Random Ramblings

I’ve been suffering from the probably well-known ailment amongst romance readers which I’ve decided to call Restless Reader Syndrome.  It’s related to the much dreaded Slump, but it’s not exactly a slump in that the urge to read is gone, but instead, the reader afflicted can’t settle on a book.  We jump around from book to book, knowing that it’s not the book’s fault; it’s just not grabbing our attention.  I’ve started and went ‘meh’ to quite a number of books.  I’ve gone up and done my books on all 3 platforms; Kindle, Kobo and IBook’s and none of them are calling my name loud enough for me to hear them. One did, Blue Eyed Devil by Lisa Kleypas and I answered its call and reread the Most Incredible Book, but then I got restless again.  I started about 3 or 4 different books but none of them were the ‘right’ book.

Now this syndrome is very close to the “It’s not you, it’s me” syndrome when we know a book is pretty good, but it just doesn’t hit the spot for us.

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I posted a review online at Amazon for a book I found absolutely dreadful and I only gave it 1 star the other day.  Much to my surprise someone responded not very happy at all with my review of the book.  Right away it put my back up and my reply was pretty much ‘I stand by my review, for me the book was awful and NO book will be loved by everyone.’  I explained in my review why I didn’t like and the issues I had with it.  It wasn’t simply a “this book is crap and don’t read it” though I may have implied that; I really had a bad reaction to the book.

But the point is, I would never argue with someone on a review they posted.  I have, when I’m feeling bitchy, sent a response something like ‘you are being unfair to the author when you give a book 1 star because it wasn’t in the best of shape when you got it’ or another time I sent a response to one of those “Christian” reviewers who absolutely trashed a book by an author I really like who now writes mostly inspirational books.  Said book though wasn’t an inspirational  and I explained to the reviewer that said book was written before she made the transition and should be judged accordingly.  As the rabid complaint and low grade wasn’t because the book was poorly written but rather that it had *gasp of horror* S.E.X. in it, I said she was being unfair.  And *wince* because I was in a particularly bitchy mood I may have accused her of sounding very judgmental and sanctimonious, traits that should NOT be held by Christians.  And yes another thing I do when bitchy is to go down a list of ridiculously high 5 star reviews and if they only write one or two sentences about HOW WONDERFUL THIS BOOK IS, HOW THE AUTHOR MUST HURRY AND WRITE MORE or THIS BOOK MADE ME LAUGH AND CRY – you get the picture, I will mark the review as Not Helpful.  If they give the book a glowing review with reason, as in at least a paragraph, then I won’t do that as even I may not agree, they have made an effort.

Which is why I was puzzled by the ‘message’ I got.  I obviously made an effort to explain why I wrote what I wrote.  Plus said writer called me Randy and while I post Amazon reviews under my initials and maiden name, neither is Randy.  I’ve no idea where they came up with that name.

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And along similar vein, authors, if you have rabid fans, encourage then NOT to engage with other readers who don’t hold the same appreciation.  Sadly if that happens, often the author will be painted with the same brush and it may affect how the average reader views you.  I know it’s unfair, but don’t let your fans or even yourself, interact with readers who don’t hold the same level of appreciation.  Again, not every reader is going to love every book.  Hard as it is for me to believe that not everyone loves say Dreaming of You  by Lisa Kleypas as much as I do, I’m not going to argue with them and tell them why they should and say they are wrong.  It just is what it is.

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And following up with Amazon and its reviewers/ readers, I was on my break and decided to read an outline on the book I settled on and am now reading.  There was a good review with a few comments.  The first commenter was rather snotty and said they didn’t appreciate spoilers in the review and weren’t happy that the person who wrote the review let it slip that the hero and heroine fell in love.

Say what???  It’s a ROMANCE.  By what stretch of the imagination is it a spoiler to say in a ROMANCE book that the HERO AND HEROINE FALL IN LOVE?

I’m afraid I have little patience with stupid statements, complaints and questions.  Now that I’m getting older I’m trying to decide whether to be a real crotchety old lady or continue on with being nice.  I’ve been nice my whole life so the thoughts of letting loose my crotch (and I don’t mean that in a salacious way) is very tempting.  I expect I will be crotchety a few times and then do over the top apologies to everyone I meet for being mean.

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I’ve been getting a bit more involved in checking out GoodReads.  I signed up for the challenge and I can gleefully say I’ve completed it and I’m 18% over.  Since I have a whack of books I haven’t even added yet, I’m really going to be doing well this year.

