Nonnie's Notions

Traffic and Committees

noreply@blogger.com (Nonnie) — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 12:00:00 +0000

Outside of traffic, there is nothing that has held this country back as much as committees. ~ Will Rogers

Yesterday was Wednesday. I dislike Wednesdays.

Wednesdays mean meetings. I'm on a bunch of different committees at work and Wednesday seems to be the day for meetings. One of these committees meets at 3pm and the meeting lasts for an hour.

This of course means I don't leave the office until 4:15 or later. Which is a difference of two hours from my normal commute. Can I tell you how much of a difference two hours makes?

Add on any sort of weather and the commute takes approximately a lifetime. I so hate leaving work that late.

But there is light at the end of this tunnel...at least for a little bit with me working from home soon.

Until later...

A Moment of Time

noreply@blogger.com (Nonnie) — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 12:00:00 +0000

The whole of life is but a moment of time. It is our duty, therefore to use it, not to misuse it. ~ Plutarch

There are days when I need to remember this. Life goes by so fast and the monsters change so quickly. I need to remember to take time each day to connect with them.

Until later...

Clothing

noreply@blogger.com (Nonnie) — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 12:00:00 +0000

Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society. ~Mark Twain

My monsters will never have to worry about being naked. Or at least they won't until they grow out of their current sizes.

I just did laundry...one of the most hated chores in the world...at least in this household. Jeans just came out of the dryer and the monsters have so many pair of jeans, I can go almost two weeks without washing denim.

How did this happen? Seriously? I'll tell you how it happened. Old Navy. Yes, Old Navy has these jean sales where jeans are $10. The monsters love Old Navy jeans, so every time they're on sale, I go in and get another couple of pair for each of them.

I have an Old Navy additiction. It needs to stop.

Until later...

Commute

noreply@blogger.com (Nonnie) — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 12:00:00 +0000

Each year it seems to take less time to fly across the ocean and longer to drive to work. ~ Author Unknown

We've been talking about this possibility for weeks at work. The possibility of a pilot program in which someone from our team would work the night shift to see if the content center in Manila is creating enough work for us to implement a full time night shift.

The possible individuals for working this shift are myself and one other. I've made it clear that I wouldn't mind working the shift and so has he. The two of us have the longest commutes and both of us would enjoy not having to come into work.

Today the possibility became a reality. Our team will have one individual working 7pm to 4am, Sunday through Thursday, supporting the group in Manila.

The person working this shift? Me. After thinking about it, the other individual realized that for the short term, this wouldn't work out with his family situation, so that left the job up to me.

I'm looking forward to it. Not necessaily the working at night, but the no commute and the working from home in my jammies. The money I'll save in gas alone makes it wonderful and there will apparently be a shift differential also.

So, as of the 25th, I won't have to go into the office for four weeks. I say bring it on!

Until later...

Judgment

noreply@blogger.com (Nonnie) — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 12:00:00 +0000

Judgment is forced upon us by experience. ~ Samuel Johnson

It's that time of year again...time to stand in judgment of my peers. There's nothing I dislike more about January than the fact that I have to write out peer reviews.

Peer reviews if done correctly can be a great source of growth and development for others. If done incorrectly, they can be a great source of dissention and ill-will.

This is the first year that I'll actually be writing peer reviews for this team. I'm not looking forward to it. Okay, that's not entirely true. I don't mind writing the reviews and I have a good idea of what I'm going to say.

The part I'm not looking forward to, is reading my reviews from my peers. This is the biggest backstabbing group of individuals that I have ever worked with before, and I have a feeling the reviews are not going to be what I am told face to face.

I don't get the culture of backstabbing. Never have. If it's one thing you know, you know how I feel about you. I find the energy that some people use up by being sweet to your face and pulling out the chef's knife behind you to be wasted energy. What's the point?

And passive aggressiveness...what's with that?

Ah well, I have to remember that differences make the world go round...right?

Until later...

Restoration

noreply@blogger.com (Nonnie) — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 12:00:00 +0000

Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing. ~ Phyllis Diller

It's once again Saturday and once again time to catch up from the week. I honestly don't know how the clutter gets this bad.

Someday, it'll be just me at home and the house won't need the normal Saturday restoration. I tell myself that every week. And I know I'll miss it. Not the cleaning...no, only a crazy lady would miss that. I'll miss the fact that there aren't two monsters around to create the mess.

So this Saturday, I'll contemplate on the fact that I do have those monsters aroudn to create the mess and be thankful for it. There are only a few short years left of this stage in my life.

Until later...

Siblings

noreply@blogger.com (Nonnie) — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 12:00:00 +0000

Our siblings. They resemble us just enough to make all their differences confusing, and no matter what we choose to make of this, we are cast in relation to them our whole lives long. ~ Susan Scarf Merrell

I logged into Facebook tonight and noticed pictures had been posted of my brother and his new...I hestitate to call it a family, but that's what it is. They seem a unit in the pictures and very happy.

This Christmas, my brother came home for the first time in years and brought his friend and her daughter. They've been living together since the end of the tourist season in Alaska when Whelp moved to the PNW.

She's a nice woman and her daughter is adorable. The time we spent together was just enough to get past the initial awkwardness of strangers, but not enough to actually become friends.

