Comparing AAR Results to My Ballot

Another year, another ballot! Next year I'm going to be even more organized thanks to Rosario's handy dandy excel spreadsheet (and by handy dandy I mean, 'holy shit, I didn't know a spread sheet could do that!)

The good news is that although a few category wins may be my fault, I'm pretty much off the hook for the rest. Yeah! Someone else to blame!

Okay, for those who couldn't give a fuck, scroll down to the bottom for some fun. I love Robin Williams and this one has me in stitches every time!

I also discovered after reading the results column here, that I am definitely more in the paranormal camp than I thought. Here I was thinking I was a well rounded romance reader until I really looked at the categories and which books won. Ooops. Guess that's probably not much of a shock to other people.

Read the rest at your own risk. There might be some whining involved but I'll try to keep the drama to a minimum.

Best 2006 Romance Novels

Best Romance Lover Awakened, J.R. Ward
Honorable Mention Lord Perfect, Loretta Chase

Shit. Right off the bat, it was me. Yeah, that's right, I heart Lover Awakened!

Bring it!!

See how I reign in the drama?

I saw a few people mention that LA couldn't possibly be the best romance of the year. For easy math, let's say there were 7000 ballots and every one had a pick for best romance of the year. Of those half voted for LA as best romance of the year. That would make me and 3499 other people completely wrong.

My people would like to say to your people:

Pfffffffft.

Favorite Funny Lord Perfect, Loretta Chase
Honorable Mention Drop Dead Gorgeous, Linda Howard

Date Me Baby One More Time by Stephanie Rowe was my vote. I have not yet read DDG and even though I read Lord Perfect, I didn't see the funny.

Now, you and your 3499 people can send me your own message. See how this works?

Hey, all I did was a raspberry, no need to throw things!


Most-Hanky Read Lover Awakened, J.R. Ward
Honorable Mention Simply Love, Mary Balogh

I believe I left this blank. LA did get me teary eyed and such but I'm starting to become a stickler about what a hanky read should contain. Mostly, lots of tear stained pages. *snort* If a book gets me crying too soon what do you think the odds are I'll finish it. Ah, well, I like to leave some areas on my ballot blank so that it's not all about me.

Like usual.

Most Luscious Love Story The Raven Prince, Elizabeth Hoyt
Honorable Mention Devil in Winter, Lisa Kleypas

I think I left this one blank also because I'm pretty sure I would have had to put LA in this one. Sorry any scene where a man learns to become one with his unit is pretty much solid freakin' gold for me.

Yeah, I'm feeling like I crossed the TMI line also so let's move on.

Best Erotic Romance All U Can Eat, Emma Holly

After the revealing answer above isn't it weird that I really don't read much in the erotic romance categories. I've said it before, the ones I have tried I don't find all that sexy. That said, I'm so going to read this one one of these days, it's just sitting in the TBR pile until I'm ready.

Best Cabin/Road Romance Lord Perfect, Loretta Chase

No Rest for the Wicked by Kresley Cole was my vote. I have to be honest and tell you that it wasn't until I read the first set of interim results that I realized that this book completely fit this category.

What I know is that LP just didn't work for me and it's my own baggage and nothing else. We have kids (although not those cutesy kind but still annoying), a parent and guardian trying to track them down after they have run away, manage to fall in love AND have sex while trying to find them. Sorry, my suspension of disbelief was strained. All the same, I know that Loretta Chase and I have an odd relationship. When I love her books I LOVE them and when they don't work for me they really don't work for me.

Too bad for me.

Best New Author Elizabeth Hoyt

I think I left this one blank as the ones I would have put in actually have a background in categories. Nalini Singh for example.


Best Buried Treasure Jacob, Jacquelyn Frank
Honorable Mentions Beauty and the Spy, Julie Anne Long
The Raven Prince, Elizabeth Hoyt

I put down Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh because even though I know that some of us reading bloggers read it, I wasn't sure how many AAR readers would have heard of it. I just ordered Visions of Heat from my online store and if I'm really lucky the book will be here on Friday. STS was almost everything I look for in a paranormal and it was fresh and new for me as a reader.

I have Jacob in the TBR pile and I'm looking forward to reading it and seeing if it's any good.

Guiltiest Pleasure All U Can Eat, Emma Holly
Honorable Mention Devil in Winter, Lisa Kleypas

Okay, mini-rant. Guiltiest pleasure obviously means something else to other romance readers. My feeling is that if a fellow romance reader would look at me and say 'OMG you read ____!?', then that is a guilty pleasure. You know it's something most people can't stand but for some reason you can't help yourself from loving it.

MJDs Drop Dead Gorgeous was my vote. Yeah. Doesn't that make you want to mock me?

Exactly. That is a guilty please my friends.

Author Most Glommed J.R. Ward

Mine was Kresley Cole and even though I looked at this and thought, 'oh, shit, I am a paranormal junkie'. I also realized that she writes historicals and I bought them up too!

