2009 Reading List

1. 14 / J.T. Ellison.
2. A bite to remember / Lynsay Sands.
3. A dark love / Margaret Carroll.
4. A great and terrible beauty / Libba Bray.
5. A journal for Jordan : a story of love and honor / Dana Canedy.
6. A marked man / Stella Cameron.
7. A quick bite / Lynsay Sands.
8. A spell for Chameleon / Piers Anthony.
9. A stranger's game / Joan Johnston.
10. A trace of smoke / Rebecca Cantrell.
11. A whisper in the dark / Linda Castillo.
12. A wrinkle in time / Madeleine L'Engle.
13. Acts of mercy : a Mercy Street novel / Mariah Stewart.
14. All I want for Christmas is a vampire / Kerrelyn Sparks.
15. All the pretty girls / J.T. Ellison.
16. Angels' blood / Nalini Singh.
17. Angel's pain / Maggie Shayne.
18. Any given doomsday / Lori Handeland.
19. As shadows fade : the Gardella vampire chronicles / Colleen Gleason
20. Ashes of midnight / Lara Adrian.
21. At grave's end / Jeaniene Frost.
22. At twilight / Maggie Shayne.
23. Avenging angel / Justine Dare.
24. Baking by flavor / Lisa Yockelson ; foreword by Flo Braker ;
25. Be mine tonight / Kathryn Smith.
26. Bed of roses / Nora Roberts.
27. Before I wake : the nightmare chronicles / Kathryn Smith.
28. Beg me / Lisa Lawrence.
29. Below the surface / Karen Harper.
30. Bengal's heart / Lora Leigh.
31. Betrayed : a House of Night novel / P. C. Cast and Kristin Cast.
32. Bewitching season / Marissa Doyle.
33. Beyond the highland mist / Karen Marie Moning.
34. Big bad wolf / Christine Warren.
35. Bite me if you can / Lynsay Sands.
36. Bitten / Kelley Armstrong.
37. Black Friday : a Maggie O'Dell novel / Alex Kava.
38. Black Hills / Nora Roberts.
39. Black out : a novel / Lisa Unger.
40. Blood bound / Patricia Briggs.
41. Blood dreams / Kay Hooper.
42. Blood promise / Richelle Mead.
43. Blood sins / Kay Hooper.
44. Bloodfever / Karen Marie Moning.
45. Blue bloods / Melissa de la Cruz.
46. Blue moon / Alyson Noël.
47. Blue twilight / Maggie Shayne.
48. Bone crossed / Patricia Briggs.
49. Branded by fire / Nalini Singh.
50. Breaking loose / Tara Janzen.
51. Breakneck / Erica Spindler.
52. Breakpoint : a high risk novel / JoAnn Ross.
53. Bring it on / Laura Anne Gilman.
54. Broken / Kelley Armstrong.
55. Burn : a novel / Linda Howard.
56. Burning alive / Shannon K. Butcher.
57. Burning bridges / Laura Anne Gilman.
58. Cape Storm : a Weather Warden novel / Rachel Caine.
59. Caressed by ice / Nalini Singh.
60. Carpe corpus / Rachel Caine.
61. Cast in fury / Michelle Sagara.
62. Castle Roogna / Piers Anthony.
63. Catching fire / Suzanne Collins.
64. Centaur aisle / Piers Anthony.
65. Changeling / Yasmine Galenorn.
66. Chosen : a house of night novel / P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast.
67. Chosen prey / Cheyenne McCray.
68. Chosen to die / Lisa Jackson.
69. City of ashes / Cassandra Clare.
70. City of bones / Cassandra Clare.
71. City of Glass / Cassandra Clare.
72. Close-up / Virginia Kantra.
73. Cold pursuit / Carla Neggers.
74. Covet : a novel of the fallen angels / J.R. Ward.
75. Coyote's mate / Lora Leigh.
76. Crash into me / Jill Sorenson.
77. Crossfire : a high risk novel / JoAnn Ross.
78. Cry mercy : a Mercy Street novel / Mariah Stewart.
79. Cry wolf / Patricia Briggs.
80. Cupcake magic : the cupcake cookbook / Kate Shirazi.
81. Curse the dark / Laura Anne Gilman.
82. Curse the dawn / Karen Chance.
83. Cutting edge : a novel of suspense / Allison Brennan.
84. Damsel under stress : a novel / Shanna Swendson.
85. Danger in a red dress [text (large print)] / Christina Dodd.
