Why I am against hunting.

I know this picture is small but since I have amazing eyesight I will help you out:

  There is a fish, hiker, deer and pheasant pictured on the sign.

I'm curious as to when opening "hiker season" starts. 

Sabbatical.

I was browsing my blog the other day -  AND I realized that I had 70+ posts in 2011.  I haven't even hit 20 in 2012.    Writing became more difficult apparently in 2012.    

We are still living with my parents.  I have no doubt I will have some material on this in the near future.  

Brother2 was filling out some school forms.  He asked if he could put me down for an emergency contact and I said to put 911 down instead.  He then started listing his allergies and I said he should add "teachers and homework".  We got dad to sign off on the form.  I think Brother2 is starting to think I'm A-OK after all. :)

However I am not A-OK with math homework.

In other news:

Mittens (one of the kittens) ate rat poison and died.

Mel got sprayed by a skunk.

Lou loves bean fields.

Boyd has been working way too much and I'm starting to get cranky.

Also . . as an FYI . . I am taking a sabbatical from Facebook.  I know.  Crazy.  It might just be a week. Maybe a month.  Forever?  Who knows.

Moving on . . . . . 

How about a Quick Nerd Alert Update???

I'm reading White Oleander by Janet Fitch right now and I'm struck by how hateful women are to each other and not to mention the failings of America's foster system.  This is the second time I have read this book.  I do that from time to time.   Recommend.  Duh.

I am also reading Inside of a Dog by Alexandra Horowitz and find it fascinating.  Haven't finished yet . . but more than likely recommend.  Its about DOGS after all!

I just finished reading Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader by Ann Fadiman and was amazed by how many words I didn't know.  It made me want to give more books as gifts, write in the margins and be smarter.  Umm . .  I liked it but I think it might be too "weird" for most.

A few weeks ago I finished World Without End by Ken Follett.  It took me awhile to get into it but  I persevered and learned a few things about the Black Plague.  I have no idea why I have such a morbid fascination about the plague.   Sort of recommend.  It is a big time commitment for the feeble story line.  Follet let me down with this one.

Book club selection for last month was The Time In Between by Maria Duenas.  I disliked it at first because the girl was really dumb but then the girl got a little smarter and redeemed herself and I got sucked in to the story.  Overall recommend but not whole heartedly.

The book club selection this month is Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls.  I have already read this book and really liked it.  Read it.

On my nightstand:  1,000 Gifts:  A Dare to Live Fully Where You Are by Ann Voskamp; Les Miserables by Victor Hugo; and The Big Short:  Inside the Doomsday Machine by Michael Lewis.

I am a very random reader.

And with that . . . I am heading to bed.

Rest in peace, Mittens

Mittens is the black kitten.  Leo is the orange kitten.
Leo is thriving although I'm concerned he is a little too skinny.

The Big Bad Sale and Other Tidbits.

The sale is finally over.  It went fabulously.  

I'm not sure who was more excited - the vendors or the shoppers.  

I may have spent more money than I made.   Fail.

Sister2's house worked beautifully for the location.  The vendors brought great stuff and worked their butts off.  Win.

I got yelled at by an old man about a placement of a sale sign.  Good grief.  Apparently my charms do not work on grumpy old men. 

Just old farmers.  

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Mom had labeled one of her items (a decorative bird), as "F*cky Bird".  Supposedly she meant it as Funky Bird but she did not write it as such.  The woman who bought it said she was ONLY buying it because the description made her laugh and insisted on keeping the tag.

Well played, mom.  Well played.

I will now start describing all of my items with profanity.

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Sister1 was telling us about a trip she took to a casino recently.  She was explaining that she doesn't like doing math just for fun (i.e. blackjack) so she never needs to go back again.  Mom was noticeably silent throughout this discussion.  After about 5 minutes she gives a relieved laugh and says: "I thought you said you didn't like doing METH just for fun!"

Oh my.

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Lou got lost in a cornfield.  We looked and looked and looked in 90+ degree heat.  It is possible I ended up going to the bathroom in said cornfield.  Fail.

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We found the little bastard.  Win.

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The famdamily went to the Black Hills for the weekend.  It was beautiful weather and fabulous scenery. Not to mention chipmunks aplenty for the children to chase.  O caught a few.  I told him of my glory days and when I caught a gopher. 

He wasn't as impressed as he should have been.

*******

We sold our house in Watertown!!!  Win.

*******

We have not yet purchased our Lake Norden land.  Fail.

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We are living with my parents and Brother2.  Fail?

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I had to carpool with Boyd this morning.  

He starts work at 6am.  I start at 9am.  

We need to have a "heart-to-heart" convo this evening.

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Sister2 got knocked up.  Wait . . is that still a secret?! :)  

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Thus ends my updates. Does the centered text bother anyone?

  I hope so.

Boyd and Oli

Lucky Day sale!!!

My naughty little dog.

Me.  Sister1.  Erin (Sis-in-law).  Sister2  I need an ugly sister.
Maybe I will luck out when Brother2 gets married.

It is now 8:30 a.m.  Looks like I have time for a Target run.

Win.