Monday, December 28, 2015

Hateful Eight(-y million dishes)

Had five days off and it doesn't feel like it.
Hosting family (dad's attention span has gotten worse), then tornadoes and sick husband - really it feels like I spent the days washing dishes and running errands.

I didn't go out to watch the skies this time - it sounded like the cold/warm air line converged right over the house in the strangest cacophony of thunder I've ever heard (even in other tornadoes).

Watched in on the news and alerts on phones seemingly coming right towards the house... I mean there's no amount of hiding in the bathtub that can counter winds strong enough to rip houses off their foundations and toss cars around like toys 20 miles away from your house....smh scary.

Not that we were going anywhere that day anyway. Jamie got the norovirus - nothing you can do about that either...just keep forcing gatorade/liquids, use disinfectant and hope I don't get it. It's still strange to me how different Jamie and I are when we get sick. He wants to be catered to and loved. I'm a snarling misery and will snap at anyone that dares come near me. 

Did finish the Hathaway series - yes good!
Saw The Big Short - another (eye opener) good one. Great acting. Was forced to sit in the front row cause it was sold out. .
I lasted about an hour...it made me sick. (Well the movie's premise made me sick too Again...I don't understand how that was allowed to happen. ) but sitting so close made me sick so I stood in the hallway and watched. 

Going to see Hateful Eight "in a special screen" ...(whatever that means) tonight. Lets see what Tarantino craziness ensues...sometimes it's a little much.

Re-read KHiggins, In Your Dreams, in anticipation for her new one tomorrow.

Then we're doing our NYday open house party. Oy....more dishes.

Really though...honestly I'm not going to complain about being able to invite friends/family over to a house that's still standing and provide them with food and drinks and find out how they really are in person, when other (many) people aren't as blessed or able. So I'll shut my mouth now. Later. 

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Round 1 - (the Mother round) of family Christmas time came and went.

We walked around DT Dallas, cause why not. It was nice outside. It's changed a lot down there.
Then Jamie made her get emotional seemingly out of no where - especially cause she's not an emotional person.

Apparently she has some regrets on her parenting.

It's strange...ours isn't anywhere near what it seems everyone else's mother/daughter relationship is
Now that I'm older -  I see how that's not altogether a bad thing.
It just is what it is.
I don't see any need to look back and have regrets. Besides I'm turning out pretty good I think.


Regardless... (besides that) nobody got upset - overall I call it a success.

Round 2 - (the Father round) starts tomorrow.
Then round 3 - The Inlaws. We'll see.

Just finished the 3rd book of LKleypas' Hathaway series. The first two were better but I'm still really enjoying it. I'd like to read more about the Romani people mentioned, interesting...

In a Reckless mood!

Friday, December 18, 2015

slowly *awkwardly* back out

So yes - adding NAMI for my list of donations. Everyone should know about them. Even a little help is better than nothing.

It's not just mental illness though...somethings in retrograde or something...
Walked into the bathroom at work this morning to find a lady sobbing.
I slowly *awkwardly* back out telling her "I hope you're ok and I'll leave you alone".
She tells me its alright, for me to come in - like I'm gonna pee in the middle of her sobfest!

Oy.
And so Christmas time round-up begins tonight with my mom coming into town...we'll see how that goes. I think she's already in a mood cause we're not going her way.
I just think 3 times in a year to Houston is more than fair.

Bought and reading Lisa Kleypas' Hathaway series - liking it so far.

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

mental health is an issue

It can't just be me noticing that this time of year exacerbates mental illness symptoms?

I'd never dealt with serious mental illness until the last year or so.
It's a constant roller coaster of emotions. Right now? - honestly all I want to do is hog tie her and haul her off to get help that she obviously needs.

Psychotic episodes are "heart attacks of the brain", waiting it out isn't going to work.Shrugging shoulders and saying "I don't know what to do." solves nothing. 

There's a connection to the National Alliance (?) of Mental Illness... it might be a lifeline?  we'll see...

"Perhaps readers would be surprised to learn that one in four American adults experiences mental illness in any given year. That's 61.5 million people, with about 13.6 million of them experiencing a serious mental illness such as schizophrenia, major depression or bipolar disorder. Take into account all the loved ones and friends impacted by someone with a serious mental illness, and you begin to have a real feel for just how many people are living with the effects of mental illness."

Monday, December 14, 2015

different kind of hold

another book lull. And really I think I'm in a job lull too.
I'm just worn out on the business of advertising thing. I've been in it too long.

I don't think I've ever seen it this bad in the market anyway.
Maybe cause we're heading into an election year? Maybe people are tired of the status quo?

Really though.... if I never hear these words again:
competitive rates, ROI, rfp, immersive feature, target placements, low hanging fruit
I think I'd be ok.

I wish I could get paid to read romance novels.
or I could be a romance author's social media gal! That'd be fun!

Speaking of fun. My Christmas card is getting rave reviews. I knew it.
Jamie still doesn't like it - he always wants nice and neat and pretty.
Maybe not always though...he did marry me. HA.
I just get so bored with pretty and... "sameness" all the time. boring boring boring.
Saw Chris Knight on Friday. Good friends, good times, good show -  as always.

Been a long time that I heard someone new (not sure how new he is) that I liked.
Found it in Cole Risner...the opening band - he's got, what sounds to me,  like a slight Whiskeytown sound. I dig it.


Thursday, December 10, 2015

you led me the wrong way

plans to visit the UK next year are dwindling - flight rates are ridiculous.
AA was advertising "cheap flights to London!"
...umm no.
I keep itineraries to what we paid for Ireland and Spain. No way are we paying double.

