my social butterfly limit was reached over the weekend.
Dinner with friends Friday and Saturday.
Book club Saturday/met one of my favorite authors - and she was as lovely as I'd hope she'd be. I asked if she intentionally went in writing a book to torture her people like how she does...and she basically said "yes and you're welcome".... heh

"Good Luck with That" was pretty heavy (no pun intended)...if there was one thing that got on my nerves it's that each of them pointed out too many times that the" biggest one was the biggest one". And after a while just wish she'd move on from each mentioning weight/body image...
but I guess that was the point...that it takes over lives as they let it - it took a couple days for me to read. I'm sure she's gonna get major backlash...but I think she knows it. She definitely went there.

Then Dem gal group Sunday for fundraising committee - I think I irritated one when I said a luncheon sounded boring to me. I probably should've not been so blunt....i can't help myself sometimes. Seriously though....same old boring status quo...this is the problem...can we have a Latin or Bluegrass night or something fun to really interest a lot of people (not just a certain kind)? on that thought

once upon a time, back in college days, a gal and her friend decided to take a road trip to Atlanta.
Pensacola (on the way) had a great beach AND a military base. *score for the gals!*
So naturally,the picture below is what we pictured in our mind - a line-up (just for us) on the way to the beach!
And well.... we did see very attractive men - it just turned out that the men were attracted to each other - we'd some how parked ourselves on the gay beach. Oh well...it was fun!

Fast forward 15ish years - I hear that the National Guard is being rounded up (for no logical reason) to basically spend a whole lot of our tax $ to watch our border patrol agents do their jobs.

I mean several coastal towns are still struggling after Harvey right?
Or...umm how about Puerto Rico?

BUT! well...a gal can (once again) picture the below to make the situation seem just a little better - right? We're heading back down to El Paso in July...I don't know what a National Guard uniform looks like, but maybe they'll be lined up like this just for us!!


Had dinner friday with my dad and aunt - I'm worried for her, I'm not sure how any single person really makes it as a real estate agent.

Went to the book club last night to get the new Kristan Higgins book before meeting her on Saturday. The book is apparently about weight issues and it was a touchy subject for those that had already read it. One DNF even. wow. Still... fun group, I'll likely go again. Plus one of the gals used the word "buttress" in description and *lightbulb* who but reader people use good words any more?! I dig it.

Finished: Christi  Caldwell - The Hellion - I liked the not typical gal but still it jumped from interest to love super quick...
Lisa Kleypas - Because you're mine - capital theater #2...i'd apparently bought this and forgot. I found it at 0% in my library. Sheltered girl runs away to escape arranged marriage.

it's odd the relief for a one day March, where complete strangers are with you.

They went wrong with splitting up the days and not sanctioning all the events though...they need to work on that. *sosayiworthmytwocents*

Work continues to be so disorganized...seriously done with chaos. Maniacal laughter is a daily occurrence.
And saying this as a satellite...I can't imagine how people in the mega tower in NY are feeling. Layoffs and shuffles and nobody can keep up....i'm not sure how this can keep on.

Was only able to read one book but it was by the fave Kristan Higgins - Now that You Mention It - again for the gentler touch to the complicated, she delivers. The sister relationship got me.

Hockey game tomorrow, candidate forum and chili cook-off (maybe) Saturday....

annnd this gal is officially not cut out to be a Southern gal.

annnd this gal is officially not cut out to be a Southern gal.
(Not that I didn't like it...good food, people were super nice -  especially in Alabama. )

Flew in, had breakfast at Fife's Birmingham - Good. it was packed on a Thursday morning!
Then drove 2.5 hours into East Mississippi.

So...I've been to several college towns - Mississippi State is definitely different.
Granted, school's out - but..... they.  have.  no.  bars.  there. 

Seriously....no bars and hardly any restaurants.
What kids do is join the greek system and have house parties.
trying not to judge here -  but how utterly boring that must get after a while.

39 kids in the nephew's graduating class....
They all look the same.
Serious - especially the girls, thin-ish, prettyish/plainish,  light brown straight hair just passed the shoulders.
It took an hour to graduate them...nice.
Little Dooey's - top level chicken tenders.
No bars. to bed.
Good luck at MSU nephew.

Tuscaloosa/University of Alabama -  It feels like the whole state of Alabama routes their money (and hopes and dreams) here. nice, BIG campus. Crimson, A's and elephants everywhere. Rama Jama for the staple place.

