Sunday Sundries--More and More Books!

We just got back from VACATION! Didn't want to come back, but we didn't win the lottery. One of the things we did, something we always do on trips out of town, is visit the new and used bookstores in the area. Here's the truth:

 
One of the stores we stopped at was run by an older couple. I know my husband was thinking that would be us in a decade or so, if he had anything to say about it. I ran a bookstore for almost ten years in a previous lifetime and while I believe the future of print books is shaky, I know there will always be a market for books, even a secondary market.

And there are too many others who believe the same way I do.

This is so true, isn't it? It's been way too long since I seriously got involved in a book. I think a part of it is that I am writing myself now. I'm analyzing instead of reading for pleasure. Another thing is that I've got too many books calling out for my attention.

We have literally a ton of books in our basement that we can't fit on the multiple bookcases my husband has built, yet we keep buying new and used. Not to mention the over 900 books on my Kindle. I tell you, I can't even make a decision on what I want to read next and yet I want to go to the library and check some stuff out.

 

I ran a bookstore for many years and this just made me laugh. Yeah, I can read your mind and that book is over in the green book section.

I tried to keep a database of my books, because I started buying duplicates. Unfortunately, it went by the wayside a few months ago. It was up to thirteen pages, though.

Seriously. I have waaaay too many choices to read. I usually have two or three books going at the same time. And this is true:

I've got a Christina Dodd romance novel in my purse now. It took all I had to keep from pulling it out while waiting for food in a restaurant today.
I have quite a few books that I could probably get rid of, resell or donate. There's a big debate now about whether one should "re-purpose" a book that would end up in a landfill or worse. I found a copy of Danielle Steel's No Greater Love that I'm going to use for an inspiration book, putting in pictures of people who look like my characters, of areas where some of my stories look place and little drawings or doodles. But this is an amazing thing:

This is by an artist named Brian Dettmer.
Here's another--don't know the artist's name on this one, though.

These are not rare or limited edition books and you know, I'm okay with this. After all, libraries and book stores have been clearing out their stacks for decades.

This is the truth, isn't it? I love to go to other reader's homes and see what they have on their shelves.
Finally, I can't even imagine naming just one favorite book.

Have a great week, everybody!

Sunday Sundries--Work Edition

So, in my "real life," I do phone tech support. There are many times every shift I realize exactly why I'm there that day, whether it is solving a mystery of why something isn't working or educating a customer on how his or her equipment works. While sometimes customers aren't very pleasant, I'm usually able to turn the situation around. It's tough when I can't get the 80 year old grandma's email working right because she hasn't entered the password correctly for the fourth time or when the previous three techs didn't get the problem solved and the customer has been troubleshooting for an hour already.

Having said that, I definitely have days when I'm glad to get home. All I really want is to be a blessing, but sometimes it's a real challenge. Then, I need to laugh, like today. Here we go:

*sigh* Some days, it takes all my patience.

I was trying to get what we call "under time" this last shift, but didn't get my request in the exact time and others got to go home while I got stuck.

That's okay, I guess I needed to be there to help the last few customers.


My cubical mate is a super cool black man who's young enough to be my son. I earned some cred with him by knowing some of the rappers. When I, um, stole a trash can and a bracket for some desk shelves from an area that wasn't being used, he declared he had "the dopest" cube mate. I'll take that. He bent over laughing when I started singing:

from "Office Space." Word.

I also noticed that my picture (from my badge--terrific, right?) was up on the "perfect attendance" board. At a second look, most of the folks up there were of the older persuasion. Not saying that my generation might have a better work ethic, but I've noticed a lot more gray hair around the center. While I know it was a struggle for me, because I wasn't born with a cell phone in my hand, I can be trained. I do have to admit there are days:

Represent. Walking down the hall, everyone is glued to their cell phone. Hell, anywhere anymore, everyone is glued to their cell. Whatever happened to good old fashioned interaction?

When someone asks you a question, look up from the  phone and make eye contact please. There's an app for that. It's called Respect. Download it, please.

I not only do tech support for phones, I also work with "laptop connect" devices that hook computers up to the internet. Nothing worse than those two hour calls with the customer trying to pair up their piece of crap computer with an old "air card" that should have been replaced years ago. Sometimes, you just have to give up the ghost, okay?

