Friday, August 15, 2008

Circular Expedition

I tried to post this yesterday but lost the connection, so let's see if it'll work today.

Went off on Monday with P and JR for a drive, ostensibly heading for Ligonier PA, a charming little town full of history and shops. Meandered through Ruffs Dale and Mt. Pleasant. Large Goodwill store where I got a silk jacket and a book. Then down through Scottdale and Vanderbilt to Connellsville (somewhere in there was Normalville). Saw a Grimm Funeral Home in one own, and later in another saw Butch Grimm's Used Cars -- cause and efffect, you think?

Stopped for lunch in a strip mall at NY Pizza and Pasta. Had mussels and ravioli; P had a reuben and JR had hot wings and beer. Not too bad. Earlier we had found a "Western Clothes" store, which pleased JR. I found a pair of Minnetonka moccasins on sale, and he found a deerskin shirt with bone buttons and fringe for a really good price.

After wandering through Flatwoods, Stockdale, Fayette City, we arrived at Belle Vernon and the Wal-Mart shopping area, where we all did a little necessary shopping. I finally got an outdoor quality 3-prong extension cord, so I can try my Mac outside and see if the connection is better.

Came on back about 4.30pm and I immediately staggered off with my booty and had a nap. A most enjoyable day.

Saturday, August 9, 2008

Stocking Up

Took myself off to Greensburg yesterday. Had no problems knowing which way to turn etc. Think I've got this figured out now. Anyhow, I went crazy at B&N. I was down to two unread books (obviously not counting the permanent library I carry around) and was beginning to get a little twitchy. I had some authors from a Locus article and some that I've tried out and was willing to try again. So, two full shopping bag and a few hundreds of dollars later, I felt much better. Shouldn't have to stock up again before I leave.

Speaking of which, I only have about five more weeks here. Planning to leave around 14 Sept. If all goes well, I'll visit the Wright homes on my way southerly.

Laffoon Chiropractor is on the way to Gburg. He's probably heard all the jokes already.

On one side of me is a 5th wheel seasonal. The family name is Gogo.

On the way back from Gburg, I saw a Classic American Diner (un-huh) and was hungry, so pulled in and ate. It, of course, is not a true diner but a building with a diner front on it and some attempt to make it look diner-ish inside. Anyhow, I had meatloaf with onions and mushrooms, and coleslaw on the side. It was very American and not too bad.

I was pulling out of the parking lot onto the road I'd used to get in, when this big brassy woman yelled at me YOU CAN'T DO THAT, IT'S ONE WAY. Now, she'd stood in the diner parking lot and watched me get in my rig and pull out but waited until I was actually on the road before telling me. So I have to inch my way back down the road, with cars coming at me, until I can make the turn back into the lot which goes across to the road I can turn onto.

Other than that, it was a successful day. I grocery shopped, too. Did forget my list and so forgot to get a few things, but no biggies. Got home here, backed into my space easily, got all hooked up (with the usual seventeen tries to get the tv cable screwed in).

Promptly took a nap.

Saturday, August 2, 2008

Books Read May-July

Author (*=perm.lib.),Title,Genre,When,Rating,Finish,Comments

MAY 2008
"Anderson, James", Affair of Blood-Stained Egg Cosy,mystery,0508,good,no,was in perm.lib. But ready to let go
–––, Affair of Mutilated Mink Coat,mystery,0508,good,no,was in perm.lib. But ready to let go
"Austen, Jane", Persuasion,fiction,0508,medium,no,re-gifted to new H.S. grad.
"Banks, L.A.", Bad Blood (vampire huntress),pararomance,0508,bad,no,silly and overwrought
"Barnes, Linda", ???,mystery,0508,medium,no,used to like her a lot
"Battis, Jes", Night Child,pararomance,0508,medium,yes,he's going to be better
"Block, Lawrence", Hit Parade,mystery,0508,medium,no,old master going through the paces
"Crais, Robert", Watchman,mystery,0508,good,yes,always enjoyable
"Francis*, Dick", 10 Lb. Penalty,mystery,0508,good,yes,"dryly humorous, educational"
–––, Bone Crack,mystery,0508,good,yes,"dryly humorous, educational"
–––, Risk,mystery,0508,good,yes,"dryly humorous, educational"
"Harris, Charlaine", Sookie: From Dead to Worse, pararomance, 0508, good, yes, Sookie Stackhouse series.
"Leon, Donna", Commissario Brunetti,mystery,0508,good,yes,always good and interesting
"Pettersson, Vicki", Scent of Shadows [v.1],pararomance,0508,medium,no,"mildly interesting, plot lines obvious"
"Reichs, Kathy", Bones to Ash,mystery,0508,good,yes,"info & plots great, characters boring"
–––, Cross Bones,mystery,0508,good,yes,"info & plots great, characters boring"
"Roberts, Nora", High Noon,romance,0508,good,yes,good enough to re-read but not keep in perm. Lib.