Back to Birmingham - constantly feels of "trying to revive after being deserted", town feel.
Collins bar - good cocktails (though just a little pretentious bartenders).
Galley and Garden - good food. Generic on the ambiance.  Tryin' a little hard to be cool?
Holler and Dash - biscuits and gravy - yes. good. only weird that they couldn't make an egg over easy. "must be over hard per State Law"....who the heckfire eats an over hard breakfast egg?!!!
Iron City venue - good venue. They started at 8am on the dot! Mini Bomb Factory-esque. Strange crowd for Old 97's/Turnpike - they didn't hardly know Old 97s...definitely into TT. 
Saw's BBQ has no ribs

still they redeemed by their chicken and banana pudding. I'm gonna crave the banana pudding.
No idea how people bear the heat of standing in line/sitting outside in summer times?
The humidity is killer ...

I can't handle any more fried food
more... where we went (cities and town in both states) it feels almost ghosttown-ish with basically only the school/football pride as is it's lifeblood.
Also, it has a strong feel of people sticking to "their own"....i mean racial divide here is super evident.
Now that I think about it  - I saw one Latino man at a gas station (in the middle of no where between the two states) He kept looking at me like I was a unicorn.
Really...we got in the car and Jamie was like "Did you see that guy looking at you like that?" umm...yes Jamie yes...poor guy must miss his people . heh...smh. 

re-read Kristan Higgins mostly but did read a Balogh - Heartless - not that I didn't like it, I just have read so many of the "obsessed villian" story. I'm curious about the deaf sister path. We'll see.

but hey...I got to check out. And I'm tan.

we've had quite the adventure.
11pm friday night before we're to leave on our vacation Jamie got stomach sick.
1pm Saturday I convinced him to go to the doc in the box. He got a shot and 4 different kinds of medication.
We woke up at 3am Sunday to catch our flight.
Land in Anguilla - Jamie can't eat anything for 48 hours. (a noted "best" for people who love to eat and he can't.) But we made it.

Disconnected from news/social media and just beached for a few days. Lovely...lovely...lovely as before.
(Note for next (next) time - definitely ferry is the way to go from SXM. $20taxi + $20 + $5 departure pp.
Back $20+$25 departure.)

Jamie's still not feeling great, we change our flights to come back a couple days early and now I'm feeling sick. I was so nauseous getting on the plane I physically carried a "motion discomfort" bag the whole day til we got home. Really close calls at some points. Not the greatest feeling to feel trapped on a plane and carrying a "bag".
Got home and now allergies got me.
Oh and it took us half a day to get in an argument about politics. Seriously, my sister texted me that the city of FB down the road started pulling people over randomly to check their legal status!
So now I'm glad I have this day off to recover.  I'm sitting here eyes swollen and snotty...
but hey...I got to check out for a few days of amazing-ness.
And I'm tan!

And I read:
On Second Thought - yes of course I liked it. It just I missed the connection with the guys more than usual.
Seven Minutes in Heaven - she just seemed much more mature than him. Good story, as always, just not in my top favorite couple of hers. 
Nobody's Baby but Mine & Heaven, Texas - yeah...she treads that line of inappropriate that makes me uncomfortable.
Wait For It - Mariana Zapata -  with this one I've read all her books so far. She's up there as a favorite now. I'm def all about her older guys. 
Rhythm, Chord Malychin - MZ  - immaturish, lower on my list of hers. Still good.
Under Locke - MZ -  so I just found out what MC meant last week. Not my genre but yeah this was a winner overall (and sexy times whew...)

Back on the wagon....

the never disappoint(ers)

We saw 1100 springs Friday - I was going through band withdrawals. They never disappoint.
Didn't even leave the house Saturday.
Sunday - Joined a "huddle". organizing - low key superbowl with w's, mainly distracted through most of it.
Leave for vacation Sunday! - have EJames new one in queue.

Pulled in lotsa directions - Devos decision just came down - I have no kids and know nothing about whats going on in the world of education besides the taxes I pay into it. All my teacher pals/associates are really not ok with this decision so I'm going to guess it's yet another not a good one.

Finished
Nora Roberts - Island of Glass - typical NR fashion and almost exactly like the other series.
Kristan Higgins - On Second Thought - just love her and how filled out her people are. Not my favorite but (again) she never disappoints.

