Wednesday, January 30, 2013

URGENT WARNING: SAFETY FIRST! Gas meters, ANYTHING involving Natural Gas outside AND inside your home! An EMERGENCY happened to us last night! PLEASE READ!

URGENT - PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE READ!
Just below this photo is EXTREMELY important information for you to know about. PLEASE read it! Also, NOT MENTIONED is the fact of extreme temperature changes, from freezing to a thaw in less than a few hours. PLEASE read this below, and then read what happened to us last night. I feel this VERY IMPORTANT AND WANT TO SHARE THIS WITH YOU!


COPIED AND PASTED from my Utility Company and further down there is MORE information like this from another Utility company that explains MORE DETAIL as to "What do I do after I smell the gas and called the Utility Company?" IMO, "my" Utility Company STINKS with their directions, especially when you compare this information with the information I have listed for you below from a different company! We should have been told to LEAVE! That is how strong the odor was AND I had a headache already. Here is what MY Utility Company says to do:

Natural gas meters and pressure regulators are designed to withstand extreme outdoor weather conditions, but did you know that snow and ice build-up can damage them? 

If you find your meter or pressure regulator covered in frozen ice or snow, do not attempt to remove the ice or use de-icer. Contact SEMCO ENERGY Gas Company, toll free, at


Now, this is what happened to us:

First, let me tell you last week our battery died in our Carbon Monoxide Detector, and on Saturday when my husband does the grocery shopping (No, "I" cannot do it due to my disability.) he and I BOTH forgot to write "BATTERY" on the grocery list! We did NOT replace the battery, and SHOULD HAVE IMMEDIATELY! FOR REASONS YOU WILL READ ABOUT HERE:  

MAY I INSIST YOU DO THE FOLLOWING IF:
YOUR BATTERY DIES IN A SMOKE ALARM, A CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTOR, OR "WHATEVER" TYPE OF ALARM THAT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE,HAPPENS TO DIE: 
IMMEDIATELY DROP WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND GO TO THE STORE THAT MINUTE! DO NOT WAIT! DO NOT PUT IT OFF UNTIL TOMORROW, OR THE WEEKEND -  
"GO" NOW! BUY THE BATTERY "NOW!" 

Why am I saying this?
IT HAPPENED TO US! WE WAITED! "WE" COULD HAVE BEEN AN 'ALMOST'! WE HAD A GAS LEAK! Even though the leak occurred outside, the Carbon Monoxide could have built up INSIDE THE HOUSE.

I WANT YOU TO SAVE YOURSELF, SIGNIFICANT OTHER, AND/OR YOUR CHILDREN'S LIVES! EVEN A PET, IF YOU HAVE ONE!
This IS a SERIOUS MATTER! DO NOT WAIT BECAUSE YOU "WILL" FORGET, just like WE DID!
I 'DO' change out our SMOKE DETECTOR batteries every year on my daughter's birthday, BUT, I FORGOT ALL ABOUT THE CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTOR!  I DIDN'T EVEN GIVE IT A THOUGHT! GIVE IT A THOUGHT AND CHANGE THE BATTERY IN THAT, TOO!
So, here's what happened to us:
----
My husband works afternoons and did not happen to get off of work and home until a little after 2:00am. Hubby went to bed about 3:15am. I was still awake, and reading. It was 3:30am and my dog wanted outside. I'm trying to get her to go to sleep instead, as I really did not want to get up as I was nice and cozy, but then I thought how uncomfortable "I" would be if I did not get to use the bathroom before "I" went to bed, and I could NOT do that to my dog!
I let the dog out at 3:30am. I waited for her, as she took a little longer, and I did not know why? I thought that was strange. I opened the door to let her in, and WHOA! I was hit with this powerful smell of NATURAL GAS! My DOG saved our and possibly our neighbors lives as well! Thank GOD my dog HAD to go out!
I happen to be very sensitive to the smell of natural gas, or the odor that is added to it by the Gas Company. It has been known to happen that people 'have asked ME' to take a whiff if they think they have a gas leak to see what I think. I have NEVER been wrong! I was NOT wrong last night, either. I closed the door to the house, and sat back down for a few minutes. I thought just in case it's some other odor . . . maybe sewer, as it had started raining pretty good a little earlier. I opened the door again a few minutes later, all the way open. I was NOT mistaken. It WAS natural gas.
I immediately started getting a headache. I came back in the house and pulled up my Utility Company online, called their Emergency number. They were out here in LESS THAN '5' MINUTES!
YES! IT'S "THAT" IMPORTANT!
The man could NOT smell the gas! I could. He eventually found it was 'OUR' meter that was in the back of the house in a corner I could never have gotten  to if I tried. I'm in a wheelchair, and I would have gotten stuck as the ground was practically flooded from all the rain and the melted snow.
What happened? Due to erratic temperatures, freezing, thawing, freezing, thawing, and it also being in direct sunlight, time made some of the pieces wear out. Some part just below the area where the gas comes in through my meter, the seal wore out. (I'm supposedly NOT to be charged for that gas?) It filled the neighborhood with gas. Our house, the neighbor next to me and behind us.
What 'could' have happened, I wondered? I knew it would not have been good, and the man on the telephone when I called was concerned about my headache, but I couldn't go outside, so . . . today I Googled to find out what 'could' have happened had I NOT BEEN AWAKE AT THAT TIME! (Thank GOD I WAS AWAKE!) Here is what I found, and it was MUCH MORE INFORMATIVE than what I found at my own Utility!
The following is COPIED AND PASTED from Consumer's Energy:


The 3 Rs of Natural Gas Safety

If you think you have a natural gas emergency, go to a safe location. Then call Consumers Energy toll-free at . It is important that you call -- DO NOT E-MAIL -- and report the emergency. Feel free to print this page and leave it with your emergency numbers in case you have a gas emergency.
Knowing how to recognize, react to and report natural gas emergencies can eliminate or minimize their consequences.

