Some time ago I ordered some Regency romances.  I generally like romances and the Regency era is a great setting for them.  In my order were two volumes of three short novellas each: Autumn Kittens and Valentine Kitttens. I guess you all know I’m a cat lover so you can imagine the attraction.  I’ve read one story in Autumn Kittens (“Cat’s Cradle” by Shannon Donnelly) which was quite good.

However, I just finisted the first story in Valentine Kittens and it was a real disappointment.  “Belling the Cat” by Jo Ann Ferguson held a lot of promise.  The hero and heroine meet at an inn when three kittens shred the heroine Amaris’ gown.  The hero, Jason, vows to have it reparied.  This all leads into complications when Jason finds out she’s almost engaged to the fellow (Raymond) his sister Olivia loves.  On top of that, he starts falling for Amaris.  

The story is fine for the first six chapters.  Jason has to put up Amaris and her servant at his manor which causes tension when he has to tell his sister about the impending engagement. And at the end of Chapter 6, Raymond is supposedly telling Jason why he didn’t invite Olivea to be his special guest at his Valentine Ball.

Then comes Chapter 7 and sends the whole shing crashing. ( SPOILER:

Not that things don’t end as they should (jason and Amaris will be together, so will Raymond and Olivia.)

END SPOILER

But the author doesn’t make much of the tension that could have made a much better next chapter or two.  Instead we have a really bad Chapter 7 with Amaris seeking (supposedly) some solitude inJason’s boathouse when he comes along and  – well;, I see him as just being obnoxious to her – I wouldn’t want to be treated that way by someone who supposedly had – fellings for me?  Anyway, it made him look much less likable to me - and - that scene supposedly solved everthing?  I would like to have seen the four of them struggle to untangle things and draw the tenision out a bit more – maybe things could have been sorted out during the Ball or something.

Anyway – what had been a good run up just turned into a real waste of the tension and a lost chance to do a bit more with Raymond and Olivia.

There are two more stories in the book.  The next story I’ll read in this volume I think will be “The Birthday Kitten” by Cynthia Pratt.  That got a good review by a reader online. I hope this one will pass.

It was beautifully written and I wondered if Ms. Beals had some background in English.  Indeed she has a background in journalism (Columbia grad!).  It gave me an opportunity to review briefly the Little Rock 9 and their place in history (I’d heard of them, but knew none of the names).

I’m not sure what I was expecting, but it was different!  It was a very spiritual book. She was quite upfront on her Christian upbringing and wanting to please God, often praying or journaling to Him.  It was also more of a “coming of age”  tale than I would have thought.  It did hold my interest and was inspirational at times.

The only – and small – critique – I have is that a lot of the chapters seem to end on cliffhangers.  I’m just not that keen on them  (they make me feel manipulated) and this was a good story anyway; even if the chapter didn’t have a cliffhanger, I still wanted to continue reading (even if it had to be the next day…).

It is also a very honest book; she really lays bare her challenges and feelings – as well as her victories.

Anyway, this is one I can definitely recommend!

Next up:  I will probably go with a historical romance.  Ok, not that substantive probably, but I do like variety and not necessarily weightiness all the time!

I didn’t like the ending for several reasons: 1) the book jacket’s description made it seem as though Nan would somehow hold out until getting her post-college job – either that – or I thought maybe she might be fired, but with not quite such hate (more in the line of what happened to Caitlin); 2) Mrs. X is just so hateful to Nan I’d like to have seen her get her comeuppance; 3) being a good cat lover, I couldn’t help but wonder how Nan’s cat George will react to dog Grace.

Then there’s number  4).  I wanted to see Nan and H. H. (really Ryan it turns out)still together, see Nan start her first job…maybe have her see Grayer at his high school graduation or something.  Well, I almost didn’t write this as the authors actually wrote a sequel, Nanny Returns, which goes into Nan’s life 12 years after the end of The Nanny Diaries.  When I checked on Amazon.com prior to this, I found it in the listings and read some reader reviews.  It certainly doesn’t sound like anything I would like to read.  To me it sounds as though the authors should have left well enough alone, although, I think that with a different ending they could have tied up the loose ends in that first book.  BTW – a Nanny named Nan? Come on!  And they didn’t even give Ryan a name until the second book?  And would have it have been so hard to pick a last name for the Xes?  It IS fiction, after all, right?

