Storeetllr (Mary) Is Moving Ahead With Reading More in Two Oh One Four! Part 4

"Moving Ahead." Get it? Moving? *sigh* I know, lame, but it's late and I've been, well, moving all day to our new house, so my brain as well as my body is exhausted.

Happy May Day! I've been promised that Colorado's springtime starts in May, specifically, on and after Mother's Day. At least that's the day on which I can begin to garden outside. But while I may have to wait to plant veggies and annuals, I am a fortunate woman to be moving (there's that word again) to a place with a front yard that looks like this:



There are FOUR lilac bushes in the front yard, two small purple and two large white ones! All four are in bloom, and I am so happy because lilacs are my very favorite flower!

* * *

I'm a pretty omnivoracious reader, with an especial taste for the fantasy and mystery genres, seasoned by a bit romance and/or horror. I also like Georgette Heyer-type romances and some scifi, especially that dealing with social issues. I like themed reads to an extent: Fantasy February, Mystery March, May Murder & Mayhem, September Series & Sequels, Halloween Horror October. November is NaNoWriMo (www.nanowrimo.org), which I usually start, even if I don't always finish.

Here's my rating system for this year, stolen borrowed from Morphy, except you will never see a rating of 4 or lower, and usually not one of 5, because, if it's that unappealing, I won't finish it. I'm too old, so these days The Pearl Rule is ruthlessly applied!

10 stars - The book completely enthralled me. Could not put it down. Got something more out of it than just entertainment ~ it enlightened or educated me in some way, or it was utterly emotionally satisfying. Can definitely see myself reading it again. Will keep forever and never loan it out, but might buy extra copies to give away to friends and family.

9 stars - Not quite perfect but almost so. I will actively push this book on my friends and family.

8 stars - A really great book in all respects with perhaps some minor flaws. Highly recommended.

7 stars - Better than average but with some flaws. Recommended.

6 stars - Average. An entertaining read but probably forgettable. Will not reread. Recommended for entertainment value to readers with similar interest.

5 stars - Slightly lower than average. Some aspects of the story, characters or writing troubled me. Probably will not recommend.

4 stars - Finished but did not like. Would not recommend.

3 stars - Had some redeeming qualities or else I couldn't have finished it. Nothing to recommend it though.

2 star - I can't believe I finished this book. What am I? A masochist?

1 star - No book ever gets this rating. If it's a 1, I can't finish it.

Books Read in 2014 (bolded titles are highly recommended)

January

1. Archangel's Legion by Nalini Singh
2. Jim Butcher Dresden Files Storm Front, Vol. 1: The Gathering Storm and Jim Butcher Dresden Files Fool Moon, Vol. 1 by Mark Powers/Adrian Syaf (graphic novels)
3. Black Sheep by Georgette Heyer
4. A Distant Mirror by Barbara Tuchman (audiobook)
5. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot (audiobook)
6. The Sum of All Kisses by Julia Quinn (audiobook)
7. Kitty Rocks the House by Carrie Vaughn. (audiobook)
8. Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neal Gaiman (audiobook)
9. Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo (audiobook)
10. Kitty Steals the Show by Carrie Vaughn (audiobook)
11. Takedown Twenty by Janet Evanovich (audiobook)
12. The Ides of April by Lindsey Davis (audiobook)
13. Second Son by Lee Child (audiobook)
14. Kitty in the Underworld by Carrie Vaughn (audiobook)
15. Talking to the Dead by Harry Bingham (audiobook)
16. Spider Woman's Daughter by Anne Hillerman

Fantasy February

17. Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews (audiobook)
18. Hounded by Kevin Hearne (eBook)
19. Hexed by Kevin Hearn (eBook)
20. Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold (audio)
21. Hammered by Kevin Hearn (eBook)
22. Tricked by Kevin Hearns (audio)
23. Trapped by Kevin Hearns (audiobook)
24. Wild Seed by Octavia Butler
25. The Girl Who Soared Over Fairyland by Catherynne M. Valente (audiobook)
26. Concealed in Death by J.D. Robb
27. Hunted by Kevin Hearns

Mystery March

28. Wild Strawberries by Angela Thirkell (reccied by AMQS)
29. The Mermaids Singing by Val McDermid
30. Whose Body? by Dorothy L. Sayers (audio)
31. Wire in the Blood by Val McDermid (audio)
32. Love Story, With Murders by Harry Bingham (LTER)
33. Broken Homes by Ben Aaronovich
34. Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley (audio)
35. Little Green by Walter Mosley (audio)
36. The Gods of Guilt by Michael Connelly (audio)
37. Hostage by Kay Hooper

April

38. Barrayar by Lois McMaster Bujold (audio)
39. The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
40. Shogun by James Clavell (audio)
41. River of Stars by Guy Gavriel Kay
42. Switchblade by Michael Connelly
43. Warrior's Apprentice by Lois McMaster Bujold (audio)
44. Thankless in Death by J.D. Robb (part audio/part print)
45. Suicide Run by Michael Connelly (anthology including Cielo Azur & One Dollar Jackpot)
46. Shards of Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold (audio)
47. The Martian, a Novel by Andy Weir

May: Murder & Mayhem

48. Bloody Jack by L.A. Meyer
49. Marion Zimmer Bradley's Darkover by Marion Zimmer Bradley
50. Why Kings Confess by C.S. Harris
51. Some Danger Involved by Will Thomas
52. Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor
53. We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver
54. World of Trouble by Ben H. Winters (LTER)
55. Quiet by Susan Cain (audio)
56. To Kingdom Come by Will Thomas
57. The Bughouse Affair by Muller & Pronzini
58. The Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan, read by Kate Reading (audio)

June

59. Soulless: the Manga, Vol. 1
60. The Hallowed Hunt by Lois McMaster Bujold (audio)
61. The Collector by Nora Roberts
62. April Lady by Georgette Heyer
63. Monk's Hood by Ellis Peters (audio)
64. The Limehouse Text by Will Thomas
65. The Vor Game by Lois McMaster Bujold (audio)
66. Three Weeks With Lady X by Eloisa James (audio)
67. The Hellfire Conspiracy by Will Thomas
68. Cetaganda by Lois McMaster Bujold (audio)
69. Tropic of Serpents Book 2 by Marie Brennan (audio)
70. Brothers in Arms by Bujold (audio)

July

71. The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag by Alan Bradley (audio)
72. Borders of Infinity by Bujold (audio)
73. Soulless: the Manga, Vol. 2
74. Soulless: the Manga, Vol. 3
75. Mirror Dance by Bujold (audio)
76. I Am Half Sick of Shadows by Alan Bradley (audio)
77. Top Secret Twenty-One by Janet Evanovich (audio)

Currently Reading

Raiders of the Nile by Steven Saylor
Speaking from Among the Bones by Bradley (audio)

Up Next

Fatal Enquiry by Will Thomas (LTER)
The Masqueraders by Georgette Heyer

On Deck

Princesses Behaving Badly by Linda Rodriguez McRobbie (LTER)
Doctor Sleep by Stephen King
Symphony of Echoes by Jodi Taylor
Plainsong by Kent Haruf (CD audio)
World After by Susanne Ee (CD audio)
Three Jack Reacher Novellas: Second Son, Deep Down and High Heat (audio)

Other Library/Reference Books/LTERs, Mostly Being Skimmed

Graveyards of Chicago by Matt Hucke (LTER)

Bolded=Highly recommended!

Reviews to do/in progress/ratings only (no review):

10. Kitty Steals the Show by Carrie Vaughn (audiobook) 7 stars
11. Takedown Twenty by Janet Evanovich (audiobook) 6 stars
12. The Ides of April by Lindsey Davis (audiobook) 6 stars
13. Second Son by Lee Child (audiobook) 6 stars
14. Kitty in the Underworld by Carrie Vaughn (audiobook) 7 stars
15. Talking to the Dead by Harry Bingham (audiobook) 7 stars
16. Spider Woman's Daughter by Anne Hillerman 7 stars
17. Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews (audiobook) 5 stars
18. Hounded by Kevin Hearne (eBook) 7 stars
19. Hexed by Kevin Hearne (eBook) 7 stars
20. Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold (audio) 8 stars
21. Hammered by Kevin Hearn (eBook) 7 stars
22. Tricked by Kevin Hearn (audio) 6 stars
23. Trapped by Kevin Hearn (audio) 6 stars
24. Wild Seed by Octavia Butler (10 stars)
25. The Girl Who Soared Over Fairyland by Catherynne M. Valente (9 stars) (audiobook)
26. Concealed in Death by J.D. Robb (7 stars)
27. Hunted by Kevin Hearn (eBook) (7 stars)
28. Wild Strawberries by Angela Thirkell. 7 stars
29. The Mermaids Singing by Val McDermid. 7 stars Audio
30. Whose Body? by Dorothy L. Sayers. 7 stars. Audio (would have been higher rating but couldn't stand the reader)
31. A Wire in the Blood by Val McDermid 7 stars. Audio
32. Love Story, With Murders by Harry Bingham 8 stars (LTER)
33. Broken Homes by Ben Aaronovitch. 8 stars.
34. Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley (audio) 8 stars
35. Little Green by Walter Mosley 8 stars (audio)
36. The Gods of Guilt by Michael Connelly 8 stars (audio)
37. Hostage by Kay Hooper. 6 stars
38. Barrayar by Lois McMaster Bujold (audio) 7 stars.
39. The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion 9 stars
40. Shogun by James Clavell (audio) 9 stars.
41. River of Stars by Guy Gavriel Kay. 9 stars
42. Switchblade by Michael Connelly (short story but counting anyway) 7 stars
43. Warrior's Apprentice by Lois McMaster Bujold (audio) 6 stars
44. Thankless in Death by J.D. Robb (part audio/part print) 6 stars
45. Suicide Run by Michael Connelly (short story anthology including Cielo Azur & One Dollar Jackpot) 7 stars
46. Shards of Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold (audio) 7 stars
47. The Martian: A Novel by Andy Weir. 10 stars.
48. Bloody Jack by L.A. Meyer. 8 stars
49. Marion Zimmer Bradley's Darkover by Marion Zimmer Bradley (LTER). 6 stars.
50. Why Kings Confess by C.S. Harris. 7 stars.
51. Some Danger Involved by Will Thomas. 8 stars.
52. Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor. 9 stars
53. We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver. 9 stars.
54. World of Trouble by Ben H. Winters (LTER) 8 stars
55. Quiet by Susan Cain (audio) 8 stars
56. To Kingdom Come by Will Thomas 6 stars
57. The Bughouse Affair by Muller & Pronzini 5 stars
58. The Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan, read by Kate Reading (audio) 9 stars (Reminds me a little of Amelia Peabody mysteries, except a lot less lighthearted.)
59. Soulless: the Manga, Vol. 1 - 6 stars (my first manga; not top of my list for enjoyment, but not bad either)
60. The Hallowed Hunt by Lois McMaster Bujold (audio) 7 stars
61. The Collector by Nora Roberts 7 stars
62. April Lady by Georgette Heyer 6 stars
63. Monk's Hood by Ellis Peters, read by Derek Jacobi (audio) 7 stars - A trip down memory lane, and a nice change of pace
64. The Limehouse Text by Will Thomas 7 stars - Third in the series that includes the LTER April novel and latest in the series, Fatal Enquiry, and read so I can be up-to-speed on events before reading it. I liked it better than the second (To Kingdom Come, though it took me about 70 pages to really get into it.
65. The Vor Game by Lois McMaster Bujold (audio) 7 stars
66. Three Weeks With Lady X by Eloisa James (audio) 7 stars
67. The Hellfire Conspiracy by Will Thomas 6 stars
68. Cetaganda by Lois McMaster Bujold (audio) 7 stars
69. Tropic of Serpents Book 2 by Marie Brennan (audio) 9 stars
70. Brothers in Arms by Bujold (audio) 7 stars
71. The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag by Alan Bradley (audio) 7 stars
72. Borders of Infinity by Bujold (audio) 7 stars
73. Soulless: the Manga, Vol. 2 - 6 stars
74. Soulless: the Manga, Vol. 3 - 6 stars (I've decided these were fun but not enough fun to make up for the manga-ish quality, which didn't appeal to me.)
75. Mirror Dance by Bujold (audio) 8-9 stars (Can't decide whether 8 or 9 stars. I almost quit at one point, and at a few other points I was so annoyed and/or disturbed that it wasn't fun reading, but by the end I was so very happy I'd persevered.)
76. I Am Half Sick of Shadows by Alan Bradley (audio) 7 stars
77. Top Secret Twenty-One by Janet Evanovich (audio) 7 stars