Recognize

Signs of a natural gas leak include:
  • A "rotten egg" odor
  • A blowing or hissing sound
  • Dead or discolored vegetation in an otherwise green area
  • Flames, if a leak has ignited
  • Dirt or dust blowing from a hole in the ground
  • Bubbling in wet or flooded areas

React

If you suspect a natural gas leak, follow these steps:
  • Leave the area immediately and call us at , then follow our instructions
  • Do not use any electrical device, such as light switches, telephones or appliances such as garage door openers. They could spark and ignite the gas.
  • Do not use an open flame, matches or lighters
  • Do not try to locate the source of the gas leak
  • Do not try to shut off any gas valves or appliances
  • Do not start vehicles
  • Do not re-enter the building or return to the area until a Consumers Energy employee says it's safe to do so
  • If the natural gas ignites, let it burn. Do not put out the flame; burning gas will not explode.
  • If you are digging and think you may have damaged a natural gas pipeline, leave the area immediately. If you are using motorized equipment and can turn off the motor safely, do so to prevent the ignition of any leaking gas. Then abandon the equipment and leave the area. Never restart equipment until the surrounding environment has been checked and declared safe.

Report

It is important that you call about natural gas emergencies. Do not e-mail us.
  • If you think you have a natural gas emergency, go to a safe location. Then call Consumers Energy toll-free at 
  • If you see unusual activity near a natural gas pipeline or facility, call us immediately at 
Calls can be made 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We will respond promptly and at no charge.

Help prevent a gas emergency in your home with these safety tips: 

  • Natural gas lines should not be installed from the meter to any other buildings in which people live
  • No building or other structure may be built over any natural gas pipeline
  • Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions in operating and caring for natural gas appliances, and use each appliance for its intended purpose
  • Never use gasoline or other flammable liquids indoors or in the same room or area as a gas appliance or other ignition source
  • After a flood or other disaster, check for the odor of gas before entering any area.  If gas is detected, leave the area immediately and call   Replace any appliance submerged in water
  • Ensure fuel-burning appliances are installed, used and maintained properly and safely.  Hire a qualified technician to inspect heating and venting equipment annually, and use a carbon monoxide alarm that meets current standards.
  • Use a broom to keep gas meters, pipes and other service equipment clear in winter.  Gas-appliance chimneys and vents must be cleared after snow and ice storms to ensure proper venting and prevent carbon monoxide accumulation.
  • Ensure gas space heaters are installed by a qualified professional and used and maintained properly
  • Don’t use fuel lines for storage. Heavy coats or other items hanging from a fuel line (often located near the ceiling in basements) can stress the joints in the pipe and cause gas leaks. Don't allow children to swing on the pipes, either
  • Set your water heater temperature to 120 degrees or lower.  Check the water temperature before placing a child in the bathtub, and never leave a child alone or with other young children in the bathtub.
  • Replace flexible connectors. Cracks can form and cause serious gas leaks in these flexible pipes that attach appliances to fuel lines. Limit the number of times you move natural gas appliances, and replace flexible connectors at least every 10 years with an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) approved model.
Again, PLEASE DROP WHAT YOU ARE DOING THE MINUTE THAT ALARM STARTS BEEPING THAT THE BATTERY IS DEAD! DON'T WAIT! "WE" COULD HAVE BEEN A CATASTROPHE!

I want to THANK Consumer's Energy for having SO MUCH MORE DETAILED INFORMATION than what my OWN Utility Company had for me!

Everything ended well! The Gas Technician got finished at 5:30am, and my husband got to bed by 6:00am! I felt WIDE AWAKE! I paid for it later at about 3:00pm! I napped for a few hours! I don't even remember falling asleep!

REMEMBER: Pick a certain day EACH YEAR TO REPLACE ALL THE BATTERIES IN YOUR SMOKE ALARMS, AND DON'T FORGET THOSE CARBON DIOXIDE METERS, TOO! EVEN IF THEY PLUG INTO THE WALL LIKE OURS DOES! OURS WILL "NOT WORK" UNLESS THEIR IS A WORKING BACK-UP BATTERY IN IT! Those are SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE IN YOUR HOME! This is another thing that can happen while you are sleeping in which you may never wake up from.

AGAIN, PLEASE TAKE THIS ADVICE TO HEART!
SAFETY "FIRST" FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!

See you next time under SAFE CONDITIONS!

Monday, January 28, 2013

UPDATE TO THE NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER LIST FOR "EBOOKS ONLY!", as I do the COMBINED LIST! You NEED to see this!


URGENT UPDATE!

On Saturday evening when I was writing the New York Times Best Seller list, I always use the COMBINED PRINT AND EBOOK Fiction List. What I do NOT READ are 'just' the Print and Ebook lists, separately. This time I did, and . . .
Guess WHO is #1 in ebooks?
+Colleen Hoover for "HOPELESS"!!!! HOORAY!!!



