The Undead Kama Sutra

2008, Books in Bed, Fiction, Sci Fi and Fantasy /

The Undead Kama Sutra is another one of those books plucked off of the “just returned” library shelf. Both the title and the cover were appealing, so into the bag it went.

Darn, it’s the third book in a series. I hate reading books out of order – even if you don’t have to read them all to know what’s going on, I think you get more out of the characters if you’ve watched them in the books that came before.

It’s a wee bit Christopher Moore-like, a wee bit Carl Hiaasen-like, it’s even a week bit Douglas Adams-like. It was also a wee bit amusing. Gotta go back and read the first two!

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links for 2008-10-20

Daily Dose /
  • Countdown to Halloween: Start Thinking about Caramel Apples! | BlogHer
    Halloween doesn't have to be all about the candy, even when kids are involved. With a little planning ahead, you can have other Halloween treats that will still be tasty and fun. I've been scouring blogs for weeks looking for Halloween ideas, and I'll be sharing lots more Halloween tips next week, but today I'm here to encourage you to make some caramel apples this Halloween.
    (tags: halloween caramelapples kalyndenny)
  • Barack Obama, John McCain and Net Neutrality | BlogHer
    No matter where you stand on this, the question seems to be not only where the candidates stand on Net Neutrality, but how the policies and laws enacted over the coming months and years might end up affecting, or even controlling, our conversations on politics. Who controls the information pipelines? Will you be able to get to this website a year from now?
    (tags: election08 netneutrality)
  • Inquiring Minds Want to Know, Where are the Women in Hip Hop? | BlogHer
    On Thursday, October 23, hip hop fans will tune into the BET Hip-Hop Awards. They will watch Lil Wayne battle it out with Jay-Z and Kanye West for winning the most awards. Viewers will also see performances by Young Jeezy, Ciara, T-Pain, Keyshia Cole, and Nas, among others. What hip hop afficiandos won't see, however, are awards for female artists. Despite the success of British artists M.I.A. and Estelle, no women were nominated for a BET Hip-Hop Award, just as there were no women honored with awards at VH1's Hip-Hop Honors on October 6.
    (tags: hiphop VH1hiphop women)
  • HauteLook: Apparel for the Sample Sale Warrior | BlogHer
    If you’re new to HauteLook, BlogHer readers will receive a $20 credit following the sign up process. Code: OliveandFriends
    (tags: hautelook samplesales fashion)

links for 2008-10-20 Read More »

Beware the Kiss

2 Comments / 2008, Books in Bed, Fiction, From the Stacks Challenge, Queer, Women /

At various points in Beware the Kiss I felt like maybe I’d already read the book. But, in the end… I don’t think I did. Maybe I’ve just read a lot of lesbian, witch, love cursed books?

The book indicates this is a trilogy but Amazon only seems to have two books in the series. I wonder if the author couldn’t quite swing the third? Is Raven still out there…

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Survivor – La Fayette!

5 Comments / Family Funk, Kid Talk /

I know this season of Survivor is in Gabon but Michelle embarked on her first solo road trip and is CAMPING. It really feels like Survivor and I’m wondering when she will call me and tell me that she got voted off the La Fayette, Georgia island and is heading home early – or at least to a hotel.

When the kid was here a couple of weeks ago, she started a new 101 things in 1001 days list (after making fun of the fact that I gave up on my list and let it expire without updating it or ever thinking about it again. The kid is a brat, she takes after her father – and TW.) On her list was something like “go on a road trip all by myself”.

Yesterday after class she got in TW’s her little blue car and hit the interstate.

This is a really big deal. Not because Michelle isn’t independent, she is – mostly. It’s a big deal because she just got her license last spring. She’d never driven on the interstate at all until earlier this week, and she only did it then in preparation for this trip.

She called me after she crossed the Georgia border – and yes I was a nervous wreck until she called. Then, she called me from Perry, Georgia (which should have been around the halfway mark.) And then, she was supposed to call me in another 1 1/2 to 2 hours… and she didn’t! 3 hours went by and she hadn’t called. And yes, I was an honest to God wreck.

Because after Perry, Georgia comes I475 which is not a big deal but the merge back onto I75 can be a freaking nightmare. A gazillion lanes, people driving a gazillion miles an hour, people merging all over the place.

