apparently I'm going to the Tech game tonight for March Madness - Jamie (with his algorithms and spreadsheets) scoffed at my basketball picks - even though I picked the winners the last two years! Such a snob...
and i don't get the old timers mocking of kids walking out of class to protest gun violence yesterday?
I mean yeah pretty sure some just wanted to get out of school, but I think it is important to take these kids seriously. It's not the same world as before...nobody older than 38 ever had the thought in their head that there's a chance they'd get shot/killed while they were in school...put yourselves in their shoes.
Anyway - we crashed a Shakespeare pub crawl in Deep Ellum on Saturday - Fun! I think they even got Jamie interested - I'm gonna check in on their plays.
Then we bar hopped. started talking to a guy at a bar that graduated from my same high school two years behind me. Didn't know him but it never fails, if a person tells you they're from El Paso....you can pretty much bet they're gonna be pretty cool.
Marriage of Inconvenience - good as always...it just felt kinda one-sided. and i'm on a re-read kick Remembrance and Psy-changeling...
Wednesday, November 29, 2017
so our New Mexico trip (before I forget) although I'd like to forget the part where my dog was attacked by another dog (also staying) at her sitters house in the early morning a few hours before our flight. Her ear/cheek is swollen and she's traumatized, poor thing. I go between "these things happen sometimes" to "that dog should be euthanized". ugh...smh. Now we have to settle with Rover....*sigh*
Back to New Mexico
Flew into ABQ because it was cheaper.
$25pp to take the tram up the Sandia mountain. Is it worth it? Hmm...I guess so. I don't regret it.
Jamie wanted to swing by the Walter White/Breaking Bad house too - meh. They had to put a fence around it cause people were throwing pizzas on the roof. As far as I can tell there's really not that much left to see in ABQ.
Then off to Santa Fe- 50min. drive - didn't have high expectations but Santa Fe definitely exceeded them! I am officially a green chile fangirl. Plaza cafe Southside and Geronimo have made my food list.
I found a SF private tour guide site and sent a request for someone to take us up to Chimayo - since it's a James Beard winner - we'd buy lunch and tell us some history. $100ish. Scheduled and met up with Bob at the hotel lobby. It was his 82nd birthday and I think there's something so wonderful to talk to someone who's experienced and knowledgeable about so much.
It's literally living/breathing history.
You could see him almost struggle to pick a story to talk about and then he'd start on five different stories at once. heh. Old people are awesome.
The tribes (pueblos) have a very strong presence, super interesting to note their language differences, that they are matriarchal and that they gathered together at one point to push back against the Spanish and were successful....for a time.
He then took us down to Madrid's cemetery and yeah I could've spent a few hours there.
On our way back to ABQ we stopped by the Coronado Historical site in Bernadillo (sp?) - where the Kuoua tribe/pueblo thrived (until he came through). It was beautiful with the Rio Grand and Cotton wood trees and mountain backdrop...I imagine it was doubly beautiful back then. We'd apparently just missed an amazing Fall color change and major air balloon festival - bet that's a sight to see.
Fry bread at the Pueblo Harvest Cafe - yumm...
Overall - it feels like NM is a somewhat forgotten state with people who are nice but a little odd - and I hope it stays that way.
Sat next to a single mother with a fussy two year old on her lap on the plane the whole way back. I've no idea why people put themselves through that - i felt exhausted for both of them - but gotta give it to the mom, she kept that kid from kicking the chair in front of her and as calm as possible without numbing her child with a ipad (like everyone else seems to do). In my book that's good parenting - pretty sure (if I was a parent) I wouldn't have that kind of patience.
Moving on - finished watching Alias Grace on Netflix - wonderful acting and interesting story (especially with it being true) def feel like I need to read the book though. That's the bad thing about movies/tv series is that it's almost force fed to tell a story. I bet the book has much more subtleties relaying the info. I'm taking it as a survival story....we'll see.
Tried to read Octavia Butler's Fledgling - and no - hard stop. Don't care if she's a thousand YO vampire in a child's body. It's a childs body. Unacceptable.
Rock Redemption (Rock Kiss Book 3) - Nalini Singh - I finished it but just can't seem to get into this series of hers.
