Random Tuesday

I'm linking up with Stacy.

It was so hard to go back to work after having a whole week off for Thanksgiving.  We celebrated at my mom's house.  My sister is usually on a cruise during Thanksgiving, but now that she is retired, they didn't have to go based on the school calendar, so they were able to put it off two days.  It was nice having her and her husband there.

Thanksgiving is my favorite meal of the year:  Turkey, gravy, dressing, rolls, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and of course, dessert!  My favorite dessert is anything with chocolate.  My daughter and her boyfriend make mint chocolate brownies.  We also had pumpkin cheesecake, apple pie, and pecan pie.  I tried some of the cheesecake.  Delicious!

Nothing matters this much.

Did anyone do some Black Friday shopping?  I did... from my home.  Going out in this mess?  No, thanks!  Most of the Black Friday sales I was interested in were also online, so I got a little shopping done.  I still have quite a bit to do.  Why is it always so hard to buy for the guys?  Husband, son, nephew, brother-in-law, sons-in-law... they have everything they need, and they don't easily share what they want.  It's a little frustrating, so if you have any ideas for awesome guy gifts, please leave me a comment!  I could use your help.

And now...

This made me giggle!

So true!

Me!

I wonder if this is a real book?

And this!  Hahaha!

Have a great week!

Sunday Synopsis

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon


This book is a major motion picture which I haven't seen yet. I always like to read the book first. This is Nicola Yoon's first publication, and I must say, she did well! Author's first books are usually not great, with the exception of Grisham's A Time to Kill. But... I digress.

Everything, Everything is about Madeline, an 18 year old girl who has spent the last 17 years living inside due to a diagnosis of Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Disease, or SCID. Think "boy in the bubble" disease. Madeline lives with her mother. Her father and brother were killed in an accident when she was a few months old. Shortly afterward, she was diagnosed with her disease. She, her mom, and nurse Carla have as much fun as possible for someone who can't go outside for fear of death. Madeline does school online through private tutors, they play games, and she spends a lot of time reading.

One day, a family moves in next door. When she first lays eyes on Oliver, she knows that her life will never be the same. She will risk her life, which she finds out isn't really living, only surviving, to be able to truly live. And she will finally find out how here disease was diagnosed.

This book had a little more romance than I usually read, but overlooking that, it was a great story. The characters were well-developed and believable, for the most part. There were a few things that didn't seem to fit, but they were likeable characters which makes a huge difference. The themes presented were pretty deep, so I wouldn't classify this as just a young adult book. I think most adults would like it, too. The storyline was believable up to a point, but isn't that what books are for? Escape?

Something that bothers me a little about current young adult authors is that they try too hard to make their characters diverse. Instead of happening organically, it seems contrived, whether it's multi-racial characters or characters of color, characters with gender identity issues (not this book), characters who are atypical. I have no problem with this if it is important to the story, but Yoon said herself, she wanted to make it clear that her characters were of diverse backgrounds. I don't think it added anything to the story. The characters could have been of any race, and the story would have been the same. It seemed too obvious. I'd rather use my own inferencing skills to figure out how a character looks and behaves rather than being told. Just my little rant.

Everything, Everything was better than I thought it would be, having been given to me by a student, and I was pleasantly surprised. I can't wait to watch the movie.

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Thursday Thirteen - Thanksgiving Edition

If a fellow isn't thankful for what he's got, he isn't likely to be thankful for what he's going to get.
--Frank A. Clark

How about some lighthearted, "slightly" corny turkey jokes to relieve some stress today?

1. What did the mother turkey say to her disobedient children?
If your father could see you now, he'd turn over in his gravy!
2. How many cooks does it take to stuff a turkey?
One, but you really have to squeeze him in!

3. A lady was picking through the frozen turkeys at the grocery store, but couldn't find one big enough for her family. She asked the stock boy, "Do these turkeys get any bigger?" The stock boy answered, "No ma'am, they're dead."

4. What happened when the turkey got into a fight?

He got the stuffing knocked out of him.

5. Can a turkey jump higher than the Empire State Building?
Yes - a building can't jump at all.

6. Why did they let the turkey join the band?

Because he had the drumsticks!

7. Why did the police arrest the turkey?

They suspected it of fowl play!

8. Which side of the turkey has the most feathers?
The outside.

9. How does a Turkey drink her wine?
In a gobble-let

10. What do turkeys like to do on sunny days?
They like to go on a peck-nic.

11. What do you get when you cross a turkey with an octopus?
Enough drumsticks for Thanksgiving.

12. What did the little turkey say to the big turkey?
"Peck" on someone your own size!

13. What do you get after eating way too much turkey and dressing?
Dessert, of course

Link up with Thursday Thirteen!

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Photo Wednesday

Just a few deer hanging out on the NASA Campus in Houston. 

copyright Forgetfulone November 21, 2018

Link up at Image-in-ing or Wordless Wednesday to post your own photo.

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Random Tuesday

I'm linking up with Stacy.

Hi everyone!  What a glorious week it is!  I am off work for the entire week.  That doesn't mean I'm not busy, though!  Cooking, cleaning, doctor appointments, crafting, more crafting, and decorating.  Oh, what fun!  I hope you and your family have some fun planned!

I'm already watching Hallmark Christmas movies, and I discovered yesterday that one of our local stations has started playing Christmas music.  I couldn't be happier about it.