So, I called her – and left a message – and then, my phone buzzed, I looked down and there was a voice mail from an hour ago! She had called and my phone hadn’t rung – and it hadn’t told me it was a voice mail until after I called her. Thank goodness. I could stop worrying. Sort of.

She called me back a few minutes later and said she was almost there, “looking for the road to turn on in what should be six miles”. I told her to call me when she got there… another hour went by and I called her again. She was sort of maybe lost. Except she had talked to Fred, Fred, Wet the Bed and she was close, but she was stopping at a gas station to find out exactly where she was and Fred, Fred, Wet the Bed would meet her.

A few minutes later, she called back again – and her journey to La Fayette was over. Next up… camping.

She called this morning – she slept in TW’s her little blue car last night. She had not had any food, she has no idea what they eat while they’re camping. And then, she screamed… BEE!!!!!!!!!!! And I suggested maybe she should just continue to sleep in the car but she insisted she was going to hang up and set up her tent – which probably means she was going to hang up and make Fred, Fred, Wet the Bed or Ned, Ned, Good in Bed set up her tent.

*Fred and Ned are long time friends – they started as Chris’s friends and became Michelle’s friends. They are on a little road trip – driving around, camping, rock climbing, visiting Fred’s family in NC and then onto Missouri or some such place. They’ve been hanging out at some place called Rock Town for awhile, and that’s where Michelle is trying to “Survive” for the weekend.*

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Sundays at Tiffany’s

2 Comments / 2008, Books in Bed, Chick Lit, Fiction, Women /

I picked Sundays at Tiffany’s off of the “just came back” shelf at the library because… we have a thing for Tiffany’s. I saw it was by James Patterson and I sort of cringed, but still… I handed it to TW and she shrugged so we put it in the bag.

She started reading it, I asked if it was any good, she started talking about imaginary friends (I knew that part, which is also why I picked it up) and ultimately said, “Yes it’s good.”

I was concerned. Patterson is sappy. Really sappy. And this book…. OMG books do not get any sappier than this. But still, it’s nice. It’s a good story.

The imaginary friend thing, that makes it super sappy but is also what makes it a good story. I like imaginary friend stories. Drop Dead Fred is one of my big kids’ favorite movies. What was that movie with the french actor… Bogus? Is that what it was called? With an imaginary friend theme? Whatever. I liked it. Sappy but nice.

And, I liked the ending.

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links for 2008-10-15

Daily Dose /

links for 2008-10-15 Read More »

links for 2008-10-14

Daily Dose /
  • Our Many Hats | BlogHer
    A few days ago, thousands of women from all across the country came to Chicago for a national conference on the major questions and concerns facing women today. For two days, they discussed many important issues facing our nation… from health care to energy to diplomacy and peace… led by women who are experts in those fields. And so many fantastic people gave speeches—including the men we are rooting for to be our next president and vice-president, Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
    (tags: michelleobama parenting blogher)
  • How to Save on Heating Costs This Winter | BlogHer
    With winter approaching heating costs are surely going to take a huge bite out of what’s left of the already over extended budget. Here are a few tricks to help keep your energy costs down.
    (tags: winter heatingcosts)
  • Let's Talk About eHarmony, Shall We? | BlogHer
    Last time, my eHarmony story was that I met exactly one guy, and it was the Hunky Actor, and we dated for like a year. I also had other guys in the queue – I actually canceled a date after I'd been out with the Hunky Actor twice. The time before that, I went on a handful of OK first dates before I met someone IRL.
    (tags: dating eharmony lizrizzo)
  • Riding the Down Escalator Up | BlogHer
    Yet, somehow, this morning… I find myself riding the down escalator up. Completely against the wishes of my weakened stomach, and nearly assuring myself of a sleepless week, my husband and I have decided to buy a house.
    (tags: buyingahouse realestate economy)

links for 2008-10-14 Read More »

The Wednesday Sisters

1 Comment / 2008, Books in Bed, Chick Lit, Feminism, Fiction, Women /

I usually avoid breast cancer books and had I known this was a breast cancer book, I’d have probably avoided The Wednesday Sisters. I’m glad I didn’t know.

It was time for a really good chick lit story and this was really good chick lit, even with the breast cancer theme. And how often do you read a book set in Palo Alto? I certainly don’t see that very often.

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