I wanted to share this with ALL of you as I always do the COMBINED Print and Ebook Fiction List and not separate Print Books and Ebooks! (I would be typing ALL day if I did all 3 separately! If I 'could' spend ALL day doing it, I would!)
+Colleen Hoover I am SOOOOO PROUD OF YOU!!! YOU DID IT!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!! ENJOY! WE ALL HAVE!
I hope you ALL got a chance to read this! Those of you 18+! And if not, READ IT! You'll LOVE it!
HOW EXCITING!!!!
Laurie

Wrap-Up Post for the Winters Respite Read-A-Thon! Today, the 27th, completes it.


A HUGE THANK YOU to Michelle at Seasons of Reading! Without YOU, this Read-A-Thon would NOT have been possible! I REALLY appreciate your time you took to Sponsor this event! Again, thank you!

I FAILED!!! 
I did NOT get '1' book read this week! I completed 52% of my Mystery book! That's IT! I'm SO frustrated at this past week and weekend!
You may have read my Update Post I did on Friday here: http://bit.ly/VcTRMj in which I was complaining how my week had gone. Last I left off, my son had come over on Thursday, as they had a snow day. Yep. The school figured since we did get snow (6 inches normally would NOT close the schools unless there was ice involved, too, but they did) that they would cancel the planned 1/2 day on that day since the next day school was closed anyway.
So, my son is 15, which means he is one of those things called "Teenagers". Yes! I know and I apologize to ANY OF YOU who may be one, but I'm a parent of one, which is COMPLETELY DIFFERENT! With him he has ADHD. This makes it doubly difficult. His Dad is GREAT with him and knows how to handle him 'very well', whereas "I" do not catch onto the his little tricks, tactics, and ploys he is SO very good at! (We're talking about "MY" son, and NOT ALL TEENAGERS - I just want to make this clear!)
Let's just say, as a PARENT, I HATE "parenting" the 'teenage years' because of the ATTITUDE that comes with them! I am GLAD I only had 2 children because going through these teenage years TAKES "ALL" I HAVE to do it.  Yes, 1 down, 1 going through 'it'!
So to any of you teenagers out there, it's NOT against you! Plus, if you have a blog, OR are a Reader, you most likely do NOT have that attitude I'm talking about because YOU ARE "MUCH" MORE MATURE than the average teen, GUARANTEED! For instance, neither of my kids read much at all, nor will they. My son won't TOUCH a book! I've also mentioned this in a few posts I've done in the past as it drives me crazy! I try, and try, and try! NOPE! UGH!!!
Since I have this neuro muscle disease, which I told you about in my first post http://bit.ly/SZbyCa, it does make parenting "triply" hard for me to be able to do things physically, and also why my kids need to live with their dad. It KILLS my heart sometimes, but . . . it's LIFE! (That word again! UGH!)
I even got this wrap-up post done late! I started late Sunday afternoon at about 6:00pm, but when my husband drove my son home, (I can't drive due to this neuro disease) I fell asleep! I was EXHAUSTED! I didn't wake up until about 5:30 this morning!
So I still had fun this week, regardless! There are a few things I learned by doing this Read-A-Thon, too! GOOD things about myself! (See last post, and more here, too!) When I signed up for this, since then I made SURE I planned NOTHING for this week blog-wise! I succeeded, except for 1 post. What I did not plan for was "LIFE"! NONE of us can do that part anyway. TRY as we might, life has a way of it's own! That's another lesson learned, over and over, again and again, regardless of age! LOL!
So I ask myself did I REALLY accomplish ANYTHING this week besides the 52% of reading? YES, I DID! You know there is a saying which I'm going to change the words to, "Life happens!"
I do plan on continuing this Read-A-Thon myself this week as well! I'm not going to be SO strict with myself, though, this time! LOL!
HUGE thanks to Michelle at The True Book Addict and at Seasons of Reading for being such a sweetie! We talked via email, and she's TRULY a GREAT person! You MUST visit her blogs, and she has a LOT of them! She TRULY LOVES BOOKS and is also one heck of a GREAT HOST, TOO! Michelle, THANK YOU SO MUCH for hosting this event! Without you, this would NOT be possible!
I still had a GREAT time, regardless of the events of this week! I can't wait to participate in the next one!

Saturday, January 26, 2013

The New York Times Top 15 Best Sellers for the week ending January 26th, 2013!

Welcome! Happy Sunday everyone! Post is up by NOON every Sunday! Hope you ALL had a GREAT week, and have a GREAT rest of the weekend! Looking forward to the books today! Here we go right to them!

FICTION - PRINT AND EBOOK COMBINED

1. Safe Haven by +Nicholas Sparks 
Print Book: $10.19
Ebook:        $  6.64
 
2. Hopeless by +Colleen Hoover 
Ebook format only: $3.99

 

3. Gone Girl: A Novel by +Gillian Flynn 
Print Book: $13.75
Ebook:        $12.99

 

4. The Fifth Assassin by +Brad Meltzer 
Print Book: $14.88
Ebook:        $12.74

 

5. Fifty Shades of Grey: Book One of the Fifty Shades Trilogy by +E L James 
Print Book: $8.77
Ebook:        $9.99

 

 6. Someone to Love by +Addison Moore Ebook format only: $0.99

 

7. Fifty Shades Freed: Book Three of the Fifty Shades Trilogy by +E L James 
Print Book: $8.77
Ebook:        $9.99

 

8. Fifty Shades Darker: Book Two of the Fifty Shades Trilogy by +E L James 
Print Book: $8.77
Ebook:        $9.99

 

9. The Forgotten by +David Baldacci 
Print Book: $17.75
Ebook:        $  9.99

 

10. A Memory of Light (Wheel of Time) by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
Print Book: $19.24
I see NO Ebook.

