links for 2008-10-27

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I Am the Messenger

I didn’t have very high hopes for I Am the Messenger but it turned out to be one of the more interesting YA books I’ve read in a good long while.

Interesting because it was different. No vampires. Not really one of those typical high school “problem” books, though there were plenty of “problems” to go around.

Really interesting storyline. Over on Amazon, a review or a description or something says “unpretentious” – good description. I like that in a YA book. So many of them are very pretentious…

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Another Krispy Kreme birthday breakfast

RJ birthday 002


RJ was given the choice of where to go for her “birthday breakfast” and she chose Krispy Kreme. For a few moments, I thought she might choose Cinnabon. I’m very glad she didn’t. I don’t like Cinnabon but I do like Krispy Kreme – even if it means a longer drive.


Liz was excited about the Halloween offerings – until she saw them and then the only one she selected was the boring Halloween “topette”. Prince J, on the other hand, ordered both the pumpkin and the spiderweb. RJ didn’t order any of the Halloween specialties.

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links for 2008-10-24

  • I wish there was early voting in my state. If there was, I would take advantage of it, especially so it would be easier to take PunditGirl, now a third-grader, to the polls with me to vote. She's still going with me, but we may have to stand in line for a while to make that happen, rather than the quick in and out I try for in the slower daytime voting.
  • This week has really opened my eyes to something I never noticed before. Those few weeks where I really wasn’t spending any money, I didn’t feel deprived. I wasn’t fighting with myself to not spend money. It just became habit. But then, once I did start spending, boy, oh boy, did I spend. It became easier and I had less feelings of guilt the more I did it. That’s scary. It's seems that, for me, spending is definitely a slippery slope. And I have absolutely no interest in seeing what's at the bottom of that slope.
  • Ok, is it just me? Or do plus-sized departments just plain suck? Why is it impossible to find anything nice that doesn't scream stripper (ummm yeah size 22 should NOT come in skimpy styles…) or only look like the little suits with jackets that my grandma would wear.
  • Have you found yourself thrust into the role of having to give potentially painful care to a loved one? Any words of wisdom to share with those who might find themselves in that position someday?
  • Neo-haggling is being hailed as the latest trend in shopping.It is the art/passion of looking and asking for a discount on everything you buy. I didn't know it but I am a leaning-neo-haggler. While I don't haggle for everything I buy, I absolutely haggle on many items.

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Black Juice

On Tuesday, Prince J said several times — “No more short stories, YAY!” or ” Thank goodness we are finished with short stories!” The boy is not a fan of short stories and I can understand that. Some short stories for kids and teens really really stink. But, some are fantastic.

That sums up how I felt about Black Juice. I loved some of the stories, others I wanted to just sleep through.

The elephants – loved.
Wooden bride – loved.
Yowlinins – loved.
The tar pits – fascinated but not sure I loved it. I’d like to read the book, she should write the short story into a book.

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links for 2008-10-23

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links for 2008-10-22

  • This is the first of several interviews with women in technology. Today you'll learn about Shelley Powers. Shelley is perhaps best known as a writer. Her most recent books are Learning JavaScript and Painting the Web. She's also a programmer and web developer, and she applies a powerful and logical mind to everything she does.
  • Lonely is like your shadow. Sometimes, it's just there. Does it matter? Often not. I can't really do anything about feeling Lonely sometimes. It can creep up on me when I'm home alone just as easily as it pops up in a crowd of friends. Lately, I've been feeling really good. About my life, about my friends, about my work. But Lonely is there, too. I invite Lonely to the party, because I believe strongly that the best way to deal with feelings is to feel and acknowledge them.

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links for 2008-10-21

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