I know there was a question about what constitutes a glom and really it's quite simple for me. If I read a book and immediately go to the bookstore and buy the rest of the author's books without reading the backblurbs or caring if they are the same as the one that set off the glom (authors who write historicals and contemps etc) whether it's only 3 or 23 then that's a glom.

I figure if you only have 3 books to buy up then your both lucky and unlucky. One, you don't have to keep looking for that ever elusive highly expensive book BUT, you also don't have any more books to find - that's it that's all, you read those three and you're officially caught up.

Best Medieval The Silver Rose, Susan Carroll

Can I just say that covers obviously do make an impression because I have seen the Carroll books and have thought 'ugh, historical fiction' when in fact, I think these are historical romances. If there is anyone who has read Carroll here, can you just verify this for me because if they are romances (and by this I mean the book is mostly about a romance between two people) then I need to update my TBB list!

I read no medievals and thus no vote here from me.

Best European Historical Devil in Winter, Lisa Kleypas
Honorable Mention Lord Perfect, Loretta Chase

Boo-yah baby!! I loved Sebastian and DIW and I was saved from wishing for something different for his character because I did not read the book before this. I heard too much about how annoying the Autumn book was so I didn't bother. Thus, I loved the story for what it was for me.

Geez, this only puts me at two!

Best Amer Hist/Frontier tie A Reason To Live, Maureen McKade
The Rogue's Return, Jo Beverley (partially set in Canadian frontier)
Honorable Mention Summer Breeze, Catherine Anderson

I did not read a American historical from 2006 but I have ARTL in my TBR pile and I'm really intrigued by TRR by Beverley so I'm putting that on the TBB list.

Best Contemporary Drop Dead Gorgeous, Linda Howard
Honorable Mentions Angels Fall, Nora Roberts
Sex, Lies, and Online Dating, Rachel Gibson

I put down Cold As Ice by Anne Stuart. Yeah, yeah, colour you surprised but I loved it. I have not read the three that are listed here - I went to buy Angels Fall tonight and saw it's in HC - I can wait.

Best Series (Category) Family at Stake, Molly O'Keefe

I don't read series books.

Best Romantic Suspense Cold as Ice, Anne Stuart
Honorable Mention Angels Fall, Nora Roberts

Yeah Baby!! *butt dance* Cold as Ice, purrrrrrrrr.

Best Paranormal Lover Awakened, J.R. Ward

This makes 4.

Don't make me get my people!

Best Chick Lit/Wom Fict Hot Dish, Connie Brockway
Honorable Mention Summer at Willow Lake, Susan Wiggs

I left this one blank because I don't think I read chick-lit. That said, Stupid and Contagious by Caprice Crane was released in 2006 and I read it after filling out the ballot. I loved it!

Also, I will show my 'bitter slip' by letting you know that I no longer follow authors into their new genres. Nope. Not going.

Short Story Hot Toy (Santa, Baby), Jennifer Crusie
Honorable Mention The Warlord Wants Forever (Playing Easy To Get), Kresley Cole

Geez, if I had paid more attention I would have realized that I read the honorable mention this year and loved it but I didn't record it because I only read the one story. Out of spreadsheet, out of mind.

I put Dead Man's Chest from My Big Fat Paranormal Wedding Anthology by Rachel Caine - I went to glom the rest of her books and discovered they are YA - NO THANKS!

Best 2006 Characters

Most Tortured Hero Lover Awakened, J.R. Ward Zsadist

#5.

Strongest Heroine Lover Awakened, J.R. Ward
Honorable Mentions Memory in Death, J.D. Robb
Lord Perfect, Loretta Chase

Okay, my heroine could take all three of these woman. All of them! Genevieve from Cold As Ice by Anne Stuart. Ms. Stuart, if you happen across my wee little blog please, please, please give us more heroines like Genevieve. Thank you.

Best Hero Devil in Winter, Lisa Kleypas Sebastian (St. Vincent)

Huh, I think I voted for Sebastian in this category - I have scratched out things all over my hand written ballot. So that would be 6.

Best Heroine Devil in Winter, Lisa Kleypas
Honorable Mentions Lord Perfect, Loretta Chase
Drop Dead Gorgeous, Linda Howard

Again, I loved Genevieve from Cold As Ice - for those who think AS heroines are mostly spineless, you have to read this one because she gave Genny strength and I loved it.

Best Couple Lord Perfect, Loretta Chase
Honorable Mentions Devil in Winter, Lisa Kleypas
Lover Awakened, J.R. Ward

Oh look, I put DIW as best couple and it's in the HM category! I wasn't paying attention. For those who see that I voted for LA as best romance, I couldn't in good conscience put Bella and Zsadist down as best couple. LA was more about Zsadist than about Bella while I felt the H/H in DIW were equally shown.

Best Villain Lover Awakened, J.R. Ward (unnamed to avoid spoilers)

I did not have a best villain.

Worst of the Year for 2006

Most Annoying Lead Drop Dead Gorgeous, Linda Howard Blair Mallory

Uh, maybe but I haven't read it. I voted for Ian Mackay from A Thief in A Kilt by Sandy Blair - so many ochs, achs and other weird noises going on. Ugh.

