothing better than getting your books signed. Looks like you had a good time. Hope you are having a fantastic weekend :)

Ok, I didn't know who Laurie Halse Anderson was (before your post, now I do!), but am really glad you got to meet a favourite author. For me, 2013 provided a similar opportunity when I got to meet Amartya Sen, the nobel laureate economist - the only book of his that I have read being a non-economics book called The Argumentative Indian. I don't agree with all his economics or political ideas, but he is a special man, an intellectual, whose brilliance is apparent even at his age (He is 80!).

Hi Tina. Hope your weekend is going well. How was car hunting?

I went to bookfest today, one of the boys came with me for the first time, that was an experience lol. He sure knows how to spend mum's money :)

I love you in purple! Looks like you had a fabulous time.

Happy Sunday Tina! Frankenstein was ok, it took me some effort to get through it. I am glad I read it, and I really liked the ship captain. I didn't like Frankenstein as a man, and I was sympathetic towards the monster.

BTW Those pendants are beautiful.

Mark You know, I have yet to read Gone Girl so I've no idea what the final third is??? Must I rectify that immediately sir? If/when I meet her, I will hug her for you straight away! :)

Linda I picked up Wintergirls & The Impossible Knife of Memory at the event. They are both staring at me from my night table. I want SO badly to pick them up right now. But, I am trying to be good and finish the ones I'm juggling currently... And Lisa is definitely a keeper for many reasons, but the understanding and support of my book thing is TOP (or very near top) of the list!!

Jayde / Jess Thank you so much for de-lurking!! It really was SO amazing to hear her speak. I've always idolized authors, but it's only been in the last 2 years since moving back to Atlanta that I've been able to attend book events and start hearing authors speak. It is mind blowing for me. They are like my super-heroes! LOL

Ellen I know, right!!! She let me get right next to her! She was super approachable; like a normal person! ;)

Roni No blushing, super craft lady! I can brag all over if I want to. Right??? ;)

Nicole It's very easy to fall behind here... no worries. We'll have to keep thinking about an international meetup one day if any of us ever wins the lottery! I'd love to visit you in Australia! That has been on my bucket list for years! When I was younger, I thought I'd be able to afford to attend the Sydney Olympics. Hahahahaha... One day I'll get there.

Piyush There is something so incredible about getting to hear a favorite author, isn't there?? And no one in my regular life understands it. Only here can I share and gush and have folks GET how truly exciting it is!!! Thanks for that!

Adrienne She hunted. She bargained. She bought. We were there 4 hours. So much for spending a beautiful day outside. We were in the dealership all day. They brought the cars to us because it was so cold (after the first one). FYI - Used 2011 Ford Edge for those interested in details. Shiny black beauty! Lisa is thrilled. I didn't realize she was serious about purchasing. I figure she allows me lots of leeway with books, so I was shutting up until she asked my opinion. Then, I gave it and we talked it over and she bought the less expensive car than the one she originally had her eyes set upon via the Internet. ;)

Morphy Thank you!! I almost said "we did" have a fabulous time, but then I decided I needed to change that to read I had a fabulous time. I shouldn't speak for Ardene or Lisa. I just know I had a blast!! ;)

Abby I agree with your sentiments. I disliked Frankenstein immensely, but I really felt for the monster. I think that's why I liked the book so much; because I had a heart-string pull thing going on with the monster character. **Pendants... I know... the pictures just can't do them justice either! They are prettier in person!

Tina i just finished Out Stealing Horses and I really loved it! It's not a run out and read right now but definitely read it one day.

Glad to hear Lisa found her car. It's nice to be able to talk through big decisions like cars and actually have your input appreciated, and look on the bright side, since she came away with her car on the first day (even though you spent the whole day there) at least your not going to have to spend another nice day sitting around looking at cars.

As the old saying goes *Happy wife, happy life * :)

Meet-ups and authors and jewelry!!! This thread is hopping, Tina!!! So glad that you got to meet Laurie Halse Anderson.

Drive by hugs - hope all is good.

Ro Added to the huge and ever burgeoning wish list. Twist, twist, twist of the arm. OUCH, woman! :-)

Adrienne What a great outlook!! And SUCH a true saying, huh???? ;)

Amy You made me say (to the tune of Dorothy and gang in Wizard of Oz) "Meet-ups and Authors and Jewelry! Oh my!!" LOL!! ME TOO (about meeting Ms. LHA)

Bekka ((((Bekka)))) All is good here! Must get around to threads later! Taking quick break to check in here then go check on Lisa. More on that below!

Book #5
Changeless by Gail Carriger
Why Did I read this now? Because I recently bought it and needed a break from Babbitt so I rewarded myself for reading chapters in Babbitt by getting to read this one!



Excellent steam-punk-ish, fantasy-ish, fun-ish series! Someone here warned me that I would want to read the next as soon as I finished Changeless and whomever she was was NOT wrong. Alas, but I only bought the one and I have many more obligations a-waiting me...

Something is amiss in London-town and has afflicted the supernatural set. They are unable to change one night (hence, the title). Lord Maccon goes to Scotland to investigate....followed not long after by Lady Maccon and her entourage of not-so 'merry' women.

My boss & I have this presentation tomorrow in front of the PRESIDENT of the company, the Chief Operating Officer and the Vice President of something (she's the one who is directly over my boss). This is where we present our "vision" and strategic plan for our department for the entire year. I'm a nervous wreck already.

Also, Lisa hasn't been feeling well since Sunday night. She thought she had a sinus infection, and I tried to get her an appointment at the doc yesterday but they couldn't get her in until tomorrow. She buckled and went to the minute clinic today. She has the FLU. :( She took the flu shot, but with her rheumatoid arthritis, she has no immunity apparently.

So we could use a few anxiety-reducing and fever-reducing prayers for this Georgia household!!

Much love to all!

I'm so sorry, Tina, to hear that Lisa is sick. I certainly hope she recovers quickly. I had no idea about RA blocking immunity - never heard that before.

How strange - I read the first Carriger book in the series finishing it just the other day (haven't posted it yet). Great minds, etc., etc.

Take care of Lisa and also yourself. Can't have you coming down sick too.

Good luck with the presentation.

Poor Lisa to have the flu! I am sending immediate get-well wishes from Iowa. I'll bundle them up thoroughly so they are not so cold when they get there. :-)

Good luck on your presentation, but I know you will do a great job!

Prayers headed your way... If there's one thing I understand it's big presentation stress!

Love your meetup photos! Good for you in cementing these online friendships we make.

Sending Lisa some healing mojo. Please tell her poor, poor baby from me. Flu is absolutely no fun at all. And wishing you good luck although I know that you will not need it. Keeping the both of you in my thoughts and prayers, as always. Hugs to you, dear!

