Month: July 2015

Teaser Tuesday: The Casual Vacancy

The weatherman forecasts rain this week.

Just in time for the wheel of time to turn to:

Teaser TuesdayJust in case you don’t know, Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by A Daily Rhythm. Anyone can play along! All you have to do is grab the book you’re currently reading, open to a random page and share a few sentences from that page. But make sure you don’t share any spoilers!*

*I wish I could take credit for this introduction, but I shamelessly stole it from Heather over at bitsnbooks. To help me make amends, you should go check out her blog.

This week I’m reading The Casual Vacancy by J.K Rowling.

Yes, that J.K. Rowling.

No, it’s not about Harry Potter.

The Truly Random Number Generator sends us to page 138.

A tourniquet of fear was released; relief gushed
through three of the watchers; Simon stopped 
pulling his Neanderthal face.

The Casual Vacancy coverI’ve read Rowling’s two mystery novels written under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith and found them quite engaging; here’s hoping The Casual Vacancy passes muster.

In Retrospect

I gave All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr 5 stars.

I found the subject and style of the book engaging; so engaging I finished the novel in under a day.

The book even made it onto my “Books To Buy Even Though I’ve Already Read Them” list.

In my opinion, it certainly lived up to the hype.

Bingo Square: set during a war or conflict

Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman earned 3 stars.

The storyline was a tad obvious and the ending somewhat unsatisfactory.

Billed by some as a “sequel” to American Gods, Anansi Boys has little – if anything – to do with its predecessor.

Bingo Square: involves magic

John le Carré’s A Most Wanted Man scored 5 stars.

A well-written suspense/thriller novel that had me guessing.

Bingo Square: suspense/thriller

 

What have you been reading?

 

 

Have a suggestion for a poem, photograph, or future post?

Drop a note in the prompt box!

 

Don’t forget to follow me on:

Facebook – where I share news stories, articles from other blogs, and various and sundry miscellany that happens to catch my eye. It’s stuff you won’t see here! Well, mostly.

Instagram – where I show you my Life in Motion and share quotes and such. The widget only shows my last three photographs – don’t you want to see them all?

Twitter – where you can see my thoughts in 140 characters or less. Also, funny retweets.

Monday Morning Grievances

It’s Monday and I haven’t had my coffee.

Garfield I Hate MondaysSpecifically, I dislike:

1. train crossings

2. censorship

Contrary to popular public opinion, you can think for yourself.

Don’t let the government or social media tell you what to think.

THINK FOR YOURSELF!

3. unremovable smartphone apps

Apple’s pre-installed apps takes up 50% of useable data.

4. “wrong” passwords

How can it be incorrect?

5. unhelpful help desks

If they won’t give help or information, why do they exist?

What are your grievances?

Have a suggestion for a poem, photograph, or future post?

Drop a note in the prompt box!

Don’t forget to follow me on:

Facebook – where I share news stories, articles from other blogs, and various and sundry miscellany that happens to catch my eye. It’s stuff you won’t see here! Well, mostly.

Instagram – where I show you my Life in Motion and share quotes and such. The widget only shows my last three photographs – don’t you want to see them all?

Twitter – where you can see my thoughts in 140 characters or less. Also, funny retweets.

Sunday Snapshots

Another heat wave rolled through this week; I spent time indoors preparing for my parents’ visit in a few weeks.

“Don’t clean on our account,” they say.

However, when the door to Spare Oom (as we call our spare room) refuses to budge against the sheer amount of stuff behind it, a bit of sprucing up may be necessary.

What, you really thought I’d take a picture of my mess?

Yeah, I would . . . if I remembered to do so before I cleaned.

 

So, what did I take pictures of? Well . . .

 

I finally finished my at-home TBR, which means I can finally visit the Library again.

It’s my rule; not theirs.

Library Day June 7 2015However, my cleaning uncovered more books.

I guess I won’t be visiting the Library until those are read.

That is, after I return the ones I borrowed.

No sense in racking up unnecessary late fees.

At-Home TBR July 11 2015

I read Lord of the Flies and A Wrinkle in Time already, so they aren’t on the TBR.

Continuing the bookish theme, two packages arrived this week:

Wintersmith Cover The Last Hero Cover

My Discworld collection is almost complete!