Author You Gave Up On Christina Dodd
Dishonorable Mentions Nora Roberts
Julia Quinn

Wow, I just noticed that NR is up there! I voted for Linda Howard. Used to be I couldn't wait for her next book and I have many of her HC but after the last few I just can't see putting out the money anymore.


Most Disappointing Read On the Way To the Wedding, Julia Quinn

Didn't read it but I'm not one of those readers who has to read an entire series. I put Sandy Blair's A Thief in a Kilt here because her last book was a keeper and I was looking forward to a good read. So it was disappointing.

Worst Read On the Way To the Wedding, Julia Quinn

In the end I voted for A Thief in a Kilt here also because I did read the entire book and it was the lowest graded book for the year thus, it was my worst read of the year. That's how it works. Anyone out there buying Connie Mason books? No? That's why her books are not winning worst of the year - us seasoned romance readers know better.

Purple-est Prose Prince of Ice, Emma Holly
Dishonorable Mention Mistral's Kiss, Laurell K. Hamilton

I left this one blank also but now I'm afraid to read Prince of Ice. It's hard for me to take an erotic romance seriously if there are too many euphemisms for anatomy. Although I did like Passion so maybe I shouldn't be such a judgey wudgey bear.

So there you have it. My yearly wrap up.

I know, I don't know how you could have gone one without knowing my thoughts on the situation.

And now, the man who made 'FUCK NO!' one of my favourite phrases I give you Mr. Robin Williams on golf.

Youtube hates me so you have to follow this link - so not work or kid friendly!

Robin Williams and Golf

VISIONS OF HEAT meme

I'm telling you, Nalini Singh has a great idea when it comes to marketing on the internet. Simply offer us readers some book money and a preview of the next book and we're like putty in an author's hands.

Slave to Sensation was a great book and since I know I'm going to be buying this one also I'm more than willing to pimp the book.

1. Which psychic power would you most like to possess?

I have no interest in knowing other people's thoughts and seeing dead people would be a sure way to make sure I end up in a straight jacket! So I would like to see some future stuff so I could buy the right stock, get rich and have hubby retire. You know, it's the little stuff that makes all the difference.

Oh, you know how vampires can teleport - I would love that but only if Bob could have it too so we could go all over the place. It would be no fun by myself.

2. If you could see the future, what would you like to see?

Ooops, I forgot to read the meme before answering so yeah, other than lottery numbers I would only really like to see things that I could change. I wouldn't want to see that someone is going to die and have no way of changing it. I would also want it to be straight forward - no flying cows that really mean 'mad cow' disease.

3. Imagine you woke up one day and could shapeshift - what would you shift into?

Geez, what wouldn't I like to shift into? Okay, not a snake or spider or ant or mouse or ... Yeah, nothing where a human would just kill ya. I have always had a thing for wolves but I would also like to be a cheetah just to be able to run full out and see what it feels like. OH!! I would love to be an eagle and fly - that would be super cool seeing as how I don't plan on getting on a plane in this lifetime.

4. What kind of a paranormal creature would you invite over for dinner if there were no limits on who you could ask?

Probably were-animals because they have that great sensuality with each other. It would be cozy and informal and I could just have the food shipped in. Heck, with the way they eat they could probably cook for me!

5. Which future innovation do you wish would hurry up and get here already? i.e. flying cars, a transporter, computers with artificial intelligence, an auto chef?

I'm telling you, teleporting can't come fast enough. I would love to go all over the world but I won't fly - somehow it would be so much easier if I only had to dread a few seconds in time instead of an entire plane flight.

Second would be an auto chef if it would deliver a full turkey dinner with all the trimmings and taste like when I make it. Yeah. Mmmmm, food.

Dang, now I'm hungry.

Hope you will want to play with this meme also - just follow the links below to find out how you too can be eligible for a 50 dollar Amazon GC and a preview of her next book.

This meme was begun by Nalini Singh to get the word out about her next book, Visions of Heat (releasing March 6). Want to play, too, and enter to win a $50 Amazon voucher plus an ARC? Click here for details.

My Little Bubble

Many things have been happening but not to me so much. I've mostly been a couch potato and computer whore since early February. We have 3 birthdays during this month which should normally help break it up but, you know, meh.

Mucho progress on the reno house as Bob is there on the weekends - I'm hoping he will be done end of March but April is not out of the question. I think when Bob isn't with me on the weekends every day just melds into another so I am looking forward to the summer when Bob's weekends will be free again and the pool will be open and *fingers crossed* I will have my sidekick Cody following my every move.

Where's my faithful sidekick right now?

The traitor is upstairs sleeping in the bedroom because his bestest daddy ever is sound asleep.

Who walks the dog?

ME.

Who feeds the dog?

ME.

Who takes him to 'spa day' and any other appointment?

ME.