Good luck with your presentation, Tina. And healing energy on its way to Lisa.

Great meet-up, pictures ... and getting up close to Ms Anderson herself. There certainly are some advantages to living in civilization - ha.

Tina, Sorry to hear Lisa is unwell, wishing her a speedy recovery from the flu. Good luck with your presentation. I am sure that it will be great!.

Charlotte Hey! Did you like the Carriger?? I really am enjoying the series! Thanks for your wishes for Lisa (and the presentation). I think it's the meds that reduce the immunity. I'm not sure, but I think to control the inflammation in her joints they suppress the immunity as well. Someone health wise can chime in and correct me when they read if that's wrong...

Julia Thanks for the warm well wishes! Could you send some regular warmth this way as well??? ;)

Jim Big presentation stress is not fun, but SURE feels good when it's over, huh???

Megan I want to meet every ONE of you one day!! When are you coming to the US or am I going to have to plan a trip to NZ? ;)

Mamie You're a sweetie! I'll tell her! She's currently bundled up and sleeping in front of the fire. It's all I can do to get her to stay on the couch and rest. She has a hard time being sick, that one!

Cee Thanks for all the good wishes! There have to be some advantages to the terrible traffic we put up with daily, Cee!!! LOL :)

Nicole Thanks for the good thoughts and recovery wishes!

NOTE to all -- the presentation went well! The "big dogs" were nice! The President is a nice lady, who complimented us both after the presentation. I had heard she "wasn't very warm", but she seemed very excited over our vision. The COO guy was very approachable and I had met him before about 10 years ago when I was a brand new consultant and he was still a nursing home administrator. And he reminded me of that meeting (cause Lord knows I wouldn't have been able to place the face/name) so bullet missed on that one (whew!). And the VP is always sweet, exceptionally put together, looks like a model, but was late so I was relaxed by the time she got there and I had spent time talking with the other two.

But, now they want us to do it all again for the regional vice presidents, so.... round two will be in another few weeks. Most of that round of players I know (not all), and at least one of them I go WAYYYYY back, so that will be a much more comfortable group (I think).

Going to check as many threads as I can in a 10 minute break then back to work!

Tina, I did like the Carriger - in spite of myself. It wasn't that I was pre-disposed to hate it it. Truly, I did not know what exactly to expect. At the beginning it seemed silly and I am not a fan of alternate history. However, as things developed it was obvious that it wasn't trying to be any kind of serious alternate history - how could it be with that cast of characters - so it got easier and easier for me to like it. Will definitely be continuing with the series.

Glad to hear that the presentation went well - hope the sequel goes equally well. Doesn't sound as if you have as many qualms about it as this one just past.

More good wishes to the patient. Stay healthy!

Could you send some regular warmth this way as well???

Gee, Tina, I would if I could, but it's going to be -9F (-23C) tonight, with windchills tonight and tomorrow around -30F to -35F. I was kind of hoping you could send me some!

-9? Wind chills of -30 to -35? Sounds as if we are all pretty much screwed.

Charlotte I didn't really know what to expect at first either, as I'd heard the series billed as 'steampunk' and I've never read any before. But as you said, it's just plain fun in a goofy alternate history!

Julia Yeah, pretty stupid asking the Iowa-ite to send ME some warmth! LOL I won't fuss about my 4 degree windchill today. I'll just sound like a baby compared to the crap you've got. Sounds like a warm day compared to yours! C'mon down for some summer breezes! hehehe

"Pretty well screwed" is a good description of this winter so far, fourpawz!

Tina, what most Iowans won't admit to you is that they/we love to complain about the weather, whatever the weather happens to be at the moment. So in the winter, we gripe about the cold and the snow. In the summer, we gripe about the heat and the humidity. In the spring and fall, we gripe about the amount of rainfall and how it is either too much or not enough for the crops.

All of this probably makes it sound as if Iowans are just a bunch of complaining whiners, but the truth is more subtle than that. We are relieved to live in such a weather-eventful state because we always have small talk to share with strangers. And since this is Iowa and not (say) New York City, we all talk to strangers!

Well, at least you always have something to talk about --- that's the irony of it? :)

I think I'd prefer a milder climate and not talking to strangers, thanks!!

Book #6
Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis
Why Did I Read Now? A bizarre goal to attempt to read a classic off the shelf



I know this is absolute heresy, but I had a very difficult time trying to like this book. I did not like anything about Babbitt the character, nor any of the other characters in the novel really. I appreciate all the cheering to get me to stay on course and finish it as I probably would have given up otherwise. I do recognize that Lewis has some serious literary chops to write such a distasteful character! :) I did get into the story eventually and the historical setting was nice, but I just could not overcome my dislike of Babbitt. I'm terribly sorry to the huge fans out there. This one just wasn't for me.

#251> Right about now, so would I!

>236 TinaV95: It may have been me that gave that warning, Tina. I usually do any time I see someone starting the series. If it makes you feel better, the rest of the books have nowhere near the cliffhanger ending of that one.

Hope Lisa feels better soon and so glad to see your presentation went well!

Sorry about the terrible weather, Julia. I hope y'all will have some relief soon!!

Mickey I think it MUST have been you! I knew someone had warned me and I almost bought both, but I was on a "strict" budget that I had already more than doubled (gulp), so I knew I couldn't get them both! Now I'll just have to request the next one from the library sometime in Fantasy Februrary! *Thanks for the wishes for Lisa and the presentation congrats, too.

But darling heart, George Babbitt is intended to be a thoroughly dislikable dreary dull dog. You got it perfectly! Not one person in Zenith is remotely likable! It's the epitome of obliviousness, the apotheosis of ignorance and Babbitt is the very blood and bone of the place.

It's an impressive feat to write an entire book in arterial blood, gall, and wormwood! *smooch* for trying so hard.

Glad the presentation went over well, but we all KNEW it would, since it was you doing it! Sorry to hear about the flu in your house--Hope Lisa gets through it quickly and doesn't pass it on to you.

I'd send you some of OUR warm weather if I could--3 weeks of summer temps here--we went to the beach today.

Sorry I seem to be late for all of this, but Congrats on the presentation, Good Luck on the next one, and Get Well Wishes for Lisa!

Julia: I love your description of Iowa small-talk! It seems to hold true for Wisconsoners, too.

I just don't like books with no one in them to like. I have to assume that I would feel the same about Babbitt. I have never read it, nor even seen it as far as I can remember. I have heard of it, but only in a vague way.

Glad to hear the presentation was good... stay well and keep warm. (F here with snow right now. Boo.

It's the same for Minnesotans. Weather is *always* a topic of conversation.