The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents is on the way.

The Shepherd’s Crown is on pre-order.

Including the last two books, there are still four more books on the way.

Sadly, one of them is detained in Germany due to a strike between Deutsche Post and DHL.

I prepared two comfort-food meals this week:

Venison Roast (with potatoes and corn)

Venison Roast Corn and Potatoes

Leftover gravy made excellent cheesy gravy toast

Venison Gravy Cheesy Toast

Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup with Moxie

Grilled Cheese Tomato Soup and Moxie

This was a Sunday-night staple through most of college.

Did anyone else make grilled cheese using a paper bag and an iron?

I found the “cotton” setting the best one for grilling cheese.

As I told you yesterday, I mowed the lawn.

In addition to the many delays, I inadvertently grabbed the gas can without a close top.

So, I improvised and buckled it in.

Gas Can Buckled

I once spilled gas in the truck; it was awful.

And, speaking of vehicles, I reached a milestone of sorts with Castiel.

K named her car after a Supernatural character played my Misha Collins.

She places a winged Castiel pop figure on the dash.

40k milesFinally, here’s a picture of waves that combine to look like a cat.

Cat in the Waves
Neil Gaiman retweeted @FacesPics

 

What did you do this week?

 

 

Have a suggestion for a poem, photograph, or future post?

Drop a note in the prompt box!

 

Don’t forget to follow me on:

Facebook – where I share news stories, articles from other blogs, and various and sundry miscellany that happens to catch my eye. It’s stuff you won’t see here! Well, mostly.

Instagram – where I show you my Life in Motion and share quotes and such. The widget only shows my last three photographs – don’t you want to see them all?

Twitter – where you can see my thoughts in 140 characters or less. Also, funny retweets.

Delayed by the Train

Stopped at Train TracksYesterday I mowed my lawn using a riding lawnmower I borrowed from my in-laws.

On a normal day, the ride back should take ten minutes or so.

Yesterday was not a normal day.

It began with the dinging of the gas light.

A Ford F150 Extended Cab hauling mowing paraphernalia might get 15 miles to the gallon.

Fine, I thought, I’ll just put a few gallons in on the way back.

No biggie.

At that exact moment, the car ahead of me slowed; the drawbridge was opening.

Great. Just what I need. Who knows how long this will take.

5 minutes?

10 minutes?

Once, I waited for 45 minutes.

Today, that would be a disaster.

Then I looked left.

Huh. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a train crossing those tracks before.

Any augur would run for the hills.

An augur I am not.

The drawbridge wasn’t open too long, and I drove on my merry way.

Then I realized: those little-used train tracks currently in use run right through town.

I’ll have to take the detour by the Library.

I forgot the train tracks run by the library.

I remembered too late to turn around.

A miracle! The car ahead of me left enough space for it to pull a u-turn; now I have enough space to correct my course.

I’ll just head through the historical district . . . where they just so happen to be doing utility work.

Still good, just do down one street and back up to the old Maola plant road . . . which is closed for road work.

Of course.

All this and I’m exactly one block closer to my destination – and once again blocked by the train.

Mercifully, it passes and I’m free once more, driving happily alongside the train.

Which must then turn in my direction.

Lowering the barrier and forcing me to wait yet again.

No way possible way around it unless I want to go nearly all the way back to my in-laws, take the bypass around town, and come in from the other direction.

In all, a good 15 mile trip. In a truck whose gas signal hasn’t stopped dinging at me.

Ain’t happening.

I sit the train out and make it home.

Ten minutes? Try Forty-five.

Oh, what happened with the gas?

Well, luckily I had filled a gas can, knowing what remained in the lawn mower would not suffice.

I poured half the gas in the truck and half the gas in the truck; it was enough to finish the job and get me to a gas station once I was done.

Hey, I can hear the train whistle from my house!

Stupid train.

 

 

Don’t forget to follow me on:

Facebook – where I share news stories, articles from other blogs, and various and sundry miscellany that happens to catch my eye. It’s stuff you won’t see here! Well, mostly.

Instagram – where I show you my Life in Motion and share quotes and such. The widget only shows my last three photographs – don’t you want to see them all?

