Sunday Sundries--Some Goodbyes for a While

Okay, all the paperwork is in to the FLMA and short-term disability folks. I have several ugly XXXL shirts to wear after surgery (oh, yeah, you'll see pictures later). I got some light plastic plates and bowls, then also got some light plastic lidded cups to use over the next few weeks. A buddy who's been through shoulder surgery got a long handled body scrubber in purple.

I'm almost ready.

A few more things on my list. I'm having lunch with some friends in the next few days. Went out with my hubby for a big dinner last night. Got some things at Wally afterwards, including another package of dark chocolate Klondike Bars.

So, transferred some pictures from my one device to the thumb drives. Finally got some pictures of a neighbor kitty that comes to visit every once in a while. It looks like a Japanese Bobtail, but might be a Manx. Friendly critter, seems well fed

Lets me rub the belly:

I let it know I won't forget, even though I won't be out to give lovins for a while.

We went out to lunch at a Mexican restaurant and I saw a young man at the bar that looks like one of my characters. Awesome.

He had a nice voice too.

Got another thrill--I replied on a blog and won an autographed book from one of my fave authors, Grace Burrowes. She is a rising star in the Regency field. I'm really pleased at her success.

I'm grateful for this book, because one of my characters is a medically-retired Marine. Grace and I discussed the sad effects of PTSD on our soldiers. It will be on my reading list while I'm laid up after surgery.

I've been spending breaks at work walking around the center, looking at how my co-workers decorated their desks. I really loved the patriotic balloons we got for good surveys and here's a cluster of some:

I can haz balloons....

One of my co-workers organized a group to crochet and weave/knit hats for kids at the Vanderbilt high risk nursery. Here's a small bit of her yarn stash:

A team member draws on stones with Sharpies and she did a Guy Fawkes mask face for the guy that sits next to me:

Another team member has this cool model on his processor:

So, I'll miss a lot of these things and people I see every work day.

For a few weeks, I'll be confined to my love seat and downstairs of my house. I'll need my husband or my friends to cut my food or to lift anything over a few pounds. I will be typing with my left hand. My cats are already starting to freak, as is my husband.

We'll be fine. I may or may not be posting regularly while being off work. But I will try to keep in touch. Take care!

New Stuffs to Drool Over!

Life is good. My husband got in the mail the other day and said, "I think you hit the mother lode."

And I did. On that particular day, I got four books! I am grateful for various contest wins from Goodreads and blog participation, because we were very bad at Books-A-Million and Half-Priced Books last month. I've also been checking out various eBooks through our library for the Kindle. I find I'm really reading more, since I have a "deadline" when the book will magically disappear.

So, here's just a sampling:

First off, from the ever amusing and informative Grace Burrowes, I got an "uncorrected advanced copy" of her very latest:

Yes, the little gold sticker is correct. It is autographed and she did indeed spell my name correctly. Major Squee!
Not only that, she also sent:

Which is especially cool, because I have two heroes and a heroine who are medically retired Marines and we discussed that whole PTSD thing. Again, autographed.
And:

Which just sounds like too much fun, from all the guest blog posts and excerpts. And it's autographed.

That day, I also got:

Mom used to love the cowboy romances and I haven't read any of Harders' books or this particular line, but I am always truly up for trying new things and love swag. It is autographed too--thanks!

Next up:

I won an earlier book from her and she was so sweet sending an eBook my way too, I went out to get this one. See, promotions do produce sales!

Another I found that sounded good was:

Another recent freebie from Goodreads was:

With all my dietary changes recently, I was interested in this one, so I was glad I got it.

I've read two of Eloisa James's early novels from the library. The first one:

I reviewed on Goodreads. It was pretty good and if this was a book from early in her career, I know I'll really enjoy her more recent releases.
The second in the series, I'm 74% through:

There are certain things in romance novels that you know are givens. There will be a HEA (Happily Ever After), if it says something terrible will happen if XYZ occurs it will occur and if it's a series it's a good bet those secondary characters will show up later. None of these are bad things. In fact, they are part of the fun--to see how the author manipulates these standards to make it all come together in the end. I'll read the others in this series.

Finally, here are two blank books I found that I particularly like. I live to find especially pretty or fun notebooks, since I got through them for my writing finds and ideas:

The photo doesn't do it justice and it has the magnetic closure on the side, so it will be good to keep in a bag.
And I couldn't resist this one:

This is not your mother's Harlequin. Actually, it would have been. I found boxes of salacious pulp novels at my parents' house. And some dirty playing cards. And a "stag film" that was kind of sad, but those are other stories.
So, thanks for sharing. What are you reading now?