Whoot for finishing Babbitt!! Sorry that it was a loser. I can read books where I don't like any of the characters, but there has to be a payoff - maybe the writing is gorgeous or the plot is diabolically clever, but there has to be something that redeems it.

Glad that you liked Soulless - I read it last year and thought it was great fun. I have not yet gotten to the second one, but I have hopes for getting to it next month. There is a GN version - did you know that? Abby read it and loved it. SO far they have done the first three books.

Thrilled to hear that the presentation went well - I just knew that it would! Hoping that Lisa is feeling better.

Richard But...but...but... How did you "like" the book despite all that??? Apparently Kath and I are of the same mind that if there are no likeable characters, the book isn't going to hit. I felt the SAME way last year with Anna Karenina. I detested her (and the other chap, whose name I have erased from memory). I couldn't get past that to enjoy the remainder of what everyone else seemed to love about the book. Oh well. I did really try!! I love you still!!

Roni WHAT?? Beach weather? You stinker, you! :P I'm insulated from the flu by the flu shot (that's what I keep repeating to myself over and over and over!!) Thanks for the presentation well wishes!

Amber It's never too late for a visit here! Thanks for all the wishes ~ even the retroactive ones. :)

Kath I would advise you to stay away from Babbitt, me girl! LOL Visited your thread last night and looks like you've come out of your reading funk! Lots of completed books; Mr. Babbitt would throw you backwards in a heart beat!

Morph I'll bet you guys/gals have it bad up in Minnesota right now too. Boo.

Mamie Yeah, I wish I could say that I found something that I loved enough in Babbitt to redeem the unlikeableness of everyone and everything, but I didn't. It just makes Americans sound awful; which honestly, may be the case in many instances. Maybe that's why I disliked it so much because I fear there is just too much truth in the picture Lewis painted of the awful American????

I did NOT know that they've made the Carriger books into graphic novels! I will definitely have to go check out if my library has them!!! Going to go right now! :)

Mamie NOT only do they NOT have the graphic novels, but they don't have the third in the series... Blameless, which I was banking on requesting for Fantasy February since Carriger left me with such a dreadful cliffhanger at the end of Changeless. Blast it all!!!!!!

That totally shocks me that the library doesn't have them! And Blameless - how can they NOT have that one?!

That Changeless cliffhanger is such a doozy! I was very frustrated by it as well.

Mamie I don't know, but I am MORE than a little miffed at them! You know what I had to do, right? What choice did I have?????

I HAD to go and buy the next two in the series (from my www.thriftbooks.com website so they were totally cheap) because I was so irritated!!

So yeah, that's books
14. Blameless
15. Heartless
for those still making me count.

Nora I wasn't overly mad at the author at first... you know. She "got" me. Hook, line, sinker. Mickey warned me. I knew what I was getting into ahead of time and I should have bought the third one at the same time. But NOW? When I tried to go get it and it wasn't available? Well, now I'm mad. ;) So, I had to go fix it!

Popping by to catch up. Are you talking about the Soulless books? I haven't read any of the actual books, but I have read the first 3 graphic novels.

I loved that series, so much fun to read. Glad your enjoying them Tina.

How's Lisa doing today?

Congrats on the presentation going so well and good luck with the next one, but I'm sure it will be just as well received as this one was.

If I could control weather I'd love to help you out and send you some heat. But since I can't I'll just keep thinking warm thoughts for you all.

Tina, LOL ..... YOU are very sweet :)

Tina the Heretic- That has a nice ring to it! I've never read Babbitt, so no comment there.

There is mixed LT opinion on Gone girl. I loved it and I have a feeling you will too! Bookhorn that baby in!

#262 I read Disgrace last year, with the most detestable set of characters I have ever seen assembled in a book, and yet overall, I liked the book!

#270 I quite liked Gone Girl too, it was one of my last reads of 2013.

Abby YES! I'm talking about Soulless... You must read them! I tried looking for the GN after your mom told me yesterday that they existed and my stinking library doesn't have them. NOR does my favorite thrift book store have them. So, I've put them on the wish list there at least! :)

Adrienne I am enjoying them, Adrienne ~~ thanks! Re: Lisa... her fever finally broke! I made her stay home again today because she still doesn't look so good (lol), but this is the first time she is not burning up in days, so I think we're on the path to recovery finally!! Yay! (**Warm thoughts appreciated!!)

Kath I do what I can to watch out for my friends, you know!! ;)

Mark HA! I've never been The Heretic before and it feels kind of 'bad girl-ish'! I think I like it a little!! lol I'm pretty sure if you loved Gone Girl, I'll love it. Our tastes seem to run fairly dead on with most of the recommendations you've given me!

Piyush SO.... it IS possible to like a book even with hateful, nasty characters?? Maybe you're just a better person than I am, P?? :)

So this message is for the hearty amongst us... I'm going to add a spoiler for those who don't care to read about blood. ;) Just a really long nose bleed people, don't get too grossed out.

Mostly this message is for nurse Roberta, but there are some other grossies like us out there, so here you go...

So I had a 45 MINUTE long nose bleed this morning! Apparently, I forgot to add water into my CPAP machine last night until I woke up to go to the bathroom and figured it out, so I had hot air blowing up my nostrils for hours. So this morning when I blew my nose, all hell broke loose. I couldn't get it to stop and had to wake up the sick-o Lisa to keep giving me tissue so I wouldn't bleed all over everything. I finally got it to slow down by reclining some on the bed with about 4 pillows. And here's the gross part... When I thought I had it under control I sat up and coughed up the largest wad of blood / mucus I have ever seen. Apparently I was still having said nose bleed, but it was just bleeding another direction. ***We did this for another 15 minutes until it finally really stopped. It was disgusting. Thank goodness this boss doesn't call at 9am like the old job/boss did. She never calls. I was late getting started by almost 30 minutes!

So guess who will WITHOUT FAIL check her CPAP machine from now on????? Oh, and needless to say, Lisa didn't sleep in after that. ;)

Gross stuff over. Proceed with your day. My job here is done. ;)

Ick, yuck and I'm glad you are okay hun - that does NOT sound like the way to start a good day!

Yikes Tina! Yes always check your CPAP for water and use Ocean type spray before you put it on too because it gets the saline really in there. When I worked the bedside I used to love to NT suction because I'm so gross like that! LOL!

You said on Julia's thread And then I get here and see the war of the books!

I will NOT be a part of it. I had nothing to do with it! LOLOLOLOL

Have you NO shame! Pants on fire girl! *runs away before lightning hits Tina*

I think you did it wrong - you are supposed to remain upright and just use one finger to pinch off the nose. Not down at the nostril, but up where it is bleeding - you maintain very firm pressure, and it takes longer than you would think to get it to stop. At least, this is how Craig, who is a pediatrician, always handles them. You poor, poor baby! No fun!