Did I mention I'm the one taking him for walks? I think he may be a bit pissed at me because I didn't bring him up with me today when I went to bed. Cody only lasts about 8 hours so after that he wakes up and gets antsy which of course wakes me up and well, I don't like to be forced awake. So I left him in the den (no hardship since he sleeps better on the couch then on my bedroom floor - at least I'm betting) and woke up to hear him tearing paper to shreds. Yeah. Not my happiest sound. Luckily, the only books I have in the room are too high for him to get to but he managed to dig up last weeks flyers.

Aside: see how I drape the couch in blankets? I know what it's like to get dog fur off of the couch. Still, I let him get up there and get all snugly and who's he with? Exactly!

When he starts to chew things I know he needs to get the hell out of the house so I took him for a nice walk. Course, half way through Bob came home and wimped out of walking with us because he was too cold. After that Cody kept looking behind him hoping his bestest friend would be walking up behind us.

I am not jealous!

I'm not.

Anyways!

I'm already starting to get myself worked up about tax time and it's not due until the end of April. I just know how I file things so I'm thinking it's best I find everything I need now. I don't know about you guys but I am famous for putting an item somewhere where I think 'I'll know exactly where it is'.

You know what?

I never know where it is!!!

This makes me so mad at myself that I start the negative talk about how stupid I am and how I'm useless and stuff. Not happy thoughts so my plan is to try and get the taxes started at the end of this month.

The other reason why I'm obsessing is because I know there will be another *new* thing I will have to figure out for the tax man. Never fails. It will mean going back over the last four years (it will work out to be a good thing for us) and well, the last four years are in 'that place where I know exactly where it is.'

I can't imagine the move helped in keeping it all where it once was.

Wherever the hell that is.

Did I file it under T for taxes? Or under H for holy shit we're paying out the whazooo? Course then there is F for Fuckers who have all our money. I mean, it's a needle in a haystack over here!

Damn.

This is where I'll fess up to the fact that my file drawers are not in alphabetical order.

Okay, I'm going to sign off before I start the negative self talk.

Avoidance is crucial to mental health.

*gets into some yoga position that Gumby thinks is cruel and unusual punishment* Ohmmmm.

I am SO not jealous!

Isn't It Romantic by Ronda Thompson

First, I have recalled the flying monkeys I sent out to poop on Renee and Kristie for recommending this book. I'm going to write this one without re-checking their reviews so maybe there was some warning of what was coming and I missed it. Of course, maybe it's my fault for never reading the backblurbs - I just checked and I guess I would have had a clue before the opening scene of the book but, whatever, let's get to it.

Cindy Blurb: Basically you have two sworn enemies (a romance writer and a reviewer/columnist) being forced to date each other and create a he said /she said 5 part mini-series for a newspaper. The dates were hilarious - thus the reason I whistled for the flying monkeys to abort their mission.

This story was one hell of a roller coaster ride and by that I mean it in the 'I'm so going to puke' kinda ride. The opening scene had pretty much every element that pushes all my 'oh crap' buttons.

1. A precocious eleven year old.

2. A romance novelist as the heroine (Lord have mercy on my soul)

3. A huge misunderstanding in the opening that had me cringing with embarrassment because even though I had never met the eleven year old girl in the book, even I knew that her comments would have someone thinking the worst.

At this point I was wondering what Renee and Kristie were drinking when they read this and where the hell I could get some! This might surprise you but I had faith that the book had to get better, cause like I said, R & K (who have read and loved many of the same books as I have!).

It did get better even though the heroine (whose name is Katrine which of course got my brain stuck on the work latrine and well, I had to mentally change her name to Kat every time I came across her name - every once in a while I would read it as is and think 'latrine'. I know, I'm hopeless) took just a little too long to loosen up. I'll also mention that she is a writer of hawt romances and yet, she was only ever married for six months and basically they hadn't got to all the good stuff before she became a widow at 19. This would be what, the fifth hot button for me?

The hero, Trey, was far from perfect also in that he thought nothing of telling Kat how horrible she was as a mother (when her and Trey weren't even friends) and then getting her daughter one hell of a big dog without asking Kat. Uh, hey, pets aren't disposable commodities - okay, pet peeve but really, how many of you have shown up at someones home and brought them a new pet? Especially knowing that one of the people would have said, hell no!!?

As to Kat's backing up of the romance genre? No thanks. I think I'll speak for myself if that's the way Kat really feels. Oh! And get this (and maybe it's the authors way of sticking it to reviews) Kat sued the newspaper that Trey worked for when he gave a bad review of one of her books. The newspaper settled. I was left thinking 'what a drama queen!' AND THEN!! There is a scene where Trey goes to the bookstore with a cabby that needs to buy the latest Kat book and ends up being yelled at by some of Kat's fans - WHO HAVE ROLLERS IN THEIR HAIR!!!!

Okay, this is looking like the book was really bad but in reality it just had an unpolished feel about it. I wonder if this was Thompson's first book?

I'll say this, when Trey and Kat get to the dating part their chemistry is hard to look away from. Trey is doing everything he can to ruin the dates and yet, Kat manages to get the last laugh. Hell I was laughing after the first date and seeing as how funny is hard to do, I can appreciate it.