I enjoyed seeing my brother interact with this little girl. He's very good with kids and she seems to enjoy being with him as well.

Whelp confuses me...always has, but the one thing I know, is that whatever he does in life, whereever he is, I want him to be happy. It was nice to see evidence of that happiness in pictures today.

Until later...

Rumors without Legs

noreply@blogger.com (Nonnie) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 12:00:00 +0000

A rumor without a leg to stand on will get around some other way. ~ John Tudor

The economy has been downright brutal in the past 24 months. People are losing their jobs left and right. I always thought that my company was recession/depression-proof, as people always need lawyers. And because they do, lawyers will always need the information my company provides to do their jobs.

Unfortunately, for the first time in its history, my company let 120 people go from my department just after Thanksgiving. Thankfully, I'm not part of that layoff, but I know the possibility is there.

The thing that gets me is the rumors that still abound throughout the department. I'm seriously tired of hearing about it. I can't do anything if the company decides to lay off more people. I can't do anything if I end up being part of those lay offs. What I can do, is my job. To the best of my ability and let tomorrow come as it may.

Life is just too damn short to worry constantly about what might happen. There are enough problems in day to day life to deal with as they happen.

But the pathology of human nature is such that misery loves company, and right now? Well, that misery means that people are talking about what happens when they get laid off.

For me? I'll just keep on keeping on. Everything will work out in the end.

Until later...

Thin Ice

noreply@blogger.com (Nonnie) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 12:00:00 +0000

As you all know, I live in the Scandahoovian Hinterlands. It's cold here. Very cold.

However, we Scandahoovians are hearty breeds. We love us some winter activities. Snowmobiling, ice fishing, skiing ~ of the cross country and downhill types ~ and so many others.

Ice fishing is one I don't understand...but then I don't understand regular summer time fishing either. Going out on the ice, drilling a hole and sitting there for hours, where you may or may not catch a fish is not my idea of fun.

Going out on the ice is the biggest deal breakers for me. I just can't wrap my head around driving a huge arsed vehicle out on our many lakes and rivers. Yes, we're cold here in the Hinterlands, and yes, the ice does get very thick, but still. I always think about falling through while in a vehicle.

We're bombarded with stories around this time of year, stating that the ice may or may not be thick enough, and to use caution when out on the rivers and lakes.

Today on the way into work, there was a news story about how a 46 year old man was doing well after falling through the ice. He told his rescuers that he fell though as he was walking the ice edge, trying to determine how thick the ice was. Um, yeah. Darwinian thinking much? If there is an edge to the ice where you can see open water? The ice isn't thick enough, and you should stay the hell off.

But then that's just me...City Nonnie, who thinks these sportsmen are crazy to begin with.

Until later...

Lewis and Clark

noreply@blogger.com (Nonnie) — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 12:00:00 +0000

The ultimate camping trip was the Lewis and Clark expedition.

~ Dave Barry

Well, the monsters will not be going winter camping this weekend. The troop leadership decided it was just too cold, so they're going to switch out next month's outing for this month's and go snow tubing instead.

I teased the Scout Master last night that he just didn't want to camp out in the below zero weather to get his "Zero Hero" award. He sort of smirked at me and then said that the boys wouldn't have any fun. Yeah, right!

However, not having to send the monsters out in the frozen tundra works for me. I was not looking forward to figuring out how to keep them warm, not to mention both of the monsters were thinking of skipping this month's outing. They however have changed their minds and will be going with the rest of the group on Sunday. It helps that the Vikings have a bye this week too and won't be playing.

Here's hoping next month, the temps are a little more temperate and the Scouts have fun winter camping.

Until later...

Nature's Way

noreply@blogger.com (Nonnie) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 23:00:00 +0000

Camping is nature's way of promoting the motel business.

~ Dave Barry

Tonight the monsters have their weekly Scout meeting. As I got things together for dinner, I remembered that this weekend is the annual winter camping outing. The Scouts dig holes in the snow, using the snow as insulation and then spend the night around a fire before crawling into those holes to sleep.

It's -15º at night people! That's dang cold! The monsters don't have sleeping bags that are good that low. I'm not quite sure how I'm going to keep them warm. I may have to invest in a case of handwarmers! LOL!

I'm so glad that Scouts fulfills the monsters' need to camp. It isn't something I enjoy or even think about fondly, even when the weather is nice.

So tonight while they're at their meeting, I'll be trying to come up with ideas on how to pack them for this outing, with an eye on keeping them warm without melting their sleeping holes. I'm getting an eye twitch just thinking about it!

Until later...

In Winter

noreply@blogger.com (Nonnie) — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 12:00:00 +0000

Every mile is two in winter.

~ George Herbert

The holidays are well and truly over. Tomorrow I go back to work and the boys go back to school. I've been at home since Thursday night and yet, I wish I could stay here a few more days.

It's mighty cold outside you see. The temps have been below zero all day and I shudder to think of what the windchill is.

As far as I know there is no end in sight for the cold. You'd think I'd be used to it by now, having lived in the Hinterlands my whole life, but no. I whine and kvletch as much each year as I did the last.

The thought of getting up and heading out tomorrow seems unbarable, but I know I'll do it...even if each mile seems like two.

