Because Kski sent me an email!

QUESTIONS THAT HAUNT ME!  If you have sex with a prostitute against her will, is it considered rape or shoplifting? Can you cry under water? How important does a person have to be before they are considered assassinated instead or just murdered?  Why do you have to 'put your two cents in'... But it's only a 'penny for your thoughts'?  Where's that extra penny going to?  Once you're in heaven, do you get stuck wearing the clothes you were buried in for eternity?  Why does a round pizza come in a square box? What disease did cured ham actually have?  How is it that we put man on the moon before we figured out it would be a good idea to put wheels on luggage?  Why is it that people say they 'slept like a baby' when babies wake up like every two hours? If a deaf person has to go to court, is it still called a hearing? Why are you IN a movie, but you're ON TV? Why do people pay to go up tall buildings and then put money in binoculars to look at things on the ground? Why do doctors leave the room while you change? They're going to see you naked anyway. Why is 'bra' singular and 'panties' plural? Why do toasters always have a setting that burns the toast to a horrible crisp, which no decent human being would eat? If Jimmy cracks corn and no one cares, why is there a stupid song about him? Can a hearse carrying  a corpse drive in  the  carpool lane  ? If the professor on Gilligan's  Island  can make a radio out of a coconut, why can't he fix a hole in a boat?  Why does Goofy stand erect while Pluto remains on all fours? They're both dogs!  If Wile E. Coyote had enough money to buy all that ACME crap, why didn't he just buy dinner? If corn oil is made from corn, and vegetable oil is made from vegetables, what is baby oil made from? If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons? Do the Alphabet song and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star have the same tune?  Why did you just try singing the two songs above? Why do they call it an asteroid when it's outside the hemisphere, but call it a hemorrhoid when it's in your butt? Did you ever notice that when you blow in a dog's face, he gets mad at you, but when you take him for a car ride, he sticks his head out the window? Do you ever wonder why you gave me your e-mail address in the first place?

WHAAAAHOOOO...BOOK IN MAILBOX!

Thanks to my friendly book bloggy pal, Bridget of Readaholic, there was something besides bills and junk in my mailbox! A copy of Elizabeth Hoyt's Wicked Intentions! O, important to thank Hachette too as they gave her a copy to giveaway. I wanted this book after reading reviews by Bridget and other reviewers who give honest opinions. Now it is MINEEEEEEEEE! 

This was taken from Hachette:

From the New York Times bestselling author of To Desire a Devilcomes this thrilling tale of danger, desire, and dark passions.

A MAN CONTROLLED BY HIS DESIRES . . . 

Infamous for his wild, sensual needs, Lazarus Huntington, Lord Caire, is searching for a savage killer in St. Giles, London's most notorious slum. Widowed Temperance Dews knows St. Giles like the back of her hand-she's spent a lifetime caring for its inhabitants at the foundling home her family established. Now that home is at risk . . . 

A WOMAN HAUNTED BY HER PAST . . . 

Caire makes a simple offer-in return for Temperance's help navigating the perilous alleys of St. Giles, he will introduce her to London's high society so that she can find a benefactor for the home. But Temperance may not be the innocent she seems, and what begins as cold calculation soon falls prey to a passion that neither can control-one that may well destroy them both.

A BARGAIN NEITHER COULD REFUSE

Curious?  If you click on highlighted title in the first paragraph , you will be whisked over to Ms. Holt's site where you can read excerpts from the book (there are 2). You can order copies from there at several different locations. Or, as an newly attempted Amazson Associate, just click on the image and link below!  

Word has it, you can also find an copy at Audible.com! Well, I had to check it out, didn't I? If you love accents, Ashford MacNab does a good narration (this from the snippet I heard).

Yes,  my friends, I really expect to enjoy this book and do want to share with you! 

PS: Don't forget to visit Bridget at Readaholic for more reviews and giveaways!

Aluminum-Free Deodorants from Tropical Traditions

Frankincense

Organic Deodorant Roll-on

The people at Tropical Traditions have once again let me try out one of their products.  I have been looking for a deodorant that a) works! b) smells nice c) I can use on a regularly without my underarms breaking out in the itchy witchies! and d) work on DH as well.