I guess I would say that Thompson's strength showed when the H/H were together (even though they fought fairly dirty) BUT, I found that Trey became a little too much like a 'cliched romance hero' in the way he expressed himself. I don't mind words of love if they feel right for the character but hearing the words coming from Trey just had me wondering who the guy is that just showed up at the end of the book.

In all honesty, maybe it was the authors intention to write this with her tongue firmly in cheek and well, sometimes that kind of stuff goes right over my head.

So here's where I'm going with the grade. C+ I was going to go with a straight C because the book was half good, half bad but I did manage to enjoy the date scenes and it made me laugh.

Okay, now Renee and Kristie can take off the gloves on any books I have recommended that made them wish they could hunt me down with a dull spoon.

Good news?

New author to me - check.

Another book read - check.

Walls have no new dents - check.

I Got Mail!

Well, that's not exactly true. I had to go to the post office to pick it up because the UPS guy on this side of town won't leave the package on the doorstep.

Knowing it had to by my online order from Chapters you know I had to go out!

Before I share, you know you are bored when you walk around a box store and you're STILL bored. Bored I tell you! When shopping doesn't make me happy I know I've hit rock bottom.

And I miss Bob.

OMG!!

Now you don't know this but years ago The Olive Garden restaurant used to have franchises up here in Canada. I don't like Italian food as a rule and salads and soups even less but I tell you, the food from this place was like manna from Heaven for me.

Colour me seriously pissed when overnight The Olive Garden packed up and left Canada (I have heard a rumour there is still one in Calgary but that's about 5 days from where I live).

Just before they left I discovered another beautiful vice called something like baked meat ravioli. Bob and I would go down to the restaurant and order Pasta e Fagioli soup, get the best salad I've ever tasted and an order of these ravioli appetizers. That's it. No main course necessary. (pssst, if anyone knows the recipes for these that actually taste like TOG then please e-mail me with them - no really, I serious!)

It's probably been 9 years since The Olive Garden slinked away (bastards) and it's been probably 6 years since I was last had some of their food courtesy of an over the border run.

Six years and I still remember all that was wonderful about the food.

Tonight Bob calls at 7:30pm and says 'guess where I am?'

I'm figuring he's in Times Square.

'The Olive Garden'

I was floored. It never occurred to me that TOG would not only still exist but that my hubby would go there without me!

I learned one thing about myself tonight. I rarely if ever get jealous because tonight I can honestly say I was sorely envious of my hubby's luck of sitting and eating food that I can only dream about. Weird sensation this jealousy thing is.

I had a salami sandwich for dinner. Thanks for asking.

Stupid panic attacks.

Moving on!

Isn't it Romantic by Ronda Thompson.

Kristie (J) and Renee have both blogged about this book and mentioned how funny some of the dating scenes are. Since finishing Stupid and Contagious I have been craving a good ol' fun book. I think this weekend may be a reading weekend because I am getting bored of some of the online word games I've been playing.

Yep, that's me, addictive personality who suddenly finds themselves ready to move on. See, I think Bob should take me to a casino, I'm sure I would get bored and move on - uh, no.

I believe it was Jay who mentioned how much she liked The Stranger I Married by Sylvia Day and since she has been blowing the recommendations out of the park, I figured this would be a good book to try! Funny how I buy books now without reading the blurbs anymore. I have no clue what this book is about.


Nalini Singh wrote one of my favourite books of last year called Slave to Sensation. I know that Harlequin books are different in theme and content but I'm pretty pumped about reading more by this author.

Talk about not reading the back blurbs of books. This is where that can bite you in the arse bad! I bought this book because I enjoyed The Real Deal by Lucy Monroe - sure I had some problems but I thought it was sexy and rated it fairly well. I think that book was either 2 or 3 years ago now and I haven't read anything by her since. So I decided to load one into the online cart.

It's a friggin' historical.

Bah.

Lately I only buy historicals of authors that come highly recommended.

I'm a dumbass but that's not news.

Oh crap. I didn't even do this on purpose. Last but not least the latest MaryJanice Davidson.

I was desperate!

I know, I'm pathetic.

In my defense though if I can actually read the book it will count as a book read for the year.

I'll take it any way I can get it people!

The Gist

Here's the daylight picture. I got the drive blown out and just about froze my thighs off. It took hours for them to stop hurting - that's the last time I mock those who wear long johns!

Minus 30 degrees Celsius again tonight and boy did I feel it.

Bob was on a train to New York City all day today - train left at 9am and arrived at Penn Station at 1am. Poor guy. I'm a wee bit jealous of him being in NY but I know Bob too well to have done that travel (not to mention I would have been way too anxious to be locked up in a tub for the day). Bob doesn't really like to be away from home so even though he says he would stay there with me for a few days I know he would be giving me the puppy dog eyes after the first day. Then it would feed into my anxiety and it would all go to hell. Also, I'm not much for going outside in the cold so better him than me.

