flannel sheets and cupcakes

We are going on a road trip this weekend to see the oldest! Yes, she will be home for Turkey Day, but we wanted to experience a football game at the Southern mecca of football and we were invited down for the weekend by one of the hubby's colleagues. It should be fun!! The weather looks good and we are staying at the personal 'hunting & fishing' lodge of the gentleman hubby knows. Cool. I've seen pictures of the main house - way cool!! I'd be happy to stay in one of the cabins on the property as well. After the game it looks like the boy can do some fishing. Good Time for All.

Anyway, I asked the daughter to go ahead and give me her shopping list now as I really didn't want to have to make a Target run next week in the midst of Black Friday or Saturday.

Flannel Sheets and cupcakes. I know I can get the first item at Target, the cupcakes will have to be procured elsewhere.

She follows our local cupcakery on Facebook as I do and when she saw the flavors for the week she called me to see if I could bring her a dozen.  She said she might even share them! LOL

So, I'm off to Target today to get the items she needs from there. And then before we depart on Friday, I will stop by and get those cupcakes.

iced

No, the title does not refer to the weather. It is a quite balmy 55 outside right now, but the way the wind is blowing, that might be our high for the day.  The latest book I read was titled "Iced" and it was written by Karen Marie Moning. I go 'way back' with this author. I picked up her first novel when my girls were toddlers and have thoroughly enjoyed her storytelling ever since.

This latest novel is no exception, although the age of the heroine did give me pause.  Dani 'Mega' O'Malley is 14 and is one of the few folks who stands in the way of Faery totally taking over the planet. Set in Dublin, "Iced" is full of characters Moning developed in her Fever series featuring MacKayla Lane.

These stories are great combinations of urban fantasy and romance. "Iced" features a 14 year old heroine. The romance isn't happening in this novel. It is not what I'd call a coming of age story as Mega is old beyond her years in many regards. Warning, even though the novel features a 14 year old heroine, this is not a book for the YA audience. Not. At. All. This is a full blow urban fantasy with all the grit and gore you'd expect. It also has strong sexual overtones.

The basic plot is that folks are getting iced to death in Dublin. And Mega needs to find out who so she can slay them. If some of the adults/immortals she hangs out with want to help, great!

This is a fast paced read, like all of Moning's novels. Thumbs up. I look forward to reading more of Mega's adventures and watching her grow up.

frosty morning

I stopped in the library yesterday after I got off work to pick up a book I had on hold. I still haven't finished the Deborah Harkness novel. I'm just having a difficult time plowing through this one. Not sure if it is me or the book! I'm feeling a bit distracted and scattered at the moment. I need to get myself organized. I've started making the Christmas List, but it doesn't seem to be helping. 

Usually our office experiences a major slow down after the national meeting. Our department won't enjoy that luxury this year as we have to begin work on the new magazine. My boss should have arrived back 'home' last night and we expect him in the office tomorrow. It will be interesting to see what he did and didn't do at the meeting.

Lots of frost outside this morning. When I let the Dukie-dog out to get the paper, the grass was white with frost and the middle kid's car is covered. Brrrrr.

Off to wake the troops. Enjoy the day.

elections big and small

The candidates we supported locally won and the ones we supported nationally did too. Now, perhaps both sides of the aisle can learn to be grown ups and actually govern. Negotiation isn't a four letter word.

I get humored by the hysterics, the oh my gosh, the country is going to go to hell. Really? Get out of your fishbowl, leave your state, heck leave your county for a change and see how folks live in other parts of our country. If you can, visit another country....really, they are human too. Expand your mind. Read more than one newspaper. Watch more than one media outlet. Heaven forbid, read or watch 'news' from a source beyond our shores!

Think!! It is a lot to ask, but I needed to say it after some of the comments I have read online this morning. Living in the heart of the red swath that is the south, it can try my patience dealing with the constant barrage of the doom and gloom that comes with electing and then reelecting an African American to the presidency.

Life will go on, really it will. The sun is rising. The aliens haven't invaded. Go forth and enjoy the day!

election day

Four years ago the hubby and I manned the polls for election day. Today he is heading off alone to be on hand and do some last minute campaigning for our picks for alderman, mayor and school board. I will be heading off to the office for another quiet, dull day.

I will be so glad when the election is over. I'm tired of all the signs in our town on every vacant lot, every open corner and every yard.

So, happy election day!

what i'm reading

I finished Justin Cronin's sequel to "The Passage" this weekend. "The Twelve" picks right up where the first book of this trilogy left off in regards to intensity and complexity even if time has passed. I had a bit of struggle getting started as I had forgotten some of the characters and their plot lines. It was a good read and I will look forward to the third and final book.

My last visit to the library also allowed me to pick up another novel, also the second book in a trilogy. This one is the latest from Deborah Harkness, author of "A Discovery of Witches." Matthew and Diana have time traveled back to 1590 to search out a witch to train Diana. "Shadow of Night" is entertaining and starts off filled with a variety of historical characters. I'm not very far into this one, so I will comment more on it once I am halfway finished.

I have also put in a request for the latest from Karen Marie Moning. I loved her "Fever" books and this new title returns to that world.

That's what I'm reading this week!

on to thanksgiving

The first holiday in the end of the year trifecta is now over! On to Thanksgiving!!

I've already roasted and pureed my pumpkin for the holiday pies. I will pick up a couple of turkeys over the next few weeks. I'm going to need to take a different approach to holiday shopping this year and the internet will most likely be my new best friend along with Target, of course.

May spend some time today making lists and getting organized.

Happy Thursday and Happy November!