I must say though that many of the readers there are, well, the word exuberant comes to mind.  A Very Dear Friend picked up an ARC of Cold Hearted Rake and I’m reading it now (and loving it but more to say when I finish reading it).  I went to mark it as ‘currently reading’ and my goodness there are some enthusiastic readers there.  First off all there gif’s gave me a headache.  I know I’ve mentioned how much I hate them before – so please, if you care about my head, tone it down by about 95%.

And so much of the comments are ALL IN CAPTIAL LETTERS.  ANOTHER THING THEY NEED TO STOP.  PLEASE!!!!  Goodness knows I can be a queen of drama – but many of those commenters take it to the extreme.  Again I wish they would tone it down.

They also have a tendency to be overly dramatic, at least to my way of thinking.  Again, I can be the drama queen with the best of them – the people I work with know this, but I try and keep it at a reasonable and mostly unannoyable level, but many of the posters there are exhausting.

 Anyway, it’s Friday, it’s time for me to head home for the day so I’ll say for now….

 ‘til later

Afterthoughts on RWA

Jessica wrote a Most Excellent Post on the economics of attending RWA.  There is no question it’s quite costly and I do wonder why I am willing to pay that much money when I’m not an author and at this point in time don’t have any plans to be one.  I do write though, I love to write.  That’s why I started blogging so many years ago.  I didn’t and still don’t have the talent, time or ambition to write a novel.  That’s one reason why I admire so many authors even if their works may not work for me.  They are driven to write and I appreciate that.

So again, why am I willing to spend so much money?  I spent years when my kids were small doing vacations I hated.  Camping.  After spending all those years doing what I didn’t like, I want to do what I do like, no, not like but love.  To be surrounded by romance people is like nirvana for me.  I have found going a very empowering experience.  While I once hid my passion for romance from everyone, now I’m proud romance reader and have no problems telling people where I go for that week in July.  I couldn’t have done that before.  But listening to speakers, talking to fellow romance fans and meeting authors has made me proud to be part of the community.  And a community it is.  My time at RWA proves that.  Not once in all the conferences I’ve gone to have I felt out of place.  It took a while to figure out what to say when someone I’d never met asked me what I wrote.  Then the answer came to me – I don’t write romance, I write about romance.  I AM what authors write for.  I completely realize that for many of them RWA is also a time for business and I think that’s part of the appeal.  There is a professionalism underlying the conference.  I’ve been to RT and it’s a different vibe.  For me, I like the RWA vibe better.

I am thrilled beyond belief when an author recognizes me.  I didn’t get to spend as much time with authors as previous years, but the interaction, brief as it was, was like a balm to my soul.  I didn’t talk to her, but Nalini Singh waved at me when I was checking in.  Julie James came to our table for a short while one night.  Tessa Dare was thrilled to see me when I went to her line at a signing.  Really, it’s the other way around.  And Lisa Kleypas is a very special person to me.  When I saw her, well, that moment alone made me glad I had spent the money and gone.

Reconnecting with friends again is so very, very special.  Wendy, my roomie, Rosie, LB Gregg, those are the people I hang out with the most and even though it’s a year that passes between spending time with them, it feels like only a few months.  Every time there is that instant connection.  Nath and Ames were there.  It’s been a couple of years since I’ve spent time with them, but within moments it was like that time wasn’t years, but only months.  Instant connection again.  I know I’ll forget if I start naming names, but I enjoyed each and every conversation I entered more than I do many normal conversations with my RL people.  For me that’s priceless.

At the beginning, I’m being honest, part of the appeal was all the books.  I would pick up so many books it would seem to offset much of the price I was paying but as I said earlier, I cut way back on the number of books I picked up this year.

I kind of think of it as a fantasy camp in some ways.  I get to interact with the stars and bright lights of a profession I get so much enjoyment from.  I’m not sure how much a fantasy camp costs but I imagine quite a bit.

And while I’m not an author and find the conference a way to renew my desire to write a book, I do find it my desire to renew my desire to blog is intensified.  I had so many great ideas for blog topics while I was there.

Despite all the good and wonderful things about attending the RWA conferences, there are a few things that, while I certainly won’t say bad, are a bit discombobulating for me.  I live by myself, me and my two cats Finn and Munch (who were less than excited when I was watching Law and Order and pointed out Finn and Much the police detectives to whom they were named after).  Being surrounded by so many people while WONDERFUL, is still a bit unsettling after a while for someone used to living with only 2 cats.  In order to remain sane, I have to take more down time than I would like.  I would like to be go, go, going all the time as the hours in a day when I can connect with others is limited, so even as I unwind I resent the fact that I have to.  But if I don’t, I’d be like a robot who goes into overload and just shuts down completely.  Claustrophobia is connected with this somewhat and it’s getting a bit worse each year.

