My life in pictures, stories and open letters.

My life in pictures, stories and open letters.
Warning

Please be advised that you are entering my blog.
My blog.
The opinions herein are mine.
I am free to rant and vent to my heart's content.
If you find yourself mentioned here, then you've made quite an impression on me.
Feel free to read on if you would like to know if that impression is good, bad or ugly.
If you choose not to know, I invite you to move your mouse over to the little red X in the top corner of your screen and click.
Regardless of the option you choose, I hope you have a fabulous day!



Monday, August 31, 2009

I swore today.

And I flipped some poor, undeserving person the bird.

I think that those construction companies that close a road should be required to give us an alternate route. I have to go through horrendous road construction to get to the LRT station where I jump on the train to go to work. The entire length of this road you cannot turn left. In either direction!! So I couldn't go before it and turn left, now could I pass it and turn and come back. So I have found another way to go so that I can go straight through another road and that intersection takes me straight to my parking lot.

They closed that road this morning. And they didn't tell me where to go. So I quite loudly told them where to go!!

There was absolutely NO WAY I could get to my parking lot without breaking a few rules.

I turned left where there was no turning left.

I did, however make sure that there was another lane on my right so that I wouldn't hold up traffic. I was very considerate in the fact that I only cut off two cars and came 89% of the way to killing myself to get out of the way of the truck honking incessantly behind me.

So I flipped the guy the bird.

Three times.

Then cut off some vehicles, but not TECHNICALLY.

And I found my way, albeit cursing loudly, to my parking lot.

Tomorrow, I'm going to the other LRT station. It is really six of one, a half dozen of the other for me, so I'll go the other way.

Oi! Was that frustrating!! Thankfully I am the first one here for half an hour before anyone else shows up, so I don't have to worry if I'm a couple minutes late.

I certainly hope that tomorrow goes better!!

Sunday, August 30, 2009

May I Please Just Live Long Enough To Get To Vegas In October? Please?

I wonder if my five year old will remember me after I'm gone?

Because I swear to God, my 15 year old is going to be the death of me.

How I long to be as smart as she is.  I know it will happen in the next seven years or so. 

When she disappears for a couple of hours I will know without asking that she has gone door to door to collect money for the suicide awareness association in her short shorts and holier than thou attitude.

I will recognize that grounding her and her sister from our computer that just cost us $450 to repair is just plain cheap and would, in reality, never do it.

I will understand how keeping five guys dangling on the end of a noose and being at her beck and call is good for her, and their, well being.

I will see how NOT being the one in the spotlight one single time in her 15 years is just plain wrong. And gay. 

I will know that it is totally bad parenting to need to know passwords, and occasionally check the shit that is going on in this electronic world of teen communication.  My bad.

I will let her wander the streets at night, pick her own bedtime, and leave her the hell alone so she can be independent, while at the same time driving her to school and helping her find a part time job and then driving her to and from that part time job. All while leaving her the hell alone in her independence.

I will happily recognize the fact that I am to brush aside my anger at her disrespecting and humiliating me with her mouth-before-brain syndrome the very second she shows signs of forgiving me for parenting her.

One day I will figure out these things.  Possibly in time for the next daughter to become a cranky, all-knowing teenager.  And if I haven't yet learned all there is to learn by the time my five year old daughter reaches that stage, then for the love of all that is good in the world, just let me be numb. 

Or dead.

I'll take what I can get.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Reflecting...


Chicks notice chicks and will appreciate their beauty without being all bashful and homophobic about it.  That said, and this is totally not the direction I meant to head in, I wonder if dudes are allowed to notice a dude with the same openness?  There may finally be a double standard that men have to watch out for instead of them always being aimed at us. 

Like I said, not where I was going.

Let's carry on, shall we?

I was wondering back to my office when I, and four men close by, noticed a quite attractive young thing walking in my direction. Now, I will notice her just like everyone else, but what I pay MORE attention to is the reaction of people around me.