Anyway, this was definitely not the book I was hoping for.  Now I have to search my shelves (The Good Lord knows they’re not empty of books, for sure) for something to “clear the palette.”

If I were to name my top bands they would be:

1. The Moody Blues
I certainly knew of the Moody Blues before they became one of my big faves. I knew “Nights in White Satin” of course and “Tuesday Afternoon.”  But in an old notebook I kept where I wrote down “favorite stuff” I saw I’d included “Voices in the Sky”! I really didn’t remember that – and didn’t remember the song from back then. I went through a period where I didn’t like them (‘breathe deep…’ gave me the creeps when I was in college) but when I heard “THe Voice” I thought, ‘ok they’re not so bad.’ And when I saw the video for “I Know You’re Out There Somewhere” and how handsome Justin was…well, that sealed the deal. The first album I bought was Sur La Mer, maybe not their best album, but a great introduction.  From there I was hooked.  Their music and lyrics are just outstanding and have such personal meaning for me. I have seen them in concert quite a few times! Favorite MB songs:  “Question” (My absolute fave MB song), “The Land of Make-Believe”, “Dawning is the  Day”, “One More Time to Live”, “I Know You’re Out There Somewhere”, “The Balance”.  Favorite MB album:  without a doubt it’s A Question of Balance.

2.  The Beatles
I think almost anyone of my generation (yea, Boomers!) would have The Beatles on their list. Their music is just so great on so many levels and of course has set the standard.  Favorite Beatles song: “In My Life.”  I also like “Here, There, and Everywhere”(Mom liked that one), “Yesterday”, “Eight Days a Week”, “You Never Give Me Your Money/Golden Slumbers” (I think the two were “together”). Favorite Beatles Album: hmmmm to be honest I know the individual songs better than the album groupings (don’t ask…) so maybe Revolver as that one has “In My Life” on it, right?

3. Argent
I liked the Zombies’ “Time of the Season” and somehow got onto Rod Argent’s new band. Loved them from the start. Wonderful music and lyrics, and I did get to see them in concert (and I met Rod and Bob!). Favorite Argent songs: “Hold Your Head Up” of course, “Dance In the Smoke”, “Be Free”, “I Don’t Believe in Miracles”. And can I include the Russ Ballard penned “Winning”?  favorite Argent album: Argent.

4. Crosby, Still, and Nash (and occasionally, Young)
Another band that’s a generational icon. Their music is just so accessible and meaningful. favorite CSNY songs: at the top would be “Our House” and “Carry On”, also “Woodstock”, “Just a Song Before I Go”. Favorite CSNY album, probably CSNY.

5. U2
I don’t know quite as much about U2 as the other bands, but I really like a lot of their songs. Haven’t had the opportunity to see them in concert, though. I Became aware of them because a couple of undergrads at U. Del. were into them the year I was there doing graduate work. Favorite U2 songs: “All I Need is You”, “Beautiful Day”, “With You or Without You”, “Pride (In the Name of Love).”  Favorite U2 album: probably The Joshua Tree.

6. The Goo Dolls
I heard their songs on the radio (and why aren’t they on the airwaves more now, may I ask?) and really like many of them. Haven’t had an opportunity to see them in concert either, sigh. Favorite GGD songs: “IRIS”, “Stay with You”, “Let Love In”, “Better Days”, “Black Balloon.” Favorite GGD album: either A Boy Named Goo or Let Love In.

7. Badfinger
This may seem a curious choice, but in spite of the name,they did many great positive songs. Haven’t seen them in concert, either, but Joey (I think it was) was here in my home town, but I couldn’t make his performance that night. Favorite Badfinger songs: “Carry On ‘Till Tomorrow” is my very favorite Badfinger song, and I find it quite inspirational; also “No Matter What”, “Sympathy”, “Day After Day.” Favorite Badfinger album: Airwaves (Mom gave it to me one Christmas).

