Paranormal reads

I read a lot of these books. I am still rather new to them and have found I like them a great deal. Following is a list of some of my favorites, which include some of the better known writers. Let me know of some other ones I may be missing out on. These are in no particular order of favorites. I love them all!

C. E. Murphy- The Walker Papers trilogy & The Negotiator series

Shirley Damsgaard- Abby & Ophelia series. I want a grandma just like Abby.

Patricia Briggs- Love her werewolf/shapeshifter people

Laurell K. Hamilton- need I say more. Was worried for a bit, but she seems to have all the storylines back on an even keel. And even when they seemed a bit off, it still made sense.

Kelley Armstrong- Have liked her writing from the start

Lilith St. Crow- Dante Valentine series

Jenna Black- Great storyline and cool twist on demon possession

L.A. Banks-Vampire Huntress Legend. Wonderful blend of many races, religions all kicking demon/bad vamp ass. She rocks! And the new Crimson Moon series.

Jeanne C. Stein- Anna Strong Chronicles

Rachel Caine- The weather warden series. Djinn!!! This was so needed as I could never find any story lines with them
included. Not to mention that she includes a soundtrack listing of what she listened to while writing and it all makes sense.

Vicki Pettersson- Who knew super heros could be so cool? And even have good fashion sense...

Christine Warren for her Others series. This is really the series that got me hooked.

Katie McAllister- for humorous paranormal books. Wish that "dog" Jim was real. He's a hoot.

The list is huge. Shana Abe, Jim Butcher, Kim Harrison, Carrie Vaughn to name a few more.

Reading, reading and yet more reading

It's been awhile since I posted a blog about books. So here goes.

I have currently finished all 5 of the books by Shirley Dammsgaard in her Ophelia & Abby Mystery series. The first book started off a bit slow, but the series did pick up by the second book and the author seemed to become comfortable with her characters. Well done to her.

I am currently reading Gale Force by Rachel Caine. Gale Force is the 7th book in the Weather Warden series and the series as a whole is written quite well and highly entertaining. I have waiting in the wings Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Myer. I am neither on team Edward or Team Jacob as I don't care who Bella ends up with. Bella at times annoys the hell out of me and I wish one of them would just shake her til her eyes roll back in her head. But the plot is interesting, so there you go. It's why I keep reading them. Kelley Armstrong's a favorite writer of mine, so I could not pass up her new YA The Summoning. Very glad I didn't. Her younger characters are as realistic as her adult characters. Well, as much as one can be with super powers.

I am also trying to still kick start my classics reading to no avail. Perhaps the weather has something to do with that. I will get at least one read before the end of the year. Perhaps I'll make it one of my new year resolutions.

Happy reading!

When the television dies..

My t.v. has gone on the fritz. I have access to another one, but to be honest, I am enjoying my time away from it. Not to mention that t.v.'s are so expensive, as all they sell nowadays is flat screens. So I have had to take my entertainment from other places. Like for instance, reading. Not that I watched much to begin with...usually Sunday's I watched some sort of mindless entertainment whilst doing the housework, laundry, etc. Not anymore. Over the past couple weeks I've read some very good books. Had my t.v. not gone on the fritz, it would have been awhile before I got to them. And between the couple of challenges I am embarking on, I should be quite busy over the summer.

Additionally, I have discovered scrap booking. That's quite enjoyable as well. Looking through old pictures of loved ones far away and no longer with us. I watch as my children go from infant to grown men...all over again. Putting pictures together to tell small stories. Being creative.

And it has given me some time to really connect with the new cat, formerly known as Angus-forever known now as Forest or Gump. I have never met a cat that is so, well, stupid. He's the only cat I know who trips over his own feet. Which makes me laugh so hard. Poor thing. But he's also quite loving. He will stretch himself up on my leg to be picked up and cuddled. Trust me, the diva known as ChinaMoon would never do this. It's beneath her. So Gump spends a lot of time cuddled up on me whilst I read. I find I like that. And I also like him and am growing quite fond of him. Still not orange, still not magickal, but he is in a class all his own.

I am enjoying myself away from the idiot box. And I may never replace it.

Angus- the new cat on our block

He came by his name in a funny, odd way. His fur reminds me of a cow hide. And I was listening to Thunderstruck by AC/DC after I first met him. So Angus he became. Sweet tempered and a beta male, he loves nothing more than to be cuddled and loved on. Problem is... he's not Hobbs, he's not orange, mean, and well, he's a pussy. No pun intended. Poor baby. We got him for ChinaMoon as she stopped eating and spent 2 weeks crying after we lost Hobbs. I wasn't ready to lose another cat, so enter Angus. I was not, and in reality, still am not ready for this cat.