I remember being that cute little thing that turned heads. And I don't think it is all weird and ego-trippy to say so. It was what it was. Likewise, I am who I am, and now look the way I look.  I don't like it much, but what the hell am I supposed to do about it? Diet and exercise?  Pshaw!

The nice thing about those days being in the past is that I am now free. I can scratch my butt, and you know what? It's okay. Because no one is looking.


I can pick my nose and fling stuff at the guys looking at the hot girls, and it's okay. Because no one is paying attention to this chubby chick. (I think it's okay to call myself chubby because Melissa did it in her post and it just worked without drawing any sympathy from the crowd. So, it's okay right? And after all, I just called myself a previous hot chick, basically, so now I'm just trying to keep a good balance.)


Hot chicks have to be CONSTANTLY aware that people are watching them. And that's very intimidating, really.

I did, I must say, glance at my reflection in the glass as I kept walking (Oh, don't look at me like that. We ALL do it!) and I look like a frigging duck. You know, the great big rear end that actually sticks WAY out back.  Unfortunately, i don't have that big, proud chest that ducks boast, but it looks like I do, because of the way I lean forward a little bit.
Sigh.....

'Nuff said.

Now, just for fun, what do you see in your reflection? Come on. Use your imagination....

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

The Randomness That Is Asia and Her Camera.

If not for her, I'd have nothing.
Seriously.
I'm the mechanic with the car that won't start.
The plumber with the backed up toilet.
The photographer without pictures of her kids.

The usual shot of the typical teenage girl taking pictures of herself.

My de-stress mask.
It didn't work.

Asia and the boy. Friends again. 
Thank God!

Where do they learn this stuff?

Yes, it snows here in Canada in the middle of August.
At least it feels like it these days!
Oi! Is it ever cold in the mornings!

Cheer camp in Seattle.

These fine young ladies and gentlemen won all the competitions and will be going to Florida during the 2009/2010 school year!

Asia took this on the bus to Seattle!!
Isn't this beautiful?

Have a great day. Tomorrow is a busy day with work and then I'll be working a bingo directly after! Then right after work on Friday I'm off for the lake! 
We/I just never stop!

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Countdown To Christmas!

Yeah, you heard me right.  It is only four months and eight pay cheques away!


Are you ready?


Yeah.


Me neither.


I used to be so good about having Christmas shopping done by September. It isn't because I was uber-organized or anything.  No frigging way!


I just found that all the September expenses took so long to pay off that by the time we were seeing "green" again, it was time for Christmas spending.  

And that was just depressing!

Lately, though, we aren't even getting out of the September hole when we are digging deeper for Christmas.

And folks, I'm cheap!  I set very reasonable limits and try my best to stick to them. Some years I have even done baking in fancy tins to offset expenses. 


But I found that was even more $$, because by the time we ate our way through a baker's dozen of baker's dozens of cookies, I could have just bought each person a fancy diamond or something.


So, no more baking for Christmas.


Gift cards are good, and oh, so easy! 


But boring.

Is anyone out there doing anything fancy AND within their means this year?

Totally random change of subject:
My song of the week that I just totally can't get enough of!!


Monday, August 24, 2009

WTF Did I Just Say?!?

Tuesday's Tribute.  

Humility.

Laughing at ourselves is so important.

Being totally okay with others laugh at you.

Priceless.




There are certain things that I do that are so horrifying they are worth remembering forever. That said, I am afraid that they will be wiped out of my memory just like EVERYTHING off my hard drive a few days ago. So, let's all enjoy my stupidity here for a moment, so that it can be logged for all time.



I'm a bit of an idiot, to be honest. My mouth goes before my brain, so naturally, Asia comes by it honestly. I tell her that just like her goofy looks, her mouth/brain affliction is genetic. Such is life.


One day, while at work, I was having a very busy Monday. There was a line up of patients, but sadly, patience was lacking. There were phone lines all lit up, but they didn't make me any brighter.


Thankfully, people rarely listen when a phone is answered. They usually know whom they have called and don't really give a shit how you greet them.

Which was a blessing in this instance.


