Nothing else matters ...

I had this moment of clarity today while I was sitting at my sister's house for another fun-filled morning of babysitting the contractors as they worked on the floor. As much complaining as I've been doing about the house sitting recently, when else do I have an excuse to do nothing but sit and read and write. Yes, I can do it at home, but there's always a nagging voice in the back of my head detailing things that I could be doing around the house. You know, like, vacuuming. Or something. So this house sitting is really an excuse for me to take a vacation from my vacation. Awesome.

Yeah. So I didn't write on my story today. However ...
Book #26 - Bitten (Women of the Otherworld #1) by Kelley Armstrong - This was the book that singlehandedly reignited the spark of interest I had in werewolf books. It also made me go from tolerating first person narratives to embracing them with a whole-heartedness that's nearly embarrassing. I loved Elena's story from the first word. I was drawn in and emotionally wrung out by how much I wanted her to get her happily ever after. As the only female werewolf, Elena Michaels is something of a precious commodity. She holds an esteemed position in the Pack, has a almost-psychotic sometimes-boyfriend packmate who both knows and accepts what she is and she's trying to live a normal in the human world (complete with a job and long-time boyfriend who has no idea that she turns into a wolf upon occasion). Yeah. Her life is a little complicated. When the Pack Alpha calls her home, Elena has to reconcile the two sides of her nature before the secrets of the Pack are revealed. Seriously, one of my favorite werewolf books. It's dense, well-written, and emotionally wrenching.

-and-

Book #27 - Stolen (Women of the Otherworld #2) by Kelley Armstrong - Picking up roughly a year after Bitten, Elena and Clay have found a balance with each other and they're trying hard to make it work. Following up on a lead which could reveal the secret of the werewolves, Elena comes into contact with two witches who tell her more than she ever imagined regarding other Supernatural races (something the Pack barely knew existed). Elena's investigation leads her to a group of people who kidnap and study Supernaturals to try to learn what makes them different. Now, this book isn't quite as insanely captivating as the first, but it's still good. It moves quickly and it helps define Elena's personality and morals a bit more. Plus, it introduces a whole new level of intrigue by bringing in witches, shamans, demons, and half-demons.

I'm so glad I decided to re-read this series. I love love love those werewolves!

Word has come down from the sis that I'm not needed tomorrow. However, I'll be there on Wednesday for the installing of the new carpet. *sigh* That means that I have to change my hair appointment. Boo. Ehh, not a big deal.

I just realized that it's been a year since my official last day at the bank. Whoa. A year. Nice. It's been the best damn year of my life. I feel like a real person again. The sad news is that it's starting to sink in that I'm probably going to have to start looking for a job soon. Part of me is still rebelling against the thought, but part of me is trying to be a big girl and take it in stride. Even if (fine, when!) I find a job, I'm going to have a long term goal of working for myself. Whether it's as a writer or whatever. It's what I want. I think I could be a full-time blogger. Yes? Yes. Seriously, though, I still want to write like WHOA! Even on the days that the muse is fighting me tooth and nail I want to be a writer.

So now I have a goal.

Excellent.

Done now. I have things to do. Or something.
Later.

I think my darling boy is all set for school tomorrow. His lunch has been made. His backpack is packed with LOTS of school-related goodies. His clothes have been picked out. We went by the school today so I could show him where his classroom is. Normally, we'd just go find out where he had to line up on the playground, but since he does safety patrol in the morning (he holds the stop sign for kids to cross the street) he won't be lining up with the rest of the class. He goes straight to class after dropping off all his safety gear. So. I think he's ready.

I know I am. I'm so tired of how much Hailey and Cole have been fighting lately. So.Tired.Of.It.

Okay. I'm going to watch Total Recall with the boy. One last summer movie.
Later!

I stayed up too late last night. I had a hard time waking up this morning. Boo. But I did finish my book.

Book #60 - Paths not Taken by Simon R. Green - 5th in the Nightside series. I really like how things that were set up in the first book are coming around and being addressed now. Defining moments are happening - Things that shaped the Nightside and John Taylor and his mother are in the middle of all of it. That sort of plotting makes my writer's heart sing. So, John goes back to the beginnings of the Nightside to see why it was created. Mayhem happens between here and there.