Re-read a LK Hathaway - hotelier meets not a pushover.
Irresistible You (The Chicago Rebels Series Book 1) - Kate Meader - hockey. has potential.
And so we were supposed to go see the Weary Boy reunion on Friday in Austin - no go with BB getting attacked and having to be supervised. We gave our tickets away....maybe we'll see them again....
so much going on in the world. (i've had this sentence as a draft for 3 days)
For lack of a better way to describe it - it looks like the simmering is starting to boil.
Also, I'm not quite sure why people are so shocked at the president's remarks and/or lack of empathy? It wasn't shocking to me...he's shown his colors already, long ago...
Finished
Singh's Silver Silence - much less angsty than her others...got a little irritated with the all the silly-ish bear references (if I'm being honest)
Reid's Beard in Mind - so i liked the uniqueness of it...I've not read a story that discusses real life issues like OCD.
EChase's - Ellie the little sister story - quick read.good.
Also watched Harlot's on Hulu - wonderful acting and really clicks on what I've only imagined in the historicals I've read.
Wrote on my fb groups, reached out to my reps, twitter is blowing up
and....and...really remarking on the books I've read and tv I've watch seems crass...but it helps me. So that's good....
I really wanted to end with a good recall from the past week but I'm weirdly kinda numb right now.
oh...dinner with friends tonight.
Jamie didn't like my post about Texas last week.
I asked him if he thinks that I liked finding it necessary to post it.
In reality - he has no idea how much I hold my tongue/thoughts....most especially lately. bleh - being in a bubble is so frustrating now that I know how much it's really there.
ANNNND I just saw that less than 12% of registered voters in my county voted in last week's local elections. 11.88% freaking percent !!! People died for this right...seriously....i don't understand how they can't take 20 minutes out of a day to vote on people making decisions on their behalf (and most especially the school board that make decisions that affect YOUR CHILDREN!).
ugh
and so - moving on - cause that's all i can do-
1.5 hours at the DMV - almost failed my eye exam. I don't remember there being letter vison test like that?!
the Derby - fun day, long day - 70ish ppl - $1k+ in bets...not bad atall
i wore a fun fruit print dress. I'm not sure people knew what to think of me...one guy said "you look very... citrusy" ha. yay. Not sure how much $ we've put into it (too much I'm sure) but it seemed everyone had a good time.
re-read Mercy's story in Psy-Changeling - a real book (not kindle) from my library. this makes me happy. Not sure why holding a real book every once in a while makes me happy. I also love that I have 1k+ books easily accessible in my kindle in my purse. It's fun.
We had a good weekend - I put christmas stuff up. Jamie conveniently made himself scarce....it took me 5 hours....oy.
Half the time I was like "F this shit!" and the other half was like "ooo pretty sparkles!"
....i'm really not sure why? We gals are weird sometimes.
At least I put it up though...I came close to letting 2016 win.
Jamie made yummy comfort food (chicken/dumplings AND chili) stews - from his generations of hand me down recipes - and we invited the m's and the w's.
Game night/football watching night. They pretty much wiped us out on the food...it was pretty good stuff though.
my Dad texted saying he's getting married in 2 weeks (on a Monday) if we wanted to go...all I can do is shake my head.
Mom's coming in this weekend.
Finished: Ugly Love: Colleen Hoover - it's. just. so. heavy. I get it but I guess I just like things a little more levity to offset just a little more. Brown Eyed Girl - Lisa Kleypas: eh. Love her historicals sooo much more. Amy Andrews - rugby story - just have a hard time with "i ruined you for your own good when we were younger but never forgot you and now that we're older what a coincidence we're together again lets have sexy times". Wild Embrace - Nalini Singh - I always wondered about Gem! I liked the other stories ok too.
Also I hung on to finish watching Westworld - eh...I mean I guess?
And before I forget - we watched 3 episodes of House of Cards - acting is fantastic but it's just so mean. Like vicious/selfish/narcissistic mean. Pretty sure we're done....already get to see that in real life news today don't need more....
surprise birthday dinner for dear friend Reda K last night.
it's interesting how the seating lines are drawn...their college friends and us. Not my style but I get that it's not about being malicious...
it's just by this age we're all settled and there's no need to really make more friends, (it's hard enough to keep up/maintain the ones we already have! ha)
Speaking of friends - we sent out our invite for our vacation trip - 8 months advance notice!