Twitter – where you can see my thoughts in 140 characters or less. Also, funny retweets.

The Great Donut Debate

Dunkin Donuts v Krispy KremeI’ve learned to like quite a few things since moving to the South:

Sweet Tea

Crabs (and most Seafood)

Cornbread

Pecan Pie

Grits

Pit Barbecue

Fried Green Tomatoes

Bojangles’ Chicken

However, one so-called “treat” remains  for which I have no taste:

Krispy Kreme Donuts

Advocates of the chain* claim things like

krispy kreme hot sign• Krispy Kreme taste more fresh and a lighter doughnut especially when hot

• Krispy Kreme . . . melt in your mouth

• Krispy Kreme for freshness

• KK donuts are light and airy

• I prefer the light fluffy doughnuts of KK

• Krispy Kreme is better when I consider it from the diabetic standpoint: the donuts are made with less dough and come in around 26 carbs apiece . . . I go for Krispy Kreme if I’m looking for something that won’t really spike my sugar.

* I gained these responses by asking an open question on my Facebook page.

I, however, dislike Krispy Kreme to the point that I will not give any of my hard-earned money to the franchise.

When someone visits from out-of-region, a trip to Krispy Kreme is inevitable.

On the occasions when I am forced to discuss Krispy Kreme, I loudly voice my negative opinion.

However, if someone were to spend their own cash and provide Krispy Kreme, I will – of course – parake.

No need to be rude, now is there?

By this point, you’ve probably deduced that I endorse the best [American] doughnut chain, Dunkin Donuts.

Obviously, Tim Hortons is the absolute best, but they’re decidedly rare in the U.S.

The evidence for Dunkin’s superiority is right there in the word donut – or, more accurately, doughnut.

Look again at the testimonials for Krispy Kreme and you see a running theme: light, airy, and fluffy.

No mention of cake or dough to be found.

Krispy Kreme “doughnuts” are little clouds of sugar and hot air bearing more resemblance to cotton candy than anything else.

Dunkin’ Donuts, on the other hand, is exactly, what a doughnut should be:

cakeydunkin donuts electric sign

a bit dense

filling

stick-to-your-ribs-and-mouth

decidedly not sickeningly sweet

Detractors of DD claim that their wares are

stale

dry

lack filling

Emphatically, they are wrong – especially about the filling.

Dunkin’ Donuts’ filled varieties exceed capacity; you’ll need a napkin or two per donut and still have enough filling to be satisfied.

For the record:

Boston Kreme is the best filled variety
Blueberry Cake is the best cake doughnut

I’m not alone in my assessment; other responders to my query stated

• Dunkin Donuts have substance [and] excellent cake . . . and creme filledI

• If I’m looking for a REAL donut, I’ll take Dunkin Donuts’ creme-filled types first and foremost

If these testimonials aren’t enough to sway you, consider Krispy Kreme’s sad attempt to buy your love.

Sure, they claim it’s in celebration of their birthday, but those of us who are enlightened in the ways of fried dough delicacies know the truth.

Look, I understand there’s no accounting for taste, but what can’t people just have the right taste?

If I haven’t scared you off, tell me your favorite chain / variety in the comments!

 

 

Don’t forget to follow me on:

Facebook – where I share news stories, articles from other blogs, and various and sundry miscellany that happens to catch my eye. It’s stuff you won’t see here! Well, mostly.

Instagram – where I show you my Life in Motion and share quotes and such. The widget only shows my last three photographs – don’t you want to see them all?

Twitter – where you can see my thoughts in 140 characters or less. Also, funny retweets.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Door

It's a Door It's a Window
 
Is it a door?

Is it a window?

This point of egress both confuses and intrigues me.

 

What do you think it is?

 

 

Have a suggestion for a poem, photograph, or future post?

Drop a note in the prompt box!

 

Don’t forget to follow me on:

Facebook – where I share news stories, articles from other blogs, and various and sundry miscellany that happens to catch my eye. It’s stuff you won’t see here! Well, mostly.

Instagram – where I show you my Life in Motion and share quotes and such. The widget only shows my last three photographs – don’t you want to see them all?

Twitter – where you can see my thoughts in 140 characters or less. Also, funny retweets.

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