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.

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!!!

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...

holiday card sabatoge & morning traffic theatrics

50% off! so I just bought our Christmas cards on zazzle. No it's not too early..this is how i do. 
I didn't let Jamie see what i made though - I'm pretty sure he's not going to like what I did - he likes neat and conventional and pretty.
And I do too! but I like fun more and I'm sooo over boring/typical anything lately.
So I just made the card like how I wanted to and it made me happy!!!!
PLUS who am I if I don't get my husband riled up every once in a while (that makes me happy too)

annnd....I'm still thinking about what I saw sitting in traffic on my way in to work this morning.
I let a car into my lane and looked in the rearview mirror to see the lady in the car behind me throwing a huge temper tantrum in her car. Seriously, I thought her head was going to pop off. That or split open to show a demon coming out. 

I mean...I have no idea what's going on in her life right now...but even though I could tell she'd spent time on her hair and makeup - she just looked so haggard and... hateful. 
How awful to be that stressed out (especially at 8 in the morning) like that.

This was basically how my face looked just watching her for 5 minutes:

I finished reading Christina Lauren's Dark Wild Night - I liked it! I thought I'd like it more though? i like reading about nerd types - I just didn't get as character involved as the first two of the series. 

All I ever really needed was a little spark

I had a blast on my girls/me weekend! jamie told me he "didn't know he was holding me back so much"..ha smh (such dramatics husbands have sometimes..).

Michael's is lovin me right now - I've made 3 trips there in the last few days. My calavera is looking so fun and sparkly though! AND yep I made a bit of a mess! It was grand.;0) 
Saw Bastard Executioner - wtf?! I mean, I don't mind brutality but I think it overshadowed the story here. next...
We went to a Ranger game. It was freaking hot...i'm over it. But they won...yay!
Saw Scorch Trials. (I need to go back and re-read the book...i've gotten it mixed up with all the other dystopian books I've read.)

And so I finally got round to reading KMMs Burned, I liked it I guess? it's like the Ghostwalker series though...I'm too far invested to not finish. I'm a Barrons fan but Mac is kinda eh,  I do want to know what happened to Dani though.

And now a little Brandon Rhyder cause why not! (plus I've got a "fire/sparks etc" theme going here apparently?) before back to work.
You come rolling in like gasoline, that's why there's never nothing left of me.
Cause you burn me.

catching up (girls/ light / glitter)

Girls night was fun! our husbands are cool but it's nice to just be you without your chosen every once in a while. I'm glad we did that.

And so we caught up a little with my college freshman dormmate that I hadn't seen in years (the glory of FB) she told us she's divorcing because she found out her husband recently fathered two children by two different women. Oy...tough.

I can see how it's changed her. Hard to describe but she has such a light - fun loving, never met a stranger kind of person -

and she still has it...but it's just a little shadowed now.

Her eyes are... harder?

Shame on people who take peoples light away. But good for her for being able to keep even some of it (and hopefully getting it all back one day) - she's doing her band thing and they sounded really good.

Being at that venue brought back memories of dancing to this Eleven Hundred Springs song live way back when. Good band..good times!

I'm meeting up with my gal C for lunch tomorrow (been a long while there too), then going to the Rangers game, then my sister and I on Sunday before Jamie gets back home and football/Cowboys fanaticism resumes.

I've also got KMM's Burned to read, I think I'd rather read Christina Lauren's new one though first.

oh BUT FIRST FIRST I'm so excited!!!! once I get out of work I'm breaking out my halloween stuff and arts&crafts-ing!!!
No one shares my enthusiasm....but oh well. Project Halloween glitter bomb blowout is on!
I bought a huge skull at Home Depot. I'm making it into a sugar skull. I've got a whole rainbow of paint colors and stickers and glitter...YAY!!!

...we'll see how I'll mess it up...ha.

never gotten taller makin' someone else feel small

And so my nephew goes to Macarthur High. I've been informed on what happened with the kid and his clock. 
And...perhaps people might consider imagining you're the teacher and you hear a ticking clock coming from a backpack in your classroom? When you question what it is, the kid's not very forthcoming and all you see is a bunch of wires connected to a ticking clock...
Not that I'm saying all subsequent actions were the right thing to do. But there are other viewpoints to consider....

