Testing, 1, 2, 3, 4, Testing

SEMI-OLD PEOPLE'S MEMORY TEST

This is not a pushover test. There are 20 questions. Average score is 12.  This one will be very difficult for the younger set Have fun, but no peeking!  

1. What builds strong bodies 12 ways?

A. Flintstones vitamins 
B. The Buttmaster 
C. Spaghetti 
D Wonder Bread
E. OrangeJuice 
F. Milk 
G. Cod Liver Oil

2. Before he was Muhammed Ali, he was...

A. Sugar Ray Robinson 
B. Roy Orbison
C. Gene Autry 
D. Rudolph Valentino 
E. Fabian 
F. Mickey Mantle 
G. Cassius Clay

3. Pogo, the comic strip character said, 'We have met the enemy and..

A. It's you 
B. He is us 
C. It's the Grinch 
D. He wasn't home 
E. He's really me an 
F. We quit 
G. He surrendered

4. Good night David.

A. Good night Chet 
B. Sleep well 
C. Good night Irene 
D. Good night Gracie 
E. See you later alligator 
F. Until tomorrow 
G. Good night Steve

5. You'll wonder where the yellow went...

A. When you use Tide 
B. When you lose your crayons 
C. When you clean your tub 
D. If you paint the room blue 
E. If you buy a soft water tank 
F. When you use Lady Clairol 
G. When you brush your teeth with Pepsodent

6. Before he was the Skipper's Little Buddy, Bob Denver was Dobie's friend...

A. Stuart Whitman 
B. Randolph Scott 
C. Steve Reeves 
D. Maynard G Krebbs 
E. Corky B. Dork 
F. Dave the Whale 
G. Zippy Zoo

7. Liar, liar.

A. You're a liar 
B. Your nose is growing 
C. Pants on fire 
D. Join the choir 
E. Jump up higher 
F. On the wire 
G. I'm telling Mom

8. Meanwhile, back in Metropolis, Superman fights a never ending battle for truth, justice and...

A. Wheaties 
B. Lois Lane 
C. TV ratings 
D. World peace 
E. Red tights 
F.. The American way 
G. News headlines

9. Hey kids!  What time is it?

A. It's time for Yogi Bear 
B. It's time to do your homework 
C. It's Howdy Doody Time 
D. It's Time for Romper Room 
E. It's bedtime 
F. The Mighty Mouse Hour 
G. Scoopy Doo Time

10. Lions and tigers and bears...

A. Yikes 
B. Oh no 
C. Gee whiz 
D. I'm scared 
E. Oh my 
F. Help! Help! 
G. Let's run

11. Bob Dylan advised us never to trust anyone...

A. Over 40 
B.. Wearing a uniform 
C. Carrying a briefcase 
D. Over 30 
E. You don't know 
F. Who says, 'Trust me' 
G. Who eats tofu

 

12. NFL quarterback who appeared in a television commercial wearing women's stockings...

A. Troy Aikman 
B. Kenny Stabler 
C. Joe Namath 
D. Roger Stauback 
E. Joe Montana 
F Steve Young 
G. John Elway

13. Brylcream.

A. Smear it on 
B. You'll smell great 
C. Tame that cowlick 
D. Grease ball heaven 
E. It's a dream 
F. We're your team 
G. A little dab'll do ya

14. I found my thrill...

A. In Blueberry muffins 
B. With my man, Bill 
C. Down at the mill 
D. Over the windowsill 
E. With thyme and dill 
F. Too late to enjoy 
G. On Blueberry Hill

15. Before Robin Williams, Peter Pan was played by...

A. Clark  Gable 
B. Mary Martin 
C. Doris Day 
D. Errol Flynn 
E. Sally Fields 
F. Jim Carey 
G.Jay Leno

16. Name the Beatles....

A. John, Steve, George, Ringo 
B. John, Paul, George, Roscoe 
C. John, Paul, Stacey, Ringo 
D. Jay, Paul, George, Ringo 
E. Lewis, Peter, George, Ringo 
F. Jason, Betty, Skipper, Hazel 
G. John, Paul, George, Ringo

 

17. I wonder, wonder, who..

A. Who ate the leftovers? 
B. Who did the laundry? 
C. Was it you? 
D. Who wrote the book of love? 
E. Who I am? 
F Passed the test? 
G. Knocked on the door?