We'll see who can/will make it out.
Not holding my breath for those that always travel to the same places or don't travel at all ... which is most of them.
I'm pretty sure a big reason they don't travel is they don't want to spend money to try something new!
Not tryin to be a snob or anything but how do people make memories by always doing the same things? Doesn't it all blend together?
We head to Minneapolis for a Ranger game this weekend. Only staying a day...we're guessing there's not much else to do out there? *snobbery again..yes I own it*
Almost finished reading Nalini Singh's Allegiance of Honor - i alternate from liking the brush up on the past characters to being irritated that I'm reading a catch up as though I'm a new reader.
She does weave a transition well though for sure....I'm just bothered that I paid full "hardback" $...i should've definitely waited for the "softback" issue. Oddly, the way she addresses the difficulty in bringing her world together resonates in real time.
And so, the attacks in Turkey's airport - I've read Istanbul is a wonderful place to visit.... All I can do is hope there's a rally to help the people that need it. With something terrible happening every day it seems now, i'm inundated with constantly feeling like I should help - for my own sanity though I'm waiting for North Texas Giving day and the November Giving Day (thanks to who(m)ever's idea that was) - i still might be not giving anything for the overwhelming-ness of it all. Still...it's never enough is it....
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 morefor 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.
Good weekend overall.
We had no interest in battling the fireworks crowds and saw Adam Hood instead (finally).
Unfortunately it was at the Rustic.
It's actually not a bad venue - picnic benches on gravel/grass, stage outside - it tries for country casual. You just get the feel that it's just trying a little too hard.
It's one of "those" places for people who never go out, or people from out of town, go to visit to get the "Dallas feel" - basically leaving mostly underwhelmed people milling about.
The girls struggling in their skyhighheels and very short summer dresses on the gravel/benches were a show in itself...
but oh well...all the above is not unusual for it being Dallas. Seeing the contrast, I think it makes me appreciate things with substance just a little bit more. So even though the crowd was a bust (IMO), Adam Hood pulled through and put on a good show!
Also, had friends over for a fun game night. Besides that I was lazy and did one of my favorite things- Read:
Undivided - Last of this YA series. Left hanging on what happened to some people. Guess that's what happens when you introduce so many in the story. Still...a pretty good ending. Earls Just Want to Have Fun - Riches to rags to riches historical. Not amazing. Not bad. WTF on the title? Has no bearing on the story whatsoever. Another thing...if she hadn't bathed in months how is he kissing her after a day? I wouldn't imagine dental hygiene is the greatest....i don't know why i'm thinking these things i just do... Secrets of a Scandalous Heiress - Running away from problems historical. Eh. Rock Hard - As I've said, I love Nalini Singh's writing. Of anyone she's one of the most clear pictures in my head when I read her stuff...i'm just not digging her stray from paranormal/scifi. And the lead here was just so timid. I mean I get it, there's a reason why but it still just didn't match. This pair was a little forced.
Jamie was recently contacted via facebook by a guy he vaguely knew in college.
The guy is a Fort Worth native, we were close by, so he met us for drinks.
Nice guy and of course Jamie lit up from finding a new person to talk to AND reminisce college stories with.
After drinks, on our way to dinner, I asked Jamie why I hadn't heard about the guy in any of his "college days" stories.
"He was the first Mexican I ever met," he said "I was racist and a bigot and back then I had no interest in associating myself with him".
<---------------This is me
cause Jamie's never made secret of the fact that he was racist...
it just blows my mind everytime I hear it.
Cause really... how do you go from just 20 years ago "not associating yourself with a Mexican" to being happily married to one (of Mexican descent?). Yes I say "happily"! He told me just a couple days ago that I was so pretty and he was so glad that he had a beautiful wife....ok yes he was a little tipsy but I'll take it...he says stuff like that all the time anyway. AND it wasn't even that the guy was Mexican Mexican either for cryin out loud, he's from Fort Worth!
I just shook my head and said, "I can't possibly understand that. All I know is that I'm so glad I didn't know you back then. Imagine on what you missed out on from consciously blocking yourself from people that didn't think/act/look like exactly like you."