86. Dark magic / Cheyenne McCray.
87. Dark of night : a novel / Suzanne Brockmann.
88. Dark rival / Brenda Joyce.
89. Dark slayer: a Carpathian novel / Christine Feehan.
90. Dark victory / Brenda Joyce.
91. Dark warrior unleashed / Alexis Morgan.
92. Dark watcher / Lilith Saintcrow.
93. Darkborn / Alison Sinclair.
94. Darkfever / Karen Marie Moning.
95. Darkling / Yasmine Galenorn.
96. Darkness calls / Marjorie M. Liu.
97. Darkness everlasting / Alexandra Ivy.
98. Darkness revealed
99. Dead before dark / Wendy Corsi Staub.
100. Dead reckoning / Linda Castillo.
101. Dead until dark / Charlaine Harris.
102. Deadlock / Iris Johansen.
103. Deadly desire / Keri Arthur.
104. Deadly gift / Heather Graham.
105. Death's door / Meryl Sawyer.
106. Deep cover / Rachel Butler.
107. Deep down / Karen Harper.
108. Deja dead / Kathleen Reichs.
109. Demon's kiss / Maggie Shayne.
110. Desire unchained / Larissa Ione.
111. Desire untamed : a feral warriors novel / Pamela Palmer.
112. Destined for an early grave / Jeaniene Frost.
113. Destiny kills / Keri Arthur.
114. Devil may ride / Wendy Roberts.
115. Die for you : a novel / Lisa Unger.
116. Dime store magic / Kelley Armstrong.
117. Don't hex with Texas : a novel / Shanna Swendson.
118. Dragon wytch / Yasmine Galenorn.
119. Dragonsdawn / Anne McCaffrey.
120. Dragonseye / Anne McCaffrey.
121. Drawn in blood / Andrea Kane.
122. Dreamfever : a novel / Karen Marie Moning.
123. Dust to dust / Heather Graham.
124. Dying for you / Beverly Barton.
125. Ecstasy / Jacquelyn Frank.
126. Edge of twilight / Maggie Shayne.
127. Embrace the darkness / Alexandra Ivy.
128. Embrace the twilight / Maggie Shayne.
129. Enchanted, Inc. : a novel / Shanna Swendson.
130. Eternal / Cynthia Leitich Smith.
131. Evermore / Alyson Noël.
132. Evernight / Claudia Gray.
133. Evil at heart / Chelsea Cain.
134. Evil without a face / Jordan Dane.
135. Exit strategy / Kelley Armstrong.
136. Eye of heaven / Marjorie M. Liu.
137. Faceless / Debra Webb.
138. Fade / Lisa McMann.
139. Fade out / Rachel Caine.
140. Fade to red / Linda Castillo.
141. Faefever / Karen Marie Moning.
142. Fatal secrets : a novel of suspense / Allison Brennan.
143. Feast of fools / Rachel Caine.
144. Final breath [text (large print)] / Kevin O'Brien.
145. Final truth : a novel of suspense / Mariah Stewart.
146. Find me / Debra Webb.
147. Finger lickin' fifteen / Janet Evanovich.
148. Fire / Kristin Cashore.
149. Fire and ice : a novel / Julie Garwood.
150. Fire study / Maria V. Snyder.
151. Forbidden magic / Cheyenne McCray.
152. Forbidden nights with a vampire / Kerrelyn Sparks.
153. Forget me not / Marliss Melton.
154. Fortune's fool / Mercedes Lackey.
155. Fragile eternity / Melissa Marr.
156. Free fall / Laura Anne Gilman.
157. Freefall : a high risk novel / Joann Ross.
158. Frostbitten / Kelley Armstrong.
159. Glass houses / Rachel Caine.
160. Graceling / Kristin Cashore.
161. Greywalker / Kat Richardson.
162. Guilty / Karen Robards.
163. Half past dead / Meryl Sawyer.
164. Handle with care : a novel / Jodi Picoult.
165. Hands of flame / C.E. Murphy.
166. Happy hour at Casa Dracula / Marta Acosta.
167. Haunted / Kelley Armstrong.
168. Heart of stone / C. E. Murphy.
169. Hell's belles / Jackie Kessler.
170. Hidden currents / Christine Feehan.
171. Hide and seek / Fern Michaels.
172. High stakes / Justine Dare.
173. Home before midnight / Virginia Kantra.
174. Hostage to pleasure / Nalini Singh.
175. Hot pursuit : a novel / Suzanne Brockmann.