In addition, I wasn’t in the physical shape I should have been.  One of the side effects that takes a loooong time and is one of the hardest to overcome for me when I’m in a depression is weight gain.  I’d lost over 50 lbs and sadly put it all back in my lost year last year.  But I’m going to go into training and plan to be much shapelier – in more ways than one – for the next conference I go to.  Again that limitation was very frustrating.  My back, my feet and other parts of me were breaking down by the end.

But despite these couple of issues, for me, attending RWA is worth every penny.  I’m fortunate as I have a nice disposable income, I make pretty good money, my house is all paid off and my husband left a very nice pension.  Plus I live rather frugally most of the year.  So for me to attend RWA is a time of empowerment, a time to connect again with people dear to me, to express appreciation to authors for the time they have entertained me and made me happy, to drink and talk books, to not have to go to my job every day, to mingle and absorb atmosphere and to truly appreciate the wonderful community I am a part of.

 

'til later

 

Random Ramblings

It’s still busy and I really should be concentrating on what I’m getting paid to do, but I don’t think it will hurt if I take a few minutes here and there as what I’m doing is pretty routine and my mind is once again taking flight.

 

The snobby snob in me can’t help but chuckle at the flogging of the dead horse and the utter ridiculousness that is the FOURTH installment in the 50 Shades phenomenon.    For those who pay attention to such things, I haven’t read the books, will never read the books, haven’t seen the movie, will never see the movie.  I’m annoyed at the fact that so many have read these books and the buzz has been out of this world for, from what I’ve read, is poorly written fan fiction.  There are so many fabulous authors out there who write well written books that will pass by completely unnoticed by the general masses who then read garbage.  To me it’s not unlike Keeping up with the Kardasians winning a Golden Globe for  best acting.  It’s wrong, it’s just wrong.

So I couldn’t help but laugh at the indignation of so many who are discovering that book 1, from Christian Grey’s POV is just one of three and the author has 2 more of the exact same book planned.  Good grief - talk about flogging a dead horse!! 

 

I read some reviews on GoodReads and word is – it’s garbage.  I can’t help but hope the author plummets down to earth where she never should have risen anyway.  I tell you, I am such a bitch some days.

 

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I’ve been designing – sort of – my own calendars for a number of years now through Vista Print.  Every month was a different scene from North and South each and every time the calendar ended in August with “The Train Scene Kiss”.  I brought it into work and as more and more people from work watched and loved it, I began to order more calendars for coworkers – just to share the love.

 

Well people, we have come to the end of an era I’m afraid.  For the first time since 2011, North and South screen caps no longer grace the months.  Nope, I’m figuratively doffing my cap and passing the calendar torch onto Outlander. 

 

 These are a different kind of calendars.  Instead of starting in January, as most do, mine start in September so it’s getting really close to time to order them.  Because we often plan schedules 2 weeks to even a month ahead of the current date, I have 2 of them on my desk, the current month and the next month.  So I’m needing September soon.  A few other people do the same thing and some of these happen to be fellow fans of Outlander.  So I’ve designed the calendar – just have to hit that pay button and the order will be winging its way to VistaPrint.  I just hope Richard/John will forgive for leaving him behind as I move on to Sam/Jamie.  I will love you always John Thornton and at least we have 2013.

 

Bet you all thought you'd never seen the day.

 

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I know I’ve bitched about this before but I will continue to do so until JUSTICE IS SERVED!!  They have a thread again at AAR for freebie or ebook sales.  There are a couple lately for books I would love to get and they are on for a great price at Amazon.  Amazon –dot COM that is!  It’s an entirely different story at Amazon.ca.  And of course it’s through my favourite publisher (not) Harper Collins/Avon. 

