Friday, August 23, 2013

Shabbat Shalom


Do not be loving either the world or the things in the
  world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father
 is not in him, because everything in the world-
the desire of the flesh and the desire of  eyes
and the showy display on one's means in life-
does not originate with the Father,
but originates with the world.
1 John 2:15-16

Sunday, August 18, 2013

My Next Two Books?

Well that is elementary my dear Watson. I have picked TWO Sherlock Holmes stories to read.


I happen to own these two stories which are part of a volume set. Technically this set belonged to our Eldest Princess but of course - being the ferocious reader that she is - got done with this pretty large book in a week. She gave it to me thinking that I would like it ... that was many, many, many, many moons ago (I am talking 4 years) and just NOW I am giving it a go. I don't even know what to say ~.~ GoodReads have put them on their under 200 pages list (along with other books which I might tackle later).

I am starting with 'A Study in Scarlet' which is Sir Doyle's first published story of Sherlock Holmes - when he first meets Watson. GoodReads gave it 4.11 stars. I am soooooo excited to start - I just hope all the Old English doesn't throw me off.

Silent Partner and Skyhook

I got done with Silent Partner sometime last week - it took me a horrid amount of time to finish it but it is done and that is all that matters to me :-)  That is 5 books in 6 months ... a bit shy from my goal but hopefully when we get finished with the house, which would be soon if we stop adding to the list =D,  I will have more time to read. It wasn't too bad, there were A LOT of twist and turns ... crazy amount of buried secrets (that is what this book should have been called). Without ruining it for anybody it is about a psychiatrist whose ex-girlfriend commits suicide and he goes poking around her life to figure out why. Goodreads gave it a 3.84 out of 5 rating and I think that would seem about right. This is #4 of the Alex Delaware series and I think I am going to try to find time this year for another one.


July's (and August *.*) book is from a guy at my work. He just got done reading it and REALLY enjoyed it. Skyhook is the 2003 book from John J Nance is about a top-secret computer program is created to help planes in distress code name 'Skyhook' and when during a test flight the plane accidently hits another plane's propeller their classified operation is in jeopardy. GoodReads gave it 3.5 stars and I figured it is about 3 - 3.5 stars. His website reads ... 'Mr. Nance holds a Bachelor's Degree from SMU and a Juris Doctor from SMU School of Law, and is a licensed attorney. Named Distinguished Alumni of SMU for 2002, he is also a decorated Air Force pilot veteran of Vietnam and Operations Desert Storm/Desert Shield and a Lt. Colonel in the USAF Reserve, well known for his involvement in Air Force human factors flight safety education, and one of the civilian pioneers of Crew Resource Management (CRM). ' Mr. Nance's background will explain his knowledge/interest in military operations, law procedures and being an air craft pilot - which are the basis of this book. It isn't too technical as to where you would get lost (ok some parts I wasn't sure what was being said) but it wasn't so bland that I felt he was dumbing it down. I hate when author's do that.  I passed this book to My Hubby - curious to see what he thinks.

Now to get me back on track I am off to read TWO short stories - if I can get passed the Old English *.*

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Happy Birthday Julia!!

A  updated re-post from last year.
 Today Julia Child would have celebrated her 101st b/d.

Today I honored this remarkable person in my own way

I watched the movie =D
I have said before how I simply adore this film
It is makes me want to bake (and blog)
and that is just what I did
Except I made raw coconut-chocolate balls
 and wrote this post =D

So cheers to you Julia ... for simply being you!!

Sunday, August 4, 2013

The Wolves Are Everywhere!

OK so there are no wolves here in Phoenix (coyotes yes ... but no wolves). But there are wolves in my TV.  I received my two Netflix movies "The Grey" and "Breaking Dawn Part 1" and I have to say that disagreeing with critics is what I do best (well maybe closer to 4th best ... LOL)

First up "The Grey" (2012) ... this film is about a team of Alaskan oil workers whose plane crashes out in the middle of nowhere. They learn quickly that surviving the elements and each other is the easy part ... the hard part might be surviving the pack of wolves that have made them their prey. Mr. and I have been enjoying Liam Neeson's movies since the 80s with 'Excalibur' and  'Next of Kin' (which we were in our teens) but 'Schindler's List' really put him on the map in our eyes ... it was such a wonderfully played role. And that leads me to say sadly that this wasn't a favorite movie of his ... it wasn't the worst ( I think 'Clash of the Titans' was) I know that with all the positive ratings it received (Rotten Tomatoes gave it a 79%) this movie was going to be like 'Frozen' or 'The Thing' but I was quite disappointed.  But IF you have gotten caught up on allll your chores and the weather is too much to bear, then yes go ahead and enjoy the winter wonderland scenery and daydream of cooler tempatures but know it is what it is.           


Last but not least "Breaking Dawn Part 1" ... first part of the last book in the Twilight series (as if I needed to explain) ... in this movie it starts to get to the life after high school ~ the wedding that everyone has been anticipating (well at least this year) and watching Bella and Edward adjust to married life and Jacob's new role in their lives. Rotten Tomatoes gave this movie a 25% ... 25%!!! Really!?) The visual is still holding up ... the CGI was introduced subtly but know I did take just an itsy bitsy pleasure in seeing Bella not looking so pretty. I actually watched it twice ... the first time I was it in conjunction with 'Eclipse' so that I wouldn't miss any subtle sub-plots and then the second time was with the director's audio commentary, that I do recommend to do if you can ... there were a few things that I missed the first time, so I was glad that I spent the extra time. I know some fans might disagree with me but I also believe part of their disappointment lies with the fact that it is HALF a movie ... it runs a bit slow (not ALOT of action scenes) and there are still loose ends that should be tied up with the last movie which should be out sometime in November.

Home Update


We are sooooo close to being completely done *_*  When I am re-painting the wainscoting in the craft room my sweet Mr. is working on the trim and when we are done we move to a different project while the paint dries or when we are stuck and need a little time to think (I was indecisive on the window trim and the kitchen desk was being much more difficult than anticipated). All this hopping around have us semi-completed with the floor/door/window trim,  finishing the craft room outlets (which never was done FIVE YEARS AGO), staining/installing the desk in the kitchen and re-painting the craft room ceiling. We were hoping to be completed by this past weekend but we were a bit slow going ... go figure :D So hopefully we will get these projects done this week after work and have next weekend get to do the next big project .... the guest room. Right now it is a catch all (all the Christmas containers, items from the craft room and all the pictures from through-out the house) once it is all cleared out we will lift out the carpet *gross* and lay down the new vinyl flooring *yeah*, add quarter round and touch-up the trim/wall/door. Then will be the quest bathroom which might get just a refresh rather than a full revamp. And in the middle of alllll this craziness we have resolved to do the winter vegetable/herb garden but we have decided to move it - so that project will include planning the layout and raised bed making - also we will try our hand in composting. We are really excited about that. I am downloading pictures and I will have them up tomorrow ... possibly :-)

Linking with
Sunny Simple Life
Women Living Well

Another Announcement!

Ahhhhh! Our eldest Princess is expecting a wonderful bundle
mid-February! We don't know the gender yet but as soon
we do I will let you know. At this rate we will be having
1 baby a year :-)  But now I REALLY need to get
 the house done so I can have my craft room back -
I have soooo many ideas that I am freaking out that
7 months might not be enough time *YIKES*