Until Later...

Overcoming Inertia

noreply@blogger.com (Nonnie) — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 13:02:00 +0000

So many fail because they don't get started - they don't go. They don't overcome inertia. They don't begin.

~ W. Clement Stone

Today and tomorrow are my days to overcome inertia. Once that's been triumphed over, then I'll need to figure out how to keep the momentum going.

In living with two monsters, I end up with this clutter problem...clutter in the shape of video games, lego pieces and baseballs. My mission these next two days is to figure out a way to organize it all in a manner that lets me keep my sanity, but still lets the monsters free to do their thing.

I thought I had it figured out a few weeks ago, but what I did doesn't seem to be working. So while I have my coffee this morning, I'm going to brainstorm new, better ways to control the clutter and then impliment one. Then, when the monsters get home tomorrow, we'll be able to go through the new system.

My eyes are crossed just thinking about it.

Until later...

Let Each New Year Find You A Better Man

noreply@blogger.com (Nonnie) — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 12:00:00 +0000

Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man.

~ Benjamin Franklin

And so it begins. It's the first day of a new year, a new decade. The first day to start again, as so many plan and resolve to do.

I, too, have plans and resolutions. Some are health related; both physical and mental. Some are finance related; both current and future. Most however, are world related. I've come to realize that my existence, no matter how important to me, is wholly dependant on the existence of my world. I need to do better in that respect, as the world and its existence are not mine to own, but rather mine to steward.

I look at my children and at the children of friends and realize that in order for them to have a chance at succeeding, the damage that has been done through the generations needs to be halted.

So on this first day of 2010, I'm looking out to the world to determine what I can do to make it a better place, rather than what it can do to improve me.

May all your resolutions and plans find traction in the day to day life of the new year.

Until later...

Once More With Feeling

noreply@blogger.com (Nonnie) — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 11:19:00 +0000

I'm going to try this blog thing again...we'll see where it takes us.

2009 Reading List

noreply@blogger.com (Nonnie) — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 12:00:00 +0000