I'm gonna hang on a bit but I can't wait much longer before we have to make the decision to change plans. Such a  bummer...I have it all planned out.

And so...we saw "Spotlight" and like Jamie said..it's like we got through watching a movie on the holocaust or a world war.

I remember hearing about this story when it broke - still...I had no idea the magnitude of abuse.
I'm disgusted and, not that I've considered myself Catholic in a very long while, but I remember some good things about being raised Catholic. It makes me sad.

and really though...it's one thing those that do horrific/contradictory things in the "name of their religion" for whatever selfish reason.
It's another when those that are ordained to represent a religion, corrupt it insidiously like that
and then are internally repetitively assisted in doing it!
oy..i'm depressed just thinking about it.

Finished reading Ward's Blood Kiss - I liked it!! loved that it was just two story lines with all the other characters appearing peripherally. It read much better.
I've started on a sci-fi one...slow going but not because it's bad -  think it's just cause i'm still stuck in Ward's book.

In a Micky&the Motorcars mood

Monday, December 7, 2015

Lucia in the sky (or Dallas) w/ pork chops

Lots of conversation over meals this weekend @ Whiskey Cake, Smoke, Lucia and Blind Butcher.
Lucia was really good!
Will we go back?...probably not.
They didn't serve cocktails, Italian food lands lower on our list of "go to's" and the pork chop was better at Blind Butcher. Still...good! just not sure it's worth the difficulty to get in? And definitely a wiser choice to uber to Bishop Arts district. Parking is even worse than I remember.  

we met up with one of Jamie's co-workers. Just turned 30, single gal...and on a meat only diet cause she said she'd gained 15 pounds over a year.
This was basically her expression:

well....welcome to the club honey! Yet another life lesson no one really tells you about.
Gals...beware ages 28-30 - your body's metabolism hits a bitch zone like you wouldn't believe. 
Pretty much everyone I know has this same story to tell.

Jamie found a "skirt" (non-skirt) that he'd bought me at one of those "sexy stores" a very long time ago. He wouldn't let me throw it away - I had to show him how it wouldn't even go over my hips anymore. ha!
Oh well I can still hold my own....I'll let him keep it for the memento. 

Also, I find it so interesting how many single girls and how few single men I know?
Where are they hiding? Seriously?
I told her if I was single my best guess would be to go to hockey games more often - less of a chance to find pansy ass men there in my opinion. What do I know though...I think women are ruining men with unrealistic expectations and men are ruining themselves by letting them. 

Finished a Tessa Dare book - When a Scot Ties the Knot -  another one that was just ok. Lost interest in another of hers real quick.

I'm about a quarter of the way through Ward's newest BDB Blood Kiss. Good! - it's like the older ones.

Thursday, December 3, 2015

i'm irate

I'm in a mood and I can't decide if it's all the mass shootings, my family driving me crazy about Christmas already or last night my husband (nonchalantly) saying he's still kept contact with an ex-girlfriend.


The shootings (...and perhaps it's because I was raised with guns in the house AND I'm from Texas where pretty much the majority of the people I know own guns)
I can't help but think that if some of those people had guns to protect themselves the crazy people shooting at them wouldn't have had free reign to terrorize to that extent.

Then another side of me thinks about what a dutchman said to me over dinner in Amsterdam a couple years ago. 
He said "Can you tell me why Americans have guns? Why do you have to kill people to protect yourselves?" and it wasn't so much the question as an eye opener that a big part of the rest of the world can't fathom anyone ever resorting to that violence. It does make one wonder why. 

Moving on...Christmas is already a problem. It drives me bonkers the odd "perfect family" expectations and guilt weirdness that happens for a mass marketed "holiday". Wasn't Jesus Christ purported to've been born in the Spring for cryin' out loud!?

Then my husband - he looked at me like he was baffled that I might take exception about him communicating with his ex-girlfriend.

Honestly... I think he's an intelligent, caring, thoughtful man.
He'd never run around on me - but for the life of me I can't understand how asinine he can be some times!? Or maybe not asinine...maybe... unthinking about how I might feel says it better.

It's not even him I worry about - I know women. I am a woman. They're a million times more devious than men.

This calls for Old 97's...cause I'm irate

Oh and I finished Sweet Ruin. She writes a good story (as most always). Never got bored. Loved the leads. 1 of the 2 authors I'll pay $15 for an ebook for. $15 though...!!! ugh... *smh*

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

new orleans travel and yum and love

New Orleans. ahhh NOLA ..."My heart is, and ever will be, yours" 

The fact remains...I keep thinking that I'll get tired of it but it never happens.

we got caught in a whirlwind of food and (mostly cocktails) hop around old and new of Uptown/Quarter/Frenchmen's St. -
Old 77 Hotel / Compere Lapin for Jamie's cocktail love affair (thanks Zach and Abigail, our barkeeps). Didn't realize that Nina from Top Chef is the head chef here. She should've won. Good feel we'll be back again.
Cane and Table - good old-timey feel in here. Cocktails well crafted (thanks Sam!). Got a bit more of the tourist vibe though...maybe with it being across from the French market?

Mr. B's cocktails yes (thanks Brian). Their bbq shrimp fell down our list this time though. Looking across the street, the Carousel bar was madness. Everyone's caught on looks like - No thank you. 
R'evolution, French 75, Kingfish (thanks Adrienne) met expectations. I'm officially over mezcal drinks though.
Annadelle's Plantation in Covington across Pontchartrain. Old school southern fare. Good!

And by the powdered sugar on my face (and most everywhere else)

I deem New Orleans Coffee & Beignet (mm doughy goodness) AND Cafe Beignet (light crispyness yum) MUCH better than Cafe du Monde. I'll never go back there again. Cafe du Monde is dead to me.