Strikeout=Review Done

Books Purchased in 2014 (Strikeout = Read)

1) The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker (reccied by Morphy)
2) On the Edge of Twilight: 22 Tales to Follow You Home by Gregory Miller
3) Storm of Visions: The Chosen Ones by Christina Dodd
4) Magician's End by Raymond Feist
5) The Stockholm Octavo by Karen Engelmann
6) To Pleasure a Lady by Nicole Jordan
7) A Cold Day for Murder by Dana Stabenow
8) Burning Girls by Veronica Schanoes
9) Wakulla Springs by Andy Duncan
10) Hawaii by Michener
11) The Complete Novels of George Eliot by Eliot
12) The Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie
13) Baehrly Breathing by Elizabeth A. Reeves
14) Mind of the Raven by Bernd Heinrich
15) Fire and Ice by Dana Stabenow
16) Second Star by Dana Stabenow
17) 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke
18) Modern Rustic: Greenhouses by Eric Beauning
19) The Stockholm Octavo: A Novel by Karen Engelmann
20) Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor
21) The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
22) A Symphony of Echoes by Jodi Taylor
23) The Devil's Path by Richard Turner
24) The Sand Reckoner by Gillian Bradshaw
25) Whisperer by Michael Bray
26) Teleport This by Christopher M. Daniels
27) Midsummer Night by Deanna Ray
28) On Basilisk Station by David Weber
29) The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion (bought another copy as a present for my daughter)

Free / Early Review Books

1) Princesses Behaving Badly by Linda Rodriguez McRobbie (LTER)
2) Gilded by Christina Farley (Amazon First)
3) Marion Zimmer Bradley's Darkover by Marion Zimmer Bradley (LTER)
4) The Seventh Child by Erik Valeur (Amazon First)
5) Love Story, With Murders by Harry Bingham (LTER)
6) World of Trouble by Ben H. Winter (LTER)
7) Fatal Enquiry by Will Thomas (LTER)

Strikeout=read

(Idea stolen from Faith "dk_phoenix")

Books Started But Not Finished (Yet)

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer - Just no time, and I've been on an audiobook kick.
The Edge of Desire by (audio) - Too improbable. Just couldn't stomach the melodramatic romance.
The Gospel According to Judas Iscariot by Jeffrey Archer (audio) - Started it, but though this is fiction it was too much like reading scripture, and the reader's (Bishop Desmond Tutu) voice irritated me for some reason.
The Blue Blazes by Chuck Wendig - Just not enough time or interest to get to it.
Dreams Underfoot by Charles de Lint (audio) Tried but just didn't get it. Yes, there was some lovely writing, but none of the stories or characters grabbed my attention.
Ghostwalk by Rebecca Stott (audio) - Couldn't get into it. Story was confusingly written.
The Lives of Tao by Wesley Chu - Just wasn't able to find time (or impetus) to finish it so back to the library it goes. I may pick it up again another time.
The Spook Lights Affair by Muller & Pronzini (audio) - Just could not seem to get into this, the second of the series. I think the reader had something to do with it, plus I really don't like one of the main characters, an arrogant unappealing man IMO.
Against All Grain by Danielle Walker - I'll be getting this out again once we get settled and have time to actually cook.
Evernote for Dummies by David E.Y. Sarna - Really helpful "how-to" book for using Evernote. Thanks to Morphy for the tip.
The Attenbury Emeralds by Jill Paton Walsh (audio) OMG! The WORST reader and engineering and perhaps direction on any audiobook I've ever had the misfortune to TRY to listen to. Not even Scott Brick's narration of The Passage was as bad. Low volume to the point where one can scarcely hear what is being said, and the reader is *mumblemumblewhisper*ing through much of the dialogue. Returned the audio to the library and will be getting the print version if I decide I want to read it.
Flower Fairy Picture Book by Cicely Mary Barker - Skimmed and looked mostly at the lovely pics, but didn't read all poems, etc. May renew when my niece is a little older.
Beauty Queens by Libba Bray (audio) - Loan expired. May try it again later.
Hollow City by Ransom Riggs (borrowed book) Had to return to library before starting. Will renew hold at some point.
The Midwife's Tale by Sam Thomas (borrowed book) Almost finished it but got annoyed with the main character's stupidity so put it down and just never picked it back up before I had to return it to the library.
Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor (borrowed audiobook) Will try this one again when I'm more in the mood.
The Terror by Dan Simmons (for the January Journeys Challenge) (eBook) I have tried this one several times but just can't seem to get that interested, though each time I do I get a little farther on in the story.
The Throne of the Crescent Moon by Saladin Ahmed (borrowed eBook) Just didn't have time.
Light in August by William Faulkner (borrowed audiobook) Not for me, at least at this time.
The Mad Scientist's Daughter by Cassandra Rose Clarke (audio) Just couldn't get to it and ran out of time.
The Third Policeman by Flann O'Brien. (Audio) Got aways in and had no idea what it was about and didn't care to find out.
The Iron King by Maurice Druon (reccied by Richard Derus) (library book) I haven't been able to concentrate on reading since we started actively searching for a new place to live; will get back to it as soon as the inability to focus ends, because I really enjoyed the first couple of chapters).
Colorado Gardener's Guide by John L. Cretti Need to re-borrow or maybe buy.
Best garden plants for Colorado by Betsy Lehndorff, Laura Peters Need to re-borrow or maybe even buy.

Love the lilacs! I miss them here.

>6 ronincats: Roni! You win the first place prize!



Wish I could send you the fragrance too!

Happy new thread, Mary!

Happy New thread, Mary! Good luck with the move.

Happy New Thread, Mary! I don't envy you all of the hard work of moving, but I'll certainly share in the excitement of such a lovely new place!!

Ooooh, gorgeous, simply gorgeous! I wish you could send the scent as well, but this is great.

ETA I now have a new Desktop picture!

>8 wilkiec: Hi, Diane! Thanks!

>9 msf59: Thanks, Mark.

>10 scaifea: It is lovely, isn't it, Amber! I've been puttering around all morning, doing a little packing and a lot of other stuff, including...

>11 ronincats: talking with the landlady, who is going to take care of things (like the torn and missing sscreen and chewed up carpets and broken door locks) and is giving us a discount on the rent for next month! Yay! Glad you like the lilac bouquet, Roni!

Mary...I looooove the smell of lilacs, unfortunately, I don't think there is a single one to found (except maybe in a flower store?) where I am. The winters are too brutal and the summers way too short.

>13 jolerie: Hi, Valerie! That's sad, but I think it depends on where you are in Alberta. Lilacs do best in Zones 4-7, and it looks like Alberta ranges from Zone 2 to Zone 4, so if you were lucky enough to be in Zone 4, you could probably grow them.

When I was in Southern California, they didn't do very well for me there, because we had few if any below freezing days, and lilacs must have that hard winter cold to thrive. In Chicago where I grew up, my mom's lilac bush was immense and covered in blooms every spring, and it's pretty darn cold there during the winters, as Mark and Joe will attest.

Oh! That is interesting about the zones. I was looking and maybe I'm just clueless but Calgary is zone 4 so that means we should have some?? Totally didn't realize that they would do better in colder climates. Hard winters? We definitely have those here.... Now I gotta go look for them and see if I can grow some in my yard. Look at the things you can learn from the LT community!

Hi Mary. I'm glad the moving is moving (duh) right along. And maybe you could tell the landlady about the cleaningteam that did not clean too. Or did you do that already?

Love all the liliacs!

Yay, sounds like you have a good landlady who is taking responsibility for the things she should!

Valerie, there are different varieties that do better in different climes--a local nursery should be able to point you toward varieties that can survive in Calgary.

>15 jolerie: It's true! The LT community is a great place to learn, all sorts of stuff, not just about books (though that's really my favorite thing).

>16 connie53: Haha, yes, moving right along... So far, my landlords are really great. I've been dealing with the wife, but both she and hubby came over today to check out the problems, and he started making repairs right on the spot and has promised to get most of the problems fixed next week. They got a carpet cleaning service to come out this weekend, which is great, and they are taking money off next month's rent for the inconvenience of having to do a re-clean. The poor former tenant paid cash for the bad cleaning job, and she's really annoyed (not at us but still). She told my sister that the place is cleaner now than it was when she moved in. I hope that's not true, but, if it is, shame on her for not saying something back then!

>17 ronincats: Good point, Roni. Yes, there are varieties that will do better than others in different climates. Even so, I never saw a lilac bush in SoCal (not even Descanso Gardens, which has scads of them blooming every spring) that was as prolific as the one in our back yard in Chicago when I was growing up. They just seem to need the cold!

Icky ptoo-ptoo on the OVEN and STOVE not being clean! Yay for lilacs and (possibly) peach tree! *smooch* for Mary!

Beautiful, Mary! Oh, lucky you with those lilacs and the fruit tree.

Sorry about the cleaning, though it sounds like they're taking steps to help.

Hooray -- how exciting!

Hi Mary, I guess you are in the middle of moving into your new place. Great news about the lilacs, I love them as well. I am sorry that the previous renters left the place in such a mess and leaving you and your sister with all the work of cleaning. Hope Bloody Jack playing in the background helped you speed through your packing!

Hi, all! I'm so sorry but I can't respond individually just now as I must get mooooving! :) Thank goodness we have an entire month to do this, as I am wiped out at the end of each day having done only two trips worth of packing & moving. I'll respond to each of you lovely visitors soon.