Cole's not feeling great this morning. He took a bath (of his own accord!) and now he's lounging around. It's foggy and murky outside. My favorite type of weather. I think we're going to have a slow and easy day inside. I might go to the library. Hailey got in trouble last night for not listening so she can't go with me. It's the ultimate punishment - no library time! Woe! What can I say? She loves the library.

Bailey's watching Animal Planet right now. She loves the dogs on it. Hilarious! Sometimes she barks at them. It's the funniest thing. She has also chewed up a toy I bought her. Completely destroyed it. It's in pieces with all the stuffing pulled out. Nice.

Wow, the kids are (momentarily) not trying to kill one another. I almost don't know what to do. School starts in 3 weeks and it's about time. How did my mom handle it when my sisters and I were out of school for nearly 3 months back in the day? Plus, she did at-home daycare for other kids. We'd be crawling with kids left and right. How? How did she handle it? She must be acres more patient than I am.

Hmm. I think that's all I have to say.
Later.

I've been marathoning Star Trek Enterprise over the last week or so. However, I had to seriously slow down on the number of episodes I was going through so my season 1 dl could catch up. Fortunately, I have all eps now and can continue with my hardcore marathon. Word.

Random Disney stuff that I have to share: Heather, Hailey, Amber and Phil are in Orlando doing a whirlwind tour of all the Disney World ... lands ... or whatever you call them. So, today they were standing in line to get into Epcot and some officials came over to them, looked at Hailey in her cute Tinkerbell hat and made the four of them the VIP Family of the Day. Isn't that just neat? They got to get into the park early and take pictures with all the characters and go on some of the rides before the park opened. They also got VIP seating for the fireworks and some random fast passes.

Dudes. Stuff like that always happens to Amber. She shows up places and people want to give her things. I told Cole that next time we go to Disneyland we're taking her with us. Free stuff, you can't hide from me!!!

Okay. Time to get back to STE!
Later!

Cole has just been invited to spend a couple of days in Tahoe. Starting tomorrow. *blink* Didn't he just get back from time away from me? Darn kids today with all their socializing and being friendly and not shutting themselves into their houses.

That means that tomorrow after Cole leaves I'll have no kids here! NO KIDS! Hailey's spending the night at her other grandma's house and doing fun stuff with them all day tomorrow. I think that means that I can do whatever I want. Within reason. I still have to make sure the dog takes walkies and stuff. I don't want any messes on the floor.

Speaking of which, we took Bailey to the dog park today and she had the best time. Sometimes when she runs, she looks like a wild wolverine. It cracks me up. Anyway, she ran like a little possessed ball of black fur. It was crazy funny. We did have to give her a bath after her fun simply because she was rolling around in the dirt until she was covered in it. I draw the line at letting the dog sleep on my bed covered in dirt that's been pooped on.

I'm pretty much tapped at this point.
Later.

It's official. The kids are out of school for the summer. Awesome! Cole made gold honor roll for getting straight A's! Yay!. He also got an award for making the honor roll every trimester! Double yay!

I'm working my way through the original Star Trek movies. I'm having a really good time so far. Although I am skipping around, so that may have something to do with it.

Question: From most favorite to least, how would you rate the original six Star Trek movies? I'd say ... Wrath of Khan (2), The Voyage Home (4), The Undiscovered Country (6), The Motion Picture (1), Search for Spock (3), and The Final Frontier (5). However, all those are trumped by the newest incarnation. STAR TREK 2009! Woot!

Cole should be home any minute from dinner with his dad.

I'm out!

I just found out via Felicia Day @ Twitter that David Eddings passed away today. *sigh* It makes me want to re-read the Belgariad and Mallorean series. Even though I read both series last year.

On a happier subject, Hailey had her Kindergarten graduation today. It was really cute. They performed all the songs that they had learned throughout the year. Hailey was a witch in a hat in one of the songs. HILARIOUS!

Two more days of school for the kiddies and then I'm stuck with them the entire summer. Woe!

I did almost nothing on my list today. Nothing. Although I do consider cleaning out Cole's backpack to be a major accomplishment. It's just that it wasn't on the list. My GODS! Do you know how much stuff the kids bring home at the end of the year? Cole's backpack weighed approximately 1700 pounds. It was heavy.

