Good Morning Deer

So this morning I set off on my merry way to work, as usual. I pull up to the stop sign to exit the subdivision. I look accross the street (It is a T-interection) and I see a deer just hanging out behind the shurbery seperating the house from the street. It was crazy. I just sat there and watched the doe for about 30 seconds. Then someone came flying down the street and she ran off. I didn't see her friends though - and you know they always seem to come in pairs... Luckily, she headed for the hills instead of Sarah's car. I guess it is starting to close in on that time of year. Just had to share this morning's exploits.

Billie Jean

Saw this video... it cracked me up. Had to share!

Miss Madison Misses Me?

After being gone for a week, the big question is, does Miss Madison Miss Mamma? I'm not sure. She and Daisy are staying with Amanda, Stephen, their girls, and their menagerie. If you want to check out what they've been up to, check out this link. It is a big video file, so it isn't for the faint of heart.

I've got pics from last weekend to upload - I just need to find a few spare moments to blog all about it.

Sacket's Harbor NY

Things are going well in Upstate New York. Our first week of work has been successfully completed. My crew from week one has left me, and I'm hanging out up here for the weekend trying to get a handful of work done before the next crew comes and joins me. I was in Watertown, NY about four years ago. I remember eating a few yummy meals. Otherwise, I don't necessarily have fond memories. The place has totally changed in the last four years!!! There are a bunch of new restaurants. Before my crew left me we had some spare time, so we took off and did some sight seeing. One day we did a little seeing and eating in Sacket's Harbor. It was a cute little town on Lake Ontario. They have a battlefield from the War of 1812 out on the Harbor. We looked around up there and wandered around the cute shops. Later we dined at the Sacket's Harbor Brewing Company. I enjoyed the spcial - Grilled Dorado over a chipotle rissoto cake. I had never had dorado before - it was very yummy!! We ate outside, over the water. The weather was beautiful and I got to feed the ducks wandering about. All of the pictures from SH are on my friend Mariely's camera righ now!

Books, Books, and More Books

It has been a crazy time lately. I haven't been posting so much lately. Instead I've been traveling, stripping wallpaper, and READING. I've got several to fill you in on. I'm heading off on more travel, so I'm sure I'll have more books soon!

Title: The Mysterious Benedict Socieity

Author: Trenton Lee Stewart

This was a crazy cute little book! I totally enjoyed it. It is a childrens book, along the lines of a Roald Dahl book. In fact I LOVED it. As you know, I love some childrens reading - so innocent and fun. In this book, Mr. Benedict is a really smart narcolepctic man who believes that the world is in danger. Who would be better people to save the world than a small group of children!?!?!? Through a series of tests he develops a team, and they infiltrate the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened (LIVE). Reynie, Sticky, Katie, and Constance kept my attention, and brought me some laughs during their adventures! I highly reccomend for those who enjoy some child-like fun, or for those whose children love to read.

Title: Suite Francais

Author: Irene Nemirovsky

We read this novel for our Book People club last month. The backstory is that Nemirovsky was a Russian immigrant living in Paris at the beginning of WWII. She was a published author, a mother, a wife, and a Jew. Her goal was to write a book much like a piece of music, with several movements that drew together to form a cohesive work. She completed two novellas before being taken to Auschwietz by the Germans.

The book was set during her time - it told the stories of a number of different French families during WWII. The first dealt with the invasion of Paris and the escape and later return of her countrymen. The second novella dealt with the occupation, primarily through the eyes of the thos living in rural villages. The books were quite well written despite never having gone through the official editorial-author cycle. It was a good book, and I was more drawn into it considering the things that were going on in Nemirovsky's life and how well she captured what we now know as WWII. I would have enjoyed seeing how the novellas drew together in the end.

Title: Christine Falls
Author: Benjamin Black

I had looked at this book a while back while at the large chain book-box. I hadn't picked it up because my pile of "to read" was pretty large at the time. Later, Laura from Lorelei Books reccomended it to me, and I have to say, it was a good reccomendation. Apparently Black is one of the new 'It' boys of mystery - in the genre of crime noir. This novel was set in1950's Dublin, as told by a pathologist with a love of whiskey. It starts out with a crazy night in which he drunkenly stumbles into the morgue and finds his brother in law writing on a chart. The next morning the body in question has disappeared! Eventually Quirke finds himself wondering what is going on - and he is pulled into a cross-continental muck of questions that has the reader guessing and involves a lot more than just the brother in law and Ms. Christine Falls. Personally, there were a few twists at the end that I didn't pick up on beforehand.