One thing I want to clarify: the former tenants paid a cleaning service to clean, so it's the cleaning service that is at fault here. Honestly, $200 and they didn't vacuum, scrub the stove or refrigerator shelves or the sinks/showers, dust the baseboards, mop the floors. As RD said, Icky ptoo-ptoo.

The lilacs are now in full bloom and the scent is heaven! Last night as I was leaving the new place to come back to the old place (my bed's here until tomorrow), I stood on the front porch and just breathed, the lovely lilac scent was so strong. Love it, love it, love it!

>22 Storeetllr: So this was your last night in your old house! I hope the moving runs smoothly for the remaining time!

Happy New House, Mary.

Happy moving week!

So envious of your lilacs, Mary. I had two big gorgeous lilacs at my last house and it is the most amazing fragrance. Nothing says spring like getting a good whiff of lilacs. I hope your move continues to go smoothly. Won't it be lovely when it's all done and you and your sister are settled in your new place.

Love, love, love the lilacs! Hope you had a wonderful night in your new house and that the rest of the moving and nesting goes really well.

I love the way lilacs look but I can't handle the heavy fragrance!

Hope your move is going well!

Just stopping to say Hi!! Hope the moving is going well!!! I too love lilacs and have 8 bushes in my yard, but they haven't bloomed yet. :-

Oooh! So many visitors! How lovely! I apologize for not responding to each of you individually at this time. We're still moving. We may never be finished moving, at least that's how it feels, especially at the end of the day when I'm almost too sore to sleep but too tired to even read.

We're sleeping at the new place, although most of my clothes, a few pieces of furniture, most of our dishes, pots & pans and cooking utensils, and the contents of our refrigerator/freezer are still at the old place, along with another couple dozen boxes of books and other unidentified things.

My current plan is to work on setting up my and Nickel's spaces and to work hard next week on moving everything that's left. Then, other than cleaning the old place and getting the rest of this place (including the garden) set up, I will be able to get back online for more than just a quick peek to be sure I'm not missing anything urgent.

Good to hear you are doing great, sore or not sore, Mary!

I'm sure this is an exciting, exhausting time. I know you're anxious to have it finished but hope you don't over-do it.

Moving is such hard work. I hope you like this house and get to stay there a long while. The lilacs are gorgeous. Our flowers have been gone now for awhile. I miss them but the iris is blooming and the peonies have big buds on them. I love spring!

Mary, I am so glad you are taking the time out to come up to Boulder next week. I look forward to seeing you again and hearing more about the new place.

xoxo

The lilacs look lovely, Mary.

Have a wonderful weekend and a Happy Mother's Day.

Happy Mother's Day, Mary!

And oh look, it's snowing....:p

Happy Mother's Day, Mary. I hope you were able to take a break from the unpacking today to relax and sniff the lilacs.

>19 richardderus: The stove and oven are clean now, RD! Though my hands are a bit chapped from all that scrubbing. :) *smooches*

>20 AMQS: Hi, Anne ~ Yes, I feel fortunate all around to be in this house!

>21 DeltaQueen50: Thanks, Judy! Yes, unlikely as it may sound, Bloody Jack was a balm.

>23 connie53: Thanks, Connie!

>24 nittnut: Thanks, Jenn, but "moving week?" More like "moving month!"

>25 rosalita: Thanks, Julia! I hope we get settled soon, though it seems to be taking a long time. I did plan for it to be a 2-3 week operation, though, so I guess I just need to be patient. See you next week!

>26 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks, Reba ~ I've been sleeping really well here, though my bed still isn't set up. (I wanted to see if I could do a little bit of repairs to the head- and footboards before I set it up, so I'm sleeping on mattress/boxsprings on the floor. It's strangely comfortable, though I feel like a teenager. LOL)

>27 Morphidae: Aw, that's too bad, Morphy. The fragrance of of fresh lilacs is one of my favorite things. I read on one of the Colorado gardening websites, though, that, because the air here is so dry, the scent isn't as strong as in other places, so you might be able to deal with it. Maybe you can come to visit next spring and test out that theory.

>28 Copperskye: Thanks, Joanne ~ It's going okay, just a little slower than I would wish.

>29 tjblue: Hi, Tammy! Thanks so much for stopping by! Oh, eight lilac bushes! Your place must be heavenly when they bloom!

>31 connie53: Feeling better today, Connie, thanks! Also, acetaminophen is a wonder drug!

>32 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks, Reba ~ I have been working on the move every day, but today I took the day off, partly because Mother's Day but mostly because I got snowed in!

>33 Donna828: Thanks, Donna! I love the place and am so glad we moved but hope we don't have to move again for a good long time! Your spring flowers are already gone? Oh, my, that was fast! Looking forward to seeing you and the rest of the gang too!

>34 richardderus: It's always a pleasure when you grace my thread with your presence, Richard! {{{hugs}}}

>35 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul!

>36 Copperskye: Haha, Joanne ~ strange to have snow on Mother's Day, but I won't complain too much as it gave me the day off from having to get out and do more moving.

>37 DeltaQueen50: Thanks, Judy ~ Yes, I did take today off, but there was no sniffing the lilacs. In fact, I am not sure they will recover this year from the snowstorm, poor things.

>40 Storeetllr:: Only the lilacs and early bloomers like daffodils are gone, Mary. We have iris and peonies in full bloom now!

Ack! Snowstorm in May! What is going on? One would think you live in the Rocky Mountains or something! Wait ... you do live in the Rockies. I just hope it melted soon and you are now back to spring.

Mary, we had snow last weekend so you definitely have some company. Ours didn't stick around for very long and I hope that it's the same for you!

>41 Donna828: I was just sort of comparing spring season length and time in Missouri and Colorado. Your spring seems short BECAUSE OURS HASN'T STARTED YET! lolol

>42 DeltaQueen50: Haha, Judy. Having been warned by long-time residents of the Rockies, I was actually all prepared for a couple of brutal late season snows, but I was thinking April rather than mid-May! And I'm actually quite a ways east of the foothills, so... Anyway, it appears the lilacs made it through the storm (though I haven't looked at them close-up yet), so I'm relieved.

>43 jolerie: Thanks, Valerie. Snow mid-May seems a bit much even for Canada! It's still pretty cold here, but we're expected to be back to normal (70F rather than 35F) by the end of the week. I just hope this last storm is, well, the last of the season!

And, while we're on the subject:



Let's hope so, anyway!

So, I just finished reading three pretty impressive books:

51. Some Danger Involved by Will Thomas. 8 stars. The first in a mystery series set in Victorian London, featuring Cyrus Barker (an enigmatic Scots expert martial-arts practicing private enquiry agent) and his new apprentice Thomas Llewelyn (a troubled but feisty young Welshman with absolutely no experience in the field of private enquiry). Amusing yet gritty. I liked it a lot!

52. Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor. 9 stars Master satanic-book-pusher warbler Richard Derus has a lot to answer for, and the fact he was spot-on about this amazing time-travel fantasy sci-fi historical novel doesn't mitigate his guilt one iota! This is the first in the St. Mary's series featuring time-traveling historians and I loved it! Highly recommended.

53. We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver. 9 stars. Audio. This is a horrifying novel, featuring some of the least likable characters I've ever "met," and I haven't stopped thinking about the story since I finished it yesterday morning. I'm not going to discuss what it's about in order to not ruin it for anyone who hasn't already read it, but I will say that I almost stopped reading it after about an hour because I hated the woman telling the story (the narrator in the novel, not the narrator who read it on the audiobook), and I am SO VERY GLAD I stuck with it. Highly recommended.

I'm planning to go back and reread the Barker/Llewelyn series so I can catch up on that new one. Glad you liked the first!

Stopping by to say hi. I hope you are very happy in your new environment! Moving is difficult, but claiming a space and nesting into it is wonderful.

Moving Month? Ack! All the best luck with that. You'll need that cozy reading chair in its place ASAP. :)

Hi Mary! Just checking in. Two, 9 star books? Yah! I enjoyed both but "Kevin" was the unforgettable one. I highly recommend the Farm and I am enjoying Before I Go to Sleep. Have you read that one?

>46 drneutron: Hi, Jim ~ I did like the first Barker/Llewelyn novel! I'm reading all of them in order right away because I won the latest (Fatal Enquiry) from last month's LT Early Reviewers batch.

>47 Whisper1: Thanks for stopping by, Linda! I know you are having a rough time right now, and it's so nice of you to take the time to visit me! I was just relaxing in the family room last night, having a late salad after a full day of errands (packing, moving, grocery shopping, picking up someone from the airport), looking out the windows and watching the almost full moon rising above the trees, and thought again just how much I love this place!

>48 nittnut: Hi, Jenn! Yes, moving is not my favorite activity, but the payoff so far has been amazingly wonderful! BTW, I'm sitting in my cozy reading chair as I type, watching my parrot eat her breakfast (which entails a lot of food flinging ~ thank goodness these floors are laminate and easy to clean!) and drinking my coffee. Such peace!

>50 Storeetllr: Hi, Mark ~ Yes, I'm still thinking about Kevin (and getting shivers down my back). I haven't read the ones you recommended but am putting them on my "watch list" (my "wish list" being so long I'm afraid they'd be forgotten if I stuck them there).

Not much reading going on just now. So much to do!!! Today I'm supposed to go out and look at a bookcase, but after a couple of days of wondering if it is right for this space, I've decided that it probably isn't, so that means another day of nothing but packing and moving ahead. What a relief it will be when it's all done!

It is a gorgeous day today, after over a week of yucky weather that included a huge snowstorm on Mother's Day, and I've got my windows open to air the place out. It does get cold down here in the basement, which I happen to like for sleeping, but I will be getting a space heater for Nickel for next fall/winter. I imagine the summer months are going to be pretty nice and cool down here.

Anyway, what I meant to say is that I'm reading the audio version of Quiet, recommended by Morphy, and am really getting a lot out of it. (I've always known I'm kind of an introvert, notwithstanding my seeming ability to chat with strangers, but learning about the strengths of introversion and how to parlay it into success is very interesting.) The fact I keep falling asleep while listening to it does not ~ I repeat, NOT ~ reflect on the book itself but only my exhaustion at the end of the day. And maybe a little on the soft-spoken narrator whose voice is a bit too soothing.

Oh, I'm so glad you are enjoying it! I'm two for two on recommendations lately!

more xoxo from left handed me.

>50 Storeetllr: Mary, You paint such a beautiful picture. It is wonderful to find a space that feels ever so right.

Anne (AMQS) and I drove up to Boulder to meet up with Joanne (coppers), Katie (katiekrug), Julia (rosalita) and Donna (Donna 828), who were attending Booktopia. It was great to (finally) get to meet Julia and Katie, and it was great to see Anne, Joanne and Donna again! Amazing the breadth of our conversation: from books (natch) to book clubs to Booktopia (also natch) to travel to work to family to our LT family. Altogether a delightful time, and I can't wait to do it again!