In other news, I've watched First Contact, Insurrection and part of Nemesis since seeing the most AWESOME Star Trek.

I'm off.

Umm ...

Book #39 - Sail by James Patterson - My mom and my sister raved about this book. Raved about it. So I was all, okay! I'll read it! I'm not saying the book was bad, but it didn't live up the expectations I was given. As with all James Patterson books, there was death. There was intrigue. There was double-crossing. To be honest, although I enjoyed the book as a light read (3-4 hours, tops!), it didn't hold a candle to several of the really good books I've read lately. Namely, The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie and The Giver. Even Breaking Dawn - and that was more in the line of pure entertainment and some chaste sex. So, there.

Okay. I have this idea that I want to implement on my Blu-Ray web pages but I keep getting distracted by how time-consuming I think it will be. Which is stupid because I have nothing but time right now. Not so much when the kids are out of school at the end of next week. I should really take advantage of this. And yet... I don't. Lame.

I'm going to go harass Hailey now. :)

Hey! I just drank a big, fat mug of coffee. I'm not planning on being up all night! I swear it! Ahahahahahaha! I want to see Star Trek but Cole's leaning toward Wolverine. I want to see Wolverine, but not now. Maybe when it comes out on DVD. ST, however ... Word. I'm not even sure why I'm thinking about this RIGHT NOW. Weird.

I helped out in Cole's classroom this morning for Pioneer Day. I was the serving wench in the saloon. That might not sound kid friendly, but it was. The kids played 21 and whenever they won they got a bead. They could bring the bead to me (the serving wench) for root beer and pretzels. I was impressed that it was making the kids add in their heads quickly to see what their cards added up to. Hailey helped me pass out the pretzels.

I was fiddling with my bookcase again. I've been wanting to pull my snow globes out of storage and get them put up, but I wasn't quite sure where. Since I'm going through my DVDs and getting rid of some of them, it seemed like a perfect time to reorganize my bookcase, which means that I have room to put them out. That made sense in my head. It also made sense while I was doing it. Anyway. It looks good. As a plus, I have wiggle room for when I buy more books. Shift books a-e to the right, move snow globe up one level and there's plenty of room for NEW BOOKS! Yay!

In other news ... no, wait. There is no other news. Someone (namely iron_knife) doesn't return messages and I don't want to seem like too crazy a stalker so I only left one. *ahem* Hope you're doing fine and haven't been abducted by aliens. Again. If you have, I hope they don't probe too deeply. Or remove any organs. That's never fun.

The kids are out of school the beginning of June. At first I was going to put Cole into part-time daycare so he wouldn't get burnt out by staying home with me (I HATE IT when he says he's bored all the time) but I just can't justify to myself spending the money when I'm home anyway. So, I'm compiling a list of places to go and things to do that cost little to no money. I think we're going to be spending a lot of time walking the dog and swimming at the pool. I'm also looking into places we can go for easy day hikes that are close by. My next task is to see if the library has any reading days or fun activities that we can get involved in. Oh, and getting library cards for all of us. I haven't got around to that since we moved. Oops.

Okay. I think I can go start Fringe now. Hopefully I'll be able to skip past most of the commercials. And not listen to any American Idol.

Later!

If you can believe this, I've cleaned my bathroom twice in the last 4 days. Yeah. I never do that. But I have to test out the cleaning products I'm making and it just seems easy to test it out on my bathroom. you know, because it's RIGHT THERE. So, I have a super clean bathroom.

Randomly, H is planning a trip to Disneyworld at the end of June/beginning of July. I've decided to pass on that trip. Partially because I'm not technically working at the moment and hence am not making any money and partially because OMG! HOW FREAKING HOT IS IT GOING TO BE??? I'm thinking of going to Disneyland in December when Cole's on vacation. That sounds so much more refreshing.

I think I might make cinnamon rolls tomorrow. I have the ingredients. I have the time. I can do it.

That's about all there is today.
Cole and I play pogo every day. It makes my hands hurt. But I still do it. Because that's what a mom does. Word.

I'm out.