Friday, February 19, 2010

Hoochie

How could anyone not want to read this book with a title like that?!

Strawberry Shortcake Murder (A Hannah Swensen Mystery, #2) by Joanne Fluke

Strawberry Shortcake Murder (A Hannah Swensen Mystery, #2) Strawberry Shortcake Murder by Joanne Fluke
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I love this series! It's light-hearted: murder + baked goods = enjoyableness. I bought the next book in the series immediately after I finished reading this one. I'm excited that there are so many and I can't wait to see which suitor Hannah chooses - or if she chooses anyone!

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Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Day o' Awesomeness

Today pretty much kicked ass!

I got a lovely new red wool coat that I am ecstatic over today at lunch! I had been wanting this peacoat at J. Crew for like 26 years, but I finally decided that even though it's on sale, I could probably find something very similar elsewhere for a fraction of the cost - and thanks to Burlington and their fabulous Coat Factory, I have a coat that's even cuter than the expensive one at J. Crew! And it was only $59.99! SWEET TEMPS! I also found a pair of really nice jeans there for $14.99! YAY! Retail high!

I got back to work and was at my desk when our security guard called me and asked me to come up there. She normally says, "Officer So-and-So is here with papers to serve, can you come sign for them?" so this demand that I go up there with no reason given was odd. I asked, "What's going on?" and she goes, "Just get up here!", so I knew it had to be something good! I get up to the front desk and there's a delivery man holding a beautiful vase of red roses and I knew it was the work of Jason Bartholomew! They are lovely flowers and everyone was doing a drive-by to titter at them! Super fun times! The card was really sweet and it meant so much that Jason did that. Thank you, snickerdoodle!! You are the best.

Then I get a call from my mom to let me know that UPS just delivered a package for me. My parents gave me a Kindle 2!!!!! THRILLSVILLE! It just finished charging and IAMSOFREAKINGEXCITED!!!!!! I have already downloaded my first book and am about to raise up and go read on that mug!!! What an awesome gift!! Thank you so much, Mom and Dad! Especially you, Mom, since it was all your idea, lol!

Thank you so much to Jason, Mom, Dad and Burlington Coat Factory, for making my day threefold.

Signing off to go get my read on! KINDLE TIME!!!! Kindle cheers to "Sabre Craig"! :)

Friday, February 5, 2010

Friday Fritos

Had an above average day at work (in hockey, today I would have been a +2) eventhough it was approximately 30 degrees, rainy and super naps outside. Jason picked up a pizza @ Shorty's (the Janis Joplin pie - thinly sliced green apples and BACON! And cheese, obvs) and we watched Julie & Julia. It was very enjoyable! I plan to attempt J-Child's infamous Boeuf Bourguignon very soon. :) I've got some sugar cookie dough chilling in the fridge that I just hand-crafted and I'm about to go bake the SOB's! Tomorrow I've got to pick up some more butterscotch chips (and butter, of course) so I can make those heart melter cookies again, the Butter-Scotchies! Reminds me of the name of a fake band on Saved By the Bell. Who remembers Hot Sundae? Pure awesomeness. Also, the word "Fritos" - does that not just make you want to chuckle a bit?

So, yes, Kovalchuk was traded to NJD and the verbal beat-downs against him, the ownership and the GM abound. I'm just hoping everyone can shake it off, close up their dumbrellas ("doom umbrellas") and enjoy the remainder of the season. I'm certainly not looking forward to playing the Devils and seeing our old Kaptain in the red and black garb-o-satan, but nothing can come of further complaints and loathing. Isn't acceptance the first step? Who can say what the future holds? All I know is that I'll be there at Blueland, supporting the players I already love and getting acquainted with the newbies, and enjoying some good ol' hockey games. =o)

PS: Happy birthday to my favorite German Streuselkuchen, Thrashers Defenseman Christoph Schubert, who turned 28 today!



Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Classic Novel Themed Survey

Credit to person I stole this from, Clichesss - thanks!

Dracula
1. Have you ever been around someone that just creeped you out in every way? Yes. People who stare and say nothing. What is the deal with that?
2. Have you ever experienced the death of a close friend? No.
3. When was the last time you communicated to someone in a handwritten letter? Tuesday. I love snail mail.
4. Do you think you could handle working in an asylum for the criminally insane? Ummmmm...hasn't anyone seen 'Halloween'/any horror movie ever? No.
5. Have you ever had a dream that directly connected to something in real life? All the time!

The Lord of the Flies
1. What would you do first after you realized you have just been stranded on an island? Get very angry.
2. Were you ever teased for something trivial as a child? (Like the fact you wear glasses... etc.) Yes, quite often! Not pleasant. But it built character.
3. What would you do if you were forced into the position of a leader? I'd know I was about to get voted off Survivor. The leaders always get dumped off the island early.
4. Describe a time when you were terrified of something, only to discover it was harmless: Bumblebees (carpenter bees) don't sting but I'll still break into a 40 yard dash if one gets up in my grill (by "up in my grill", I mean "comes within a 14 foot radius of my person"). I think they are adorable, yet terrifying.
5. In a survival situation, which would be more important to you: Finding food, or finding rescue? The person I stole this survey from had the greatest answer! I'm leaving it. "Finding food. You can't find rescue, you just have to wait for it to come. You don't just go searching through the forest and be like 'OH HEY! I FOUND RESCUE UNDERNEATH THIS LOG!' No, srryz. It doesn't work that way."