Sex, Lies and Online Dating by Rachel Gibson (love her books)

Amazon.com - $1.99

Amazon.ca $8.99

Secrets of a Summer Night by Lisa Kleypas

Amazon.com - $1.99

Amazon.ca $8.99

Your Scandalous Ways by Loretta Chase

Amazon.com - $1.99

Amazon.ca - $7.99 (squeal of a deal there she said sarcastically)

GRRRrrrrrr

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I received a mood calendar as a gift a while ago and I brought it to work.  I love this calendar and changed it every day to reflect my mood.  Coworkers are starting to check my mood before checking how I am.  Lately it’s mostly been on the negative side of things, but starting Thursday, July 2 (Wednesday is a holiday here in Canada) the calendar mood will be starting to change.  Why you ask?  Well, it’s cause then we will be into the actual month I head once again to RWA – this years in New York, to meet up with my people again.  I think anticipation is even higher this year as I missed last year, mostly because of the depression but also because I had another big project, new bathroom that I had to pay for.  This year I’m getting new siding but that’s not going to stop me from RWA.  There are SO many people I’m looking forward to seeing, but a special shout out to Wendy,SuperLibrarian.  We will be roomies again after several years apart and my first question will be “Wendy, Wendy, Wendy, what do you have against Jon Snow that you are glad he’s dead????” 

 

Mind you I haven’t watched Game of Thrones for a few seasons now, it became just to bloody bloody.  I have tried a couple of times over the other seasons since and then there would come a scene where someone got stabbed in the eye and that was all she wrote.  But from the first season that I was an AVID watcher, Jon and Daenerys and Tyrion were my favourite characters with Jon being #1.  AND THEY KILLED HIM OFF!  As if Ned and Robb and Catelyn all dying wasn’t enough.  As if what’s happened to Sansa and Arya isn’t enough?  I’ve lost track of the little boys.  So did they then have to go and kill of Jon??? Why, Why, Why?

 

 Then I can hardly wait to see Lisabea and Rosie – I hope Rose is going again!!  Of course there are so many other too, but the four of us seem to hang out the most.

Now back to the point – see how I ramble and get off topic?  So now that I will be in countdown mode, my mood will be picking up until I’m up to daily bouncy

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 This has nothing to do with anything to do with romance but it is a real bug-a-boo I have.  I’m on the phone a lot anymore at work.  And I can tell when the person is speaking on a cell phone.  Cell phone reception/quality is TERRIBLE a lot of the times.  I’m constantly adjusting my phone’s volume, calls cut out, they are mumbled and I can’t hear what they are saying, they are calling while in traffic and all I hear is background noise.  A lot of the nurses who call in have been issued cell phones and I think the company they worked for must have ordered the cheapest cell phones they could get.  It makes me so cranky (and then I have to change my mood calendar) whenever I get one of these calls and chance are when I’ve had to ask for the fourth time for them to repeat something that I can’t hear, an impatient tone in my voice may come through – not at the person I’m talking to, but the cheap piece of equipment they are using.  I’m cranky enough as it is since I don’t like talking on the phone, but talking on the phone and not hearing what the other person is saying, well, many of those kinds of calls a day and I really need to de-stress at the end of the day.

Anyway - that's all I have for now

'til later

 

Thought for the Day.......

 

 

Still at work, still bored and still thinking.

The thought for the day – am I a reader snob?  I started thinking this when I mentioned in my review of The Longest Ride that I’d never read a Nicolas Sparks book and had no intention of ever reading a Nicolas Sparks book.  I wondered why really and the “other” voice in my head answered “it’s ‘cause you be a snob beyotch!” (she sometimes talks to me like that – I really should teach her respect)

But I had to admit she might have a point.  Since I’ve never even tried one, how can I turn my nose up at this author’s whole body of work?  I like, and even love some of his movies though I haven’t seen them all.  I’m still a bit reluctant after watching Message in a Bottle.  I’ve heard his books aren’t well written and not all of them have happy endings and I’ve read where many question whether his books should even be called romances but maybe instead they should be qualified as romantic.

I’m the same way with Danielle Steele.  I think I read one of her book years ago and was less than impressed and scorned her too as “not a real romance writer.”  But she does seem to be popular.  They turned some of her books in to television movies and I think I might have started watching one once and thought “blech” and turned it off.  This is another author I’m a snob about.

Then we have Jackie Collins.  Now her books were popular back in the 70’s and 80’s.  I read one.  Once.  And that was quite enough thank you.  At the time I was also reading Mary Stewart, Daphne Du Maurier, Anya Seton so when I read Jackie Colllins, well, her book really was sleazy trash.

(OMG!! Squeak -  I sound like my mother.)

E.L. James is another author I can be accused of being snobby about, and probably with just cause.  I haven’t read the 50 Shades books, have no intentions of it, haven’t seen the movie and have no intentions in that either.  I’ve read and heard enough that the writing amateurish and the subject matter not true to life and not something I want to read about in any case.  I don’t really understand pain and sex together.