 

11. The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden by Jessica Sorenson
Ebook format only: $0.99

 

12. The Third Bullet: A Bob Lee Swagger Novel by Stephen Hunter
Print Book: $15.75
Ebook:        $  9.99

 

13. The Racketeer by +John Grisham  
Print Book: $15.83
Ebook:        $12.99

 

14. The Devil Colony: A Sigma Force Novel by +James Rollins 
Print Book: $11.20
Ebook:        $  1.99

 

15. Life of Pi by Yann Martel
Print Book: $9.56
Ebook:        $8.63

 

What are you reading this week? Any of these Best Sellers? If so, leave a comment! Right now I can't say what I'm reading! Secret! Eventually I'll be able to share it with you! See you next week!
Laurie

Friday, January 25, 2013

Winter's Respite Read-A-Thon UPDATE!

GIVEAWAYS GOING ON STILL
CLICK ON THE WORDS AND IT WILL TAKE YOU THERE! Watch the DATES! Good Luck!






A Winter's Respite Read-A-Thon! NOW to Sunday, 1-27-13!


Hello everyone! Thought I would give you all an update as to how I'm doing with my Read-A-Thon!
I STINK! Come on over and read how my week has gone!

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday I did not feel well.
Tuesday: Exciting day! First, the Dentist - YUCK!
After that, I went for my Allergy shot, and ALL I did the REST of the DAY was SLEEP!
BUT, I also got my NEW GLASSES, too!!! WOO-HOO!!! I LOVE THEM!!! They are BEAUTIFUL!!!! Wow! Was I BLIND!!! I could NOT see!!! These are AWESOME!!! I can SEE now!!!! I was having a problem with distance for the FIRST TIME! Not anymore! Also, my bi-focal strength was increased! It took a few days to get used to these new lenses, but I quickly adapted! I LOVE being able to see! (Duh, doesn't everyone?! LOL!!!)
I also have a blind spot in my left eye. I've had it all checked out, and found out I have a crooked Optic Nerve! That started in July as a black spot, and now it has lightened up to a beigey/white spot. I can notice it more in the white shower, or out in the sun, especially against the snow! Wow!
Anyway, ALL this time I've been worrying! I went to one Eye Doctor, which led to another, and another! Finally at the Retina Specialist, he told me my Optic Nerve was crooked. I don't know if this is good or bad? Of course I don't get to see my Opthalmologist for an explanation until September!!! UGH! WHY do they have you see a doctor, then he NEVER explains ANYTHING to you as to WHY you have a blind spot??? Am "I" supposed to be able to figure this out on my own? This is wrong - making you WAIT until your next appointment! I'm complaining! Anyway, since I've had these NEW glasses, the blind spot is NOT as dominant as it was! Wow!! COOL with me!!!
I learned a second thing! When you get a new prescription for glasses, get them! Don't wait! I had this script for about 6 months now, and just didn't take the time to go grab a new pair, nor did I want to spend the $200! Now that I have, these are GREAT! They are a brown frame, and the front corners and side arms have scroll-work, and it looks antique, which I LOVE! They ARE beautiful! Wow! I'm impressed! I go to Shallcross Optical, here in Port Huron. The man who makes the glasses right there IS AWESOME! The wire frame on my glasses snapped last Thursday as I was on my way out the door to go to a Dr appointment! He can WELD MY GLASSES, AND YOU WOULD "NEVER" KNOW IT! He is AMAZING! Honest to God, you can't even SEE the weld!
If I can suggest something. Find a 'glasses store' that MAKES THE GLASSES ON SIGHT! AND "NOT" THOSE PLACES THAT MAKE THEM IN 1 HOUR! When I went there, the Opthalmologist's office could NOT READ MY PRESCRIPTION FROM THE LENSES OF MY GLASSES! NO KIDDING! They were AWFUL! Find a guy who specializes in making glasses! There are a LOT of them out there, the trick is finding them! Once you do, once you get those glasses, you'll see what I'm talking about! There is nothing like them, ever! This place has been in business for 60 years, and his own father taught him HOW to make glasses! He's AMAZING!
So are the two women who work there! We don't even use our insurance there because it costs MORE WITH INSURANCE than it does just to pay cash! I am in LOVE with these *NEW* glasses! Both women who work there are DOLLS, but the one who helped me pick these were the FIRST frame SHE chose for me! I'm SO GLAD she did! At first I was skeptical, because the frame is brown, and I was worried I would feel like I was looking through a box, but nope! It's as if it's my hair! No problem! I had had a silver frame, which I think made me look older as I look at some photos I have. These are AWESOMELY AMAZING!!!! LOVE!!!!
I have double vision. NOT 'one' set, but 'TWO' sets of double vision with shadowing, to be exact! (They cannot correct the shadowing, so the prisms in my glasses cannot correct the shadows from the double vision. It gets quite tricky!) Try waking up OR going without your glasses, and focusing your eyes!! LOLOL!!! You can't! You can try to pick out which '1' object or person of the '4' you are seeing, and none of what you chose is it! LOL! I got this when I got hit with the Neurological Muscle Disease I have, which i mention down below. I don't know if a fall I had caused it or not? I just thought about that because of the crooked Optic Nerve! This disease causes you to fall, and a LOT! My latest was this week, trying to get in the shower! I used my WEAK leg to step in. WHY did I do that? DUMB!! My right leg is my weak leg, and I NEVER use that leg to step in the shower! Why I did that, I cannot even guess but that the water was too hot, and I was trying to add cold and NOT get hit with the HOT water! So I did not get my leg up high enough! When I fall, I tend to go backwards. Thank GOD for the shower curtain! I was lucky, too, because it's only a spring loaded rod!
However, I did learn something about myself that had I NOT done this Read-A-Thon, I would not have noticed these things, especially the allergy shot! When I get my allergy shots, (I called the doctor and asked about this!) my immune system goes a little crazy because it's working overtime from the shot! I NEVER knew that! Interesting! I tried reading a little here and there, and got a little done, but I would fall asleep! UGH!!! Drives me CRAZY when I do that, but, it's out of my control. Since I learned this, now I won't be so hard on myself if that ever happens again! (It has in the past, when I've had days I just cannot stay awake! Between the allergy shot and the neuro muscle disease, well, my immune system goes a little crazy! Who would have EVER thought?!
Okay - the neurological muscle disease I have is called "Stiff Person Syndrome". It makes your muscles go completely rigid/stiff, then they spasm out of control causing muscle spasms throughout your body. PAINFUL!!!  I was suffering from those, too, this week. Heck, I ALWAYS have some sort of spasms going on. The bummer part about that is you NEVER KNOW when this disease is going to hit hard! It hits out of the BLUE! Yes, I had that going on, too. Bummer! Tuesday AND Wednesday were the worst!
Wednesday - Still not feeling well!
Thursday - SURPRISE SNOW DAY!!! My son came over DURING THE DAY!!! Why? School was CANCELLED because of a snow day! WE got MORE snow, Lake Effect snow, than what HE got 2 cities south of here! Turns out they only had a 1/2 day of school anyway, as their marking period was over, so they just called it a Snow Day! RUINED MY READING DAY!!! Although, in weighing what is more important, almost ALWAYS it's our kids, so . . . my son won out!

