Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays to everyone!

I will be going over to my sister's house to watch my nephew open his presents (she lives two doors up) then driving to my mom and dads in West Virginia for the day (5 hours total). Then its home and work the next morning. I will be so glad when this holiday will be over. Its getting to the point that its just another day.

Sad News

My uncle David (mom's brother) passed away last Wednesday. He lived in Maryland and the funeral is tomorrow. My sister, my nephew and I are driving up tomorrow to go. My uncle was 65 and had rheumatoid arthritis for a very long time. He was also a diabetic and recently had heart trouble. They put a pacemaker in last sunday and he seemed to be doing better, but then he caught pneumonia and his systems just started failing. I don't think it has really hit me yet. My mom says the same thing.

Peace and quiet

My sister and nephew, along with my sister's boyfriend moved into their own place a week ago. Luckily it is only two doors down from me so I can still see my nephew. But my house is very quiet. Just me and the two cats. I think if the cats weren't here, it would be too quiet even for me! The house has also stayed clean for the most part. Now if I can get them to take the rest of their clutter, I will be a happy camper!

My house has new pipes! My water pressure has returned! Unfortunately, the floor under my water heater is rotting from the last time the water heater was replaced (and leaked) several years ago. The plumbers said it should be fine for now, but when I replace the water heater (with my water that will be sooner rather than later) he said I might want to get that taken care of. Its most likely been that way for a while, but my paranoid and anxious little brain is interpreting this as the water heater is going to come crashing into the basement! My dad told me that if it was an emergency then they wouldn't have left it that way. But still I worry. I am getting an estimate to see how much it would cost to move the water heater into the basement, but I am broke. My home equity loan will be taken up by my credit card bills. And I don't want to put anything else on it. I am hoping that all will be well til I can get a tax refund. I know everyone will be shocked by this, but I tend to worry a lot :-)

I have been reading, but titles escape me at the moment. I have so many on my "to read" pile that I need a year off to catch up!

Holiday plans

My Thanksgiving day is going to be quiet. My sister and nephew are going to her boyfriend's grandmother's house for Thanksgiving. It will just be me (single and pathetic) going to my parents house. I am looking forward to turkey, mashed potatoes, and my mom's stuffing. Then I have to drive back the same day because my plumbing will be replaced the next day! I hope to get in some reading while they are working. I hope everyone has a great holiday!

I have returned!

I have been scarce lately. There has been so much going on. Little things have just piled and piled on. I realized that the plumber has been to the house 4 times in the last month and a half for different leaks. A week ago I discovered yet another leak in the house. For future information, galvanized pipes and iron in the well water do NOT mix well. Anyway, I am biting the bullet and getting my house repiped. It will be a little pricey. But I figured it out: its about 18 plumber visits. I was also approved for a home equity loan (although I will worry til I close on it) to take care of my credit card bills. Can things possibly be looking up????

WooHoo! Rain!

We had three days of rain here in my part of Virginia. It did not eliminate our rain deficit, but it helped! I did not even mind the three gloomy, cloudy days. Now I am not so worried about my well.

October is almost over thank goodness! I had so much going on this month: plumbers, broken water heaters, broken pressure switch, a car that needed repair, a tree that needed to come down, a return mammogram, and trying to cover the desk at work when it seemed EVERYONE got a vacation but me. Lets all hope that my November is better. Otherwise, there will be no living with me.

Does anyone have any fun Halloween plans? I love Halloween, but I usually stay home. I have to hand out candy to the little (and not so little) muchkins. I have been reading scary stories and watching scary movies and listening to Halloween music. What are your plans?

Things getting better

To an extent things are getting better. I just charged lots of money on the credit cards for these things, but at least they are taken care of, or getting there. First of all, the tree is down. It looks very empty. I took a picture on my cell phone on my way out this morning so I'll try to remember to post it.

Second, the water heater is now fixed. The plumber had to come out twice, but the second time they charged me a flat rate.

Third, my car is back. The brakes work, and the seat belt comes out. It ended up needing a new battery too.

Fourth, the diagnostic mammogram is done. Unfortunately the processor was down so I am waiting for the results. I'm not too worried, but there is always that anxious feeling in the back of my brain.

I just finished Baghdad Burning: Girl Blog from Iraq by Riverbend. This is the published version of her blog (which she is still updating). Riverbend is an Iraqi woman who tells how the war is affecting ordinary citizens. Well written and a page-turner. No matter what your personal opinion, Riverbend makes you think.

Rain!

I am starting to get a bit anxious. Yes, so what else is new, right? We have not had rain in a very long time and its starting to get serious. My county said they have about 119 days left of water in the reservoirs. Now this does not affect me because I have a well, but I worry about it going dry. I am trying to conserve water. I don't water my lawn and I never wash my car. I buy bottled water to drink (because my well water tastes nasty) and I take short showers.

