Category Archives: Personal history

Linkity linkity link, Personal history, Reading, Reviewettes

Linkity has had better weeks.

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Still waiting to hear whether it’s totaled or not (the rear axle is bent and the frame is not longer in its original shape). I am fine! Which is great! (I was stopped at a red light and was hit at speed by someone who apparently didn’t notice all the stopped cars, only swerving into the ditch at the last moment.) But dammit, I really like(d) this car.

Bookity

Do, Make, Think, Learn

Cookity

Gluten Free

Artsy Crafty

Cool

Cool or Wha…?

Wha…?

LOL

Teh Cute

Reading Update
The Delirium Brief (Laundry Files #8) by Charles Stross. Holy crap. O.O This one was a rollercoaster ride. Very intense. And now I have to go see when book #9 is going to come out…

“…zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…” -Mayhem

Meta, Personal history

How am I now 48?!

26 Comments

It’s kind of amazing how fast time seems to pass as you get older – there’s an economic phrase (the only thing I remember from economics, actually) that describes it perfectly: increasing at an increasing rate. Indeed.

“Wow. You are old, Mom!” -Chaos and Mayhem

Sometimes. And sometimes I’m not. 🙂

Personal history, Those Cats

In which May goes to the emergency vet and I go to urgent care but we’re ok, so whew!

60 Comments

I was eating lunch when May started to scream – she was playing with the end of a bungee cord and got it wedged in her mouth. Chaos flipped and attacked her. I got the bungee free, but she was bleeding. And then Chaos attacked me. He got locked in the bathroom. Took May to the emergency vet – she’s fine (whew!), just has a bruise on her tongue and some cuts at the back of her mouth. Soft food for her for a few days.

While I was at the emergency vet, blood overflowed out of my shoes, so the vet tech slapped some pressure bandages on me and rinsed off my shoes. They held on to May while I went to urgent care. Got five stitches on the back of one calf. Punctures and scratches on both legs, my left hand, and both arms. Since Chaos managed to trip me, I twisted my knee and also seem to have jammed my right index finger. On antibiotics for 10 days.

All the dark spots in the photo above? My blood from earlier.

Home now. May is hiding between the head of my bed and the wall (Chaos can’t get there). She won’t let me near her, either. I let Chaos out and he was fine, but then he went into the bedroom and May started growling at him and he got all hissy growly poofy. I scruffed him and put him back in the bathroom for a few minutes. Now May’s shut in my bedroom and Chaos is out. I guess it’s good I grabbed some disposable litter boxes, just in case….

Send some cat calming, no infection thoughts our way, will ya? Much appreciated…

Update, evening of November 13: May’s been back to the vet twice since Saturday. First we got ointment for her eye, which apparently got scratched in the melee. Today she got subcutaneous fluids, antibiotics, and “critical care” cat food… which she actually ate some of (first food since all this started).

Contests, Linkity linkity link, Personal history, Reading, Reviewettes, Tales of the Neighborhood

My eyeball, let me show it to you (now with more linkity than you’d expect from that title!)

46 Comments

Due to the holiday weekend here in the States, the Misadventures in Stock Photography will be on Tuesday instead of Monday next week.

Contests

Bookity

Learn, Make, Do, Think

Listen

Knit

Huh

LOL

Teh Cute

Reading Update
Fall Down the Mountain by P.D. Singer. ebook. Very good m/m romance about a guy who works as a ski patrol at a fancy resort and who’s having a hard time getting over both his crush on an unavailable man and not having been able to save someone from dying in an avalanche. Will the sexy chef who lives down the hall from him be able to help him move on? I must confess to getting a titch frustrated with the main character’s clinginess during part of the book, even though I completely understood why he was acting that way.
The Best Man by L.A. Witt. ebook. Good m/m romance about two guys who become involved in a casual affair as they’re both getting over being dumped. This was one that I thought could’ve been very good to excellent with a bit more editing to tighten up the story. (And, hey, stalker alert!)
His One and Only (Only Forever, Book 4) by Shawn Lane. ebook. His One and Only was a sweet finish to this m/m romance series centered around the partners at a California law firm.
Poisoned Ivy by Scott Ryersson. ebook. This so-so historical paranormal m/m romance about students at Yale in the early part of the 20th century just never really came together for me. Between the language (aping Jane Austen? or trying for a more literary feel?) and the WTF ending, I never warmed to the story.
Straight as an Arrow by Sean Michael. ebook. Good kinky m/m romance about a guy who travels a lot for his job. He’s in a long-term relationship, but starts to surf D/s chat sites while he’s away from home. Typical Sean Michael fare, although one of the major aspects of this book was so implausible that it definitely detracted. (All that eye rolling I had to do, you know.)
Bound Together by Jane Davitt. ebook short. Very good m/m romance about a book collector who discovers his dominant tendencies after a younger man shows up on his doorstep selling a rare book. (Yes, that is Candy Cane Guy in the back. Good show, you!)
Aftermath by Angel Martinez. ebook. Good m/m romance about a long-term couple who struggle to recover after one of them is betrayed by a friend and assaulted. I did have a bit of a niggle about the couple not using condoms after such an assault…
Mastering Toby by Jan Irving. ebook. So-so m/m romance about a straight actor on a gay soap opera who has some confusing feelings for his gay costar (and best friend). This book never really came together, for all sorts of reasons: pacing issues, an odd tangent from the main storyline 2/3 through, and a mixture of Eastern mysticism and D/s that just didn’t work.
Strange Carnivorous Flowers from Outer Space by Matthew Vandrew. free ebook short. Cute short scifi m/m romance about a guy who’s taking his alien boyfriend home to meet the family.