1. 14 / J.T. Ellison.
2. A bite to remember / Lynsay Sands.
3. A dark love / Margaret Carroll.
4. A great and terrible beauty / Libba Bray.
5. A journal for Jordan : a story of love and honor / Dana Canedy.
6. A marked man / Stella Cameron.
7. A quick bite / Lynsay Sands.
8. A spell for Chameleon / Piers Anthony.
9. A stranger's game / Joan Johnston.
10. A trace of smoke / Rebecca Cantrell.
11. A whisper in the dark / Linda Castillo.
12. A wrinkle in time / Madeleine L'Engle.
13. Acts of mercy : a Mercy Street novel / Mariah Stewart.
14. All I want for Christmas is a vampire / Kerrelyn Sparks.
15. All the pretty girls / J.T. Ellison.
16. Angels' blood / Nalini Singh.
17. Angel's pain / Maggie Shayne.
18. Any given doomsday / Lori Handeland.
19. As shadows fade : the Gardella vampire chronicles / Colleen Gleason
20. Ashes of midnight / Lara Adrian.
21. At grave's end / Jeaniene Frost.
22. At twilight / Maggie Shayne.
23. Avenging angel / Justine Dare.
24. Baking by flavor / Lisa Yockelson ; foreword by Flo Braker ;
25. Be mine tonight / Kathryn Smith.
26. Bed of roses / Nora Roberts.
27. Before I wake : the nightmare chronicles / Kathryn Smith.
28. Beg me / Lisa Lawrence.
29. Below the surface / Karen Harper.
30. Bengal's heart / Lora Leigh.
31. Betrayed : a House of Night novel / P. C. Cast and Kristin Cast.
32. Bewitching season / Marissa Doyle.
33. Beyond the highland mist / Karen Marie Moning.
34. Big bad wolf / Christine Warren.
35. Bite me if you can / Lynsay Sands.
36. Bitten / Kelley Armstrong.
37. Black Friday : a Maggie O'Dell novel / Alex Kava.
38. Black Hills / Nora Roberts.
39. Black out : a novel / Lisa Unger.
40. Blood bound / Patricia Briggs.
41. Blood dreams / Kay Hooper.
42. Blood promise / Richelle Mead.
43. Blood sins / Kay Hooper.
44. Bloodfever / Karen Marie Moning.
45. Blue bloods / Melissa de la Cruz.
46. Blue moon / Alyson Noël.
47. Blue twilight / Maggie Shayne.
48. Bone crossed / Patricia Briggs.
49. Branded by fire / Nalini Singh.
50. Breaking loose / Tara Janzen.
51. Breakneck / Erica Spindler.
52. Breakpoint : a high risk novel / JoAnn Ross.
53. Bring it on / Laura Anne Gilman.
54. Broken / Kelley Armstrong.
55. Burn : a novel / Linda Howard.
56. Burning alive / Shannon K. Butcher.
57. Burning bridges / Laura Anne Gilman.
58. Cape Storm : a Weather Warden novel / Rachel Caine.
59. Caressed by ice / Nalini Singh.
60. Carpe corpus / Rachel Caine.
61. Cast in fury / Michelle Sagara.
62. Castle Roogna / Piers Anthony.
63. Catching fire / Suzanne Collins.
64. Centaur aisle / Piers Anthony.
65. Changeling / Yasmine Galenorn.
66. Chosen : a house of night novel / P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast.
67. Chosen prey / Cheyenne McCray.
68. Chosen to die / Lisa Jackson.
69. City of ashes / Cassandra Clare.
70. City of bones / Cassandra Clare.
71. City of Glass / Cassandra Clare.
72. Close-up / Virginia Kantra.
73. Cold pursuit / Carla Neggers.
74. Covet : a novel of the fallen angels / J.R. Ward.
75. Coyote's mate / Lora Leigh.
76. Crash into me / Jill Sorenson.
77. Crossfire : a high risk novel / JoAnn Ross.
78. Cry mercy : a Mercy Street novel / Mariah Stewart.
79. Cry wolf / Patricia Briggs.
80. Cupcake magic : the cupcake cookbook / Kate Shirazi.
81. Curse the dark / Laura Anne Gilman.
82. Curse the dawn / Karen Chance.
83. Cutting edge : a novel of suspense / Allison Brennan.
84. Damsel under stress : a novel / Shanna Swendson.
85. Danger in a red dress [text (large print)] / Christina Dodd.
86. Dark magic / Cheyenne McCray.
87. Dark of night : a novel / Suzanne Brockmann.
88. Dark rival / Brenda Joyce.
89. Dark slayer: a Carpathian novel / Christine Feehan.
90. Dark victory / Brenda Joyce.
91. Dark warrior unleashed / Alexis Morgan.
92. Dark watcher / Lilith Saintcrow.
93. Darkborn / Alison Sinclair.
94. Darkfever / Karen Marie Moning.
95. Darkling / Yasmine Galenorn.
96. Darkness calls / Marjorie M. Liu.
97. Darkness everlasting / Alexandra Ivy.
98. Darkness revealed
99. Dead before dark / Wendy Corsi Staub.
100. Dead reckoning / Linda Castillo.
101. Dead until dark / Charlaine Harris.
102. Deadlock / Iris Johansen.
103. Deadly desire / Keri Arthur.
104. Deadly gift / Heather Graham.
105. Death's door / Meryl Sawyer.
106. Deep cover / Rachel Butler.
107. Deep down / Karen Harper.
108. Deja dead / Kathleen Reichs.
109. Demon's kiss / Maggie Shayne.
110. Desire unchained / Larissa Ione.
111. Desire untamed : a feral warriors novel / Pamela Palmer.
112. Destined for an early grave / Jeaniene Frost.
113. Destiny kills / Keri Arthur.
114. Devil may ride / Wendy Roberts.
115. Die for you : a novel / Lisa Unger.
116. Dime store magic / Kelley Armstrong.
117. Don't hex with Texas : a novel / Shanna Swendson.
118. Dragon wytch / Yasmine Galenorn.
119. Dragonsdawn / Anne McCaffrey.
120. Dragonseye / Anne McCaffrey.
121. Drawn in blood / Andrea Kane.
122. Dreamfever : a novel / Karen Marie Moning.
123. Dust to dust / Heather Graham.
124. Dying for you / Beverly Barton.
125. Ecstasy / Jacquelyn Frank.
126. Edge of twilight / Maggie Shayne.
127. Embrace the darkness / Alexandra Ivy.
128. Embrace the twilight / Maggie Shayne.
129. Enchanted, Inc. : a novel / Shanna Swendson.
130. Eternal / Cynthia Leitich Smith.
131. Evermore / Alyson Noël.
132. Evernight / Claudia Gray.
133. Evil at heart / Chelsea Cain.
134. Evil without a face / Jordan Dane.
135. Exit strategy / Kelley Armstrong.
136. Eye of heaven / Marjorie M. Liu.
137. Faceless / Debra Webb.
138. Fade / Lisa McMann.
139. Fade out / Rachel Caine.
140. Fade to red / Linda Castillo.
141. Faefever / Karen Marie Moning.
142. Fatal secrets : a novel of suspense / Allison Brennan.
143. Feast of fools / Rachel Caine.
144. Final breath [text (large print)] / Kevin O'Brien.
145. Final truth : a novel of suspense / Mariah Stewart.
