Musing Mondays

Coming towards the end of April, we’re a third of the way through the way through the year. What’s the favourite book you’ve read so far in 2009? What about your least favourite? (question courtesy of MizB)

I've had a really good run of reading so far this year!

Since I switch back and forth between fiction and non-fiction I thought I'd double answer this question.

Street Gang by Michael Davis is probably my favorite non-fiction book so far this year. I don't know how much of this has to do with my past work experience in TV, but I thought this book was really great in the amount of detail the author was able to cover without the book ever becoming dry.

If you twist my arm, I would have to say Alex & Me by Irene M. Pepperberg was my least favorite non-fiction book so far. Although I have no regrets about reading it. The only thing that puts it at the bottom of the list is the writing. I feel like I could have written the book myself if I had had those same experiences. Still, it is a great story and well worth the little time it takes to read!

Moving on to fiction...by George by Wesley Stace is such a good book! Multi-generational, focus is on the young male character and a ventriloquist's dummy, but the women in the book are very well developed and strong.

And, least favorite fiction would have to go to The James Boys by Richard Liebmann-Smith. It's an ambitious book imagining Jesse and Frank James as brothers to Henry and William James. I really like the premise but the author put things together in a very confusing manner by including biographical research in a way that pulls the reader out of the story. Still, I will pick up his next book, if there is one.

I've linked the titles to my reviews if you're interested.

Sunday Stealing: The 40 Meme

1. My uncle once :
On advice of council, I'm going to have to skip this question.

2. Never in my life :
Will I be a puppet to "the man".

3. When I was seventeen :
"I learned the truth..."

4. High School was :
A necessary evil.

5. I will never forget :
Well...I'm sure there must be something...

6. I once met :
Tiger Woods when he was 4 yrs old and his dad toured him around country clubs.

7. There’s this girl I know who :
...once at band camp...

8. Once, at a bar :
I met a lesbian who used to be a homosexual man. It's true...

9. By noon, I’m usually :
Thinking I should probably think about getting out of bed.

10. Last night :
I forgot all about doing this meme.

11. If only I had :
A brain.

12. Next time I go to gym/church :
What's "gym/church"?

13. Susan Boyle :
Sadly, probably the definition of 15 mins of fame.

14. What worries me most :
What? Me? Worry?

15. When I turn my head left, I see :
Green

16. When I turn my head right, I see :
Yellow

17. You know I’m lying when :
I'm blogging.

18. What I miss most about the eighties :
My neon green jacket with the giant shoulder pads. Oh, yeah!

19. If I was a character in Shakespeare, I’d be :
Shakespeare!

20. By this time next year :
I will be independently wealthy beyond belief!

21. A better name for me would be :
Well, that depends on who you ask...

22. I have a hard time understanding :
Anything I don't care about.

23. If I ever go back to school, I’ll :
Start my own gang.

24. You know I like you if :
I speak to you.

25. If I ever won an award, the first person I’d thank would be :
Seriously, who would ever give me an award?

26. When I compare 80’s rock to 90’s rock :
I wonder what ever happened to the '60's and '70's.

27. Take my advice, never :
Neither a borrower nor a lender be, Do not forget: Stay out of debt; Think twice, and take this good advice from me, Guard that old solvency. There’s just one other thing you ought to do. To thine own self be true.

28. My ideal breakfast is :
My dad's cast-iron skillet fried potatoes!

29. A song I love, but do not own is :
At This Moment by Billy Vera and the Beaters

30. If you visit my hometown, I suggest :
You take a book.

31. My favorite Beatle is :
RINGO!

32. Why won’t people :
Just do what I tell them to do?

33. If you spend the night at my house :
I would have to, first, lock up the cutlery.

34. I’d stop my wedding for :
One thin dime.

35. The world could do without :
Weddings

36. I’d rather lick the belly of a cockroach than :
Well...just about ANYTHING!!! Who doesn't want to lick the belly of a cockroach?

37. My favorite blonde is :
My own darn self.

38: Paper clips are more useful than :
Q-tips

39. If I do anything well, it’s :
Probably done wrong.

40. And by the way :
I think that's plenty...

Booking Through Thursday: Windfall

Yesterday, April 15th, was Tax Day here in the U.S., which means lots of lucky people will get refunds of over-paid taxes.

Whether you’re one of them or not, what would you spend an unexpected windfall on? Say … $50? How about $500?

(And, this is a reading meme, so by rights the answer should be book-related, but hey, feel free to go wild and splurge on anything you like.)

Unfortunately, my "windfall" is going to have to go to my car: insurance, renewed registration and licence, check-up...

But, if I had a true windfall I would spend it on, finally, opening my Etsy shop! Supplies for making bookmarks, blank books, bookplates, boxes decorated with books that have fallen apart. Recycled materials used for everything! But even "one man's trash" can cost...

Man, I just need to get myself organized and do this! If I didn't need to go to sleep so I can be at work in 6 hours, I would start right now!

Hope I don't loose the mojo by the time I get home...

Wordless Wednesday

Camera Critters

This is Penny

She lived in an ancient used bookstore in downtown Long Beach, CA

This store was huge, dark and crowded with 10' tall, make-shift wooden shelves. Some made from planks, some made from crates, some made from, seemingly, whatever wood was found around. I couldn't even tell you what the walls were made of, they were all covered top to bottom with shelves. The whole place was stocked very heavily with books. Some of the aisles weren't more than 2' wide. The store had been around for so long that if you digged deeply enough you could find some real treasures!

When I first met Penny, I was browsing through the Mystery section. I glanced up from the 1st edition Arthur Conan Doyle (pre Sir) that I was looking at and saw her staring at me from about 5yards away. Quietly sitting in the middle of the aisle, just watching. I said, "hi, kitty". She had no response. A couple of minutes later, she was still sitting there watching me, I turned in the opposite direction, went a few aisles down to browse some more. My decisions made, I turned to head for the cashier. But, at the end of that aisle sat Penny. Just watching me. "Oh! Hi, kitty!" Nothing. I turned the other way not wanting her to think I was approaching her and took the long route to the register. By the time my transaction was complete, there was Penny! Approaching me from on top of the counter. She layed down right in front of me looking for a bit of petting to which I, of course, obliged.

The store closed in October. Seems the city feels you can never have enough ugly condos sitting over-priced and empty.

I miss that place. And I miss Penny who now lives in the home of the ex-store owner.

Friday Fill-Ins

1. Angel or not, I will be-devil you!

2. Shake me, bake me, any way you want me.

3. As my mother used to say, you're full of beans. And she was right! I just finished a baked bean sandwich! I'm also, now full of gas, but that's passing...

4. __?___ after I'm done working out or doing something strenuous. Oh, please...I don't do that...

5. Even in the most crowded of rooms I am the smartest, most captivating, most admired, most worshipped, most beautiful person in the place! Oh...it's true...

6. Every day is a day fraught with peril.

Wordless Wednesday

Heads or Tails: See