From the Dreamspinner Midsummer’s Nightmare Daily Dose…
One Wild Wish by Devon Rhodes. ebook. Very good paranormal m/m romance about a band hired to play several shows at a mysterious lodge, with a contract that has some very unusual clauses that they sort of fudge.
Romanus by Mary Calmes. ebook. Good paranormal m/m romance about an exhausted firefighter who gets lost driving home after his shift and whose life will never be the same.
Beneath Lake Redemption by Libby Drew. ebook. Good paranormal m/m romance about a guy who rents a houseboat to check out a mysterious area of Lake Redemption because he suspects it hides a secret government operation.
Give the Devil His Due by Zoe Devlin. ebook short. Good paranormal m/m romance about a guy who tries to avoid emotional entanglements because the Devil takes away those he loves.
Reverie by Dawn Kimberly Johnson. ebook short. Cute paranormal m/m romance about a guy who saves someone’s life in a dream one night, then starts to wonder if it was actually a dream.
Halfway House by Lisa Worrall. ebook short. Pretty good paranormal m/m romance about two college students who don’t really know each other and are just sharing a ride home for Spring Break… and then the car breaks down in the middle of nowhere.
The Man in the Woods by Ashleigh Brannigan. ebook short. So-so paranormal m/m romance about a guy who gets a flat tire while driving on a desolate road through the woods and is rescued by a very bossy and slightly creepy guy. And what the heck – this is at least the third story I’ve read from the Midsummer’s Nightmare Daily Dose that’s based on a car breaking down on a deserted road!! Hmph.
The Min Min Lights by Barry Lowe. ebook short. Ok m/m historical romance about a relatively innocent young British man who interviews with a more worldly Australian who’s looking for a tutor for his children. The ending was a bit abrupt and left me “huh?”
The Gray Ghost by J.J. Levesque. ebook short. So-so m/m romance about a couple who have just purchased a house that no one’s stayed in for longer than a week.

Last week, I woke up to discover my eyeball looked like this:

I was, understandably, somewhat freaked, but it turned out to be very minor – a subconjunctival hemorrhage, which can happen when you’re sleeping, sneezing, coughing, or simply stressed. It’s quite a bit less dramatic now (because the red bits are mostly above and below my pupil), but probably won’t fade completely for another week.

Due to a new store in my neighborhood, things have been a bit noisy as July 4th draws near. Make sure you embiggen the photo to read the signs. Truth in advertising indeed!

Speaking of fireworks…

“I really, really hate all the loud noises outside, Mom. It’s probably your fault, so knock it off!” -Mayhem

Personal history, Randonymity

Shhh! Sleeping Kitty Zone!

58 Comments
  • I have no idea why the CommentLuv plugin is reduced to a single sad checkbox without text below the comment box. If you have some idea, please do share.
    • Last night, I was harmlessly sitting in my bathroom when Chaos, apparently attempting to leap out of the tub and chase after May, got tangled in the shower curtain and fell into the water dish.
    • What? You don’t have a kitty water dish in your bathroom? What happens when they lock themselves into the bathroom when you’re not home? (The toilet is kept closed to keep kitties from playing in it, so it’s not available as a water source.)
    • The kitty treat trick worked very well on Chaos (aka Mr. Food Motivated).
    • He started to get a clue as he was zipped in, but it was too late! *bwahaha*
    • May suspected something was amiss and didn’t jump into the other carrier, but she was too slow to flee the scene. *bwahaha*
    • Verdict #1 from the vet: tartar! Both kitties will need to go back to get their teeth cleaned.
    • Verdict #2 from the vet: May continues to maintain her perfect self (quote from the vet on a prior visit: “She poops rainbows!”), but Chaos…
    • Chaos needs to lose a pound and… has an ear wax issue.
    • Back on the prescription vitamin D, hi-ho, hi-ho.
    • Still waiting on the official test results letter from my doctor to see what else might be awry.
    • Hmm. Not hiding that I’m in a bit of a mood very well, am I?
    • So… Tell me something that will cheer me up! Anyone who leaves a cheering comment on this post by 6 pm CDT, April 11, will have the chance to win their choice of one of the following mix cds: Coffee, Everybody Wants To Be a Cat, Eh Canada, Werewolf Moon, Vampire Life, Books, or ManLove. Winner will be selected by random number. [CONTEST CLOSED]

    *…zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…* -Chaos

    Personal history, Reading

    On birthdays and book sluttery

    35 Comments

    Thank you all so much for the lovely birthday wishes yesterday! I took the day off from work and slept in, then spent the day doing pretty much nothing. Ahhh… Late in the afternoon, I met CJ for dinner, conversation, and laughter at Chiang Mai Thai. Very relaxing day indeed.

