End of 2013 Book Report and Tally

Takedown Twenty by Janet Evanovich

More fun and excitement with Stephanie Plum and her sidekick Lula. This time there’s a giraffe involved!

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Ghost Ship by P.J. Alderman

The second book in the series by this author. This time, Jordan’s investigation of a past murder coincides with the present-day murder of a descendent. Great series so far.

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Christmas Memories at Grace Chapel Inn by various authors

It’s been awhile since the last Grace Chapel Inn book came out. This one is comprised of the Howard sisters sharing their own favorite Christmas memories. As always, these books are a delight.

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Reviving Ophelia ~ Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls by Mary Pipher, Ph.D.

This was one of Sarah’s psych books that looked interesting because it included case histories. Everyone knows what hell adolescent kids go through. This book focuses primarily on the female gender. I did get some insight for some of the stuff I went through, and the mistakes I made while Sarah was going through this time of life. This book should be required reading for parents of girls. I don’t know if there is a book like this on what boys go through, but there should be. One of the statements a girl made in this book really hit home. She said, “Everything good in me died in junior high.” Truer words were never spoken.

Now the tally:

I read 40 books this year.

Non-fiction: 8

General fiction: 12

Historical fiction: 2

Mystery/Sci-fi/Paranormal: 15

Cookbooks: 2

Special book-in-progress by Sara: only 1 (but it was GREAT!)

Happy New Year and Happy Reading!!

Remarkably Random Ramblings and Ruminations

This week has been INSANE and all I can do is just start pulling stuff outta my brain and putting it on paper so I can get a blog done.

Last Saturday was my birthday party. I’m 60. Had a GREAT time of food, fun and fellowship. Had a little too much wonderful Mexican food and MAYBE too much vodka, but that’s what it’s all about, right?

Tuesday was Bible study group. I love my group. It’s a place of complete safety. I can dump all my troubles in the middle of the floor and get it all prayed over. And the same goes with everyone else in the group. We prop each other up.

Wednesday was Advent service and Marv, Thea and I did Coventry Carol for offering. Love that haunting tune and have an awesome arrangement for it.

Thursday was a final (so I thought) shopping foray for Christmas stuff. Got things wrapped that needed wrapping and waited for the final things Marv was bringing home so I could prep the two packages that needed to be mailed. THEN I found out that I made a MASSIVE mistake when I paid the mortgage last month…eek. Got it rectified today.

AND made what I HOPE is the absolute FINAL foray to Walmart for things my MIL wants to give my nieces two girls for Christams. So other than food shopping, I do believe I’m done…so NOW you can stick a fork in me!

Keeping It Simple

With everything else going on (as usual) things are starting to get very hectic and I think I’m heading for burn-out. We got the tree up late this year, and for the last week all we’ve had on it is the lights it came with. And it looks very pretty just the way it is. I considered leaving it that way, but know I will enjoy having ornaments on it.

I decided on a different approach this year. I had Marv put the garland on last night, before any ornaments are on the tree. Usually, the garland is the last thing. This way, the ornaments will go where they will definitely be seen, rather than hidden by garland. I also had Marv take down ONE box of ornaments, and that will be the ones we put on the tree. Period. I have 3 other huge bins of ornaments and just couldn’t face going through them all.

I also considered not putting up the Manger this year. We did a different placement of the tree and there really is no good spot for the manger in the front room. Then I hit on the idea of putting it in the hallway on the bookcase where my kitty car cookie jar is. The hall nightlight is right above that shelf and I think it will look kinda like the Star of Bethlehem shining above the manger. I might even look for a special light to plug in there.

I already feel more like getting into it all. It just won’t be as much as in previous years.

I also decided NOT to make Christmas cards this year. It would be more of a job than a joy. So everyone is getting store-bought cards this year. I love sending and receiving cards and would never cut that activity out, I’m just giving myself a bit of a break this year.

There. I will put up some ornaments later and set up the Manger. And then sit and think about what this whole season is about. We were given a magnificent gift from God, and we need to really ponder that.

Dec 2013 Book Report

Haunting Jordan by P.J. Alderman

First book in a fun little series. Jordan escapes from the spotlight of her husband’s murder in L.A. and buys an old Victorian house in the state of Washington to restore. It comes complete with ghosts. Who want their own murders solved. I look forward to more from this writer.

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Deadly Heat by “Richard Castle”

The latest in the Castle series. In this one, Nikki closes her mother’s murder case and prevents a bioterror event. These are such well-written books, and a delight to read.

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Addams Family Values by Todd Strasser

This book was written from the screenplay of the movie. I loved the movie, and this book was lots of fun.

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UnEnchanted by Chanda Hahn

This was a free ebook, and I didn’t realize it was the first one of a series. It was a good story though, and came to a good conclusion, so even if I don’t get more books from the series, it’s OK. Mina Grimes is very unlucky. It gets even worse when she finds she is the descendant of one of the Grimm brothers and must solve “fairy tale” stories or die. This is a YA paranormal book. Good read.

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Finding My Father by Rod McKuen

I always loved his poems and songs back in the day. I stumbled across this autobiography at a sale. The book was written when Rod was in his 40s and searching for info on his birth father. Lots of poems included in the work, some from his past writings and some that were written especially for this book. Lots of pictures, too.