Not mean though...more like this...(cause it still is pretty good). 


Liuzza's by the track though...holy moly...even better shrimp poboys than we remembered.
Love. I mean...love LOVE.
speaking of love. My dad called me the other day asking what I thought about him asking his latest girlfriend to marry him. He used words like "i'm getting older", "we're good together"
Nothing about love but...well I guess after all his rollercoasters of relationships there comes a time where caring and contentment is enough.
I'm not sure why he asked what I thought...I just hope that he's happy.

before I forget.....
Sarah MacLean's The Season - usually love the childhood friends to love but this time not so much - she's gotten so much better at writing stories since this book.
G Showalters - The Hotter You Burn - ...the whole "rags to riches because of the playboy who falls in love and saves me" is just bleh. Don't think I'm going back to this series...I'm putting all my patience in with her LOTU books.

Kresley Cole's new one is out today....I'm going to buy it but...I'm not as excited as I used to be. I think after seeing her at the rt convention I'm a little less crazy about her. I bet she was exhausted. (I was after 2 hours no way could i do a full week)....but still.

and so today is Giving Tuesday. I hope I know people who gave today. It makes you feel better...it really does!

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

do whatcha wanna. (We are)

Off at noon today and I'm gearing up to start decorating for Christmas...
(cause FUN that's why!)
...but tiring..oy.

And then - we're heading to New Orleans (again) tomorrow -
food/drinks,
parade,
football,
nap,
food/drinks,
the Rebirth in concert, 
sleep,
then back to food/drinks.

This is how we do in NOLA.

Family is already starting to bicker so maybe best we decided to leave them to their own devices.

Read Belle Aurora's Friend-Zoned - skipped pages but finished...won't be reading the rest in the series

Monday, November 23, 2015

walked in to a bar and gave thanks.

So I was worn out and about to give up on Austin (its turning too pretentious and cliché IMO)

But!!!...this weekend, I was reminded how awesome Austin used to be (and still could be). 
I stood next to a tatted biker guy, a Prada/Chloe gal, a cowboy, a rockabilly/pinup gal, hipsters and foreigners and we were all freakin loving the music.
The Continental Club is a great venue, my band is freaking awesome and still so talented. 
yes my feet hurt and i was beat not goin to bed til 2:45. I don't regret it though!!!

Also yes, what "everyone" says is true. 
Franklin bbq is legit. 
We pre-ordered a 6 pound brisket, skipped the 4(?) hour wait line and took it back up to Dallas with us for our Thanksgiving last night. Add that to sides from Babe's Chicken dinner house
and Holy moly...all of us were this.


I'm truly thankful how blessed I have been and am (even more so for this weekend and how great it was). 

Finished Graeme/Gideon's Breed story and ....yeah... eh. Not even close to the others I've liked so much.
But I finished it...so I guess that says something. 

Friday, November 20, 2015

this weary chick is heading to Austin!

Jamie and I are heading to Austin to catch the Weary Boys reunion!!!! They apparently don't go on til midnight tonight though.
oy...I guess they haven't gotten older like we have...I'm already sleepy. 

Annnnd - I got Dixie Chicks tickets!
I saw them for like two songs in El Paso a long loooong time ago -  there was a dust storm, they got pushed off the stage and the stage came crashing down after them. So I was robbed of the experience.

Did their long ago "incident" bother me? Yes.But what they said didn't bother me. (they have the right to their opinion) 
It was where they said it.

I see it like being on a team (I think anyone who's played sports can understand)
you just DON'T for ANY reason stand on a field (especially one that's not your own) and let them in on the fact that you don't stand behind your coach.
It makes the team look weak.
We just can't have that.
(You have a problem with our president? Pissed off about how things are going? Rant to your friends on FB.  Vote. Write a letter. Start a petition. Go to a rally. We'll handle it internally.)

But... well...at least she stated her opinion succinctly with rational thought behind it.

I just pulled these 3 social media comments from one of my FB feeds:
"Obummer sucks" (Obummer...really?! This is your thoughtful feedback?) 
then someone replies "your an idiot" (you spelled you're wrong)
then someone else saying "I'll vote for Jeff Bush" (umm...oy. Auto-correct?)
ugh...

and reading about more attacks...really, this is tragic.

Charlie Robison's Wedding Song is one of my favorites w/ Natalie Maines
Well, I am still here, you are still here
Whether I ever loved you's not perfectly clear
The weight's not an issue, you have gained more
And when I said I do well I slammed all the doors
To a future where I could see Paris in spring
And I wasn't prepared for the weight of this ring
But we will get by for the rest of our lives



Wednesday, November 18, 2015

mad (mad) mission. Sign me up!

we were woken up at 3:45 yesterday morning by tornado sirens.
none actually formed this time
and prolly not the safest thing but couldn't resist walking out to feel/see it.
I never can. 
It's so awesome how heavy the air gets and how angry the sky looks.


And so I've got lots of people posting about unfriending the people that piss them off.

Well...not me.
I've already culled my list.
The people left are family and/or people I find interesting.
I may universally disagree with some of them, but personally, I'd get bored if everyone agreed with me on everything. So they're my friend - *until they unfriend me* heh

I'm still trudging along the Breed book. We had dinner with a friend last night...haven't really had time to read...

lets just Patty Griffin today! 