176. House of cards / C.E. Murphy.
177. How to marry a millionaire vampire / Kerrelyn Sparks.
178. Howl at the moon / Christine Warren.
179. Hunt her down / Roxanne St. Claire.
180. Hunted : a house of night novel / P. C. Cast and Kristin Cast.
181. Hunters : heart and soul / Shiloh Walker.
182. Hunter's salvation / Shiloh Walker.
183. Hunting ground / Patricia Briggs.
184. Hunting the hunter / Shiloh Walker.
185. I can see you / Karen Rose.
186. I loved, I lost, I made spaghetti : a memoir / Giulia Melucci.
187. If you ever tell / Carlene Thompson.
188. Immortal danger / Cynthia Eden.
189. In the Dark / Marliss Melton.
190. Industrial magic / Kelley Armstrong.
191. Ink exchange / Melissa Marr.
192. Iron kissed / Patricia Briggs.
193. Judas kiss / J. T. Ellison.
194. Just take my heart / Mary Higgins Clark.
195. Kill for me / Karen Rose.
196. King of sword and sky / C.L. Wilson.
197. Kiss of a demon king / Kresley Cole.
198. Kiss of the highlander / Karen Marie Moning.
199. Kitty and the dead man's hand / Carrie Vaughn.
200. Kitty and the midnight hour / Carrie Vaughn.
201. Kitty and the silver bullet / Carrie Vaughn.
202. Kitty goes to Washington / Carrie Vaughn.
203. Kitty takes a holiday / Carrie Vaughn.
204. KnockOut / Catherine Coulter.
205. Lady of light and shadows / C.L. Wilson.
206. Lament : the faerie queen's deception / Maggie Stiefvater.
207. Last breath : a novel of suspense / Mariah Stewart.
208. Last gasp / Carla Cassidy.
209. Last look : a novel of suspense / Mariah Stewart.
210. Last seen alive [text (large print)] / Carlene Thompson.
211. Last whisper / Carlene Thompson.
212. Last words : a novel of suspense / Mariah Stewart.
213. Lean mean thirteen / Janet Evanovich.
214. Living with the dead / Kelley Armstrong.
215. Look again / Lisa Scottoline.
216. Lord of misrule / Rachel Caine.
217. Lord of the fading lands : Tairen Soul / C.L. Wilson.
218. Lost souls / Lisa Jackson.
219. Love bites / Lynsay Sands.
220. Lover avenged / J. R. Ward.
221. Lover's bite / Maggie Shayne.
222. Lullaby and goodnight / Wendy Corsi Staub.
223. Made to be broken / Kelley Armstrong.
224. Magic bites / Ilona Andrews.
225. Magic burns / Ilona Andrews.
226. Magic strikes / Illona Andrews.
227. Magic study / Maria V. Snyder.
228. Magic to the bone / Devon Monk.
229. Make her pay / Roxanne St. Claire.
230. Malice / Lisa Jackson.
231. Mark of the demon / Diana Rowland.
232. Marked / P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast.
233. Masquerade : a Blue Bloods novel / Melissa de la Cruz.
234. Maverick / Lora Leigh.
235. Mercy Street : a novel / Mariah Stewart.
236. Midnight Alley / Rachel Caine.
237. Midnight's daughter / Karen Chance.
238. Mine to possess / Nalini Singh.
239. Missing / Lisa Jackson.
240. Mortal sin / Laurie Breton.
241. Moving target / Cheyenne McCray.
242. My sister's keeper : a novel / Jodi Picoult.
243. Nameless / Debra Webb.
244. Night fall : a novel / Cherry Adair.
245. Night life / Caitlin Kittredge.
246. Night rising / Chris Marie Green.
247. Night secrets : a novel / Cherry Adair.
248. Night world. No. 1. / L. J. Smith.
249. Night world. No. 2. / L. J. Smith.
250. Night world. No. 3 / L. J. Smith.
251. Nightwalker / Heather Graham.
252. Nightwalker : the first dark days novel / Jocelynn Drake.
253. No humans involved / Kelley Armstrong.
254. No regrets / by Shannon K. Butcher.
255. On target / Catherine Mann.
256. On the edge / Illona Andrews.
257. Once dead, twice shy : a novel / Kim Harrison.