He said, "yes I know now. But back then you couldn't have known me. I wouldn't have let it happen. I had to learn and decide on my own."
His first job out of college landed him at a place where he had to work with a wide variety of people and he's gone on to attend several gay weddings, marry a MexiCanadianTexmerican (and ....seriously Latinas and older Black ladies are drawn to him. The damn flirt...he loves the attention. *eye roll*)
So while personally I can't recall a time that I've been subjected to racism (essentially I have to check mark my race as "White" anyway on the census), I do take exception to the instances I've felt that my ethnicity is portrayed as somehow inferior. Cause it's not. Nor is it superior. It's just different. And really how boring would it be if all of us thought/acted/looked exactly the same anyway?
So .....if nothing else.... I think this story's an interesting one. With all the stories about racism it's kind of amazing how someone who thought so staunchly one way can change their thought process just by associating with different people yeah?
Oh AND I sucked it up and bought/read Shards of Hope - not my favorite of the series but such a good writer Nalini Singh is. She's introduced new changelings and new Psy's! - I think Silver is next! maybe?
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.
(With me following reluctantly) Jamie decided to switch things up and have us join the chaos bandwagon over the weekend....
Dinner reservations (at Del Frisco's) on Valentine's day.
Lets just say we're never EVER going to try that again.
Want to know what the worst part was?
....the amount of people with their phones throughout the whole meal.
Seriously, everywhere we looked we'd see this
Granted, when I'm reading or when Jamie is watching some sport on tv it's its own version of checking out...
but on this "assigned day" particularly - when the outright rule is give your "other" reassurance that they matter to you - a complete stranger to them (like me) can see that you're utterly failing each other!!!
Yes I'm judging...i can't help it. YOU'RE EFF'G FAILING!!
...that's not living. that universal "on my phone" face doesn't look like a happy face. You're indifferent. Your eyes are dead. FEEL SOMETHING!!!
Finished:
- Amaryllis (Futuristic/Paranormal) - Nalini Singh said this was one of her favorites and I definitely saw the influence developing the Psy-Changeling world. I like Nalini's better. Won't continue with the St. Helen's series since I found myself skimming a lot of the book.
- The Program (YA) - Pretty depressing regarding a future suicide epidemic among teenagers. It kept me through the end but I'm finding myself not interested enough to read the next/final book of the series. oh well.
- and Hot Island Nights (Contemporary) - read this cause I liked the other Mayberry book. Not a bad read. Liked "Her Best Worst Mistake" better.
Also watched Kingsman: Secret Service and surprisingly I liked it. I think going in there with not much of an expectation is the best way to go. It was Kill Bill meets Men in Black meets Kick Ass. I'm a fan.
I also put out a blue/yellow ribbon outside our house today in support of the police. I can't speak for every police officer, but for those in my family who are law enforcement officers - and I know are good people. I support you. #operationblueshield
Dropped out of Nalini Singh's Psy-Changling world and went into the nostalgic realness of Jude Devereaux's True Love (first of the Nantucket series).
Such different stories (and storytelling) - it took me a few pages to switch gears.
How she describes Nantucket...now I want to go! ugh these books I read make me want to visit everywhere!
Going to the lake house this weekend, some friends are joining us out there. Can't wait to get away from the craziness/chaos of the city for a little peace and friends and laughter out in East Texas.
Read Winning Miss Wakefield, pretty sure I've read this scenario before: rejected regency girl gets the courage to kiss the rake, he offers to help her get her rejector (is that word?) back but ends up falling for her instead.
It's been done better. This one wasn't bad though. Not very believable, but it was entertaining for what it was.
Now, I'm re-reading some of my favorite Psy-Changeling books by Nalini Singh (just cause i can). Clay and Talin's story and all they went through...
The one that really just sucker punched me was Tangle of Need though. Seriously, my heart hurt, I don't think I was ever more involved in characters as I was with Adria and Riaz. Nalini Singh is in my top 5 of all time for sure.
And so...back to reality (and speaking of heart hurt) - I saw the news about Brittany Maynard. Such courage. Hope she went peacefully as she wished. I am a death with dignity advocate and will make my yearly donation on Giving Tuesday (December 2).
