Saturday 9: When We Was Fab

1. Is there a blog as far as its appearance goes that you think is the most fabulous?

to many to mention!

2. Do you like the look and the contents of your blogs?

singular and for the most part yes...just wish i could widen it a bit.

3. Have you ever thought what would happen to your blog in case you died?

no. like old soldiers, i expect it would fade away.

4. Has any particular blogger had a great impact on how you set up and write your blog?

i don't think so ...but maybe lots of them have...i see something here or there that i like and add it to mine.

5. Would you want a fellow blogger to give you suggestions or criticism of what you write?

as Rett said, frankly my dear, i don't give a damn. i would read them but still not change my blog. blogs are personal things and it should reflect me, not someone else. there is always an exception to the rule. if someone said the colors were too hard on the eyes or the print too some, that i would change in heart beat!

6. Is the number of visitors each day to your blog important to you?

no. i am surprised anyone visits....but i like it when they do!

7. What percentage of your readers do you think actual comment?

don't have a clue!

8. Do you have a favorite blogger who does the memes that you participate in?

uh....like this one, you mean?

9. How often do you update your blog/site and why?

do you mean enter a posting or do something about the layout? posting...whenever....layout...i piddle with it all the time.

Thanks so much for joining us again at Saturday: 9. As always, feel free to come back, see who has participated and comment on their posts. In fact sometimes, if you want to read & comment on everyone's responses, you might want to check back again tomorrow. But it is not a rule. We haven’t any rules here. Join us on next Saturday for another version of Saturday: 9, "Just A Silly Meme on a Saturday!" Enjoy your weekend!

Saturday 9: You Shook Me

Saturday 9: You Shook Me

1. What celebrity would you just want to shake some sense into?

those that let themselves get sucked into drugs.

2. What do you think comes after death?

my thoughts on them very all the time. heaven, reincarnation, nothing...

3. What is the first book that you can remember reading by yourself as a child?

i am too old to remember.

4. What was the first rock concert that you attended?

haven't ever...large crowds and short people don't mix well...foot print hurt!

5. If you were to suddenly become famous, would you choose a stage name? If yes, what would it be?

no, i like my name...and a stage name might also mean i had lost my sense of self and i like that sense too much to let it go.

6. What is the one thing that you wish the media would stop talking about?

dick cheney...if no one talked about him, may be he would shut up! same with glen beck and rush l!

7. If you could be part of any band, which one would it be and who would you be and why?

don't want to be part of any band thank you kindly.

8. Do you live close to your immediate family members? If not, how far away are they?

closest member is my mom who is in austin while i like just north of dallas.

9. Last seasonal question (promise): What did you do on New Year's Eve?

drank white port with dh and ate cheese on toast.

Thanks so much for joining us again at Saturday: 9. As always, feel free to come back, see who has participated and comment on their posts. In fact sometimes, if you want to read & comment on everyone's responses, you might want to check back again tomorrow. But it is not a rule. We haven’t any rules here. Join us on next Saturday for another version of Saturday: 9, "Just A Silly Meme on a Saturday!" Enjoy your weekend!

Book Giveaway: Seduced by a Rogue by Amanda Scott

Amanda Scott is lovely writer who's books I have shared with my mother. Not only is it lovely that she has a new book out but that Kristi of Books and Needle Point has 5 copies to give away. If you to enjoy reading Ms Scott's writings or have not but want know more about this book, go visit Kristi's blog by clicking on the posting title or the name of her blog.

WINNER: I, Alex Cross (audio)

Opps! I didn't tell you about this one! Thank you Ms Jen of Jen's Book Talk!

Now I know you who read my review of another of his books are wondering why I bother to try and get this book. Simple. People whose reviews I respect, said this was one of his "ups". And you know I love a good mystery! So, why not give Mr. Patterson another try.

I will let you know what I think after a good listen.

Now, I gotta tell you (if you haven't read my comments before), I like Jen's blog and frequent it often (see on the left hand side of her blog where she lists her top commenters). It's a fun blog if you haven't been there. Her reviews are good (she does movies, too) and I like her rating system. She particpates in lots of tours (a good way to follow giveaways of a book you really want to read but can't aford or just to see what tour participants think of a book). Speaking of which, she is part of Seduced by a Rouge by Amanda Scott who has written some other books I have enjoyed...wonder what our tour guide will have to say about that?!

WINNER: Murder on the Cliffs!