 

18. I'm strong to the finish...

A. Cause I eats my broccoli 
B. Cause I eats me spinach 
C. Cause I lift weights 
D. Cause I'm the hero 
E. And don't you forget it 
F. Cause Olive Oyl loves me 
G. To outlast Bruto

 

19.. When it's least expected, you're elected, you're the star today..

A. Smile, you're on Candid Camera 
B. Smile, you're on Star Search 
C. Smile, you won the lottery 
D. Smile, we're watching you 
E. Smile, the world sees you 
F. Smile, you're a hit 
G. Smile, you're on TV

 

20. What do M&M's do?

A. Make your tummy happy 
B. Melt in your mouth, not in your pocket 
C. Make you fat 
D. Melt your heart 
E. Make you popular 
F. Melt in your mouth, not in your hand 
G. Come in colors

 

Below are the right answers:

1. D - Wonder Bread 
2. G - Cassius Clay 
3. B - He Is Us 
4. A - Good night, Chet 
5. G - When you brush your teeth with Pepsodent 
6. D - Maynard G. Krebbs 
7. C - Pants On Fire 
8. F - The  American Way  
9. C - It's Howdy Doody Time 
10. E - Oh My 
11. D - Over 30 
12. C - Joe Namath 
13. G - A little dab'll do ya 
14. G - On Blueberry Hill 
15. B - Mary Martin 
16. G - John, Paul, George, Ringo 
17. D - Who wrote the book of Love 
18. B - Cause I eats me spinach 
19. A - Smile, you're on Candid Camera 
20. F - Melt In Your Mouth Not In Your Hand

So I scored 100...kski, you started this! Does this make me an antique?

Spew Alert

Ok, still reading and not writing but kski sent me another one to share...it's a bit naughty so think before reading after the first one~

PENSION SEX
  

Two men were talking. 'So, how's your sex life?'
'Oh, nothing special. I'm having Pension sex.'
'Pension sex?'
 'Yeah, you know; I get a little each month, but not enough to live on!'
_____ 

LOUD SEX
 

A wife went in to see a therapist and said,

'I've got a big problem, doctor.
Every time we're in bed and my husband climaxes,
He lets out this ear splitting yell.'
'My dear,' the shrink said, 'that's completely natural.
I don't see what the problem is.'
'The problem is,' she complained, 'it wakes me up!'
_____
 

QUIET SEX
 

Tired of a listless sex life, the man came right out and asked his wife
During a recent lovemaking session,

'How come you never tell me when you have an orgasm?'
She glanced at him and replied, 'You're never home!'
_____
 

CONFOUNDED SEX
 

A man was in a terrible accident, and his 'manhood' was mangled and torn from
his body. His doctor assured him that modern medicine could give him back his

manhood, but that his insurance wouldn't cover the surgery since it was
 considered cosmetic.
 

The doctor said the cost would be $3,500 for 'small,
$6,500 for 'medium, and $14,000 for 'large.'
 

The man was sure he would want a medium or large, but the doctor urged him
To talk it over with his wife before he made any decision.
The man called his wife on the phone and explained their options.
The doctor came back into the room, and found the man looking dejected.
 

'Well, what have the two of you decided?' asked the doctor.
She'd rather remodel the kitchen.'
_____
 

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY SEX
 

A husband and his wife had a bitter quarrel on the day of their
40th wedding anniversary The husband yelled, 'When you die, I'm getting
You a headstone that reads:
'Here Lies My Wife - Cold As Ever'.'
'Yeah,' she replies, 'when you die, I'm getting you a headstone that reads:
'Here Lies My Husband - Stiff At Last.' '
_____
 

WOMEN'S HUMOROUS SEX
 

My husband came home with a tube of K Y jelly and said,
'This will make you happy tonight.'
He was right. When he went out of the bedroom,
I squirted it all over the doorknobs.
He couldn't get back in.
_____
 

ELDERLY SEX
  

One night, an 87 year-old woman came home from Bingo and found
Her 92 year-old husband in bed with another woman.
She became violent and ended up pushing him off the balcony
Of their 20th floor, assisted living apartment, killing him instantly.
Brought before the court on the charge of murder,
The judge asked her if she had anything to say in her defense.
 She began coolly, 'Yes, your honor. I figured that at 92, if he could have sex...