146. Find me / Debra Webb.
147. Finger lickin' fifteen / Janet Evanovich.
148. Fire / Kristin Cashore.
149. Fire and ice : a novel / Julie Garwood.
150. Fire study / Maria V. Snyder.
151. Forbidden magic / Cheyenne McCray.
152. Forbidden nights with a vampire / Kerrelyn Sparks.
153. Forget me not / Marliss Melton.
154. Fortune's fool / Mercedes Lackey.
155. Fragile eternity / Melissa Marr.
156. Free fall / Laura Anne Gilman.
157. Freefall : a high risk novel / Joann Ross.
158. Frostbitten / Kelley Armstrong.
159. Glass houses / Rachel Caine.
160. Graceling / Kristin Cashore.
161. Greywalker / Kat Richardson.
162. Guilty / Karen Robards.
163. Half past dead / Meryl Sawyer.
164. Handle with care : a novel / Jodi Picoult.
165. Hands of flame / C.E. Murphy.
166. Happy hour at Casa Dracula / Marta Acosta.
167. Haunted / Kelley Armstrong.
168. Heart of stone / C. E. Murphy.
169. Hell's belles / Jackie Kessler.
170. Hidden currents / Christine Feehan.
171. Hide and seek / Fern Michaels.
172. High stakes / Justine Dare.
173. Home before midnight / Virginia Kantra.
174. Hostage to pleasure / Nalini Singh.
175. Hot pursuit : a novel / Suzanne Brockmann.
176. House of cards / C.E. Murphy.
177. How to marry a millionaire vampire / Kerrelyn Sparks.
178. Howl at the moon / Christine Warren.
179. Hunt her down / Roxanne St. Claire.
180. Hunted : a house of night novel / P. C. Cast and Kristin Cast.
181. Hunters : heart and soul / Shiloh Walker.
182. Hunter's salvation / Shiloh Walker.
183. Hunting ground / Patricia Briggs.
184. Hunting the hunter / Shiloh Walker.
185. I can see you / Karen Rose.
186. I loved, I lost, I made spaghetti : a memoir / Giulia Melucci.
187. If you ever tell / Carlene Thompson.
188. Immortal danger / Cynthia Eden.
189. In the Dark / Marliss Melton.
190. Industrial magic / Kelley Armstrong.
191. Ink exchange / Melissa Marr.
192. Iron kissed / Patricia Briggs.
193. Judas kiss / J. T. Ellison.
194. Just take my heart / Mary Higgins Clark.
195. Kill for me / Karen Rose.
196. King of sword and sky / C.L. Wilson.
197. Kiss of a demon king / Kresley Cole.
198. Kiss of the highlander / Karen Marie Moning.
199. Kitty and the dead man's hand / Carrie Vaughn.
200. Kitty and the midnight hour / Carrie Vaughn.
201. Kitty and the silver bullet / Carrie Vaughn.
202. Kitty goes to Washington / Carrie Vaughn.
203. Kitty takes a holiday / Carrie Vaughn.
204. KnockOut / Catherine Coulter.
205. Lady of light and shadows / C.L. Wilson.
206. Lament : the faerie queen's deception / Maggie Stiefvater.
207. Last breath : a novel of suspense / Mariah Stewart.
208. Last gasp / Carla Cassidy.
209. Last look : a novel of suspense / Mariah Stewart.
210. Last seen alive [text (large print)] / Carlene Thompson.
211. Last whisper / Carlene Thompson.
212. Last words : a novel of suspense / Mariah Stewart.
213. Lean mean thirteen / Janet Evanovich.
214. Living with the dead / Kelley Armstrong.
215. Look again / Lisa Scottoline.
216. Lord of misrule / Rachel Caine.
217. Lord of the fading lands : Tairen Soul / C.L. Wilson.
218. Lost souls / Lisa Jackson.
219. Love bites / Lynsay Sands.
220. Lover avenged / J. R. Ward.
221. Lover's bite / Maggie Shayne.
222. Lullaby and goodnight / Wendy Corsi Staub.
223. Made to be broken / Kelley Armstrong.
224. Magic bites / Ilona Andrews.
225. Magic burns / Ilona Andrews.
226. Magic strikes / Illona Andrews.
227. Magic study / Maria V. Snyder.
228. Magic to the bone / Devon Monk.
229. Make her pay / Roxanne St. Claire.
230. Malice / Lisa Jackson.
231. Mark of the demon / Diana Rowland.
232. Marked / P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast.
233. Masquerade : a Blue Bloods novel / Melissa de la Cruz.
234. Maverick / Lora Leigh.
235. Mercy Street : a novel / Mariah Stewart.
236. Midnight Alley / Rachel Caine.
237. Midnight's daughter / Karen Chance.
238. Mine to possess / Nalini Singh.
239. Missing / Lisa Jackson.
240. Mortal sin / Laurie Breton.
241. Moving target / Cheyenne McCray.
242. My sister's keeper : a novel / Jodi Picoult.
243. Nameless / Debra Webb.
244. Night fall : a novel / Cherry Adair.
245. Night life / Caitlin Kittredge.
246. Night rising / Chris Marie Green.
247. Night secrets : a novel / Cherry Adair.
248. Night world. No. 1. / L. J. Smith.
249. Night world. No. 2. / L. J. Smith.
250. Night world. No. 3 / L. J. Smith.
251. Nightwalker / Heather Graham.
252. Nightwalker : the first dark days novel / Jocelynn Drake.
253. No humans involved / Kelley Armstrong.
254. No regrets / by Shannon K. Butcher.
255. On target / Catherine Mann.
256. On the edge / Illona Andrews.
257. Once dead, twice shy : a novel / Kim Harrison.
258. Once upon stilettos : a novel / Shanna Swendson.
259. One bite with a stranger / Christine Warren.
260. One deadly sin / Annie Solomon.
261. One good knight / Mercedes Lackey.
262. One more bite : a Jaz Parks novel / Jennifer Rardin.
263. One way out / Michele Albert.
264. One wrong step / Laura Griffin.
265. Outcast / Joan Johnston.
266. Overkill / Linda Castillo.
267. Personal demon / Kelley Armstrong.
268. Pitch black / Susan Crandall.
269. Pleasure / Jacquelyn Frank.
270. Point of departure / Laurie Breton.
271. Poison study / Maria V. Snyder.
272. Poltergeist : a Greywalker novel / Kat Richardson.
273. Primal needs / Susan Sizemore.
274. Prince of twilight / Maggie Shayne.
275. Princess of the Midnight Ball / Jessica Day George.
276. Pursuit / Karen Robards.
277. Pursuit of honor : a novel / Vince Flynn.
278. Quick and clever party cakes / Lindy Smith.
279. Rainwater / Sandra Brown.
280. Rapture / Jacquelyn Frank.
281. Ravenous : the dark forgotten / by Sharon Ashwood.
282. Revelations : a Blue Bloods novel / Melissa de la Cruz.
283. Rises the night : the Gardella vampire chronicles / Colleen Gleason
284. Running hot / Jayne Ann Krentz.
285. Say goodbye / Lisa Gardner.
