Even after 14 books, Janet Evanovich still makes me LOL

I just finished reading "Fearless Fourteen" by Janet Evanovich. As you might imagine by the title, this is her 14th book. In the same series. And it still makes me laugh. (Which can be bad when one reads in bed and one's husband is already asleep when said laughing takes place.)

Stephanie Plum, the main character of Evanovich's series is hysterical. From her relationship with her hamster Rex to her crazy grandmother who she drives to "viewings" at funeral homes, each book is a laugh-fest.

Admittedly, not exactly brain surgery reading, but good ole fashioned fun. Check it out! Janet Evanovich's site

ABCs of Me!

A -Age: 37 (Ugh.)
B- Bed Size: Queen. But we need a King.
C- Chore you hate: Washing the hardwood floors
D- Dog's Name: Max (official AKC name: M.S. Maxdam named after the first cruise ship we went on as a family)
E- Essential starts to your day: Alarm clock.
F- Favorite Color: Purple.
G- Gold, Silver, or Platinum: Platinum.
H- Height: 5'2" (allegedly)
I- Instruments you play: ZERO!
J- job: Eh. Hard to explain. Online database related.
K- Kids: Two stepchildren! :)
L-Living Arrangements: Yay for our own home.
M- Mom's name: Sharron (Yes, that Sharron with TWO r's.)
N- Nicknames: KT, Kate, Kater
O- Overnight stay in the hospital other then birth: ZERO!
P- Pet Peeve: People that don't use signals when driving.
Q- Quote from a movie: "Gee, I'm sorry your mom blew up, Ricky." Better Off Dead
R- Right or Left handed: Right
S- Siblings: ZERO! (Of course, if you ask my parents, you might get a different answer...they're counting canines!)
T- Time you wake up: Let's not go there
U- Underwear: Um, yes
V- Vegetable you dislike: Lima beans
W- Ways you run late: Hitting the snooze button
X- X-rays you've had: Hip, knee
Y- Yummy food you make: Again, let's not go there
Z- Zoo Favorite: Panda bears

PS- I'd love to see the ABCs of YOU!

Review of "Eat, Pray, Love"

Let's cut right to the chase. It is perhaps one of THE best books I've read. Ever. I can relate to Elizabeth (Liz; author and subject of the book) on so many levels, yet there are so many differences between us. Everyone deals with their problems in their own way, and Liz deals with hers by going to Italy, India, and Indonesia. She eats until her heart is happy again in Italy, prays and learns the meaning of spirituality in India, and at the end of her journey finds love in Indonesia.

I have to admit, when I saw the "pray" part, I was a bit skeptical about liking the book. Preachy religious writing has never been my thing. Throughout the book, though, the author is very good at sharing her spiritual experience and making it clear that it is just that...hers. She does not try to sell the reader on moving to an ashram or meditating daily. She just shares her experience.

I'll be lucky if I visit ONE of those "I" countries that Liz goes to, but reading the book made me feel like I was on the trip with her.

List to Blog About

Yes, it's come to this. I actually have a few things that I want to blog about, so I'm taking note here and now, so as not to forget them!

1. Review Eat, Pray, Love
2. Review Fearless Fourteen (which I haven't even had time to add to "What I'm Reading!)
3. Go over trip to D.C. (including Arlington National Cemetary visit)
4. Get a NEW background color. (I've called in the experts on this one.) This yellow is just not cutting the mustard. (A little extra added humor for my reader's (readers') benefit.

One and a half thumbs down

(Is that even possible?)

I just finished reading, "How to Buy a Love of Reading" by Tanya Egan Gibson. Pretty bad. It it had a few humorous moments tucked in among the pages or else it would've gotten the full two thumbs down from me.

Quick synopsis: Spoiled, wealthy, and slightly overweight girl is told by her English teacher that she's a moron because she doesn't like reading. As "THE" Sweet Sixteen gift for her, her parents decided to have an author commissioned to write her a book. (Which, they hope the girl takes an interest in.)

Premise is not bad, but way it's written? Oy vay. Wordy, wordy, wordy. It could've been 50-100 pages shorter. It's ironic (?) because while the commissioned author is working on the book, the girl tells her not to waste so much time/space on random details. Apparently, Tanya Egan Gibson doesn't take her character's advice.

Now I'm onto "Eat Pray Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert and I already love it!

Freaky Friday

OK...it's not really freaky, I just couldn't think of a better title. (Although, a Billy Mays commercial just came on the TV and it's turning a bit freaky!)

It is so HOT HUMID MUGGY SOUPY here in New England. I am trying really hard NOT to complain. When I go to complain, I just visualize shoveling off my back stairs and I quiet right down!

I think I've decided that if every month could be like April or May in New England, I love it.

Christmas in August

I was giving my stepdaughter a hard time the other day for listening to Christmas music on her iPod.

Well, now I'm reading Six Geese-a-Slaying by Donna Andrews, a Christmas mystery. I really didn't know it was a Christmas story and if I had, I probably would've held off on reading it.

I guess the title should've been my hint. Hmm.