He could also fly.'

No eating or drinking while reading the following

I HATE INSURANCE COMPANIES....THEY CAN CONFUSE EVEN 2 COLLEGE GRADS!

Ok, now that I have released that tantrum, here's the fun part:

To Be 6 Again!   A man was sitting on the edge of the bed, watching his  wife, who was looking at herself in the mirror. Since her birthday was not far off he asked what she'd like to  have for her birthday. 'I'd like to be six again', she replied, still looking in the mirror . On the morning of her Birthday, he arose early, made her a nice big bowl of Lucky Charms, and then took her to Six Flags theme park. What a day! He p ut her on every ride in the park; the Death Slide, the Wall of Fear, the Screaming Roller Coaster, everything there was. Five hours later they staggered out of the theme park. Her head was reeling and her stomach felt upside down. He then took her to a McDonald's where he ordered her a Happy Meal with extra fries and a chocolate shake. Then it was off to a movie, popcorn, a soda pop, and her favorite  candy,  M&M's. What a fabulous adventure!  Finally she wobbled home with her husband and collapsed into bed  exhausted.   He leaned over his wife with a big smile and lovingly asked, 'Well Dear, what was it like being six  again?' Her eyes slowly opened and her expression suddenly changed.  'I meant my dress size, you f---ing retard!!!!' The moral of the story: Even when a man is listening, he is gonna  get it wrong.

Hiding out in Argentina?

No.

So where have I been?  Right here. Why so quite? I've been unwell physically and mentally.. Also, my mom, who is soon to turn 92 has been diagnosed cancer and is undergoing chemo.

But I have been escaping in books and need to write up a huge bunch of reviews. But not tonight.

I am (and have been for a week) fighting with people about bills and insurance and other stuff.  (It's enough to pull one's hair out!)

O, I also need to knit a prayer shawl and hat for mom (her hair is falling out....she wants it to come back in red but   it's not likely and I can't afford to get her a wig.)

I have some funnies for you too.

The Pillars of the Earth

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This was an audio book (I brought in from Audible.com). It is very long but is a great listen. Lots of good history about the time.

I would try to only listen to a bit before going to sleep but ended up listening longer than I should.

The reader was good!

I loved all the recurring characters as well as the known ones like Thomas Becket.

Does everyone get their "just deserts? Mostly.

I will probably listen to it again.

What's up?

This is a bad time of year....figure skating started and I've started PT and there are all these bloody books lurking about....o, and I've been working on getting a van.

I love figure stating....probably because I can't stand up on shoes with blades or 4 wheels. I tried for puppies years but decided cement and and wood they using in roller rinks are hard on your butt so after 5 years, I decided to give it up! Then I went to join my dad in Germany where some friends took me to and ice skating rink. They convinced me that ice skating was way, way easier than roller skating. (14yo are so gullible!) So off we go with a friend on either side. Those skates seemed to have minds of there own! Next thing I knew they were crossed! I asked my friends what to do in such a situation. They let go of my and started laughing hysterically. Lesson: some friends are either big fat liers or don't know what they are talking about. Lesson: falling on ice is just as hard as wood or concrete do hurts the same BUT it is also very cold and wet. I don't remember how they got me off the ice but I can tell you that was a lesson learned quickly....my last attempt to try ice skating! It took me 3 years but I did finally manage to ride a 2 wheeler.

PT, what fun (sarcasm). It's early days so not much to show but I'm going.

I've figured it out. I borrow a Kindle to read to and from and while waiting for PT.  I have a paper back to read at home. Audio books are listened to at bed time. So far this is working well except I can't read and watch the skaters at the same time! AND then there are the book reviews I need to write (lots!!!) I haven't figured out exactly how fit in this later as it seems I am in a reading frenzy but not mush into sharing. It's not to worry, things will get figured out!

O, VAN! One other owner (paralyzed vet from first gulf war). He passed and his mother asked the people they got it from to sell it for her at a really reduced price. It's a 2002, White with grey interior. Power just about everything especially the lift which will lift me and chair up and in and lock us down. I hope to have it in about 2 weeks. Randy, sales guy, if off this week so it will have to be next week before we work out what little changes need to be made for me. So, hopefully I will have a van before Thanksgiving! Thanks to all who held good thoughts about me getting it!