Be kind 2016.

I'm going bullet points -

• our NYday open house party- So interesting how the older we get the less people want to make the effort to keep friends. I get it. I understand. People showed, people didn't but it is nice to catch up with people you care about. i was beat though- it took all day yesterday to recover.  
• not so good on the extended family side - death and jail and health news already.  I mean... i get bad news happens - but not all that bad news in the first few days would be ok. It makes me very wary for the year. And am I the only one that gets bothered by people that say "sorry" for when someone dies?  guess I'm weird cause really I think the best thing is to say I'll remember and give a reason why. Or ask how you can help. Or just say i'm here if you need to talk. or don't say anything at all (especially if you're not that close).  but "sorry" is just...sorry.  that's just me though...cause I don't see people doing that...same ol' generic wasted words wagon. yes i went on a tirade...oh well. 
• umm Hateful Eight - not bad but not my favorite of his. The intro and intermission "Gone with the Wind" style was pretty cool and definitely added to the movie.  They used the "n" word to excess, (it didn't add to the story so it was mostly unnecessary IMO)  And I didn't see the female angle as misogyny. I really think people need to stop being so freaking offended by everything. She got her own. (ish)  And the bigger picture here is how hatred hasn't changed.

Books

• Anything For You - again not bad just not my favorite of hers and ....really... to hold on that long for someone who keeps pushing you away?....it just made me not like the gal lead, even though I liked that she's different from most every other gal lead.
• Read a Tessa Dare - Romancing the Duke -  plain gal catches mostly blind hot guy fairy tale. eh. (but i finished it). 
• I think I've read at least one more? - this is why I shouldn't wait to write about it cause now I'll probably buy it somewhere, read it half way through, then realize that I've already read it....ugh. 

umm what else? Just finished putting the christmas stuff away (and now the house is boring). 

Not at all looking forward to work tomorrow. But like I said:

Here's to family, friends, coffee, books, fun people at the bar, the fine art of pushing my husband's buttons annnnnd stickers. (cause stickers...that's why!) ooooo and adult coloring books and yummy food and Anguilla!!!! 

Be kind 2016.

And Slaid Cleaves cause Yes
It’s New Years Day
Just like the day before
Same old skies of grey
Same empty bottles on the floor
Another year gone by
And I’m thinking once again
How can I take this losing hand
And somehow win

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. 

if you only knew

we've hired a new lady. I guess she must be around 60?
....I usually like older gals (cause their give a damn about what other people think is pretty far gone by then)...but I'm just not liking her. My "fake" radar is going off and oy...i don't deal well with fake character at any age. I hope my first impression is wrong. They're setting her desk up right next to mine...

Speaking of being fake, I took my nails off. I just got tired of them.
My hands aren't pretty anymore...*sad face*
Mostly cause I can't stop picking at at my nails! I thought with years of not being able to, I would've broken the habit by now. I'm in my mid-30's! Stop it Brenda. ugh. It is nice to type...or do anything and not have my nails jamming into things though.

Moving on... I read  "If You Only Knew" - not my favorite of hers but I still loved it and now KHiggins is officially my favorite author. I love her stories...she has an amazing way of getting the reader character involved (even with all the super insecure things her girls do. I still love them)

I also read a Cathrine Bybee one...Married by Wednesday or somesuch...not bad. Not amazing....that's all I got. 

AND (along the girl theme).....I'm a little Ashley Monroe obsessed right now
She sounds old school/early 90's gal country. i'm a fan.

...she also said that people have gotten lazy in song writing -  just watching what little I watched of the VMA's last night makes that so true. 

And I really don't get how wearing a leotard and doing open legged squats while singing is sexy (or unique). It's just not. Where's the story?  