And honestly I really don't think everything is racial. 

In fact, (my experience, for the most part) prejudice only really happens when people of any race - by choice or circumstance - constantly surround themselves with those that look/act/think like themselves. Then add dramatics/paranoia and it goes bonkers. 

I wish they'd break the mold. 
Cause really...i've said it before...how boring to always converse with someone who thinks like you and agrees with everything you say. 

AND since I just can't stand it anymore....I try really REALLY hard to not say anything if I've got nothing nice to say BUT 
no I don't like Donald Trump. 
why? 
Not because I'm a woman, 
and not because of all the many (i'm from El Paso MANY) of Mexican descent people I know that aren't murderers, drug dealers or rapists 
but because I saw what a bully he was to the Scottish. 
I don't like bullies.
Kudos to you Scots for pushing back!!  
I can't wait to see y'all next year! Our trip is coming along very nicely. I love people that don't take shit from anybody.

I guess if I have to make a choice and affiliate with any party it's Libertarian.
Just do no harm, mind your own business and stay out of mine.
...ugh. 
This presidential election already makes me weary.

I'm reading the second in the Gone series, I'm starting to lose interest already. It's easy to put down and watch my Rangers instead. #1 #nevereverquit. 

And Jamie's gone on a guys trip for the weekend. 
I swear he's offended that I'm not just waiting at home for him to come back?...I've got plans yo!!!! I'm having a girls night tonight! Going to see my old college roommate play with her band.  

OH and it's North Texas giving day. Good idea!! I wanted to go a little more local this year. I'm down. I gave to Dwell with Dignity and PatriotPaws. I'll give to "my main" national cause in December.  

ooo i was in a pissy mood yesterday.

ooo i was in a pissy mood yesterday. Everyone was getting on my nerves.
Rude people, snarky comments on FB, the new girl's voice....

then we gathered with some friends for drinks last night and recalled our memories from 14 years ago for a bit. And my perspective was set straight again.

I'm blessed.
truly truly blessed.

It's interesting too...after visiting Pearl Harbor, it adds another layer of how important it is to remember the past. The sacrifices, the heroism, the consequences... #neverforget...

We head to Lubbock tomorrow to catch a football game (and for Jamie to reminisce his college days).

I'm listening to the new Turnpike Troubadours cd.
Yes a real old school cd.
Love Love this band.  

Well people anymore
They've got no staying power
A love you come by easy
It'll leave you just the same
You want something bad
You've got to bleed a little for it
You've got to look it in the eye
You've got to call it out by name

handy husbands & sudden endings

oh the joys of home ownership - first the air conditioner, now our kitchen sink faucet broke.
I'll tell you what though...it sure is nice having a handyman husband!!
Who needs to read romance novels when ya got a handy dandy husband!!!! YAY! (psyche... I'll still read romance novels cause they make me happy too)

I finished reading The Ascenders. Man...it had so much potential to be an awesome book. It was right up my alley...life after death, parallel universe, portals etc. It just lost all it's awesomeness as it went for me.

And continuing on the life/death path ...I saw it's suicide prevention week.
I'm pretty sure I'm a little "off the wall " when this subject comes up.

I can't say I never thought about it for myself (who hasn't though...right?...or maybe not. Who knows.), but in my case it was fleeting - I'm just too curious and find joy in too many things.

I don't think you can stop someone from doing something that extreme if they're really in that place.
But!.... maybe they're not there yet?! so yep I'm totally for stopping suicide.

Why? Not cause I feel sorry for them but because it's such an abrupt ending to what could be an interesting story. (Maybe not always a happy one but interesting none-the-less....)

Like the end of this Brandon Jenkins song/story....did he follow through? I'd like to think he didn't pull the trigger and maybe there was something super interesting that happened in his life that made it worth finding out how his story turned out? (I don't know what...I'm a reader, not a writer!)

or...if it's a terminal illness I would hope he would consider moving to Oregon, Washington or Vermont (maybe California here soon too *crossing fingers*) to have the option to die peacefully instead...