258. Once upon stilettos : a novel / Shanna Swendson.
259. One bite with a stranger / Christine Warren.
260. One deadly sin / Annie Solomon.
261. One good knight / Mercedes Lackey.
262. One more bite : a Jaz Parks novel / Jennifer Rardin.
263. One way out / Michele Albert.
264. One wrong step / Laura Griffin.
265. Outcast / Joan Johnston.
266. Overkill / Linda Castillo.
267. Personal demon / Kelley Armstrong.
268. Pitch black / Susan Crandall.
269. Pleasure / Jacquelyn Frank.
270. Point of departure / Laurie Breton.
271. Poison study / Maria V. Snyder.
272. Poltergeist : a Greywalker novel / Kat Richardson.
273. Primal needs / Susan Sizemore.
274. Prince of twilight / Maggie Shayne.
275. Princess of the Midnight Ball / Jessica Day George.
276. Pursuit / Karen Robards.
277. Pursuit of honor : a novel / Vince Flynn.
278. Quick and clever party cakes / Lindy Smith.
279. Rainwater / Sandra Brown.
280. Rapture / Jacquelyn Frank.
281. Ravenous : the dark forgotten / by Sharon Ashwood.
282. Revelations : a Blue Bloods novel / Melissa de la Cruz.
283. Rises the night : the Gardella vampire chronicles / Colleen Gleason
284. Running hot / Jayne Ann Krentz.
285. Say goodbye / Lisa Gardner.
286. Scorched / Rachel Butler.
287. Scream for me / Karen Rose.
288. Sea glass / Maria V. Snyder.
289. Secret life of a vampire / Kerrelyn Sparks.
290. Secret society girl : an Ivy League novel / Diana Peterfreund.
291. Seduced by magic / Cheyenne McCray.
292. Seeing red / Susan Crandall.
293. Shadow magic / Cheyenne McCray.
294. Shadow man / Cody McFadyen.
295. Shadow touch / Marjorie M. Liu.
296. Shadowland / Alyson Noël.
297. Shadowlight : a novel of the Kyndred / Lynn Viehl.
298. Shattered : a High Risk novel / JoAnn Ross.
299. Shattered dance / Caitlin Brennan.
300. Silent fall / Barbara Freethy.
301. Silent killer / Beverly Barton.
302. Silent on the moor : a Lady Julia Grey novel / Deanna Raybourn.
303. Silent run / Barbara Freethy.
304. Single white vampire / Lynsay Sands.
305. Skin deep / Mark Del Franco .
306. Slave to sensation / Nalini Singh.
307. Sleeping with fear / Kay Hooper.
308. Smash cut / Sandra Brown.
309. Smoke screen / Sandra Brown.
310. Snowfall / Sharon Sala.
311. Song of unmaking / Caitlin Brennan.
312. Soul song / Marjorie M. Liu.
313. Speak of the devil / Jenna Black.
314. Spell of the Highlander / Karen Marie Moning.
315. Stargazer / Claudia Gray.
316. Stay the night : a novel of the Darkyn / Lynn Viehl.
317. Staying dead : [a retrievers novel] / Laura Anne Gilman.
318. Stolen / Kelley Armstrong.
319. Storm born / Richelle Mead.
320. Storm front / Jim Butcher.
321. Storm glass / Maria V. Snyder.
322. Storm of shadows / Christina Dodd.
323. Storm of visions / Christina Dodd.
324. Storm watcher / Lilith Saintcrow.
325. Street magic : [a black London novel] / Caitlin Kittredge.
326. Sudden death : a novel of suspense / Allison Brennan.
327. Take no prisoners / Cindy Gerard.
328. Tall, dark & hungry / Lynsay Sands.
329. Tall, dark and deadly / Lorie O'Clare.
330. Tasting fear / Shannon McKenna.
331. Tempted / P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast.
332. Thanks for the memories / Cecelia Ahern.
333. The accidental vampire : an Argeneau novel / Lynsay Sands.
334. The Akhenaten adventure / P.B. Kerr.
335. The assassin / Rachel Butler.
336. The awakening / Kelley Armstrong.
337. The bleeding dusk / Colleen Gleason.
338. The Blue Djinn of Babylon / P.B. Kerr.
339. The chronicles of Pern : first fall / Anne McCaffrey.
340. The Cobra King of Kathmandu / P.B. Kerr.