Friday, TODAY! My son is still here! That's okay! I LOVE the bejeevers out of him! I had NO CLUE he had today OFF and he would be here! He didn't tell me! SURPRISE!!! (I kind of figured when he came over yesterday that he would have today off, but, with him, you never know!) He is 'hanging out' with his buddy, but they keep coming over! Guess what? They FINALLY figured out to TAKE THEIR SHOES OFF before walking on the carpet!!! HOORAY!!!! They just stopped in again to grab a drink. They have Air Soft guns, and go out into the woods and shoot, have war games, etc. They LOVE those Air-Soft guns! They dress up and look like little military men! He was here until this afternoon till about 2:00pm'ish, then headed over to his buddies house. He just lives through the backyards of the few houses across the street. Guess what? I'M READING NOW!!!! That is, until they stop in again! And, HERE THEY ARE!!! Oh, my reading! WHAT reading??? LOL!!!
My son has ADHD and OCD. TRY reading with that around! YOU CAN'T! LOLOL!!! I LOVE my son dearly, but TRY to focus on reading, and it's a NO-GO! He lives with his Dad through the week, and is usually always here on the weekends! I LOVE IT WHEN HE'S HERE!!!! I LOVE HIM DEARLY!!! But trying to read, well, it doesn't happen! Drives me crazy!!! He was even watching something on the Kindle Fire, and STILL TALKING!!! LOL!!!
Well, my husband works Afternoons. He hasn't been getting home until 2:00AM this week! Wow!! It'll be me and the boys tonight!
Time to renew my Netflix account, OR, use Amazon Prime!

So, where AM I on my list? Here is the list below, and I'm SAD to say I'm STILL on book #1!


1.    Mystery Book #1: I am starting off with a title I cannot yet reveal, per the author! This is TOP SECRET! I'm just SO EXCITED about this book!!!! LOVE the author who has written it, too, and can't WAIT to dig in! So, I figure I'll call it "Mystery Book #1" being it's the FIRST book I'm reading!

*****************************************



2.    Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn (I've had this for a while, but ALL of my Review books have prevented me from finishing it! I'm on page 75 or 100? I AM finishing it THIS WEEK! I've been DYING to read it, just DYING! Here's my opportunity!

3.    Material Witness by Vanetta Chapman

4.    Leaves by Michael Baron

5.    Accidentally Amish by Olivia Newport

6.    The Five Most Dangerous Places for Women - From the Files of Linda Fairstein by Linda Fairstein

7.    I'm Too Young To Be This Old by Poppy Smith (I had started this one, an it's a HOOT!)

8.   My Amish Childhood, A True Story of Faith, Family, and the Simple Life by Jerry Eicher

So we'll see how far I get???
Okay - I'm going back to reading! Oh! Dinner tonight will be rice and LaChoy Chop Suey in the can! Does anyone like that as much as I do? I LOVE that stuff!!!! That, I CAN make! Usually I can't stand long enough to cook, but that goes SO FAST! The rice is a breeze to make, and you just warm up the gravy and veggies! LOVE it!