I have read so called racy books. I read quite a few Harold Robbins and Sidney Sheldon and I don’t have a problem with them.  I think, in my own convoluted mind that holds at least two people, that since they weren’t marketed as romance then I’m OK is their books are somewhat tasteless

I do believe it’s because I’m protective of the romance genre.  It’s my genre of choice and one of the big reasons is the quality of many of its authors.  I’ve read all genres and the authors themselves who write romance are some of the best actual writers and I don’t want what I consider ‘posers’ mixed into the genre – like fake chocolate chips mixed in with real chocolate chips.  They may look the same and at first glance they seem real, but the quality just isn’t the same.

But in my defense of romance authors, have I strayed too far into snobishood?

 

‘til later



Random Ramblings

Egads but I’m bored!  I’m on the later shift and I was a busy little worker be and got all my work done during working hours and now I have nothing to do, but I have to kill two hours.  The coworker I’m on with is great, but she’s a mega-worker and would be aghast if she knew I wasn’t working working.  But I’ve nothing to do except spew words here.

I met with my former trainer last Monday.  It went good, but I’m still most upset with myself at what I let happen.  But – I just have to get over that.

I was supposed to meet him again last night but I had a tooth pulled in the afternoon.  Now one of the things that is strongest about me is my imagination and when it comes to imagining pain, I doubt there are few who can top me.  I caught a glimpse one time in my records and it was right there in black and white, patient has low threshold for pain.  So they doped me up real good yesterday.  They gave me (I think) 1 ½ Lorazepam that mellowed me real good and then nitric-oxide for the actual tooth extraction.  I had no idea I would be loopy and when I was talking to the dentist before the tooth was yanked out of my head, I mentioned I had an appointment later in the day with a trainer and she said I absolutely shouldn’t go.  I had my neighbor take me and pick me up.  From the time I got out of the dentist chair, I remember nothing.  I meant to call Mark and postpone as soon as I got home.  I don’t really remember but I’m pretty sure I did and got voice mail.  Then I totally zoned out for a few hours and called again around 5:30 because I didn’t remember calling the first time.  I tell you it’s scary not remembering things like that.  I have no idea what I said on the phone – but I sure hope I didn’t say anything embarrassing like he’s my non-sexual crush or anything like that.  *gulp*

I also have no memory of paying for it.  The way our plan works, I pay up front and then the insurance company sends a check.  I was debating on calling the dentist’s office to see if I paid but an email came through saying they had processed the latest billing.  But I’ve no idea how much I paid – or even more important – how I remembered my debit password.

I’m still feeling the lingering effects today.  My jaw feels like someone punched me and if I move my head to fast I get dizzy.  I shall be very glad at the end of the day today.

 

The list of authors who are attending RWA this summer is out.  Many of them I’ve never heard of, but I’ve copied the list and highlighted the ones I want to meet.  But it’s going to be way different this year.  In years past, I’ve picked up tons and tons of books.  I’ve had them shipped home as I’ve had to many to carry myself. 

But now that I read mostly ebooks, the call of the free mass market book is silent.  I didn’t make it last year but I know the year before different publishers were giving away cards that you could use to order ebooks from.  I was in transition then so I picked up some, but not a great many.  I’ve my fingers crossed that publishers have caught on and have an even number of books and ecards.  That will also make the traveling much easier.

I did notice though that a lot of authors I’ve discovered in the past couple of years aren’t signed up.  I don’t know if it’s because the vast majority of their books I’ve purchased as ebooks and they either self-publish or write for small independent epublishers. 

 

Which leads me to wonder what the pros and cons of these authors attending RWA might be?  How many are even members of RWA?  Since they write and self-publish, is there any benefit to them going?  Are they hoping to be picked up by a big name publisher?  While for their sakes it would be nice, selfishly for me, it wouldn’t be so good since as soon as they do, the prices of their books would sky rocket.  I see that Courtney Milan and Carolyn Crane will be there and if I’m not mistaken they both self-publish.  I’m looking at some of the workshops they are offering and some look like they would be helpful for those authors.  I guess I’m just bumbed that there seem to be so few.  Or then again – maybe they will be there and just not at the literacy signing.