Everyone please hold out hope that it rains soon! I wonder if thats why my tree is so brown?

Stress

Last week was stressful for me. I had gotten a call back from the woman's imaging center and something showed up on my mammogram. They are sure everything is fine, but they want to double-check, especially since it is my first one. I go back next tuesday for a diagnostic mammogram and an ultrasound. I know all will be fine, but its been on my mind.

I have to get my car repaired and that will be much money. The parts were $300. Thats not including all of the labor.

The big pine tree in my front yard, which has been there for about 30 years and actually moved with us to this house is dead or dying. I think I have to get it cut down and I have to get a professional to do it because it is close to power lines and the house. Plus I really like this tree and don't want to see it go.

And I have another leaky pipe, so I need to get the plumber back too.

This all happened within a week and a half. THATS why I have been so stressed. I am a little better now and trying to take things as they come up. I am doing yoga for my stress relief and trying deep breathing and meditation.

I am reading Archie and Amelie: Love and Madness in the Gilded Age by Donna Lucey. This is a nonfiction work about two very fascinating and troubled people in Virginia during the Gilded age. John Armstrong "Archie" Chanler was a descendant of John Jacob Astor. Amelie Rives was the goddaughter of Robert E. Lee. Archie, like most men, fell hard for Amelie. They married suddenly, and divorced seven years later. But Archie never got over her. They could not live together and they could not live apart. There is so much more too. Insanity, seances, drug addiction, etc. The story is fascinating because it is true and the people lived not too far away, near Charlottesville. I am more than halfway through.

Breaktime

As some of you might have been able to tell, I have been taking a tiny break from blogging. I have not had much to say, and there has been a lot going on in my life right now.

I will try to be back in a few days with some reviews. I am working on a booklist for my library on Christian Romance, so I have been reading a lot of those. Right now, I leave you with a view of the Shenandoah River from Harper's Ferry.

More to come!

Liz had a request for some of my favorite hiking trails. I am in Virginia, so they will be in the northern/central Virginia area. I have to look over some of my photos so that I can post some pictures too.

One that I like to visit (because it is not too long of a drive) is Prince William Forest Park. There are lots of trails that I like to hike, but one of the best is the South Valley Trail. It is quite long (about 9 miles) but I don't hike it all at once. I have picked sections to hike. In fact, this is the trail where there was the beaver activity in the earlier post. The trail follows a creek and it is quite peaceful.

Another park that I like to visit because it is not too far from my parents house is Antietam National Battlefield. I am a big civil war buff and this park is very well preserved because it was farm land then and it is farm land now. There is one trail that I started to walk on my last vacation. It is called the Snaveley's Ford trail. It goes beside Antietam creek, is in the woods, and has opportunities to catch glimpses of wildlife. I did not get to walk the entire trail, because when I was there it was starting to rain and I was afraid that it would turn into a storm.

I have pictures, but I need to find them!

More to come!

Hiking

One of my favorite things to do is to hike. Not hugely long hikes (I like modern bathroom facilities) but just to go walk in the woods for an hour or so makes me feel great. By the way, here is a book tie-in: A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson. Absolutely hysterical! Bryson and his friend try to hike the Appalachian trail, and they are not exactly prepared.

Lately when I take pictures, I have been fascinated by the most interesting things.

This one is a picture of an interesting fungus on a log near a creek. I took this one with the camera on the cell phone.

This one is a close-up of some ferns on the ground in the national park. I discovered my digital camera has this close-up setting and I have been playing with it.

And here is the handiwork of a beaver. This one was taken months ago.

Thats all for now!

Where have I been?

I have not posted in a while. I have been here and I've been visiting blogs. But I haven't had much to say. We are in a heat wave again and tomorrow is supposed to be 100 again. But as the cliche goes, "Its not the heat, its the humidity." So true! You walk outside and it feels like someone threw a heavy wet blanket on you!

I just finished a book that I thought was good. It was called Cataloochee by Wayne Caldwell. It is the story of the fictional Carter, Banks, and Wright families, their lives in the mountains of Western North Carolina, and how the coming of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park changed all of their lives. The coming of the park mostly just happened at the end, but Caldwell described how life was like in the mountains. It was a really good book, especially since the area is one of my favorite places to visit.

Harry Potter

I read the entire book. Yes...the ENTIRE book. It was a beautiful day saturday and I read outside on my deck. I can say that the ending to the series was very satisfying to me.

Rant Alert!