L-R: Julia (Rosalita), Donna (Donna828), Joanne (coppers), Katie (katiekrug), Anne (AMQS) and Mary (Storeetllr)


L-R: Julia, Katie, Joanne, Anne and Donna


L-R: Julia, Katie, Mary, Joanne, Anne and Donna

Great pictures, Mary! You look way too young to be retired.

>51 Morphidae: You're dangerous with the book bullets, lady! (Keep 'em coming! One can never have too many books to read.)

>52 richardderus: Love left-handed smooches, RD, but sorry your right hand is still owies.

>53 Whisper1: Thanks, Linda. Yes, it is wonderful. I haven't felt this right in a home for many years.

>55 ronincats: Thanks, Roni! Truth to tell, I think I look younger today ~ even with my grey hair showing ~ than I did the day I retired. Could it be the Colorado air? Or just the easing of stress?

Speaking of easing of stress, so glad to hear the weather's turned cooler and moister there in SD and hope the fires can be quickly gotten under control now.

Love your photos, Mary! Thanks again for driving -- it was so nice to spend some time with you and to see Joanne, Donna, Julia and Katie!

Great photos, Mary! What a nice evening that was!

Hi Mary! It was great to meet you last night - thanks for making the trip out! And thanks for posting the photos. I think we all look suitably happy and replete from dinner :-)

LOVE the photos, Mary! Thanks so much for sharing - looks like SO much fun!

>58 AMQS: Thanks, Anne, and thanks for going with me in the car. So much nicer to drive somewhere with a friend! And it was really nice of you to deny having any white-knuckle moments on the drive. :)

>59 Copperskye: Yes, it was a lovely time, Joanne! Thanks for posting your delightful pics too!

>60 katiekrug: Katie! I loved meeting you and Julie and had a great time at dinner with everyone! We look happy and replete because we were!

>61 Crazymamie: It was a lot of fun, Mamie! Thanks!

So, just in case you missed it on Morphy's or another thread, Richard Derus is having a bit of a time and can use our help. So, I'm copying what Morphy wrote and hoping everyone can spare a few bucks for a good cause (and I can only imagine how RD will react to my calling him a "good cause." LOL)

"Our beloved curmudgeon, Richard Derus, needs our help.

His friends at LibraryThing have been watching Richard struggle with medical problems for several years now and want to do something to help. His gout is a particularly painful variety but the real kicker is that the medication which was helping him manage the pain has gone from $40/month to $300/month. With no medical insurance, this has put his medication out of reach for him, leaving him increasingly debilitated. So enough is enough, right?

We'd like to raise enough money for him to afford a year's worth of medication ($300 x 12), as well as raising sufficient funds for any required doctor appointments.

It's a small way of repaying Richard for his wonderful book reviews, not to mention the silliness and laughter always flying around on his thread. A friend in need is a friend indeed. Let's do this deed!"

http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/for-our-beloved-curmudgeon/179809

LOVE the meetup photos!!! :)

Me, too, Mary! Great-looking LT crew!

Great pictures, Mary. Thanks for sharing. It looks like you all had a great time.

Thanks, Tina, Joe and Beth! I had a wonderful time and wish the meet up could have lasted longer! We're planning to have another in June when Donna returns for her semi-monthly Hope visit, but sad that Julia and Katie won't be joining us. They are such lovely, fun women to hang out with!

Well, it's a gorgeous day today, but I am stuck inside with the windows tightly shut and a bit of a headache and achy lungs. I had the windows wide open, enjoying the warm breezes, when all of a sudden some guy appears in my back yard spraying weed-killing chemicals on the grass. I stopped him, of course, but the damage had been done. Apparently the landlords forgot to mention they have a service. I'm pretty unhappy about it, but I left a message for the landlord and asked that the service be stopped, that I'd take care of getting rid of weeds in the back yard myself, without chemicals to which I am highly sensitive. Not to mention that chemicals can kill my parrot.

On the plus side, it's a good reason to take myself off and bring another load here from the old place. Only another week and a half to get everything moved. Where did the month go????

Hi Mary- Have you recovered from that wonderful Meet-Up? I love those photos. What great smiles! I will get back to Colorado one of these days!

Hi Mary, what great pictures of such a group of wonderful ladies! That bookstore that you are posing in front of looks pretty interesting, too!

Good thing you were home so that you could stop the spraying and I bet Nickel is thankful you were there as well.

Hope you are able to finish up the moving - you are so right, this month seems to be just flying by.

Hi Mary, I am slowly coming down from my Rocky Mountain High. It was so much fun having you and Anne join us for dinner at Riff's. And weren't we a cool bunch eating outside as the crazy world went on around us? I love Boulder. I'm already beginning to look forward to seeing you again next month. I'm glad my son thinks I'm a worthy baby-sitter so I have an excuse to visit more often. Before Hope, it was once or twice a year and now I'm burning up that Interstate between MO and CO!

Whew! I'm glad you were able to stop the chemical spraying. I have a friend who was leaving the Missouri State Library while they were spraying chemicals outside. The wind came up and the spray got in her eyes and blinded her. They were hoping it was temporary but the optic nerve damage was permanent with no repair option. This happened about a decade ago. She is doing well but would love to have her sight back. Yes, I'm still telling depressing stories. I blame Colin McAdam author of A Beautiful Truth. I felt bad because I didn't buy his book. Poor guy!

So jealous of all you LT peeps who have all these cool opportunities to meet up and hang out. Great to also see that the friendships extend beyond the computer screen. Who says that book lovers are anti-social?? ;)

Hey there Mary -- We're trying to do a 4th of July meetup here in Boston. We'll try to take a page out of your book and post lots of fun pictures. >70 jolerie: is right! This does seem a friendly group. Speaking of which, I've popped onto the giving site for RD. It was very easy to navigate and a pleasure to do. Thanks for posting.

>68 DeltaQueen50: It's a really cool bookshop, Judy! I didn't have nearly enough time to check it out, but it's not that far from home, so I will be going back one day soon.
Maybe I'll treat myself after we finish moving. (Still have stuff over at the old place, but I think I see the end in sight!)

>69 Donna828: It was fun, and I really liked Riff's. It was only the second time I'd been to Boulder, and the first time I didn't get to Pearl Street, which was a trip! Glad you'll be back in June to babysit Hope and, hopefully, squeeze in a few hours to meet up with us!

About the spraying, the landlady canceled the lawn service, so no more pesticide spraying, but now I have to figure out how to take care of the weeds and fertilizing myself without the poisonous chemicals. It never ends, you know?

>70 jolerie: Aw, Valerie, I wish you could make it to Denver for one of our meet-ups! We do have fun, and I know you'd fit right in!

>71 michigantrumpet: Hi! A 4th of July meet up sounds like a lot of fun! I hope it happens and you post lots and lots of pics! Also, so glad you found the giving site for RD easy to navigate.

I know this really isn't a concern with this group, but I thought it was a fun meme:



ETA, except for that inappropriate comma. Says my inner grammar police.

Great minds think alike, Mary. I had the above posted on my thread earlier today but I had to change it as the picture wasn't showing. Definitely my thoughts for today as I cleaned the downstairs, tomorrow I work on the middle level.

Howdy, Mary! I wanted to thank you again for driving up to Boulder for the meet-up — it was wonderful to meet you in person. Next time I want to meet Nickel, too!

every awesome meme must, by Divine Decree of gawd, have a tooth-gritting error. like bad breath and pimples, more proof that gawd hates us and wants us to be miserable.

xoxo

>74 DeltaQueen50: So much cleaning can't be good for you, Judy!

>75 rosalita: Julia! You made it back home! It was really wonderful meeting you and Katie, and next time I will bring Nickel. She likes to meet nice people too and hang out, so she'd fit right in.

>76 richardderus: LOL! (It is pretty amazing how often commas get misused or fail to be used when appropriate by people who should know better.)

I hope this afternoon's scary weather missed you!

Hi, Joanne ~ Nope! I was at the nearly empty old condo when suddenly hail, tornado sirens, my cellphone screeching an emergency broadcast of a tornado warning telling me to take cover. So I went outside (during a lull in the hailstorm) and took pics. How did you fare?

Hi Mary- We were hit by a bad storm last night, including hail, but not as bad as that. Hope you survived unscathed. I also hope your week is going along fine. Are you reading Hammered? I finished that recently. It was a lot of fun.

Hi, Mark ~ I wonder if it was our storm, which appears to have been moving east fast. Well, glad it wasn't as bad as ours.

I've read all the Iron Druid books and am anxiously awaiting the next in the series, which I think comes out soon. It is a fun series!

Did you know the next Hearne book is an ER selection?

Oops, maybe I shouldn't have shared that. My chances will go down!

>73 Storeetllr: That is why my house is always in a constant state of chaos...... :D

>77 Storeetllr: Ah, but I have a plan. Clean really good now, then only do light cleaning through the summer, giving me more time to sit outside and read. (I'm nervous about my tendancy to overuse commas!)

Mary, it sounds like you had an exciting day - at least the weather was exciting! I lived in CO for 8 years and don't recall tornado sirens. But the hail…oh yes…it's really interesting if they bring out the snow plows in July to get it off the roads!

How did you make out in today's storm?

Tornados are pretty rare in the metro area. Today was only the second or third time in over 20 years that we were reminded about the tornado emergency procedures at the office. There was some damage from a tornado at Southlands Mall a couple years ago.

But like Donna said, hail is a different story. We get a lot of damaging hail storms. Garages are your car's friend. A few years ago our Explorer was totaled by hail when it was parked at DIA. That was a fun way to end a vacation!

What a lovely pictures of you and the other ladies, Mary!

This must have been a busy week for you, Mary!

xoxo some more

>82 Morphidae: Oh! How did I miss that?!? When I went through the list, I decided nothing appealed so didn't ask for any, but somehow I missed the Hearn. Thank you, thank you, Morphy! (If I win it and you don't, I'll read it fast and send it on to you.)

>83 jolerie: Haha, Val ~ my kinda woman! You've obviously got your priorities straight!

>84 DeltaQueen50: Good plan, Judy! You obviously have your priorities in order too. As far as commas go, I'm an overuser of punctuation, I'm told, but I try to never never never put a comma, where it absolutely doesn't, belong. *sigh*

>85 Donna828: Hi, Donna ~ Exciting but also annoying to be stuck in the old house until the hailstorms/tornado warnings were over. We used to have hailstorms in Chicago, but not so many in California over the past 40 years. Since I moved here last summer, I've been in at least a half dozen, and one of them (last Sept.) was a real doozy. That's when we had the flooding in our kitchen and living room.

>86 Copperskye: Scary, Joanne. I'm so glad we have a two-car garage. In fact, I restacked all the boxes in ours the afternoon of the first hailstorm (I think it was Wed.) after I got home so both cars would fit. Good thing I did, because there was more hail the next day.

>87 connie53: Thanks, Connie!

>88 ronincats: Very busy, at least until Thursday night when I slipped on the last step going downstairs (carrying an armful of stuff from the old house) and fell hard. I don't think I broke any ribs, though it hurt like the devil the first night, and I still can't put pressure on my mid-back on the left side. What I get for running down stairs in my stockinged feet. At least it was carpeted. Anyway, since then, I've been moving kind of slow.

