James Patterson Reading Challenge 2011

I found this really cool blog, called Socrates Book Review Blog.  The host, Yvonne, puts up different reading challenges.  I signed up for the James Patterson Reading Challenge II, because I love James Patterson (and his various co-authors) and he has about a bazillion books published!.  I signed up for the Level 3 which is 10+ books.  I get to count the 3 James Patterson books  I've read in the last 3 months of 2010, since this challenge is from September 2010 to August 2011. 


You can check her out, and maybe there will be a reading challenge that you like!  


Here are some of the other challenges she's offering right now:


The Harlequin/Silhoutte Challenge


The Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge


Cruisin' Thru The Cozies Reading Challenge


Alex Cross Reading Challenge


What An Animal III Reading Challenge


Simply click on any of the links above to see what the challenges are about.  If you see something you like, join in!!


**note:  The Alex Cross Challenge is a cross-over to the James Patterson Challenge because James Patterson writes the Alex Cross series of novels.  You can get double credit if you sign up for both!!**


I've only signed up for the one challenge because I'm not a bog fan of romance novels or vampire novels.  I've already ready all of the Alex Cross books, and I don't think I have any of the kinds of mysteries that the Cozy challenge entails on my reading list.  I did, however sign up for a Nicolas Sparks Book Challenge and the Outdo Yourself Challenge (which challenges you to read more books in 2011 than you did in 2010)  Links on my sidebar!


Happy reading everyone, and good luck if you sign up for a challenge!

Six Word Saturday

I'm really enjoying my lazy staycation!

Want to try your own Six Word Saturday? Go see Cate at Show My Face and link up!

Joanie's Reading Challenge: Keeping Track Here

Last year, 2010, I read 64 books.  I'd love to get to 100 books in 2011!  We shall see!   I'll be keeping track of the books I've read right here!

 1. Eleven On Top by Janet Evanovich (audio book)

 2. Look Again by Lisa Scottoline (Kindle)

 3. Skipping A Beat by Sarah Pekkanen (print book)

 4. True Believer by Nicholas Sparks (audio book)
 5. The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks (Print book)
 6. To Speak For The Dead by Paul Levine (Kindle)
 7. Swimsuit by James Patterson  and Maxine Paetro (audio book)
 8.  Twelve Sharp by Janet Evanovich (audio book)
 9. At First Sight by Nicholas Sparks (audio book)
10. The Quickie by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge (audio book)
11. The Island: A Novel by Elin Hilderbrand (Kindle)
12. Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich (audio book)
13. The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson (audio book)
14. The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown (Kindle)
15. Why My Third Husband Will Be A Dog by Lisa Scottoline (print book)

16. Dear John by Nicholas Sparks (audio book)

17. Sail by James Patterson and Howard Roughan (audio book)

18. Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich (audio book)
19. The Bone Garden by Tess Gerritsen (audio book)
20. Port Mortuary by Patricia Cornwell (audio book)
21. Night Vision by Paul Levine (Kindle)
22. Finger Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich (audio book)
23. Sizzlin' Sixteen by Janet Evanovich (audio book)
24. Tick Tock by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge (audio book)
25. Close Relations by Susan Isaacs (Kindle)
26. The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson (audio book)
27. The Blue Zone by Andrew Gross (Kindle)
28. Nights in Rodanthe by Nicholas Sparks (audio book) 
29. Life's A Beach by Claire Cook (Kindle)
30. Judge and Jury by James Patterson and Andrew Gross (audio book)
31. Smokin' Seventeen by Janet Evanovich (audio book) 
32. 10th Anniversary by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro (audio book)
33. False Dawn by Paul Levine (Kindle)
34. Silver Girl by Elin Hilderbrand (Kindle)
35. Best Kept Secret by Amy Hatvany (Kindle)
36. Ready To Fall by Claire Cook (Kindle)
37. The Beach House by Jane Green (Kindle)
38. The Help by Kathryn Stockett (audio book)
39. The Choice by Nicholas Sparks (audio book)
40. The Dark Tide by Andrew Gross (Kindle)
41. Heat Wave: A Novel by Nancy Thayer (audio book)
42. Don't Blink by James Patterson and Howard Roughan (audio book)
43. Then Came You by Jennifer Weiner (Kindle)
44. The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks (audio book)
45. Mortal Sin by Paul Levine (Kindle)
46. The Postcard Killers by James Patterson and Liza Marklund (audio book)

Want to get in on the fun?  Go visit The Book Vixen and sign up!