8. Little River Band
While double checking songs and albums for this post, my eyes came across them in my list of faves; how could I have forgotten them? Their tunes are catchy and the lyrics memorable. Favorite LRB songs: “Hang On, Help is On the Way”, “Happy Anniversary”, “Lady”, “Reminiscing.”  Favorite LRB album: Diamantina Cocktail.

Whew!  I’m exhausted from all of those great songs now running through my head.  So I’d better wrap up and get some rest for ‘tomorrow.’  Hope I have some readers and please don’t be shy about commenting and sharing your faves!

Since the semester is over I really have time to tackle the mountain of books here that I haven’t yet read.  This spring, I did get one book read – Abraham Bolden’s The Echo from Dealey Plaza.  It was quite interesting and a gripping read.

My first summer read in 2011 was Jill Nelson’s Volunteer Slavery (subtitled my Authentic Negro Experience).  Certainly a different book, I guess.  My “review”:

I bought this book several years ago and finally got around to reading it.  To be honest, I was expecting more about her time at the Washington Post, and not quite so much about her own pysche and family (although sometimes it worked).  The stories of her job at the Post(which I thought were the real strength of the book), continually had me thinking, ‘it just couldn’t be that bad, could it? or “people couldn’t really be that unenlightened or insensitive, could they?’ , stunning to me as this happened mostly in the late 1980′s.

I would have liked to have read a bit more about her work at the Post.  What was is like to actually get a byline – what hoops had to be jumped though?  What were some  rejected ideas? What kept her going in a practical sense, day to day?

Nelson’s style is very fluid and readable. She also isn’t afraid to cover difficult topics. Throughout the book she offers a unique perspective on racial and gender politics, the workplace, and even family dynamics. To me, some of her most insightful statements had to do with the corporatization of media and what she saw and felt African-American journalists had to go through in  order to be successful.

It was challenging in many respects, but it did seem a bit “snarky” at times.

I read some reviews of this book at Amazon.com and toyed with the idea of doing a review there.  I was a bit put off by some who suggested Nelson couldn’t handle office politics or failed .I don’t think either is (completely) accurate.  I think she may not have been the best at office politics because she was not willing to totally compromise herself, and she saw no other way it could be done.  I also don’t think she failed at all.  I think there were a few there who recognized she had talent and a voice, but she really got no chance to succeed – little in the way of decent editing, little chance to develop or get good assignments.  I think she (as she alludes) tried until it became just unbearable.  And I applaud her wanting to be read rather than just getting a paycheck.

Well, that’s one book down.  Now I have to select the next one.  After Nelson’s, I’m looking for something definitely lighter.  And I can’t forget to keep making dents in David McCoullough’s  John Adams.

Yesterday, at my last class for the semester, I went in the classroom and found a bouquet of flowers on the desk along with a gift bag and mini cupcakes for the class.  I was just stunned.  It was so sweet.  One of the students had done that and written a nice note. 

And what was in the gift bag?  Kitty food for my cat Bailey!  It was a nice treat for Bailey and much appreciated by Mommy.

Such lovely gestures have their own way of elevating us.  It certainly lifted my spirits.

So thanks once again.

Last semester was also the first time I taught Trigonometry in – well – twelve to fifteen years.  What an adventure that was!  I’ll let you imagine the hours of preparation I put in.  I’ll let you imagine me blessing the author of the textbook over certain problems.  I’ll let you imagine my marginal curve drawing skills put to use on sine and cosine graphs.  Well, at least proving identities is fun! I think that came from the prof I originally learned trig from, love her (Thanks, Jean!).  She said that she and her husband worked on identities together when they were still dating, so she really grew to love them.  So I guess some of that positive energy rubbed off – on the math part, anyway.

It was nice to have a bit of a “challenge” and to review the subject I hadn’t worked with for some time. If you don’t use it, it will gather rust; so occasionally it’s nice to clear some of that away.

And it might be a good idea to keep Unit Circles away from puppies.