>89 richardderus: more xoxo back atcha, RD!

Mary, I'm sorry to hear you had a fall. I hope the ouchies heal up quickly — that's the last thing you need while you are trying to unpack and get settled in your new place!

Oh dear, I hope your back and ribs are feeling better soon!

Thanks, Julia and Joanne. I hope so too. It's very annoying to be laid up like this when there is so much to do! It's still pretty painful, and hard to get comfortable, so sleep isn't something I've had a lot of since the fall. Can't even seem to get into any of the books I've got going, which may be the worst of all!

Morning Mary! Sorry, to hear about the fall. Ouch. Hope you are doing a little better today. I also hope you can start to focus on reading. It sounds like you could use that distraction.

Oh no! I hope you feel better soon Mary and the pain isn't too bad! *Gentle hugs*

Thanks, Mark and Val! I managed to get back to sleep around 6:30 a.m. and just got up. Feels a bit less tender, but I have a feeling it's going to be a few days before I'm back up to snuff. "Up to snuff." I wonder where that saying came from. *toodles off to check Google*

ETA that "up to snuff" originally meant "'sharp and in the know'; more recently, 'up to the required standard'. ... 'Up to snuff' originated in the early 19th century. In 1811, the English playwright John Poole wrote Hamlet Travestie, a parody of Shakespeare, in the style of Doctor Johnson and George Steevens, which included the expression.

""He knows well enough The game we're after: Zooks, he's up to snuff.' &

"'He is up to snuff, that is, he is the knowing one.'

"A slightly later citation of the phrase, in Grose's Dictionary, 1823, lists it as 'up to snuff and a pinch above it', and defines the term as 'flash'. This clearly shows the derivation to be from 'snuff', the powdered tobacco that had become fashionable to inhale in the late 17th century. The phrase derives from the stimulating effect of taking snuff. ..." http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/up-to-snuff.html

I do like learning about the etymology of words and origin of phrases.

Sir Percy!

Sorry to hear about your fall, Mary. I hope you didn't fracture anything!

>96 Storeetllr: Ha! Love that! Thanks for doing the work and posting the results. I'm sure you'll find a few nascent etymologists here!

>97 jnwelch: I know, right!? It's probably my favorite romantic film ever, even though my friend Susanne Alleyn, who writes fabulous historical novels and historical mysteries set around the time of the French Revolution, says it is complete historical b.s. But, Anthony Andrews! (And Jane Seymour wasn't all that hard on the eyes either, was she?)

>98 ronincats: Thanks, Roni. I hope not too, though it hurt enough to have done. It's getting a bit better, thank goodness!

>99 michigantrumpet: Glad it amused you as much as it did me!

I know it's late, but I thought I'd post a pic of my dad in his WWII uniform, apparently home on leave from boot camp before going off to fight in England/Scotland, Europe and Africa. Although he came back from the war alive and in one piece, he came back damaged nonetheless. Today, we'd probably call it PTSD, but back then our soldiers had to tough it out. Not sure how they all handled it, but my dad became an alcoholic, unable to relate in a caring way to his wife and kids. Anyway, I have forgiven him for the things he did (and didn't do) as a father ~ mostly, anyway, I'm still working on some of it ~ but I do understand how he came to be the way he was. And, though I believe in my soul it was necessary to fight Hitler and his not-so-merry band of fascists and am grateful beyond words to all the men and women who gave their all to defend us from that evil, I still hate war.



And here's a quote about war (Viet Nam, this time) from one of my favorite fictional characters:

“Did I see any combat? Yes, I saw combat. I was in the middle of combat, too. I was even under it. Why do people always ask, did you see combat, like it was a goddamn movie they took you to over there?”
-- Harry Bosch, The Last Coyote

Happy Memorial Day!

Mary, your dad was a handsome fellow. It's heartbreaking what war does to the soldiers who fight, and the families back home. That's a great Bosch quote, too.

Thanks for sharing the picture Mary. Sometimes when I'm reading a book about the different wars I think to myself even though it is fictionalized, there are real people out there going through very real horrors. At times it is hard to read, but I remind myself that people are actually living it as a reality and that sobers me up nice and quick.

Thanks, Julia ~ Many people have said they thought he was handsome when he was young, but I only see my dad the way he was when I was growing up.

Hi, Val ~ books about wars are hard for me too. I can do fictional wars (i.e., in science fiction, space wars or in historical fiction, wars in ancient lands far from here), but I tend to avoid novels about WWI and WWI and Vietnam because they are still too close. Best novel about war I've read in the last decade is Killer Angels by Michael Shaara, because apparently the U.S. Civil War is just far enough back in time to not effect me too badly, and that was very emotionally draining.

Well, it's a glorious day, sunny & hot with blue skies above: perfect late-May weather! I sat out on the patio with Nickel for a bit upon rising, petting her head and listening to the baby robins that must have just hatched in the nest that's in the rafters right outside my patio door. Now we are having our breakfasts: Nickel her freshly made warm Fiery Fiesta cereal/vegetable/fruit mix and me my latte and fresh strawberries. Back still hurts, but just now life feels fine!

Later, I need to go back to the old place, finish the last of the moving, and do a bit more cleaning. Then, I think I'm through! It will be a beautiful thing to not have to go back there but instead start making this place "home."

Hi Mary. Hope your back is feeling better. Thanks for posting the photo of your father and for sharing. I agree with you completely about war, including about WWII but it is sad what it does to people.

Thank you for the photo of your dad and those moving thoughts, Mary. Sorry the war had such a harsh impact on him, with you and the rest of your family suffering from the fallout.

My dad was in the Navy in WWII, and had some close scrapes but seems to have come through relatively mentally unscathed. We were lucky. He's always been quiet, but part of that is he's hearing impaired. Good for you for starting to come to grips with your dad's role in your life. That's tough to do, I know. Parents are so important to their children. Mine is old enough that he told me now I get to be the parent, and he gets to be the child. That's a weird one, but pretty accurate.

War is hell. It has ruined so many lives but we still indulge in the same madness. I am grateful to those who have fought for our country and my heart goes out to those who have suffered serious physical and emotional injuries. Thanks for sharing your story, Mary.

So glad the move is almost over. I know June will provide much relief for you -- and the opportunity for another meet-up. Yay!

>105 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks, Reba ~ My back is getting better slowly but surely, though I think the pain has been making me a lot more tired than usual. Guess I needed to rest a lot so it could heal. Thanks for your thoughts on my sharing about my dad and war.

>106 jnwelch: Your dad sounds like a great guy, Joe! Very funny what he said about the role change, though true! I'm not sure my dad didn't already have a bit of an emotional issue going in, though the letters I have that he wrote my grandparents and mom during the war sound like a completely different person than the one I knew while growing up and especially later. I can only imagine that any mental/emotional issue dad had before the war was only exacerbated by what he saw/did over there.

>107 Donna828: Oh, me too, Donna! June 1 is the new May 1 (a date I thought would never get here after we signed the lease at the end of March and for which I waited very impatiently to arrive). I never did get over to the old house today. Instead, I went for a drive to return some books to the library, then went to the store and bought some Epsom salt and white vinegar to mix with Dawn dishwashing detergent and pour over the profusion of weeds that have sprouted up all of a sudden everywhere and are especially hard to get out of the rock borders. I just hope I don't end up killing the grass too. :) Tomorrow, my nieces are coming over to move the very heavy computer armoire and a couple of other large items ~ all that's left at the old place ~ and to help clean. My sister has done a lot of the cleaning, but there's still more to do before we have our "walk through" on Thursday. I'm hoping that, after Thursday, I never have to go back there again!

ETA yay for our promised meet-up in June!

Thanks for sharing the photo and your thoughts of your father. A nice tribute. Hope your week is going well, Mary.

Such a great picture of your dad, Mary.

I hope the ribs and the back are feeling better. They say that a fractured rib is not that worse, but bruised ribs are very painful!

>96 Storeetllr: Teeth cleaning yesterday and the hygienist and I got to talking about the phrase 'long in the tooth'. She thinks it goes back to periodontal disease. Hmmm... Thought of you!

Finally getting caught up with you, Mary! Sorry about your fall - stair tumbles are The Worst! And thanks so much for sharing that handsome photo of your dad - just lovely.

>111 michigantrumpet: Actually, it has to do with horses.

"Horses's teeth, unlike humans', continue to grow with age. They also wear down with use, but the changes in the characteristics of the teeth over time make it possible to make a rough estimate of a horse's age by examining them."

Happy weekend, dear Mary, and happy home making!

>109 msf59: Thanks, Mark!

>110 connie53: Thank you too, Connie. The ribs are healing, whether from a fracture or a bruise, but slowly.

>111 michigantrumpet:, >113 Morphidae: Haha, should I be insulted? (Actually, it's a good reminder to make a hygienist appointment.) I've wondered about that saying too, whether it has something to do with how one's gums' receding makes one's teeth seem longer, but I think Morphy is right about the origin of the phrase.

>112 scaifea: Hi, Amber ~ Thanks for visiting. I bet you've had a lot of catching up to do, after your trip!

>114 richardderus: Thanks, RD! Happy weekend to you too!

I've been set back a bit by the fall I had, but I think (hope) the worst of the pain is over and I may even be able to get some organizing done this weekend. Also due (I think) to the pain, I haven't felt much like commenting on anyone's threads (including my own), though I've enjoyed reading others' comments, so, if I seem to have been neglecting your thread, I apologize and promise to do better going forward.

Currently listening to The Natural History of Dragons, read by Kate Reading, and am enjoying it a lot. I can't remember who recommended it, but whomever it was was spot on! I wanted to save it for June's "Female Fantasy/Science Fiction" group read, but nothing else I have on hand appeals to me and I couldn't wait. I probably won't finish it by the end of May, so it will most likely be my first June book.

Oh, yes, I almost forgot. As I've mentioned before, I volunteer at The Gabriel Foundation, a bird sanctuary/rescue organization here in Denver. Most of the time, I'm washing food and water bowls or changing papers in the cages of the 100 or so birds that live at The Bird Brain in downtown Denver (there are another 750 or so that live at The Aviary in Elizabeth, CO), but every once in awhile they let me out to help at an outreach event. The last time was May 24, and I ended up being named one of the Volunteers of the Week.

Congratulations on being named volunteer of the week. That's good work you do there and it's nice to see you recognized for it.

>116 Storeetllr: Very cool!

Brava!

Way to go, Volunteer of the Week! I know first-hand how much nonprofits rely on their volunteer help and it's so good of them to acknowledge your work. I liked how you said sometimes they "let you out" to do outreach. :-)

Couldn't happen to a nicer volunteer!

OK, finally all caught up here, Mary. I hope June is a bit of a quieter month for you - you've been busy!

>116 Storeetllr:: Thanks for sharing the picture! Love those bright-colored birdy aprons. I'm glad you've found a volunteer job that fits in with your love of birds. I love teaching kids how to read so my Monday after-school time was a good gig for me -- and I get summers off! Happy week end!