After blowing out the drive I came in and got Cody ready to go out. I knew he had to get out because every time I opened the back door for him to go out he would just look at me. Hey, I don't blame him, he'd be up to his ears!

I put on his new boots for his paws and just had to take a picture. He was really funny about them for the first bit but after about five minutes he just went nuts and started running almost to the end of the 25' lead. He did get to the end at one point and I wasn't fast enough so his back legs flew past his head. Poor guy. I was laughing too hard though because he was acting like a puppy and I love when I see him like that. The picture was taken after we got back in from the quick walk - the temperature dropped like crazy between getting the drive done and us going for a walk.

So now I'm just playing word games on the computer. I'm addicted but I have that gene anyways. Still haven't picked up a book and the mail person made no effort to get to my door today. Not that my books would have shown up but I'm also waiting for our health benefits cheque which is no small amount of money.

On a completely different topic I have been craving something for a few days and can't place it. I'm pretty sure it's chocolate based but so far nothing is working. Not that I've been buying lots of chocolate because I'm trying to stay away from the stuff but still, I can't figure it out!

OH! Did you watch LOST last night?

Day-AM!

The show ended and I literally said 'fucking awesome'. You know, there are not too many shows where I don't figure out where the hour is leading but WOW! I was floored by the ending. I love when a show can do that.

And, I love Desmond.

Hell, who don't I love on that show?

Snow!!!

Now, maybe you don't know that I really, really, really dislike winter but it's not that I hate snow. I hate the shorter days. So, I'm tickled by our first official snow storm.

Anyone wanna come for a BBQ?

Yep, that's our backyard table and chairs - those two things on the right are Bob's Pepsi and Coke coolers. AND it's still snowing.

I had to take the pictures in the dark because Bob is taking the camera with him tomorrow for three days.

Since the storm is supposed to last well into tomorrow I made stew - so I'm set for the next few days.

Even so, I'm not afraid to drive in the snow at all so I'm one of those people who doesn't think twice about running out to the store. In fact, Bob and I celebrated Valentine's Day today because he leaves by train to New York City on business (lucky guy - course I would want to go for more than one day). Since I'm a procrastinator, I had to go out and get a few gift cards and chocolate for Bob, some groceries and uh, the bookstore. Snow schmow.

I bought some books online last night because I'm desperate for something light and frothy and my TBR pile looks like it's all about the drama. Ooops. Still, my desperation took me to the big bookstore today and I bought NOTHING! It hurt to walk out the door without buying anything but I was just lost in the aisles. Not a good feeling.

I'll save the list of books I bought for when they arrive.

What's that?

Yeah, I lied and shouldn't be posting but c'mon, I had to post my fun snow pics!! They make me happy!

Dang! I almost forgot! I managed to get our gigantic snow blower out and started and got the drive way cleared out! I did it for Bob as kind of a Valentine's gift and I figured, hey, what would be sexier for a man than seeing his driveway all cleared out without him having to move.

Yeah, I got his number.

Bob, however, does love his toys and kind of hovered as he got home when I was only half done the driveway. I insisted he go in and relax but he stayed out and shoveled out the walkway. I went and did a neighbours driveway ( I didn't know they had a blower) thinking I could be helpful. By the time I was done, I stank of gasoline and exhaust (Bob wasn't even near the machine and he stank of it also) and my thighs were so cold you could have pushed a straight pin into them and I wouldn't have felt it!

I figure getting out in the fresh (and I mean fresh) air is the kind of stuff my body needs and it definitely kept my energy high for the day and now I'm exhausted so I'll be heading to be soon and yeah, it's 4 am.

Whatever.

The next three days are going to be all about me!

Okay, that's normal but since I'm going to be alone, it's REALLY going to be all about ME!!!

Could I BE Anymore Boring

Yes, yes I can.

Cody has been dropped at the spa - he so didn't want to go in. It's amazing to see how much he's changed since Rocky passed in the summer. Talk about separation anxiety. I know that it's good for him and for us and he's always excited when we go to pick him up.

Today is Godson Josh's birthday and he's going to be 6! *sniff* I love him so much I could just squeeze his little cheeks and snug his ear and

*ahem*

Tell me he's not a keeper!

We're going for pizza which is a new food group for me since I have discovered Domino's pizza.

Pizza and I have had a long relationship of me hating it's existence and it always showing up to make sure my tummy tanked in all it's wondrous glory. My family are pizz-aholics and Pizza Hut is the pizza of champions. It has always caused me problems but the last time I had ONE piece my stomach decided to pay me back for over a month.

I decided last (one before this one) Christmas (my family brings in pizza on Christmas Eve (tradition) and since it's the only thing available I usually eat it) that I just couldn't eat Pizza Hut anymore.

One night my hubby wants pizza and I figure I would call someplace new and see if they delivered. Now, I shouldn't have even tried it but like normal the pantry was bare and I needed something so I re-heated a piece from Bob's leftovers.

Nothing.

Huh.

The next time he ordered I thought I would try a slice and again nothing.

