Hobbes is Just a Cat, Afterall

Why do I love Calvin & Hobbes?  I really wish it was back in print!!

What the Night Knows

Dean Koontz is scary.  We all know that and accept it as a fact.  What I don't understand is why I read his books?  Sometimes they get a little "out there" and you wonder what in the world the author thinks about when he is in bed falling asleep.  Where do his ideas originate from?

This one wasn't any exception to the rule.  The main character was 14 when he lost his entire family to a sadistic, crazy serial murderer, who he ended up killing when he walked in on the ritual.  (I say ritual, because this murderer was crazy with a capital C).  That is not a spoiler alert, it actually tells you on the inside flap.  What is so scary is what happens to his family when he grows up and marries, having kids who are all special in there own way.

I couldn't sleep while reading this book.  There were alot of images of shadow people in the novel, and things seen in mirrors or out of the corner of your eye.  You know, like when you are just starting to fall asleep and suddenly think you see something but it is only a trick of your imagination.  One focus of the story was about children and animals "sensing" what adults refuse to admit to.  When the main character is at his wits end, he seeks out someone to do an exorcism, and believes a defrocked priest can help him.

The former Catholic priest, Abelard, is creepy in his own right.  He was kicked out of the church because of molesting children, and Koontz describes him exactly as you would imagine what someone who does that to children who would look like:  chain smoking with tobacco stained fingertips and hair, unwashed, and undernourished.  It really disgusted me when the priest showed John he wore two watches, one on each wrist, to explain how he handled his guilt over his own crime.  The one watch was just for telling time, like any other human would use.  The other didn't run, he merely kept it piece with the date feature set on a certain day, month and year.  He explained what the date meant, it was the last time he "sinned" with a child, which had been just a few weeks earlier.  It was to remind him of his sins.

The priest explains he can't do the exorcism because he is no longer allowed to practice, but gives him some advice:  "Abelard said, 'We don't live in Biblical times.  God doesn't appear in burning bushes and the like.  Angels no longer materialize in all their winged glory.  I think the divine has taken a few steps back from humankind, perhaps in revulsion, perhaps because we don't deserve to look directly upon holy beings anymore.  In my experience, when the divine enters the world these days from outside of time, it manifests discreetly through children and animals.' ".

Well, it is a clue to how the book ends.  As I am writing this, it is quiet in the house and dark outside.  Just mentioning this book gives me a little scare.  It doesn't help when your cat his running through the place in what appears to be playing with something I can't see (or is it someone)? 

Calvin's Day at School

Yesterday's was kind of serious, so I had to lighten it up a little with this one that made me laugh out loud.

Calvin's Deep Thought for the Day

"What book(s) would you like to see turned into a movie?"

The Crazy for Books blog introduced a new question on their blog hop.  While I don't participate by linking up, the question did immediately bring two authors to mind, whose works I adore and wish they would be made into a movie.  What books would you like to see turned into a movie?  Interestingly enough, both of the books I have in mind have had the rights purchased by the movie industry, but work is very slow and I have yet to see any production, so it's a good possibility it will never come to light.

The first one I am sure my family will agree on.  The world NEEDS to see Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum on the big screen.  We have talked about it, and her Facebook page is constantly asking who her fans would like to see play Stephanie, Manelli, and Ranger.  Oh and Bob, let's not forget about the dog!  Grandma Mazur would be the constant comedic relief, and I think we would all laugh until we cried.

Second on my list is the Big Stone Gap series by Adrianna Trigiani.  I can NOT get enough stories about this town and it's group of people, especially Ave Maria and Jack Mac.  There are many of her other novels I just love, especially "Lucia, Lucia" and the recent Valentine series, but this location in Big Cherry Holler would be the perfect setting for a love story that has it's ups and downs.  There are many of her novels that I have to ponder on after finishing, they move me that much.  I will admit that a few brought tears to my eyes at the end, but I love a great story I can immerse myself in, and I know that film goers would feel the same way if the movie was done correctly.

Now, dear family, what would you like to see made into something you could pay tons of money to see on the big screen?

Calvin as Stupendous Man

This is dedicated to Heather.  I hope Logan's super hero cape doesn't lead him astray like it does Calvin.

Girl In Translation

This was another book found on many listings and shared in different book clubs this past year, and it was a very good read.  I enjoy a good human interest story, but sometimes they can be too "wordy", when the author feels the need to over describe every little detail.  This book didn't, and the story was excellent in it's simplicity.  I liked how the author would have the main character, ah-Kim (or Kimberly, her Americanized name) would interpret what someone else was talking about in English.  She had been taught before arriving in the States, but there were still many things she didn't understand.  It made me think about what the person was saying, so it almost put me in her frame of mind, because she was also having that same difficulty.

It was a coming of age story, wrapped around the problems trying to survive in a new country, with a little lost love thrown in for good measure.  The novel fit nicely after reading the last book, which was constantly trying to get me to stop and think about my history and literature classes, so I could follow the story better.  If you are looking for what they typically call a "beach" read, something for the summer vacation, this would be a good choice.

