Ruth’s hosting a Secret Santa Fiber Swap on swap-bot. Sign-ups close December 15.
Don’t forget to play along in my Superpower Blogiversary Contest before 6 pm CST, Tuesday, December 4!
Reading Update
Obsession, Deceit, and Really Dark Chocolate by Kyra Davis. Mystery writer Sophie Katz and her black cat, Mr. Katz, are back in the third book in this series. I really like these, and am already looking forward to the next book!
I’m the Vampire, That’s Why by Michele Bardsley. Since I’d already read the sequel (Don’t Talk Back To Your Vampire) and enjoyed it, what the heck? 😉
Cupid, Inc. by Michele Bardsley. What if Eros and Psyche opened not a dating service, but a fantasy service? This is pretty much chock full of sex vignettes, loosely held together by a bit of plot.
Just One Sip by Katie McAlister, Jennifer Ashley, and Minda Webber. Three novellas by paranormal romance authors – at least one of the stories was really cheesy. McAlister’s story is sort of a follow-up to her novel Sex, Lies and Vampires.
Love Overboard by Janet Evanovich. Like most of Evanovich’s non-Stephanie Plum novels, this is just an ok romance, set in coastal Maine.
Rising Moon: A Nightcreature Novel, Book 6 by Lori Handeland. Blatantly inspired by the Dark-Hunter novels, this was still an acceptable read for a paranormal romance.
Anyone have theories as to what triggered this paranormal romance outbreak that started a few years ago? Do you think it was the success of the Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter novels?
Life Update
I realized as I was walking around Lake of the Isles on Sunday (sunny and nearly 50F) that I physically and mentally feel better than I have for nearly two years, even though I’m not in the sort of shape I’m used to being in. Woo-hoo, surgery! Woo-hoo, rediscovered exercise plan!
I had a really good Thanksgiving, hanging out with my SIL’s family. Her parents stuffed one of the turkeys with gf cornbread stuffing, and my dad and stepmom brought me crustless pumpkin pie. Really, I got kinda sniffly about all of that. Until you have dietary restrictions and people go out of their way to include you, that may sound sort of strange to you… (I know Brigitte understands!) Anyway, “only” about 25 people showed up, out of the possible 40+… One of those people, my SIL’s aunt, turned out to an intelligent and dedicated knitter who (of course) had her knitting with her, so we hung out chatting and knitting and scaring the muggles.
MrsPao and Pao sent me a fun box of birthday goodies.
*sniff sniff sniff* -Mayhem
“Doo de doo de doo…” -Chaos
Hmm. Let’s try that again, shall we?
“New mice! New mice! New mice! Mom, put down the camera and free these mice for me.” -Mayhem
Much better. Yummy dark chocolate, a cute black kitty card (how did they know?!), my absolute most beloved favoritest dark chocolate rice cakes (tragically unavailable in the US), the aforementioned catnip mice, some stunning purple yarn that I think is silk (shiny! purple! shiny!), and a V.I. Warshawski novel (cool British printing; known as Blood Shot in the US). Thank you two!
Ok, this isn’t the greatest shot of May, but notice the ghost kitty arms as she leaps for the new mouse?? (Embiggen for best effect.) I was holding the mouse about three feet off the floor, if that helps you envision the difficulties of this photo…
“Ooof!” -Mayhem
Chris- Mousies, mousies, mousies! Wonderful splendiferous mousies!
(I have Kitten-Chow on my lap- he’s rather excited by the mousie porn!)
Glad you liked it 🙂 I love that photo of Mayhem she is very very cute!
Good to know you’re feeling better but I’m not so sure about that May!
Hmm, you know you’ve had too much catnip when you can’t decide whether to catch the mouse with your teeth or claws. Take it easy, May!
wait a second, Minnesota is in the US? I thought for sure we gave it to Canada when Wayne Gretsky was traded the Kings
Yay! for feeling good!! Several of us are trying to get in the exercise groove again. It do feel good.
May is one intent and quick kitty!
You can “hear” how much better you are feeling in your posts. I’m so glad you made the decision and that you’re happy with it. But now will I need to get to know a new you? Cuz, I already liked the one I knew … It’ all so confusing so early in the morning …
Feeling good is strange and wonderful and somehow freeing.
Freeing is so good, isn’t it?
My other friends who had the surgery said the same thing–they couldn’t believe how much better they felt, not just at certain times of the month, but all the time. Glad it’s happened for you too!
Ooo, now Mae has an invisible friend too!