Now, poor Bob has to fight me to get his toppings on the pizza! I do love me some pineapple let me tell you - Bob believes pineapple is one of the deadly sins - meh.

HOLY CRAP - Why am I talking about pizza!?

This is what I mean, I've got nothing, nada, zip.

February blows and I have yet to find a book to read.

I promise not to blog again until I have a book at least part way read.

My gift to you.

Don't say I never give you anything!

Sacked

Second verse, same as the first.

I'm so friggin' tired but I think it was my tummy going nuclear on me tonight that tuckered me out. It may also be that I have been getting out of the house and making myself get some fresh air.

On that note, some new things.

Cody has been out for a couple of walks (which means I've been out walking). *yeah!!!*

My house smells like Cody's butt. *boo!!!!*

I haven't really watched all that much TV or been on the computer that much. *yeah?*

I tried Madeline Hunter's By Design and discovered I wasn't in the mood for a deep drama. *uh - WTF?*

I have no clue which book I should read next *boo!! wait - yeah that's right, booooo!!!*

I have managed to clean the house up a little. *woohoo*

Discovered it's Cody that smells like butt so he needs a spa day. *uh, wha..*

Yep. I live the life of Riley I do.

Bagged - The Dark Highlander

Not sure how much sense this post will make - I've been up since 3:30am and it's now 8pm.

Bob had to go to Montreal so I've been staying awake to get his calls. I like to know when he gets to the hotel and we'll talk on the phone while he is on the train. (Remember, he no longer flies - he learned from me that I will never fly and he decided he could live life the same way. I don't fly because of good old fear - Bob used to take planes but I think he thought it was a mandatory part of life - not so my friend - I told him this on our first date - I got all my crap on the table so he would know what he was getting into) Anyways, I'm going to crash in the next little bit but thought I would give you a brief update.

Brief.

Yeah, right.

I bought booties for Cody's paws yesterday because he's been climbing the walls and it's way too cold for him to be out without protection on his wee paws. Sure enough today he is not himself (has been sleeping like a baby all day and limping a bit) so we didn't venture out. I'm a little worried that now that he has slept all day he is going to keep me up all night. Oy!

I decided to try a new to me author from my TBR pile and discovered a dud.

I picked up The Dark Highlander by Karen Marie Moning.

Are you ready for this?

I stopped at page 36 because I thought my head was going to explode - not from rage, just from sheer 'you have got to be kidding me' shit.

1. The hero is from the past and has a Scottish brogue with all the 'Och and lass' words swirling around him. Blergh.

2. The book opens from a woman's point of view who is not the heroine but the current bed partner of the hero. You know that he is all man and lust inducing but you know, scary. Yep, this scary man calls her 'lassie'. Double Blergh.

3. The heroine finally shows up and she is obsessed in a very bad way with all ancient artifacts. There is some back story about her Scottish grandfather and such.

Oh, oh, I forgot to mention that the hero catches a glimpse of her getting out of a cab and thinks 'She was the kind a man kept'. Yak.

4. And here is where I decided this book was definitely not about to get better. This obsessed heroine gets distracted by all the flashy artifacts in the hero's house while he is not home. She basically ransacks the place (not really) in her eagerness to look at all his loot and goes into the man's bedroom and climbs under his bed (where he has hidden stolen books - don't ask). At this point the author has made her character so unappealing to me because at that moment all I can think is that she deserves anything that is coming her way. I can't think of anyone who would act in such a manner and yet, the author has decided I would believe this woman has not a wit of sense or for that matter has any clue about personal boundaries. Yetch. Sure enough the hero finds her and drags her out and has to tie her to the massive bed to keep her from telling on him.

I dropped the book when the next scene opened with the hero thinking 'She was the kind a man kept'.

I don't think there is enough money in the world to tempt me into finishing this book.

Feel free to make offers though.

Stupid and Contagious by Caprice Crane

When I closed the cover on this book I was just happy and I still am happy. This is quite possibly the only time I have ever considered giving a book an A grade that wasn't a romance book and had no sex between the H/H.

I think I'm growing up.

*wipes tear from eye*

Upon further reflection and let's face it, my need to perfect my grading system in at least my own mind, I decided on a B+.

Cindy Blurb: Heaven is a, uhm ... well she's the heroine and Brady is the hero of the story.

Huh.

Okay, basically - uh.

I guess I'm making it pretty clear I have no clue how to review a chick-lit book.

Heaven starts the story as a high powered PR executive for a small firm and for some reason gets the boot (I mean, I know the reason, maybe jealousy or maybe we're seeing it from Heaven's side of things but whatever). Heaven gets a job as a waitress at a pretty trendy restaurant and we get the inside dish on what restaurants are really like (since I was once a waitress, I get most of it). I also think that Heaven doesn't have many boundaries because when she starts getting her neighbours mail, she thinks nothing of opening it and telling him her opinions.

The neighbour is Brady but we meet him on a plane wondering over his past relationships and why he is still trying to be cool when he is over 30. He is forced to move when the woman he has been living with for the past two years refuses to believe he is breaking up with her and won't leave his rent-frozen (can't remember the term) apartment. He meets Heaven and is basically appalled by her noisiness and general mayhem.