Have you ever seen a cover and title of a book you just had to pick up? Well, look at this one:

Well, I couldn't do that as it was on Melissa's Bookshelf! But I could read the synopsis! Oh, goody, English Gothic! Then I saw it...the name.....Daphney du Maurier! I have been a fan of her books and some of the movies made from them since...forever! She is going to be our heroine? What a great idea!

BUT what did Melissa think? First time author...blab blab blab..."I could not put this book down." YEA! (You see I trust her reviews.) HOORAY! She is giving a copy away!!! I entered immediately!

Last night, I was reading my email and found out, I WON!!! I got so excited I was sputtering!

Do go visit Melissa's blog! You will so glad you did check out her reviews on books you have read and/or ones you are thinking about reading. You'll be so glad you did.

You can get there by clicking on the name of her blog or the title of this posting.

Can you be organization crazy? or BOOK BLOGS SEARCH ENGINE

Back in August someone came up with the BRILLIANT idea of a way to search what book bloggers had posted about their reading adventures. Of course I thought this was the niftiest ideas since books. I blogged about it. I did every thing I could think of so I could find this wonderful reference any time I need it. I used it to see if I had read the same book as someone else. I used it to read lots of reviews before deciding if I really wanted a book as much as I thought I did. And then I didn't use it.

But today, I needed it! Desperately! And it is all J. Kaye's fault (you know her, J. Kaye's Book Blog). You see, she has this thing about top commenters for the week and Little Miss Big Mouth (me) was one. Not only that, I was chosen to pick a book from "Upcoming Book" list.

How was I the choose?

And then I remembered! I could read what other people had written about some of the titles that intrigued me! Grand! But how do I access it? Simple. Where had I put the address so I would not lose it?

It is now two hours later. I have finally found the old posting. The site, Book Blogs Search Engine, is now on the top of my Safari Screen for ready reference (where I should have put it in the first place!). And I can now tell J. Kaye, I want Beat the Reaper, by Josh Bazell!

Now for the rest of you, should you be faced with the same delima, don't make yourself crazy, record the address where you see your Wickapedia.

You can reach it quickly by clicking on this posting title or where I named it above.

NOTE: I am reposting this because I just needed the link. It took me forever to find in my old postings! If I needed it, you might; check it out!

Celebrate New Year's with Scottish Drinks

I found these on line at RAMPARTS SCOTLAND. COM and decided they needed to be shared with all of you!

Some people might say that Drambuie on its own is the perfect drink but others feel it necessary to add other flavours to the recipe (said to have given by Bonnie Prince Charlie to members of theMackinnon clan who helped him to escape after the defeat at Culloden in 1746). So here are a number of cocktails which include Drambuie.

Don't be too concerned about "centilitres" or "millilitres" or "tablespoons" - just use the same measures for each liquid ingredient.

Aftershock
Ingredients:
5 cl Drambuie
5 cl Malibu rum
5 cl Cherry brandy
10 cl Lemonade
Just pour the ingredients into a glass and stir.


Black Tartan
Ingredients:
1 part Johnnie Walker Black whisky
1 part Irish whisky
1 part Drambuie
1 1/2 part Kahlua
Shake with ice and strain over ice.


Christmas Pudding
Ingredients:
100 ml Southern Comfort
100 ml Drambuie
500 ml Guinness stout
Add Southern Comfort and then Drambuie in a large goblet. Top up with draught or chilled Guinness.


Cumulus #1
Ingredients:
3 cl Drambuie
1.5 cl Tia maria
1 cl Cream
1 Egg yolk
2 teaspoons sugar
Shake well with ice. Serve in frosted glass and sprinkle with powdered coffee or nutmeg.


Dancing Leprechaun
Ingredients:
1 1/2 oz Irish whisky
3/4 oz Drambuie
3/4 oz Lemon juice
Ginger ale
Twist of Lemon peel
Shake with ice. Strain into glass with ice cubes. Add a twist of lemon.


Jack Frost
Ingredients:
2 tblsp Jack Daniels
1 tblsp Drambuie
1 dash Grenadine
1/4 cup Sweet and sour mix
1/4 cup Orange juice
Combine all the ingredients over ice in a glass.


Kiltlifter
Ingredients:
1.5 oz single malt Scotch
1.0 oz Drambuie or Glayva
2.5 oz Rose's Lime Juice
Shake gently and pour over ice in old fashioned glass.


Loch Lomond
Ingredients:
2 oz Scotch whisky
1/2 oz Drambuie
1/2 oz Dry Vermouth
1 twist of Lemon peel
In a mixing glass half-filled with ice cubes, combine the Scotch, Drambuie, and vermouth. Stir well. Strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with the twist of lemon peel.