It is such a wonderful thing when people accomodate our food limitations, isn’t it? At my sister’s wedding reception last year, they even told the Reception Hall manager, who went out of their way to make some special items just for me!
So happy to hear you’re feeling better!!
So glad you’re feeling better!
I’m with ya on the ‘yeah surgery’ thing. This sounds stupid but I just didn’t realize how much of my month was spent feeling like hell. Go modern medicine, go!
I love the ghost kitty arms!
I’m glad you are feeling better!
We had cornbread stuffing too! I’m glad that someone made a pie you could enjoy, that is very sweet indeed. LOVE the ghostly kitty picture. Keep up the walking while the weather permits. Happy belated birthday too!
Lovely package from the Pao’s!
Just want to grab and snuggle that Mayhem.
“This is pretty much chock full of sex vignettes, loosely held together by a bit of plot” — this made me laugh out loud. Unfortunate, as I am sitting at my desk at work and would not want to have to explain this one!
I am happier to hear about how good you’re feeling than about anything else I’ve read or seen on blogs in a long long time!
YOU DESERVE IT!
((((hugs))))
Three cheers for feeling better! Hooray!
Good to hear you are feeling fit!
It’s good to hear you’re feeling so much better post-surgery! Rick has diabetes and even something simple like making sure there are diet drinks available makes him feel so much better.
About the paranormal romance novels, I thought maybe it was because of the success of TV shows like “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Charmed”. The book “Interview with a Vampire” may have helped too.
I love your book lists. Get such good ideas from them. I am wheat/gluten sensitive, too. I ate the dressing and suffered. I wish I could learn to just leave it alone.
Just reading about you getting sniffly is making me sniffly.
I am such a sap. A sap who could use a full night’s sleep.
I kinda like the ghosty affect. That’s pretty cool.
I’m so happy to hear that your body is happy — feeling good after not feeling that way for a long time is a true blessing. Or miracle. (Jeez, what is it with the religious expressions?) Anyway, thank FSM for modern medical science that works.
I’m not sure May is actually sniffing the mice in the first photo, but then, doesn’t she already know what Chaos’s butt smells like? Kitties!
Happy belated b-day. Glad you are feeling good. Love the pic of May
Presents for everyone! Now that’s what I call a good Thanksgiving!
I am admitting to complete and total West Coast Ignorance here (forgive me, I’m a Californian — and don’t you DARE say Ohhhhhhhhhhhh in that condescending way everyone does like it explains SOMETHING!), but Who, WHAT, WHERE is the Lake of the Isles of which you speak so familiarly?
Mousies and shiny! purple! silk! — you are a very lucky household indeed!
Thanks for linkin’ my swap!
GF cornbread stuffing sounds SO good. My favorite Thia restaurant in my town (OK, the only one period), Indochine, now has quite a large selection of GF dishes!
Sooooo tasty….
So glad to see you are feeling better 🙂
I have to agree that the Buffy/Charmed programs may have something to do with it. The first DH novel came out about the same time as the Anita Blake novels. I also think that a whole generation of female teenage scifi/fantasy readers may have spawned this supernatural romance boom as we got older 🙂
Yup. Buffy, Angel, Charmed……all television shows. Well, maybe Anne Rice had a little something to start it off.
Whoo hoo for feeling good! And for having your dietary restrictions actually accomodated. I was surprised to find out how much alcohol is in EVERYTHING. (Practically.)
Go, May! And go, Chris, because that’s an awesome shot.
Kitties are like little kids..they want the presents NOW!!!!!
That’s great that everyone included you in their Thanksgiving preps.
Well, I think we all know what May-Ghost-Cats superpowers are.
That sounds like such a nice Thanksgiving! Good for you. 🙂
Sunday was a good day for walking around the Lake, but not today, eh? To flarpin’ cold!!
hey!
just wanted to let you know that yes i’m still alive and still in canada.
brian and i are over… moved into my own place and he has earl (although i have naps). it’s been a long painful process and i’m not near over it yet… lots more work to do on myself. living alone is kinda lonely. i might get another cat lol…
so what’s up with you? i will probably start blogging soon but i also have another one. i’ll send you the link.. 😉
Oh great. now I have more cat mysteries to read along with Midnight Louie books. Love reading your cats’ opinions.
I love Sara Paretsky. She’s an awesome writer.
Even though I don’t have food allergies, I can relate to loving the feeling of being included, it can make one a bit verklempt.
Glad you enjoyed your thanksgiving 😉
Strangely enough the chinchillas all fight over the mousie cat toy and who ever gets to steal it into their cage is mightily pleased with themselves!