>117 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks, Reba! Yes, I love working with and for the birds, and with a bunch of really nice people. And it's nice to be recognized for it too.

>118 scaifea: Thanks, Amber!

>119 richardderus: Grazie!

>120 rosalita: Thanks, Julia! I would do it for no recognition, of course, but it is nice to know they appreciate my efforts. Now that we're ALL MOVED IN (YAY!), I can do a little more than I have been the past few weeks.

>121 ronincats: Aw, Roni. *blush* So nice of you to say.

>122 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie! So glad it's June and we're done with the moving. Now it's only (haha, "only") getting the new place organized.

>123 Donna828: Thanks, Donna. The aprons are new, and they are even more stunning in person! Volunteer work is something I've wanted to do for a long time, but with work and the long commute, it wasn't easy. I used to tutor at the Adult Literacy Center at the L.A. Central Library, but I only did it for a year because it really took a lot out of me, and, at the time, I didn't have that much energy left to give! Tutoring kids in reading must be very rewarding, especially for a voracious reader, which I know you are! BTW, June's here! When are you coming out?

>124 Storeetllr: Whoo hoo for all moved in! When do we get to see pictures of the new place now that you are?

Mary that is so awesome and sweet that you got recognition for the volunteer work that you do! Way to go. :D

>125 Morphidae: Haha, Morphy, we may be moved in, but it's still boxes boxes everywhere. Just as soon as we get the boxes emptied and everything put away, which I hope will be before the end of the month, I'll take a bunch of pics. Even with the post-move mess, I'm in love with the place! Oh, and there's a bush right outside my patio door with flower buds that are as big as golf balls! I think it's a camellia bush, another of my favorite flowers! I will take a pic of that as soon as the first blossom appears!

>126 jolerie: Thanks, Val ~ it's really a fun kind of volunteer work, especially since I like birds so much, but it is nice to be recognized. I may be doing an event in Colorado Springs next Sunday 6/8 (I know it's too far for you to travel for it, Val, but thought I'd throw it out in case anyone living closer might be interested), if I can use my sister's SUV (because I would need to transport a few birds, a table, chairs, and handouts, which won't fit in my little sporty car). Here's just a bit about the event:

"Harley’s Hope Foundation and the Colorado Springs Area Veterinary Society are hosting the 3rd Annual Because We Care Pet Fair on Sunday, June 8th from 11-3 at Intermountain Coach in Colorado Springs. ...

"The Because We Care Pet Fair was created to draw attention to pet health, safety, and wellness and offers a clinic with wellness exams and vaccinations to pet parents providing proof of financial need. Low-cost vaccinations, low-cost microchipping, free nail trims, low-cost spay/neuter vouchers, demonstrations, vendors, and animal groups with or without adoptable animals are available to the general public. Admission is FREE. This year they’ll also be featuring a celebrity dog wash fundraiser with proceeds going to our direct assistance funds to treat animals with serious conditions diagnosed during the Fair."

Yah, to Volunteer of the Week! Go Mary! Go Mary!

Hope you had a good weekend. I just started Dust and Shadow. Have you read this one? If not, it might be your cuppa. I loved her, The Gods of Gotham book and NEED to get to book 2 of that series.

Oh boy. I'm not even safe from book bullets on my own thread! Both books look really good, so onto the wish list they go. Thanks for the suggestions, Mark!

Hahaha...don't worry Mary. Mark is doing that on everybody's thread apparently. *Gives Mark the stink eye* And that's why we love him so much. ;)

Love your volunteer recognition! Congrats!

The recognition is well deserved, I'm sure! What a great place to help out.

Are you all settled in yet?

>130 jolerie: Haha, Val, I saw he'd shot a few BBs on your thread too. Yep, we do love our Marky Mark!

>131 Copperskye: Thanks, Joanne ~ It's a nice feeling, but to tell the truth, I like it even more when the birds "recognize" me when I do my volunteer work with them!

>132 michigantrumpet: Thanks, it is a wonderful organization! As for being settled in...I'm settled in inasmuch as I've got my bed set up and my reading chair and ottoman and Nickel's cage and perches, but, as I write this while sitting on said reading chair, I look around at what looks like a storage unit that was visited by a small but powerful tornado. My sis said just this morning, "Mary, if you would simply do one box a day, you could be finished in a month." *sigh*

So, it appears I was mistaken about the bush next to my patio door, according to a gardening guy at Nick's Nursery. It's not a camellia bush but a peony bush, and today a couple of the buds started to blossom!

Hi Mary! Yup, those are peonies. We have a bush that I think may be beautiful, as there are big, fat, pink buds on it, but it is always in its full glory when we're gone (next week). Ah, well.

I'm sorry you hurt yourself! That's terrible. Give yourself a break and rest and relax -- even now. Remember: you're retired!

Lovely photo and story about your dad. War is just terrible. My dad was a navy pilot in VietNam. Stelios and his family lost their home and became refugees in the 1974 war in Cyprus - they ran for their lives and never returned. So many traumatic, sad stories.

Oh, my mom has a huge area of the yard full of peonies (which my parents pronounce "pineys." Gorgeous, they are.

Hi, Anne! Sorry you'll be missing the peonies in their full glory, but you'll be doing some other glorious things, so it's not the worst loss. I'll take pics of mine and post them as the bush gets filled with blossoms. Thanks, I love being retired, but sometimes I think I'm in danger of relaxing a bit too much.

War does such terrible things to so many people! I dated a guy who had been a navy pilot in 'Nam. He was pretty messed up, but a real dear when he wasn't under the influence of the PTSD. I can only imagine how wonderful he would have been... So glad Stelios and his family escaped, but so awful to lose everything you have and run for your life. We here in the U.S. have no idea.

Hi, Amber! My sis said our mom also had pineys :) but I don't remember them, only the lilacs and lilies-of-the-valley and roses. I bet your mom's yard is beautiful! I wasn't sure until I sniffed one yesterday, but they also have a lovely delicate fragrance.

Great news! According to Mary Doria Russell's Facebook page: "It's official. Epitaph will be published on March 3, 2015." She posted what the cover's going to look like; I really like it:

And here's another book that sounds like it will be a lot of fun: FaceOff, an anthology of stories edited by Baldacci with collaborations by famous authors that pair famous fictional detectives (i.e., Connelly's Harry Bosch and Lehane's Patrick McKenzie). For more info, go to http://www.michaelconnelly.com/otherwords/shortstories/faceoff/

Phew! All caught up. Hope you are feeling better and in much less pain. Congrats on Volunteer of the Week. It's a great photo! I saw the news about the tornados and was not sorry to be missing that. ;)

That peony is gorgeous and it's not even in full bloom yet so I can't imagine how much prettier it will be then! Please post a pic if you get a chance, Mary as I don't think I've ever seen one in real life before. :)

>138 Storeetllr:: Wow! Those are some real book bullets!

Mary, our peonies always bloom around Mother's Day. They were gorgeous again this year. We have seven bushes of light pink, white, and deep red. The best thing is that they require no special care. Enjoy!

I love peonies. My Dad had quite a lot of them. Sometimes the flowers get so big that they need support so the stems don't break.

68 for a high tomorrow? Boo...

Have a great weekend!

Kansas peonies have already been and gone as well. They are another one of the flowers I really miss from the Midwest that we don't have in southern California. Enjoy!!

76 degrees and 55% humidity today here--perfect!

Happy Weekend, Mary! Yah, for Epitaph! I will be pre-ordering that baby!

Thanks, Jenn ~ I'm all recovered and much more careful when I go down the stairs! Tomorrow I'll be doing another event for The Gabriel Foundation, down in Colorado Springs, where I'm told they expect heavier weather than up here. Lovely.

Here you go, Val ~ a close-up and a shot of the rather droopy looking bush! Next year I will set up a support for the blooms before the bush gets too full.





Haha, Donna ~ book bullets! Yes, I am loving the lush peonies, with their gorgeous fragrance, though, as mentioned above, I'll be giving them some support next year so they don't look so droopy.

Thanks, Joanne! I wish I'd known enough to give the peonies support this year. Next year... And, yes, 68F? Plus I saw they're expecting storms this afternoon and tomorrow, too. Oh, well, it's sunny now, and I'm enjoying it while I can!

Hi, Roni! I know what you mean ~ California is wonderful in many ways, but I missed the lilacs and lilies-of-the-valley and the colorful changing of the seasons too. Great weather you're having! Hope it stays that way all summer.

Me too, Mark! I've been watching its progress on MDR's FB page the past year. Even reread Doc in anticipation, though I may need to reread it again before the sequel comes out, not that I would mind!

Well, I'm in full gardening mode (or will be when I sign off here) and plan to plant the flower boxes and pots with the geraniums, herbs, zuccini and tomato plants in the pic below, assuming the usual afternoon storms don't arrive early today. Then I need to get ready for tomorrow's trek down to Colorado Springs for the pet event. I'm going to take Nickel along ~ she does really well at events, is good with strangers, and is especially good with children ~ but it takes a bit of prep for field trips with her.



Hope you are all having a wonderful weekend too!

Whatever the red things are, they're my faves because that shade of red is glorious!

Richard, they look like geraniums. That's the shade of my new car!

Mary, I'm glad your green thumb is finally going to get a workout. The snow should be over but it can hail anytime of the year in Colorado! Have fun in The Springs - my old stomping grounds. I'll be arriving a week from tomorrow and hoping that we can arrange a meet-up the following weekend on June 21 or 22. I'm looking forward to seeing my Colorado Chums again as our dinner in Boulder was too brief!

Yes, they are geraniums, RD ~ one of my favorite flowers! (I know, so far every flower is my favorite, it seems.) That is a lovely scarletty red, though, isn't it, and will go well with the white geraniums and some blue lobelia! Not sure what else I'll plant with them, if anything. I also love scented geraniums, and bought two (citronella and bitter lemon) which are amongst the rest (the ferny looking plants to the left in the picture, next to the red geraniums and in front of the tomato).

Good eye, Donna, and lovely shade for a car! I'm free the weekend of June 21 (FIRST DAY OF SUMMER!) and 22, so make plans and I will show up! Look forward to it. If only our out-of-towners could join us again!

That peony is absolutely gorgeous. It looks like with all those flowers that you are settling in!

Slowly but surely, Morphy! Just trying to do a little every day, and more when I'm looking for something that I packed and now need but can't find. :) So much for my great plan to use Evernote to keep track of where everything is.

Slow and easy makes the race, Mary! Everything doesn't have to be done immediately. And settling in is so much nicer than packing up, imho.

You're so right, Roni! I only wish my sister felt that way! Oh, well, we all have our idiosyncracies.

So, instead of doing any unpacking today, I ran a few errands, the most important of which was to mail my voter change of address form, and the close second of which was to get a library card at my local library. Buying more potting soil and rabbit repellant (they've already dug 2 holes in the back lawn) was third in importance. Needless to say, grocery shopping came last. I also got my car washed, so of course it rained again this afternoon.