Suitor
Ingredients:
1 cl Drambuie
1 cl Orange liqueur (such as Gran Marnier)
1 cl Bailey's irish cream
2/3 cl Milk
Pour in order.


Umbrella Man Special
Ingredients:
6 cl Vodka
6 cl Kahlua
6 cl Bailey's irish cream
6 cl Grand Marnier
6 cl Drambuie
Mix all ingredients in a shaker. Serve with straw and ice cubes and put a cocktail umbrella beside the straw in the glass.


Warm Woolly Sheep
Ingredients:
1 measure Scotch whisky
1 1/2 measure Drambuie
Fill with warm Milk
Mix Scotch and Drambuie, top with warm milk.




Ginger Wine
Ginger wine has been a popular drink for cold winter's nights - or as an addition to whisky to make a "Whisky Mac". This recipe is adapted from the original published in Mrs Beeton's famous work and makes 4.5 litres (8 pints).

Ingredients:
4.5 litres (8 pints) water 1.4 kg (3 lb) sugar One lemon - zest and juice 1 tsp fresh yeast 110g (4 oz) raisins, stoned and chopped 40g (1½ oz) ginger, peeled and bruised 75 ml (2½ fl oz) brandy
Method:
Add the water, sugar, lemon zest and bruised ginger to a very clean saucepan. Bring to the boil, simmer for 1 hour. Remove any scum and transfer to a large bowl. When it is luke-warm, add the yeast and leave overnight.
Next day, strain the lemon juice and add to the mix along with the chopped raisins. Place everything in a suitable vessel.
Stir the wine every day for 14 days. Add the brandy. Stop the vessel down by degrees and in a few weeks it will be ready to bottle.

Laugh Time

Because I haven't passed on a good one in a while:

WHY WOMEN SHOULDN'T TAKE MEN SHOPPING

After I retired, my wife insisted that I accompany her on her trips to Target.
Unfortunately, like most men, I found shopping boring and preferred to get
in and get out. Equally unfortunate, my wife is like most women - she
loves to browse. Yesterday my dear wife received the following letter from
the local Target.

Dear Mrs. Naragon,

Over the past six months, your husband has caused quite a commotion in our
store. We cannot tolerate this behavior and have been forced to ban both
of you from the store. Our complaints against your husband, Mr. Samuel,
are listed below and are documented by our video surveillance cameras.

1. June 15: Took 24 boxes of condoms and randomly put them in other
people's carts when they weren't looking.

2. July 2: Set all the alarm clocks in Housewares to go off at 5-minute
intervals.

3. July 7: He made a trail of tomato juice on the floor leading to the
women's restroom.

4. July 19: Walked up to an employee and told her in an official voice,
'Code 3 in Housewares. Get on it right away'. This caused the employee
to leave her assigned station and receive a reprimand from her Supervisor
that in turn resulted with a union grievance, causing management to lose
time and costing the company money.

5. August 4: Went to the Service Desk and tried to put a bag of M&Ms on
layaway.

6. August 14: Moved a 'CAUTION - WET FLOOR' sign to a carpeted area.

7. August 15: Set up a tent in the camping department and told the children
shoppers he'd invite them in if they would bring pillows and blankets from
the bedding department to which twenty children obliged.

8. August 23: When a clerk asked if they could help him he began crying and
screamed, 'Why can't you people just leave me alone?' EMTs were called.

9. September 4: Looked right into the security camera and used it as a
mirror while he picked his nose.

10. September 10: While handling guns in the hunting department, he asked
the clerk where the antidepressants were.

11. October 3: Darted around the store suspiciously while loudly humming the
' Mission Impossible' theme.

12. October 6: In the auto department, he practiced his ' Madonna look'
by using different sizes of funnels.

13. October 18: Hid in a clothing rack and when people browsed through,
yelled 'PICK ME! PICK ME!'

14. October 21: When an announcement came over the loud speaker, he
assumed a fetal position and screamed 'OH NO! IT'S THOSE VOICES AGAIN!'


And last, but not least:

15. October 23: Went into a fitting room, shut the door, waited awhile,
then yelled very loudly, 'Hey! There's no toilet paper in here.' One of
the clerks passed out.

Book Review: The Chopin Manuscript (Audio)

The Chopin Manuscript: A Serial Thriller UNABRIDGED

Publisher's Summary

15 thriller masters. 1 masterful thriller.