Well, today was PT day and I am pooped! Later friends~

frugalcreativity.com

I stole this posting from Frugal Creativity. I know it is not nice to steal but you see 65 years ago I was born with this disability and I just thing she did a better job than I could do. So please read.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2010

October is Spina Bifida Awareness Month

I'm passing along this press release, just as I received it, to help raise awareness of Spina Bifida and ways to help prevent it.


Spina Bifida Association Launches New Program and Asks You to Educate Yourself and Loved Ones During Spina Bifida Awareness Month


Through Education SBA Hopes to Help More Families Learn About the Birth Defect 

WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwire - October 1, 2010) - Did you know that birth defects occur in 7 out of every 10,000 live births in the U.S.? And Spina Bifida is the most common permanently disabling birth defect? In honor of October being Spina Bifida Awareness Month, the Spina Bifida Association is asking folks to take a few minutes today and get involved in the awareness month by educating loved ones.


The first question many have: What exactly is Spina Bifida? In short, Spina Bifida happens when the spinal column doesn't close completely.


And how many births each day are affected? Well, it's hard to believe, but eight births each day are affected by Spina Bifida or a similar birth defect of the brain and spine. If you think about it, there are currently over 65 million women in the U.S. who could become pregnant and each one of these ladies is at risk of having a baby born with Spina Bifida. So because Spina Bifida occurs during the first month of pregnancy (that's even before most women know they're pregnant!) it is that much more important to take proper precautions to help try to prevent it now.


Okay. So what type of precautions can help in prevention, you may wonder? Although at this time there is no known cause of Spina Bifida, research has shown that if a woman takes 400 mcg of folic acid every day and before she becomes pregnant, she reduces her risk of having a baby with Spina Bifida or another neural tube defect by as much as 70%! That fact is reason enough to encourage women (and men) to get out there this month and spread awareness.


Families with a history of Spina Bifida should take extra dosages of folic acid prior to pregnancy. Hear one mom's message: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qshRfegnGD4


And in honor of October's Spina Bifida Awareness Month, SBA will also be launching some great new online resources, including:

1. SB University (SBU) (http://www.sbuniversity.org/), a new online educational program featuring taped sessions from the 2010 National Conference as well as monthly live seminars conducted by Spina Bifida medical professionals from around the country. During Awareness Month, SBU will debut new sessions each Monday.
2. SBTween2Teen (http://www.sbtween2teen.org/) a new Web site for tweens and teens with Spina Bifida. Complete with blogs, videos, real stories, fact sheets, and an Ask the Expert feature, the interactive site helps tweens and teens navigate the difficult road to adulthood. There is even a social networking component run through Facebook, allowing tweens and teens to interact with one another and build peer-to-peer relationships!
3. Preparations, a new transition-focused Web site launching in late October allowing parents, caregivers, and clinicians to answer specific questions with regard to a child's developmental milestones. This tool can even help young adults remedy some transitional challenges.

For even more information, tips and resource, you may visit:http://www.spinabifidaassociation.org/ And be sure to join the Spina Bifida Association on Facebook: www.facebook.com/spina.bifida.learn


The Spina Bifida Association (SBA) serves adults and children who live with the challenges of Spina Bifida. Since 1973, SBA has been the only national voluntary health agency solely dedicated to enhancing the lives of those with Spina Bifida and those whose lives are touched by this challenging birth defect. Its tools are education, advocacy, research, and service. Through its network ofchapters, SBA has a presence in more than 125 communities nationwide and touches thousands of people each year. For more information visit:www.spinabifidaassociation.org. Disclosure: I have not received any compensation in any form for sharing this information. Just trying to help spread the word!

POSTED BY MELISSA AT 12:16 PM

Top 10 Things that Annoy People who use Wheelchairs...but maybe shouldn't

Here's the official list of the

Top 10 Things that Annoy People who use Wheelchairs...

1.	Able-bodied people parking in accessible parking space	37%
2.	Accessible bathroom stalls being used by an able-bodied person	12%
3.	Talking over my head as if I'm not here	9%
4.	Continuing to insist on helping me after I've said no thanks	8.3%
5.	Congratulating me for things like going to the grocery store like it's worthy of an Olympic medal	6.1%
6.	Strangers asking what happened to me	5.7%
7.	Not inviting me to an event because you are protecting me from some frustration (let me figure it out)	5.3%
8.	Patting me on my head. Don't.	5.0%
9.	Holding on to the back of my chair so I can't move	4.4%
10.	Speaking slowly to me because I'm in a wheelchair	3.5%

Now that we have the Top 10 List, we just have to get people who are behaving badly to cut it out!