Dear So and So: Going Postal... and other fun stuff

Yay!!  It's Friday!  Time to get some stuff off my chest!!  It's also Follow Friday, 40 and over!


Dear Ex-husband,
While it was very nice of you to be concerned that I might be having a heart attack when my phone accidentally pocket-dialed your phone and you heard background noises but no talking from me, you really must know that you are probably the LAST person I'd call in a medical emergency.  Frankly, I'd leave that up to my kids to inform you, if they chose to do so.


Get over yourself,
The one you let get away

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Asswipe who works at the Post Office,

Was it really necessary to get all dramatic in front of other customers when I had to go back to your Post Office because my daughter gave me the wrong address to send her package?  I was gone for 15 minutes, for Pete's sake! AND I apologized!    And "all the paperwork" that was required to be filled out was done by ME, not YOU, asswipe!  I even stepped aside to let others go in front of me, so I wasn't holding them up.  You really didn't need to mutter that the changes had to be done anyway!  You wouldn't know courtesy if it bit you in the ass!

Lucky I didn't "go postal" on you,

your favorite customer on Tuesday

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Dear Walmart,

Thanks for the new glasses!  I love them!  You were far more reasonable, financially, than my other eye doctor!  And thanks for suggesting I use my AARP membership!  That knocked $132 off the cost of the glasses!!  And Leo was awesome at helping me choose the right frames!   I'll definitely be a returning customer and will recommend you to everyone!

Happy happy happy,

A very satisfied customer

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Dear Trey,

OK, 2 weeks ago, you were my hero.  Now when the hell are you coming back to fix the leaky water heater and to make sure my water stays hot?  Hmmmm???  I have to hit the reset button whenever I need hot water.  I sure hope this isn't one of those "you get what you pay for" times.  And if you need to buy a part because you did something to make it not work, YOU are paying for it, not me.

Thinking of divorce,

"Aunt" Joanie

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Dear Snow,

Thanks for stopping after only a few hours.  Now John can still come to my house tonight, as planned!  It looks so pretty when I look out my window, especially since I know I don't have to drive in you!  Oh!  And it really isn't necessary for you to make another appearance early on Tuesday, my first day back to work.  Feel free to arrive anytime after 4 pm ET.  I'll be home by then.

Love you when I'm safely at home,

Joanie

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Dear Friends,
If you like Dear So and So, and want to give it a try, just pop over to Kat's Place at Three Bedroom Bungalow, hook up with her Linky and add your own!  It's a great way to blow off steam, and you can read lots of other letters!

Love,

Joanie

Ollie, Ollie, Oxen Free!!

This is Tucker, Tim 's cat, attempting to hide.  I think he's part ostrich.

One Word Wednesday: Balance

Balance

Our word this week is Balance.  It took me some time to come up with something for this word.  Then someone was talking about their father suffering from Vertigo, an Inner Ear problem and I had my story!

A few years ago, I rolled over in bed and the entire room starting spinning like I had drunk way to much alcohol! (remember the spins when you closed your eyes after getting totally drunk?  No?  Well, it ain't fun!)  I thought my blood pressure was too high because I had run out of my prescription and didn't renew it for a while.  

I had a hard time with my balance at times because if I turned my head too fast, the spinning would start and my balance was off like I was drunk!

So I broke down and called my doctor for an appointment.  I told him what was going on.  Dr. R thought he was a comedian (he did have a great but weird sense of humor).  Dr. R had me lie down on the examining table, with my feet at the head of the table and my head at the foot.  My head was hanging off the end of the head and resting in his hands.  He turned my head one way and I was fine.  Then he turned my head the other way and the whole room was spinning!!!

He explained to me that in your inner ear, there are these little "stones" or crystals, and sometimes a few get knocked out of whack.  Your inner ear is trying to get them back into place and this causes the dizziness.  

So basically, my doctor told me I had rocks in my head, but he said everyone has them.  (yuck, yuck!!)  He gave me a prescription for something like Benadryl, which made me sleepy, so I only took it at night.

I told my doctor I was afraid the dizziness was from my blood pressure from being too high and he said, "Nope!  It's all in your head!"

