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Burning Resources
Okay, I've been meaning to post this for a while, so here's a run down of the programs that I use to rip, burn, and make CDs.
CDex: I use this program to rip my CDs (turn them into mp3 tracks). It's freeware, so that's always a plus. It's really easy to use and also accesses the CDDB (a database of thousands of CDs) which makes naming tracks really easy since it's done for you.
MP3 CD Converter: this is what I use to convert all my mp3 tracks back to .cda files (files that can be played in a regular CD player). I've been using this program for years and just love it. It's only $19.95 which is a hell of a deal.
MediaFace 4: this is what I use to create my snazzy cover and CD art. It's the only program that I've found that allows you to create a CD booklet. Since you can fold a booklet in half, you get a nice CD inside and outside cover using one piece of paper. This feature alone is why I went ahead and paid for the program. It's also only $19.95 and once you pay you have access to over 500 high resolution background that you can download. It's really easy to print both the CD covers and the labels for the CDs themselves.
So, if you held off from joining any of my CD exchanges before because you didn't know how to make a CD, now you have no excuse. 
.: 256 words at 09:50 PM in Geeky Things :: Link :: Pings
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This is great. I just got a new computer with a CDRW and had no idea what I needed. Thanks Kymberlie!
Posted by Marie at September 1, 2003 12:05 AM
How can I join a CD exchange?!?! :)
Posted by Adelle at September 1, 2003 04:58 AM
i just use nero to turn the mp3s into cda files ... it does it during the burn process! one less step. :-)
Posted by tj at September 2, 2003 08:22 AM
I just want to add that constant conversion between mp3 and wav will eventually result in loss of audio quality. For example, if you rip a song from a cd in wav format, then encode it to mp3 you're actually losing quality. If you take that mp3 and convert it back to a wav, the resulting wav will be of lesser quality than the wav you ripped from the cd. It's just like dubbing VCR tapes... the more you do it, the less the quality. Just something to keep in mind. ;)
Posted by nastybastard at October 24, 2003 10:54 AM
Hi,
Can someone please steer me in the right direction here ?...After much labor recording many of my cassettes (into WAV format) and writing in all the titles, I'm now read to burn some CD's. However, when I load Roxio's Easy CD and DVD Creator 6 with music and burn it, then play it on my computer, they are no longer in WAV format and I've lost all my titles! I also discovered that the songs I recorded are in cda format.
I suppose cda format would not be so bad provided it had the titles..so how do I fix this .......please help!!
Posted by G.C. at November 23, 2004 11:08 PM
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The Trials of Tiffany Trott by Isabel Wolff
The Trials of Tiffany Trott by Isabel Wolff: another British chick lit book that I found to be occasionally uneven and ultimately a bit disappointing.
We first find Tiffany Trott on the even of her thirty-seventh birthday getting ready for her party. She's in a good mood since she's got a wonderful boyfriend and she's convinced that he's going to be asking her to marry him any minute now. Unfortunately for Tiffany, by the end of the party she receives the dreaded "we need to talk" call and Alex dumps her.
The rest of the novel is about Tiffany trying to find the right guy. She uses lonely hearts ads. She tries dating agencies. She even tries Eat 'N Greet single matches. She does find one eligible guy, but the fact that he's married and looking for a part-time girlfriend, really isn't what Tiffany is looking for.
For the most part I enjoyed the book, but I never found myself dying to get back to it and find out what was going to happen next. I definitely found the ending annoying, but I do wonder what Tiffany's going to do about the events that unfold in the last ten pages or so.
All in all, not the worst chick lit book that I've ever read, but definitely not the best. It does have some good, dry British humor, though, so that's always a plus.
(Finished on August 31, 2003 for Zuly’s Reading Room.)
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I read this book ages ago, and I felt a lot like you did. It was... "ok"
Posted by Adelle at August 31, 2003 04:32 PM
I read it too, but I found it hilarious. I then read her next one, 'Making Minty Malone' which was a really fabulous, exciting read.
Posted by Michelle at September 29, 2003 11:43 AM
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Party!
Steven and I are going to a friend's house tonight for a little Labor Day bash. Should be about four couples there and Steven's making homemade pizzas and pina coladas. Yum! Everyone have a safe and happy Labor Day weekend!
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Have a great weekend! I have a question for you when you get back: How do you make your calendar alternating between grey and white squares? I've been trying to figure out how to do that for a long time with no luck, as I can't expand it with MT's interface. Anything I should know? Thanks!!
Posted by Krissy at August 31, 2003 01:15 PM
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Fluke Or, I Know Why the Winged Whale Sings by Christopher Moore
Fluke Or, I Know Why the Winged Whale Sings by Christopher Moore: another wonderful book by the author of Island of the Sequined Love Nun and Bloodsucking Fiends: A Love Story.