I answered the phone with a muttered "Capilano Medical Clinic. Can you help me?".


The lady on the other end didn't notice, but I sure did! I dropped my head and gave it a shake, and then I noticed a pair of feet beside my chair that didn't belong to me. (If I could bend and maneuver like that, Leon would most certainly be a happier man, but....) 

I slowly looked up, up, up, past the legs, scanned my way up the lab coat, to find Dr. Olson barely holding it together. It just so happened that this doctor intimidated me like no other. And, naturally, she was the one to overhear my stupidity.

__________________

The other time the death of my brain cells was witnessed was a few years later. I used to cover the front desk when the girls would go for lunch. By this time, I had created a different job for myself in the clinic and was no longer reception. (I thank the good Lord every day for that, I might add.) I worked shorter days than the rest of them, leaving usually by 3:00. It was awesome!


It had been a very long day, however, and I was about at my wit's end. Finally, after what seemed like forever, I scooped up my purse and coat and called out a hearty goodbye to my coworkers.

No slinking out the door unnoticed for me, nosireee! 

Usually, I am met with goodbyes and see ya tomorrows, but not this time. There was nothing but silence behind me. For good measure, I looked at my watch on my way out the front door. 

And then I stopped dead. Or should I say that is wishful thinking? Because I most certainly COULD have died! 

It was only lunch time.

And I realized that I had to turn and face my coworkers and slink back to my desk. As I swallowed my pride and turned, there was Di, looking completely baffled, and she said, "But.... Who's going to cover us for lunch?"

"Umm. That would be me." I responded. I put away my coat and purse and shuffled my way over to the front desk. I had to explain that I thought it was the end of the day. 

My bad.

And then the very minute the girls left, I phoned my Mom. And I gave her probably the heartiest laugh she had had in a long time. She was still laughing that afternoon when I called her again. 
But so was I. And I still shake my head when I remember it.


Sunday, August 23, 2009

Train Etiquette

I am taking the local transit system to work to my new job. I've learned it is very much like Elevator Etiquette.

For the most part, it goes like this:

Walk full speed ahead, standing straight and tall, directly to the train platform.

Do not look directly at anyone, avoid eye contact at all costs.

Take the free Metro paper that the guy in the green pinney holds out to you.

Hurry. Hurry. Hurry.

Once on the train, look out the window, at your book, or straight ahead, again avoiding eye contact and conversation with anyone.

If you are fortunate enough to get a seat, do not give it up for anything!

Approximately 10 seconds before your stop, you gather your crap and hustle to the door, step out and walk as quickly as possible to your vehicle or a waiting bus.

THAT is proper etiquette.

I've never been known for being a follower of rules, and goodness knows, no one in their right mind has ever called me proper.

So, this is how I journey to work every morning.

I look at EVERYONE. Partly because I'm just a people watcher, and partly because I'm just nosey.

I will talk to anyone. Partly because I don't like silence, and partly because I'm just nosey.

I NEVER take the free newspaper, but look him right IN THE EYE, smile and say "No thank you!". Because I'm a rebel.

I will make eye contact with someone getting on the train whom I think I should give my seat to, and then proceed to ASK them, aloud, if they would like my seat. I then give up my seat with a smile.

And usually, while I am walking among these people, being a watcher of course, I am reminded of the little soldier ants on an ant hill. I think we look very much like that. We all go in different directions, but it is an intricate dance. No one runs into each other, yet we manage to weave in and out without even a shoulder check, an excuse me or thank you.

It is really quite interesting to watch. I would love to see how we look from above.

In total, my commute to work is about 45 minutes. Until school is back in of course. After that, who knows!!! So I will treasure this "short" commute while I can.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

No Matter How Hard I Try To Avoid It, Life Just Keeps Getting In My Way....

I'm here at the library on limited internet time, so I'll just get right to the point.

My computer died last night.

Just died.

My pictures from last week were on there.

Crap.

Double crap.

They are still on my camera, and I have discs of the ones I had printed, but the ones on my computer are all edited. And still needing a slideshow. And a picture for their disc. And ALL the pictures burned onto more discs.