That whole "lie down with a nosebleed" thing totally grosses me out and I refuse to do it. I would rather bleed out and die than choke on all that blood running down the back of my throat. The pinching thing that Mamie described works but it is hard (for me) to maintain the pressure long enough to make it completely stop. The worst nosebleed I ever had was my freshman year at Michigan State. It just would not stop. Eventually I had to go to the Student Health clinic which was clear across the HUGE campus at MSU so I had to take the bus. You just haven't lived until you've ridden a campus bus while holding a bloody towel to your face. :-)

276. Yeah, that's how my nurse aunt taught me you're supposed to handle nosebleeds. Remain upright (or preferably lean forward with your head only) and then pinch your nose right below where the bone ends and the cartilage begins - not the nostrils.

#272 Maybe you're just a better person than I am, P??
I find that highly improbable, if not outright impossible. I am a spiteful, vengeful God human. And did I mention egotist and megalomaniac?

It is perhaps possible that I could relate to these detestable characters better than you can?

Bekka Ick and yuck is right! Thanks for reading all that nasty! ;)

Ro Yeah, I figured you would appreciate and enjoy my story!! I hadn't thought of using Ocean first. I think I still have some; so I'll put it by the bedside and see if that helps trigger my brain to recall to use it! By the way, NO sign of lightning or thunder here! hahaha

Mamie Yeah, I'm pretty sure you're right. Lisa was so out of it that she surely wasn't telling me what to do, but I do recall now that you say it, you ARE supposed to stay upright and pinch. But that hurts so badly (I've done that on lesser bleeds). Also, when you're bleeding as badly as I was, I got a little bit panicky. I kind of lost my cool, calm and collected-ness.

Julia Wonder why it takes SO long to stop even with pressure? I would rather bleed out and die than choke on all that blood running down the back of my throat Yeah, it was disgusting... and I think I'll choose bleed out & die next time. :)

Charlotte Here's hoping I don't have another this bad, but if I do, that I can remember the correct procedures!

*fly by hi*

Aww, I'm sorry you got all bloody and panicky and goopy and stuff. :(

Hi Megan! Glad to see you swooping by!! ;)

Thanks, Morphy! I like to think I'm pretty stoic, but that's usually when someone else is injured I guess. When I'm involved I supposed I do the "go to pieces" thing. haha

I'm so sorry to hear about your nose bleed!

Sh*t, what a way to start the day! However, on the good news front, after a busy week I finally sat down at my jewelry bench today--results on my thread!

Getting caught up here, Tina. Sorry to see that Lisa is sick with the flu. I had the same problem with my local library and the Carriger books - that had books one and two but book three was MIA. I hope your weekend is a relaxing one.

Wow, that sounds like an *epic* nosebleed! Glad it's over for you!

Also, I had to giggle, since it seems as if *everyone* read the 'spoiler.' No weak stomachs in this group! Ha!

Gentle hugs sent to Lisa. I hope it will be over soon, and that you will not catch this.

My primary care doctor mentioned that she is seeing more cases of flu this year than she has in many years.

Congratulations on your presentation. I knew you would do a splendid job!

Hi Tina, you've convinced me that I must try Babbitt LOL. I actually am not much bothered by unlikable characters but I haven't read anything by Sinclair Lewis. So we shall see...

Sorry about that nosebleed. It sounds just awful.

Wowza! That sounds like a doozy of a nosebleed!

You have been doing so much great reading lately. I also love the Carriger series and I am all caught up on that one. I just recently read Midnight Riot and I've already moved on to book #2 but on audio this time. I read Babbitt some years ago but I don't remember anything about it. I also use FictFact and find it to be a great tool.

That sounds like one hell of a nosebleed! I hope Lisa is feeling better too. A real fun & games morning over at your house.

Okay, this is the very last time I'm going to say "I'm so far behind." I'm just going to assume that you (and everyone else around here) take that as a given. Oh well.

I have a copy of Babbitt on the TBR shelf -- Kerri sent it to me last fall and I believe it's a favorite of hers. I will get to it eventually.

The nosebleed sounds horrendous. And Mamie is right, no lying down, just staying calm..... ha! Here's wishing for a calm week ahead.....

Abby Thanks for the commiseration on the nosebleed! I'm all better now! :)

Roni! Ooooh!! We have results??? I must go look when I finish here! Woo hoo!

Lori Wonder why the libraries don't want us to read book #3?? It's a conspiracy! ;)

Amber Ha ~~ it was epic! And, you're right! I guess I didn't need to do the "spoiler" after all! LOL

Linda Hey! I've been repeatedly saying to myself, "I will not get the flu. I will not get the flu. I will not get the flu." I am directing the power of positive thinking to win in this case!

Bonnie You're a brave one, my dear! Of course, there are many people who love Babbitt. Kerri for one. And I don't know if Richard would call it a favorite, but he definitely encouraged me to read it.

Heidi You're all caught up on Carriger's series? Hopefully I can make a big dent during Fantasy February. I've got books 3 & 4 on the way now and I think my library did have 5, so we'll see! I do enjoy spending time on FictFact, but I find it a bit dangerous! :)

Deedledee Hi! Thanks for visiting! Sorry for such a gross topic. But, yes...it was quite the morning! hahaha

Ellen Here's hoping you'll find Babbitt much more to your liking than I did. **No worries about being behind. I think we're all behind constantly these days. Or at least I am in the same boat with you, anyway!

Because I haven't warbled enough lately....

This is the cover art for Kevin Hearne's newest Iron Druid book, "Shattered" (coming out in June). Touchstone not working, as it hasn't been published yet. Hope to be caught up with series by June!

So I'm a gay lady, but Atticus is one handsome druid dude! Feel free to drool away all over my thread, girls. ;)

Hi Tina, trying to catch up on threads here. Hope you got over your nose bleed okay. My huband suffers from them terribly. He also coughs up yucky things after a nose bleed. Hope all is well and that Lisa is getting better and that you do not end up with the flu also.

I have trouble with nosebleeds too, Particularly in winter when I ue the fireplace :P Too dry. Add in spiking blood pressure like I have had lately, and trouble begins. So I totally feel your pain. I have been trying to remember to keep water boiling frequently when I'm at home, and that seems to help.

Did you see the Kevin Hearnes short?
The Chapel Perilous Kindle Edition Kevin Hearne for .99

I myownself am in love with Oberon :)

Okay, handsome fellow but I have a few complaints.

1) What is that... thing... on his chin?

2) What idiot made his sword all tangled in his hair?