In Christopher Moore's newest book, Nate Quinn, a marine behavioral biologist is consumed with the question of why whales sing. Until the day, that is, that while out observing the whales he sees one with "Bite Me" written on its tail.
So begins Nate quest to find out exactly what the hell is going on. During this adventure, we meet characters that only Moore could bring to life this well - Clay, Nate's partner in Maui Whale; Amy, the luscious, brilliant research assistant that Nate has a thing for; Kona, the dreadlock-wearing, pot smoking white boy from New Jersey who speaks Rastafarian; Elizabeth (AKA The Old Broad) who supports the researchers. There are also the assorted people - like Nate's ex-wife and other biologists - that lets you know that you are definitely reading a Christopher Moore novel.
I always love reading one of Moore's books. No where else can you find a sentence like "Quinn felt like he'd just smacked a bag of kittens against a truck bumper" or learn a phrase like "action nerd." A hell of a funny book with a really interesting premise that's well worth reading.
(Finished on August 28, 2003 for Zuly’s Reading Room.)
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Wow girl you have been busy reading....I can't keep up. *lol*
Posted by Martie at August 28, 2003 12:21 PM
While I adore Christopher Moore, I found this latest to be lackluster. While there were moments of great humor, it felt to me like he was just going through the motions. If you're merely being derivative of yourself, is it still derivative? On the other hand, Lamb was probably his best book, and broke out of his usual mold.
Posted by Lynne at August 29, 2003 09:25 AM
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*Gasp*
Steven and I were watching this really great show on the history of video games on The Discovery Channel. They started talking about Tetris and I was literally shocked when Steven turned to me and said, "So, what are you supposed to do?" He has never heard of Tetris before tonight! How is that possible? How can you have never heard of it before now?
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That is absolutely stunning... Actually, it really leaves me speechless. Has he heard of Space Invaders or Pong?
Posted by vejadu at August 28, 2003 01:09 AM
I think that's his way of letting you know that he's a space alien...
Posted by KB at August 28, 2003 09:49 AM
why, that's downright unamerican!
*finds lynching mob*
Posted by tj at August 28, 2003 09:59 AM
Yikes, I can't believe that. I thought everyone played with Atari's and stuff like that. 
Posted by Martie at August 28, 2003 12:34 PM
Oh wow, that's a riot!
PS - my boyfriend and I were watching tv and someone said something about "counting sheep" to get to sleep. He'd never heard of that before. I had the same reaction as you..it's like "where have you been?"
Posted by Danelle at August 28, 2003 12:35 PM
Wow. Even my Mom knows that game.
Posted by Jeff at August 28, 2003 02:10 PM
That's so funny, especially since that's the only game my Dad likes to play!
I swear, I think he lived in a cave before he met you. ;) *giggle*
Posted by Christine at August 29, 2003 08:44 PM
Wow, that's pretty funny! I thought tetris was one of those staple things that everybody had on their computers, so they all played it! :)
Posted by kristine at September 1, 2003 01:35 PM
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Burning Supplies
Today was the day to pick up cheap supplies for burning CDs. Office Depot is running a sale on Imation CDs - 50 80 minute, 48x speed CDs (regularly $25.00 or so) for $11.87, buy one get one free. That's 100 CDs for about $13 after tax. Office Max has 50 slimline CD cases (regularly $9.99 a piece) on sale for $4.00 which then comes with a $4.00 mail-in rebate making them free.
If you're running low on CD supplies, now would be the time to stock up!
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hey, i'm not sure if you've ever mentioned this or not, but i didn't know. you can send cd's at about 25% of the normal postage rate, called a media rate. as long as you don't include a letter or card or anything else, just a cd and case etc, or a book, or other types of media, you can get cheap postage. i wish i'd known this when i spent nearly $10 on packaging and postage to send cds in the last burn it.
Posted by kim at August 27, 2003 03:46 PM
I saw Memorex 50/Pack spindle for $9.94 but that's a much better deal. Thanks for the hookup!
Posted by KB at August 27, 2003 07:05 PM
They always have spindles on sale, when I'm dead broke.  Bummer.
Posted by tay at August 28, 2003 04:24 PM
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Burning Tutorial
Today I helped Steven make a copy of a CD for his car. We designed the CD cover and the booklet art, printed it, and put a CD together. I've been thinking that since I'm seeing a pretty big interest in the Burn It CD Swap, I might go through and list what programs I use to put together my CDs. Maybe I'll do that tomorrow.
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That's a great idea. It's too bad I haven't gotten a single CD from my exchange.
Posted by Carla at August 27, 2003 10:03 AM
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A Congratulations and a Happy Birthday
Today not only happens to be the birthday of everybody's favorite Scot, Sean Connery, but it also happens to be both Michele's birthday and her first wedding anniversary. Happy birthday and congrats, babe!
