Hello everyone! I hope that you're all just fine this morning - I certainly am! :) Anyway, I just wanted to give you an update on how I'm doing so far.
Anyway, ten days ago - on Thursday afternoon, October 6th - I decided to treat myself and bought a box of jigsaw puzzles. There are actually twelve different puzzles in the entire box, but surprisingly that has only kept me occupied for a short amount of time. As of yesterday morning - Saturday, October 15th - I just finished the eleventh jigsaw puzzle out of a giant box of twelve. I may finish the entire box very shortly, but I have had so much fun doing these puzzles that I totally expect that I will be doing them again sometime very soon.
My sum-doku puzzle addiction has been showing itself intermittently - as of yesterday morning, Saturday, October 15th - I have finished a total of 54 sum-doku puzzles. Also, since the middle of June - June 20th to be exact - I have been doing sum-doku puzzles from another book. Since Thursday morning, August 11th I've actually managed to complete a grand total of 79 puzzles from that particular book. Not too bad at all, if I do say so, myself!
As regards my own reading, I actually finished reading A Map of the World by Jane Hamilton on Wednesday evening, October 5th! Since I set aside Deadly Impulse by Olga Bicos on Thursday, October 13th, I immediately started reading Lying Awake: A Novel by Mark Salzman. According to Goodreads - as of Friday afternoon, October 14th - I've read 17 pages out of 181; or approximately 9 percent of the story.
Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight
Sunday, October 16, 2016
Thursday, October 13, 2016
My Minor Puzzle Blitz Continues!
Hello everyone! I hope that you're all just fine this morning - I certainly am! :) Anyway, I just wanted to give you an update on how I'm doing so far.
Anyway, exactly a week ago - on Thursday afternoon, October 6th - I decided to treat myself and bought a box of jigsaw puzzles. There are actually twelve different puzzles in the entire box, but sometimes it feels good to splurge a little bit. As of today - Thursday, October 13th - I have managed to finish a grand total of nine jigsaw puzzles from the box. I have to say that I was expecting such a giant box to last me a little bit longer than it seems like it might, but I suppose it is still not too bad.
So, because I received an injury at my doctor's appointment, I had to go to a follow-up appointment where they told me that they wanted me to monitor my blood pressure and pulse for the next three months. I started charting my results on Monday morning, September 27th and except for a couple of days where my blood pressure and pulse were slightly higher than usual, for the most part the results have been fairly consistent. Since Monday night, October 3rd - the night when all my levels were so surprisingly low - I have continued to chart my progress.
All the results has been relatively stable except for the one night last week when I woke up from a particularly comfortable nap and somehow managed to have an elevated reading on both my blood pressure and my pulse. I did a double take on both readings since I knew that I wasn't dreaming or worried about anything, and so rechecked both results later. Back again to the normal range; as it should be.
As regards my own reading, I actually finished reading A Map of the World by Jane Hamilton on Wednesday evening, October 5th! I was wondering what to read next, and eventually chose to read Deadly Impulse by Olga Bicos on Friday, October 7th. Since then, I have decided to set that book aside for a while in favor of reading Lying Awake: A Novel by Mark Salzman; which I just started this morning: Thursday, October 13th!
Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight
Anyway, exactly a week ago - on Thursday afternoon, October 6th - I decided to treat myself and bought a box of jigsaw puzzles. There are actually twelve different puzzles in the entire box, but sometimes it feels good to splurge a little bit. As of today - Thursday, October 13th - I have managed to finish a grand total of nine jigsaw puzzles from the box. I have to say that I was expecting such a giant box to last me a little bit longer than it seems like it might, but I suppose it is still not too bad.
So, because I received an injury at my doctor's appointment, I had to go to a follow-up appointment where they told me that they wanted me to monitor my blood pressure and pulse for the next three months. I started charting my results on Monday morning, September 27th and except for a couple of days where my blood pressure and pulse were slightly higher than usual, for the most part the results have been fairly consistent. Since Monday night, October 3rd - the night when all my levels were so surprisingly low - I have continued to chart my progress.
All the results has been relatively stable except for the one night last week when I woke up from a particularly comfortable nap and somehow managed to have an elevated reading on both my blood pressure and my pulse. I did a double take on both readings since I knew that I wasn't dreaming or worried about anything, and so rechecked both results later. Back again to the normal range; as it should be.
As regards my own reading, I actually finished reading A Map of the World by Jane Hamilton on Wednesday evening, October 5th! I was wondering what to read next, and eventually chose to read Deadly Impulse by Olga Bicos on Friday, October 7th. Since then, I have decided to set that book aside for a while in favor of reading Lying Awake: A Novel by Mark Salzman; which I just started this morning: Thursday, October 13th!
Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight
Monday, October 10, 2016
I'm Not Suffering Through Another Reader's Block - It's Just That Puzzles of All Sorts Surround Me!
Hello everyone! I hope that you're all just fine this morning - I certainly am! :) Anyway, I just wanted to give you an update on how I'm doing so far.
Granted, I suppose that I haven't been doing all that much, besides the occasional jigsaw or sum-doku puzzles. I've also been reading quite a lot, but to be perfectly honest jigsaw puzzles have been waylaying my attention from time to time. I have no problem with choosing books and starting to read them, but sooner or later my head is turned by something in the puzzle 'genre'! LOL!!!
Anyway, with regard to my jigsaw puzzle quota, as of this morning - Monday, October 10th - I've managed to finish two more puzzles, bringing my total to six jigsaw puzzles out of the box of twelve. Actually, not too bad. Also, along with doing the occasional crossword puzzle out of the newspaper, I've done another eighteen sum-doku puzzles - bringing my grand total of puzzles to 47 sum-doku puzzles as of Monday, October 10th!
As regards my own reading, I actually finished reading A Map of the World by Jane Hamilton on Wednesday evening, October 5th! I was wondering what to read next, and eventually chose to read Deadly Impulse by Olga Bicos on Friday night, October 7th. This book has been on my bookshelf since May 20, 2013 and looks very intriguing, despite being on my TBR pile for approximately three years! According to Goodreads - as of Monday, October 10th - I'm on page 25 of 379; or approximately 7 percent into the story.
Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight
Granted, I suppose that I haven't been doing all that much, besides the occasional jigsaw or sum-doku puzzles. I've also been reading quite a lot, but to be perfectly honest jigsaw puzzles have been waylaying my attention from time to time. I have no problem with choosing books and starting to read them, but sooner or later my head is turned by something in the puzzle 'genre'! LOL!!!
Anyway, with regard to my jigsaw puzzle quota, as of this morning - Monday, October 10th - I've managed to finish two more puzzles, bringing my total to six jigsaw puzzles out of the box of twelve. Actually, not too bad. Also, along with doing the occasional crossword puzzle out of the newspaper, I've done another eighteen sum-doku puzzles - bringing my grand total of puzzles to 47 sum-doku puzzles as of Monday, October 10th!
As regards my own reading, I actually finished reading A Map of the World by Jane Hamilton on Wednesday evening, October 5th! I was wondering what to read next, and eventually chose to read Deadly Impulse by Olga Bicos on Friday night, October 7th. This book has been on my bookshelf since May 20, 2013 and looks very intriguing, despite being on my TBR pile for approximately three years! According to Goodreads - as of Monday, October 10th - I'm on page 25 of 379; or approximately 7 percent into the story.
Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight
Saturday, October 8, 2016
Do You Want to Hear a Funny Story?
Hello everyone! I hope that you're all just fine this morning - I certainly am! :) Anyway, I just wanted to give you an update on how I'm doing so far.
Anyway, two days ago - on Thursday afternoon, October 6th - I decided to treat myself and bought a box of jigsaw puzzles. There are actually twelve different puzzles in the entire box, so that should keep me going for a little while! Since the last jigsaw puzzle that I finished was on Friday morning, September 16th, I actually thought that I deserved to get some new puzzles for myself. As of today - Saturday, October 8th - I think I've finished about four of the jigsaw puzzles; at least, so far.
So, because I received an injury at my doctor's appointment, I had to go to a follow-up appointment where they told me that they wanted me to monitor my blood pressure and pulse for the next three months. I started charting my results on Monday morning, September 27th and except for a couple of days where my blood pressure and pulse were slightly higher than usual, for the most part the results have been fairly steady. I have actually been pleasantly surprised by the results - practically text-book level perfection! LOL!!!
So, on Monday night, October 3rd Mareena and I were watching a horror movie on television: The Grudge 3, starring Johanna Braddy and Shawnee Smith. About halfway through the movie - actually during the ads, right after watching a cliffhanger scary scene - I happened to remember to take my blood pressure and pulse. I took them, then had to recheck them just to make sure that I had them correct: my blood pressure was 122 over 49; and my pulse was 63! LOL!!!
As regards my own reading, I actually finished reading A Map of the World by Jane Hamilton on Wednesday evening, October 5th! I was wondering what to read next, and eventually chose to read Deadly Impulse by Olga Bicos yesterday, October 7th. This book has been on my bookshelf since May 20, 2013 and looks very intriguing, despite being on my TBR pile for approximately three years!
Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight
Anyway, two days ago - on Thursday afternoon, October 6th - I decided to treat myself and bought a box of jigsaw puzzles. There are actually twelve different puzzles in the entire box, so that should keep me going for a little while! Since the last jigsaw puzzle that I finished was on Friday morning, September 16th, I actually thought that I deserved to get some new puzzles for myself. As of today - Saturday, October 8th - I think I've finished about four of the jigsaw puzzles; at least, so far.
So, because I received an injury at my doctor's appointment, I had to go to a follow-up appointment where they told me that they wanted me to monitor my blood pressure and pulse for the next three months. I started charting my results on Monday morning, September 27th and except for a couple of days where my blood pressure and pulse were slightly higher than usual, for the most part the results have been fairly steady. I have actually been pleasantly surprised by the results - practically text-book level perfection! LOL!!!
So, on Monday night, October 3rd Mareena and I were watching a horror movie on television: The Grudge 3, starring Johanna Braddy and Shawnee Smith. About halfway through the movie - actually during the ads, right after watching a cliffhanger scary scene - I happened to remember to take my blood pressure and pulse. I took them, then had to recheck them just to make sure that I had them correct: my blood pressure was 122 over 49; and my pulse was 63! LOL!!!
As regards my own reading, I actually finished reading A Map of the World by Jane Hamilton on Wednesday evening, October 5th! I was wondering what to read next, and eventually chose to read Deadly Impulse by Olga Bicos yesterday, October 7th. This book has been on my bookshelf since May 20, 2013 and looks very intriguing, despite being on my TBR pile for approximately three years!
Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight
Wednesday, October 5, 2016
Jane Hamilton - A Map of the World
Length: 390 pages
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Started: 19 September 2016
Finished: 5 October 2016
Where did it come from? From a Library Book Sale
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 7 June 2016
Why do I have it? I like contemporary fiction and have read and enjoyed Disobedience by the same author in the past.
Although Alice and Howard Goodwin and their two young daughters have lived in Racine, Wisconsin for several years, they are still considered to be relative outsiders by a majority of the townspeople. The family actually operates the last remaining dairy farm which is located on the outskirts of the town. While the farm has always been a dream of Howard's; finally realized by infusions of money given to him by his disgruntled mother, Alice considers herself to be constitutionally unsuited to be a farmer's wife. She works as a school nurse because she loves children, but is otherwise disorganized, skittish and emotionally volatile.
Alice is also extremely lonely, but she finds some solace in her friendship with her best friend Theresa. Theresa also has two little girls, and so both young mothers arrange alternating play dates while babysitting each other's children. During a particularly brutally hot day in June - in the midst of a terrible drought - Alice daydreams for just a few crucial moments while the four girls play together. In the space of a few short minutes, Alice's life as much as the lives of everyone around her, takes a tragic turn.
The resulting tragedy only serves to alienate the Goodwins even further from their neighbors, as the residents of Racine begin to close ranks against Alice and her family. When she is subsequently arrested for an unthinkable crime, Alice is devastated by the vicious accusations being made against her - but because Howard is unable to raise her bail - she must remain in jail. While Alice suffers tremendously though her time in jail, she still learns a great deal about human frailty and solidarity.
Meanwhile, Howard and her girls must undergo their own trial by fire. A Map of the World is the touching second novel written by Jane Hamilton. This is a beautifully written story that paints a stunning picture of a marriage placed under serious pressure due to calamitous circumstances. It also poignantly addresses the capricious turns of fate and the lives caught in the unyielding grip of regret.
I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The story was well-written and full of sympathetic characters. I found myself totally immersed in the plot and I could completely understand how a person's entire life could be ruined by false accusations. As a matter of fact, reputations can be totally destroyed by the aftermath. I have actually read this book once before - approximately a decade ago - but as I can barely remember the plot, it's almost like I've never read the book at all. I would give this book a definite A+!
A+! - (96-100%)
Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight
The resulting tragedy only serves to alienate the Goodwins even further from their neighbors, as the residents of Racine begin to close ranks against Alice and her family. When she is subsequently arrested for an unthinkable crime, Alice is devastated by the vicious accusations being made against her - but because Howard is unable to raise her bail - she must remain in jail. While Alice suffers tremendously though her time in jail, she still learns a great deal about human frailty and solidarity.
Meanwhile, Howard and her girls must undergo their own trial by fire. A Map of the World is the touching second novel written by Jane Hamilton. This is a beautifully written story that paints a stunning picture of a marriage placed under serious pressure due to calamitous circumstances. It also poignantly addresses the capricious turns of fate and the lives caught in the unyielding grip of regret.