Crap.

So, here I sit, trying to quickly harvest my crops on Farmville and Farm Town. Cassie has disappeared, and I have no idea where she has gone. Possibly in a huff back home? I made arrangements for her to bring her bike into the library so it doesn't get stolen, and with her? Who knows what she thought I was doing.

I actually quite like the library for the internet. My whole family gets one hour of internet time, all at once, then we're done and there is no fighting at home over the computer. I find that I do this sometimes, even when our computer works right, because it's just easier.

But when I'm here after a long day at work, without even feeding my family first, I realize I have issues.

Such is life.

My blogging is really suffering though. I did have a quite exciting (hahaha) post I was prepared to do up about the train system that I take to get to work. However, that will have to wait for another day. I have to go and plant the palm tree that our long lost friend Amy gifted me on Farmville. She's such a great Farmville neighbour. And if you ever wondered what happened to her and Jill, they are spending all their time there, on facebook!! lol

Have a great day!

I'm hoping to be back to some serious blogging next week!

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Wordful Wednesday - A Wedding

Okay, I'm actually so freaking busy that this is more or less a wordLESS Wednesday post!! This is the wedding I did on Friday!









Have a great hump day!!

Sunday, August 16, 2009

I'll Take One Straight jacket Please...

A very brief update:

I started my new job on Tuesday.  It is going to be okay, I think.  Yes. Just okay. I'm a secretary, so probably can't expect anything more than that. I mean, it's not like I'm putting myself out there to save the world or anything.  The commute is not bad at all, for now. Once school is back in, that might be another story. On the upside, I got some new clothes.  :)

I had a wedding on Friday and will post some pictures on Wednesday.  I am spending today (Sunday) at the computer getting as much done as I can, seeing as I won't have much time now with the full time job and all.

I have been trying to walk in the mornings before work. It's a pretty long work day now, so I don't know when else I'll have time. We'll see how long it lasts, though, before I find sleep to be more important than the size of my arse.

We went to the lake yesterday (the rest of my family went back today) and enjoyed some time with friends. Leon had to go in for work, so I actually had to untie the boat MYSELF (played tug-of-war with a super friendly stray dog, fell in the boat, etc etc, possibly a post for another time), found my way back to the cabin, parallel parked the boat (TWICE) and even took Cassie for an evening ski. 

So, now I'm off to put together a proof book, make sure I have clothes ready for tomorrow, make my lunch and put away some laundry.  I feel like I've already put in a full week today alone, and it's only Sunday.  Sigh....

Have a fabulous week!

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Asia's Room - Part Two


So, still not done, but getting closer.  The shelves are now hung and her door is up, but were not yet when I had taken these pictures.

We still have to do the blinds, valance and closet doors.  We will do window trim at some point. Later. Way later.  






She also came home to new school supplies, mostly in her flavor of the month, lime green!

To those of you who wanted to copy this design, I have some suggestions.
  1. If you are trying to funk up a room, don't do it while you are trying to prepare your home for ant extermination.
  2. If you are trying to funk up a room, don't do it while preparing yourself to start your first in many, many years, full time job.
  3. If you are trying to funk up a room, don't do it while you are trying to get out to the lake to join your family.
Because doing it that way sort of sucks.  And is very time consuming. Just FYI.  lol

Have a great hump day!

Monday, August 10, 2009

Tuesday's Tribute

Today I want to send a shout out to my favorite bloggers.