Guess what? I was just in the kitchen, and my husband bought the WRONG ONE!!! HE BOUGHT BEEF! NOT CHICKEN!!! UGH!!!!! NO!!!!!!! I can't drive to go to the store, and I HATE BEEF!!! I HATE ANY MEAT, FOR THAT MATTER!!! But, I CAN LIVE with chicken! Beef! Beef! UGH!!!!! Dinner is ruined!!!!
UGH! What am I to do???

READ!!!!!!! HA!!!!! Cook frozen pizza rolls!!!! LOL!!!

Happy Reading, everyone!


Thursday, January 24, 2013





A Cast of Stones

An Epic Medieval Saga Fantasy Readers Will Love

In the backwater village of Callowford, Errol Stone's search for a drink is interrupted by a church messenger who arrives with urgent missives for the hermit priest in the hills. Desperate for coin, Errol volunteers to deliver them but soon finds himself hunted by deadly assassins. Forced to flee with the priest and a small band of travelers, Errol soon learns he's joined a quest that could change the fate of his kingdom.

Protected for millennia by the heirs of the first king, the kingdom's dynasty is near an end and a new king must be selected. As tension and danger mount, Errol must leave behind his drunkenness and grief, learn to fight, and come to know his God in order to survive a journey to discover his destiny.

EXCERPT:


“What’s your name?”

“Errol Stone.”

The lieutenant nodded. “An orphan. Well, we’ve more than a couple of those in the watch. Why are you here, Errol?”

He looked over at Knarl. “I have a friend here in the watch. This man’s captain wouldn’t send for him, told me the only way I might get to see him was to challenge. So I did.”

Even before he’d finished, the lieutenant was shaking his head. “So you don’t want to be in the watch.”

“No, not really.”

The lieutenant’s face darkened. “Soldier, take this man and escort him firmly out of the barracks.”

Errol broke Knarl’s grip and stepped away. “I came here to see my friend.”

“I don’t care why you’re here,” the lieutenant said. “I don’t have time to spend on some peasant boy who wants to gad about the imperial grounds.” He turned pointing. “You see these men? They’ve taken the black as a pledge to give their lives to protect the king.”

“I know the story of the watch,” Errol said, “but I need to see my friend.”

The lieutenant’s eyes narrowed. “You want to see him? All you have to do is follow through on your challenge. You’ll face five men of the watch. To join our ranks, you have to defeat three of them. If you manage to beat even one of them, boy, I’ll go fetch your friend myself.”

Errol’s heart skipped a pair of beats. The best swordsmen in the kingdom came to the watch.


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Author Patrick W. Carr



Patrick Carr was born on an Air Force base in West Germany at the height of the cold war. He has been told this was not his fault. As an Air Force brat, he experienced a change in locale every three years until his father retired to Tennessee. Patrick saw more of the world on his own through a varied and somewhat eclectic education and work history. He graduated from Georgia Tech in 1984 and has worked as a draftsman at a nuclear plant, did design work for the Air Force, worked for a printing company, and consulted as an engineer. Patrick’s day gig for the last five years has been teaching high school math in Nashville, TN. He currently makes his home in Nashville with his wonderfully patient wife, Mary, and four sons he thinks are amazing: Patrick, Connor, Daniel, and Ethan. Sometime in the future he would like to be a jazz pianist. Patrick thinks writing about himself in the third person is kind of weird.






Blog Tour Giveaway

$10 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 1/31/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.


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Monday, January 21, 2013

A Winter's Respite Read-A-Thon! It's HERE! It's NOW! It's STARTED! YES!


Hello Everyone!
It's started! The Read-A-Thon! Thank you, Michelle at Seasons of Reading!

Okay! Today starts our Read-A-Thon!

We must make a list of books we WILL BE READING! I'm making a list of 8 books. That is QUITE a biteful of books - 2 a day! Wow! However, I 'do' have these to read, and most of them are NetGalley books I just HAD to read! So, here goes for me! "IF" I get them ALL read, I think I'll DIE! I AM making a VERY concentrated effort! I might just be able to read them all, we'll see? It can't ever hurt to reach for the sky because sometimes you just might touch it!

1.    Mystery Book #1: I am starting off with a title I cannot yet reveal, per the author! This is TOP SECRET! I'm just SO EXCITED about this book!!!! LOVE the author who has written it, too, and can't WAIT to dig in! So, I figure I'll call it "Mystery Book #1" being it's the FIRST book I'm reading!

2.    Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn (I've had this for a while, but ALL of my Review books have prevented me from finishing it! I'm on page 75 or 100? I AM finishing it THIS WEEK! I've been DYING to read it, just DYING! Here's my opportunity!

3.    Material Witness by Vanetta Chapman

4.    Leaves by Michael Baron

5.    Accidentally Amish by Olivia Newport

6.    The Five Most Dangerous Places for Women - From the Files of Linda Fairstein by Linda Fairstein

7.    I'm Too Young To Be This Old by Poppy Smith

8.   My Amish Childhood, A True Story of Faith, Family, and the Simple Life by Jerry Eicher

And, here I see I did NOT hit PUBLISH! Well, it's still Monday and I HOPE the link is still open! Wish me luck! 
(Anyone who has Blogger, I never knew this, but if you keep your window open long enough, it closes and has DRAFT next to it! Awful to find out now, but, that's what it does!)

BOOK BLAST! daynight by Megan Thomason $75 Amazon GC Giveaway! Come ENTER!


daynight by Megan Thomason



Meet The Second Chance Institute (SCI): Earth’s benevolent non-profit by day, Thera’s totalitarian regime by night. Their motto: Because Everyone Deserves a Second Chance™. Reality: the SCI subjects Second Chancers to strict controls and politically motivated science experiments like Cleaving—forced lifetime union between two people who have sex.