RESULTS:
a) YES, it works!
b) I wanted to know what 'frankincense' (essential oils of wild crafted frankincense and sandalwood) smelled like but sort of thought it might be uni-sexual. My other choices were 'lavender' (essential oils of lavender, lemon and rosemary) and 'classic' (essential oils of rosewood, geranium, cedar wood and patchouli).  These might also server well for both sexes but I was really, really...you know. It smells very nice!
c) NO DESIRE TO CLAW THE UNDERARMS!
d) He acknowledges it works well. As for the fragrance, he is a bit ambivalent.

This is a winner! Next time we will try a different fragrance to see if it strikes his fancy better (men!).

Ah, Audible.com, I love ya!

Ah, Audible.com, I love ya! Thank you for this offering!

OK, Duncan (The Heir) is a bit 'dour' as he arrives (unwillingly) in England from his beloved Scotland. Sabrina is charming (the girl next door with 'scandal' in her past). Ophelia (the beauty of 'coming out' season) is a snot...sorry, I meant snob. Two grandfathers (one English, one Scottish) want their heir to hurry up and marry and produce heirs for each of them.

Mix them all together and you have a great recipe for fun especially if the writer (Johanna Lindsey) can handle witty dialog well (she did). If you are listening, all that's left is a really good narrator (Laural Merlington, she is).

This was a delight from a time when arranged marriages were important in society. I enjoyed every minute!

Hey! I can go to the library from my laptop!

FINALLY! ACCESS TO THE LIBRARY ON THE NET!!! My pocket book is happy!


I have a fondness for Charlaine Harris after listening to one of the True Blood books. Naturally, when I saw her name, I thought, "Let's see if I can down load this!"

Dead Over Heels

Not a vampire or fairy or shapeshifter in the whole thing! But dead bodies and mayhem and humor abound! Yes, there has been a murder...how else do you get a body (sans parachute) enbedded in your yard!  And right next to where you and your "friend" are relaxing in your lawn chairs! UCK! If it happened in your yard, wouldn't you be a bit curious about who and why? And if things continue to happen to people around you?! Well, Aurora Teagarden (I love her name) sure wants her questions answered! And if you can make it through the first chapter without your curiosity aroused, you just are not a lover of murder mysteries.

It is probably a really fast read but a glorious listen on a rainy, muggy summer day in Texas. The voice of Therese Plummer adds nicely to the story.

My friends at Audible.com have a copy if you need to use a credit there and Amazon.com (thank your for the image) has copies as well, if you are not inclined to visit your library.

True Compass: A Memoir (Audio CD)

As the youngest of the Kennedy children, Edward Kennedy's story is the story of history makers. From is father, Joseph, ambassador to England, to his assassinated brothers, John and Bobby, and himself....all public servants. It is the story of a tight family. It is the story of a man whose place in history may equal, if not exceed that of his parent and brothers.

While I am sure the hard copy included many photos, I was very happy with the audio version and the narrator, John B. Floyd.

For some reason, I could not just start and run with this book. I found it best to listen to one disc at a time with diversions to other things in between discs. This started about the time in the story of President Kennedy's run for office. I think it happened because this is the my time, he was my president, not the first president I could vote for, but the first candidate it ignite my interest in politics. I think I needed time to digest what all I did not always know or understand about the times. I needed time to mull over what I had just heard. 

I came away with a deeper impression of Edward Kennedy and his family as well as a better view of the story of my time.  This is a very good memoir. One you should not miss.  Warning, while you chuckle at some points, others will tear you up.

The lovely people at Hachette let me listen to them knowing I would give it an honest review.

The Heretic Queen: A Novel

There are historical time periods that fascinate me. Egypt is one and Michelle Moran covered some of these times well! This is the third of her Egyptian themed stories I've enjoyed. My first find was Cleopatra's Daughter. I loved the history as she made the character come alive in our imaginations. I enjoyed her writing so much, I followed up with Nefertiti and, this, The Heretic Queen. 

I had to get it after this summary by the publisher:

In ancient Egypt, a forgotten princess must overcome her family's past and remake history.

