Blue Flu and The Blue Book

Today I didn’t want to come to work. Oh wait, it is that way everyday! I wish I had a profession that would allow me to work from home, but no such option has arisen yet. I opted for a blue flu day, but I couldn’t come up with a good excuse. My brother played on my conscience that I really needed to be honest about it and not come up with some nickel novel excuse for not going to work today. Ok little brother since when do you act as my conscience J? Although, I abandoned the idea of a blue flu day this morning, I am still contemplating leaving work early. We’ll see.
The past few weeks my free time at home has been spent canning. When I tell most people this they say luck you. However, I love preserving our gardens harvest. It makes me homey and old-fashion (is homey a word?). Monday night a friend of our family stopped at our house with presents for my mom, sister, and I. She purchased for each us the sacred canning book, which is a must for all canners (according to my grandmother), The Blue Book. I was browsing its pages last night and it does have many recipes, canning tips, a trouble-shooting section, and more. I see why it is consider very important to canners.
I finally finished Fitcher’s Brides by Gregory Frost. Thank goodness it is over. I’ve also finished 2 historical fiction books by Katherine Sturtevant, At The Sign of the Star and A True and Faithful Narrative. I enjoyed reading them. I hope to purchase both in the future. I felt the author had a good gripe on her facts and an understanding of the time period, 17th-century London.
I managed to finish another book recently, The Wood Wife by Terri Windling. I thought I had struck out again in choosing an author unknown to me to read, but I stuck with it. In the end I came to really like the book, it just took a while for it to build up. Once it did I couldn’t put it down. After reading her book, I think I would like to visit the desert.
I’m currently reading Legacy by Cayla Kluver. I don’t have a general opinion of it yet. I’ll have to let you know though as soon as I’m finished.
My goal for the month is to finish a total of 15 more books. I think if I put my brain into a comma in the process I should be able to do this. Of course my goal for next month is 15 books as well. I hope I can do it!

No quote of the day this time. However, take the time to read the poem, The Spires of Oxford by Winifred M. Letts. She is one of my favorite poets.

A last note: I think I need to learn to write shorter blogs.

Boredom, Lately Late, and Making a Labor Day Live Up To Its Name

Isn't it ironic how on the days you find yourself reaching out from under your pillow, where your head is buried from the sun, to repeatedly push the snooze button that your not late to work? However, on the days that you force yourself to refrain from pushing that blessed snooze button over and over again that you are late. Why does this happen to me? This morning I didn't wake up until 7 am. I have to be at work by 8:30 and it takes about a half hour drive to get to work. Wouldn't know, I was on time this morning. The day before I woke up, no I dragged myself from blissful slumber :), at 6:30 am and I was late to work. I need to work how to get this getting to work on time thing down to a science.
Did you ever go to your mother when you were young and say, "I'm bored"? Then you found yourself with more than enough chores to last a lifetime. This somehow doesn't fit into the workplace world. All week I've had to search for things to do at work. I tell people "I'm bored. Is there anything I can help you with?” I even asked my boss. No one has things for me to help with and let me tell you being bored at work makes the day trail along like a snail leaving behind slim on the hot ground. Not fun. My day has picked up some today and I'm hoping I have anything, but a slow Friday tomorrow.
I'm in the midst of torturing myself with a book. I never thought I'd mention the two words in the same sentence, but there it is. It goes against the grain for me to not finish books. I've done it maybe twice and I haven't allowed myself to live it down quite yet. The book I'm reading is Fitcher's Brides by Gregory Frost. The end cannot come soon enough. I'm sure I am the only one who has felt this way about the book, at least I think. It just goes on and on. To be quite honest I don't enjoy the main plot subject of a religious movement during the mid 1800s. It leaves a bad taste in my mouth. The book WILL be finished before the end of the week that is a must.
My parents have informed me that the 3-day weekend holds much in store for the family. Much being chores. I know for sure there is a large fence with my name on it, to be painted. The house will probably need cleaning, as well as my bathroom. I hate bathrooms, at least having to clean them. I am crossing my fingers that this weekend will hold a few hours of relaxing peace.

Quote of the Day

Hope is that thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words and never stops... at all.

~Emily Dickinson

Staying Up Past My Bedtime . . . :)

This morning or last night however you prefer to say it I went to the midnight showing of Batman The Dark Knight. Wow! Amazing! It was great! Well 2 of my younger siblings decided to paint their faces like the new Joker and it ended up in on our local newspaper. The picture is not great quality, but I thought it would be fun to post it.

A Couple Of Jokers

Reece and Elyza wore Joker makeup for the midnight showing of ‘The Dark Knight’ this morning at North Pointe Cinemas. Photo by David Slone, Times-Union