341. The dark highlander / Karen Marie Moning.
342. The darkest whisper / Gena Showalter.
343. The day the world came to town : 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland / Jim DeFede.
344. The dead girls' dance / Rachel Caine.
345. The deepest cut : a novel / Dianne Emley.
346. The demon you know / Christine Warren.
347. The devil inside / Jenna Black.
348. The devil you know / Jenna Black.
349. The devil's due / Jenna Black.
350. The devil's footprints / Amanda Stevens.
351. The eye of the forest / P.B. Kerr.
352. The fairy godmother / Mercedes Lackey.
353. The first cut : a novel / Dianne Emley.
354. The hiding place / Karen Harper.
355. The highlander's touch / Karen Marie Moning.
356. The hunger games / Suzanne Collins.
357. The Hunter's Moon / O.R. Melling.
358. The immortal highlander / Karen Marie Moning.
359. The iron hunt / Marjorie M. Liu.
360. The MacKade brothers : Devin & Shane / Nora Roberts.
361. The MacKade brothers : Rafe & Jared / Nora Roberts.
362. The mercenary / Cherry Adair.
363. The moon witch / Linda Winstead Jones.
364. The Mountain's call / Caitlin Brennan.
365. The neighbor / Lisa Gardner.
366. The perfect couple / Brenda Novak.
367. The perfect liar / Brenda Novak.
368. The perfect murder / Brenda Novak.
369. The perilous gard. Illustrated by Richard Cuffari.
370. The red heart of Jade / Marjorie M. Liu.
371. The remains of the dead / Wendy Roberts.
372. The rest falls away : the Gardella vampire chronicles / Colleen Gleason
373. The return / Sharon Sala.
374. The ring / Danielle Steel.
375. The Safe-Keeper's secret / Sharon Shinn.
376. The Secret Circle : the initiation and the captive, part I / L.J.
377. The shadow queen : a black jewels novel / Anne Bishop.
378. The snow queen / Mercedes Lackey.
379. The source of magic / Piers Anthony.
380. The summoning / Kelley Armstrong.
381. The sun witch / Linda Winstead Jones.
382. The Van Alen legacy / Melissa de la Cruz.
383. Thirteen reasons why : a novel / by Jay Asher.
384. Thread of fear / Laura Griffin.
385. Tiger eye / Marjorie M. Liu.
386. Time to run / Marliss Melton.
387. Tithe : a modern faerie tale / Holly Black.
388. To tame a Highland warrior / Karen Marie Moning.
389. Traceless / Debra Webb.
390. Twilight hunger / Maggie Shayne.
391. Twisted / Andrea Kane.
392. Two by twilight / Maggie Shayne.
393. Under the rose : an Ivy League novel / Diana Peterfreund.
394. Undone / Rachel Caine.
395. Unshapely things / Mark Del Franco.
396. Untamed : a house of night novel / P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast.
397. Urban shaman / C. E. Murphy.
398. Vampire kisses / Ellen Schreiber.
399. Vampire kisses 2 : kissing coffins / Ellen Schreiber.
400. Vampires are forever : an Argeneau novel / Lynsay Sands.
401. Veil of midnight / Lara Adrian.
402. Vision in white / Nora Roberts.
403. Visions of heat / Nalini Singh.
404. Wake / Lisa McMann.
405. Waking evil : the mindhunters / Kylie Brant.
406. Waking nightmare : the mindhunters / Kylie Brant.
407. Walk on the wild side / Christine Warren.
408. When twilight burns / Colleen Gleason.
409. Where are you now? / Mary Higgins Clark.
410. Whisper no lies / Cindy Gerard.
411. White witch, black curse / Kim Harrison.
412. Wicked lovely / Melissa Marr.
413. Wicked magic / Cheyenne McCray.
414. Wings in the night / Maggie Shayne.
415. Witch fire / Anya Bast.
416. Witchling / Yasmine Galenorn.
417. Wolf at the door / Christine Warren.
418. You're so vein / Christine Warren.