Angie, of course!!! 
  • Our awesome mother of five, and hostess to Tuesday's Tribute and Wordful Wednesday!  She will be in Vegas in October for SITScation and I can't wait to meet her!
Ronda without the "H"!
  • Ronda is my dose of reality. I love her great big heart and honesty!  And she hosts a bloggy book club on the last Sunday of every month.  This month the book is Tender Graces, which I looked for again today, but cannot find yet here in Canada.  Argh! Ronda will also be in Vegas! Yahoooo!
  • My fellow Canadian gone south.  I just adore her.  She is a truly loyal cyber friend. 
  • Most everyone knows Kat from Mama's Losin It. Her latest vlog had me in stitches!!! And, again, VEGAS, people. VEGAS!!
  • Melissa is one of the first blogs I started to read.  It was a post about her IBS explosion in a public bathroom. Oh. My. Lord.  
  • Mindless Junque is another blog that I have read for a very long time.  She was telling the story of how her and PB got together and I was hooked!  She is one of the creators of SITS and I am excited to meet her in Vegas too!
  • Love her.  LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE her!  She has awesome ideas that I will routinely screw up because I'll try to short-cut it, but I'm okay with that.  My screwed up version of her awesomeness is better than no version at all. And I'm a little embarrassed to admit that I don't know her name.  It might be Jill???
  • At Blessed Quiver.  People, she posted pictures of her hairy legs.  Can you imagine anyone else more real than that?  
  • She is one of those people who just keeps coming back, no matter what kind of failure I am at responding and/or visiting.  I am so thankful that she hasn't given up on me!  
I'm hoping my life, and these bugs and kids and fashion bedrooms will cut me some slack so I can get down to the business of blogging! 

Update:  The exterminator came today.  He assured me that there would be "activity" for a week or so, and I am to just let them be.  I thankfully have not seen any, unless you count the one dead one. But the ceiling tiles in my basement are pushed over a bit so he could spray and bait there, and I literally put my arms over my head and ran through!!! lol  Since the livingroom and laundry room are where they have been mostly spotted, I will leave those for Leon to put to right.  Poor guy will be doing laundry till the cows come home! Or, well, THIS cow anyway. 

An update of Asia's room will be posted on Wednesday.  It is not yet finished, but it is getting closer.  Most of the stuff left to do, I consider "Leon" jobs.  You know, hanging, screwing and building.  Punn intended.

Have a great Tuesday everyone!

Sunday, August 09, 2009

Rhonda's Random Ramblings....

I often wonder why it is that spiders can walk up walls, kick my butt in a foot race, and write stuff like "some pig" and "humble" in their webs, but can't seem to find their way out of a casserole dish.



Thursday, August 06, 2009

Asia's Room



Asia's room.

Leon hates it.

He thinks it's stupid.

I think it's a kid's room.

Perfectly fit for an oddball.

Which means it will suit Asia to a "T".

The colours I am using on the yellow base (which was day 1):  (Help me pick one of these blues, wouldja?)





Day Two: Polka Dots are added

Beautiful, inspiring verse is lovingly applied.  :)
Day Three: The next colour of polka dots are added
Yes, I see the space there, but no worries, a couple of blue ones to fill it in.

Now there is still much work to be done.  One more colour to add. Baseboards, closet door and bedroom door to be painted, blinds to be purchased and put up, a vallance to be found.  You get my drift.

But instead of hanging out in the garage painting baseboards, here I sit drowning my wounded pride in a beer.  Or two. On a work night. This is not normal for me.  Trust me.  But it's okay to go to work on your last day with a bit of a beer headache, right?  

The things that I have found while cleaning and moving furniture for the exterminator on Monday has left me feeling really gross and itchy all over.  Did I mention gross and itchy?

I was hoping to walk (see previous paragraph) to the store for some makings for a fruit pizza to take to work tomorrow for my last day potluck, however, I look like hell. Seriously.  Drinking and working and sweating... Lordy.  I'm a sight, my friends.

You'd best leave me to wallow.  Head back over to Carrie and see if someone has something fun!  

But first, do you hate the room too?  Don't be honest, because I just can't take it.  Tell me you love it and I will come right on over and follow you.  No strings attached.

Wednesday, August 05, 2009

Too Tired To Be Inspired....

It's Thursday again.  All-friggin-ready!  Wow.  