The winds of change are blowing through Thebes. A devastating palace fire has killed the 18th Dynasty's royal family, all with the exception of Nefertari, the niece of the reviled former queen, Nefertiti. The girl's deceased family has been branded as heretical, and no one in Egypt will speak their names. A relic of a previous reign, Nefertari is pushed aside, an unimportant princess left to run wild in the palace.

But this changes when she is taken under the wing of the Pharaoh's aunt, then brought to the Temple of Hathor, where she is educated in a manner befitting a future queen.

Soon Nefertari catches the eye of the Crown Prince, and despite her family's history, they fall in love and wish to marry. Yet all of Egypt opposes this union between the rising star of a new dynasty and the fading star of an old, heretical one.

While political adversity sets the country on edge, Nefertari becomes the wife of Ramesses the Great. Destined to be the most powerful Pharaoh in Egypt, he is also the man who must confront the most famous exodus in history.

Sweeping in scope and meticulous in detail, The Heretic Queen is a novel of passion and power, heartbreak and redemption.

It's a 'spot on' description! Nefertari goes from girl to woman; from childhood friend to loving wife, mother, and queen of Egypt; from smart, well educate student, to wise, strong woman. All of this in the midst palace intrigue and history!

All this is well voiced for by Cassandra Campbell! (She also voiced Nefertiti)

Now I have to give you fair warning, if listening to this while driving, you may find yourself driving a bit longer than intended because you want caught up in the story! Or finding your knitting needles have stopped moving at a story high point.

By the by, next up, Ms. Moran is taking us to France with Madame Tussaud: A novel of the French Revolution (release date April 12, 2011). Check out this cover:

I do so love using my credits at Audible.com! I must also thank Amazon.com for needed links!

Beyond the Highland Mist

I could not help but think of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream as fairies became involved in the lives to men.

We have Hawk, known as the King's Whore, of  Scotland. As befits a hero, he is tall, dark, and handsome. He's excells in battle and bedrooms but no woman has captured his heart.

We have the beautiful Adrienne, a woman of our time; outspoken, independent, and strong willed. Her heart was freely given to a handsome, irresistible man whose abuse so scared her heart that she has swore off handsome, smooth talking, irresistibly men forever.

This pairing is made possible by jealous, angry fairy as Adrienne is transported back to 16th century.

Now we all know fairies must be defeated (it's in the fairy vs mankind rule book). The question is how much mischief will they concoct and how will our hero capture the elusive heart of the fair maiden?

This unabridged fun by Karen Marie Moning was well read by Phil Gigante as I did my mundane duties. (O, and it much easier to understand the Mr. Shakespeare she giggles as she exits stage right.)

New Tricks

I told you I couldn't wait! Neither could my husband. So, I used my Audible.com credit. We then spent about 7.5 blissful hours listening to Grover Gardner read David Rosenfelt's book to us. What a grand job he did of a really fun story and some very interesting characters!

The following is how the publisher summarized it:

Andy Carpenter gains possession of an adorable Bernese puppy whose owner was brutally murdered. Few can rival Andy's affection for dogs, and he will do whatever it takes to insure that this little pup doesn't fall into the wrong hands. However, his playful new friend is valued by several people, many of whom are willing to resort to violence to get what they want.

It will take more than Andy's usual courtroom theatrics to save this dog, including a little help from his beloved Golden Retriever, Tara. Andy soon discovers that anyone around him is in danger, including his longtime girlfriend, Laurie, and he will have to muster all of his wits to save those he holds most dear.

Looking at the cover photo and seeing how cute Bernese puppies are, why would/could someone kill such, any less people around it!?  There is wit and passion in this thrill ride of a "who done it" along with the dogie fun and human love. Will you figure out why people are willing to kill the puppy, as well as humans, before the stories end?  And why?  How many death's are incurred along the way?

Now should you fall in love with the wit and attitude of Mr. Rosenfelt's Andy and his dog, Tara, you are in luck! There are more books! I can only assume they too are complete and stand alone. Oh, there is more information about Andy's relationship his girl friend and Tara but the stories work as stand alone and could be read as such.

The newest epic, Dog Tags, has just been released.

It will be difficult, but I must not get this or any of the others Mr Rosenfelt's stories until my TBR pile is lower. It will be hard (very hard) but...  