Plastic?

There will be a rain dance Friday night, weather permitting.
~ George Carlin

Here in the Scandahoovian Hinterlands, the weather will either permit a rain dance or a snow dance tonight. We're breaking out the winter jackets today, and likely won't be putting them away until late April.

I'm not sure what's on my agenda for the weekend, but I'll find something...I've got a few books to read and I feel like baking. I should also start playing with the chocolate "plastic" I am planning on using to make penguins for Christmas. I figure if I start playing with it now, the penguins might actually look like penguins by the end of December.

Yeah, I think that's what I'll do. Make penguins. Now to find the recipe and buy the ingredients to make the "plastic".

Until later...

Politics and Mr. A

Okay...this is my last "political" post for this election season.

Mr. A is about the same age for this election as I was the first election that I remember paying attention to. He also really paid attention to the election and he read up on both candidates for two different classes in school. He and I had quite a few discussions about each of the candidates and their positions.

Tuesday night he spent the night glued to the computer, bopping between CNN and MSNBC to see what the news sites were saying about how the election was going. He kept calling out to me (I was in another room) as each state was called for a particular candidate.

He bounced through the house as he came to discuss something he'd read online. He asked intelligent questions about things that were being said about the election process. He was INVOLVED right up to the time I sent him to bed. Or so I thought.

It turned out that he went to his room and tuned his radio to a news station that was covering the elections and stayed up until they'd called it for President Elect Obama.

I don't know if I can express just how much this pleases me. Instilling an interest in politics in the monsters at a young age in their lives is important to me. Knowing that they think about all aspects of the candidates before making a choice is important to me. I don't care if they vote the way I do or go their separate way, but I do care that they are involved.

And he is. It warms my heart.

Until later...

Change

All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another.

~ Anatole France

This morning the nation wakes up to a new President Elect. Many have dreamed for this change, many have feared it.

The nation will not change overnight, and likely, it will take years, even decades for us to see that change that comes from the decision my fellow countrymen and women made yesterday.

My hope is that we will work together instead of against each other to bring about this change. My fear is that we will become even more divisive.

Let's hope that working together is what happens.

Until later...

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Whelp!

Hope the next 35 treat you as well as the first!

Until later...

Civic Sacrament

The vote is the most powerful instrument ever devised by man for breaking down injustice and destroying the terrible walls which imprison men because they are different from other men.

~ Lyndon B. Johnson



Lower voter participation is a silent threat to our democracy...It under-represents young people, the poor, the disabled, those with little education, minorities and you and me.

~ Nancy Neuman



The future of this republic is in the hands of the American voter.

~ Dwight D. Eisenhower



To make democracy work, we must be a notion of participants, not simply observers. One who does not vote has no right to complain.

~ Louis L'Amour



Voting is a civic sacrament.

~ Theodore Hesburgh

Until later...

Milk's Immortality

Cheese - milk's leap toward immortality.
~ Clifton Fadiman


Cheese is one of the Wonders of the World...at least to this Nonnie. Everything is better with cheese, and there can never be too much cheese. This week's menu is no different. Everything on it has cheese. If I didn't eat cheese, I don't know that I'd get my daily dairy recommendations in.

So...last week's recap. White Chicken Chili is something we've had before, but the monsters decided that they hate it now. Sigh... Easiest No Boil Lasagna is the only lasagna we eat and so easy to put together!

This week's menu is as follows:

Monday ~ Scout Night

Hot Ham and Cheese Roll and chips

Tuesday ~ Get out and vote!

Monsters' Mexican Meatloaf with refried beans

Wednesday ~

Homemade pizzas ~ probably sausage and pepperoni

Thursday ~

YOYO

Friday, Saturday and Sunday ~ Monsters at their dad's

I didn't get around to the Buffalo Chicken Dip last week, so I may do it this weekend.

So that's it for this week. Stop by this week's MPM to see what other's are planning.

Until later...

Extra Snooze

An extra yawn one morning in the springtime, an extra snooze one night in the autumn is all that we ask in return for dazzling gifts. We borrow an hour one night in April; we pay it back with golden interest five months later.
~ Winston Churchill

So today is the first day of Daylight Savings Time. We're in the "fall back" portion of the "screw with the clock" yearly program. And like normal, I completely forgot that it started today when I went to bed last night and when my internal alarm woke me up, I didn't try to roll over and go back to bed.