Meet Kira Donovan. Fiercely loyal, overly optimistic, and ensnared by the promise of a full-ride college scholarship, Kira signs the SCI Recruit contract to escape memories of a tragedy that left her boyfriend and friends dead.



Meet Blake Sundry. Bitter about being raised in Exile and his mother’s death, Blake’s been trained to infiltrate and destroy the SCI. Current barrier to success? His Recruit partner—Miss Goody Two Shoes Kira Donovan.



Meet Ethan Darcton. Born with a defective heart and resulting inferiority complex, Ethan’s forced to do his SCI elite family’s bidding. Cleave-worthy Kira Donovan catches his eye, but the presiding powers give defect-free Blake Sundry first dibs.



Full of competing agendas, romantic entanglements, humor, twists and turns, daynight is Megan Thomason’s debut young adult dystopian novel and first in the daynight series.



daynight will be FREE from Jan 21 - Jan 23




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Praise

“Sure to win over YA readers looking for a dangerous, dystopian adventure story” —Kirkus Reviews


“Gripping young adult dystopian novel; compelling conflicts; high stakes; powerful narrative; surprises keep coming; strong writing; page-turner; engaging characters; Readers will be hungry for the sequels.”—BlueInk Review (starred review)


“The writing is impressive and the story is a real page-turner. So many twists and turns… I’m hooked… I can’t wait for the next installment to come out…4.5 out of 5 stars”—Self-Publishing Review


“Delicious humor, intelligence, and sparkling dialogue” —Amazon reviewer


“Strangely brilliant and imaginative”—Amazon reviewer


“Grips you from the first page and keeps you wanting more”—Amazon reviewer


“Plot twists kept me reading till late at night”—Amazon reviewer


“Every page a thrilling experience”—Amazon reviewer


“Hooked from the first chapter and could not put it down”—Amazon reviewer


“It's like a CW fantasy TV show in a book with a really interesting environment.”—Amazon reviewer


“I'm a little tired of dystopian novels, but Daynight has a unique and fresh story line that didn't have any trouble keeping my interest.”—Amazon reviewer



Author Megan Thomason



Megan Thomason lives in paradise aka San Diego, CA with her husband and five children. A former software manager, Megan vastly prefers writing twisted tales to business, product, and marketing plans. When she isn't typing away on her laptop, she's reading books on her phone—over 600 in the last year—or attending to the needs of her family. Megan’s fluent in sarcasm, could potentially benefit from a 12-step program for road rage, struggles with a Hot Tamales addiction, loves world travel & fast cars and hates paperwork & being an insomniac. Daynight is Megan's first published novel, but fourth written one.







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Book Blast Giveaway

$75 Amazon Gift Card

Apple Earbuds ($30 Value)

Ends 2/3/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.



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Cover of Snow by Jenny Milchman - REVIEW





My Take:
5-Stars!
Cover of Snow
I loved this story as it was written with such suspense, it was nail biting. You don’t know who to trust, what to believe, or where this story is going to go next. There is no second guessing what’s going to happen or what will happen next in this story.
Nora and Brendan lived in the small town of Wedeskyull, New York, in the northern Adirondack Mountains. All you saw were walls and sheets of snow carved out from the ground up, snow flying all the time, and continuously the same color up to the sky – grey. Winters here were especially brutal. One could easily freeze to death if not careful.
Brendan, Nora’s husband, grew up here, so Nora was the Newcomer. Brendan ended up becoming a police officer, like his father. About twenty-five years ago, Brendan lost his two-year old brother in a terrible accident in which he fell through the ice, and Brandan had always blamed himself for that. Nora never knew or completely understood all of the details about. He kept this to himself pretty much, and he did not discuss it, just enough that she knew about it. She felt he blamed himself completely for the accident, which he shouldn’t have as he was just a kid when it happened.
One morning Nora wakes up late and groggy-headed, which was odd for her. They had such a beautiful evening together the night before, so much so after they were finished making love, they snuggled a lot longer than what they normally did. It was really nice and she smiles remembering it. She had to hurry as she had to meet with a client that morning as she restored old houses, and now she’s off to a late start. This is unlike Brendan not to wake her. She went through the house looking for Brendan and she finds he hung himself to death from the rafters in their farmhouse basement. This is odd. He’s a police officer by trade who has a gun. Why suffer from hanging yourself when you could end it quicker and painlessly with a shot to the head? This occurrence had me wondering about that. Later in this story she finds the rope he used to commit his suicide with was the same rope he used over twenty some years ago to try to help save his little brother from drowning, to no avail. His suicide is just about on the anniversary of his little brother’s death, too. This is so wrong, she thinks to herself. Nothing is making any sense to her.
This starts her on a quest of her own investigation to find out why he would do such a thing. She hires a private investigator to help her find out what happened.
This did not fit her husband’s personality at all. Brendan was not the type of person to commit suicide, yet she starts to wonder because she also finds a prescription bottle filled the week before, on January 16th, and it was a sedative. He never told her about that. When she takes the bottle to the pharmacy to ask questions about it, it was confiscated by the local pharmacist so quickly she didn’t know the bottle would not be returned to her. All she had were questions, but once he had it, it was his. It had a red mark on the bottle though, one she would come across again, later.
The problem: "who" can and can't she trust? Who will and who won’t give her information? Wedeskyull was a very secretive, cliquey type small town. She felt like an outsider here, even with her own mother-in-law who just seemed to ignore her. The state-of-the-art police force, which was odd for such a small town, all grew up together, and they try all they can to keep her quiet and not asking questions. Even they seemed to be corrupt. Family? Friends? No. Nora is on her own trying to figure out this one.
Can Nora figure out all the deep secrets of 'why' her own husband seemed happy and loving the night before, yet at the same time drugged her, and then committed suicide? She learns her own husband has secrets, too? The town has secrets, her mother-in-law has secrets, the people have secrets, so why all the secrets?
This book’s writing was outstanding! I LOVED it with all the twists, turns and danger Nora gets herself into, some intentionally and some not. This was one heck of a greatly written beyond suspenseful mystery where you never knew what was going to happen next, and there is plenty of action that continues as Nora tries to figure out just what really happened.
I really enjoyed reading this book in the dead of winter as the wind whipped around outside quite severely, the snow fell, and it is freezing outside! I felt like I was right in the story.
I received this book for FREE from Random House/Ballantine Books, through NetGalley, in exchange to read and write a review about it. It is NOT required for this review to be either positive or negative, but of my own honest opinion. “Free” means I was NOT provided with ANY MONIES to read this book nor to write this review, but to enjoy the pure pleasure of reading it. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html
Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.