I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The story was well-written and full of sympathetic characters. I found myself totally immersed in the plot and I could completely understand how a person's entire life could be ruined by false accusations. As a matter of fact, reputations can be totally destroyed by the aftermath. I have actually read this book once before - approximately a decade ago - but as I can barely remember the plot, it's almost like I've never read the book at all. I would give this book a definite A+!
A+! - (96-100%)
Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight
Monday, October 3, 2016
Despite All Signs to the Contrary, I am Still Reading!
Hello everyone! I hope that you're all just fine this morning - I certainly am! :) Anyway, I just wanted to give you an update on how I'm doing so far.
Well, I'm delighted to let you all know that the 'goose egg' on my head as well as the two black eyes have finally gone better. As a matter of fact, everything was completely back to normal by Friday, September 30th! So, thank goodness for that!
So, as it is now officially the month of October, there is a boatload of horror movies that are going to be shown on television all throughout the month. Usually, the standard 'slasher' movies are always on - such as Saw, Wolf Creek, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Wrong Turn. Granted, Mareena and I have watched three of these movies together, but honestly there just wasn't enough of a backstory to hold our attention - at least not beyond the preliminaries - before we moved on to the chains, torture, and the crazed psychotic serial killers portion of the movie. I have to say that both of us could only watch these films once, and that was enough.
As regards my own reading, I actually started A Map of the World by Jane Hamilton on Monday, September 19th. According to Goodreads, as of this morning - Monday, October 3rd - I'm currently on page 285 of 400; or approximately 71 percent into the story. Since my own copy of A Map of the World by Jane Hamilton is actually 390 pages; reading 285 pages means that I have read approximately 73 percent of the story so far. I'm rather surprised that it's taking such a long time for me to read this book, but I am still enjoying the story.
Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight
Well, I'm delighted to let you all know that the 'goose egg' on my head as well as the two black eyes have finally gone better. As a matter of fact, everything was completely back to normal by Friday, September 30th! So, thank goodness for that!
So, as it is now officially the month of October, there is a boatload of horror movies that are going to be shown on television all throughout the month. Usually, the standard 'slasher' movies are always on - such as Saw, Wolf Creek, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Wrong Turn. Granted, Mareena and I have watched three of these movies together, but honestly there just wasn't enough of a backstory to hold our attention - at least not beyond the preliminaries - before we moved on to the chains, torture, and the crazed psychotic serial killers portion of the movie. I have to say that both of us could only watch these films once, and that was enough.
As regards my own reading, I actually started A Map of the World by Jane Hamilton on Monday, September 19th. According to Goodreads, as of this morning - Monday, October 3rd - I'm currently on page 285 of 400; or approximately 71 percent into the story. Since my own copy of A Map of the World by Jane Hamilton is actually 390 pages; reading 285 pages means that I have read approximately 73 percent of the story so far. I'm rather surprised that it's taking such a long time for me to read this book, but I am still enjoying the story.
Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight
Saturday, October 1, 2016
Reading Wrap-up For September at Moonshine and Rosefire
Hello everyone out there and I hope that you all had a terrific reading month for yourselves. I am known as Rosefire around the Internet and this is my new personal reading blog. I originally posted my reviews over at my daughter's blog, Emeraldfire's Bookmark but am now in the process of transferring them all over to my own blog. My daughter makes blogging look like so much fun that I thought that I would try it out for myself! :)
Anyway, I started out September with 1,062 books lying around the house and ended the month with 1,061 books unread. All the books that I acquired this month came from Bookmooch.
Let me try to break down the influx for you:
Changes to the TBR pile
Rereads
- The Rector's Wife by Joanna Trollope
Added to my TBR pile (oh well, you win some and you lose some! Not too bad though, I suppose:))
- The Rite: The Making of a Modern Exorcist by Matt Baglio
Taken off my TBR pile and sent to a new home (Yay! Happy Dance! :))
- Dying Young by Marti Leimbach
- Bless me, Ultima by Rudolfo A. Anaya
- The Race: A Novel by Richard North Patterson
- Sins of the Fathers by Susan Howatch
- Dying Young by Marti Leimbach
- Bless me, Ultima by Rudolfo A. Anaya
- The Race: A Novel by Richard North Patterson
- Sins of the Fathers by Susan Howatch
Well, there it is...the breakdown! All in all, a very good reading month for me. Here's a further breakdown:
Books Read: 1
Pages Read: 285
Grade Range: A+!
So, there you go! The reading month that was September. I hope that you all had an equally good reading month; if not a little better. :) See you all next month! :)
Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight
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