286. Scorched / Rachel Butler.
287. Scream for me / Karen Rose.
288. Sea glass / Maria V. Snyder.
289. Secret life of a vampire / Kerrelyn Sparks.
290. Secret society girl : an Ivy League novel / Diana Peterfreund.
291. Seduced by magic / Cheyenne McCray.
292. Seeing red / Susan Crandall.
293. Shadow magic / Cheyenne McCray.
294. Shadow man / Cody McFadyen.
295. Shadow touch / Marjorie M. Liu.
296. Shadowland / Alyson Noël.
297. Shadowlight : a novel of the Kyndred / Lynn Viehl.
298. Shattered : a High Risk novel / JoAnn Ross.
299. Shattered dance / Caitlin Brennan.
300. Silent fall / Barbara Freethy.
301. Silent killer / Beverly Barton.
302. Silent on the moor : a Lady Julia Grey novel / Deanna Raybourn.
303. Silent run / Barbara Freethy.
304. Single white vampire / Lynsay Sands.
305. Skin deep / Mark Del Franco .
306. Slave to sensation / Nalini Singh.
307. Sleeping with fear / Kay Hooper.
308. Smash cut / Sandra Brown.
309. Smoke screen / Sandra Brown.
310. Snowfall / Sharon Sala.
311. Song of unmaking / Caitlin Brennan.
312. Soul song / Marjorie M. Liu.
313. Speak of the devil / Jenna Black.
314. Spell of the Highlander / Karen Marie Moning.
315. Stargazer / Claudia Gray.
316. Stay the night : a novel of the Darkyn / Lynn Viehl.
317. Staying dead : [a retrievers novel] / Laura Anne Gilman.
318. Stolen / Kelley Armstrong.
319. Storm born / Richelle Mead.
320. Storm front / Jim Butcher.
321. Storm glass / Maria V. Snyder.
322. Storm of shadows / Christina Dodd.
323. Storm of visions / Christina Dodd.
324. Storm watcher / Lilith Saintcrow.
325. Street magic : [a black London novel] / Caitlin Kittredge.
326. Sudden death : a novel of suspense / Allison Brennan.
327. Take no prisoners / Cindy Gerard.
328. Tall, dark & hungry / Lynsay Sands.
329. Tall, dark and deadly / Lorie O'Clare.
330. Tasting fear / Shannon McKenna.
331. Tempted / P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast.
332. Thanks for the memories / Cecelia Ahern.
333. The accidental vampire : an Argeneau novel / Lynsay Sands.
334. The Akhenaten adventure / P.B. Kerr.
335. The assassin / Rachel Butler.
336. The awakening / Kelley Armstrong.
337. The bleeding dusk / Colleen Gleason.
338. The Blue Djinn of Babylon / P.B. Kerr.
339. The chronicles of Pern : first fall / Anne McCaffrey.
340. The Cobra King of Kathmandu / P.B. Kerr.
341. The dark highlander / Karen Marie Moning.
342. The darkest whisper / Gena Showalter.
343. The day the world came to town : 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland / Jim DeFede.
344. The dead girls' dance / Rachel Caine.
345. The deepest cut : a novel / Dianne Emley.
346. The demon you know / Christine Warren.
347. The devil inside / Jenna Black.
348. The devil you know / Jenna Black.
349. The devil's due / Jenna Black.
350. The devil's footprints / Amanda Stevens.
351. The eye of the forest / P.B. Kerr.
352. The fairy godmother / Mercedes Lackey.
353. The first cut : a novel / Dianne Emley.
354. The hiding place / Karen Harper.
355. The highlander's touch / Karen Marie Moning.
356. The hunger games / Suzanne Collins.
357. The Hunter's Moon / O.R. Melling.
358. The immortal highlander / Karen Marie Moning.
359. The iron hunt / Marjorie M. Liu.
360. The MacKade brothers : Devin & Shane / Nora Roberts.
361. The MacKade brothers : Rafe & Jared / Nora Roberts.
362. The mercenary / Cherry Adair.
363. The moon witch / Linda Winstead Jones.
364. The Mountain's call / Caitlin Brennan.
365. The neighbor / Lisa Gardner.
366. The perfect couple / Brenda Novak.
367. The perfect liar / Brenda Novak.
368. The perfect murder / Brenda Novak.
369. The perilous gard. Illustrated by Richard Cuffari.
370. The red heart of Jade / Marjorie M. Liu.
371. The remains of the dead / Wendy Roberts.
372. The rest falls away : the Gardella vampire chronicles / Colleen Gleason
373. The return / Sharon Sala.
374. The ring / Danielle Steel.
375. The Safe-Keeper's secret / Sharon Shinn.
376. The Secret Circle : the initiation and the captive, part I / L.J.
377. The shadow queen : a black jewels novel / Anne Bishop.
378. The snow queen / Mercedes Lackey.
379. The source of magic / Piers Anthony.
380. The summoning / Kelley Armstrong.
381. The sun witch / Linda Winstead Jones.
382. The Van Alen legacy / Melissa de la Cruz.
383. Thirteen reasons why : a novel / by Jay Asher.
384. Thread of fear / Laura Griffin.
385. Tiger eye / Marjorie M. Liu.
386. Time to run / Marliss Melton.
387. Tithe : a modern faerie tale / Holly Black.
388. To tame a Highland warrior / Karen Marie Moning.
389. Traceless / Debra Webb.
390. Twilight hunger / Maggie Shayne.
391. Twisted / Andrea Kane.
392. Two by twilight / Maggie Shayne.
393. Under the rose : an Ivy League novel / Diana Peterfreund.
394. Undone / Rachel Caine.
395. Unshapely things / Mark Del Franco.
396. Untamed : a house of night novel / P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast.
397. Urban shaman / C. E. Murphy.
398. Vampire kisses / Ellen Schreiber.
399. Vampire kisses 2 : kissing coffins / Ellen Schreiber.
400. Vampires are forever : an Argeneau novel / Lynsay Sands.
401. Veil of midnight / Lara Adrian.
402. Vision in white / Nora Roberts.
403. Visions of heat / Nalini Singh.
404. Wake / Lisa McMann.
405. Waking evil : the mindhunters / Kylie Brant.
406. Waking nightmare : the mindhunters / Kylie Brant.
407. Walk on the wild side / Christine Warren.
408. When twilight burns / Colleen Gleason.
409. Where are you now? / Mary Higgins Clark.
410. Whisper no lies / Cindy Gerard.
411. White witch, black curse / Kim Harrison.
412. Wicked lovely / Melissa Marr.
413. Wicked magic / Cheyenne McCray.
414. Wings in the night / Maggie Shayne.
415. Witch fire / Anya Bast.
416. Witchling / Yasmine Galenorn.
417. Wolf at the door / Christine Warren.
418. You're so vein / Christine Warren.

