Category Archives: books

books, Canada, Wedding, William

Yippee Ki-yay, Harry Potter!

I think the Harry Potter/ Air Conditioning plan would have worked a little bit better had they remembered to keep the a/c on in the goram theatre! I went out before the movie and told them it was freakin’ hot in there. They turned it on and it started to get better, but halfway through it started to get hot again. However, I was unable to leave to tell them to turn it on again because I was sucked into the magical land of Hogwarts.

The movie was good. Obviously, lots of stuff, from the book, has to be left out. But it wasn’t too bad. We went to see it in an IMAX theatre. Part of it, the “exciting finale” was in 3-D. When the green glasses flashed on the screen, you could hear a collective “OooooOOooo!” as we all put on these giant glasses. Wil was right, it made us all look like Elton John. Wil is not a HP fan, he went to see it for me. But I think he thought it was ok. It was no Die Hard, but then few things are. Except for, you know., Die Hard.

After the movie, I realized I really did need to re-read “The Half Blood Prince” before “Deathly Hallows” comes out. Normally, I would have read “Order the Phoenix” before going to the movie, but all my books are down in the states. So I went to Chapters and bought a paperback of HBP.

When I walked up to the counter, everyone was engaged in deep discussion and it took a minute before anyone realized I was standing there. The clerk explained to me that they were preparing for the release of Deathly Hallows on the 21st. I told her I understood completely, I was doing the same thing. They asked me if I had pre-ordered and I said I had (although didn’t mention it was on Amazon.com) and then I had to explain to them the incredible dilemmas I had faced while doing so. You see, the US has one cover version, and Canada/UK has another. All my books are US hardback books. Frankly, I prefer the US covers by far. But that isn’t even the important part, the important part is, all my books must match.

So, what to do? Order the US version and have it shipped to my mom’s house you say? Well, that is all well and good but the book comes out on the 21st. And my mom happens to be returning home to the states FROM Canada on the 21st. Who knows when she’ll be back. Drive over to the border and buy one in Bellingham? Can’t. And we’ll talk about why I can’t later. Order a US version and have it shipped to Canada? But that might take more time, everyone would have their books and be reading it, and I’d be WAITING!!

After much discussion with concerned friends and loved ones, it was decided I would buy a copy from Amazon.ca, and my mom would buy me a copy at Costco for 189%, or whatever, off, and bring it to me when she came up next. I would then donate my UK/Canadian version to the library. I took the opportunity to order the copy with the ADULT cover. The UK/Canadian releases have covers that are supposed to appeal to the Adult reader. And I am an ADULT.

The clerks wanted to know if I was going to be there at the big release party next Friday to pick up my pre-ordered book (that I did not pre-order from them) and I told that I could not, as I was getting married that day. Ooohh… isn’t that wonderful! Was I going to have a Harry Potter theme wedding? Ha! Even I draw the line at that. Besides, even though he’s not a HP fan, Wil seems positive that he’s Slytherin. And there is no way I’m going to be caught marrying a Slytherin. In public.

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books

Reading, writing and ….. umm… warcraft.

I’ve been lax about keeping track of my reading for the last few months. Truth is, I’ve been reading a lot of crap. Well, not all crap. I’ve been buying Agatha Christie books on the ferry. Finish one, go up, grab another. But I think I’ve read all the AC books they stock. I’ve bought a lot of supermarket top 10 crap too. It hasn’t been worth keeping track of. Except Agatha Christie, she’s cool. So, anyhoo, one of the things I am trying to do now, in 2007, is keep better track of what I am reading, as well as reading higher quaqlity stuff. This does not include the World of Warcraft Master Guide Edition Vol. 2. Which will need to be updated when the expansion pack comes out next week anyway.

My question to you is, what are you reading? Any recommendations? I am reading a book I tried to read last year. “Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia” (Elizabeth Gilbert). I’m more successful this time around, I’ll let you know what I think.

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books

Another Saturday … Lost

It’s too hot. Too hot to do anything. Too hot to write anything. Too hot to get anything done. Too hot to be creative. Too hot to think. I’m numb with hottness.

That didn’t come out right.

The point is, my super powers are at less than half power on a day like today. I am worse than sloth. Sloth sped right by me today. I hid in the darkest, coolest room in the house all day, my bedroom, drank orange juice out of frozen mugs and read. And I literally lost the day to a book. It was 10 when I started to read and then, all of the sudden, it was 4 pm. Like…. THAT!

But I just ate a popsicle, and it revived me momentarily. I think I know what I will use for a Then and Now tomorrow.

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books

Tonight, by royal decree, we shall eat fairy cakes!

Louise and I are going to a book signing tonight, at Cupcake Royal. Mmnmmm…. books and cupcakes, all in one evening. So much goodness. We are going to hear readings from Dr. Frank’s brilliant book:

I’ve know I’ve told you before to read it, but let this be a reminder to you.

