Monday, May 27, 2013

It's Monday and I'm craving a corned beef sandwich - deli style



Happy Monday! yes, I actually said Happy Monday.  I'm trying to be positive about Mondays....  and this particular Monday is a holiday.  I get to babysit the granddaughter though - so I have to get up early, although it will be a relaxed day of babysitting.  Granddaughter doesn't judge if granma falls asleep....she'll just play alongside me and shake me awake when she's hungry.  We've actually had a few afternoons like that.  She just stays by me and watches t.v. or plays....  Maybe we'll go splurge on a deli sandwich - I've been craving a good corned beef sandwich, and believe it or not...have NOT been able to find one around our town.  I've been to three different delis asking about corned beef and they just don't have it.  One tried to tell us that Pastrami was just like corned beef....ummmm  NOPE.  Pastrami is edged with huge CHUNKS of PEPPER.  I do not enjoy black pepper.  Or chili pepper....  or even white pepper.  Not a hot spice fan.  I like my mouth to NOT feel like it's burning up - thanks.
So we'll go on the hunt for a good corned beef sandwich tomorrow - maybe visit the bookstore if I have enough left in the bank....

Well - another Monday is here.  Which means it's time for It's Monday, What Are You Reading? Hosted by Sheila of Book Journey.

It was beginning to seem like another one of my unambitious reading weeks....I've been trying to finish a certain book that just isn't really holding my interest.  Then by the end of the week, suddenly - things just seemed to change....

Books finally Finished:

I had been lazily reading, actually kind of desultory reading a certain novel - not really feeling it when BAM! I noticed a book sitting in a pile that I had almost finished quite a while ago.  For some reason, (B.A.D.D.) I had laid it aside, meaning to go back to it - but of course, until Friday night I had it out of my mind....I suddenly was INTO IT.  I grabbed it, found where I left off (might have been a year ago, maybe more...) and without any difficulty was right back into the story.  I finished it within hours!  That book was Young Miles, and was part of an omnibus edition of Lois McMaster Bujold's Science Fiction works.  Woman can really write!

After reading Young Miles, I was still in a SciFi
mood, so I went on to the next story in the omnibus titled Mountains of Mourning.  What a story - concerning an old practice of leaving 'mutie' babies to die (or rather cutting their throats).  A young woman has walked miles to get to Miles' family residence - they've come to an old family home to vacation - for justice.  She had a baby recently who had a cleft palate and was murdered.  This story kind of hit home for me, since my grandson was born with a double cleft palate and 'hare-lip' (which was called a cat's mouth or face in this particular story).  And despite such a hard beginning - doctors had warned that it would be very difficult for him to use a bottle, but he thrived- we all learned how to hold him and the bottle and that baby ate like a champ.  Anyway - back to the story.  Miles has just graduated from a military academy and his father sends him on a journey of justice - to find the murderer and to make an example of him....Miles is a character who was also born with deformities.  His were caused by a chemical attack while he was in utero, and he has spinal issues and problems with his legs, making him a very short man with easily broken bones and a kind of large head.  Great story, with an interesting main character.

I also have recently received a copy of Science Fiction Trails #10 - A very fun issue of Science Fiction short stories (one is seriously one half of a page long - but very informative. wink) This particular issue focuses on the Wild West and The "last" frontier - Space.  LOVE the cover - it's way cool. I love the blend of Science Fiction and Western fiction.  I haven't read ALL the stories yet, but I've read a few, and enjoyed each one...
The Strongbox by C.J. Killmer
out laws get more than they expected after robbing a train.
Karl's Corner by Karl, the Dinosaur Sheriff
an essay about fear changing the tasts of meat - vamp meat, man meat....etc.  (twisted but kinda funny)
The Kid by Vivian Caethe
a re-telling of Billy The Kid and how she got away.
The Day Death Wore Boots by Dorothy Davies
have you ever been tempted to buy a complete toy western town?  well, don't
Brown vs. The Martians by J.A. Campbell
one of my favorite dog characters and her human come across a crashed cow pie - aka space ship.

I also grabbed another book from the shelf of
neglected books - Hounded by Kevin Hearne.  This was given to me long ago, and I kept meaning to read it....actually started to once, and the first chapter didn't really grab my attention.  This time around though - I kept reading and next thing I knew, I was almost finished with the book.  Had to go make a visit to family members - came home and finished reading.  :)  I am now only five books behind on this series.  



Current Reads
  
I've been reading Dead Reckoning for a week or two too long....almost ready to put it aside if it doesn't grab my interest any better.  I have a few stories to go yet on Science Fiction/Western edition (#10).  And am now pretty interested in reading the second of the Iron Druid Chronicles - or Hearne's series.  I also would love to locate a copy of a book sent to me as a present - 

it's been on my mind a lot lately - I think I was at least a third of the way through the book when I misplaced it.  I believe I have -currently- at least six books that I know are missing....wonder how many I just don't remember I've started and thus don't even realize that they might be lost?




**A quick book note - FREE Read:**

Author Tahlia Newland's short story is being offered for free for a three day period.
Double award-winning YA novel 'You Can't Shatter Me' is FREE from the 29th to the 31st of May 2013. (Pacific Standard Time)
This book on empowering ways to handle bullying has been hailed as a must-read for teens, parents and educators
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This heart-warming magical realism story has received an AIA Seal of Excellence and a B.R.A.G.MedallionTM for outstanding independent fiction.
Give it a try - free from 5/29/13 to 5/31/13.

The promotion is available from approximately 12:00 AM Pacific Standard Time on May the 29th to approximately 11:59 PM Pacific Standard Time on May the 31st.


**I read this myself, almost a year ago, and enjoyed the unique way the characters had of working through their problems.  I think it should be required reading - or at least on a suggested reading list for grades 6 through high school. 

Kindle US



12 comments:

  1. Aww sounds like you're going to have a nice day. I don't think I've ever had corned beef, at least I can't remember having it... I'm not big fan of the sci fi genre, although I liked X-Files so maybe there's hope for me yet. :)

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    1. OMG - I FINALLY got a corned beef sandwich. I've been craving it for almost a year! :) It was sooo good. :)

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  2. Wow! I love anything by Lois McMaster Bujold and have read each of her books many times. I have Hounded on my stack too but haven't had a chance to start it. You make me want to go grab it right now. Come see my Monday Report. Happy reading!

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  3. You ended up being very productive. Haven't heard of Lois McMaster Bujold but I'm curious after reading your thoughts. Thanks for the link to You Can't Shatter Me, sounds good.
    Have a great week and enjoy your reads :)

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    1. Bujold is a very prolific writer - she's written quite a few books, and is good with the whole writing thing - dialogue, narration, etc. up there with the best. :)

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  4. Some great books here. Hexed sounds intriguing. Enjoy!


    My reads for the week.

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    1. It's definitely next - and it seems like it'll be interesting. :)

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  5. Enjoy reading this week. I'm currently reading The Host by Stephenie Meyer and Anna Karenina by Tolstoy.

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    1. WOW! those are two huge novels - with thousands of words... *wink. Some serious reading there. :)

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  6. I read one of Bujold's Miles books and really enjoyed it but I have not yet read any others. I must! The first was good :)

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    1. I liked the two I've read. she's like a master story teller, isn't she? :)

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