Plastic?

noreply@blogger.com (Nonnie) — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 12:00:00 +0000

There will be a rain dance Friday night, weather permitting.
~ George Carlin

Here in the Scandahoovian Hinterlands, the weather will either permit a rain dance or a snow dance tonight. We're breaking out the winter jackets today, and likely won't be putting them away until late April.

I'm not sure what's on my agenda for the weekend, but I'll find something...I've got a few books to read and I feel like baking. I should also start playing with the chocolate "plastic" I am planning on using to make penguins for Christmas. I figure if I start playing with it now, the penguins might actually look like penguins by the end of December.

Yeah, I think that's what I'll do. Make penguins. Now to find the recipe and buy the ingredients to make the "plastic".

Until later...

Politics and Mr. A

noreply@blogger.com (Nonnie) — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 12:00:00 +0000

Okay...this is my last "political" post for this election season.

Mr. A is about the same age for this election as I was the first election that I remember paying attention to. He also really paid attention to the election and he read up on both candidates for two different classes in school. He and I had quite a few discussions about each of the candidates and their positions.

Tuesday night he spent the night glued to the computer, bopping between CNN and MSNBC to see what the news sites were saying about how the election was going. He kept calling out to me (I was in another room) as each state was called for a particular candidate.

He bounced through the house as he came to discuss something he'd read online. He asked intelligent questions about things that were being said about the election process. He was INVOLVED right up to the time I sent him to bed. Or so I thought.

It turned out that he went to his room and tuned his radio to a news station that was covering the elections and stayed up until they'd called it for President Elect Obama.

I don't know if I can express just how much this pleases me. Instilling an interest in politics in the monsters at a young age in their lives is important to me. Knowing that they think about all aspects of the candidates before making a choice is important to me. I don't care if they vote the way I do or go their separate way, but I do care that they are involved.

And he is. It warms my heart.

Until later...

Change

noreply@blogger.com (Nonnie) — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 12:00:00 +0000

All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another.

~ Anatole France

This morning the nation wakes up to a new President Elect. Many have dreamed for this change, many have feared it.

The nation will not change overnight, and likely, it will take years, even decades for us to see that change that comes from the decision my fellow countrymen and women made yesterday.

My hope is that we will work together instead of against each other to bring about this change. My fear is that we will become even more divisive.

Let's hope that working together is what happens.

Until later...

Happy Birthday!

noreply@blogger.com (Nonnie) — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 11:59:00 +0000

Happy Birthday Whelp!

Hope the next 35 treat you as well as the first!

Until later...

Civic Sacrament

noreply@blogger.com (Nonnie) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 12:00:00 +0000

The vote is the most powerful instrument ever devised by man for breaking down injustice and destroying the terrible walls which imprison men because they are different from other men.