My heart is till hurting, I still cry for Hobbs, although not as much, but the aching void is still there. And Angus can't fill it. To be fair, he shouldn't have too. Angus is not a kitten, he's about 18 months old and as unfamiliar to me as I am to him. Had I gotten him as a kitten, he would have been mommied and therefore been my kitty. Don't get me wrong. I would never hurt or take less than the best care of him. I pet him and cuddle him, but he's not mine. I can't seem to drop the wall and let him in no matter how much I try. So thank goodness for my husband, who was not as attached to Hobbs as I was, and still am. Angus has picked up on this and goes to him for love and assurance. ChinaMoon and I, while we tolerate him, he will be a long time in becoming part of the shadow posse, if ever. An orange ghost still follows me with her (not literally) and I still sometimes hear his meow.

And Angus, like ChinaMoon, is a magickal dud. Which just sucks for me big time. I need, want and like that interaction with a familiar. I may need to get a third cat eventually. One of my choosing, when I'm ready. But for the time being, I will have to be content with the two pieces of lap candy I am currently residing with.

Happiness is a good book and a comfy place to read it.

And I do everything I can to make myself happy. Last week was the week from HELL! Expensive plumbing problem (fixed), child in a car accident (he's fine. the car still has a bit to go.), work pressures from idiot people who go into business with out a clue and then expect you to pull a miracle out of thin air... (it's gonna cost you dude. get real). So at the end of the week your girl here was exhausted, shot out and in major need of some R & R. Looking around my office/dressing space, I realized I have no where to sit in there that's comfy, a nook, a cranny, a reading space. Enter Pier 1.

I love Pier 1. It smells good, has pretty things and I drool every time I go in there. I wanty, I likey but it's ridiculously over priced. However, this time around, I went in on a mission. (Cue music) I entered and zoomed right for the papsans. I used to have one until it was taken over by large brat child who took it with him to new home. Hey, he broke it in to fit his ass and it wouldn't have been comfortable for me. So I let him take it. Anywho, there they were, pretty new papasans with gorgeous bright fabrics and comfy pillows galore. I fell into shiny object mode right away. And they were on sale. Who says comfort has to cost a pretty penny?

Needless to say I bought one with matching stool and 2 pillows. I came home rearranged my room a bit so it fits right under the front windows for the diffused light. Set it up, took a shower, got a snack, drink and current book and settled in. Whereupon, I promptly fell asleep. It was a good nap too. Short, but good. As soon as the brat gets himself back home, I can settle more into my space. And I for one, can't wait. The siren call of a comfortable reading spot with a good book=bliss.

Mothers

With Mother's Day right around the corner (Sunday), obviously it's time to honor the one who gave birth to you. But what do you do if you detest the one who gave birth to you? And what if, say, she was replaced with a horrid Step monster? Well, do what I do. Honor yourself if you're a mum. If you overcame the horrid parenting that was, unfortunately, your luck to have, then I say honor yourself. Granted the majority of us probably came from a somewhat dysfunctional family. And like many of my friends and others I know, we survived. To become better parents hopefully. It's a hard job being a mom. whether you work or not. Frankly, having been both a working mom and a stay at home mom, I preferred the working mom scene. Yes, it was difficult juggling, sorting, etc. But at least it kept you from going insane and you got some adult conversation to boot. Course, back then, most of us didn't have the internet, so chances are, many moms are logged into forums, etc. and keeping up with what's new in the world.

Either way, happy mother's day to the moms of the world who make it all good in their children's worlds.

For my cat Hobbs

I have two cats. One named Hobbs and one named ChinaMoon. Hobbs is an orange male tabby that I have had for almost 13 years. In the last two weeks I have watched him go from a healthy, older cat to an unhealthy, losing his hair older cat. I have been to vets and emergency clinics and they all tell me the same thing-he is old and he is dying. And I feel as if a part of me is wasting away as well. Now I am faced with euthanizing a cat who has been a part of my family for a very long time.

While ChinaMoon is your typical feline, Hobbs is so much more than to me. He is also my familiar who has taken part in many rituals. Together, he and I have accomplished some magickal workings that were quite intense and well, magical. I can't begin to fathom how I will proceed in my endeavors without him. I just know I will, but they will be missing a key player. Animals become a part of the family. They make us laugh, they make us cry. They give unconditional love and we become a part of their pact, or in the case of cats, their pards.

I know I will go on without him, but it's going to be a very bumpy ride for a bit. He has been my protector, my confidant, my solace when lonely. His fur has absorbed countless tears. And his ears should be bald for all the strokes they have received from me. But he is kind of a mean ass cat and will only tolerate that so much, except for recently. Of late he has been showing me a lot of affection. And that tells me right there that somethings wrong with him. It's almost as if he's saying goodbye to me. I am so happy to have been his pet. LOL His waitstaff, "bathroom" cleaner and blanket washer. Goddess of catnip and lost toys.

I'm going to miss you my furry friend.