Speaking of traveling, I was dithering on how to get there this year – drive or take a plane.  The thought of driving in NYC simply can’t be contemplated.  So I’m doing what I did the last time it was in New York.  I’m going down a few days early to visit with my sister who lives in Massachusetts and then take the train from Albany, which isn’t far from where she lives) to NYC.  The train trip, much of which is along the Hudson, is gorgeous.  I’ll put on my soundtrack to Last of the Mohicans and just go back in my imagination.  It’s not just pain I imagine.

 

Well, almost time for me to head home.  I did it.  I made it through day after tooth extraction day.

 

‘til later

Random Ramblings

Being in the zone

I’m bored at work again.  I can make some phone calls, I should make some, but I’ve already made quite a few and most of the people I’m calling aren’t home.  So instead (and the PTB better not find out) I’m letting my mind wander.

I’m curious as to how many readers are like me.  When I get reading a good book, you might as well forget about trying to get my attention.  I have the ability/curse to focus in so much I miss everything that goes on around me.  A bomb could go off beside me and if I’m ‘in the zone’, I wouldn’t even notice.  I often start reading and look up at the clock what seems like half an hour later only to discover that three hours have passed.  What led to this particular mind wander, I was reading some comments on GoodReads where readers commented about different things, mostly technical things, and a number said this kind of thing can pull them out of a book, which says to me I’m not the only one who gets so into a book.  I like that it seems I’m not alone in this

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I have nothing to read!

I have a huge collection of ebooks now and we won’t even go there on the number of print books I have, but I still go through my books and think I have nothing to read, nothing appeals to me.  I have no idea why this is as we are talking romance books of every genre there is, from shape shifter to romantic suspense, medieval to sci-fi romance, historical to contemporary.  I have three platforms, Kindle, Kobo and Ibooks and all of them are full of books.  How and why does this happen?  I have a plethora to choose from, it’s not like I’m in a slump.  I find it happens when I’ve had a run of good books.  And since I have, this is the result.  Thank goodness there were a couple more Alexis Harrington books I could get and read.  Hopefully it will be over soon and a book will call my name.

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Hoarding – Buried Alive

Yes, I am!  I’m a book and jewelry hoarder and I can’t seem to stop.  But I am making an effort in the book area.  Sort of.  I did have a ‘library’ at one time, but that was a child moving back home and into said library, breaking a leg and son moving out and not putting it back ago.  And now I read almost ebooks exclusively.  This means I have 36 BOXES of books filling one of the bedrooms.  And I mean FILLING it.  I can barely move in there.  So I’ve been bringing a few of them at a time into work.  We have a small library in the lunch room and I’ve been putting them in there.  I sent an email to the team I work on saying they can have first dibs if they want.  A couple of people have said that I can take them to goodwill or some other such place, in fact with the amount of books I have, they might even come and pick them up.  But for hoarders it’s not that easy.  I watch the show, Hoarders, Buried Alive and while part of me thinks they are nuts, here they have people who will come and declutter their house for free and offer metal health at the same time so why are they so resistant.   But then I think if the same thing happened with my books, I would be the same way.  Even as I’m pulling books out to bring into work, I hesitate over each one, while in the deeper hole of insanity, that I might want to read that book again.  The more sane part of me says no, no you won’t and the saner part wins.  But each book is a struggle.  If I were to just give away a random box of books, I would freak.  I would wonder for the rest of my life – what if THE book was one of the books in there.  I don’t really know what I mean by that, but doesn’t matter.  Such is the insanity.

I mentioned I hoard jewelry too but it’s not nearly what my book addiction is.  I know this because I have no trouble getting rid of it, well, most of it anyway.  I just like the bling of it.  But books on the other hand, I have a strong emotional attachment too.  But I am getting rid of them, one book at a time.
 