WooHoo for the new library card! Exciting!!

Mary- I have Doc saved on audio, for my reread. Probably listen to it, early next year. I am also excited about her Poe novel.

Is is, Amber! Quite the most exciting thing, to visit a new library and get a library card there!

Hi, Mark! I liked the audio of Doc, which was also how I reread the novel. Can't wait to see how she tells the story of Poe!

I adore peonies but don't think they would do well in San Diego. There are some blooming in yards here though and I love seeing them.

Hi Mary, I love peonies! We have a pretty one in our back yard and it covered itself with large white blossoms this year. Very exotic looking.

Hi, Reba! All the years I lived in SoCal (nearly 40), I'd forgotten all about this flower, and I am loving getting reacquainted!

White must be beautiful, Judy!

I've got peonies in vases all over the house, scenting the inside with the most lovely fragrance, and the bush is still full of blooms! I feel so at home here ~ and blessed!

Oh, I am SO jealous! Peonies and lilacs and irises and daffodils and tulips are all flowers I desperately miss. On the other hand, I do love my sweet peas which cannot be grown in the interior of the country satisfactorily, and the bougainvillea and jacaranda and having year-round blooms...

Oh, I loved bougainvillea! I saw some hanging pots of it in the nursery and had to walk away before I bought one, because I know it won't work here. :( And jacaranda! I never grew sweet peas when I had the chance, sadly enough, and now I guess I never will. More :(

ETA can't you grow iris and daffodils where you are, Roni? I know I grew iris in the Santa Clarita Valley, though I never tried daffodils.

I no longer have to get up for work on Mondays, and I still have trouble with Sunday nights. Well, anyway, here's one for all the Monday Morning Warriors still on the job.

Right?!?



Same goes for books birds.

Currently reading The Hellfire Conspiracy by Will Thomas. After this one, I'll be all caught up and can start my April Early Reviewer book: Fatal Enquiry.

My audiobook is Dreams Underfoot by Charles de Lint, but it puts me to sleep, and I can't seem to get into it, so I'm going to let it go and listen to Cetaganda instead. I sure seem to be getting through the Vorkosigan saga at a gallop; I only read Shards of Honor a few months ago. Pretty addictive, that's for damn sure.

>160 ronincats: Roni by Mom had wonderful irises (bearded variety) in the San Fernando Valley -- bet they would do well in your yard too.

>163 Storeetllr: Right!

It turns out we did not miss our peonies after all. Our blossoms do not produce the full, thick, lush flowers most do -- they're more like tulips (outer petals and not much inside when they open) -- I wonder why that is? Ah well, can't complain as we actually enjoyed them this year!

Passing through casting hugs and smooches about.

There are some varieties of irises that do okay here, but most need more cold than we get. We can plant daffodils and tulips and glads that will bloom for one season after being cold-seasoned in the refrigerator, but they won't naturalize. I use to love the bearded irises in Kansas.

Have you read No More Dead Dogs by Gordon Korman? I think you'd find it fun.

Enjoy Cetaganda!!

What type of job did you get there in Colorado?

Hi, all! I've been so busy the past few days that I haven't had a lot of time to get online until late in the day, when I've been too exhausted to do more than just kind of look before passing out. Yesterday I volunteered at the bird place, and instead of easy jobs like washing food dishes and passing out water, they had me moving pieces of wood they got from a construction site across the alley and stacking it neatly inside. I had to wear double gloves because, under the pile outside in the back, there were cockroaches. BIG ones. Eww, ick, gag. I also made a couple of birdie toys, which was fun and less strenuous, but by the time I ran all my post-volunteer errands and got home, I was so tired I took a 3 hour nap. The day before, I went out and bought two bookcases for the little reading nook I've planned for my basement space, and also did some grocery shopping. The day before that , I worked in the yard in the hot sun for a couple of hours, trimming bushes, pulling weeds, planting the last of the vegetables in containers, and deadheading roses and peonies.

Speaking of which, glad you got to enjoy your peonies this year, Anne! I have no idea why yours aren't full. A different type of peony, I wonder? BTW, really looking forward to seeing you and Marina tomorrow!

Catching all the smooches and hugs you are casting about, Richard, with gratitude. I'm in need of as many hugs as I can get, as I'm feeling a bit down at the moment. Kisses and hugs back atcha!

I guess I was lucky, Roni, to have irises when I lived in SoCal. Of course, it did get pretty darn chilly in winter in the Santa Clarita Valley where I lived, which may have been a blessing. I also had some success with a lilac bush there, though I did put ice around it in January and February to fool it (a little) into thinking it lived in the north. Thanks for the tip on No More Dead Dogs. I haven't heard of it and am sure I never would have picked it up with that title if not for your suggestion. I'll check it out. And I am having fun with Cetaganda. It's got some surprisingly humorous bits in it. Last night, while listening to it as I fell asleep, I found myself giggling at an exchange between Miles and Ivan.

Hi, Morphy ~ I moved to Colorado to live with my still-working sister so I could afford to retire a year early. So far it's working out just fine (money-wise), so my only job is with The Gabriel Foundation as a volunteer. I'm supposed to be doing the daily housekeeping work too, but, with the move, I haven't done a good job with it in the past few months. Once I get settled in (please God let it be soon), I will get back to doing the dusting, vacuuming, mopping, etc. (just on the main floor; the bedrooms upstairs are my sister's to take care of).

>170 Storeetllr: I thought you had retired but then you had said something about "work" in a previous post. I got curious!

Ah, that explains it!

My personal belief is that "work" is necessary unless you want to grow stale and be just, you know, waiting to die, but that, if you can afford it, "work" can be volunteer or creative (like writing or drawing or gardening or repurposing old stuff). I plan to continue volunteering, which gives me such a good feeling, to know I'm giving back at least a little, plus it gets me out of the house, but also to start writing again, and, of course, there's the garden.

I know what you mean. I'm mostly homebound but I "work," too. I volunteer for a local nonprofit and most all of it from home. It's phone work and bookkeeping. I also work at the reception desk for 4 hours once a week at church. I spend 10 - 20 hours a week on volunteer work.

Wow! That's about 8 times more volunteer work than I do, and what I do exhausts me! :) However much we do, though, it's good for us and good for society, right? Right!

>174 Storeetllr: Well, all of mine is sitting down!

I like the sound of your reading nook, Mary, something all living areas should have, I think.

Oh dear, manual labor at your volunteer job!

It was great to see you today! Have fun with your family!

Hi, Judy ~ Yes, a reading nook is definitely something every home should have!

So good to see you again today, Joanne! Thanks, it's so lovely to be with family. Best thing of all, for the very first time (and I've been here 11 months), Dylan insisted on hanging out with me rather than anyone else, including her grandma!

So, we had a meetup today (Joanne, Donna, Anne and her lovely daughter Marina) at the Tattered Cover in Highlands Ranch and, as usual, had a wonderful time. I posted a few pics on the meetup thread: https://www.librarything.com/topic/176437. Here's the one of all of us:



Marina, Anne, Donna, Joanne and me

I bought two books, neither of which are for me: a cute little owl-finger-puppet board book for Dylan (which she loved) and The Rosie Project for my daughter, who will be coming for a visit from NY at the end of July. She'll be here for my birthday, actually, and, in good Hobbitish fashion, I am giving her a present. (Her presence is all the present I need from her!)

Mary, it was so nice to see you and Joanne and Donna today! Marina enjoyed herself very much - thank you for welcoming her!

So glad you both could make it, Anne! I really enjoyed meeting Marina and hope she'll come to more of our meetups!

>178 Storeetllr: Wow, what a great picture, Mary! You all must have had a blast.

I'm a fan of The Rosie Project, too.

Usernames, please?

That is a fantastic meet-up picture, Mary! You all look very happy and filled with fun.

>182 Morphidae: I gave the user names on the thread I created for Denver Area Meetups and linked above (https://www.librarything.com/topic/176437), but here they are, from l.-r.:

Marina (no LT account), Anne (AMQS), Donna (Donna828), Joanne (coppers), and Mary (Storeetllr).

>183 rosalita: Thanks, Julia! It was a lot of fun, though we missed you and Katie (and Jenn, who moved from Denver the summer I moved to Denver so never met her).

It looks like another wonderful Meet-Up, Mary. Love all the smiles.

Thanks, Mark. It was, as always, wonderful to get together with the Denver LT gang! And meeting Anne's daughter Marina was a special bonus!

Well, I may have overextended myself a bit. I've got 9 audiobooks to finish in the next 3 weeks, before the last of them is due back to the library:

Brothers in Arms
Mirror Dance
Borders of Infinity
The Edge of Desire
Tropic of Serpents Book 2
The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag
Plainsong
World After
Three Jack Reacher Novellas: Second Son, Deep Down and High Heat

Plus I've got two more on the Hold shelf and am expecting them to be available soon:

Top Secret Twenty-One
Dragonflight

Yikes! That doesn't include the printed books and ebooks I've got to read, a couple of which are also from the library and one of which is an Early Reviewer novel that I need to read and review soon.

Hi, my name is Mary, and I am a bookaholic. *sigh*

Doesn't look like you'll be getting much sleep. Unless you can "sleep-listen?"

>186 Storeetllr: Mary, as a fellow bookaholic you have my sympathy and my congratulations on such an interesting book haul!

I wish I could "sleep-listen," Morphy. As it is, I stayed up until after 3 a.m. the past two nights listening to Brothers in Arms. I really need to stop that, because getting up at noon (or after) isn't getting me very far with the unpacking / organizing of my new place.

Thanks, Judy. When you're a bookaholic, it's hard to find time to do anything else but read! And when I don't have a plethora of things to read at hand, I get anxiety attacks! At least I'm in the right place, though. Here on LT, most of us can claim that label. I finished Brothers in Arms last night (this morning) and have already started Tropic of Serpents, though I really wanted to continue with Miles' adventures. I wish I could listen to two (or more) books simultaneously.

Good news! I just learned that a new Marcus Corvinus mystery is due out soon!

Finished Business by David Wishart, release date: November 1, 2014.

So new there's no Touchstone for it yet!

http://www.david-wishart.co.uk/finishb/finished-business.htm

Oh! Sounds like so much fun, RD. Your book bullet hit its mark, yet again!

>189 Storeetllr:: I wish I could listen to two (or more) books simultaneously.

So, what's the problem, Mary? You have two ears! Sorry, couldn't resist. I get a little punchy after my bedtime. I really came over here to thank you for setting up that Denver meet up thread. Who knows…maybe we'll add to our group if there are any Denverites out there who would like to talk books with us.

Edited to close italics!

I need to get started on Brothers in Arms--it's my next reread in the Vorkosigan series. Hmmm, I think I'll pick it up instead of my last library book today.

ETA Oops, no, it's Mirror Dance next, the first one to be issued in hardback first. And I'm saving Tropic of Serpents to read closer to when the 3rd book is coming out, even though a quick search hasn't told me when that it.