Bugaboo told me on Friday that he thinks this the time change is "stupid" and they should leave it alone. I heartily agree.

But I'm up and there's no sense in going back to bed now. I should get a few more things done around the house today, and then I'm going to relax the rest of the afternoon.

Have a wonderful Sunday and don't spend that extra hour all in one place!

Until later...

Warmth

It's the national addiction: warmth on chilly winter nights, innocence on Saturday afternoons, the essence of hearth, home and blissful abandon.
~ Patricia Linden

Last night I had the warmth, even though it wasn't chilly, nor was it a winter night. The monsters are with X, so I didn't have to deal with the chaos of Halloween.

I went out for lunch with my parents yesterday. A nice relaxing meal just to touch base. Even though we all talk a few times a week, we haven't seen each other since September, so it was nice to spend the time. We sat in the restaurant for almost 3 hours chatting.

After we went our separate ways, I ran some errands. I stopped and got some new sweaters because I wanted to, not because I need them. Then I stopped by Sam's for a few things and then the grocery store. The grocery store has yet to get in the holiday coffee creamer that I so love, so I ran over to the Super Walmart and picked up the creamer there. I'm sure you're wondering why I didn't do all my shopping at Wally World, and the answer is that the quality and selection at the grocery store across the street is much better.

Then I came home. I got home in time to miss the majority of the kids running around, but before the college kids went out to the bars. The cats and I had a nice quiet meal and I did some Nonnie pampering before going to bed.

Today, while the quote says there is supposed to be innocence on a Saturday afternoon, I have some work that I brought home and I have to run to the library. I also should reorganize the laundry room.

Innocence on a Saturday afternoon means playing and doing what you want to me, but I'm thinking I won't hit the innocence portion of the program until tonight...and really, with the plans I have for the evening, that doesn't follow either.

Until later...

Once A Year...

Once in a young lifetime one should be allowed to have as much sweetness as one can possibly want and hold.
~ Judith Olney

Or more to the point, once a year in a young lifetime, Halloween allows a child to have more candy then they could dream of.

Tonight is the night when neighborhoods will be filled with children running from house to house, yelling trick or treat, and getting enough candy to make them, their families and their pets sick for the next two months.

This is the final year of costumes in the Hinterlands. Bugaboo has hit the magic year and Mr. A hit it two years ago. I'm both sorry and not sorry to see it end. I'm sorry, becuase it means that the boys are getting older than I want them to be. I'm not sorry, because the chaos of finding just the right costume, getting them fed, walking around the neighborhood, is just more than I think it is worth sometimes for a bag of candy.

We'll still celebrate to a point. Maybe with special treats like I made this year. Bugaboo tapped me to make treats for his classroom, and after finding this recipe in a magazine at the ortho's office, this is what I came up with...



Isn't it cute? I hope the kids in Bugaboo's class enjoy them!

Have a safe and exciting Halloween!

Until later...

What You Can Do

Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.
~ John F. Kennedy

I picked up the mail today to find a jury questionnaire. It appears that for the first time in my adult life, I may be called to jury duty soon.

As I filled out the questionnaire - which really shouldn't be called a questionnaire, because they were only looking for verification of my address, my DOB and a few other minor items - I realized that it would be the first of two things I did in the next five days for my country.

We all know - how could we not - that next Tuesday we will be choosing a new president. This has to be the most divisive campaign that comes to mind since I've been paying attention to the campaigns.

The first campaign I remember was in 1984 when Reagan and Mondale duked it out. The first that I was eligible to vote in was in 1992 when Clinton won over Bush 41. So granted, that doesn't mean I've been paying attention all that long, but of all those elections, this one seems to have brought out the rabid on each side.

Voting - like jury duty - is a right and an obligation to make sure that you do for your country what it has done for you. Your country can't continue to do for you, if you don't exercise your right to vote and put the best people into office. By the People only works when the People do their duty.

So make sure that on November 4th, you take the time to vote. Without you doing your part - just like answering a jury summons - this country can't continue to thrive as we have come to know it can. I know I'll be at the polls bright and early that day.

Until later...

Fall Bloggy Giveaway Carnival

Don't forget that this week is the fall Bloggy Giveaway Carnival! As of right now there are over 1200 opportunities to get stuff. Lots of stuff, so make sure you check it out! Just make sure you stay away from the giveaways I've entered!

Until later...