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Working – 9 to 5

The nature of my job has changed drastically over the years.  As technology has taken over more and more of the things I used to do, it has been replaced with us having to make more and more phone calls.  None of us really like doing them, but in my case I’m finding it particularly stressful for some reason even though for the most part they are very positive.  Since we aren’t selling anything, but checking in to see how people are doing, a great many of them appreciate it.  But a lingering effect of the depression I realize now I’ll have for the rest of my life, is reaching out to others.  I have no problems whatsoever when people call in, but me calling them is very, very stressful for me.  Each call I make is like a stab.  Depression is an isolating condition.  Though to others it seems like I’m doing very well, on the inside, not so much.  With the new medication, I’m doing so much better, but in this area things haven’t improved at all, if anything it’s getting worse.  I very rarely call my family and it’s not because I don’t love them, I do so very much, but at times it’s almost like a physical barrier keeping from making that call.  I know none of them except my oldest son understands what it’s like – it’s the same for him.  I know my family is angry with me and then that, of course, keeps me from calling even more.  I can’t handle the censure or anger.  I hate that part of me.  It’s like the mail thing.  People just don’t understand why it’s so hard for me – they don’t get it.  I don’t get it myself, it just is.  Same with making phone calls – I don’t really explain why I find it so painful, I just do.  I’m not sure how to handle it.  I’ve said in more than one team meeting I find them very difficult, but then everyone just nods and agrees.  I don’t want to point out that, ‘yeah, I bet their harder for me than the rest of you guys’.  That wouldn’t go over well – it wouldn’t if someone else did that.  I guess just grit my teeth and try to push through.  I think that’s one of the reasons I’m more tired at the end of the day.  Stress is tiring don’t you know.  It’s ironic – there are some positions here I wouldn’t have taken as it meant having to spend a great deal of the day on the phone.  Now I’m in that position myself.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

 

I’ve Found Something to Read

I mentioned up further that I can’t find anything to read.  That still holds true – mostly.  What is keeping me going – since it’s not a slump I’m in, just extreme pickiness, - is old comfort reads.  I’m a rereader, always have been, always will be.  But in this new world of ebooks and releases of older books, I’m finding myself reveling in them; Alexis Harrington right at the moment.  I’m not sure what to call this.  It’s kind of in between a read and a reread.  I did read them, but in some cases over 20 years ago.  I don’t remember a lot of the story so it’s kind of like reading a new book, but not really – if that makes any sense.  And this makes for a win/win for me!  I don’t remember the story so it’s kind of new, but I do remember the ‘feeling’ it brought.  Once I get past Ms.Harrington, I have some very old Patricia Potter Westerns, some Jill Marie Landis Westerns.

So a happy “hip, hip hooray” for ebook releases for loved books from the 90’s and earlier.

'til later

Random Ramblings

I’m working the late shift (12 to 8) and there is nothing to do except let my mind wander so I’ll follow it and write down where it wanders.  It’s not unlike the guy following a parade at the end and scooping up the horse poop.

 

 

This will be like horse poop.  And speaking of poop, not many probably realize this, but it’s a real fun word to say out loud.  Try it – say it out loud and see if you don’t get if not a chuckle, at least a smile.  Of course it works better if you’re alone.  If anyone is around and you say the word ‘poop’ out loud and they hear you – well – it will be a tough explanation.  Its best if make the ‘p’ at the end pop.

***~~~***

I get 4 weeks’ vacation where I work.  I’ve carried 2 weeks over from last year over so as it stands now, I have 6 weeks vacation in 2015.  I’m going to take a least a week off when I head to NYC to RWA in July.  Then in August, there are a group that seems to grow as word of our fun spreads of coworkers and head to a summer cottage on a local island. 

As there are 10 of us this year though chances are one or two attendees will drop out, we are up to 2 cottages.  It’s a week of hilarity emboldened by much alcohol.   So that will be at least a week also as I need recovery time after the week.  Now that I’m in the upper age range, it takes long to recover.  And that still leaves me with 4 weeks.   I’ve decided to take next week off.  The plan is to do massive amounts of house work in two of the bedrooms in the house.  I live in a 3 bedroom bungalow with another room in the basement which can easily be set up as a bedroom.  For years now I’ve wanted to knock down the wall between the two smaller bedrooms in order to make more of a sitting room/bedroom.  But I’m a great procrastinator.  I took a week off last year with the same purpose in mind.  On Monday I thought – ah, what the heck – I’ve got the rest of the week to do this.  Tuesday – hell, I still have enough time.  Wednesday – I’ve still got four days.  Thursday – it shouldn’t take me that long.  Friday – I have two days left – that should do it.  Saturday – well, it’s too late now, I’ll rush and get it all done tomorrow.  Sunday – Oh SHIT you idiot!

I’m hoping I don’t have a repeat of that week.

 ***~~~***

I signed up for a challenge at GoodReads.  Normally I don’t sign up for Challenges as the minute I do, I start to feel the pressure.  I’ve tried doing Wendy’s – it’s an excellent one – but then I run around in circles when there’s only a couple of days left thinking “ whatwillIread?  whatwillIread?  Ican’tdoit, Ican’tdoit”  Then I’m a mess.  But in this challenge at GoodReads the challenge (or reader) picks the number of books and they can be any book.  I tried to figure it out mathematically.  If I were to read a book a week – sometimes more – I should be able to read 60 – should be no problem right?