Haha, Donna. Don't think that hasn't occurred to me! You're welcome ~ I hope the Denver meetup thread comes in handy, one way or the other. BTW, here's the link for it: https://www.librarything.com/topic/176437, in case you want to star it for easy reference. Did you see the pics of our last meeting that I posted on it?

Hi, Roni ~ Did I mention I'm listening to Tropic of Serpents, and that I am loving the reader? She (Kate Reading) sounds a lot like the person who read the Amelia Peabody books, and has that same wide range of voices that I love so much. I'll probably re-listen to the first two in the Natural History of Dragons trilogy before the third one comes out, I like them that much. I really liked Brothers in Arms and am looking forward to Mirror Dance, which I'll start after Tropic and Plainsong and World After. *sigh* I wish I had three ears and that each was separately wired to my brain so I could listen to three books at the same time.

Loving the meet up photo. Looking forward to my *first* meet up here in Boston in a week. I did meet Caro and her husband for drinks once, but this is my first big group food/book shopping extravaganza.

They look like so much fun!

Happy weekend storeetllr.

Oh, you will have so much fun, Marianne! I never went to a meetup before moving to Denver last summer, though I've been a member of LT since 2006, and now I can't imagine going more than a few months without getting together with the Denver-area LTers. Be sure to take lots of photos and post them!

Thanks, Rachel! You too!

I read a lot of great books in Q2, and these are the ones that stand out for me:

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
Shogun by James Clavell (audio)
River of Stars by Guy Gavriel Kay
The Martian by Andy Weir (audio)
Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor
We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver
The Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan

And now you can add The Hanover Square Affair after you read it!

I got a Kindle copy yesterday, Richard! Very much looking forward to reading it!

Also looking forward to reading the Early Reviewers copy of The Ripper Affair by Lilith Saintcrow which I won this month!

I won that one too, Mary!

I've promised myself that I'd read The Rosie Project soon. Everyone seems to love it!

Have a safe and happy 4th, Mary!

I loved The Rosie Project and Just One Damned Thing After Another, too!

Me, too, on both.

Hi, Roni ~ I enjoyed the first in the series, but I see from your thread there is a second I need to read before this one? I'm going to have to see if it's available from the library.

Oh, yes, Joanne ~ I think you would enjoy it. Romance, but intelligent and humorous. Have a great 4th of July too, and try not to burn in this suddenly scorching Colorado sun!

Hi, Morphy ~ they were both really good, weren't they! I've got the second in the St. Mary's series on my Kindle, and will try to get to it soon. I've been on a kind of audiobook jag the last few weeks, but a lot of good stuff on my Kindle and in print is waiting for me.

Mary, since my library doesn't have the second, I'm just going to go straight to the third. The first book doesn't make me think that I'll miss a whole lot of character development by doing so.

Roni ~ If I manage to find and read it, I'll let you know.

Hey Mary! Happy 4th of July! Hope you're enjoying it!

Thanks, Rachel! You too!

Hi Mary, hope you are having a great holiday weekend!

Thanks, Judy. Hope your weekend is lovely, even if Canada isn't celebrating a holiday along with it!

Thanks for encouraging words about our Meet Up here in Boston. I thought it a huge success. I want one very month, now!

Picture posted over on my thread.

Hope you have a great week!

Oh! That's great! Hopping right over to your thread to see the photo of your meetup.

75. Mirror Dance by Bujold (audio) 8-9 stars Well, I can't decide whether to give it 8 or 9 stars. I almost quit at one point, when it was all about Mark (whom at the time I couldn't stand) and nothing about Miles, and at a few other points in the story I was so annoyed and/or disturbed that it wasn't fun reading, but by the end I was so very happy I'd persevered. This may not be my favorite, but I have a feeling it will be one of the most memorable of the series, which, by the way, I am simply devouring.

And so, just a few days past the half-year mark, I reached my official goal of 75 books, though the number is usually 125 or so by the end of the year. This year, being my first full year of retirement, I thought I'd reach a much higher number than that, but it appears I'm on track to read about 150 books in total. Not shabby, especially when so many of them (so far) have been highly enjoyable, so I'm not complaining.

Mary, you are exactly right. This book and the next are the most memorable and important in the series, if not the most pleasant.

Woo hoo! Congratulations on #75!!!

You did it! Congrats on reaching 75 already!

Congrats!

Mary, I'm so glad this has been a stellar reading year for you so far. Congratulations on reaching the 75 goal with another six months to read more good books.

Congratulations on reaching the big 7-5, Mary! That's quite an accomplishment considering you also managed to move your entire household this year.

Congratulations on the 75, Mary. You are well on your way to 150!

>215 Storeetllr: Woohoo!! Let's celebrate!

I think reaching 75 is an amazing accomplishment, Mary. Good for you! Hooray!

WooHoo for 75!!

Congrats on the 75! YAY! I know I won't make 75 this year...but that's ok. I'm here for the people, too. :)

Congrats on 75! Go Mary! Plenty of time for another 75 too!

Thanks for the well wishes on reaching 75, Roni, Joanne, Jim, Donna, Julia, Judy, Richard, Marianne, Amber, Rachel, and Mark! It's already gone past that, to 77, due in large part to the audiobook jag that I've been on the past month. In June and so far in July, I've ear-read:

The Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan, read by Kate Reading
Tropic of Serpents Book 2 by Marie Brennan, read by Kate Reading
The Hallowed Hunt by Lois McMaster Bujold, read by Marguerite Gavin
Monk's Hood by Ellis Peters, read by Derek Jacobi
The Vor Game by Lois McMaster Bujold, read by Grover Gardner
Three Weeks With Lady X by Eloisa James, read by Susan Duerdon
Cetaganda by Lois McMaster Bujold, read by Grover Gardner
Brothers in Arms by Bujold, read by Grover Gardner
The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag by Alan Bradley, read by Jayne Entwistle
Borders of Infinity by Bujold, read by Grover Gardner
Mirror Dance by Bujold, read by Grover Gardner
I Am Half Sick of Shadows by Alan Bradley, read by Jayne Entwistle
Top Secret Twenty-One by Janet Evanovich, read by Lorelei King

I really enjoyed the Brennans and am devouring the Vorkosigans like potato chips. Also surprised by how much I am enjoying the Flavia de Luce mysteries. I didn't care as much for The Hallowed Hunt as I had expected, but I think it was the reader, not the novel itself. The Cadfael was fun, a trip down memory lane for me, though not quite as much fun as I'd expected, and the Stephanie Plum, which I just finished, was one of the better offerings in the series.

*******

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why the front room is still half-full of boxes, my office and bedroom are still not unpacked/organized, the pictures aren't up on the walls yet, and I haven't managed to get all the plants in pots yet.

And you know what? Those boxes will still be there later, when you run out of audiobooks to listen to. Oh wait ... they're still recording audiobooks? There may be a slight flaw in that plan.

>228 rosalita: +1

Wow, don't wear out your ears!

It's really way too hot to unpack boxes anyway.

Hey, it's the dog days of summer, the time to relax. Your boxes will be with you always...

Ha! I knew everyone here would understand! I am definitely in the right place!

Oh, yes, Julia (and RD) ~ They are definitely still recording audiobooks. I'm doomed, aren't I.

Haha Joanne ~ Better my ears than my poor eyes, which I think I wore out on print books. And yes, you're so right about it being too hot to unpack boxes.

Hahaha Roni! "Your boxes will be with you always..." Too true. At least, some of them have been with me since 1988, when I moved from a relatively big house with lots of room for bookshelves to a smaller house and had to leave about half my books in boxes, the same boxes they're still in.

>227 Storeetllr: I don't know. I read rather than ear-read The Hallowed Hunt and didn't care for it either.

I was going to say, as Morphy did, that I have heard that The Hallowed Hunt isn't as good as the other two in the trilogy which is a shame as I loved the first two.

Dearest Mary, THH is based on a different culture (Germanic rather than Spanish) and at an earlier time, and thus hasn't the charm of the first two books, plus not having any of our favorite characters, so at first read it is usually a disappointment. But it grows on one.

I didn't dislike it; it was just not as enjoyable as the first two, AND I didn't care for the reader. I knew going in it wasn't actually the third book of a trilogy a la LoTR, that not only the characters but even the time period was different, even though it was set on the same world as the first two, so the culture change didn't come as a huge shock to me.

So, I got some wonderful news today ~ my daughter is going to come in two weeks and spend a week! It's the best birthday present a mother could ever want! My sis is putting together a spa day at a local hot springs for us and our daughters, which is what I told her I wanted for my birthday when she asked. Lord knows, I don't need any more stuff. Except, of course, books, but I know she's not likely to get me more books when we have too many to fit in our bookshelves as it is. Anyway, aside from spending time with family, here and in Frisco (near Breckenridge), I hope to go for a few drives with her up to Rocky Mountain National Park (I have been wanting to see the bighorn sheep), maybe to Estes (to see the hotel of The Shining fame) and maybe even to see Doc Holliday's grave!

If any of my Colorado friends have ideas for any other day trips, do please let me know?

ETA that my nieces will be taking charge of any and all nightlife activities as I am ready for bed by 10 pm and so useless unsuitable for such things.

I know you will have a wonderful visit with your daughter, Mary! What a great thing to look forward to. I really wish I had gone up to see the "Shining" hotel while I was out there. If you do go, please take a picture for me!

Oh! I will, Julia! And when you get out this way next time, we'll be sure to make it up there! (Wouldn't it be a kick to have an LT meetup there?!?)

>236 Storeetllr: Oh that sounds wonderful!

Have you been up Mt Evans yet? It's the highest paved road in the US. I also love walking around Georgetown and the drive up Guanella Pass. Both drives are fairly close and beautiful with hiking trails nearby. Last summer we saw moose in RMNP. We almost always see either Big Horn Sheep or mountain goats (or both) on Mt Evans.

Oh, yay for mother/daughter visits!! It's been a month since our last trip to see my parents and I'm missing them and ready for another trip...

>239 Copperskye: Thanks for the suggestions, Joanne. I'm not even sure where Mt. Evans and Guanella Pass are! I haven't been very many places since moving from SoCal. For some reason, it's taken me a longer time than I expected to get acclimated to Colorado, to get settled in here after the major move from L.A., to get over not having a job. Though I longed to retire for 4 or 5 years before I actually took the step, it's been a difficult transition. Anyway, I'll be sure to run those places by Meg to see what interests her most. She did mention that she's bringing her hiking shoes!

>240 scaifea: Aw, you're a sweet daughter, Amber! I don't think mine misses me quite that much, but she's pretty good about flying back to see me at least once a year, and we talk on the phone once or twice a week. I think it might be different if she had a kid of her own. Maybe someday...

That's great that your daughter is coming! It's always nice to see family. :)

An LT meetup at the Shining Hotel? Count me in!

Hi, Rachel ~ Yes, first time since Mothers' Day 2013 that we'll be together! I'm so looking forward to it!

Haha, Julia, wouldn't that just be the ultimate meetup!

Well, I think 244 posts on one thread is about enough, plus I want to post some photos I just took of the robins' next outside my patio door, so I think a new thread is called for. Hope to see you over there soon!