Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Vacashun. I hadz it.

Most summers we rent a beach house, usually somewhere within driving distance of the Land O' the Grey (NE Ohio, although this year's 12 hour drive was the upper limit of what I can endure without an overnight stop). As usual, I didn't start looking for a place until a few months ago, so I didn't have a specific destination in mind, just oceanfront with a private pool for $5k or under and with a bunch of bedrooms and bathrooms. This year my search led to a place we'd never been before-- Emerald Isle, NC-- which is at the western end of Bogue Island (yes, confusing as it is, the island runs west-east).

And you know what? I think it may be my favorite beach town so far-- not too commercialized, not too crowded, yet everything we needed (like groceries, shopping, activities) was available right on the island without constant trips to the mainland or fighting traffic. But unlike the Outer Banks, there were boogie board worthy waves for the demon spawn, and they broke close to shore which made me feel like they were safer.

The house wasn't bad, could use a little updating/preventive maintenence before it gets away from the owner, but as with most beach houses, it had three floors with the main floor on top. The trouble with this one was that it had the steepest damn steps inside the house, outside the house, and leading to the beach. My poor knees and ankles may never be the same! OUCH!

This trip we only had one "borrowed" minion of my demon spawn. All my previous MomMobiles have had seating for 8 so we'd "borrow" two minions, but my current MomMobile only seats 7 (I decided AWD and luxury trumped the extra seat this time). We decided that our most pleasant child (note sarcasm), Monkeybutt (who turned 16 the day before we left), needed to bring a minion to keep her entertained and maybe the venom wouldn't spew so readily. It worked-- they hung out together and stayed the hell away from the rest of us most of the week. WHAT?! Trust me, it was the only reason we returned with the same number of demon spawn that we left with. Seriously.

Now, Emerald Isle is right next to Camp Lejeune-- as in MARINES, so I was sincerely hoping to strain my eyes trying to take in all the eye candy catching a little R&R on the beach. Alas, only one. But he was USDA Prime Eye Candy-- definitely not a Baby Blue Marine; nope, this was a seasoned soldier, humpin' his backpack down the beach wearing nothing but his fatigue pants and boots. Naturally it wasn't when I had my camera on the beach ::pouts:: But, OH LAWDY! Dat Marine could semper my fi anytime he wants!

So with vacation over, it's now time for EOM work crunch and then back-to-school shopping because the younger two demon spawn start on August 21st. Which (and I can't believe I'm saying this) is too damn early!

Oh, btw, I took several print books, ebooks and audio books with me and I only got around to reading THREE! For some reason, I mostly just felt like staring at the waves.

But those three were good 'uns:

Dark Designs by Madelynne Ellis (Black Lace) HUGE thanks to Madame Butterfly for sending this one! Note to self: even Madelynne's contemporaries completely rock!


The Bride of Casa Dracula (Casa Dracula, Book 3) by Marta Acosta Yep, that's right-- Marta sent me the ARC and yep, I agree-- I am one lucky beotch! Expect a commentary on this one. It releases 09/16, so that gives you just enough time to read the first two books in the series. Here's the trailor for book 1, Happy Hour at Casa Dracula, and here's the trailor for this 3rd book-- McDreamy, Armitage, and Gerry Butler all overlaid with the Jonesian® Effect. WOOT!


The Touch of Twilight (Sign of the Zodiac, Book 3) by Vicki Pettersson I have no idea why I've let this one lay around in my TBR for so long!

Friday, July 25, 2008

In Case You Were Wondering...

... where I've been, I have been ORDERED to travel the world withdrawing my money using my new ATM SWIFT CARD while avoiding evil imposters who would keep me from it. PHEW! I sure am glad the FBI and the Federal Ministry of Finance were on top of this whole investigation!


From: Federal Bureau of Investigation [no-reply@fbi.gov]
re: Your Payment Notification

Anti-Terrorist and Monitory Crimes Division.
Federal Bureau Of Investigation.
J. Edgar. Hoover Building Washington D.C
Attn: Beneficiary,

This is to Officially inform you that it has come to our notice and we have thoroughly Investigated by the help of our Intelligence Monitoring Network System that you are having an illegal Transaction with Imposters claiming to be Prof. Charles C. Soludo of the Central Bank Of Nigeria, Mr. Patrick Aziza, Mr Frank Nweke, none officials of Oceanic Bank, none officials of Zenith Bank and imposter claiming to be the Federal Bureau Of Investigation. During our Investigation, it came to our notice that the reason why you have not received your payment is because you have not fulfill your Financial Obligation giving to you in respect of your Contract/Inheritance Payment.

So therefore, we have contacted the Federal Ministry Of Finance on your behalf and they have brought a solution to your problem by arranging your payment in total of US $850,000.00 in an ATM CARD which you will use to withdraw money in anywhere of the world. You now have the lawful right to claim your fund in the ATM CARD.