We were drinking like the Irish 
But we were drinking scotch
Bartender turned on a movie
Everybody turned to watch
And every single eye was gleaming
As he reached the final scene
Well, at least mine did
Here's lookin' at you, kid

It's a mad mission

Under difficult conditions
not everybody makes it
To the loving cup
It's a mad mission
But I got the ambition
Mad, mad mission
sign me up

I think I've seen the look before,yes,

it's kind of non-commital
It says come hither, baby, but then he's hard wood to whittle
it says it don't mean a thing, but still, somebody does
He'd like you to join the club that likes to say
there's no such thing as love and

It's a mad mission

Under difficult conditions
not everybody makes it
To the loving cup
It's a mad mission
But I got the ambition
Mad, mad mission
sign me up

Sometimes you find yourself

flying low at night
Flying blind and looking for
Any sign of light
You're cold and scared, and all alone
You'd do anything just to make it home

It's a mad mission

Under difficult conditions
not everybody makes it
To the loving cup
It's a mad mission
But I got the ambition
Mad, mad mission

sign me up

Monday, November 16, 2015

why you worried 'bout me...

so it's hard to concentrate but I'm gonna start with what made me happy this weekend.
Dinner at Knife was ok, the pig barbacoa was really good. Everything else was just eh.

the Rebirth though....they're just so fun. 
Joyous, lively and I think I'm a little sore from dancing.

I think the friends enjoyed them too. How could they not. A weird thing is that the Granada closed at 11. What's up with that...? Paris attacks..maybe...

I'm also happy that Death with Dignity National center asked me for my story and put it up on their new site. Hopefully any little bit of awareness helps their cause.

I've started reading the last Breed novel. It's contradictory...not the biggest fan so far.

and so *sigh* here i go cause I can't not say anything.
my mind is boggled with responses I'm seeing on social media - the accusations and the name-calling and the pointing fingers
...shouldn't we be figuring out how to help stop terrorist attacks rather than deflect and twist tragedy to personal agendas?

The Governor of Texas wrote a letter to the President today stating that Texas will not accept Syrian refugees.

On my facebook feed alone it's dividing people.

Like...one facebook friend posted "God Bless Texas" - obviously in support.
What's interesting to me is...both of his wife's parents are refugee immigrants. Not from Syria but from a war torn country at the time.

And look...if what they say is true and one of those guys did disguise himself as a refugee, maybe right this very second, shutting people out is the right thing to do for the collective whole.

What do I know. I'm not fully informed. 

This letter as the first reaction doesn't feel to me like the right thing to do though.
I get that he's scared. Who the f isn't worried really?
I think if he just would've suggested a solution or how we as a state and as a nation could contribute to helping anti-terrorism efforts...or anything helpful really, it might not make us look as intimidated.


Thursday, November 12, 2015

pissy pants and the rebirth brass band!

I've had it with whiny, "woe is me" people.
I don't feel sorry for you.
And really your dramatics and constant pissy attitudes gives me no inclination to care or like you at all.
shut up and fix your damned life.


ay.... ok that was a awful bitchy thing to say.
....it just drives me bonkers how many people perpetuate their misery, then wonder why they're lonely.

Wanna know why you don't have friends? It takes being a friend to have a friend dummy! ugh.

oooo and so speaking of friends! 

7ish? of us are heading to see the Rebirth Brass Band this weekend!
Not sure they'll like them like we do...but they like New Orleans (who doesn't) 
AND it'll be a fun something to do.

We'll see how having dinner at Knife goes too...he seemed kind of a jerk on "Top Chef" but hopefully his food is good.

I'm in a book lull..i got a rock band book to read but i'm just not in the mood. Maybe i'll just re-read something I liked so I'm not disappointed (again)


Monday, November 9, 2015

yes to the Wurst disturbed Luckiest dressed Girl

we headed for Wurstfest this weekend. Can't handle going both days anymore though so I told Jamie I was ditching him on Friday, got myself a hotel room out near New Braunfels and caught on (and marathon watched) a show called "yes to the dress".
Also read, then slept for 10 hours.
Nothing against my beloved... but alone-time is GRAND!!! I really think I'm going to continue this idea. 

This is not at all true...

That "yes to the dress" show is a little disturbing though...I really think some of these girls are not going in to marriage with their head right.
There was one that spent $24,000 on her wedding dress AND bought another "after ceremony" dress for like $16,000. Seriously...it's just unnecessary.

I'll tell you a secret...make yourself pretty (of course) but spend your money on an open bar and a mashed potato bar and your people will love you.

Another disturbing story was reading Jessica Knoll's Luckiest Girl Alive -... I pretty much didn't like the lead for most of the book - she had very few redeeming qualities even though a few times I felt angry on her behalf - but... the most troubling part (besides the obvious) was that her "american girl" story - the comparisons, the snideness, the narcissism -  is not wholly unrelateable.

Wurstfest was fun! as always...i just don't think you can be angry or unhappy drinking with friends and hearing/dancing to polka music.


Wednesday, November 4, 2015

'bout to get on my Wurst behavior....

AACK! THE WEARY BOYS are comin back! (...well... back to Austin....)
so freakin' excited to see this band again.

 So this means we'll be Austin way two weekends this month and New Orleans thanksgiving weekend.  ha! love it.

first up! Wurstfest this weekend...(zicke zacke..) oy
i think it's gonna be cold and rainy to be wearin a dirndl.
oh well.... fun fun fun! must remember to take my flask....




oh and read Erin Leigh's Roommates - quick read. a little dirty. And hockey. I liked it!

Tuesday, November 3, 2015

not every girl

our friends ancestry.com dna test results came back today!

*best gift every time we give it*

Super interesting! and she's an ALL OVER Europe gal - coulda sworn she had native american but nope...

Given that her mother is adopted and she doesn't know who her father is, I really hope it gives her a little more sense of self.

being too conventional is boring in my opinion though...
I "act like a white girl" for Mexicans
I "don't look Mexican" to Americans
"where's my accent" for a Texan? (...ummm maybe cause I grew up in Canada...?)
"You speak Spanish?!" "You listen to country?!"

