American on Purpose- Craig Ferguson

Just finished this book. It was GREAT! First of all, I stay up way too late just to watch Craig every night. I loathe Letterman, so I flip over after Conan. (The move by Conan to the Tonight show was perfect IMHO- Now I can see both the Irish- American and the Scottish-American and since what's his whosit who took over Late Night is dumber than dirt I never have to choose who to watch.)
Now, about the book-

Craig (if I may call him that) is honest and open about his, ummm... bad life choices. He doesn't lay the blame anywhere but where it deserves to be. He's witty and open, and if he wasn't married, and I wasn't married, and he was closer, I might be tempted to lead him astray. His joy at becoming American is refreshing and reminds me that it is a Good Day for America. His deep sadness over his parents' deaths is heartfelt, not self pitying. And his stories of his youthful (and not so youthful) misadventures are downright funny, especially if it's not you waking up missing large chunks of your memory.

I just want to ask one thing.

Craig- why didn't you write this book 40 years ago, so I could have found out that there is a nickname for Janet (the name I've always hated) and lived my life as Netta? I can do Netta. But not now when I can't even get people to use my Maiden/Married last name. I can't confuse people even more. **sigh**

more knitting

Finished two pairs of socks this weekend- the Knitalong Monkey socks from www.knittingdaily.com and a pair I just made up from bits of other patterns. The top is crocheted (which went really fast) and the bottom is knitted.

Book Review- Grass for His Pillow- Lian Hearn

Great second of a trilogy. I don't know how well it wold work as a stand alone book, since I can't go back and unread the first, but this is an excellent growth book. Both main character have a voice here. Takeo learns to improve his skills, learns about treachery and gets a girl pregnant. Kaede loses Takeo's child when she hears he's dead (not true) almost dies herself (Takeo is told she is dead) and then decided it's time to decide her own fate. She becomes very strong and decides that using the horrible, slimy, rich, menacing neighbor will do it. Of course once Takeo and Kaede learn that the other is indeed alive, all bets are off and in a very unsurprising turn, they are together at the end, both wiser, stronger and better prepared for the wars ahead for being apart. Immediatly started book three- Brilliance of the Moon, because I just have to know what's going to happen. I know they are going to win, but I'm sure there will be many adventures, twists, beheadings, intrigue and Tribe assasinations to come.

I guess I forgot....

Nancy and I finished our stitchalong last week! I posted it on facebook, but forgot to here... sooo.... drumroll....




This will probably be framed and donated to the EEAI MEEC auction. (www.eeai.net)

15 books

Over on facebook this is going around- list the first 15 books that come into your head.

1. Finger Licking Fifteen (reading now)
2. Grass for His Pillow (interrupted to read #1)
3. The Sparrow (best book ever)
4. A Thread of Grace (same author- so that was next in the brain fog)
5. Forrest Gump (because I was just telling someone how horrible it was)
6. Island of the Blue Dolphins (my favorite as a kid)
7. My Side of the Mountain (another childhood favorite)
8. The Egg and I (still hilarious after 40 years)
9. The Handmaid's Tale (the last Atwood I read- a favorite author- which reminds me of...)
10. Cat's Eye (also Atwood)
11. Whip Hand (The book that started my love affair with Dick Francis)
12. Angela's Ashes (because Dick Francis is English and that reminded me of Irish Frank McCourt)
13. Angels and Demons (just saw the movie so that's floated up from the depths)
14. The DaVinci Code (because if Angels and Demons)
15. The Lorax- my first "green" book

These are not my favorites now, or books that I can't live without- but the question was list the first 15, and those surfaced first.

The best books ever would include Les Miserables, The Count of Monte Cristo, Fahrenheit 451, and loads of others that are just now floating into memory... but that list is for another day.

week 3- october sky stitchalong

Week 3-
Nancy and I are on on week three of our stitchalong, and I'm about 2/3rds done. I'll see Nancy tonight so check her progress. Next week, the last row and the beads, and I'll be ready to frame. (Oh stop laughing- I do actually get stuff framed once in a while!) I think I may donate this piece to an auction for my favorite non-for profit (EEAI- www.eeai.net), I'll just have to see.....

Just ramblings

So the kitten has a new home. She'll be out of the rain and cold, and there's no danger of her being eaten by a coyote (my biggest fear) so I'm very satisfied. We miss her (even after only a week) but things are much calmer. Our two cats are getting along much better, probably that shared enemy thing, but I don't expect that to last.

DH-- Oh where to start...
His car broke down. The timing belt broke, and maybe he bent the valves. So I told him weeks ago to take his car into the shop to check the belt because it was making noise. Did he? When it would have only cost a few hundred to replace a belt? Oh no- so far it's about $700+ and we haven't even talked valves yet. **sigh**

man rule #1- things don't heal. You have to fix them. (ie- the water heater, the kitchen sink, the bathtub knobs, the crappy floors, the car.) Saying you are going to do it is not the same as doing it.

man rule #2- If you do what your wife says, you will get sex. (always need an incentive)

man rule #3- If you ignore your wife, she will bitch at you. Forever. You may still get sex, but you won't get those extra perks you like.

That's all to say....


maybe....


Yeah, for now.




School has started and I have great classes! I haven't taught since last fall, so my patter is a bit rusty, but with three classes, I'm getting well rehearsed. I just love teaching in the summer. Things move along and the students seem to work better together because they see each other more often. And I go outside more, which I really like.

visiting kitten

A kitten has adopted me. She's only a few months old, and very sweet. She just showed up and loves to follow me around the yard, pouncing on grass, her tail, any bird that tries to eat from the platform feeder (unsuccessfully so far). No one in my neighborhood has reported a missing kitten, and Sparks and Merlin are NOT amused by the invader living on the deck. I refuse to take her to the pound, so I'm trying to find a home for her. Yesterday she hid all day and it was stormy, but this morning she was back and hungry!

Stitchalong update-week 2

Week 2- Nancy and I agreed that we could do the top row this week, so here's mine- minus the beads.

So... how's it going on your end, Nancy?

Book Review- Across the Nightingale Floor-Lian Hearn

This is the first of a series, and I now have to get the rest! It's supposed to be a "fantasy" location, but yeah, it's ancient Japan. Excellent story, wonderful characters, even if there some mystical love of honorable suicide woven throughout. It's a quick read, but just right for summer! I passed it along to the men in my life. This is right up their alley- fighting for honor and ninjas who can disappear. I can totally see this as a movie and a video game.