One thing that was irritating me was the comments that I read from reviewers (professional), reporters, commenters on blogs, etc. Many people are criticizing this book, and people's choice to read it. A reporter in my home town was doing a story and interviewed a small bookstore owner who made comments that we should only read GOOD books because we don't have enough time to read. Well who decides what is a GOOD book? Ok, so this series has not won the Nobel prize for literature or the Pulitizer prize for fiction. Who cares? It is a good story with interesting characters. A commenter on a blog I ran across (no one who usually reads this--it was a professional reviewer and I can't remember who it was) said that everyone he knows that reads Harry Potter does not read anything else. Well, I have read all 7 in the series now. And last year I read almost 400 books of all types. I would like to know how many he read.

The thing is, if you do not want to read the series, thats fine. But do not criticize people who DO. As I librarian and a reader, I believe that people should read what they want. If they don't want to read classics or prize winners, who cares? And those people out there who get self-righteous about only reading"good" books can stuff it. :-)

Rant Over. We now return you to your regularly scheduled blog.

Allergies!

Sorry I have not been around. I've been reading everyone's blog but not necessarily commenting on it. The weather has been weird and my allergies are running wild.

I went to the allergist today and I had a reaction to every pollen tested including grasses and ragweed. So basically, I am suffering from March to about October. I am also allergic to dust mites (is there anyone who isn't?) and dogs and cats. That may explain why my head has been hurting every day. My cat Bella (see my avatar!) likes to sit with me and cuddle. What I like about my allergist is that he never even mentioned getting rid of the cats as an option. Because it isn't. I have meds to try and he is suggesting that I get injections again.

Harry Potter comes out on Saturday! I bought my copy through the library, so I am going to get up bright and early and go get it. Then I have my yoga class before I can actually start reading. The library is supposed to get our copies on Friday. Catalogers will be standing by. The acquistions librarian had to sign a non-disclosure agreement to be able to get the books early. The number of people who will have access to the books will be limited and they will be under lock and key. Its kind of exciting.

Back to the real world

I had an entire two weeks off, but it ended up not being much of a vacation. Tomorrow its back to the real world. And I already have a pile of stuff that needs done. I did nothing today but go to the grocery store and Borders. I had a 15% off coupon for my birthday. I would have liked to go outside, but the heat and humidity here in Virginia is just terrible. Tomorrow is supposed to be worse. Ick!

Hospital

My nephew had his tonsils out today. The operation was a success and he is home now recuperating. He feels pretty lousy now and refuses to swallow. He also hates the nasty taste of the tylenol with codeine. But he was very brave. He is nine and a half and there was no tears when it came time to take him into surgery. He woke up fine (no tears) and he ate mac and cheese. I am very proud of him.

Back!

I am back! Soory I did not post. My dad's computer was slower than molasses. I went to my parents (with my nephew) who are in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia. I was only there for a few days, but I went to Harper's Ferry and Antietam National Battlefield. Saw some beautiful scenery and took a few hikes. Spent more money than I should!

Tomorrow my 9 year old nephew is getting his tonsils out. He is nervous but is acting very brave. It is outpatient so he will be home in his own bed and we already went to the store to pick up ice-cream! I will be sure to let everyone know how it goes.

Thanks everyone for the birthday wishes. I get pretty somber and reflective this time every year, thinking about increasing debt and things I have not done. But the good wishes do help me feel better!

Happy birthday to me

As of 2:03 AM on July 1, I will be 36 years old. Its another year alone, another year of worries, and another year of going into debt, and another midlife crisis. I hate this time of year. I usually spend most of my birthday alone. Tomorrow I will be visiting my mom and dad (taking my nephew) until Thursday. My mom has promised to make my favorite chocolate cake. I am going to try to get outside and take in some beautiful scenery. My dad has a computer, so I will check in.

The end of the saga

I know everyone is sick of me talking about my kitchen floor. Good news! Its finally finished. I want to thank everyone for being patient about my whining. I will try to show a picture soon.

I went to the American Library Association conference in Washington D.C. yesterday. I should say that I went to the exhibits, not the conference. Unfortunately I am too poor for the conference program. Many of the publishers were giving away review copies of books. Plus I picked up lots of bags, pens, and post-its. I have this weird addiction to office supplies. I ended up walking for about 2.5 hours straight. And thats with heavy bags on my shoulder. One of the booths that I wanted to visit (and did) was the booth for the online comic strip Unshelved. Its this great comic that takes place in a public library. Its absolutely hysterical. If you've never seen it, go visit! If you work or have ever worked in a library, it will seem familiar. If you've never worked in a library, it will show you what life in a library can be like.

I recently finished The Alexandria Link by Steve Berry. I should have a review soon. Right now I am reading a YA book called The Book Thief. I'll review that one too when I finish.