But honestly...the older I get the more I like that I'm all of the above.

Fixin' to start reading Luckiest Girl Alive - we'll see....

She’s a flighty good time buddy in the corner of the bar
But she’d fight the Devil for ya just for being who you are
And she’s the last to cast a stone though she’d love to leave you mad
Aw she’s every friend I’ve ever had



Monday, November 2, 2015

FOOD (love, wars and awkwardness)

read an article about "michelin star wars".  it was interesting.

made me think of us trying the 3 star Berasategui in San Sebastian.
honestly?...it didn't really do much for me...yeah I tasted things I never had before...like squid ink. And it certainly was an experience...very formal and sterile. The servers were on point.

But would I recommend it over say...Juanito Kojua in old town? No.

That's just me though - what do I know...I never said I was a food connoisseur.
I just like food.
(and Spain definitely = food = LoveLoveLOVE for me)

but back to Berasategui...
another thing was, I asked to go back into their kitchen so I could thank the chefs...

We got in there and those poor cooks looked terrified and totally exhausted.
I went in with my camera all like "hey guys! lets hug for food happiness!!"



and instead we backed out awkwardly (and as soon as possible) to help them not be so terrified instead.
That's def a memory in the awkward column for sure....

Finished The Shadows - so wow... yeah aside from getting a little story line/character convoluted, what she did was hard to do. I think she did it well. I'm still hangin on for sure. I saw that the Beast is next. I had doubts on her going back for the King so this time we'll see how she re-covers ground.

Also read Emma Chase's Sustained - maybe not the most believable to go so opposite but a good one!

Friday, October 30, 2015

maybe not going Rogue...booo

got a Rogue costume  - gloves and red hair w/ white strip and everything - but I'm just kinda eh....
my favorite holiday and i'm not feelin' the halloween spirit.

Thinking I might hold off on wearing rogue til next year.
I'm so boring.
..i hate boring.


maybe it's just the weather.
Friends invited us to dinner and my book sounds more interesting to me right now.
Bout halfway through reading The Shadows - oy there's like 8 story lines - and the mains of this one are def not my favorite of hers.


It's not getting on my nerves just yet,  but seriously though,
 if ever there was an author to keep me just barely on the good side of the cusp to boredom it's J.R. Ward. She stretches a story like I've never seen before.

And so if it's not still raining we might head to the horse track to bet on the breeders cup tomorrow. Then maybe a birthday halloween party and maybe i'll be in a better mood..but as i said...eh. yawn. i suck.





Wednesday, October 28, 2015

"dressing up" and going dark

pretty sad that i'm wearing a dress and boots today and everyone is wondering why i'm "dressed up".
we're re-financing the house "rate is ideal" and "financially smart and retirement savings" or somesuch whatever Jamie said. blahblahblah 

(The glory of being married to a degree in finance...)


i decided to make an effort for signing a stack of papers. You're welcome world!



again... adult-ing ugh

Grimm's End read stilted to me.
I think I'm going to have to go back and re-read this one....really maybe I should go back and re-read the series AND the "other" story (tale?) addressed in this book..... Not wholly disappointed, I'm just floundering a little here. The whole forgivness of self thing..hmmm.

I've got jrward's the Shadow's up next...yet another dark one I'm sure. 

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

don't break yourself on a heart of stone

here I go being judge-y (again) 
my cousin got engaged and theirs is not coming off as a great pairing. 

I honestly hope I'm wrong - i've no idea what they're like behind closed doors -  but yeah
... any good marriage I've seen has friendship as a big part of its base.
I'm not seeing it here.

Shit I barely saw much of anything - no secret looks, no joking, not even anybody pissed off.
Lord knows everyone can tell when I'm pissed at Jamie - I'm not good at hiding it anymore.

big bear of lovin' for his family and all I saw was tolerance for his "almost" spouse - it makes me kinda sad...


even more sad that I think a little of that closed-offness on his side has to do with him growing up with his dad's misogyny - then add being a veteran on top of being a police officer and it's pretty much a given that there'll be a lot of hurdles to overcome in establishing a meaningful relationship.

I honestly think any spouse that can handle being married to a veteran (especially one that fought in a war) and/or married to someone in law enforcement deserves a huge level of respect.
I couldn't do it...I just couldn't do it...can't make a bridge with two walls of ice.

Again...I'd love them to prove me wrong....he truly deserves to be happy.

just saw that the last of Shiloh Walker's Grimm series came out today. I almost don't want to read it. I've really liked this series and I know she's probably gonna kill (or inflict a lot of pain) on a character that I'm invested in. She writes like Larissa Ione in that way.

It's a Chris Knight kinda day
got the broken promises
got the broken home
dont break yourself on a
heart of stone

Saturday, October 24, 2015

Arkansas no-go. Bookfest go go!

the hurricane made fun times in Arkansas impossible.
Flight got cancelled and we're for sure as heckfire not driving through all that madness.

Rain and thunder. rain and thunder.

so we sat around all day yesterday and it's looking like the same today.
(besides losing a ridiculous amount of money on a pre-paid  non-refundable hotel room for two nights) I'm not complaining ...i got a reading fest going!


I've read Kylie Scott (rock band LV married. i finished it but eh)
and Laura Drewry (friends to married. it got a little too overdrawn but I liked it for the most part).

...Jamie's probably about to hit his limit and start driving me bonkers I'm sure.

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

book blame, pig (sooie) game & the UK

Bet me - loved this one. funny with whimsy. Stayed up till after midnight to read it. And honestly? I liked that it skewed from most every other romance ever and acknowledged the no babies.