Well, then my TV was invaded by gremlins and I was watching very little TV.  And my book reading skyrocketed.  So far this early in the year I’ve read 34 books and I’m going to smash my number to smithereens if I keep this up.  I had to fix things though.  I inadvertently added a couple of short reviews for books I had read last year but somehow they showed up as being read this year and they counted towards the number I read for the challenge.  I debated leaving them there, but then thought, ’no, that would be dishonest’ so I removed them, then thought 'maybe I’m going a bit overboard on the honesty thing.  Who's going to notice?  It's not like we will be entered to win millions of dollars'  But I still changed the date anyway.  Oh well.

But then again I may not blast past the number I put down.  The television gremlins finally made their final stand when I could only get about 7 or 8 channels.  And one of the channels I COULD NOT get was Showcase.  Now for those who don’t know, Showcase is the channel that plays Outlander.  It is simply unimaginable that I miss even a second of Season 2.  It simply WILL NOT happen.
 And there is not a chance in hell I wasn’t going to take out those gremlins like the old Space Invaders game before April 5, the day it comes back here.  So I called Rogers and someone came over on Sunday to fix it.  I now get all the channels I’m supposed to – with sound.  And I shamefully confess *shaking head in sorrow* that I watched the season finale of The Bachelor.  I’d only watched one or two shows all season!!  I could have spent those 3 hours…….reading.  But nope – now that I have no more gremlins, I went straight back to the (as some call it) the “bube tube”.

***~~~***

I mentioned on another post that I’m signed up for this site called BookBub.  Every day they send a list of books found at either Amazon or Koo that are either greatly reduced or even free.  Now with new choices pouring in every day, not to mention the Kindle Daily Deal which I check – well – daily, I’m not going to get just any old book.  If it even appeals to me, I check out reviews on Amazon and GoodReads first.  Now I find many of the reviews on GoodReads helpful – but Amazon – fuggaboutit.  Many are less than useless.  I see some books on there with hundreds of reviews by an author I’ve never heard of and roll my eyes.  It’s obvious the author has friends, family and friends “stuffing the ballot” so to speak.  I know that this is an issue that will never be solved – but to authors – STOP IT.  It’s NOT going to make me buy your book when we have scores of reviews that say “Great Book” or “Couldn’t put it down!!!!!” or “I already bought the sequel”, “Can’t get enough of this author”.  Come on now – do you think the legitimate reader who does any homework at all is going to buy into this?  The only reason I ever do is to go up and down the reviews and hit NO on the “Is this review helpful?”  But here me author – I WILL NOT BUY YOUR BOOK.  It’s always the 1 star negative reviews I place any kind of value on. 

I’m looking at today’s Daily Deal and first I thought – hmmmmm – maybe.  But this book in particular, has over 1,000 reviews and nope – never heard of the author before so it’s just like I said above.  Here are a few reviews.

“Very good read.  Couldn’t wait to read the next book.”

“It was a good read can’t wait to read the rest of the books.  I like series you get to know the characters in all of all the books”

“Awesome book, love the series! Exceptional author”

And just one more – though I could go on..

“This Book was awesome.  I would recommend it to anyone who likes a lot of action and intrigue.  Plus the Love Drama” (Love drama???  What is Love Drama???)

Are any of those the least bit helpful???  Nope, I won’t be getting this book.

One star reviews can drive me nuts too.  Along with the multiple, multiple useless 5 star reviews, this book had some readers that weren’t so happy.  One “reviewer” gave 1 star to said RS book where the hero is a SEAL and on the cover of the book is just the hero with not a whole lot on.  So you have a clue what kind of book you’re going to get right?  But the one reviewer had this to say

“I didn’t really read this book because half way down page 1 they had already used the “F” word.  Many people may not care about this but I do.  I wish more reviewers would make it clear if the book used this word and if there are explicit sexual scenes in this book.  It would sure save me from downloading a book I know I won’t read”

To said reviewer – so would using the thing inside of your head.  If it’s a RS with SEAL’s it’s a given they are going to use salty language.  What – you think a bunch of men who does the most difficult jobs in the world and constantly put their lives on the line are going to use words like ‘rats’ or ‘fudge’?  Get a clue.  By posting such a ‘review’ on such a book, you make yourself sound stupid.

Something tells me this person wouldn’t say the word poop even if it’s real fun to say.


'til later

 

 Later!!
Yep - another night I'm on the late shift with not much to do.  So THIS is why I had to get my cable fixed