New Post on http://melissaboyettbrinkley.wordpress.com

I have just posted a movie review and a book review on the site listed above. Check it out!

"Our Kind" by Kate Walbert

My first book in the RYOB Challenge is "Our Kind" by Kate Walbert. This is a collection of short stories, "memoirs" if you will, about a group of women who have been friends for years. They lives are chronicalled for about the past 40 years through the events that have befallen them, both good and bad. It is a short book and very well written. The images created brought back fond memories of my growing up during these same years. However, I found it to be depressing. I think it was just the wrong book at the wrong time for me. I would recommend reading a few of the pages prior to committing to this book but don't let my opinion stop you -- just not right for me at this time.

RYOB Challenge -2009

Today I stumbled upon a reading challenge that is very suited to me. I am already involved in the TBR challenge which is similar but, since I have two blogs I thought two blogs would be acceptable -- more than that is overwhelming to me. So, I signed up for the RYOB challenge and, since overlaps are acceptable, my first book will be "Our Kind" by Kate Walbert. I figure if I post on TWO blogs that I will be reading it, maybe I will feel compelled to finish it -- we will see. My goal will be 12 books for the year. I know, that sounds like a meager amount and hopefully I will do better but, realistically, I would rather keep the number low and add to it as I go. It could go much higher as I seem to get roped into reading children's books a lot as I am buying and collecting for my grandkids and like to see what it out there for them.

At any rate, since I have been neglecting my blogspot blog for a while and don't really want to abandon it, I think I will use it for the RYOB Challenge. If you want to know what I am reading and what I think about it, you will want to check here. The TBR challenge will be on my other blog: http://melissaboyettbrinkley.wordpress.com.

Happy reading!

The TBR Challenge Lite is my one and only reading challenge of 2009. I chose option C because it seemed the most doable for me. I have a rather large stack of unread books that I would love to get through and I hope this challenge will help me with that. The first book on my list is "Our Kind" by Kate Walbert. Since I had to list three books I included "The Night Watch" by Sarah Waters, "Looking for Peyton Place" by Barbara Delinsky and the Beverly Lewis Trilogy "The Shunning", "The Confession", and "The Reckoning".

I chose this challenge because it gave me the most freedom to read what I want and since I like a vast variety of material, I felt most comfortable in this challenge.

So, Happy Reading all you fellow TBRers!

Happy

New

Year!

A Kodak Moment and Me Without a Camera

About three minutes ago our local NBC affiliate broke into regularly scheduled programming to announce that the space shuttle Endeavor was coming to land at the DWF Joint Reserve Air Base. They said it would be visable in about thirty seconds. Well, since I live across the road from the JRB I decided to go looking for it but I figured it had already landed. Much to my surprise, I heard a roar to my left (I am used to the military air base roars) and there is this gigantic plane with the shuttle perched piggy back! What a sight and me without a camera! Man! Oh well, I am sure it will be on youtube but it was very awesome.

Wall-E

I am adult. Yes, I keep telling myself that. I am an OLDER adult --- well, I try to forget THAT. My DH and I don't go to movies anymore, except for any new James Bond offerings. We are strictly premium cable channel/video on demand (when it works) sort of people. However, last year I was invited by my also-an-adult daughter to go see "Wall-E". Even in spite of the political innuendo that youngsters wouldn't "get", I was completely taken in by the little rag-tag, scruffy robot named Wall-E and his lady love Ev-a. It was delightful and the animation was fantastic.

So......I don't need to tell you that I have been waiting very impatiently for it's release today and I am proud to say that I was one of the first at my neighborhood Target to obtain the DVD. I can't wait for DH to see it.

And, on that note, I will be seeing "Bolt" with the same daughter next week. Isn't it great to be able to see something with your adult daughter and not be embarassed? I think so.

The Times They Are A'Changing

It seems that autumn has really arrived in North Texas. Even though we have been flirting with the changing season for a couple of weeks, this morning the weather seems to have taken a turn around the corner. At 39 with a brisk breeze, we have definitely rolled over to my favorite time of the year. So, with fires in the fireplace and a stack of good books and needlework projects, I am ready to face the brisque weather and say that change is good!

With early voting winding up this week and the election around the corner, another kind of change is on the horizon. I think we all know how the tide is turning on the election but I guess we never know until it is a done deal. I am anxious to see the effects of the election, whoever wins, on the stock market. I will probably be up early on Nov. 5th just to watch it on the news! Change can be scary, too.

We also have daylight savings time to look forward to next Sunday. I always feel better from November (formerly October) until April (now May?) -- I guess I really do need that extra hour back. But, it just makes the autumn evening so much nicer getting dark earlier. Again, did I mention this is my favorite time of the year? So, change is good when we can get some much needed rest and push aside the trappings of summer and cozy up for the winter ahead. Hm....makes me want to bake bread. Ok, so maybe I have had enough change -- I really don't want too much of a good thing!

Fun---ny! Funny! For a little humor in a particularly tense campaign/election go to http://politsk.blogspot.com. Find Sarah Palin's Baby Name Generator, follow the instructions to find out what YOUR name would be if your were Sarah Palin's child!

If I use my maiden name then I would be Froth Moonshine Palin.

If I use my married name then I am Pick Beef Palin.

Hmmm......funny yet ever so slightly disturbing!

Have fun! Cheers!

New San Antonio pics at http://melissaboyettbrinkley.wordpress.com

New blog on quilting -- http://melissaboyettbrinkley.wordpress.com