3) Where are his tattoos? There are some faint markings but not near enough or dark enough. And they are broken up. They need to be connected.

Morphy the tattoos are on the outside of his arm, not the inside. Also on the soles of his feet. Ouch! I think that is a shadow of the energy his bindings give off. I've loved most of the covers of Iron Druid but this one I'm not crazy about. He has that fuzz on his chin in most of the other covers but I HATE his hair. He looks too much like Sammy Hagar or Chad Kroeger in this cover. Not a good look for 2014! That is just my not so humble opinion. LOL! The sword in his hair? I've got nothing.

Tina!!!

ETA: Corrected the shadow comment.

Nicole Hey & thanks! I'm doing well after the nose bleed! I've been religiously checking my CPAP machine and have been using the saline nose spray as Dr. Roberta has suggested! So I'm being a good girl! :)

Kath I hadn't thought about the fact that we've been having a fire almost every night for the past two weeks! It's just been SO much colder than usual here... I think that's why my asthma has been acting up too. I almost never have to use my inhaler, but I've had to use it twice in the last few days. It's worth it to be warm, but I'll be more mindful that it's probably also added to the nose situation! Thanks for that tip, Kath! RE Hearne: I saw him say on FB that he released a short. I still don't have a Kindle (dang it). I just may have to fix that one of these days! ;) I love Oberon too!!!

Morphy I'm not sure what they call that little piece of a beard there... I'm guessing you're not a fan, huh? ;) I totally didn't notice the sword OR the lack of tattoos! Good eye!

Ro You snuck in whilst I was posting!!

Is snuck a word? Is that the correct past tense of sneak?? Correct me if I'm wrong, grammar folks...

So I picked a bad cover... Sorry!! I love these books and it was the first one I saw on my FB feed. :) So I saved it to my photo bucket and voila!

I'm going to try to start a new thread today before someone starts complaining about the length. I was going to wait until February, but we're awfully close....right???

Agreed - hair BAD! And I'd like to see more tatts too. Still can't wait to read it though... even though I haven't read Hunted yet!

Bekka You MUST read Hunted NOW! :)

Why is this thread so long?! Just kidding, Tina! I couldn't resist after you posted that you needed to start a new thread before someone complained. You know me - always making trouble.

Just dropping by to say high! *waves*

YOU didn't pick a bad cover, the publisher did. And it isn't really a *bad* cover. Just has some oddities. Isn't going to prevent me from grabbing it as soon as it's on the shelf!

Boy does that publisher know how to pick cover models. :D

Yes, I have finished the Parasol Protectorate series by Carriger. I have started her new YA series which starts with Etiquette & Espionage and it is super fun as well.

Hi Tina- Hope your Monday went well. I am waiting patiently for the 2nd Iron Druid book. I'd like to include it for FF.

Hi Tina! Glad you have the nose-bleed under control. Sounds like you are having some fun reading!

Hi Tina! Did you see the cool video of Macklemore et al performing at the Grammys Sunday night? I recommend finding it on YouTube. It brought tears to my eyes.

Not only have I read the Parasol Protectorate and the YA series, I'm also reading the graphic novels!

>300 TinaV95: snuck is defo a word (I am as sure of that as I am of defo being one )

Re: bad covers.....what is it with them!? There are a ton of graphic designers out there who would kill to do book cover designs all day every day. Oh, but I forget- some of them have bad taste maybe? lol, ah well.

>310 EBT1002: I saw that Ellen- it was wonderful! It brought a tear to my eyes too, and Keith Urban's ;)

Folks.... Pardon the lack of individual responses but I'm in desperate need of prayers & encouragement.

I've been on the road stranded in the Atlanta horrific handling of this winter storm for 13 + hours now. I've moved about mile in that time (that counts the hours I had to wait at the gas pump to avoid being stranded).

It is miserable. I am miserable. I have to pee. Badly. I've gone on a bush once today. In a public spot. It's ok to laugh. I was desperate. I'm almost there now.

I am praying & trying hard not to let my attitude crumble.

I'm hoping to find a parking lot to sleep in for the night, but right now am stuck on an interstate.

The whole nation (world) is going to be laughing at how badly Atlanta screwed this up. But right now, this fat white girl is trying not to be terrified. I've slipped & slid but no crunchies! God is good.

Love to you all. Pray for my safety, my bladder, & my attitude. Oh, & that I can stay awake. I've been up since 5. I'm fading.

Tina - I just turned on the CBS morning show to see their story about the horrific conditions down your way. I hope, hope, hope that you are home now, tucked into your bed, safe and warm.

Ohmygosh, Tina! I'm so sorry! Quickly sending my thoughts your way, and I hope you're somewhere safe and off of the interstate now!

Oh, Tina! I hope you've been able to get home by now. What a horrible thing to happen. Can't imagine being stuck that long.

Tina - that sounds horrible! I do hope you get home soon.

Oh Tina, I'm thinking about you. The having to pee when you're trapped like that is the worst!!!!!!

I hope you're home safely in a warm bed as I write.

Oh no! Fingers, toes, everything crossed that you are home. Please let us know as soon as you are okay.

Alright, as soon as you are okay and have pee'd...

Yes, what Bekka said - pee and *then* let us know you're okay!

I surely hope you're home, sleeping, and making a lot of comfort food by now. *smooch*

Not home. But after 24 hours in my car, I am finally at a hotel. Get this.... I'm only 2.6 miles from where I started. It's unbelievably insane!

I have a massive migraine and got only a few hours of sleep on the side of the interstate last night so I'm off to take a migraine pill and try to sleep.

The traffic is STILL NOT MOVING. 24 hours. I'll tell more details later but I have no cell charger & need to save battery.

Love you all! Thanks for your prayers, love, & support. Wish me home for tomorrow please! My kitties need me! Lisa's stuck at hospital working.

OMIGOSH!!!!

Serious good-news whammys comin' at you, Mrs. Lisa!

Oh, ding dang, Tina! That's nuts!! Hoping hoping that you get home soon!

Wow, that is CRAZY! I hope you are home, safe and sound, soon.

Oh, Tina!! We were watching the news, and could not believe the mess in Atlanta. We did get snow way down here even, but just a sprinkling of it. Still, Albany has pretty much shut down for today and tomorrow. I just cannot imagine what you have been through stuck in that mess on the highway for so long. I am so happy to hear that you made it to a hotel so that you can get some rest - hoping that the migraine pill works. You poor, poor baby! Keeping you in our thoughts and prayers.

Oh!!! Poor baby!! I've been caught on the road during a blizzard before and I KNOW how terrifying it can be.***

Be safe, stay warm and just wait the thing out. Very positive thoughts coming your way!!