...LOVING this song

Wheels are gonna rust If they don’t turn enough,
And so the story goes
Yeah, I’ve been one of those worn and faded by the rain
Days are gonna fly
Draw lines around your eyes
It’ll make you bitter, it’ll make you wise
it’s coming either way

Lost and found, I’m better dancing when I don’t look down
Hard times roll up but they don’t hang around
I feel like I’m on to something good
I’m better moving on than going back
I’ll ride this train till it runs out of track
I feel like I’m on to something, something, something

I can’t tell you how or where I’m heading now
But, the winding of the road is steadying my soul
Feels like I’m coming home
Oh yeah
It’s in the wind that’s blowing, it’s in the red wine
Life’s got it’s way of showing when it’s the right time

Lost and found, I’m better dancing when I don’t look down
Hard times roll up but they don’t hang around
I feel like I’m on to something good
I’m better moving on than going back
I’ll ride this train till it runs out of track
I feel like I’m on to something, something, something

Oooh something, something
Oooh something, something

Lost and found, I’m better dancing when I don’t look down
Hard times roll up but they don’t hang around
I feel like I’m on to something good
I’m better moving on than going back
Yeah, I’ll ride this train till it runs out of track
I feel like I’m on to something, something, something

Oh I feel like I’m on
Oooh something, something
Feel like i’m onto something
Oooh something, something

i deleted my rant *you're welcome*

There've been a few instances lately that have me questioning where basic decency is going.
I just went on a big rant but then deleted it cause I don't want to remind myself of how selfish and disappointing people can be. I'll just post this instead. cause this.

And to continue on with the debby downer - I  just finished reading this murder mystery non-fiction book called Blind Rage, which was somewhat similar to another non-fiction Evidence of Love  I read a while back. Both are an interesting looks into the human psyche. but pretty depressing and I don't read them very often because of it.

So I jumped into a Kristan Higgins marathon to pull me out of the spiral. They still have sad parts like the bad break ups -  or when her dog dies in one of the books. I cried and cried. Jamie poked fun of me when he caught me  - the jerkface- Still.. mission accomplished. I do right for myself and I do right by others. I sleep very well at night.  Take that you suck at life people!

Oh and the Perot museum adults only night...ummm, well I guess it was interesting (even for having several things that weren't working).

Really though, with this go-round (and the exception of the Anne Frank museum), we've basically figured that we're just not museum kind of people.

the most nerdy thing I've ever done

I made a "my favorite authors / fangirl" tshirt on zazzle.  

I'm well aware that this is probably the nerdiest thing I've ever done (Jamie told me so too)  

Don't care - I'm totally wearing it at the RT convention here next month!

Everyone will be jealous...(or not) ;o)

I also bought my Derby hat...it's pretty - just not as fun. 

Jamie and I are bickering about the decoration/spending for this party. He bought a rose wreath specifically for this event because "it's 'Run for the Roses' Brenda!" 

Seriously?! he's never really cared about any decorations EVER but all of the sudden we're having a Kentucky Derby party and he's turned into "Mr. Interior Designer". ugh!

I'm in a Weary Boys mood - man I miss this band.... we saw them at Adairs and it was seriously one of the best musical talent abilities I've ever seen. More fiddle, more stand up bass - yes please. 

Tight Britches - across the board

Stoney was great Friday night. I forget how good his voice is - loved the Gary Stewart cover.

But I got St. Paddy'd out and so we ditched the weekend festivites for the lake Saturday instead.

Sorry not sorry.
I had a great time re-reading The Next Best Thing and got in a Scotland-y mood too so tried Karen Hawkins first two of the Macleans series. ("just eh").
Once again K Higgins wins - she's just so good at emotionally torturing her people...i love it...

And so additionally/apparently it was decided that we're having a Kentucky Derby party...

Jamie loves having people over. Really I do too but lord it's exhausting...and expensive!!
I guess no more expensive then what we'd spend if we went to the track.
He's created a monster. 
I always bet $2 on my favorite across the board, more especially if they have a name I just can't resist - like "Tight Britches". Tight Britches was a BIG win for me!!!

So...Derby hat - maybe this one? Etsy has so many!

 

This was me, about to pass out

We had dinner with a couple we barely know over the weekend. They're getting married soon and they've invited us to their wedding.

Naturally... we're not turning down going to a wedding!
- but considering the extremes I had to use to deny people from my own wedding - I can't really understand inviting people you hardly know?....

Regardless, I'm glad we're invited! And glad we could squeeze in a dinner with them so we can get to know them a little better. It's not often we move outside our established circle of friends anymore...I forget how fun it is to actually get to know new people.

Note to Self - yes Whiskey Cake is a good restaurant but not on a Friday or Saturday night ever again. It's a 1.5 hour wait minimum and no reservations...ugh. 