Former war crimes investigator Harold Middleton possesses a previously unknown score by Frederic Chopin. But he is unaware that, locked within its handwritten notes, lies a secret that now threatens the lives of thousands of Americans. As he races from Poland to America to uncover the mystery of the manuscript, Middleton will be accused of murder, pursued by federal agents, and targeted by assassins. But the greatest threat will come from a shadowy figure out of his past: the man known only as Faust.

The Chopin Manuscript is a unique collaboration by 15 of the world's greatest thriller writers. Jeffery Deaver conceived the characters and set the plot in motion; the other authors each wrote a chapter in turn. Deaver then completed what he started, bringing The Chopin Manuscript to its explosive conclusion.

The Chopin Manuscript was written by:
Jeffery Deaver (Lincoln Rhyme series)
David Hewson (Nic Costa series)
James Grady (Six Days of the Condor)
S. J. Rozan (Bill Smith/Lydia Chin series)
Erica Spindler (Last Known Victim)
John Ramsey Miller (Winter Massey series)
David Corbett (Blood of Paradise)
John Gilstrap (Scott Free)
Joseph Finder (Power Play)
Jim Fusilli (Terry Orr series)
Peter Spiegelman (John March series)
Ralph Pezzullo (Jawbreaker)
Lisa Scottoline (Daddy's Girl)
P.J. Parrish (Louis Kincaid, Joe Frye series)
Lee Child (Jack Reacher series)

PROJECT EDITOR: Jim Fusilli

The Chopin Manuscript includes special bonus material:

Behind-the-scenes interview with Jeffery Deaver, Lee Child, and David Hewson

Now that alone should stir you curiosity. 'Sure did mine! And that was without knowing it was the 2008 Audie Award Winner Audiobook of the Year. That is why it became my Audible.com pick.

Alfred Moline (well known actor) was the narrator. He made following the different character easy with that great nibble voice of his. But I figured he would. It was the writing that intrigued me was how one man could start a story and then another writer picks it up...and then another and another until it comes back to the original author to wrap it up in a nice neat bow and bring it to a conclusion.

Could it be done? How confusing would it be as the chapter changed to a new author? Could I follow it? Would I like it?

Yes. Only a little bit. I could. I did!

So if you like a good thriller that is well written, check it out! And be sure to listen to the after interview for the "How'd they do it?"

Disclaimer....if I used my membership credit, you know no one had any influence on my review!

Monday Mayhem

I saw ___mommy_______ kissing ___santa claus______
Underneath the ___mistletoe______ last night
They didn't see me ___creep_______
Down the __stairs____ to have a ____peek______
They thought that I was ___tucked________
in my ___bedroom________ fast ____asleep______

Then I saw ___mommy_______ kissing ___santa claus______
Underneath the ____mistletoe_____ last night

Oh what a __laugh____ it would have been
If ___daddy_______ had only seen
__mommy_______ kissing __santa claus_______ last night.

(i'm sorry...the song was so stuck in my mind, i could think of nothing else! my bad.)

......................

How's your weather? Will you have a white Christmas?

no white christmas here and with the weather elsewhere, i won't say what our weather is like!

Sunday Stealing

Lola's Holiday Meme

Welcome back to Sunday Stealing. Sunday Stealing originated on WTIT: The Blog authored by Bud Weiser. Here we will steal all types of memes from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent memes. You may have heard of the expression, “honor amongst thieves”. In that age-old tradition, we also have our rules. First, we always credit the blog that we stole it from and we will “fess up” to the blog owner where we stole the meme. We also provide a link to the victim's post. (It's our way of saying "Thanks!") We do sometimes edit the original meme, usually to make it more relevant to our global players, to challenge our players, sometimes to select that meme's best questions, or simply to make it less repetitive from either this new meme or recently asked questions from a prior featured meme. Let's go!
Today we ripped this meme off a blogger named Stacy at the blogAll Stacy, All the Time. She states that she stole it at Lola's blog Lola's Diner. Lola wrote this herself! We had searched for a holiday meme, but only found two that had already been played by a zillion players. We were thrilled to find not only an original meme, but one much better than the other two. Link back to us at Sunday Stealing!
Cheers to all us thieves!
Sunday Stealing: Lola's Holiday Meme

1. What is your favorite holiday show/animated show? DON'T HAVE ONE.

2. What holiday character do you think you're most like? ONE OF THE ELVES.

3. What holiday character does your spouse think you're most like? A PAIN IN THE NECT (HE IS SCROOGE)

4. Favorite Christmas/holiday song? THE OLD CAROLS.

5. Most hated Christmas/holiday song?

6. If you have an all holiday music radio station when do you start listening to it? WHEN DH IS NOT AT HOME (HE DOESN'T LIKE CHRISTMAS)

7. If you have an all holiday music radio station do you love it or hate it? I DISLIKE THEM WHEN THEY START TOO EARLY! LIKE AT HALLOWEEN OR BEFORE THANKSGIVING!