Anyway, today is Thanksgiving Day and I feel it’s appropriate to write about what I’m thankful for.  I can’t speak for anyone else, but I know sometimes I do take things for granted and it’s nice to acknowledge them once in a while!

- I’m thankful I grew up with things like running water, indoor plumbing, heat, decent clothes and shoes, etc..  There are some folks I know well right here in my own county that did not.  I’m certainly not rich, yet if’s very hard for me to imagine being so poor.  We must never forget those who have had or continue to face shortcomings in these areas.

- I’m thankful there’s food on the table (certainly a good one for Thanksgiving Day – a day to enjoy a feast!).  After reading some articles in the Philadelphia Inquirer about families facing hunger in Philadelphia, I hope I never take food for granted again. We must not forget those who are doing without and see what we can do to improve their situations.

- I’m thankful for my family and friends.  My parents were great and supportive.  Unfortunately, not everyone has had such an advantage.  My family has also been close.  All have been a source of strength to me.

- I’m thankful for my pets, for Bailey and all those who have come before.  They have added so much to my life.

- I’m thankful for  music.  What would life be without a melody to sing, music to play or listen to? Certainly the world would be much poorer. It’s something I’ve just gotta have!

- I’m thankful for my job (such as it is sometimes).  In this economy it IS something to be thankful for.

 - And I’m thankful for my Lord and Savior Jesus and what He has done/is doing for us.

Anyone have his or her own list to share?  Please do and HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

I also want to read the volume of 3 short stories I have by Cat Johnson and the thriller, The Man in the Moon by Tom Tancin.  I met those authors not quite 2 years ago at the Collingswood Book Festival and am really looking forward to reading their efforts.

Then there’s the One Book, One College selection of my fine institution from the academic year before the one just past.  I haven’t finished that one, I confess.  The selection was The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls.  She visited our campus and  was (as were Cat and Tom) very gracious.  And of course I should read the upcoming OBOC selection, The Soloist by Steve Lopez.

Another book I’d like to get through this summer is the historical story/romance Revenge of the Rose by Nicole Galland.  That’s not a slim volume, but it does sound pretty good.

And if there’s any reading time left, I have plenty of other books I haven’t read but keep meaning to get to.  I have so many books I don’t know how to find shelf space for all of them!

So what’s on your summer reading list?  Would love to have comments and find out what everyone’s reading!

I recently decided I was just tired of the desktop wallpaper I was using on my computer at work.  So I spent, literally, hours searching for a new one.  This one was too busy, that one was too dark, another one looked terrible at that size…oh gee, I’m not picky, am I?  I decided I’d like one with cherry blossoms (hopefully they mean good luck).  Of course it wasn’t easy finding one that wasn’t an overpowering photo, nor blurry around the edges (ok for a wall, but not my computer screen).  I finally found one and I think I’m happy with it.  BTW, I also changed my home computer’s desktop wallpaper as well - to a photo with a bluebird in it.  I need all the luck I can get!!!

After I switched to the new desktop wallpaper at work, I moved my shortcut icons around.  I wanted to get them in places where  the ones I really needed would be more visible against the new background and I also thought I’d move the three I used the most to slightly different areas.  I noticed that before moving them, my icons seemed to be for the most part all on the left side of the desktop (my home ones still are - since I don’t want to cover the bluebird which is on the right).  Now my main three at work are just off center (2 a bit to the  left and 1 a bit to the right). 

Do most of us tend to keep our icons on the left? It does seem to feel a bit more natural that way.  Is it because we read from left to right so we tend to look toward that side of the screen first?  Do we keep them in neat columns? mine aren’t anymore, since I wanted to work around my new desktop photo.  Do we really use them?  So many programs want to add shortcuts to the desktop – and I really don’t use most of those!

Even though the process to find my cherry blossom photo took way too long, I’m glad I decided to make that change.  After years of the same image on that screen, I was suddenly ready for something different. I”m also glad it led to a change at my home computer, too.  Changing those images may have been in reality, a small thing, but they did give me a sense of renewal. 

So what’s your desktop like?