the moment when you know.....meeting flavia

As I start reading a new book, a moment arrives when I know whether or not the book is going to be awesome, a light but fun read or just an okay story. My current book has been sitting on my night stand for a month. I was told by an avid reader/blogger/teacher (APW) that the book was fabulous and the main character very well done. Before I finished the first page, I knew her recommendation was spot on.

I read as long as I could last night and have every intention of spending as much time as I can this week with Flavia de Luce. Once this book is finished, I will be on the hunt for the next title in this series.

"The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie" begins with a great character building moment and makes you sit up in your seat and take notice. That is the moment when you know you're in for a treat.

I had a good day at work yesterday and have started to feel the pieces all fall into place. I sense the start of my daily routine. I felt a bit of accomplishment when I logged off my computer after my six hours on the job.  It is all very, very good.

Happy Tuesday!

eye & mind candy

Eye candy. Mind candy. Those sweet, mild diversions from reality we all need in our lives. Not every book needs to be award winning. Not every movie deserves an Oscar. But those entertainments can be, well, entertaining in a mindless way.

I took two of the three kids to see Thor yesterday. I have to say, I'm excited by the fact so many of the characters I enjoyed on Saturday morning cartoons and in the comic books of my youth are headed to the big screen. Iron Man. Hulk. Green Lantern. Spiderman, Batman. The list goes on and on and now Kenneth Branagh gives us Thor.

Plenty of eye and mind candy in this film. Thor is quite easy on the eyes. I was pleasantly surprised by the witty lines and the look of the movie. I'd give it two big thumbs up and advise a big bucket of popcorn and one of those bottomless soda combos they sell at the concession stand for the price of a small car.  Just sit back and be entertained. And, enjoy the view.

mothering

Mother's Day weekend is here and I find myself thinking of the many moms I know. Most of my friends are moms. I know a lot of other 'soccer' moms through my daughters' teams. I volunteer at the library with moms and grandmoms.  And although being a mother only requires giving birth to a child, being a Mom is something different.

I've relied on those other moms for advice, a shoulder to lean on, a kind word and a shared laugh. I've cried with some. Some have come in and out of my life. Others have stayed and that trusted relationship has grown and flourished through shared thoughts, fears and experiences.  It is an amazing thing to have another mom beside you who you know has not only your back, but your kid's back as well.  I have women in my life like that and the feeling of community and solidarity is amazing.  It is the whole 'don't mess with OUR kid' vibe.

Of course, I have the best mom in the world. She is my advisor, my friend, my confidante and my own personal cheerleader.  I'm the mom I am today because of her. I love her to pieces and wish to her, and all the other Moms out there, a very Happy Mother's Day.

Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris

Sookie is back. Several other fans of this series complained a bit that the previous book was lacking in the action department. Well, Sookie had almost died and did need to recuperate from some very serious injuries. Several other characters either died or were seriously hurt in the battle at the end of the tenth book. So, I don't blame Harris for taking a slower pace and setting up the ground work for what was to come in book eleven.

Dead Reckoning starts off with some attic cleaning and a Molotov cocktail. The show down is coming not only for Sookie, but also for Eric and all those who call him Sheriff. It is time for a Dead Reckoning in the Bon Temps corral.  I'm not going to recap any further or be tempted to reveal any spoilers. If you love Sookie, you will love this book. If you aren't into this series, the novel won't make a bit of sense.

I do have to say though, I like the nods to the HBO series True Blood sprinkled throughout the story. When I read Pam say, "Are you picking up what I'm putting down," I about spit out my tea. I loved that line in the TV series and to 'see' Pam utter it in the book made my afternoon!! Ha Ha!!

I'm off to my new job today, kid pictures in tow along with other things to make my cubby/office more homey for me. I'm excited, nervous and anxious all rolled into one.

what a difference a smile makes

I was welcomed with warm smiles, cheerful greetings and lots of laughter yesterday. Amazing what a difference those three things can make when you are starting a new job. I talked Sookie Stackhouse with the folks in the marketing department. I talked AMC's The Walking Dead with the two guys in IT. I talked soccer mom stuff with the gals in the Education department. I talked Architecture with the head of the Communications division. I talked, laughed, grinned and had one heckuva time. The six hours flew by and I came home energized.

My schedule is set. I have things to do until my boss returns in a month. I begin, officially, tomorrow.

In the meantime, I have a Friends meeting to conduct and a Sookie Stackhouse book to read. I have errands to run and some chores to complete.

I've landed in a good place.

off on yet another new adventure

I resigned my post at the bank yesterday and today I start yet another new adventure. My life is a bit chaotic so far this year, much more like a roller coaster than a merry go round, but that is okay. I think this new opportunity will allow me to settle in and settle down into a nice routine.

So today I head to a new office and get to meet a group of new folks. I bring with me all I learned over the past three weeks. The formal information won't be used, but the informal lessons I learned by working with a variety of people in a variety of settings might just come in handy. I'm looking forward to getting started.

Onward I go....off into a new beginning.

rain, rain go away........for a good long time, please

I've become quite adept at finding and reading flood maps for our county. Not exactly a skill I hoped to hone at this point in my life, but I am grateful for all those elementary school teachers who taught such things to me when I was substantially younger.

We've received enough rain over the last several weeks in our locale as well as the surrounding areas to cause major flooding. Then when you factor in what is happening in the whole middle of the country and how so many of those waterways feed into the BIG river, well, needless to say, we have quite a mess on our hands.

It is raining yet again this morning. I have several things I need to do today and I may not be able to accomplish all of them because of roads being closed.  I've looked at alternative routes, and yes, those too might be closed.

There is no way to get THERE from HERE.

So, I will take care of what I can and hope that the rain stops soon so we can dry out.