We have another reading next week, to hear Craig Ferguson read from Between the River and Bridge. I think the theory here is that, if we get books signed, Craig Ferguson should hardly be impressed with Louise’s Darling Scottish Accent, seeing as he has one himself. She’s ok with that, however. Ever since Robert Crais broke her streak, she’s been a bit more humble. Although having Christopher Moore remember her from last years signing didn’t help.

Oh just wait until you hear about the blog fodder I have lined up for you kids in June!!

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books, thenandnow

Then and Now: Episode 24 A Very Special Episode.

This Then and Now is brought to you by the book I am currently reading – King Dork by Frank Portman. aka: Dr. Frank



Dr. Frank is the lead singer of a band I like very much, The Mr. T Experience, aka: MTX. He also rights a blog I read regularly. This is his first book, and it’s wonderful. Funny. Touching. And chock full of rock – n -roll. I’m only a third of the way through, so I am going to use the blurb to tell you what it’s about.

Tom Henderson (a.k.a. King Dork, Chi-mo, Hender-fag, and Sheepie) is a typical American high school loser until he discovers the book, The Catcher in the Rye, that will change the world as he knows it. When Tom discovers his deceased fatherís copy of the Salinger classic, he finds himself in the middle of several interlocking conspiracies and at least half a dozen mysteries involving dead people, naked people, fake people, ESP, blood, a secret code, guitars, monks, witchcraft, the Bible, girls, the Crusades, a devil head, and rock and roll. And it all looks like itís just the tip of a very odd iceberg of clues that may very well unravel the puzzle of his fatherís death andñoddlyñreveal the secret to attracting semihot girls.

Being in a band could possibly be the secret to the girl thingñbut good luck finding a drummer who can count to four.

Music plays a big part of the book, especially rock and bubblegum pop from the 70’s. Which naturally I love, since that music is from my childhood. I had to dig out Sweet’s Desolation Boulevard the other day, and listen to it loud, after reading the first few chapters. How can I not love a book that specifically mentions the importance of a song like Wig Wam Bam?

Wig Wam Bam – Sweet

Sometimes it feels like cheating to use the Donnas in a Then and Now, they’ve covered plenty of songs. But extra special chocolate chip fudgey props to them for covering this one! Now if I could only get someone to cover Spark’s Eaten by the Monster of Love.

Wig Wam Bam – The Donnas

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books

“History of the condom – pick me! Prostitutes in 18th england – pick me!” – Louise

After a stunning loss at the Robert Crais signing, Louise came back from behind with a outstanding victory at Saturday night’s Christopher Moore signing. If you recall, at the previous signing, Mr. Moore fell sway to her Darling Accent. This time, not only did he fall sway, but he remembered her, on sight, from the last time.

In line, Louise was very anxious because the post-it note lady had skipped us. We had no post-it notes in the front of our books, indicating the correct spelling of the our names. Since she was having a book signed for her brother Greame, or Graeme… I don’t know how it’s spelled, some crazy Scottish way, she was worried. She kept saying, over and over, in her Milton voice that she had no post-it. Sure enough, I believe it was spelled wrong at first, but you can’t blame him. He was caught in the golden aura that is her Scottish Spell. I’m being a little hard on him. He dissed the Mac during the reading/Q&A part. You can’t get away with that, unscathed. But I finished the book on Sunday and enjoyed very much.

My name he had no trouble with. It’s so sad to be the plain country mouse. Standing next to the fancy Scottish squirrel. Oh well, Robert Crais liked me better.

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50 Word Fictions, belly dancing, books

50 Word Fiction Fridays Vol. 45

I took a different belly dancing class with a different teacher this week. And I different Kirsten, for that matter, I went with coworker KK. You can never have too many belly dancing Kirstens in your life. This class was longer, the teacher was better, the results were sweatier. We worked harder and I ended up with more sore more muscles. I am going to stick with this class, as I like the teacher better. My cousin Kirsten is going to join us next week. I’ll be surrounded by Kirstens!

I’m a bit slow on the 50 word fiction this morning, I’ve been posting at Satan’s Bookclub. Yes! I have! Just a couple of newsy bits, but I’ve been missing the place lately, and wanted to give it some of my attentions. Which is this mornings theme… are there things or people in your life who need your attention?

Kitten Communication

She woke with a snort, unable to breath, feeling of panic in her chest. Sitting up quickly, she dislodged the cat from her face.

“Well, you wanted my attention, you have it now.”

Sitting at the foot of the bed, everything in the cat’s serene posture said “breakfast time!”

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books

Oh, listen to Mary Poppins. He’s got his crust all stiff and upper with that nancy boy accent. You Englishmen are always so… bloody hell!