Not that I don't like babies...they're cute...but in real life like mine...some married couples choose not to have babies...

but anyway, I'm sleepy...this is pretty much me today (...or right now eating my tamale.)

it was worth it.

We're heading to Arkansas this weekend, Jamie's very excited to show me where his dad/grandparents are from.

Meeting up with our "kidnapped" - tailgating, going to the football game  (vs Auburn?)...SEC...heard it's pretty crazy.

80% chance of rain and chilly though. oy.
Guess we better get used to it now - cause it sounds like Scotland weather for us this coming May!

I've expanded into Cornwall too (which oddly I'm just as excited about)...didn't hardly know it existed a year ago, very few books I've read had Cornwall as their scene but it just seems like a cool (less traveled) place so yep, added to the rotation cause why not.

...the way my planning is coming we're gonna train all over the UK...can't wait!!

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

adult-ing is exhausting

I don't understand - why the heckfire is outdoor furniture so freaking expensive!?

I'm too old to be ok with cheap things anymore but still cheapskate enough to attempt hunting craigslist (in vain cause I'm no where near the scavenger people are around here. ugh.) 

It's stuff like this that make adult-ing so exhausting....

Annnnnd I'm seeing all these mega houses all over now and wonder how these people afford them? I mean I know it's none of my business but how much in debt are they?
And like...do they have time for fun? Do they even see each other? Don't they get lost in there?

I'm in a mood - re-reading Christina Lauren. about to start 'Bet me' by Jennifer Crusie.

So Macon Greyson it is...



So shut up, play guitar and write a song
And tell me how to feel
Play your worthless country song if you tell me how to feel
Folk singers got that s**t all wrong
Won’t you tell me how to feel
How will I know what to think if you don’t tell me how to feel

You claim to know the right from wrong
I’ll listen to your baseless verse
Maybe I will give you my endorsement
I may be giving you my curse
Well I’m gonna start my day 
You can lay in bed because I don’t care
History may repeat itself
But you don’t know because you weren’t there
You’re doomed to make the same mistakes
When politicians and lovers are all the same

You’re doomed to make the same mistakes
When politicians and lovers are all the same



Monday, October 19, 2015

music appreciation (and gambled out)

and so this year's been a music year apparently - NOLA brass bands, country bands,  Memphis blues, Hawaiian, Cajun, German/Bavarian (for Wurstfest) in a couple weeks....

the bluegrass festival this weekend was a good time - a bit more of a restrained crowd than I'm used to but there's just something about a standup bass, a fiddle and a banjo. There just is.

especially loved how people brought their instruments and joined together randomly to play as they wanted. It's also lovely to see people hold on to their culture in music (or if not born into it, appreciate the music so much they join it). 

we also made it to a casino night. Put my money on black at the roulette wheel
(annnnd my typical luck in gambling this year...) the wheel didn't even bother with red for me, nope, went right to thumb your nose green - not sure if there's a clearer sign than that...



I read Vegas is looking at changing itself to arcade gaming anyway "for the turning generation"
...guess mine's the last of the old school, cause that doesn't sound all that appealing to me.

Mine's the first of the new school too though cause hours and hours of my youth was spent on  MarioBros./Zelda/Tetris/Galaga etc -   its actually strange how I just completely lost interest?

Read the first of Stephanie Lauren's Cynster books - finished it but it was wordy. I skipped.
Also finished the last of the Pennyroyal Green - not bad, like how they owned up to being young and stupid.

Friday, October 16, 2015

stiletto series and bluegrass

It's Friday! yes.
Reading Lauren Layne's Stiletto books out of order (oh well) two so far.
Emma Chase-ish.  Quick easy reads. Not bad! I'll continue.

Lotsa outdoor stuff going on this weekend.
 Bluegrass festival, chili cook-off,  casino night, balloon festival, horse races.
and allergies...ugh.

My favorite blue (new?) grass band - the South Austin Jug Band.
Come back! Come back - y'all were so much fun.....

Well I know my love may seem strange
There’s some things in this world they say don’t change
When it rains, baby, if it storms
You’ve got me, girl, and I’ll keep you warm




Thursday, October 15, 2015

irritable spouse

knew it...they blew it. Stupid Rangers.
and half done with the last Immortal rules  -  so predictable...this really should've just been one book.

...I'm kinda glad I have this book diary thing. Now I get why people journal.
It's cathartic. I can't vent to Jamie, he's already in his roller coaster mood swing with the cowboys being so bad and now the rangers losing so badly.

I mean I'm pissed, that's my team,  but really...at the end of the day it's a game.
He lets it effect everything beyond what's reasonable...it's exhausting.



On top of that he's bothered with me cause today's the golf tournament for the charity he's on and I guess he didn't really believe me when I told him I was done volunteering for it.

I think I did pretty good dealing with all that for 6? years out of a sense of wifely support? And really I never volunteered to begin with....he volunteered me without even asking me! F'n jerk. Getting me all riled up all over again.  

But...married life lesson #102 - (no matter how much I want to) I can't keep harping on something that happened a long time ago. He knows why I'm pissed. Let it go Brenda or it causes more problems...UGH! For me..this is one of the hardest things to stop doing.

*update* I just read it's National Grouch Day! HA!!! Yay I win!!

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

family drama & (im)mortal rules

So Houston - we met up with some family members at a bar up in Conroe and we got so loud talking over each other people were giving us dirty looks.


Good thing there were only 8 of us there - we might've been run out otherwise.
The bouncer did say though that he was "throughly entertained" as we walked out. ha.

Heard one of my cousins is getting divorced after just a year of marriage.
I can't say I didn't see that coming - computer nerd meets a pretty gal and got her the boobs and the Louboutin's and building a huge house outside of Houston somewhere that she wanted. And so when he starts to put the money brakes on she's not having it and the "spark is gone".