Lord please forgive me for what I’m about to do
I’m runnin’ on empty, my options are few
You know that I did the best the best that I can
But I’ve done hit rock bottom my time is at hand

yeah, cause I lost my job my bills are getting bigger
Got a cryin’ baby ‘bout to lose my mind
Hundred dollar habit ain’t got a penny
My woman ran off with a friend of mine
I can’t keep a job I’m too fucked up
DHS about to take my kids
Tryin’ to get well I keep getting sicker
Got me Sittin’ in the parking lot my finger on the trigger

Sittin’ in the parking lot my finger on the trigger

You know that I never meant to hurt anyone
And I’ll face the consequences for all the things I’ve done
And Lord sometimes I wonder if you’re even there
Cause my burden is backbreaking, it’s more than I can bear

Cause I lost my job my bills are getting bigger
Got a cryin’ baby ‘bout to lose my mind
Hundred dollar habit ain’t got a penny
My woman ran off with a friend of mine
I can’t keep a job I’m too fucked up
DHS about to take my kids
Tryin’ to get well I keep getting sicker
Got me Sittin’ in the parking lot my finger on the trigger

Sittin’ in the parking lot my finger on the trigger
Sittin’ in the parking lot my finger on the trigger

Cause I lost my job my bills are getting bigger
Cryin’ baby ‘bout to lose my mind
Hundred dollar habit ain’t got a penny
My woman ran off with a friend of mine
I can’t keep a job I’m too fucked up
DHS about to take my kids
Tryin’ to get well I keep getting sicker
Got me Sittin’ in the parking lot my finger on the trigger

Got me Sittin’ in the parking lot my finger on the trigger
Sittin’ in the parking lot my finger on the trigger
Sittin’ in the parking lot my finger on the trigger

sweet Memphis Belle!

Memphis was fun! No it's not very pretty but the food is wonderful - that moves it way up in my book.
PLUS the people were very friendly.
I forget that about the South...Dallas has just really lost it's Southern-ness with the influx of people moving here.
There's hardly even any pretending to be nice anymore...ugh.

And so...back to Memphis....not sure why people are so obsessed with the ducks at the Peabody hotel?
Rendevous too was just kind of "eh". But Paynes BBQ (yummm!) , Gus's fried chicken, Bryant's breakfast and Restaurant Iris were all really good. And worth the wait. We sat at Blues Hall Juke Joint on Beale Street too for a bit - I think for sure we'd do that again if we ever go back! Fun.

I say the best way to see Memphis is sit at a bar somewhere and talk to people (that are highly likely to be cool talking with you)...I love those kindsa towns.

Read Joanna Schupe - mostly good, I'll read more.
Reading the second of  Laura Lee Guhrke's American Heiress series. It's kinda slow....

so I'm also reading a YA that my sister has told me is very popular right now called The Ascenders. Yet another YA being made into a movie (or tv show?).
I'm about half way through and though it's a good story concept there are dumb one-liners in there that throw me off. It's starting to drag a little in the middle AND there are contradictions too. Enough for even me to notice.

Back to household chores. And work tomorrow...

she's got the whole wide world

I submitted my pictures and story to Death with Dignityto hopefully help pass the law.
I hear California's close....

I cried seeing those pictures of my grandparents again....
this one of me and my Ita on my wedding day especially...

And so I read Eleanor and Park...a YA first love story.

Loved that it was set in the 80's...I think it did catch the teenage angst. It's interesting how reading books about teenagers does recall how I felt back then -miserable and know it all and unknowing - the ending was a let down but eh...overall not a bad book.

I also tried reading Robyn Carr. I think I've tried to read her several times now and it just isn't catching. I got bored. Next...

A FB friend that owns a B&B in Anguilla (born in Canada, raised in Spain) posted this on her FB.

LOVE THIS - so true...and the more I travel the more true it becomes. I wish more people tried these things.

AND today is my Friday!!! We're doing a Dallas adventure down to Deep Ellum tonight. 

Then we Dallas are going to Tennessee for a day trip.

We leave for Memphis tomorrow. Lets see what "The Volunteer State"'s got!