Calvin & Hobbes Snowman Tales 2

Address Lables

I have alot of address lables, and it's not because I ordered them.  For some strange reason, alot of organizations think that if they send me address lables, I will make a donation. 

A few years back when the Lance Armstrong Live Strong bracelets were very popular with the kids, I ordered them online.  That is when it started because they must have sold my information to other organizations.  I have received lables from ASPCA, St. Joseph's Indian School, Breast Cancer Awareness, St. Jude's Children's Hospital (multiple times), some I can't remember who they are from, and for some reason American Family Insurance had been sending some to their clients frequently.

Why do they think it's a great way to earn money?  I only mail just a couple of bills, the rest I do online.  My rent has to have the address on the envelope when I drop it in the box, but that is only once a month.  I don't like to throw these out, thinking I will use them at some point, but it seems such a waste.  I won't be able to use them if I ever move, so what is the use? 

Queen Hereafter

Here was a new book I picked up after seeing it on a list for best historical fiction of 2010.  When I read the summary, I was excited because it was exactly what I like about this type of genre.  This particular publication was based on historical fact, Scotland royalty in the late 1070's, following Macbeth's ruling.

I remember the basis of the Shakespeare play, Macbeth, so I was intrigued.  The main character, Margaret, is an actual Saxon princess, who's brother and family were banished from England by King William, because her father, the King, was dethroned.  She and her family end up as guests of Scottish King Malcom, who is trying to keep his country safe from the invading English.  Malcom sees it as a benefit to his kingdom to marry Margaret, joining the two families into a powerful ruling dynasty.  Their descendants are all royalty, one of the more famous being Mary Queen of Scots.

I realized that after some discussion at supper last night, not many of my family know of my fascination with royalty.  I am not talking about Princess Diana and all of the current news (but I do follow it with some interest) but I have always read about historical royalty. The only movie out right now that I really would like to see is the King's Speech, because his story is quite fascinating, even though his daughter, Queen Elizabeth can be considered quite boring. 

This book took a part of historical royalty that I had never read about before and made it quite interesting.  It also took another fact that fascinates me, the role the Catholic church took in many of these family powers, which I learned about in Ken Follet's pair of historical fiction "Pillars of the Earth" and "World Without End".  I love when I get to experience the life of an actual figure of history.

Wet Pants

No, I did not pee my pants.  I am just frustrated being a height challenged individual who does not take the time to hem up my pants.  I hate when it is very slushy outside, and your pants tend to soak up all of the moisture you step into.  Today I ventured out and  by the time I got home my pants were wet from the bottom up to the back of my knees.  YUCK!  I don't understand how those kids with the low slinging pants (you know---pants on the ground) can stand it.  It is an absolutely disgusting feeling.  Then when I come home I am standing inside the front door wondering how I am going to get to the bedroom to change without dragging the slop across the carpet.  Yep, problem solved by just removing said pants.  Good thing I was alone, although the cat was looking at me kind of funny.

Great Finds

I never really talk about the food deals I manage to find on here, but I though I'd share some household deals I made today.  All of the winter bedding went 75% off today at the store, and because I was at work, I just happened to walk by.  Most of the throws that people buy for gifts were on there, as well as some down comforters, etc., so I had to look.  I brought home a full sized flannel sheets set and an electric throw and my total was just over $11.  Take that all you bargain shoppers!  I actually got my employee discount (which is now 30% thanks to my 20 years of service) on top of the 75% off. 

Here's the breakdown:
The sheets were originally 19.99 store price, on sale for 5.00, and I got 1.50 off that, so I paid 3.50 for a set of brand new sheets.

The electric heated throw (which is 50" X 62", washable, and an extra long cord) was store priced for 39.99, on sale for 10.00 and I paid 7.00.

Lucy's extra excited for the electric throw--she's always trying to get warm in my lap:)

Skippy Dies

The title caught my attention!  So simple, yet it gives away the ending, or beginning.  The picture is not the publication I read.  Mine was one complete book, and I heard about it from one of my numerous book blogs.

Even though the title gave away the premise of the book, and the first chapter has Skippy dying, it was very easy to fall into the story and enjoy the characters.  The book actually takes place in a boys school in Dublin, where some of the students are living in on campus dorms.  The boys are in their second year, which puts them in their early teens, and many passages had me actually laughing out loud to their antics. 

Teachers and Priests are part of the story, Seabrooke being a Catholic school.  The sadness comes in when there are hints of the child abuse that is surrounding the church these days.  Skippy and a fellow student Carl are caught up in some psychological problems that started at home, and both struggle to understand their problems.  The ending was the expanded version of the first chapter, and how the students each deal with the unfortunate events surrounding Skippy's death. 

The book did take me a whole week to finish, but I'm glad I stuck with it.