I don't agree with some of these so I thought I would comment on them one at a time.

1. Not all people who park in handicapped spots are in chairs but that does not mean they don't need them. For years I went without a chair or walker or even a cane. But then my body started hurting with distance. Finally a doc I was working for asked me where I was parking. He was most surprise I was using the regular parking that was a fur distance away. After a sever lecture we started the process to get my car a disabled sticker and a closer parking space.  About a year later a guy started to jump my case for illegal parking. After he ran down, I pointed out my handicapped licence plate and explained my problem with walking distances.  Moral: Not all people with disabilities use walking devices but still need close spaces. Look for stickers, licence plates, and tags that hang from the rear view mirror first.

2. I cut people a break on this one. They may be about to burst or have diarrhea. And if they don't go now they my mess themselves. Moral: it could have been a disabled person in there as well as an able bodied person. My problem with some bathrooms are architectural barriers that keep you from getting there. No joke, I have had to go back out to find someone to move a trash can so I can get to the disabled stall. And then there are the stalls that aren't big enough to get you and your chair in and be able to close the stall door.

3. This is one I have not run into often. I attribute it to ignorance and fear of what they don't know so ignore it and just speak right on up. But then I've dealt with my disability all my life ...also, I've always been the shortest person in all classes which is why I probably became such a big mouth. Moral: don't take offence from ignorant people. Just speak up and let them know you can talk for yourself.

4. Don't take it personally. If you watch you will see these 'helpful' people do the same thing for able bodied people. They want the sale and they have been trained that the most helpful get the biggest sales. I generally thank them for their offer, ask their name, and then say 'Mary, let me look around a bit and when I find something I need help with, I'll come and find you." Moral: don't take it personally.

5. This one used to bug the hell out of me until I realized they don't understand that the things we do and the way  we do them are 'normal' for us. Just like the same sorts of things are 'normal' for them. We all have to adapt to something. These people just don't think they could handle things if they were in our shoes. Moral: cut them a break, they fear they could do it if they were in the same conditions.

6. This is one I figured  out at a kid as they were the ones who generally asked (much to the horror of the parent with them). Here's what I figured out. If I can't talk about it, I have a problem. If they can ask it, I have the chance to educate someone. And if they can't handle the answer, they shouldn't have asked it in the first place.
(Sorry, I couldn't think of a moral for this one.)

7. Piffle! Talk to the person about it. They may have dealt with it before. If not, there's no time like the present! What a lot of people don't recognize is that most every place you go today has ways to accommodate us. You may need to call ahead to find out how but it can be done. One new years, we wanted to go to a swanky dinner in what was once a  very beautiful home. We called for reservations and explain my chair would not go up the stairs. No problem, they told us how to come through the kitchen. A wonder of sites and smells no one else got to experience that night. We might have stayed the night but there was no elevator to the second floor. Moral: most things are doable. It's rare to find a roadblock but everyone finds some sometimes.

8. Head patting it a sign of affection and being a shrimp all my life, I have had it a lot. I either ignore it (some of my friends are just like that) or growl and snap or ask where my cookie is. The soon get the idea and stop after we both laugh. The other alternative is to be honest and tell the person you really wish they would not do that as you are no longer a child of 6 and it really bugs you. Moral: it is OK to be honest about feelings.

9. Sorry, folks, I've never had this one happen. If I did, I would probably ask them if there is a danger I've missed and if not, LET GO. Moral: you may have to sit there but you don't have to take it!


10. This person is ignorant. Listen politely and then answer them at your normal speech. (Or if you are in west Texas, realize it is not you. They ALL talk that way.)

Bake Sale Murder by Leslie Meier

Bake Sale Murder by Leslie Meier

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lucy is the mom of 5, works on the small town newspaper, and is highly involved the school activities. After one the regular meeting of the group of 4 (moms who have been raising their kids and helping others for years) decide there is a need for a bake sale to help kids in need with school supplies, Lucy is sent off to round up the moms who used to bake. Problem: they are all into other things or have moved, are empty nesters, etc. Next meeting, it is decided it is time to involve the new moms that have moved into Lucy's neighborhood.