Oh kids, the most amazing and wondrous thing happened on Saturday. It was a day in which I won, and Louise lost. We went down to the Seattle Mystery Bookshop to have books signed by Robert Crais, who writes a favorite mystery/crime series of mine. And you know what? He didn’t notice her accent! He didn’t comment or gush or propose or even acknowledge it. The words “darling” and “accent” did not leave his mouth. And, even though he is a handsome handsome man, as it is now, and a fav writer of mine, already, I love him all the more now. For breaking her streak. Seriously, she was getting a little cocky. A little humility looks good on her. And the day was not a complete waste. Some, seemingly, homeless men told her she had beautiful hair as we walked by. I almost said thank you. One of the few physical compliments I get in life is on my hair, occasionally my smile or my eyes, but usually my hair. And it was down and curling nicely that day. But it’s a pretty safe bet that if a bunch of guys in an alley yell out a compliment like “you have beautiful hair” and you are walking by with Louise, it’s for her. She has long wavy dark blond hair that goes down past her butt. The bitch. Instead, I just told her to thank them. Which she did. In her darling accent.

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books, evildeb, movies and tv

Jodi answers questions.

Thanks for asking questions, everyone! Now I can answer them, and therefore put off coming up with original content one more day. Whew. Evildeb also took time out to answer all your questions as well.



Thomas asks:

I have a question. If a car leaves New York at 5:30am and goes towards Washington D.C. at 55mph, and at the same time another car leaves D.C. and heads to New York going 65mph, which car will be closer to New York when they meet?

The blue one.

Delmer asks:

Does reading crime novels make you feel, um, less smart? (Maybe that’s not the expression I want. But it’s close.)



I know what you are asking. A few years ago, I wouldn’t have been reading crime novels. I only read “good books,” and “literature,” along with computer books and non-fiction. Wouldn’t be caught dead with a mass market paperback. And I had sapped the joy right out of reading. Then I picked up a trashy vampire hunter novel in an airport, and I remembered what I liked about books. I like stories, and I like to be entertained. I find value in reading every genre – romance, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, mystery, comics and graphic novels, general fiction – I like it all. Sometimes a book makes me think, and that’s great. But sometimes, all it does is make me laugh, and that’s invaluable too.

This weekend a friend of mine offered to lend me her Sue Grafton book when she’s done with it. The “S” one. I told her I really needed to start with “A” just to keep things tidy.

I suggest you start with “A.” You don’t have to, in fact, “S” is a pretty stand alone story. But I just feel, rather strongly, that when dealing with a series, it’s best to start at the beginning, watch the character develop along the way. Perhaps less so with Grafton than with others, but why not read the books the way god intended? In order.

Drink Jack writes:

I have started the Grafton books as well. Started with the “A” just to be completely anal (pun intended).



Good boy, Jack.

Any authors that have the feel of historical fiction with spies (similar to Da Vinci Code)?

You know, I’m not up on the spy stuff, so much as the crime stuff. But, you might try “The Eight” by Katherine Neville. Something I read a while back and remember enjoying.

River asks:

i have a huge crush on the guy who plays eric on wonder falls. let’s talk about that and how he has conveniently disappeared from tv and movies. what am i supposed to do now?

River, I know you have other crushes that you can concentrate on. I’m afraid that all you have left of Eric, are the dvd memories. IMDB says that he’s from Vancouver BC, you could come up here and stalk him, if you like.

“Yawn” asks:

I MISS YOU!

yeah, i miss her… wanna fight about it?

Nope! Missing me is perfectly acceptable.

Kirsten asks:

Um… what’s wonder falls?



Wonder Falls is a snarky little tv show that didn’t make it past 13 episodes because it was too good and too funny for mainstream America. Who suck. I will work on getting you addicted to it after you are done with Buffy. And Angel.

Evildeb asks:

Are you partisan about bread?



Yes I am.

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books

Barnes and Noble therapy

Boys, you might want to avert your eyes right about now. I’m going to bring up a girly topic. Ladies, am I the only one who combats cramps with buying dvd’s, cd’s or books. Or, in the case of this weekend, all three? It doesn’t really work. But it gives you something to do when you are lying about the house, lamenting your fate and taking Alieve. I imagine most girls go for shoes. Not me. I head for Barnes and Noble.

The books I bought:



“House of Leaves” (Mark Z. Danielewski)

My cousin was reading this the last time I went to visit her. It’s supposed to be scary. I’ll let you know. I haven’t started it yet.



“The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time ” (Mark Haddon)



“Darkly Dreaming Dexter” (Jeff Lindsay)

I’m reading this one cuz Chris from rude cactus read it and I want to be just like him when I grow up. The hero is a serial killer. Creepy!

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