8. Have you ever wrapped yourself as a Christmas present? SORT OF...IT WAS A DISASTER.

9. Who is Rudolf The Red Nosed Reindeer's father? RANDOLF THE BROWN NOSE RAINDEER.

10. Do you drive your neighborhood or one near you at night to look at other people's holiday decorations? YES

11. When you see a heavily decorated house do you think, 'oh that's lovely'? Or do you think, 'oh criminy, that looks like Christmas threw up all over their lawn'? GENENRALLY I THINK THEY ARE LOVELY.

12. Are you counting the days to Christmas with excited anticipation or dread? NEITHER.

13. When was the last time you had your photo taken with Santa? Did you sit on his lap? DON'T THINK IT EVER HAPPENED.

14. Do you make a Christmas list for your spouse or significant other or do you rely on them to pick your gift(s) without a clue from you? I TOLD HIM I WANT HIM TO MAKE ME A GOOD CHERRY CAKE.

15. When do you put up your tree?

DON'T ...DH DOES NOT LIKE THEM...SO IF I PUT UP A TREE, I JUST GET SAD.

16. Real or fake? I LOVE THE SMELL OF NEW TREES. BUT WOULD LOVE WITH ARTIFICIAL BUT MUST BE GREEN...I DISLIKE FLOCKED TREES a LOT!!!

17. When do you take your tree down? NO TREE UP MEANS NO TREE DOWN.

18. Do you shop the day after Christmas sales? What do you shop for? GENERALLY NOT ...I DON'T LIKE MOBS.

19. Is your work/office having a holiday party this year? Will you attend? RETIRED PEOPLE DON'T HAVE OFFICE PARTIES TO ATTEND.

20. Do you have your New Year's Eve Plans set yet? NO

Thank you for playing this week on Sunday Stealing! Please leave a comment or link when you have posted. Feel free to stop back and visit other player’s posts. Have a great week. See you next Sunday!

Saturday 9: White Christmas

Saturday 9: White Christmas

1. If you live where you get winter weather, do you prefer your Christmas to be white? If you never see snow, do you wish for it?

YES, BUT SNOW RARLY COMES AND RARLY LASTS LONG.

2. How many holiday cards did you receive from people you hadn't sent cards to, after the "mailing deadline?" Did you send a card anyway? ONE AND NO.

3. When the clock strikes Midnight on New Year's, will you be at home, at a party, or somewhere else? PROBABLY AT HOME WITH DH AND DOGS.

4. Have you ever taken the keys and driven home a friend that you felt was too drunk to drive? If not, do you think you would attempt to if that situation ever arose? YES AND YES!!!

5. Tell us about a gift that you either bought or made for someone else that you wanted for yourself! A SWEATER FOR DH.

6. What chores do you have left for the holidays? NONE

7. If you could buy one gift for yourself where money was not an obstacle, what would it be? A TRICKED OUT VAN FOR MY ELELTRIC WHEELCHAIR AND ME.

8. What is one of your family’s favorite holiday traditions? EVERY ONE CALLS.

9. If you could give a fellow blogger a holiday gift, which would it be and what would you give them? A BOOK THEY WANTED AFTER READING MY REVIEW OF IT.

Thanks so much for joining us again at Saturday: 9. As always, feel free to come back, see who has participated and comment on their posts. In fact sometimes, if you want to read & comment on everyone's responses, you might want to check back again tomorrow. But it is not a rule. We haven’t any rules here. Join us on next Saturday for another version of Saturday9!" Enjoy your weekend!

Convey This or Translate This

This is only a copy!

l

V

I finally got a translator for my blog! Now those of you that might have a problem with reading my blog can now do it in your own language! Go over to the right side panel to see if...right under the flags of my followers.

OH, you want one for your blog?

I got it from ConveyThis. IT IS FREE for your website or blog. Translates 52 different languages. I love it! Please tell me what you think of it.

No, this was not solicited. I just have to share the good stuff. I knew there had to be one out there in blog land. The question way, how to find it. I found it on someone else's blog.

For you to get one for your blog, click on the posting title or anywhere you see ConveyThis.

Please feel free to access any of the tools I use to get to their origins so you too can enhance your blog.