The meet and greet and bake sale planning is held at Lucy's house and all goes well. Next meeting is a taste and decide on the best products and who's going to make what and all the other details involve.

Comes the day of the bake sale and all the women schedule to work the first half of the day show up. Except for Mimi who works for the city and is a royal pain in the butt who reports everyone's slightest offences except her son's roaring motorcycle.

Lucy is sent off to find out what is going on as Mimi is also not answering her phone. What Lucy finds is burning cookies and smoke and Mimi slumped over the counter. As she goes to pull Mimi out the of the smoke filled house, she discovers Mimi's problem is not due to smoke inhalation but a carving knife embedded in her back.

Ah but that is not the only mystery in town. Someone is sending unsigned note to the paper about hazing of the JV football team and the cheerleaders (one of whom is Lucy's daughter). And then there is the tramp who shows up for Mimi's funeral only to show up dead himself.

While this is one of a series of books, don't worry, everything is nicely wrapped up (not who I thought 'did it'). There is an starter for the next book. BUT most importantly, there are some good recipes at the end that were referred to in the novel. You could jump to the end and start a batch and read while they are cooking unless you are one of those people who block things out while reading.

This is another that I would call a "cozy" mystery. So fix yourself a cuppa, curl up in your favorite chair, and enjoy yourself.

(This is an e'book I got for my Mac Kindle.)

Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks

Oh, Hachette, I can't thank you enough  for letting me listen this book for you! I don't know why you have an abridged version of this book.. It is so beautifully written. The descriptions are so necessary for the settings and the people!

I can say Katie is new to a small rural town in North Carolina; that she is reserved and lovely and has moved into a small cottage in the 'boonies'. But that doesn't really describe her. It doesn't show her reservation or give you any feelings of something ominous in her past; that she may be running from something or why.

An abridged version might not build her slow friendship with her new neighbor, Jo, in the only other cabin near hers or her relationship with the grocery story owner and his 2 kids.

This is a cosy mystery. The start is gentle but the writing makes it worthwhile as we start to learn about Katie as she makes friends we learned to love. That gentle pace picks up as we learn who and why Katie is on the run  and we run with her to the end.

It was nice to take on a story that builds and builds and builds to a strong ending.  I hope you all enjoy it as much as DH and I!

The Red Church

The Red Church by Scott Nicholson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


As most of my friends know, I am not a fan of the 'horror' genre. So why the heck would I read this one? I've been following Scott Nicholson's Kindle tour and as I read his postings, I found I liked them. While some were very lengthy, I didn't mind reading them because of the way he wrote. And then he wanted his fans to push his ebook sale of "The Red Church" up to the 100 mark. Well, I have Kindle on my Mac and 99 cents was a good price to help a friend....yes, I went to Amazon and got it.

I had just finished my last book and thought I would see what I had gotten for 99 cents. If I didn't like it, I wouldn't have to finish it.

Next think I knew, it was time to go to bed. I had met 2 brothers, who while walking home from school had to pass the old red church (which like most from it's time, had a grave yard beside it). The younger brother (not knowing all the history of the church or ghost stories) saw something that drew his attention (a 'girly' magazine) and called his reluctant brother over to see the findings. Next thing you know, an almost dead person grab an ankle with causes much screaming as the ankle get unhooked and the boys race home to tell their parents of the gruesome happening!

The parents meanwhile are at home fighting. It seems a evangelical preacher from the area had left several years ago for California with the wife and a few other woman to start the Church of the Two Suns. The husband had 'rescued' her from them and brought her back to the mountains. But the preacher was back and the wife seemed to have come 'under his spell' again.

Two more strange deaths occur.

The church bell rings but how....there is no bell cord.

Yep. I was hooked. I finished it this morning.

There are ghosts and monsters terrible happenings but maybe because it is primarily told through the 13 year old big brother, it is not a gory as it might have been.

But I think my friends who lean that way will enjoy it as much as I did. 'Definitely right for this time of year~

View all my reviews

Agatha Christie Marathon

Ok, I know it looks like I've been off books. But it is not true! We have been listening to lots of shorts by Agatha Christie from Audible.com.