***Ended up seeking shelter with an old boyfriend with whom I'd had a VERY bad break up AND he was entertaining the next new GF at the time. He was the only one I knew in about a 5 mile radius. Desperate times. If you asked me at the time (whilst listening to disturbing bedroom noises as I huddled under blanket on sofa) I would have happily peed in the bushes infront of everyone!!

You poor poor baby! So glad you were able to get off the road and into a hotel room. Please stay safe and warm. I will be praying for your safety.

>322 TinaV95: after 24 hours in my car, I am finally at a hotel. Get this.... I'm only 2.6 miles from where I started
What the? That is insane, I can scarcely believe it! Thank goodness you are in a hotel now- any price would be worth it. Rest up and do not face that situation again- please.
(((hugs)))

Seriously. Stay. Where. You. Are.

Perhaps the front desk has a charger? I've been lucky sometimes that way.

Not liking the radio silence. Not one bit.

Oh, Tina! I am so sorry that you are going through such a terrible time with this awful weather. I truly hope you can get some much-needed rest there at the hotel and that your migraine eases. It does sound like the level of unpreparedness is above and beyond the usual "the south can't handle snow" meme that we all chuckle about. I hope eventually there is an investigation into how everything went so badly wrong, but in the meantime we are hoping like heck that you and everyone else is able to get home safely and soon!

Wow, Tina, I'm so sorry to read of your past 24 hours! I just read on my AP app that the problem lies with businesses and schools releasing employees and kids all at the same time creating gridlock, then the snow! Eeeesh. Good to know you found a vacancy and can rest up. You, kitties and Lisa will all be reunited soon, the important thing is your all safe.

"Perhaps the front desk has a charger? I've been lucky sometimes that way."
I had the same thought.

And, I could read every word and maybe figure it out, but I'm wondering where on Earth you are, Tina!! I mean, I guess you're near home but you can't get there and Lisa can't get to you..... Anyway, I know you're sleeping (I hope you're sleeping) as I write this, and I hope the sleep helps with the migraine at least.

HUGS.

Holy crap! Ok, so the good news is now you've got one heckuva story to tell!

OK.... I hate snow! in Atlanta, and all points south, anyway.

I'm so sorry you and so many others are dealing with that hellish situation. It's all over the national news. Hope you got some sleep and food. Poor, poor Tina. Lots of hug!

I remember an ice storm in the Carolinas on the way back home from Florida one winter... same kind of slick icy thing on the highway, but not as bad as being in the city I'm sure. We got off the road early and got one of the last rooms... not a good one either. The highway closed down and was packed with accidents, trucks, cars, etc... all night long. We were glad to be inside and warm. Our "meals" were snacks we had in the car. Nothing was open. It was horrible - but a walk in the park compared to you.

This will be a storm you remember forever!

Oh my, Tina!!! I can completely see how you would have gotten a migraine after that ordeal. I hope that you can stay safe!

(((((hugs)))))) Feel better, Tina!

We have a great family story about being stuck on the freeway in a snow storm and Mrs. Banjo peeing at the side of the road in front of all the truckers and everyone (no bushes). Actually, no one seemed to care except my daughter, who was maybe 13 or 14?? We ended up staying in a hotel and the only room they had left was a honeymoon suite with a king -sized bed and a GIANT pink jacuzzi. And I had a great margarita, at the Chevy's next door.

Would a margarita help your migraine? Probably not.

Tina, I hope everything is okay! Take care on the roads! Sending lots of positive thoughts your way. Hope that your migrane has gone away and that you get home safely.

Oh Tina, how awful! Where are you now, somewhere safe?

Sorry to hear your stuck in that mess, I hope you can get enough rest at the motel to head off the migraine. Good luck with getting home soon.

I hope you're safe at home now - still thinking about you, Tina...

Checking in to see that you are safe and sound. Hoping you are in your own comfy bed and the events of the past several days receding quickly from memory.

Holy crap is right! I am so sorry to hear this, Tina! I hope you feeling better today. That is nasty. A BIG BIG comforting Hug!

Did you make it home?

Tina still worried for you. I hope you got some rest and the migraine is better. Just stay safe. Your kitties will be okay. They are resilient and they are at home.

I hope Lisa is still not "in place" at the hospital but home now.

OH, my!!! I just read of your 24 hour delay on the interstate...How terribly frightening.

Hugs to you.

Just checking in, hoping for news. Hope you are somewhere warm and safe Tina. Adding my love to the stack.

Hoping you're home, exhausted, and too darn tired to post...and not still in a hotel!

Chiming in to say, as above, hoping you are home already! Or at least not car-bound.
Sheesh. Timely reminder to get some emergency stocks in the car.

Ladies and Gents...

I have JUST gotten home!! About 2:00 EST... Over 48 hours since I got in my car to leave my class!

I have one heck of a story to tell y'all but it will take forEVAH and I am just exhausted.

Had a bit of a blood sugar crisis last night and random strangers brought me food...courtesy of the Facebook page that someone started called "SnowedOUT Atlanta." It was amazing. I was sick as a dog and threw it all up anyway (migraine and low blood sugar too far gone I guess), but the acts of these folks and the good guys to helped push my car into the hotel parking lot restored some of my lost hope after the 24 hour nightmare.

Will give details later, but I'm just so glad to be freshly showered (with shampoo and shower gel), have teeth brushed, and fresh clothes that I could just happy dance if my back wasn't in such pain. ;)

I cried when I got home. I was so happy to see Lisa and my parents (and the dog and cats of course, too).

My boss has been great and wonderfully supportive... such a change from what I've been used to!

You may hear from me later, but I may just fall into bed after we have a super early dinner with my folks.

I love you all!

So so glad to hear you are safe home. Enjoy sleep and snuggles and clean pjammies. X

Sleep well my friend.

I feel so much better knowing you are home now, Tina! Get lots of rest, and then come back and tell us all about it when you're ready.

I just - literally - let out a big sigh of relief! I'm so happy to hear that you're home safe. I would have cried, too!

Thank goodness you're home and safe. See you after you've slept it off!

Oh good. Tina is home, safe and sound and showered and sleeping. I can stop worrying.

Glad to hear you are home safe. After a good night's sleep, come tell us the tale!

So sorry to hear about your ordeal, Tina, but glad to hear it is behind you now. I know all about that low blood sugar gone too far and migraine response--simply miserable. Recovery whammies coming your way!

Good to hear you're home! Rest, recuperate, we'll be here when you're ready. :)

Pheeeee-EW. Tina is home and ok, and the recipient of some good old human kindness :)
There's nothing like a crisis to bring out the best in people.

Glad to hear you made it safely home, Tina.