This was me gesturing to Jamie...about to pass out:

You'd think with all the reserves my body has, I wouldn't have to eat for at least two days...

I did find two pretty good reads over the weekend! yay love when that happens
-  historical romance Love and Other Scandals and a contemporary (funny one) Floored.

Floored had me busting out laughing a few times...I swear Jamie gets jealous of my books when I'm reading those funny ones.  I have to tell him he's my one and only and I love him better than books to settle him down. ha!

 Kristan Higgins is still my favorite funny author - all the more cause it's  awkward funny and I can totally see me and jamie in it.

i'm found out

Jamie caught on to my book diary blog - ugh he finds out about everything! I swear he was a Mexican mother in his past life. Can't a girl keep anything to herself? *as I write/post on the internet*

....I wonder how many wives have husbands like mine?

 Oh well whatever...read away Jamie, it's not like it's a secret. You are a jerk face every once in a while and I tell you to your face. Welcome to my book diary - as with every other time I start talking about my books your eyes will glaze over and you'll lose interest soon enough.

So to that end!....

On my favorites - Just One of the Guys, sucks you right in (pun intended as it starts with Chastity - the lead- choking on a mushroom as she's being broken up with) hilarity and heart ache ensues for this more than childhood friends story with life/doubts getting in the way.

HUGE, huge fan.

i lucked out in the in-law lottery

Jamie's parents asked us to mark our calendar to celebrate their birthdays in Hawaii next year. I'm not all that excited about Hawaii (it just looks so touristy!) but I do love his parents.

Apparently I've lucked out in the in-law lottery. I've heard/read/seen some terrible stories - (like recently in Lisa Kleypas' Dreaming of You.)

I'm really just thankful that they raised their son to be who he is. Call me archaic but I appreciate that he's a gentleman, a provider and a handy man. Helps too that I've got him locked down...he's totally in love with me (and why wouldn't he be right? ;0) )

 In that sense I can see an advantage to having a child - raising a son to be like him.
Time is running out to make that kind of decision though.....it's just.... neither he nor I have a burning need to join those ranks. That's a good enough reason not to, right?

Then on another side I'm seeing some of the single women I know say generally disparaging things about men -  in my experience it's women (myself included) that play the major role in complicating relationships...

Kristan Higgins is really great at showing complicated. Like in My One and Only  -  "I'll tell you something, Harpy," he said, his voice almost a whisper now. "It never even occurred to me that we wouldn't make it. And it never occurred to you that we would. You were just waiting for us to go down in flames..."

She has great, so relateable (and other times freaking hilariously funny) lines  in all her books! Love them. 

i'm a pariah!...on to The Firebird

I just posted the below to my facebook. This ebola stuff is crazy. I think the local news has done a pretty good job of reassuring people though. 

On to more positive news - I finished In Your Dreams - again K. Higgins didn't let me down. Laugh out loud shenanigans with slight serious twist re: PTSD and a mostly believable love story. I think Connor's next? Fun. Can't wait!

Next up The Firebird (Slains #2) - I really liked Susanna Kearsley's The Winter Sea - (Slains #1) Dual time romance with Scottish history in the mix. So I'm reading more of hers.

if i stay and finish...or not

Finished If I Stay, ok yes I cried. It was a quick read, thought-provoking and characters (even tertiary ones) were fleshed out well.  What I really liked is that Mia (the lead) wasn't your typical conformist teenager -she didn't get on my nerves as some YA character leads tend to. I'm in queue at the library to get the next one - Where She Went (I think it's called). 

J. Crusie's Charlie All Night - funny characters, good dialogue - fast and easy (pun intended ;0). 
I skipped over the one before in this JCrusie book bundle though...couldn't finish it, don't remember what it's called but about hiring a PI and a diary, and winning a bet and mafia family?...whatever...couldn't finish it. 

Another book I couldn't finish - Outlander you'd think I'd love it (like seemingly everyone else). It's right up my alley! I just couldn't do it. Maybe I'll try once again to join the bandwagon? ...for the 3rd time... one day. Not today though, cause it's release day for Larissa Ione's MoonBound Vampire book and Kristan Higgins new one!

 I love both authors (they're both "pay for release day" worthy for me) but oy... I almost couldn't finish the first of Larissa Ione Moonbound series book - I'm holding off on buying/reading the second.  

We'll see how Kristan Higgins goes...she's not disappointed me yet!