1984
1. Describe a time in which you felt utterly trapped: Only on the elevator at work when you get in there with someone real unpleasant.
2. Have you ever broken a law (or would you ever break a law) if your morals seemed to be more important than that law? If we were in survival mode, sure.
3. If it was really worth it, would you strive for love even if society looked down on it? Yes.
4. Have you ever been in jail? If so, what was it like? No, and I plan to keep on keepin' out!
5. Which seems better?: Being poor but having more freedoms, or having what you need but confined by the law? The latter.

Fahrenheit 451
1. What would you think if books were outlawed? That would be so crazy, it's almost unimaginable! I love books, so if they were being burned in large quantities, I'd be more upset than Big Shooter, Morty, Razor and Frenchie are right now over the Kovalchuk situation over at TBC.
2. Would you give up your right to read books if it meant having better technology? No.
3. Have you ever been chased by the police? If so, what did you do to have this happen? No.
4. Describe a time when you were in trouble for something harmless: Kindergarten - tearing a dollar bill in two so I could give my 2 friends .50 cents. It made perfect sense to me. My teacher, however, flipped her biscuits and sent me to the principal's office and called my mom. Teacher felt I was "defacing and disrespecting the United States of America." My mom was so pissed at those morons, it was awesome. I swear I can still remember her coming to the school, looking at them like they were crackheads and saying, "SHE'S FIVE." You go, mom!
5. In the end of the book, Montag's job is to memorize a book of the Bible so it isn't forgotten. If you had to memorize any novel so it wouldn't be forgotten, what would it be? "The Prizewinner of Defiance, Ohio" by Terri Ryan.

A Clockwork Orange
1. What is the worst thing you've ever done? I don't know.
2. Have you ever done something terrible because you thought it would make you more "cool"? No.
3. How do you think the government could improve on the way they punish criminals? Not take years to work through the process. I think swift justice would be a lot better. After all, aren't we entitled to a "speedy" trial? Like those ever happen.
4. Describe a time when you were betrayed by people you thought were your friends: No thanks.
5. After being greatly punished for a crime but let go, would you definitely think about reforming your ways? Yes.

Romeo and Juliet
1. Describe a time when your parents restricted you from dating someone: They never did, but there were a few they didn't care for, lol!
2. If you've had a time like the above, did you ignore your parents and date them in secret? n/a
3. What's the farthest you'd go for love? Tucson.
4. What's the most romantic thing someone's ever done for you? Jason has done so many romantic and thoughtful things, it would be hard to say which was the "most".
5. Have your parents ever had a ridiculous fight with your significant other's parents? No.

Of Mice and Men
1. Have you ever stood up for someone that was disabled in any way? Yes.
2. Have you ever experienced any discrimination from anyone because they saw you as different? Ha - yes. Even this wk I had some b.s. to endure b/c this "person" thought I was "too young" to call them out for being an insubordinate turd. Um, more like, "You're too old to be acting like a giant crybaby. We're at work. Do your job." Alas, it's water under the bridge, now that I've had the opportunity to bitch about it. :)
3. If you lived in the Great Depression, do you think your family would be more likely to be well-off or very poor? Wasn't everyone poor back then?!?
4. Have you ever gone around looking for odd jobs in order to make money? Yes.
5. Describe a dream you hope to achieve in life: sampling a turducken.

Franny and Zooey
1. Have you ever thought you were having a nervous breakdown? Or have you ever had one? No.
2. Are you sure of where you stand spiritually? Or is it kind of muddled for you? umm...too deep for me to dig at 11:29 on a Wednesday night.
3. Do you have a large family? No.
4. Describe a time when you gave valuable advice to your brother or sister: n/a
5. Have you ever dated someone who was bad for you? You don't get to be my age (ha!) without dating a few dingbats.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder (Hannah Swensen Mystery, Book 1) by Joanne Fluke

Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder (Hannah Swensen Mystery, Book 1) Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book was just fun. I really enjoyed the heroine and have already ordered book 2 in the series from paperbackswap.com! It was corny at times, but in a way that I just thoroughly enjoyed. It left me with a good feeling and a desire to read the whole 'Hannah Swenson' series. I also got cookie crazy whilst reading this book (since it includes recipes mentioned in the storyline) and whipped up several batches of delicious treats - from scratch!

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Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Damn Groundhog.


Has this mofo ever NOT seen his shadow? Every year it's seems he has to roll out of his hole and doom us to another 6 weeks of coats n' mittens. If he wasn't so damn adorable, I'd really be offended by his seemingly habitual Nostradamas-like predictions of continued ice and sweaters. Glad to see he’s used his 364 days of sitting around to learn to text and tweet. He’s really doing his part to put “Gobbler’s Knob” on the technology map!

From AP News
PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. – Punxsutawney Phil might be an expert at shadow spotting, but texting? Not so much.

About two hours after the famous groundhog "saw" his shadow and predicted six more weeks of winter, the rodent's inaugural stab at text-messaging appeared. Phil also sent a Twitter update at about that time.

Officials with the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club didn't immediately return calls about Phil's texting skills.

German tradition holds that if a hibernating animal sees its shadow on Feb. 2 — the Christian holiday of Candlemas — winter will last another six weeks. If no shadow is seen, legend says spring will come early.

The Inner Circle annually announces Phil's forecast at dawn on Gobbler's Knob, about 65 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.