Friday Fill-ins 02-27-09

Janet is our tireless host for this weekly event.

My responses are in italics.


1. I'm good enough , I'm smart enough and I know, doggonit, people like me!



2. Why do I have arms and not wings?

3. How does this aging thing work, anyway?

4. Every morning, I put socks on my feet.

5. I consider myself lucky because I’m still here! I’m a cancer survivor.

6. One day we’ll see peace on earth.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to a quiet evening with Laurie, tomorrow my plans include singing with the choir (my first gig with them!) and Sunday, I want to relax and finish The Book Thief!
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The temporary solution...

...to my laptop screen dilemma: the work order is filled out, but since I can use an external monitor instead of the laptop monitor, I brought Sputnik home until the repair peeps are ready to put her on the bench. And so she doesn't have to sit there for a week all lonely and intimidated by newer, faster machines.

You can't get rid of me that easily. Read More!

The Dreaded Computer Pox

My laptop screen is high on psychedelics. It's displaying some very unique color combinations and adding red dots to everything. So, off to the computer doctor today. Which means I may not be posting for awhile unless I hijack my partner's computer.


In the infamous words of, um, some general: I shall return.

Say a little good karma blessing for Ms. Sputnik, that it's fixable and won't break my bank.

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Wordless Wednesday - 02-25-09: Spiderman

Click photo for the full Spidey effect.







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Teaser Tuesday and Where Are You? 02-24-09: The Book Thief

Should Be Reading - Miz B - hosts this weekly event. We throw out a couple of sentences from our current read (without spoilers, of course) to entice you to read the book.

Today's selection comes from The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, page 25. Finally, I'm reading this book!

When the train pulled into the Bahnhof in Munich, the passengers slid out as if from a torn package. There were people of every stature, but among them, the poor were the most easily recognized. The impoverished always try to keep moving, as if relocating might help. They ignore the reality that a new version of the same old problem will be waiting at the end of the trip--the relative you cringe to kiss.

It's Tuesday, Where Are You? is hosted by an adventure in reading.

I'm in Germany in 1939, a town called Molching near Munich on a street called Himmel (Heaven). I'm with my new foster family. My brother has died and my mother couldn't care for me.

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Friday Fill-ins 02-20-09

Janet is our excellent host for this weekly event.

My responses are in italics.




1. Give me a melody and I'll sing you a harmony.

2. Whenever ---whatever.

3. I wish we were all working more toward healing the Earth.

4. Ben and Jerry’s Pistachio Pistachio ice cream was the last thing I ate that was utterly delicious.

5. To live in this world is preferable to the alternative.

6. Other than this one, Jack at slightly off center is the last blog I commented on.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to hanging out with Laurie and reading, tomorrow my plans include schmoozing with some choir pals, reading, blogging and Sunday, I want to play with my gal pal G, take some photos, practice with my alto section!

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Booking Through Thursday - Order from Chaos

Deb at Booking Through Thursday asks:

“How do you arrange your books on your shelves? Is it by author, by genre, or you just put it where it falls on?”

I am a Virgo. But I must have been off reading a book when the Virgo traits were handed out, because when it comes to arranging my bookshelves? Unique is a word I would use. Chaos is a word my partner would use.

In my Terri Branch Library (which I don't have to arrange with partner in mind) right now I have it organized thusly (and the term "organized" is used very loosely):

• Far left few shelves: nonfiction, anthologies, a few miscellaneous novels I probably won't get to for awhile.

• Middle left: all fiction. One shelf is devoted to Booker award books; one shelf is mostly Orange award books (lined up for my reading challenges - there is a reason!), one shelf for books I've checked out from the library or borrowed from friends (it's good to keep them all in one place so I don't have to hunt for overdue books). A couple more miscellaneous fiction shelves; books are not in any particular order, not alphabetized or ordered by genre or color (the red shelf was just for a photo op).

• Middle right: all fiction. One shelf is all classics; one shelf has several trilogies all in one spot; one shelf has short story collections among other novels.

• Far right: mostly fiction. No particular order. One shelf has my pitiful little Virago collection; one shelf has books I've read and intend to keep. One shelf has cookbooks mixed with ARCs I need to read for the Pub challenge. The rest? Hey, I know where to find them!

Some librarian I'd make. At least I've improved from this (my solution to being enticed by titles when I had required reading to do):


And the bookshelves in the rest of the house? Not nearly so "interesting!"
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Wordless Wednesday - 02-18-09: Forcing Forsythia

Which do you prefer? (Click to enlarge.)





OR



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Teaser Tuesday and Where Are You? 02-17-09: The Heretic's Daughter

Should Be Reading - Miz B - hosts this weekly event. We throw out a couple of sentences from our current read (without spoilers, of course) to entice you to read the book.

Today's selection comes from The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent, page 13. I've been looking forward to reading this book for months.

She spun the wool through knotted fingers glistening with sheep's oil and wrapped the threads neatly around the bobbin. Gently probing, she teased out the story of our days in Billerica just as she teased out the fine line of thread from the mix and jumble of the coarse wool in her hands.

It's Tuesday, Where Are You? is hosted by an adventure in reading.

I'm in Andover, Massachusetts in 1690. It's winter and bitter cold. Our family made a hasty exit from Billerica for fear of being blamed for a smallpox outbreak. We are going to live with my grandmother in Andover.

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Friday Fill-ins 02-13-09

Janet is our fearless host for this weekly event.

My responses are in italics.


1. It seems like a dark cloud has lifted since Bush left the White House.

2. Would you recycle it when you're done, please?

3. If I thought you could keep a secret I'd tell you a juicy one!


4.”I must have been Gandhi or Buddha”* is what I think of most when I think of you (you know who you are!).

5. To me, Valentines' Day means another Hallmark holiday. I’d rather choose my own days and ways to express love.

6. Singing gives me strength.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to reading, tomorrow my plans include reading and blogging, then a Kirtan concert in the evening and Sunday, I want to practice choir music and read!


*Lyrics from a Cheryl Wheeler song

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