Oscar Wild needs a new bed

I think I found the right one, too. It's smaller the one my mom gave Mystery Puppy which means it will take up less  floor space. It looks like a great bed for under cover puppies like our Oscar Wild! The old bed has become rather shop worn, I may have to cut it up a bit of the old one to make a sort of bottom cover so Oscar will know it's for him.

What? 'sorry....I got a bit ahead of myself, CSN  Stores liked my chat about the dinning room tables (though I've yet figured out which is my final choice) and, to say thank you, they have asked what I would like as a thank you gift.  So off I went...and there is was! A nice wee bed of his own, complete with its own hiding whole but still with a view of all about him. Isn't it lovely? Squint your eyes and think of it in Black Watch Plaid. There were other beds, some even for kitties too, but this is the one I kept coming back to!

If you too are needing to find a new bed because the aged one is about give it up, go look here for all the great choices!

What a lovely place to shop for those who are home bound.

LEMON WAFFLES

Ingredients

1-1/2 cups unbleached flour
6 tablespoons granulated sugar (I prefer agave, honey, or raw sugar)
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon lemon zest
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1 cup vanilla yogurt
Instructions
Place flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt in mixing bowl and stir to combine. In a second bowl, whisk eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla until blended. Stir wet mixture into dry ingredients. Stir in lemon juice and zest. Fold in melted butter and then vanilla yogurt with a rubber spatula or wooden spoon. Let batter rest a few minutes before using. Preheat your Waffle Iron on setting #3.

When preheated, green indicator light will illuminate. Pour 1/2 cup of batter onto the center of the lower grid. Allow batter to spread towards edges for 5 seconds. Close lid of waffle iron – green indicator light will turn off. When green indicator light turns on again, waffle is ready. Open lid and carefully remove baked waffle. Repeat with remaining batter. For best results, serve immediately. You may keep waffles warm on a rack placed on a baking sheet in a warm (200°F) oven.
Variations: For lemon ginger waffles add 1 tablespoon of grated fresh ginger to the batter with the juice and zest. For lemon blueberry waffles add 1 cup of blueberries to the batter as the last ingredient.
Nutritional Information Per Serving
Calories 203 • carbohydrates 27g • protein 5g • fat 9g • sat fat 5g • chol 63 mg • sodium 274mg• calcium 78mg • fiber 1g

I got this from Leslie Loves Veggies. I don’t know what she would sever them with, but I was thinking of stopping them with some lemon curd and Natella! Yummy!!

Hey, if lunch time...serve along with cooked with LOTS of lemon juice.

'Gotta get caught up!

Consequently, some of these may be fairly short.
Showed my copy of Microwaves are For Cooking, by Donovan Jon Fandre to mom. She had to have it. It is a grand book for people who want to lean how to used their microwaves for more than a warm-up machine or popcorn popper! I got my copy about 30 years ago when he had his cooking show on PBS. It may not be easy to find but sure is worth it!

While looking to my (soon to be our) cook book  we came upon

Real Food Microwave: 400 Recipes from Television's Microwave Master That Taste As If They Were Made the Old-Fashioned Way

Now you know she would have to have it and only 1 left...well, until I decided I had to have it too! and then here wee none...well, not turn...checked out Amazon (were I found the copies moments ago...back up for grabs!

I got this version on Audible.com with my monthly member credit. This is one time when the author (Alice Walker) reads her story to you in a very ease to listen to narration.
I loved the movie and this audio book did not let me down! If you don't believe me, check it out yourself!

I have been watching True Blood based on the Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris and enjoying them mightily. When I found Audible.com had one of the books on sale, welllll, you know.  It was just as much fun as the TV series. BUT if you are watching the series, DO NOT GET THIS BOOK yet! It is ahead of where the series is so would be a SPOILER! If you want to read one or more of the books, I would start with the first and stop as soon as you get to new stuff. That said...I loved it and want the read the earlier ones and the series to catch up to where I am!!!

The Masque of the Black Tulip (Pink Carnation, #2)

by Lauren Willig
What fun! A followup to The Pink Carnation! More bopping back and forth between the present and the days of the Scarlet Pimpernel as Ms Willig continues with the fast pace and witting conversation! I'm so glad to find out there are more of her books for DH and I to share. I love them! Such a giggle!