The Prompts:

1.) What's ailing you? Diagnose yourself with a syndrome.
(inspired by Kimberly from Kamp KK)

2.) Share with us something you made by hand.
(inspired by Texan Mama via email)

3.) Fess up. Tell us what you found after a spying on someone.
(inspired by The Scattered Mind of a Tattooed Mini Van Mom)

4.) "How are y'all doing it? This summer, I mean? I cannot remember ever being as busy as we've been over the past two months. Those of you who are blogging daily, being as witty and entertaining as ever...I beg of you...HOW?"
(inspired By Lula from Lulaville)

5.)What are you afraid of?
(inspired by Life With Kaishon)


******************************

  1. What's ailing me?  Fatigue. However, seeing as there is SO nothing funny about that, I will tell you what my darling hubby often says is ailing HIM:   He, apparently, has Dicky-Do disease.  "My belly sticks out further than my DICKY-DO!"     Ba-dum-bum-cha!
  2. I used to make these awful wreaths with mossy stuff and a little fake bird on it.  then I would glue flowers around it.  They were truly awful, and the phase didn't last long.  But this is probably a good time to thank all my family for proudly displaying them in their homes.  But, really, I hope to God you've tossed them in the trash by now!  Not only were they ugly as sin, but I believe from the bottom of my heart that I innocently gifted you with a spider haven.  Sorry.   (I tried to google image this one for you, but clearly I was the only person to ever make anything so incredibly ugly with such an amazing lack of talent.)
  3. I have Asia's facebook password.  And her email password.  I rarely go in there, but if there is something that is concerning me, I have been known to take a peak.  I won't share what I have found, which is technically against the rules of assignment #3, but there are things, for Asia's sake and my own sanity, that I will not repeat here.  If I ignore these things, then they didn't really happen.  I think that is in the top five rules of the Mom to Teenage Daughters Manual. Sad, but true.
  4. Well, you are all tired as can be about hearing about the carpenter ants, so I will just share that when Leon is working, it is me and the girls, and when he is not working he takes them out to the lake and I go back and forth because I wasn't blessed with a fireman's schedule.  It is tiring to say the least.  I am also painting Asia's room.  I'm hoping pictures will be posted tomorrow, although it won't yet be finished.  I have also been working extra hours, and start a new full time job next week.  My first full time job in 16 years!!  I try my best to blog Monday to Friday, but I can't exactly call the posts witty!  They just happen to be a brief story about whatever it is I happen to pull out of my ass at 11:00 at night while I'm totally crashing!!  When I have the house to myself, I try to pre-post, which helps a little.
  5. I'm afraid that I am home alone after our exterminator comes on Monday.  I have been instructed that I can't kill the little sons-a-bitches, because they will be carrying poison to their loved ones and I have to let them proceed on their journey.  I have to try to sleep that night, which is highly unlikely, and I will start my new job the next morning.  Nice first impression, eh?
Have a great Thursday!  

Tuesday, August 04, 2009

Wordful Wednesday - Fruit Pizza


It's time again for Wordful Wednesday, hosted by our very own stunning mother of five!

Angie.   (Like there was ever any doubt....)

I found this awesome recipe at Controlling My Chaos!! Oh. My. Good. Lord.
Please note that her drizzle was white, while mine was more clear.  I have no idea what I did wrong, but while it didn't look as good, it was still delightful!!!

She even "controlled the chaos" on hers, while mine sort of looks all jumbled up. Which is fitting for me.

Mine is a little rough around the edges.  Clearly she has OCD issues, or I have "I don't have a frigging clue how she got hers all perfect and all, but I have spent exactly 17 seconds on this and I just can't get it so I give up!!" syndrome.  I'm betting it is more the latter.

You'll also notice, if you look at hers, that mine is pink.  I used a strawberry cream cheese instead of reglar.  And I've got a real sweet tooth, so added some icing sugar to my "drizzle".

Now let me give you my overall opinion.

Fantastic.

Easy.

And such a wonderful job she does on recipe cards and more!

I highly recommend you stay awhile.  Here at my site. To have some Fruit Pizza. Well, okay.  I mean just hang out and stare at it for a while.

THEN you may stop over there, at Controlling My Chaos, linked above.

Just be prepared. 