The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding (Dramatised) 44:17
After the Funeral (Dramatised)    1:27:20
The Blood-Stained Pavement (Unabridged)    22:52       
Cards on the Table (Dramatised)  1:27:28     
Endless Night (Dramatised)    57:19     
The Golden Ball (Unabridged)   22:19     
The Gypsy (Dramatised)   27:46     
Hallowe'en Party (Dramatised)   1:27:39   
The Herb of Death (Unabridged)  30:48   
The Market Basing Mystery (Unabridged)  20:26   
The Plymouth Express (Unabridged)  30:23   
Sleeping Murder (Dramatised)    1:27:05  
The Thumb Mark of St. Peter (Unabridged)   28:43
The Tuesday Night Club (Unabridged)  27:34
The Wasp's Nest (Unabridged)  20:36

All but one we really enjoyed. "Endless Night" just didn't seem to match up as well as the others and I am sorry to say I can't tell you why. It wasn't bad, it just was not as good as the others.  But the prices were right for a wee splurge. 

The Bride Collector

I have to thank Libby of Libby's Library News for putting this book up as a giveaway and Hachette Audio for offering it to her!

When the audio arrived, I thought "Why don't we (DH and I) just listen to the first disc and see what we think. We can listen to the rest of it later (12 disc set)."

Well, that was Friday and this is Sunday and disc 12 has finished. What does that tell you? Yes, we did like it...a lot!

This is how Hachette described the book:
FBI Special agent Brad Raines is facing his toughest case yet. A Denver serial killer has killed four beautiful young women, leaving a bridal veil at each crime scene, and he's picking up his pace. Unable to crack the case, Raines appeals for help from a most unusual source: residents of the Center for Wellness and Intelligence, a private psychiatric institution for mentally ill individuals whose are extraordinarily gifted. 

It's there that he meets Paradise, a young woman who witnessed her father murder her family and barely escaped his hand. Diagnosed with schizophrenia, Paradise may also have an extrasensory gift: the ability to experience the final moments of a person's life when she touches the dead body. 

In a desperate attempt to find the killer, Raines enlists Paradise's help. In an effort to win her trust, he befriends this strange young woman and begins to see in her qualities that most 'sane people' sorely lack. Gradually, he starts to question whether sanity resides outside the hospital walls...or inside.


There is more to the description than this but I am choosing stop here because that last sentence is a salient part of the book. Where is the line between sanity and insanity? Is the line clear? Blurred?

I think the book does well in delving into those questions as it takes you through a hunt with the help some wonderful characters!

I could not see this book abridged without significant loss.

John Glover does a superb narrating job!

Audio or paper version, I think mystery/suspense lovers will enjoy this book!

Cynthia Roberts answers a few questions

It's lovely when an author will take the time to answer a reader's questions. As Cynthia Roberts was nice enough to do so, I want to share them with you. 


Romance novels are easily set in any time or place. Why did you chose to set yours among Indians?
I chose to write an historical Indian romance because the first fiction I ever read was a novel from Cassie Edward’s Savage series. I read her entire sequel and since most of her books were mostly based on the Plains Indians, I wanted to focus on a tribe indigenous to my area. My series of 5 consists of the original tribes that made up the Iroquois League of Nations here on the East coast. 


Where did your love of Indians come from?
I've always had a fascination for Native Indian culture since as long as I can remember. I think it started back when I was a little girl and use to watch all the John Wayne movies with my dad. Even at such a young age I felt they was no justification as to how they were treated by our forefathers. As my passion for writing grew, so did my desire to portray them for who they really were. 


I've not done a lot of fact checking about your representation of the Indians of the time but it does seem to "ring true". Where does your information come from? How did you research it?
I spent hundreds of hours sitting upon uncomfortable wooden chairs at the state museum library handwriting notes on multiple legal pads as I researched their folklore, religion, language and culture. I personally feel that if I'm using a culture in one of writings and benefiting from it, it's important to pay tribute to the true essence of who they are as a people. For far too long Native Indians have been painted in a savage light and not the honorable, respectful and reverent individuals they truly were.


Will your next novel continue with the tribes of the north east?
Book #2, "Captive Heart", actually picks up where my female villain is banished to the tribe of the Oneida as punishment. The very fate she has mocked her entire adult life sends her on a dangerous journey that tests the very essence of who she is and the woman she secretly wishes to become.