Bookish & Not So Bookish Thoughts

is a weekly meme hosted by Christine over at Bookishly Boisterous, where we post things that are on our minds.  Head over there and check it out!

1.  Did you ever have “that” kind of a day- where everything is BLAH?  I am having one.  My solution- I am going to the library.

2.  Does anyone have the Kindle Unlimited?  I am tempted-but-Is it worth it?  I figure I impulse buy at least $10 worth every month any way.

3.  I started reading The Martian yesterday- I am only 5% in-my question is- Does it get good?  I am up to the part where he is figuring out how to make water.  My eyes are glazing over like they did back in high school during Chem class.  I hated Chem.  I actually hated Walter White BEFORE he started making the meth.

4.  I am listening to The Illiad narrated by Matthew Crawley (Dan Stevens), the new Beast.  I love him, but am not sure his proper, clipped British accents gels with the rough and tumble Agamemnon and Achilles.

5.  Speaking of the Beast, did you see the complete cast for the upcoming live Beauty and the Beast?  It is AWESOME! Click here.  Be my guest.

6.  Last night my father in law came over and I made a nice big dinner- sauce with meatballs and sausage, manicotti, Italian bread, and salad, with cheesecake for dessert.  I had a meatball.  :-((

7.  I went to my first high school track meet this week.  My son decided to give it a try this year to keep in shape.  He is doing hurdles and high jump.

That was two hours of my life I will never get back.

8.  We are shipping up to Boston (aahhhh) to visit some colleges.  I am very excited- to not make beds for a day or so.

Off to the library to feel better!

Bookish & Not So Bookish Thoughts

is a weekly meme hosted by Christine over at Bookishly Boisterous, where we post things that are on our minds.  Head over there and check it out!

1.  I am heading to an author luncheon this afternoon and I am very excited.  My sister and Mom will be there too.  The author is Regina Calcaterra and her Book is Etched in Sand– about her difficult childhood in Long Island.

This is actually my first author event and I am very excited!

2.  I picked up the audiobook of The Illiad at my library yesterday because it is read by Dan Stevens (Matthew Crawley from Downton Abbey) and everyone seems to think I am crazy.

3.  My husband continues his audiobook reading and I couldn’t be more excited.  After he finished The Stand, I had a problem finding a good one at the library for him to read next, so I grabbed The Paris Architect– a historical fiction I had read last year and enjoyed.  Next up is The Book Thief for him.  I will bring him over to our side!

4.  I am rereading The Handmaid’s Tale (again) because my daughter is reading it for her English class.  While at first I thought it might be a tough read for 15 year olds, I applaud the teacher for picking it.  I am excited to see how my daughter and her friends like it and what they think about it.  She just started and already had a cool insight- the handmaids are named after their commanders.

5.  I think spring might actually be here in Northern NJ!  My daffodils have finally bloomed and I sat outside and read yesterday afternoon.

6.  The hubby and I are celebrating our 20th anniversary this June and decided to celebrate by renting a house on the beach in OBX with the kids and the dogs.  While not terribly romantic, it makes sense- they are teenagers and this will probably be the last big anniversary with them living at home.

7.  We are toying with the idea of renewing our vows on the beach.  My daughter will be the maid of honor and my son the best man.  The yellow lab will be the flowergirl and the chocolate the ring bearer.  Sound cheesy, but I am actually getting a little excited by the idea.  Now I just need to make it happen. Ideas are much appreciated.

8.  And because of #7, I have to get in shape quickly!  When I told my daughter, she didn’t understand why.  She said this way there was more of me to love.  She should go into politics.

9.  Tomorrow I am off to Atlantic City.  This is probably one of my least favorite places to visit, but my Mom LOVES it and it is her birthday.  To celebrate, we are staying over and going to see Frankie Valli.  Yes, it seems he is still alive.  There had better be LOTS of wine involved.

10.  And the NHL playoffs have begun, which means I get a whole lot of reading time in the evenings- excerpt when the NY Rangers are on of course.  We actually scored tickets to Saturday nights game- so excited.  My daughter was invited to this big party by a very popular girl.  She was so excited to be invited and immediately said sorry, she can’t make it- wouldn’t want to miss the game!

Bookish & Not So Bookish Thoughts

is a weekly meme hosted by Christine over at Bookishly Boisterous, where we post things that are on our minds.  Head over there and check it out!

1.  I am TOO excited by the news that Harper Lee “found” the sequel for To Kill A Mockingbird!  I pre-ordered it.  Didn’t you always wonder what kind of woman Scout grew up to be?

But I am not too sure about the title-Go Set A Watchman?

2.  My son is taking his required 6 hour driving lessons this weekend.  I am a little scared.  Can I still by a car that doesn’t have a navigation system?  Or maybe one without a radio at all?  I better go buy lots of bubble wrap!

3.  I almost laughed myself to death when I read this-

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/texas-boy-suspended-bringing-ring-power-school-article-1.2099103

A little boy in Texas was suspended for making “terroristic threats” because he brought in a replica of The One Ring and told a classmate he was going to make him disappear.

Really?

I loved Book Riots take on it-” Looking at the facts of this case, I think the school authorities did the right thing. In fact, I think they might have let Steward Junior off light. The only thing that stopped this kid from carrying out his kiddie-sized terrorist plot was a lack of understanding about how to properly use The One Ring. Putting it on someone’s head won’t work. You have to put it on their finger, duh. Just think if Steward had succeeded. The poor victim could have been permanently traumatized from all that evil Sauron mojo that screws with the mind of anyone wearing the ring.”

4.  Ok- measles outbreak?  Can I get this shit?

5.  I have a real reading problem.  Whenever I read a Stephen King novel, I want to keep reading King!  I read Needful Things last week-it was good, not great, but then I immediately started looking for another King novel.  So I picked up The Dead Zone-LOVED it!  And then stared looking again.  I had to force myself to pick up an ARC that has been sitting there giving me the stink eye.  Help!

6.  We have had a few storms (and a few no shows-hello Blizzard of 2015)  Every time I see snow in the forecast, I make sure I have: 1- soup ingredients, 2- wine and 3- books.  Seriously, I ran errands the other day right before it snowed- the wine store and the library.  I have issues.

7.  My husband and I have been invited to a wine tasting at the home of one of his work colleagues.  I have never met any of these people and I am wondering what I should wear?  Keeping in mind I have been acting like a hibernating bear these past two weeks, I can’t even imagine getting dressed up.

8.  We had friends over to watch the Super Bowl, and while I love football, I really love watching the commercials.  The Fiat one was awesome, but I want to know- where can I find that farmer from the Budweiser puppy commercial?

My snowbound hibernating brain doesn’t have anymore thoughts today!