Egads! how long has this been waiting for me to get back to it!!

I just had to findout

I saw the picture of two dogs. (AWWWW!) And then I read a review and another and another via the blogs of others. Then I went to Audible.com to listen to a minute of it...couldn't find an printed exert.  That did it! I could not wait to win it! I had to have it NOW. So Edward Kennedy's True Compass is on hold until this one is finished. I got in on Audible.com..  

WISHLIST: DogTags by David Rosenfelt

WhaHOOOO. Look what I found! New book!  After New Tricks, I have fallen in love with David Rosenfelt! Mysterys! Dogs! Humor! A guy who love dogs can't be all bad!  Hachette...I love you, too! With out you...

No, I've not read the book and this is not a review or a posting requested by anyone. 'This is just me going bananas about a book I saw and I WANT!!!

ABOUT AUTHOR

DAVID ROSENFELT is the former marketing president for Tri-Star Pictures and lives in Southern California.

AUDIO AND VIDEO

AUDIO AND VIDEO

ABOUT AUTHOR

DAVID ROSENFELT is the former marketing president for Tri-Star Pictures and lives in Southern California.

AUDIO AND VIDEO

The 11th Century?

Yes. Because that is when the first crusades began. The following is why Europeans decided to send soldiers to fight in the Middle East (and I thank Yahoo Answers for the information):

"In the 11th century, wild Turkish nomads gained possession of the Muslim kingdoms in the Near East, converted to Mohammedanism, and threatened Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine Empire and center of Greek Orthodox Christianity. The Byzantine emperor, recognizing the tremendous power of the Catholic Church, appealed for military aid, not to the kings of Europe but to the Pope of Rome. The Church was sympathetic to this appeal, because the Turks were molesting Christians making pilgrimages to Palestine, the Holy Land. Consequently, Pope Urban II, in 1095, issued a call for a religious war, called a Crusade, against the Muslims to restore Christian control over Jerusalem and the Holy land. The Pope's call for a Crusade met with great enthusiasm. It attracted religious persons who held that "God wills it," nobles who hoped to acquire new lands and great riches, middle-class merchants who hoped for increased trade, serfs who hoped to escape from feudal oppression, and adventurers who wanted travel and excitement. But above all people wanted to free the Holy City of Jerusalem, holiest shrine of Christianity."

I love that last sentence! Were there Christian zealots who believed it? No doubt. My sceptical self thinks she sees ulterior motives on the parts of the Emperor and the Pope. I can well see the greed of the nobles and merchants, serfs hoping for a better lot, and those of the adventurous or escapist nature.


Important to note, don't you think, that the Jews, Christians, and Muslims all claim dependency from Abraham, thus all claim the city "Holy". 

1095 to 2010. Differences?

Out of the mouths of babes

A long time ago I listened to a shocked mom relate a conversation she had with her daughter who had been molested by her stepfather:

Child: do you think you will ever marry again?

Mom: I don't know. Right now I distrust men. Don't you?

Child: No. I just don't trust him.

(Him, the stepfather.)

What a wise seven year old. She wasn't angry or distrustful of all men. Just the man who had hurt her. Why can't we all be like that child.  

It was not all Muslims who attacked the World Trade Center. 

Of the people who died, how many different cities, states, countries were they from? How many different faiths were represented in the deaths? What about the people who pitched in to help? Did anyone stop to ask helpers about their religion or where they were born or their politics; or care to look at skin color or dress? No. I don't think so. So why are some people doing it now? Why are people blaming all people of a faith, a country, instead of just the terrorists and those behind them? 

Are we, as a world, regressing to the 11th century? 

It saddens me when we as individuals, a country, are attaching blame all the people of a faith, a country, instead of a small group hate mongers. 

When will we be as wise as a seven year old child? 

Suffrage pageant - L.I. (LOC)

Suffrage pageant - L.I. (LOC)
Originally uploaded by The Library of Congress

I wonder if this was from the earlier pageant?

Suffrage Pageant - flower girls L.I., N.Y. (LOC)

Suffrage Pageant - flower girls L.I., N.Y. (LOC)
Originally uploaded by The Library of Congress

Am I the only one who wonders what else was seen in the pageant?