Book: The Schooling of Claybrid Catts

Author: Janis Owens

This text was the June book for my other book club. It goes through the life of one Claton "Claybird" Catts, starting with the day of his fathers death. Poor Claybird is the youngest of three children, living in a rural town on the Gulf Coast. He is also cursed with being the dumb son with 'geniuses' for older siblings. Somehow Claybird makes it past his father's death at the age of 12, and life goes on. Eventually the black sheep Uncle Gabe comes back to the family, and the dysfunctia comes out full force! At this point they figure out he is dyslexic, and he really comes out of his shell. Eventually the world falls apart and the schooling becomes a metaphore for Claybird growing up and learning to deal with and love his family during those ever so difficult teen years. I really enjoyed this book - as did everyone else in the book club. In fact, it is the only book we've all Enjoyed thus far. A definite thumbs up on this one.

Title: The Novice's Tale

Title: The Servant's Tale

Author: Margaret Frazer

These are the first two mysteries in the Sister Frivesse series written by Frazer. Sister Frivesse is a Benedictine nun living in 1430's England. She leads a quiet life, sheltered in the cloister. Mysteriously enough, Frivesse also happens to be the granddaughter of famed author Geofrey Chaucer! The title of each mystery refers to a character from the Canterbury Tales. In the Novice's tale the aunt of the convent's novice falls ill while visiting, and a couple of mysterious deaths follow. Of course, the aunt wants to remove the novice while all Thomasine wants to do is stay in the convent. The crowner comes to town and Frivesse solves the mystery before he does! The Servant's tale deals with the mysterious death of a local peasant and drunk. His wife is a servent St. Frideswide's convent. Once again the death's start piling up without any good resolution. Sister Frevisse comes to the rescue and saves the day! An all together enjoyable series suggested by my cousin Abby and my Auntie Barbara.

Congrats!

Congratulations go out to Creepy Bob and Erin. He proposed last weekend, so they are finally on their way to the altar. Two weddings on tap for next year already - I'm in the market for a date now! Hook this girl up.

Creepy Bob and I at Legends at Unoficial St. Paddy's last year.

Oh the memories. Oh the fish sandwhich. Oh the malted vinegar. Oh the creepiness.

Happy 4th!

Happy 4th of July to you! It is such a blessing to live in the US of A. There are so many freedoms and rights that we have that others around the world are denied. I need to thank the men and women of our country who help ensure that we still have those freedoms, as well as all those who have fought for our freedoms in the past.

Unfortunately I'm not doing anything much for the 4th today. However, last weekend I enjoyed a Delhi 4th of July. I visited my friends Amanda and Stephen and their adoreable daughter Virginial. She is about 20 mos old, and precious as can be (just ask her mamma what a turkey she is)! Stephen is in the Sanctuaryl Quartet, a southern gospel quartet opperating out of Delhi, and quickly becomeing well known in the appropriate circles! I hadn't gotten a chance to see them yet, and I must say I enjoyed the show! They are awesome, and it is quite obvious that they were meant to do this! After the song and dance portion we were treated to some fireworks. An all around enjoyable time, and NOT just because I got to play with the baby, despite what Amanda thinks ;-)

I think that the adult who authorized their child to start setting off fire crackers thismorning at 8 Am should probably be given a stern warning, if not a lashing with a wet noodle. It finally cooled off to the point I was going to take the girls on their walk. Then I realized that there were neighborhood kids setting off lots of fireworks already. I didn't think that going on a walk would be in our best interests. Instead I watched a Capitol 4th of July. Maybe next year I'll join Katie Grace for the 4th there. Or, I could be at a conference in Champaign-Urbana the week before the 4th, meaning I could go hit the Taste of CHicago and do the Downtown fireworks! Oh the possibilities!!