You will end up surprising yourself with how much time you spend over there.

So have a coffee filled to the brim, and your chocolate donut handy.

And have fun!

Monday, August 03, 2009

What I'm Reading...





I just finished The Other Boleyn Girl.

Phenomenal.

With some 21st century exceptions.

There are some other stories that you can read that go hand in hand with this one, by other authors.  

  1. The Rise and Fall of Anne Boleyn.  This, naturally, is the account of Queen Anne Boleyn, who is the one with all the ambition who made us all look bad.  
  2. The Queen's Lady. This is written from the viewpoint of Queen Catherine, who was overthrown and banished by the dirty dealings of Anne Boleyn.
The version I just finished reading, however, was The Other Boleyn Girl.  Mary. The sister of Anne.  

It was well written, easy to read, and entertaining.  

However.

It bugged the hell out of me that men actually thought they were smart enough to get the Boleyn Family to the thrown.  The girls then, and still in some areas of the world, were at the mercy of the men. The must follow their instructions, no matter what. They are single-handedly responsible for the rise, or fall, of their family.  Even if it was following the instructions from the men that caused the fall.  

And that irritates me.

They are ordered to be the King's mistress.

Then called a whore for doing so.

They are to produce an heir.

Then blamed and cold-shouldered if that babe is "only a girl".

They are to produce an heir at any cost.

Then charged with witchcraft, potions and adultery when they do so.

I wanted desperately to stand up and have a hissy fit when the "other Boleyn girl" kept doing as she was bid.  


The only other thing that irritated me about this book was the names.

See if you can follow along.

There was King Henry and Queen Catherine.

King Henry and Queen Catherine had a daughter, Princess Mary.

The Boleyns had two daughters, Annamaria (Anne) and Maryanne (Mary).

Mary Boleyn was married to William Carey.

King Henry and Mary Boleyn had a daughter and named her Katherine.

King Henry and Mary Boleyn had a son and named him Henry.

Anne and Henry Percy were married briefly.

George Boleyn married Jane Prescott.

Jane Seymour was the queen that followed Queen Anne.

Mary Boleyn married William Stafford. 

Mary Boleyn and William Stafford had a daughter and named her Anne.

George had a "friend" named Francis.

There was a King Francis named also.

And somehow out of all this mess, King Henry and Queen Anne had a Princess Elizabeth.

Where the heck did THAT name come into this?  

It led to some confusion, I found. I mean, really, did they not KNOW any other names back then?

And yes, I technically just gave away some key points of the book.  Sorry.

I highly recommend this book.  I now feel good about renting the movie.  I can never read the book after the movie.

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The next book review I have for you is:

The Devil's Feather.





I absolutely could NOT get into this book. It is very political, and anyone who knows me knows that I don't go for any of that. It may have ended up that it wasn't so much if you can ge more than a few chapters in. I don't know. Not a book for me. I'd love to hear someone's view on it who DID manage to read it though!! I only got about 50 pages in.

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Another that I have recently read was Jodi Picoult's "Handle With Care".



This book disturbed me. It really disturbed me. I read it through. As usual, Jodi Picoult has a great writing style. And she is unquestionably controversial. But they are always so freaking sad. I wanted to hug this little girl to me, gently, and never let her go. If you are a Jodi Picoult fan, like me, you will surely read this book and I would love to hear your thoughts on it.


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I am currently reading "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius".



However, I just came from my mom's house, where I found The Queen's Lady sitting just waiting to be read. I am hoping to fly through my current book, which is from the library, and then put my nose into this Queen Catherine version, and not come out until I am finished it. I'll let you know how it is!



Also on the queu, but unfortunately probably with not enough time for me to read it before Ronda's Bloggy Book Club, is Tender Graces.


I am hoping to find that one here in Canada.  I just checked amazon and it costs me more to ship it than it does to buy the book.  Harrumph!  I will keep checking and hopefully can get my hands on it.  Ronda highly recommends it! The author is also a fellow blogger!!  Can we get a
What What for that??  

I'd love to hear what you are reading this summer!