Since the Federal Bureau of Investigation is involved in this transaction, all you did have to do is to be rest assured for this is 100% risk free because it is our right to protect the American Citizens. All I did want you to do is proceed and contact the ATM CARD CENTER via email for their requirements to proceed and procure your Approval Slip on your behalf which will cost you $200.00 only and note that your Approval Slip contains details of your PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (PIN which you will use in activating your ATM CARD in any ATM MACHINE.

CONTACT INFORMATION
NAME: MR. PAUL SMITH
EMAIL: federal-ministryoffinance@webmail.co.za

Do contact Mr. Paul Smith of the ATM CARD CENTRE with your full name, home address, mobile telephone number, home telephone number or work telephone number and bank name so your files would be updated after which he will send the payment informations to you which you will use in making payment of $200.00 via Western Union Money Transfer or Money Gram for the procurement of your Approval Slip after which the delivery of your ATM CARD will be effected to your designated home address without any further delay.

We order you get back to this office after you open contact with the ATM SWIFT CARD CENTRE and we do await your response so we can move on with our Investigation and make sure your ATM SWIFT CARD gets to you.

Thanks and hope to read from you soon.
FBI Director
Robert Mueller

Note: Do disregard any email you get from any imposter or office claiming to be in possesion of your ATM CARD, you are adviced only to be in contact with Mr. Paul Smith of the ATM CARD CENTRE who is the rightful person you are suppose to deal with in regards your ATM CARD PAYMENT and forward any email you get from imposters to this office so we could act upon and commence investigation.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

The Divas Are Back! The Divas Are Back!

Project Runway Season 5 starts tonight at 9 PM EDT on Bravo TV. This is the last season before PR moves to Lifetime TV.

Watch a preview.


(BTW, sorry blogging and blog visits have been so sporadic. With summer here, it just seems like there is always something going on and I'm trying to fit work in around it all.)

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Crazy Peen Thursday

JenB and Madame Butterfly have declared this to be CRAZY PEEN THURSDAY. So post 'em if ya got 'em!

I now present PEENS GONE WILD (literally)...







There Outta Be a Law...

...that all landscapers, tree trimmers, construction workers, etc. cannot work without shirts unless they are WORTHY!

I've got a crew of tree guys here now. They ALL have their shirts off and not a single one of them adds to the scenery around here. DAMMIT! Now our landscaper (when he bothers to show up) is in his early forties and has a bod to die for... but he's dummer 'n a box o' rocks and makes me freakin' crazy cuz he's always bothering me with the equivalent of "MOMMY! MOMMY! Come look what I did!!" UGH! I have enough kids, thank you very much.

Anyway, I decided to create my own lunchtime scenery...















Oh, lookee there... My Josh just happened to show up... what a pleasant surprise!

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Orgnazushun-- I'z doin' it!

cat
more cat pictures


Well, I'm still sorting and organizing books. Believe it or not, I actually have a pile of TBPW-- To Be Parted With! And OY! the DUPLICATES! Plus I found a stash of books I had brought back from RT Con 2006 and RAW 2007 that I had never gone through. Not only were there duplicates in that stash, but there is one book that I came home with TWO copies from RT Con and because I had forgotten about that stash, I later ordered the book from Amazon! So three copies and it was just an "okay" book. DOH!

Anyway, I'll be working on the books for a while longer- I hope my Cuecat from LibraryThing shows up soon. Then I have to do some work in advance of vacation time. I'll try to keep visiting everyone, but I doubt that I'll get to everyone's blog every day.

And I am bound and determined to get some QB's Quickies done soon. Even if it's just some SUPER Quickies!

hokay... back to heartlessly evicting millions of innocent dustbunnies from their homes!

Friday, July 4, 2008

Celebrate with Patriotic Confections

PhotobucketDid the hometown parade this morning, came home and worked, then helped the DH put my new bookcases together (finally), worked some more, joined LibraryThing (as BevQB) and ordered my CueCat scanner so I'll be ready to start organizing as soon as my EOM work-crunch is done, worked a little more, slapped some dead beasties on the grill, should be working more but I decided to have dessert first...


Patriotic confections for a
Happy Independence Day!
(WARNING: Not all WORKSAFE!)













Photobucket




Hope you're having a SAFE and HAPPY Fourth! And that sentiment also includes all of you that don't refer to today as Independence Day.

Thursday, July 3, 2008

BREAKING NEWS: I'z a Readr!

OMG! I knew it!From BookBrowse via Holly at Book Binge, who got it from Melody's Reading Corner



What's Your Reading Personality?

Your Personality: All-Rounder!

Your responses showed you fitting equally into all four reading personalities:

Involved Reader: You don't just love to read books, you love to read about books. For you, half the fun of reading is the thrill of the chase - discovering new books and authors, and discussing your finds with others.
Exacting Reader: You love books but you rarely have as much time to read as you'd like - so you're very particular about the books you choose.
Serial Reader: Once you discover a favorite writer you tend to stick with him/her through thick and thin.
Eclectic Reader: You read for entertainment but also to expand your mind. You're open to new ideas and new writers, and are not wedded to a particular genre or limited range of authors.



SHOCKING, innit?