My sister is incredible

Again, unbloggable, but my sister and her family are doing an act of good work. I couldn't be prouder.

Just saw The Prestige

Wow. Wow.

That is a fabulous movie. Oh my god, what a fantastic film.

Wow.

Thanks, guys! I'm blushing! Plus random items UPDATED

I have no idea why comments were turned off on this post. Blogger did it all by itself. They're back on now.

SuzanH asks if I saw the series ender to Gilmore Girls. I did.



I'm glad they chose to end that way 'cause it seriously left me NOT wanting more. Blah.



Also, I haven't watched since January, so what happened to Rory's dad? And to whatsherface, the hyper blond-chick Rory's roomed with?



Today was the First Day of School for Summer Session A. Physiological Psychology, a Social Work Synthesis class, and a once-weekly Computer Ethics class (Wednesdays).

So far I'm loving my new classes but GAH it's going to be a TON of work. So don't be surprised if I disappear more than usual during the next month.

I've found I actually cannot do any serious studious reading while I'm in my house. I keep piddling around on the computer reading posts or writing post or I get otherwise distracted. Not good. So I'm going to spend my afternoons reading text books at the local coffee shop that is a chain but not *$. That worked really well for last semester's finals so I'm going to keep on with it.

I hope you're all doing well and enjoying the nice weather if you're in a place with nice weather.

Bragging

A, A, A-, A-, B.

Breathing a big sigh of relief.

After!

All done! Just in time for us to add the chairs as an Anniversary present to ourselves. Eleven years today.


Doorway into kitchen with the broom-closet-sized pantry. Hanging on the pantry door is my laptop lunchbox and a bag full of plastic grocery bags. We're going to change out that plate behind the dimmer switch for a white one.

Here's a picture of the half-wall and the line between the dining room and the library. Beyond the half-wall is a table with a large format laser printer and one of our many computers. Through the doorway is the kitchen (linoleum floor) and the living room (carpet and toys). You can see that there is half-wall between them as well.

S asks...

What I'm doing expending this much energy...

Partly, it's that I have the time. If it doesn't get done now, it just won't happen.

Partly, I've been inspired by some of you folks. Everywhere I look it seems someone's painting or finally getting new floors or doing a huge garden or baking homemade bread or finishing knitting a hoodie.

So, I decided to just do it. And I'm getting lots of help from someone else who lives here.

During...

Okay, so we've taped and papered and we're ready to start cutting-in. But it's after 5:00 PM, so we're calling it a day.

Before...

Hold me...

I'm painting our dining room. No! Really! I am!

One of the things I love about this house is its open floor plan. But it's also the reason we haven't painted since...well...we've never painted.

The dining room flows into what we call the library (in the Model it was the formal living room), there are half-walls between but no demarcation line on the wall so we're going to put up molding going up from the half-walls to the ceiling and paint up to there. I'm leaving the molding, the area below the chair rail, and the bay windows white. I know what I think it'll look like, I'm just hoping it ACTUALLY looks that way when I'm done.

This is a big step, people.

Hold me.

Whew, glad that's over

Questions:

Why is CSI Miami on the air? Not only are the actors ATROCIOUS, but also the writing sucks. Upon what planet do DNA tests and fingerprint checks come back that fast? How many coincidences does it take to screw in a lightbulb?

Why oh why didn't I watch more of House this year? I guess I'll have to catch up on DVD. Not that it's not far-fetched too, but the acting is splendid and that makes me forgive much.

Gilmore Girls is ending tonight. I haven't watched it since January. Anything I need to know, or will it be self-explanatory?

Anyone know when the new season of Life on Mars will be coming? Or Foyle's War?

On Books:

I've read several new (to me) books this semester that I haven't talked about here.
The Stranger House by Reginald Hill was outrageously good. Death Comes for the Fatman (also R. Hill) was also wonderful but reminiscent of others of his, including Who Guards the Prince (a must-read).

I read the first in The Series of Unfortunate Events which is good, if dark. Echoes of Dahl anyone?

Speaking of Dahl, we read The Fantastic Mr. Fox to MM. I'd never read it and thought it was a lovely re-telling of "The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night".

Also on the kidlit front, I read Justin Morgan Had a Horse. Nice. Easy read. Sweet. Not much more to say, really.

Back in the adult world, I read the newest Charlaine Harris book, All Together Dead. I like this writer very much, but the earlier books in this series are better. However, it's definitely a good one for a cozy afternoon on the couch. I think I can see where she's going to take the character in the next book.

Dana Stabenow's A Deeper Sleep was good, though somewhat uncomfortable. There're a great deal of guilt feelings floating around the park.

How many times have I told y'all to read Margaret Maron? Her latest, Winter's Child, is one of her best. This series keeps getting better and better. However, you'd probably better start with the previous book, Rituals of the Season, to get a bit of back story. Then, once you're hooked, you can go and read EVERYTHING SHE EVER WROTE.

There. Now that's off my chest. I can settle down and read Middlemarch for the first time. And Jane Austen's Letters. And some other stuff that's lying around.

Plus, I'm going to paint the dining room. No! Really! I am!

He's a genius.

Biology? Done!

Now on to Abby Someone Psychology.

This particular exam is at 0730 tomorrow. Someone in my household (not me), upon hearing my plan to get up at 0500 to ensure promptitude at said exam, brilliantly suggested that I stay at a hotel right nearby Nearby U instead.

I told y'all he's a genius, right?

I'll be done by 0900 and that will conclude the Spring semester. Summer classes start Monday.

One down

Two to go.

And SingsLullabies and MakesBooksForGrandkids will be here this weekend.

Heigh-ho, heigh-ho, it's off to study Biology I go....

Gasp

Coming...up...for...air........................
First...of...three...finals...tomorrow......................
Will...see...you...all...Wednesday..................

Blame it on Scrivener

I listened to O Valencia! 7 times today in my car.

Asking for some help

Dear friends,

Any of y'all know where I can find a bathing suit that will fit me? I'm looking for a practical suit, something that I can wear playing with MM. In other words, no dental floss, but not a burkini either. Lands End, Nordstrom, Water Water, LL Bean, and JC Penney only go up to Didi.

Alternatively, any of you have ideas on how to phrase a Google search for one that won't bring up something geared towards a fan of GGW?

Thanking you in advance for any and all input.

History paper done

'Night all.

All clear

Re-do of mammogram a success. "Next year have your doctor order a comprehensive instead of a screening so we can do all the pictures in one visit."

Whew.

Best quote from visit? "My, for such a little thing, you're sure large. Bless your heart."

Now it's your turn

Let me know in the comments of this post if you'd like to be next to be asked 5 questions! I think YT asked some great ones, gonna be a hard act to follow.

Question 5: What keeps you blogging regularly?

I find there are three things that keep me posting regularly(ish):

1. I have something I really want to say. These posts are somewhat infrequent, but they're the ones I like best.
2. Procrastination. I have other things I really need to do but I don't wanna. Some of these posts come out well. I end up saying something of substance at least.
3. Fear that I'll look like I'm forgetting about you. These are my least favorite posts. Mostly it's "Hi! Still here!"

Speaking of which, I'm going to be posting less regularly for the next couple of weeks. Two papers due and (gasp!) Finals.

Yes, my friends, it's the last week of classes of my fourth semester at Nearby U. My, that went fast! A year from now, I'll be graduating!