    Of course, the birthday festivities really started a week ago, when Jeanne came over with flourless chocolate cake and yarn. 🙂 On Saturday, my family got together for more cake (my SIL makes a divine gf carrot cake – I promise to get the recipe and post it sometime!) and presents. Um, I might have been living on leftover carrot cake for a few days there… *ahem*

    So, I think I detected a theme in my birthday cards. Can you see it?

    Apparently everyone’s accepted that I’m a crazy cat lady. Now they just have to get on board with my being a crazy cat’n’book lady, because yesterday I won a prestigious award:

    Many thanks to Kris and Tracy! I am honored to join Wendy the Super Librarian, who won this award last time. 🙂

    Chaos wasn’t impressed by any of this.

    “I stick my tongue out at all these distractions, Mom! You should be entirely focused on moi.” -Chaos

    Contests, Personal history, Randonymity

    Update on the bruise, the apologetic pole, and more

    28 Comments

    Just a warning, to see if we can cut down on the shock casualties, tomorrow I will be posting pictures of a finished knitting project that probably only Marina remembers I was working on.

    Fyrefly’s giving away five copies of Emma Darwin’s historical novel A Secret Alchemy, which is about the War of the Roses. Comment before July 15 for your chance to win.

    Lots of book contests listed over at Book Junkie.

    It’s time for Box Topalooza again! Trek’s collecting Box Tops for Education and if you send her box tops, you’ll be entered in a prize drawing (last time it was a $25 Amazon gift certificate). (Oh, and I still can’t believe I guessed the correct dollar value of the quarters in Trek’s tea tin. Correct as in exactly. *blink blink*)

    One of the reasons I announce contests here is because I win an awful lot of contests. That translates to me feeling the need to spread the chance for others to win. (Additionally, it’s a great way to introduce you to blogs you might not read yet and help those bloggers increase their readership.)

    Some things that I’ve won recently: Once Bitten (from Midnight Moon Cafe), Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (from Historic Fibers), My Forbidden Desire (from Kelly Moran’s blog), Blood Ties dvd and book (from LoveVampires), and The Outlaw Groom (from Alexis Morgan, and hey, that’s an NK cover, but why is he wearing so much clothing?!).

    Remember the apologetic pole? It looks exactly the same.

    My leg is definitely looking better than it did in the pictures from last week. Here’s a picture from July 1 (last Wednesday), which doesn’t actually capture the bruise’s lurid shade of chartreuse. (Please ignore Chaos’s butt.)

    Here’s a cat butt free picture from yesterday – I think the spots that are still bruised are where I initially hit the sprocket, before getting cut on it.

    Oh, remember back in early April, when my Vitamin D level was 9.8? (Normal starts at 32.) I was rechecked last week and I’m up to 23.5. I’m still taking prescription Vitamin D, but now only once a week instead of twice.

    I was out on my bike yesterday and what did I see out in Lake Harriet? A lake creature! Too bad I didn’t have my camera, but there are some great pictures at the link.

    “I have admit, I’m a little concerned about your obsession with us lying on that towel instead of on the FURniture, Mom.” -Mayhem

    Personal history

    meh.

    46 Comments

    I had a bunch of lab work done last Thursday as part of my annual celiac checkup (anti-gliadin antibodies, thyroid, iron, B-12, folate, calcium, and vitamin D). I got the test results back Monday and everything looked good except for vitamin D; apparently normal vitamin D levels are 32-100 and people feel best at 50. Mine is… 9.8. I’m now on prescription vitamin D (50,000 IU twice a week) for the next several months because regular supplements won’t do the trick at this point. I also went in yesterday to get a parathyroid test.

    I guess vitamin D deficiency helps explain why I’ve been so tired and listless over the past few months, eh?

    Move over, Chaos. I need to share that sunbeam with you.

    *bliss* -Chaos

    Personal history

    Somewhere in East Glacier…

    24 Comments

    …in August of 2002. Or maybe 2001. I think. Round about that time, anyway. This is one of my favorite pictures of me ever. I still have that crocheted black cowboy hat, which I got at the Boulder Art Fair a few years before the picture was taken.

    “This is my impression of Mom in East Glacier. Only without the hat. Or the waterfall. Or the greenery. Or the braid. Pretty good, huh?” -Mayhem