Goals Not Met

I didn't make it.

My goal was to keep the heat off until the first of November. We were almost there, but last night temps dropped to the teens here in the Hinterlands and I caved.

I figured that it was better that the monsters didn't wake up with frost on their eyelashes. Plus, I was too cold to sleep when I went to bed, so I knew it was turn it on or suffer all night.

As goals go, I'm not too upset that this one wasn't accomplished.

Until later...

Reward

The reward for work well done is the opportunity to do more.
~ Jonas Salk

I had not been at work today for more than an hour, when I received a call from someone asking me if I'd be interested in joining a different team within the company. My first thought (and the next fifty to be honest), was "Hell NO!".

I immediately went and talked to my boss. I trust him and value his counsel. To my surprise he already knew about the possibility, and at that point, he felt that it was going to be a "only one possible decision" sort of an issue. There was a meeting scheduled later this morning, and he'd let me know what he found out.

What he found out, is that my choice as the addition causes serious repercussions to many teams and wasn't made lightly. It was also made known by my current director, that he wanted me to have an out, if things went south. This team has gobbled up new members and spit them out so many times, that he felt the out was necessary. Should I not be able to push back and integrate myself into the team the way they expect (the main reason for picking me...I guess having a pair can be a good thing.), he wanted me to know I could come back to my current team without it being a detriment to my personell folder.

My boss feels that it is the best move for me and part of me agrees. There is more of a chance of career and knowledge base development with this move. The part that doesn't agree, likes her comfortable, well worn job, where she knows exactly how to do everything and where to go for answers.

I'll certainly miss my current boss. I know going in that my new boss will NOT be easy to work for, as I currently work with her on a few projects. And that's where the out my current director required made all the difference in my decision to take the job.

So starting November 10th, I'll be reporting to a different boss, a different director and have an entirely new job.

I hope I made the right decision.

Until later...

Primal Food

Food is so primal, so essential a part of our lives, often the mere sharing of recipes with strangers turns them into good friends.
~ Jasmine Heiler

And isn't that a little bit of what MPM is about?

So...last week's recap. Grilled Spicy Chicken Sandwiches is something we have off and on...always a hit.

This week's menu is as follows:

Monday ~ Scout Night

Hot Dogs, Salad, Chips

Tuesday ~

White Chicken Chili

Wednesday ~

Easiest No Boil Lasagna

Thursday ~

YOYO

Friday, Saturday and Sunday ~ Monsters at their dad's

I think I'm going to make Buffalo Chicken Dip. It isn't the healthiest, but I'm feeling in the mood for it.

So that's it for this week. Stop by this week's MPM to see what other's are planning.

Until later...

Friends, Counselors and Teachers

Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.
~ Charles W. Eliot

I've got ten books in my TBR pile, with three being released by some of my favorite authors in the next ten days.

I'll be spending my dreary, rainy (snowy!) Sunday curled up with friends, counselors and teachers.

Until later...

Sweet Sauce

Rest: the sweet sauce of labor
~ Plutarch

I woke this morning wondering how Mr. A's date went. I can't wait until he gets home tomorrow and tells me about it.

I've got nothing on the agenda today. And I'm not sorry about that.

Until later...

A Motivator!

So we told Mr. A he could go to the dance, if he talked to his teachers and got things cleared up.

He did.

Who knew that girls were motivators for teenage boys?

Okay. I knew, but who wanted to believe?

Until later...

First Date?!?!?!?!

Mr. A came home yesterday with the news that a girl has asked him to the dance on Friday.

*thud*

I can't be old enough for him to date, can I?

I had to drag the information out of him. I think he was afraid of being teased about this, but after a while, he coughed up the details. They're friends. She likes him. He's not so sure. She has brown hair. He has no idea what color eyes she has...or even if she has eyes, I'm thinking.

Two growing up milestones for my monsters this week. Sigh.

Until later...

The Sword

Beauty is power; a smile is its sword.
~ Charles Reade

Today Bugaboo's sword is being sharpened. He's going in and getting his braces. He's a little apprehensive about this. I think Mr. A has been telling tales.

I can and I can't wait to see him with his braces. I think they're a right of passage, and I think that sight will serve as a reminder that he's not my little boy any more.

I've got Tylenol, Advil, pudding and soup at the ready.

He's at least looking forward to the pudding.

Until later...