Then my cousin and his wife got on their high horse about how Jamie and I need to have children and we'll "never know how amazing it is if you don't" blah blah blah.

It was fine for the first 10 minutes (we're immune from most every other parent we know that says the same thing) but after a while it got annoying.

And so typically I'd be like "ok thank you. now be quiet"
but they lost their own baby a couple years ago from a terrible mitochondrial disorder. And so we gave them a little more leeway until Jamie hit his limit at about the 20 minute mark and I was like "ok it's time to go. nice to see ya. bye".

Again,  honestly....
I think we should be thanked for choosing to not have a child we don't really want to begin with. 

Moving on....The Blood of Eden YA series is good enough to get me to the beginning of the 3rd book so far. But (yet again), the second book in the series was mostly filler with a few relevant points - ugh. I feel so cheated when they do that.

Also re-read Cade/Holly's story - so good. I think she's my favorite written nerdy type girl.

Diggin' the new Jason Boland/Stragglers - Guess it's alright to be an asshole if you're good.

annnndddd - Classic Rangers...making it hard for yourselves. we'll see if we can move on after tomorrow's game. *I tell Jobu come, take fear from bats*....#nevereverquit

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

a Muse, Bird Hunters, a chance and Catfish.

quit the Bourbon Kings. I'm on to Cora Carmack's 1st Muse Book - it's a little "woe is me" but I like it so far - much MUCH better character chemistry.

Another good story -  The Bird Hunters.
It didn't catch my attention at first, but then I listened the story in it...and now it's on replay.
That dark haired gal did a number on him, it's all over his music.

Rangers playoffs, a chance at the Fall Classic (i'm worried. oy)
and also headed down Houston way this weekend for visiting and a catfish festival. 

The Bird Hunters - Turnpike Troubadours
The covey took wing Shotguns a singing 
A pointing dog down in the old logging road 

Danny got three And looked back a grinning
I fumbled around and I tried to reload

The country was cold With the sun westward sinking
It's good to be back in this place

With my hands around A Belgian made Browning
My mind on the lines of her face

Well now Danny's my buddy We grew up like family
Hunted this timber before we could drive
The old English pointer He once belonged to me But I gave him up when I moved in '05

Off to the girl Off to the cityOff on a wing and a chance
Hell I thought it'd play out Just like some story
We fell in love at a rodeo dance

She said go on back to Cherokee County
Won't you crawl back with nothing but a razor and a comb
Babe, if you need me, I'll be where you found me
Go on to hell, honey, I'm headed home

Dan says, "Look at old Jim A dozen Decembers Behind him no worse for the wear
And your time spent in Tulsa Did not help your shooting
And look at the gray in your hair

How good does it feel? You belong in these hills 

It's best that you let it all end
If you'd have married that girl You'd have married her family
You dodged a bullet my friend"

She said go on back to Cherokee County
Won't you crawl back with nothing but a razor and a comb
Babe, if you need me, I'll be where you found me
Go on to hell, honey, I'm headed home

I was beginning To deal with it ending
The old dog had pointed while part of me died

And a flutter of feathers Then a shotgun to shoulder
I thought of the Fourth of July
She'll be home on the Fourth of July
I bet we'll dance on the Fourth of July

Dan says, "Hell of a shot Looks like you've still got it That's what we came here to do
It's light enough still At the foot of the hill We could kick up a single or two

She said go on back to Cherokee County
Won't you crawl back with nothing but a razor and a comb
Babe, if you need me, I'll be where you found me
Go on to hell, honey, I'm headed home
Go on to hell, honey, I'm headed home


Tuesday, October 6, 2015

shout! at the (decorators, devil and the dull)

if 34's your median age, you're missing your market Pier 1.
I came in looking for halloween stuff and you're already on to Christmas...ugh

There are very few people I know that make time (or have interest) to even decorate -
and so if they do, they're like me and want to decorate for the month of the event - they're not buying for Christmas right now. I protest!  Your loss though...

Jamie and I thought about going to see Motley Crue tomorrow night...oy on a Wednesday though...not sure I can hang. And we've been spending way too much on fun times lately, I'm thinking we're gonna pass.

Reading JR Ward's Bourbon Kings right now - I think it had potential but it's so soap opera and I'm not all that invested. I'll see how long I can hang on.
I'm gettin' a little pissy at how disappointing my books are lately.


Monday, October 5, 2015

a dreadful selfish crime

Lots going on in the real world. 
Here's what I know - I'm American, Latina, a woman, educated (in some ways more than others), a wife and a friend.
I'd think I'm 99% likely to relate to anyone on at least one of the above. 

BUT
If you're not American, I don't expect you to know what being American feels like
If you're not Latina (specificially of Mexican heritage), I don't expect you to know what being Latina/ of Mexican heritage means/feels like

and flip side I make an effort to not presume to know every person's life experiences

So, (case in point) every time I hear/see a man give his opinion on what women should do with their own bodies, I'm going to disregard most of what he says on the basis that he has no idea what he's talking about. 

He may have been given permission to touch a woman, he may have loved or hated one, but if you're not a woman (meaning: you don't know what it feels like to be one and experience life as one) and you are asked for your opinion on women's bodies/issues -  I say find your bestest/closest/coolest gal (if you've even taken the time to even know and care for one), ask what she thinks and then just back her up on her opinion. 
That is all...