~ Lyndon B. Johnson

Lower voter participation is a silent threat to our democracy...It under-represents young people, the poor, the disabled, those with little education, minorities and you and me.

~ Nancy Neuman

The future of this republic is in the hands of the American voter.

~ Dwight D. Eisenhower

To make democracy work, we must be a notion of participants, not simply observers. One who does not vote has no right to complain.

~ Louis L'Amour

Voting is a civic sacrament.

~ Theodore Hesburgh

Until later...

Milk's Immortality

noreply@blogger.com (Nonnie) — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 12:00:00 +0000

Cheese - milk's leap toward immortality.
~ Clifton Fadiman

Cheese is one of the Wonders of the World...at least to this Nonnie. Everything is better with cheese, and there can never be too much cheese. This week's menu is no different. Everything on it has cheese. If I didn't eat cheese, I don't know that I'd get my daily dairy recommendations in.

So...last week's recap. White Chicken Chili is something we've had before, but the monsters decided that they hate it now. Sigh... Easiest No Boil Lasagna is the only lasagna we eat and so easy to put together!

This week's menu is as follows:

Monday ~ Scout Night

Hot Ham and Cheese Roll and chips

Tuesday ~ Get out and vote!

Monsters' Mexican Meatloaf with refried beans

Wednesday ~

Homemade pizzas ~ probably sausage and pepperoni

Thursday ~

YOYO

Friday, Saturday and Sunday ~ Monsters at their dad's

I didn't get around to the Buffalo Chicken Dip last week, so I may do it this weekend.

So that's it for this week. Stop by this week's MPM to see what other's are planning.

Until later...

Extra Snooze

noreply@blogger.com (Nonnie) — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 12:00:00 +0000

An extra yawn one morning in the springtime, an extra snooze one night in the autumn is all that we ask in return for dazzling gifts. We borrow an hour one night in April; we pay it back with golden interest five months later.
~ Winston Churchill

So today is the first day of Daylight Savings Time. We're in the "fall back" portion of the "screw with the clock" yearly program. And like normal, I completely forgot that it started today when I went to bed last night and when my internal alarm woke me up, I didn't try to roll over and go back to bed.

Bugaboo told me on Friday that he thinks this the time change is "stupid" and they should leave it alone. I heartily agree.

But I'm up and there's no sense in going back to bed now. I should get a few more things done around the house today, and then I'm going to relax the rest of the afternoon.

Have a wonderful Sunday and don't spend that extra hour all in one place!

Until later...

Warmth

noreply@blogger.com (Nonnie) — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 11:00:00 +0000

It's the national addiction: warmth on chilly winter nights, innocence on Saturday afternoons, the essence of hearth, home and blissful abandon.
~ Patricia Linden

Last night I had the warmth, even though it wasn't chilly, nor was it a winter night. The monsters are with X, so I didn't have to deal with the chaos of Halloween.

I went out for lunch with my parents yesterday. A nice relaxing meal just to touch base. Even though we all talk a few times a week, we haven't seen each other since September, so it was nice to spend the time. We sat in the restaurant for almost 3 hours chatting.

After we went our separate ways, I ran some errands. I stopped and got some new sweaters because I wanted to, not because I need them. Then I stopped by Sam's for a few things and then the grocery store. The grocery store has yet to get in the holiday coffee creamer that I so love, so I ran over to the Super Walmart and picked up the creamer there. I'm sure you're wondering why I didn't do all my shopping at Wally World, and the answer is that the quality and selection at the grocery store across the street is much better.

Then I came home. I got home in time to miss the majority of the kids running around, but before the college kids went out to the bars. The cats and I had a nice quiet meal and I did some Nonnie pampering before going to bed.

Today, while the quote says there is supposed to be innocence on a Saturday afternoon, I have some work that I brought home and I have to run to the library. I also should reorganize the laundry room.

Innocence on a Saturday afternoon means playing and doing what you want to me, but I'm thinking I won't hit the innocence portion of the program until tonight...and really, with the plans I have for the evening, that doesn't follow either.

Until later...

Once A Year...

noreply@blogger.com (Nonnie) — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 11:00:00 +0000

Once in a young lifetime one should be allowed to have as much sweetness as one can possibly want and hold.
~ Judith Olney

Or more to the point, once a year in a young lifetime, Halloween allows a child to have more candy then they could dream of.

Tonight is the night when neighborhoods will be filled with children running from house to house, yelling trick or treat, and getting enough candy to make them, their families and their pets sick for the next two months.

This is the final year of costumes in the Hinterlands. Bugaboo has hit the magic year and Mr. A hit it two years ago. I'm both sorry and not sorry to see it end. I'm sorry, becuase it means that the boys are getting older than I want them to be. I'm not sorry, because the chaos of finding just the right costume, getting them fed, walking around the neighborhood, is just more than I think it is worth sometimes for a bag of candy.

We'll still celebrate to a point. Maybe with special treats like I made this year. Bugaboo tapped me to make treats for his classroom, and after finding this recipe in a magazine at the ortho's office, this is what I came up with...

Isn't it cute? I hope the kids in Bugaboo's class enjoy them!

Have a safe and exciting Halloween!

Until later...