This book is told from the POV of Heaven and Brady and they swap chapters. So the chapter heading will read Heaven and it's her thoughts etc. We don't get earth shatteringly deep thoughts out of either of these characters. They are not looking to solve world hunger or stop war, they are just normal and sometimes normal is down right hilarious cause who hasn't been there and done that.

Is it a story about finding one's self? I guess, maybe, damned if I know. I think it's more of a story about meeting the person you fall in love with and that makes me happy. I laughed out loud at parts and no, it's not slapstick funny like Evanovich so no worries there.

Why not a perfect grade? Believability.

There is a scene where Heaven is clueless to the point of stupidity and all I could think was 'stop, you can't be this dense.' Basically she's working at the restaurant and smells something extremely bad and she thinks the toilets in the bathroom have backed up. She apologizes to the table seated near the bathroom and everyone kind of looks away. She goes into the bathroom and finds the odor is not as bad in there - so she decides that someone at the table has stepped in something and tells them this. Nobody at the table reacts - I would think at this point you would shut your yap and let it go but no, she starts sniffing around the table until she gets to a woman and is bending to inspect her shoe when the woman bursts into tears. She has a colostomy bag - Heaven is mortified that she just embarrassed the woman but really, would anyone take something that far?

The other part that I stumbled over was a section about Starbucks and how people get to make choices. While reading it all I could think of is You've Got Mail and how the hero in that movie had the exact same thoughts. It definitely took me out of the story because I was no longer in the head of Brady but in the head of the movie guy.

Oh, and the ending was too pat. I mean there is a HEA and then there is an over the top HEA. I'm just saying, the guy gets the girl, good enough. The rest is gravy but then Crane threw whip cream and a cherry on top. But then, there are people in the world with over the top lives. Bastards.

Ahem.

If you already love Chick-lit then I would recommend this book to you but remember, I'm not well versed in this genre. If you are in a slump and need something a little different then this might be just the thing.

That's what this experiment was for me. I just didn't know which of the 200 romance books in my TBR pile to pick up next so I decided I needed to read something completely different.

I'm glad I did.

I Love My SAD Light!

Just a quick note to let you all know that I enjoyed sitting under my SAD light tonight. It's amazing how different I feel already.

I also opened a window up last night for about 15 minutes because Cody puked and I thought he could use some fresh air. It was super cold but it was nice and Cody curled up in a ball and fell asleep in the middle of the breeze.

So, simulated sunlight and some fresh air have worked wonders!

Also, and this is huge, I started a new book today and went in with no expectations because it's not a romance book. I figured I needed something completely different to shake things up.

Stupid and Contagious by Caprice Crane - it was recommended by Jay and all I can say is that Jay is dead on about this book. I'm loving it!! Now I wish that Jay still had her old blog so I could make a list of all her favourite books. That's two for two.

Remember, I'm a slow reader and I'm only at the half way mark so it might not be until Monday before I can get a review up.

I'm just really enjoying myself!

Me and My World

Just thought I would pop in and say nothing is new.

February 1st and I'm already in a 'pip-pip-cheerio' kind of mood.

That was sarcasm but I'm officially a shut in and can't remember how to clearly convey my thoughts to others. So far, mind melding with Cody is about all I can manage. Poor bastard.

On that note, it will get to minus 25 round these here parts so no walking the dog. I don't know what's worse - crawling up the walls on my own or having my Cody bear join me in an 'ants in his pants' frenzy. Poor guy doesn't get the whole, no walking cause your paws will fall off kind of weather.

Bob, meanwhile, is politely averting his gaze whenever Cody and I start the crazy ways. Sure, he has to go out to work - boo-frickin'-hoo!!

Then, then I tell you he is going to go and work at that 'other' house all weekend and leave me here all alone!

Okay, my sleep is definitely on the nocturnal side so it's not like I'll know he's not here BUT I *will* know! Oh, all right, it's more like there are no stores open when I am up and I can't get out of the house.

Now I know how our cats feel!

I should also own up to the fact that I cancelled on the dinner Saturday night with my best friend. I already know that my stomach is going to have a melt down. How you ask? It comes along with the other wonderful thing mother nature sends my way. Isn't being a woman grand? My friend was bummed but she bounced back - I think she just wants me to come and see her and since I haven't been up during the day for the last few weeks it's been a while. I need to make sure I get over to see her next week for sure. I think I may go over early on Saturday to take her her birthday card and present.

Let's recap. Acting like a shut-in, bored out of my mind (oops forgot to mention that), SAD is in full effect (our house is from the 50s and the outlets don't have three holes so I can't plug my SAD light in - I'm going out to see if I can find an adaptor this weekend!! Bob keeps saying he'll change out the plug but I'm seeing exactly where on the list I am and I'm telling ya, it's dead last! Yes, I'm being a drama queen - comes with February), TV blows chunks and I've seen almost everything that has been released on DVD.

Take it Queen!!