JUNE 2008
"Bradley, MZ & DJ Ross", Alton Gift,fantasy,0608,medium,no,"same old, same old. Won't get any more."
"Brockmann, Suzanne", Body Language,romance,0608,medium,no,not as good as her SEAL series
–––, Force of Nature,thriller,0608,good,yes,"part of SEAL/FBI series, primary Jules Cassidy"
"Feather, Jane", Wicked Gentleman,romance,0608,boring,no,in campground library
"Heyer*, Georgette", Black Sheep,romance,0608,re-read,yes,"as usual, witty, clever, educational"
–––, Frederica,romance,0608,re-read,yes,"as usual, witty, clever, educational"
–––, Lady of Quality,romance,0608,re-read,yes,"as usual, witty, clever, educational"
"Kellerman, Faye", Garden of Eden (stories),mystery,0608,boring,no,liked her 1st book but not much since
"Perry, Thomas", Silence,mystery,0608,good,no,interesting plot as usual for this writer but dragged
"Pettersson, Vicki", Twilight (something) [v.2],pararomance,0608,medium,no,"mildly interesting, plot lines obvious"
"Stabenow*, Dana", Cold Day for Murder,mystery,0608,re-read,yes,for perm. Lib. Set of Kate Shugak series
–––, Fatal Thaw,mystery,0608,re-read,yes,for perm. Lib. Set of Kate Shugak series
–––, Fine & Bitter Snow,mystery,0608,re-read,yes,for perm. Lib. Set of Kate Shugak series
–––, Murder,mystery,0608,re-read,yes,for perm. Lib. Set of Kate Shugak series
–––, Singing of the Dead,mystery,0608,re-read,yes,for perm. Lib. Set of Kate Shugak series

JULY 2008
"Bujold, Lois M", Sharing Knife 2: Legacy,fantasy,0708,good,yes,slow pace; good world-building (read vol. 1 earlier)
"Cherryh, C.J.", Chanur's Homecoming,sf,0708,re-read,yes,Chanur series
–––, Chanur's Venture,sf,0708,re-read,yes,Chanur series
–––, Kif Strike Back,sf,0708,re-read,yes,Chanur series
–––, Pride of Chanur,sf,0708,re-read,yes,Chanur series
"Dyer, R.A.", Hustler Days,non-fiction,0708,good,yes,golden age of pool players; for Perm. Lib.
"Frost, Jeaniene", One Foot in the Grave,pararomance,0708,medium,yes,"hot sex, lots of gore, romance gone ""bad"""
"Gellis, Roberta", Fortune's Bride,romance,0708,medium,no,not to keep
–––, Woman's Estate,romance,0708,good,yes,not to keep
Harris* Charlaine, Ice Cold Grave,pararomance,0708,re-read,yes,Harper Connelly 3
"Hart, Carolyn", Resort to Murder,mystery,0708,boring,yes,in campground library; Henrie O series
"Maron, Margaret", Winter's Child,mystery,0708,good,yes,Deborah Knott series
"Preisler, Jerome", CSI: Nevada Rose,mystery,0708,good,yes,not based on an episode
"Purser, Ann", Sorrow on Sunday,mystery,0708,medium,no,Lois Meade series; same old same old
"Roberts, Nora", Tribute,romance,0708,good,yes,new; not for perm. Lib.
–––, McKade Bros: Devin & Shane,romance,0708,re-read,yes,for perm. Lib.
–––, Inner Harbor,romance,0708,re-read,yes,re-read for fun
"Saintcrow, Lilith", Night Shift,paranormal,0708,good,yes,"big bad bitch style, derivative but enjoyable"
"Scott, Michele", Tacked to Death,mystery,0708,boring,no,horse lore fine but people/dialogue unreal
"Sefton, Maggie", Killer Stitch,mystery,0708,medium,no,too sweet; dialogue just slightly off true
"Stabenow*, Dana", A Grave Denied,mystery,0708,re-read,yes,for perm. Lib. Set of Kate Shugak series
–––, Blood Will Tell,mystery,0708,re-read,yes,for perm. Lib. Set of Kate Shugak series
–––, Killing Grounds,mystery,0708,re-read,yes,for perm. Lib. Set of Kate Shugak series
–––, Play with Fire,mystery,0708,re-read,yes,for perm. Lib. Set of Kate Shugak series
–––, Better to Rest,mystery,0708,medium,yes,Liam Campbell series; not for perm. Lib.
"Twain*, Mark", Works,misc.,ongoing,good,,mostly the nonfiction