Your home... and safe! That is good news!

Tina, So gald to hear that you arrived home safely. Its great to see people helping out others in times of need. It really brings back our faith in humanity. Rest up and take care.

{{{{Tina}}}}

What an ordeal! Wishing you plenty of sleep and healing.

I can't imagine how awful it was for you and so many there. I was so grateful when my son called me and let me know that he was safe home via MARTA early in the afternoon. I am also grateful that you managed to find shelter. IT looks like a lot of people reached out and helped strangers and gave them shelter and aid. Glad that's over!

Hoo-ray! You could hear the virtual sigh of relief across LT Land. So glad you are safe.

So glad you made it home safe and sound, and that there was someone waiting for you when you did.

My dearest, darlingest, loveliest, wonderfulest vistors!!!!

I just read over all your posts and it warmed my heart so much!!!

Charlotte
Amber (multiple visits)
PawsforThought
Rhian
Ellen (multiple visits)
Bekka (multiple visits)
Richard (multiple visits)
Carol
Mamie (multiple visits)
Marianne (multiple visits)
Abby
Megan (multiple visits)
Julia (multiple visits)
Lynda
Jim (multiple visits)
Cee (multiple visits)
Amy
Rhonda
Nicole (multiple visits)
Diana
Adrienne
Mark
Roberta (multiple visits)
Linda
Morphy
Roni
Mickey
Lori
Kath

I tried my best to get everyone! Forgive my tired mistake if I missed anyone, as it was certainly NOT intentional and I am grateful for every single visit, every uttered prayer and sent thought you gave!

I love you all so very much! I wasn't sure how I was going to make it through...but I knew I had a gang of folks here sending me prayers and good wishes along with my friends and family. I don't think I've ever been so darned scared.

My most horrific stories all have to do with peeing. It's funny now, but was SO not funny at the time. I was reduced to tears and my dignity was in shreds.

I think I'll do a separate post for the story. I'll try my best to keep it succinct. Haha ;)

My boss and I were at a class in Dunwoody... she was already irritated that they hadn't cancelled the class because of the threat of snow. She told me during our class that her greatest fear is being stranded on the road and that she had meant to pack a blanket in her car in case, but had forgotten it. HELLO, foreshadowing????

Around lunch, the instructor asked how many folks needed to leave because of the snow. Over half raised their hands. Not me. I'm not scared. I've driven in snow before and the forecast said it wasn't going to hit metro hard. So, they said they'd make up the last half of the class for those that needed to leave. My boss was one. I encouraged her to go. At lunch we both left -- her to drive home, me for lunch. When we walked out the door, it was pouring snow already and she said, "I think after lunch you might want to reconsider when you leave."

By the time I got back from grabbing a sandwich, the sidewalks were icy and I almost fell. "Well, crap" I thought. This isn't good. I got back inside and called Lisa. She was already scheduled to spend the night at the hospital. They had prepared the managers to pack a bag and know they would be there for the long haul. I was to go home and take care of the animals. I had her start checking the weather and forecast before the class started and she's the one who told me that things weren't looking good and that they had obviously mis-forecast.

At that point, I decided to leave and talked to the instructor. She wrote a book I read when I was a baby Social Worker that was very influential to me, so I bought a new copy (it's been out of print for YEARS) and had her sign it!!! YAY!! I was already stressed though, and forgot to get a picture. Boo. :(

The book (if you're interested) is called Second Wind and she co-authored it with Dr. Neil Shulman (of Doc Hollywood fame)... Her name is PK Beville.

When I got in my car, it was 1:15pm. I couldn't even get out of the parking lot of the hotel. As Lynda above mentioned (in 332 I think), apparently every school, business, store, etc. shut down at exactly the same time and the result was a massive catastrophe.

I've told y'all the majority of the rest. I just simply didn't move. For 24 hours I sat in the car. I did get gas (that took 3 hours!!!!!), but without that, I would have been one of those folks that had to abandon the car on the side of the road.

I was dressed in thin dress pants and thin shirt (I'm super hot natured) with a shirt jacket over, then another jacket on top. My shoes were dress flats with knee high panty hose. NO way could I walk on ice at all with those. Believe me, I tried.

I told you about the bush. That was bad enough. Did I mention that I heard someone laugh as I was going?? I couldn't help it. Desperate times and all that... I'm now going to tell another story and I'm going to spoiler it for the guys and for any of you who might judge what I had to do. It's about peeing and is even more embarrassing. If you're Richard or you're going to love me anyway, feel free to read. Otherwise, please skip to the next unspoilered paragraph. So even after getting gas and being able to get some supplies and use an actual restroom, by 4 am, I was in absolute agony. I had already pulled over to the side of the road to sleep. I could no longer make intelligent sentences and was falling asleep at the wheel so I had no other choice. I tried to get out of my car and I was going to head into the bushes on the side of the road and just be darned with messing up my shoes. However, by that time, the ice was so slick, I couldn't even stand up straight without falling. I absolutely could NOT walk on it. I am a BIG girl and when I fall, it is hard. Not only are my shoes cute, but it was the first time I'd worn them. They are flat and sensible, but had no traction at all. They are Dr. Scholls, but they were NO match for the ice. I had no choice. I used what I had at my disposal and tried to make a 'makeshift' diaper. Imagine -- a scarf and a plastic grocery bag. It was awful. It didn't work well. I have a whole other level of sensitivity for my residents now (wet pants and all that). BUT THIS WASN'T THE WORST PART. I only thought it couldn't get worse. I wasn't drinking anything. I had water with me, but I was so afraid of having to pee again that I didn't touch it. By 10-11 the next day, I was miserable again. By this time I was back in the middle of the interstate surrounded by truckers and other cars. I had no other option. I made Lisa talk to me the whole time because I was so upset by doing this, but I had to open my driver's side and back passenger door to create a privacy 'shield' and peed in the middle of the interstate. I still managed to pee on myself somehow and after that I broke down into a puddle of tears and sobs. That was around hour 19 or so, I think. By that time, I knew it couldn't get any worse and that I had lost every bit of dignity that I had ever had. I smelled bad, I was covered in pee and I had just bared my ass on the interstate.

So, that's the main half of the road story. It was awful. By the time I finally made it to an exit, Lisa had called every hotel around and everything was sold out. However, there was one room at an extended stay place, but you had to pay for the whole week (about $400). At this point, I was desperate. I'd been texting and emailing my boss and keeping her in the loop. She was so panicky about me being stranded that when I told her what was available, she told me to do it and that if the corporate office didn't like it, she was the one signing the expense report. She wanted me off the road. Period. I ALMOST CRIED.