Finished reading Season of Storms - not bad, it just kinda faded...ho hummm

It's a Bobby Keen kinda day...
Seems like yesterday I was here
Dreamin' my life away and drinkin' beer





Friday, October 2, 2015

season of (half-assed fans) storms

I take exception
the whole fishface selfie girls at the Arizona D'backs game? ... At least they're at the freakin' game.
 We were at Pluckers last night and "what is this?" - audio is on the Steelers game. Our TEXAS RANGERS have a run for the WORLD SERIES and in Plano TEXAS we have audio on the Pittsburgh/Baltimore football game.


So gimme those selfie girls any day over half-assed Rangers fans...at least they're loyal to their home team. ‪#‎dbacks‬ ‪#‎texasrangers‬ ‪#‎nevereverquit‬ #pluckers #wfaa
Moving on....
out and about this weekend, It's gorgeous outside!
The Cedars, Arlington, The State Fair.

Reading Season of Storms - I forget how well she describes the feel of a place. And how well she meshes dual story lines in her books.

It was after reading her book (i forget which now) that got me locked into planning Scotland next year. Not sure I want to make it out Aberdeen way though...we'll see.

That's the thing about traveling...we have so many people marvel at how much we travel (which is laughable compared to every Australian we've ever encountered) but really half the battle is deciding on where and when, then it's just a matter of planning and having enough time to space out costs.

and now, reading this SKearsley book ...of course I want to visit Venice.
The crowds though...oy I've heard it's crazy crowded.


Thursday, October 1, 2015

my inner chola

saw the story about the no-shows being billed for not attending a wedding.

No, I wouldn't bill a no-show, that's pretty ghetto BUT!  I can kinda understand the logic.

ooo my inner chola wanted to come out for those few that decided not to show to my wedding.
Even more  for those that didn't bother to rsvp at all and then showed up!


I think all of those were my family members?
I guess they didn't realize that if they said yes we'd have to pay for them whether they showed or not? Or if they just came, it added costs that we weren't expecting.

Don't think they didn't hear about it down the Mexican mother/sister/aunt/cousin channel line though. Maybe it's a just cultural thing but it's a real thing! (and honestly more effective in some circumstances.)

Only Jamie really sees my chola come out every once in a while anymore. He sometimes unintentionally brings her out. Unintentially because he's a bit wary of her.
But see, B's married life lesson #13 - apparently it's innate for men to push to see how far they can go with their chosen. If he's pissed me off, my chola allows me address it immediately (rather than do the silent treatment thing that only makes him have no idea why I'm still mad the next day)
He may not like her very much - he's told me so -  but I think she's very important in maintaining balance in this relationship.

And so Rock Courtship was ok. I did like the leads - I just really like her psy/changlings better. I re-read Kiss of Snow the other day - so good.

Jamie helped me finish my sugar skull arts/crafts project. I have her out front now - I've named her Lupita Rosa Salvaje. It was fun.


I'm in a punk-ish sort of mood. Saw these guys up in Denton a long time ago. Raising this one up loud.


Monday, September 28, 2015

book bored and moon struck

hyped as similar to Gone Girl i had to force myself to finish reading The Girl on the Train - weak characters, predictable plot. Just didn't do it for me.... ugh.

I heard Emily Blunt is cast as the lead in the movie they're making though. This may be one of the few times the movie is better than the book. I like her. 

I also read L. Ione's Hades - again i like her play on good/evil. In this case, the book itself was not great but not bad. She's losing me though...such a bummer...i love her demonica series.

Then re-read Ward's Lover Avenged thinking that maybe I'd like it better - but no I still think she could've done so much better with his story. His was one I was looking forward to and it was just eh.

And so I guess that's the theme here - i was book underwhelmed this weekend. boooo.

We did manage to do a whole lotta nothing otherwise though. It was nice.

The blood moon - looking at it...it's just amazing, and yeah a little creepy cause it really did look bloody. You just have to think and wonder how that would've freaked people out in history. I mean just imagine! So awesome.

Friday, September 25, 2015

to eat. so good.

I finished the book...and those pictures in MP's Home for Peculiar Children are real! Talk about creepy. 

We met up at the new-ish place for dinner last night
and so... sushi is slowly but surely redeeming itself for me. I've got my training wheels back on. 

I had a terrible first experience - it didn't help that most of the portions are big and there's no getting around putting the whole thing in your mouth. But...oh well...guess I'll get over it. First world problems. 
Regardless - it was good. And we had fun the old school way, over a good meal and bottles of wine (and maybe some moonshine someone thought would be a good idea to bring..?).

And so about the Pope... it's a strange thing. I don't really consider myself Catholic anymore, I just question too many things, but seeing the pope on tv and knowing how my Ita would've loved him and would've been watching him all day gets me all teary eyed.

I wonder if his presence/speeches had anything to do with Boehner's resignation?

I think Jamie and I are heading to the lakehouse / East Texas and the slower pace this weekend.
I feel a bookfest coming on...yay!!!


Wednesday, September 23, 2015

curious and Peculiar

well (not surprisingly) the husband CSI'd my Christmas card. 
not that I made it that difficult to find. He knows my password.
all i can do is shake my head...he just couldn't stand not knowing what it looked like!!! ha.


I'm almost finished reading Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. 
It's a little LionWitchWardrobe-y, a little Peter Pan-y with a just a slight macabre twist. They also put character pictures in there to delve you a little deeper- it's interesting. Not sure I'd like to be led like that so literally (or is it illustratively?) all the time but since this is the first i'm seeing of something like this - I LIKE IT!!

and so, i read a little about the #ShoutYourAbortion movement - the moniker is little off putting to me.
I don't need to know your business. You don't need to shout it. I support women's rights over their own bodies.
I'll look for facts/information, I'll vote, and perhaps donate...but I won't shout.

It's hard to hear for all the shouting going on already anyway...