The Bookworm News & Reviews: 2006

Wednesday, May 03, 2006

April Book Review

My reading (or lack thereof) seems to have an all time low. I only read two books in April. At least one was really good and the other one was better than average...

The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella - 9/10

http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/3088180

A Clean Slate by Laura Caldwell - 6/10

http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2185520

Saturday, April 08, 2006

This girl has evolved into a Tim "The Toolman" Taylor. Grunt....

Bought a new piece of exercise equipment this week and need something with some power to put it together so I am now the proud owner of my very own Black & Decker power drill. Ain't it pretty?

Now, simple household projects won't seem so daunting, right? Once I tackle the assembly on my new Ab-scissor, then I can move on to putting holes in the wall to hang pictures....

Grunt....lookout boys, there's a new power tool out here in the hands of a girl. The world has become my workbench!

If only online dating were this easy....

Saturday, April 01, 2006

March Book Review

Once again, March was another month that I was not able to accomplish a lot of reading. Fortunately, I did read some good ones...

A Connecticut Fashionista In King Arthur's Court by Marianne Mancusi - 8/10
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/3700886

The Broker by John Grisham - 8/10
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2434699

The Ersatz Elevator by Lemony Snicket - 8/10
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/3351427

Dark Moon by Lori Handeland - 5/10
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/3700882

Chill Of Fear by Kay Hooper - 6/10
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/3819357

Sunday, March 05, 2006

February Book Review

I read a total of 4 books in February. Overall, pretty average reads but I was surprised at being disappointed with Unleash The Night. This book is part of a series that I usually devour but I had to struggle with it for the first half of the book.

Over Her Dead Body by Kate White - 7/10
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/3136463

You Have To Kiss A Lot Of Frogs by Laurie Graff - 8/10
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2490371

Unleash The Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon - 6/10
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/3573241

I Is For Innocent by Sue Grafton - 7/10
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2810897

Monday, February 06, 2006

January's Reading Review

I read 5 books in January. Good variety overall...

HUNTING FEAR by Kay Hooper - 6/10
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/3062991

L.A. WOMAN by Cathy Yardley - 8/10
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2328805

METRO GIRL by Janet Evanovich - 5/10
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2232538

CARPE DEMON: ADVENTURES OF A DEMON-HUNTING SOCCER MOM
by Julie Kenner - 8/10
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/3037649

SEE JANE DATE by Melissa Senate - 8/10
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2385341

Friday, February 03, 2006

An Obstacle On The Road Of Life

So, last Friday, I am in my 2001 Dodge Stratus on my way to MaryAnn's house to pick her up to go to the library. A trip I have made so many times I could probably do it with my eyes closed, right? Which probably explains why what I am about to tell you even happened to begin with. I must have had my eyes closed.

I ran over a branch in the road. By the time I saw it in the road, I couldn't veer around so I went over it hoping it wouldn't hit the tire. It wasn't a huge tree limb but more along the lines of a branch from a bush or some other shrub. I didn't feel the tire hit it so I continued on down the road. After a few minutes I hear a "shhhhhh" noise coming through the vents. Uh-oh. Sounds like a tire is going flat doesn't it? Damn! I pull over, get out and inspect the tires. They're fine. Can't hear the noise anymore either. OK, I'm 40 now so maybe my hearing is going though that's a whole other post! I get back in the car and continue on my journey. After a few minutes, I hear the bloody "shhhhhhh" noise again! This is irritating, let me tell you. I pull over again and get back out of the car. Noise is gone and tires are fine. I figure "what the hell" and lie down in the road and look under my car. There, in all its glory and pride, is the damn branch sticking out from where it got stuck under my car and has been dragging on the road as I was driving! No big deal, right? I reach under the car, a car that I should mention has less than 12 inches of clearance between the car and the road, grab the offending branch and pull. Nothing. I pull again. Still nothing. I begin to cuss while pulling. And still nothing. That damn branch has gotten stuck and won't budge! Now, I'm worried. What if it punctures my oil pan or severs a break line? Having no idea where these items are in proximity to the branch, I began to experience all manner of panic and anxiety.

I get back in the car and head on to MaryAnn's thinking if we could get the car jacked up higher then it would be easier to pull the branch out. I arrive and they aren't home! Not sure of what else to do, I call the dealer and ask for my service advisor. I explain the situation and he says to bring it in and within 20 minutes I am at the dealership. Along the way, I take the freeway, driving at speeds of 65+ when I realize that there is a branch stuck under the car that is dragging on the road. Could the friction be generating sparks under my car? This is not an ideal moment to have a thought such as that. I remained tense anticipating my car to turn into a huge fireball with me inside.

After about a hour at the dealer, I got my car back, branch free and inspected with no damage found. In addition, the dealer did not charge me! They were so sweet!

Unfortunately, this incident became the final straw for me to stop procrastinating and get rid of the car. Ever since I injured my back last year, I have noticed that having to step down to get in the car aggravates my back so I knew I would need to buy something that sits up higher (small SUV or mini-van). Having it sit up higher will avoid future branch incidents in the road as well.

Last night, I became the proud new owner of a 2006 Honda CRV. Here's to a less bumpy road of life.

Thursday, January 05, 2006

A Year Of Reading

Wednesday, January 04, 2006

December's Book Review

In December as with the majority of 2005, my reading was sorely diminished. I read 4 books for the month. Wait a minute! That can't be right! 4???? Just 4??? How can that be? Sadly, it is just 4.

Sins Of The Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon - 10/10
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2971664

Superstition by Karen Robards - 8/10
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2855217

The Other Woman by Jane Green - 9/10
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2840332

The Trials Of Tiffany Trott by Isabel Wolff - 6/10
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2333531

Happy New Year!

Another year over and a new one beginning and once again, I'm starting the new year off sick. Every flipping year at this time, I am sick. Is it a cold? Is it allergies? Is it valley fever? Who the hell knows! After living in Arizona for over 18 years, the damn doctors sure as hell don't know. It really is a "medical practice." Home treatments do very little for the symptoms so I will be making my trek to the doctor to pay out the big bucks for an office visit and probably an antibiotic that doesn't work either. Most colds are viral and antibiotics are useless with viral infections.

Don't mind me...I'm usually bitchy and cranky when I don't feel good. Anyway, despite the getting sick part, 2006 made its arrival very quietly in my life. I spent it with Lee and MaryAnn watching movies and eating "New Years Food" which is nothing more than snacks and finger foods.

The upside to the New Year is that 2005 is FINALLY over! That year has gone down in the record book as the worst year of my life and I have been so ready for it to be over and to begin a new and hopefully much improved year.