One of my troubleshooting tricks involves me sending a text with a link in it to the customer. Almost everyone can text now, but there are still a few holdouts.

Packing for a trip recently, I had to find a half-dozen cables, cords and chargers. Craziness! I had to label everything. This made me laugh, because it's so true.

Had to do at least one, you know:

I always get worried when you ask a customer what type of internet security they're using and they don't have a clue. I've been using Mozilla Firefox, so I thought this was cute:

And finally, I am proud to say I am actually a geek. Hell, I'm painfully geeky, by definition:

So, there you have it. Thanks to all--I reached 9,000 page views on this blog this week! I am grateful. Take care and have a great week!

Sunday Sundries--A Pocketful of Cat

The stripey twins, Boris and Natasha (named so because they're evil), are coming up on thirteen years old. In honor of the joy of having them in our lives, here are some silly kitty pics:

Natasha and Boris--I came into the room yesterday and they were laying together. Boris jumped down, embarrassed he got caught loving on his sister.

Don't you hate it when a cat suddenly looks up and runs out of the room scared to death? What do they see?

Hubby is a technical director for the news shows at a local TV station and has been working overtime this week. Sometimes, it's like directing cats.

Yeah, it never gets old, does it?

Black cats are different, aren't they? Love them lots.

Too cute!

Even though they're senior citizens in cat years, they still love to play with their ball in a track toy. At 3 a.m. And Natasha knocked the towel in the bathroom down on the floor, trying to get at the string that was hanging down from it.

A niece came over to visit and the twins disappeared. She was so disappointed, but I had to explain that they really were too old to like to play or be picked up. They would not like a baby.

Exactly.

Yeah, that's pretty much the cattitude. And finally,

Gotta love a stripey kitteh pile. Everybody have a great week and get plenty of rest!

Sunday Sundries--Real Love Edition

My husband and I (who have been married 24 years) went to friends' 40th anniversary party last night and we're getting ready now to go to my in-law's 60th anniversary party here in a bit. Let's just say, we're in it for the long haul and so are my characters.

So, here are a few funnies and a few mushy things for today:

May be Photoshopped, but I don't care.

That makes me laugh--there are some days we have to consider that while we could make it look like an accident....

My mom and dad's favorite joke was a variation on this one. Dad passed right before what would have been their 60th.

It is scary, isn't it?

Wow, isn't that the truth?

That's important.

As is this. I consider marriage an investment. Besides, I'd hate to have to train someone else up, right?

Exactly, but the world would be a whole lot better if love were the driving force.

Doesn't that make you take a deep breath?

This is something one of my characters has to remind her hero.

Finally,

Because that's what most of life is about, isn't it? 

So, thanks for joining me on this twisted journey through my mind and have a great week, OK?

Sunday Sundries--Chocolate and Sweets Edition

While things won't be apparent to anyone else but me, I've started organizing the stuff for Fate and Faith in a different way. I had everything on my computer, including thousands of silly kitteh pictures and snarky eCards, and my husband reminded me that it was slowing it down. They are all on flash drives now, soon to be copied and secure in a firebox in the basement and a safety deposit box at our credit union.

Respect my paranoia. And back your $#&% up too, okay?

So, anyway, let the fun begin, as I access my thumb drive.....Guess who made a pan of dark chocolate brownies last night?

This is definitely a destination, when we go to Vegas next year for our 25th wedding anniversary. Part of my novels are set there, so if I get off my lazy a$$ and get published, I can deduct some travel expenses as research. This is the World's Biggest Chocolate Fountain at the Bellagio Hotel on The Strip.

I am so there.
I posted this on Facebook and got lots of laughs:

ROFLOL! This is truth:

Thank God I've been able to lose weight and keep it off by indulging moderately.
Speaking of:

 Was able to get some new clothes yesterday, but I immediately went to the "fat girl" section of the store. I looked around until I realized I could actually shop at the regular sized section. The selection and prices are so much better and I'm grateful. But, there will always be:

Truth. But it melts with body heat, so it can't hold you in the dark.

Love this one:

Maxine is one of my heroes. Then, I found another one:

If I'm not mistaken, those are some malted milk balls....
A philosophy of life:

Well, except things like broccoli and lettuce, but you get the idea.
And finally, I have some note cards with this sentiment:

Please and thank you. Y'all have a great week!