You know what I noticed on one of the Christmas movies?  The husband is sitting in bed, and behind him is a Christmas wreath with a a big, silver bow.  There is a poinsettia on the table next to him.  Do people really decorate their bedrooms during the holiday?  I never have, although I wouldn't mind it.  My husband probably wouldn't like it too much.  He tends to be less than enthusiastic about decorating.

Something I'm not enthusiastic about is my upcoming colonoscopy.  Too much information?  I'm at that age where they tell you to get one even if you have no symptoms.  I wish I could do that mail-in test!  The procedure itself is not what I dread as any of you who have had one already know.  Oh, what fun!  (sarcasm)  It really sucks getting older!

Something else I'm not enthusiastic about is clipping my nails.  The other day I was wondering how many people have never clipped their own toenails.  I'm sure there are some who always get pedicures.  I'd like to, but sometimes I just don't feel like spending the money or time.  Is anyone with me on that?

And now...

Cake Fail!

This cracked me up!

And before I go...

Have a great week and a fantastic Thanksgiving!

Sunday Synopsis

Better late than never!


Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan


I believe this is considered a young adult, or maybe a middle grades novel; however, I think the only reason for that is the main character's age. I would recommend this book to adults as well. Several life lessons are prominent, and it's just a very good story.

The main character, Willow Chance, is quirky, to say the least. She's obsessed with medical conditions and counting by 7's. She is accused of cheating on a test and instructed to see the counselor on a regular basis since she will not admit cheating. Counselor Dell Dukes figures out soon enough that Willow is a genius. She teaches herself Vietnamese so she can communicate secretly with the sister of another of Dell's young charges. When Willow's parents die in a tragic accident, Willow's world is turned upside down. She has many lessons to learn about life, and the few months following her parents' death are the breeding ground for this education.

One thing of note is the multi-cultural nature of this book. Additionally, it is not sappy or sentimental as one might expect from a book whose main character loses her parents. The characters are dynamic and likeable despite their flaws. The way that Willow is described made me feel like Willow was gong to be strange, unable to adapt, perhaps autistic. After reading, I just see her as a nomral girl with coping skills and a whole lot of growing up to do as quickly as possible and goes about it in a quite unique way..

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Random Tuesday

I'm linking up with Stacy for some random nonsense.

What a week!  Let's see... Food poisoning.  Strep throat.  Cough.  9 and 10 hour work days.  Crazy kids at school who think it's almost summer break - well, at least that's how they're behaving.  So, that sums up my week since last I was here.  How about yours?

Why are making holiday plans with family so difficult?  Maybe it's just my family.  One side doesn't actually make "plans," but you find out at the last minute where you're supposed to be and when.  The other side can't come to an agreement about what, when, where.  Oh, the joy!  Thanksgiving turkey, dressing (not stuffing), and cranberry sauce (the jelly kind) is one of my all-time favorite meals!

But really, I love the holidays, especially from Black Friday on.  I don't really shop on Black Friday, but it indicates that it's getting close to Christmas, so it's socially acceptable to do Christmas shopping, decorating, and planning.  I love to decorate for Christmas!  I love the decor, the tree, the lights, Santa, mistletoe, the smell of evergreen, and fake snowmen (it doesn't snow here more than once every few years, and even then, not enough to stick long enough to build a real snowman.)  I would be even more excited if my husband didn't see it as a dreaded chore.  He would love to skip Christmas (like the Kranks) and go on a vacation instead.  I say, let's do both!

And now...

Have a great week!

Random Tuesday

I'm linking up with Stacy for some random nonsense.

Have you ever had one of those days where you just feel crabby for no apparent reason?  Me, too!  Yesterday was one of those (Mon)days!

Hahaha!  Just kidding!  (Or am I?)

Tomorrow is a student holiday, but teachers must go in to call parents or have parent conference.  Sounds like a lot of fun, right? (not)  I have several conferences scheduled, but by middle school, the parents you really NEED to see aren't available or don't answer their phones.  I had to reschedule a morning conference because our principal decided at the last minute to change our meeting from 8:30 to 8 AM.  Why would she do that? 

I voted early.  My grown twins (age 22) voted early, the first time they've ever voted.  If you have not voted yet, let your voice be hard.  You still have time.

And now for some funnies.

Get it?

Have a great week!

Sunday Synopsis

C is for Corpse by Sue Grafton


Kinsey Millhone is a private investigator living in Santa Teresa, California. In this 3rd alphabet mystery, Kinsey is hired by 23 year old Bobby Callahan to investigate what he believes was attempted murder when he was run off the road in the mountains. His passenger didn't survive, but miraculously, Bobby did.

Bobby is the son of a very wealthy mother. They live in a mansion, the likes of which Kinsey has never seen before. His mother is remarried, and Bobby's younger step-sister lives with them. Could she be part of the plot to kill him? She is so strung out, she wouldn't be able to remember if she were.

Meanwhile, Henry, her landlord, has gotten himself into a relationship with a gold-digging woman. Kinsey doesn't have the heart to tell him the truth about his new "friend," but she has to make sure this evil woman doesn't take him for all he has.

Three days after hiring Kinsey, Bobby is killed in another car accident. All Kinsey has to go on is a little address book and the name "Blackman." Hopefully, she will figure out the mystery before she gets herself killed.

The plot of this book was a little disjointed. The relationships in it did not make sense. Kinsey's actions toward Bobby were a little unrealistic. It was written as though they had a long, lasting friendship when they had actually just met. In addition, the characters were not very likeable. I prefer to read about characters I like and can relate to. It was a clever mystery, and I didn't figure it out until the end, but it was not my favorite of Grafton's books so far.

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