See?  I told you he was a comedian!!!!  Unfortunately, not long after, he moved his practice to another state that has better insurance rates for doctors than Pennsylvania does.

So every now and then, my vertigo kicks up and my balance is off again, especially if I turn my head too fast or try to lay a certain way in bed and the room takes me on a ride that turns my stomach!

Jill, at Jillsy Girl is the host of One Word Wednesday.  Every week, she gives us a word to blog.  We can write a story, post a picture, a poem, a song.  Whatever we want!  Check her out!!  You can also see what everyone else is blogging about too.

Random Tuesday Thoughts: Vacation Plans

I'm on vacation!!  Our work week goes from Tuesday to Monday, so today is the first day of my vacation!


My plans for vacations?  To do as little as possible!


I do have a few things I HAVE to do. 


I have to pick up my new glasses from Walmart so I can see clearly again.
I have to make a deposit at the bank (first thing on Tuesday)  so my Verizon Wireless payment doesn't bounce.
I have to go to John's and have sex and spend time with him.
I have to mail my daughter's retainers to her at school because she left them in my bathroom.
I have to try to sleep as late as possible every day.
I have to finish watching all the seasons of NCIS.  Then start on Northern Exposure.
I have to catch up on all my blog reading and commenting.


Speaking of work, I work at TGI Fridays.  Our restaurant is part of a 7 store franchise.  A company from California  is coming in and buying up 5 of the stores, ours included.  They are supposed to be taking over in mid-to-late January.  Which is why I'm on vacation this week.  I'm entitled to 3 weeks paid vacation.  My anniversary date is February 11. I still had 1 week of vacation coming to me.  I'll be working for the company for 8 years now.  I'm not sure if I'll still be getting 3 weeks paid vacation after they take over.  Could be new company, new rules.  I sure hope I don't lose my 8  years of seniority!!!  We all have to take our food tests again.  Since I'm the trainer and I give the test, I BETTER pass it!!  I'm sure there will be a few co-workers who might be out of a job once these tests are given!  The managers all had to submit resumes.  Their jobs are not automatically guaranteed!  Yikes!!


I really need to get back on my Nutrisystem plan.  I was doing really well for a while.  Then I got lazy about prepping my food every day.  And I stopped.  And I gained back the 15 pounds I lost.    I have 2 months of Nutrisystem food in my pantry.  I had a new shipment ready to be delivered on the 5th of January.  I called them and delayed it until March.


I've inherited my mother's restless leg syndrome.  Great.  My legs "wake up" as the rest of me gets tired.  Like right now.  I'm tired.  It's around midnight.  And now  I'm sitting here, jiggling my legs, trying to get the "crawlies" to stop inside my legs.  If anyone has any suggestions that don't require prescription meds, I'm all ears!

Okay, I'm adding a teeny little pet peeve here.  I understand using word verification to prevent spammers from clogging up our blogs.  I use word verification too.  What is beginning to tick me off are when I type my comment and click submit, it goes to the original blog page.  I click off the page because I'm finished with that blog for the time being and just as it's disappearing, the word verification pops up!  Then I have to go back in and re-type my comment!!!  It's not bad if it's just a few words, but sometimes one can get wordy and to have to retype a whole paragraph is annoying!  Ok, that's it. I've said my peace.   uh..... mine doesn't do that.... does it???


Keely  is the host for Random Tuesday Thoughts.  Go check her out at The Un Mom for lots more fun Randomness!! 

Monday's Music Moves Me

Amanda at Bloggin’ with Amanda hosts Musical Monday – What Move’s You?. You can get the instructions by clicking here.

Lorie at The Shrewbridges of Celebration, FL told me about Monday's Music Moves Me, so here's another cool music blog meme to do!


This week we had to choose a new song we've heard to start off the new year.


My song this week is Secrets by One Republic.  I just love the cello intro of this song!!!  I hope you enjoy it!

Congrats to Peggy and Madeleine on the Spotlight Dance!

500 and counting!

I realized today that I had passed the 500 post mark on my blog!  It happened on New Year's Eve, when I was trying to make up posts for the couple I missed in the previous days!  Thanks for hanging in with me!!

Six Word Saturday

Happy New Year!  Boy!  I'm tired!



Want to try your own Six Word Saturday? Go see Cate at Show My Face and link up!