 About the Author:
Jenny Milchman lives in New Jersey with her family. Cover of Snow is her first novel.



Sunday, January 20, 2013

No Mistletoe Required by Jeanette Murray - REVIEW


Publisher's Description:

Dan Beckins isn't sure how he let his best friend con him into volunteering to build Santa's Winter Wonderland at the local hospital. He's got no problems with charity work, but anything Christmas-related is off-limits ever since he lost his parents on Christmas Day years ago. The only bright spot is working with smoking-hot Anna Smith.
Anna Smith loves Christmas and volunteering at the hospital is one of her yearly highlights. She had leukemia as a teen and then a breast cancer scare in her mid-twenties, and is now operating under a self-imposed rule that she can't have a relationship until the doctors give her a clean bill of health.
A little fling might be permissible, though, and sexy lawyer-turned-carpenter Dan seems like the perfect candidate. But when chemistry flares and the two start forming a real connection, will Anna run away before like turns to love?

My Take:
4.5 Stars!
I HIGHLY recommend this novella for those who like/love contemporary romance! The only reason for it just being short of a 5-star rating from me is that it is too short, even if it is a novella! Imagine if it were a full length novel, it would have been even better! I can see so many possibilities with it.
I really enjoyed this story, even though it is short. (Ho, hum.) I really liked how well this story was written, too. A full-length novel would really enhance this story as I really enjoyed the characters, the development this author did with Dan and Anna meeting and getting to know each other, and the other characters as well. I was not ready for this one to end! I would LOVE to see this become a full-length novel!
At first, I hated Dan! Yes! His friend did con him into getting him to help decorate a part of a hospital for the Annual Christmas Party this hospital holds every year for all the sick children who are stuck there in the hospital over the holidays. Since his friend suckered him into helping him out, and since Dan's heart really was not into doing this charity work, his eyes were roaming around checking out all the other young, hot, sorority girls that were there volunteering to help decorate as well. So yes, I thought Dan was a jerk the way he was looking around and checking out all these women and thinking the things he did.
That is, until . . . Dan spots Anna, and then he starts to change the way he's acting by straightening up as quickly as he can as he is very attracted to her. He realizes she is older and she's much more mature than the other younger sorority girls are with whom she was with. She intrigued him and he started to take this more seriously. He also put more of his heart into what he was doing. This did not go unnoticed because Anna spotted Dan, too! Mutual attraction!
Anna did this charity event every year now, regardless of being a part of this sorority or not. Anna had had leukemia as a teen, fought and overcame it, but now, most recently, has had a scare with breast cancer. Currently she still has about three more months to go before she can get a clean bill of health from her doctor. With a clean bill of health being what she wants, she won't allow herself to become involved in a personal relationship with anyone besides a fling until that comes bill comes along. No emotional attachments. She's been through too much already and does not want anyone in her life to complicate matters.
Of course Dan does not know about any of this about Anna, although the more time they spend together, the more they learn and like each other. More and deeper feelings could be developing, and . . .  well, you read the story! You'll love it! I did!
Let's say this couple did NOT need any mistletoe to kiss, just like the title says! Besides, it's Christmas and this is a magical time of year!
As I said above, I would LOVE for this novella to be turned into a full-length novel about these two very likable/lovable characters!
This is a great seasonal book to read, and can be read at any time of the year! I happened to read it in December, before Christmas and during the holiday season, but it would not have made any difference to me what time of year I read it in, as I still would have loved it just as much!
I really enjoyed this author's writing style a lot, too, and will be looking for more full-length novels by her. I just found myself a new author I love to read! Thanks, Carina Press!
I received this book for FREE from the Publisher, Carina Press, through NetGalley, in exchange to read and write a review about it. It is NOT required for this review to be either positive or negative, but of my own honest opinion. “Free” means I was NOT provided with ANY MONIES to read this book nor to write this review, but to enjoy the pure pleasure of reading it. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html
Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

No Mistletoe Required by +Kat Jeanette Murray 
Ebook format only: $2.51