So I found the hotel. But then I couldn't get in the parking lot. The lot was iced over. It took 30 minutes and some good Samaritans to help push me up, back and get me up a different hill where I could have a "running start." When I made it out of the car, I was afraid the guys would be gone, so I rushed up to them and asked if I could hug them. I had been feeling so hopeless and depressed and they brought back my faith in humanity. I got their names and address and I want to send them something nice! I was almost in tears again by the time they walked up to help me!

**Side note: This is the most basic hotel I have ever seen. They had no toiletries. Only two tiny bars of soap. I hand washed my clothes with bar soap and washed my hair with the same. By that time, I didn't even care. I was so happy to have a bed, heat, and a toilet that I was eternally grateful for the room!

You guys know the rest about the migraine and blood sugar crisis resulting in my friends posting on Facebook and getting strangers to come to the rescue.

So, that's the story. That's the succinct version. There's more, but you got the gist of it now.

The moral of the story is that I am going to pack a survival kit for my car. It will contain all manner of things that I never thought of before. And it will include some protein bars and adult diapers == for sure!!

Tina - I'm glad you made it through your ordeal. You are a warrior woman! When you are making your survival kit don't forget to include garbage bags (lawn kind) and chux pads. You can get chux pads at any pharmacy or WalMart. The lawn bags in addition to being used for garbage can be used as lining if you have to pee and also privacy shield. Include an old sheet too for privacy shield and a blanket in winter.

Ohmygoodness, you poor thing! Let me say again just how happy I am that you're home and safe and can once again pee in a toilet in private! Also, I am so getting those chux pads to keep in the car. And garbage bags. Lordy. Lou.

Oh Tina, I was so upset about your ordeal I had to tell my husband, Kevin what happened (not the spoiler part) and he wanted me to tell you about "The Freshette" a women's portable restroom you can get from the Campmor catalog for $19.99! He put together a survival kit for me years ago after I got stuck for 12 hours during one of our NJ storms although it doesn't address the pee issue. I guess we will be upgrading after hearing about your ordeal. You are probably going to be responsible for a lot of people being prepared for emergencies in the future! So happy it's over and you are okay.

Tina, I know I would not have handled that nightmare as well as you did. Kudos to you for getting through it without completing flipping your lid!

Wow- Tina! That is an amazing story. And you made it through. I cannot imagine all those hours in the car, the stress and the cold and the impatience to just get somewhere.
You know, I bet there were people in those full hotel rooms who would have been happy to share with a needy stranded Atlantian. Maybe there's a new facebook page in that for the next emergency!

Side note: in jammed traffic on the way to a music festival once, my friend (it really was my friend as I have an iron bladder and we were only stuck 2 or 3 hours) peed into a supermarket bag in the front passenger foot area. Double bags actually. She was mortified, but it worked OK. I don't know what I would have done as it was cliff up one side of road and cliff down on the other side. Because of my dodgy hip I cant squat very well in confined spaces and it really would have been the road as the only option!

Oh Tina! What an ordeal. With any luck you won't need your survival kit, but it pays to have one just incase. Never mind about peeing in the middle of the road. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Glad to hear that you arrived home safe and sound.

{{{{{{Tina}}}}}} Only just making it over to your thread but so sorry to hear about your blizzard ordeal. I haven't experienced anything near that bad but it I did get stuck in snow for 4 hours once and it is very scary (and especially worrying about where or how the toilet could happen).

Poor you :( Just appalling - and I thoroughly prescribe a weekend of warm beds, long baths and being waited on hand and foot by your relieved wife. Oh and lots of gentle reading time (I'm thinking Iron Druid...).

Oh my word, Tina! Such a horrible experience. I am just so glad that you are home where you belong. How wonderful of your boss to take financial responsibility for your stay at the hotel.

They had a situation just like Atlanta's in Rhode Island a few years ago. Everyone was sent home at the same time and kids wound up stranded in their buses for most of the night. There was an enormous (and very angry) hue and cry about it, so it was made some kind of state rule that everyone not be cut loose at the same time in these situations. In Atlanta's defense - you guys are not snow-savvy for the most part. Rhode Island had no such excuse.

I always wonder in these situations why people always rush onto the interstates where it only takes a couple of 'incidents' up ahead to turn the whole thing into a jammed up, immoveable mess. I hate interstates, myself and try to avoid them whenever it can be done.

Hope your weekend is going very well, though I don't think it would take much, would it, to be better than your horrible experience.

Oh smoochling. My sweetienubbins said, when I told him this story, "wow she could use a massage, I wish I was going to Atlanta instead of LA."

I think he's right. Your bossangel giving you a hotel room (bastard gougers) means you have $400 extra now! Spend a little on that massage.

Oh, poor dear Tina! Hugs and smooches.

I'm so sorry you had to go through all that Tina.

Good luck with getting your emergency pack in order, hopefully you won't need to ever use it.

Hugs and lots of warmth coming your way.

Tina

I'm checking in to see how you feel. What an ordeal. I'm so glad you made it through all this difficulty.

What a wild adventure, hopefully not to ever be repeated!! I'm glad you're safe and can now move into the "this is a great story" phase.
Have a wonderful (warm, dry, safe, and restful) Sunday!

OH, Tina, I've been mostly absent all week and am now just getting caught up. What a nightmare! I am so impressed with how well you kept it together. I hope you are getting some well-deserved rest now. And I agree with Richard - you deserve some pampering!

Oh, good grief! I'm glad you made it through that experience, Tina. What a horrible thing! Take care and stay warm!

You are so resourceful, Tina! If I'm ever stuck in an ice storm (please no, please no, please no), I want you with me. You deserve a long rest!

I was going to make a pithy remark about aiming for the longest thread of the year but then read about the longest night of the year and thought the better of it.

Glad to see that you are safe and sound. A bit of bruised dignity will quickly heal my dear and I am sure that all those involved and/or stuck in similar situations can fully relate and sympathise.

Have a good old rest and make that new thread for goodness sake when you can grab a moment. xx

Back to business as usual I hope?

Hello dear friends! I'm so happy to check in this morning and see that everyone has been so warm and kind to me! I must say that after I posted such ridiculously personal details I had many second thoughts!!

But, again you all have guarded my heart and feelings and renewed my sense of good in this world!!!

I'll make the new thread now to save Paul's heart from attack! ;)

I have only a few moments before I need to start work, so it will be an under construction all day (when I can break) kind of thing.

This weekend was Lisa's birthday, so we celebrated her a LOT and rested. Very little reading got done...I found myself falling asleep almost immediately as soon as my head hit the pillow. That is extremely rare for me.

Anyway, more details on that as I create the new thread...

Not just for me Tina - Over 400 tends to get unwieldy. xx