The Bent Needle

More Books

Writer — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 21:42:18 +0000

Well, I managed to get more reading done this week than I thought, again. This time I think it was due to limiting how much I browse on the web in the morning before work, and then the wrist injury I got at work on Friday that kept me from any knitting this weekend. Typing is still slightly uncomfortable, but I wanted to get the books down because they’re going back to the library. So here we are. The bonsai book was a bit meh, but Remarkable Trees was awesome. Lots of photos, but lots of history and interesting facts, more than your usual coffee table book.

A Great Deliverance is the first book I’ve read by Elizabeth George, and I really wish I’d been a bit more prepared for the ending. I suppose that’s my own fault for not reading closely, but I was expecting more the typical cozy mystery whodunit ending, not the psychologically disturbing one there was. I finished it a few hours ago and still feel a bit ill. On the other hand, I loved her character and would really like to know what happens to them. They grew throughout this book and have so much more potential. After I recover from this one, I’ll probably read the next in the series.

7.   Remarkable Trees of Virginia, by Nancy R. Hugo and Robert Llewellyn
8.   Growing Bonsai Indoors, by Brooklyn Botanic Garden
9.   A Great Deliverance, by Elizabeth George

Happy Green Things

Writer — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:08:16 +0000

Green sprouts of plants make me beyond happy. It’s some sort of quiet, inner delight that effects all of me, all day. So far, in evidence is calendula, chives, sweet peas (oops…planted the 6 foot variety, instead of the dwarf…must read seed packages a bit more carefully), johnny jump-ups, oregano, and cineraria.

This Week’s Reading

Writer — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 23:48:10 +0000

I’m actually amazed I was able to read anything at all, as my final clocked working hours came in at 62. But I did!

5. The Nightingale Gallery, by Paul Doherty
6. Unforgettable Canada, by George Fischer and Noel Hudson

I would really like to go to Canada for vacation this summer, and am trying to get some ideas.

75 Books in 2012

Writer — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 00:30:20 +0000

I’m fairly sure I read at least this many books or more within a year, but I’ve never seriously (I don’t think) tried to keep track of them all, except maybe by reviewing, which I recall quickly deciding was to much effort unless a book was spectacularly either good or bad. This time I’m just keeping a list. I’m not defending my choices of books or subject matter, though of course I’m happy to discuss with anyone who wants to know my opinion.

Anyway, here’s the beginning of my list. I think I’ve already forgotten one that I finished last week…if I remember it I’ll come back later and add it. Also, I’m not including books I’ve just skimmed. Anything on this list has actually been read, cover to cover. Well, with the exception of the indexes.

Paganism: an Introduction to Earth-centered Religions, by Joyce and River Higginbotham
The Deeds of the Disturber, by Elizabeth Peters
Herbs in Pots: a Practical Guide to Container Gardening Indoors and Out, by Rob Proctor and David Macke
Indoor Bonsai for Beginners, by Werner M. Busch

EDITED: I remembered the first one!

Pretty Stamps and Papers

Writer — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 15:18:30 +0000

I love creating pretty papers. Buying is of course much more convenient, and I will always suffer a weakness when encountering prettiness like this:

Autumnal

Writer — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 12:35:22 +0000

Well, the move is finished and the boxes are mostly unpacked.

I have a new job with the American Red Cross, which so far I am loving, despite the erratic and long hours it entails. This morning I actually don’t have to leave until just before 10 am, which thus far has been unheard of. I’m enjoying the little extension of my weekend. This week will be the slowest yet, as I’ll only be working 4 days due to Thanksgiving. While I’m actually enjoying the overtime, it’ll be a nice breather. This is also my first week completely “on my own” without a trainer, so…yeah. Trying not to really think about that right now.

The weather here has been so very lovely. I had missed an actual autumn so much. Once I get pictures uploaded and printed I will have some pretties to share with the world at large, until then you will just have to take my word for it. The cooler temperatures have made my coffee and tea obsession much more understandable (ok, at least the tea…the coffee is just an addiction), as the pantry is lighter by about 2 boxes of tea since we arrived.

Right now it seems like there are not enough hours or days in which to do everything I want to do. I haven’t even managed to finish a very interesting book I started almost a month ago.

Have a happy Thanksgiving, everyone! I hope you get to spend it with your friends and loved ones. It’s almost time for Yule…

Bookish Socializing

Writer — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 13:18:16 +0000

So…there is Shelfari, where I’ve had a mostly inactive account for a couple of years now, and GoodReads, which I somehow wasn’t aware of and yet seems to be the most popular site. My goal in using a book socializing site is to be able to converse with friends and acquaintances about what they’re reading, their opinions on books, get ideas for new reads, etc. I’m interested in opinions on the two sites. Which do you like better, and why? What is your interest in using such a website?

I like Shelfari, and have been trying to use it more lately, but it seems a bit dead. As in not very many people actually use it actively, which sort of defeats the whole purpose. I do find a few of its features annoying, such as the “I own, do not own, want to own” option…I’m not looking for a personal library catalog system, I just want to be able to share and discuss what I’m reading, even if most of what I’m reading comes from the library. So I leave the boxes blank, and that annoys me because then my profile for that particular book seems unfinished. I haven’t tried GoodReads enough yet to know if the same issues are present there.

Creatures of Habit

Writer — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 23:18:08 +0000

I’ve realized in the past few weeks just how much I like consistent schedules.

Without a schedule, I tend to drift through the day, doing a little here, a little there, and not really getting anything done. I also like consistency. I hate my work schedule being yanked around any which way, and I really don’t understand how anyone that works retail can like it. Are all stores like this, the management and staff schedule changes every week? I understand special events come up sometimes, but does no one else find this lack of dependability frustrating?

I discovered I like consistency at the expense of sleeping in of the morning. I would rather get up at 5:30 am and still be able to have my little morning ritual of coffee, e-mail, and an hour to get myself and my thoughts in order before leaving for work, than I would stay in bed until 6:30 and have just enough time to get cleaned up, coffee made and in a thermos before dashing out the door. This despite the fact I’m a shameless night owl when given the choice.

What is with this? Is this just a normal state of affairs? A product of stress? A type-A personality?

Slow Down and Breathe

Writer — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 14:16:18 +0000

That’s what I’m trying to do. It’s a bit hard with everything that’s going on right now, but since I’ve been trying to make that my philosophy, or mantra or whatever you want to call it, I’m trying. Life seems to be determined to prevent me, though. Bite off more than I can chew? No, not me.

Phlebotomy class – ending August 16, need to have 100 blood draws done before we can proceed to our…
Move to Virginia – handing in our keys on September 12. Yes, we are finally getting out of Texas! We’re so excited about this, there are just no words. However, that includes all the stress involved with moving, and we don’t have jobs waiting on the other end…I should be able to get a job in phlebotomy so long as I have my registry exams done before I leave Texas. Which, if all goes well, should be fine…
Work – I got moved/promoted to a new position part of the time at work, and splitting my time between two departments keeps me busy. I like being busy, but some work drama erupted in my face yesterday. It’s the first time I’ve been directly involved (however unintentionally) in work drama, and bleh. If people would just be responsible…

sneeze

Writer — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 13:55:01 +0000

*dusts blog off *