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Floating Death
I came home to two dead fish in our aquarium - the black and the blue scale orandas. I swear, we can't keep a fish alive for anything. Damn.
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We have had the same problem - :( it sucks!
Posted by Susan at August 25, 2003 06:23 PM
oh. so sorry to hear that. *hugs*
Posted by munin at August 25, 2003 08:54 PM
ditto here ... of course, we buy the 10 cent goldfish. but still, they SHOULD live longer than 2 days. right?
Posted by tj at August 26, 2003 06:25 AM
That bites :(
Posted by gingersmack at August 26, 2003 05:31 PM
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House of Sand and Fog by Andre Dubus III
House of Sand and Fog by Andre Dubus III: one of Oprah's Book Club picks (though I didn't know if when at the time) and one of the most captivating books I've read all year.
The story centers around two main characters - Colonel Massoud Amir Behrani and Kathy Nicolo. Kathy is a former cocaine addict trying to recover from her husband leaving her eight months earlier. Due to a bureaucratic error, Kathy's house, left to her by her father, is seized and put up for auction. Behrani, who fled Iran four years earlier and is having a tough time finding a good job, takes the last of his family's money and purchases the house for a very low price. This is when the real trouble begins.
Kathy, naturally, wants her house back. Behrani sees this as a once in a lifetime opportunity to get his family's fortunes back on track and refuses to sale without at least tripling his money. Meanwhile, Kathy has become involved with a married police officer, Les Burdon, complicating both her life and his.
Immediately, this book grabbed me and wouldn't let me go. I felt sympathy for both sides in this struggle and couldn't imagine any way that this would work out well for anyone. I wanted everyone to get what they wanted, though that obviously couldn't be. I worried about all involved- epsecially Mrs. Behrani and Kathy - and feared what would happen to these wonderfully vivid characters.
Not giving anything away, I totally felt that the book had an inevitable conclusion once it began moving. I was completely drawn in and recommended this book heartily.
(Finished on August 25, 2003 for Zuly’s Reading Room.)
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The Heroic Century
My best friend Jeanna e-mailed me today to remind me that The Museum of Fine Arts Houston is having a new exhibit - The Heroic Century. Included in the exhibit will be Vincent van Gogh's The Starry Night, Claude Monet's Water Lilies, and Salvador Dali's The Persistence of Memory.
It's a hell of an opportunity to see many pieces that you'll never have the chance to see again, so if you live in Houston or are nearby, I would highly suggest making your attendance a high priority. The exhibit starts September 21st of this year and runs until January 4, 2004.
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The Snow Garden by Christopher Rice
The Snow Garden by Christopher Rice: one of the most boring books that I've had the displeasure of reading in quite some time.
Set at one of the most prestigious colleges in the country, the book revolves around two freshmen, their friend, and the college professor that one of them is sleeping with. Since the college professor is married, the fact that he's sleeping with a student isn't a good thing, especially since it's a male student. The professor's wife ends up dead causing all kinds of suspicion to fall on him. The college was also the scene of a young woman's drowning twenty years earlier causing one to wonder what the parallels may be.
The Snow Garden is supposed to be this great psychological thriller and horror story, but I couldn't ever get into it. I found all of the characters either downright unlikable or uninteresting. Also found the way that people's past secrets were hinted about for over half the novel very annoying. By about page three hundred or so, the novel started picking up, but since the book is only four hundred pages long, that's quite a lot of pages to have to slosh through to get to any kind of interesting material.
(Finished on August 23, 2003 for Zuly’s Reading Room.)
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Strangely enough, I've read this book almost at the same time as you, and not very strangely I have the opposite opininon with you: I could sink into the story, I liked the characters because they had secrets and they lived inside the book; they're quite believable characters. I'm not saying Chris has written the great American novel, but I wouldn't exactly call it boring. Or: if I find a book boring, I don't waste time reading it.
Posted by stalker at September 10, 2003 03:45 AM
I found the book to be quite enjoyable. It's the first book I've read in a single day in a long time.
Posted by Rob at September 22, 2003 11:15 AM
I thought of this story more as a mystery and felt it was cleverly written. I found the book highly enjoyable, more-so than his first novel A Density of Souls. In fact, I've read every book Anne Rice (his mother) has written, both of his own, and am currently making my way through Stan Rice's (his late father's) poetry. Quite the writing family, they are.
Posted by Raquel at September 24, 2003 10:32 AM
i thought the book was spectacular.. the fact that there were so many secrets made me want to continue readinging and find out what they were... and even when you started to find out bits and pieces, it wasn't all revealed at once... i kept making connections as i went along and everything seemed to tie together.. it was a awesome book
Posted by jason at October 8, 2003 01:39 PM
I read the book when it first came out and I really liked it. I liked the pace of the book and I thought it was very well written. I can't wait until he comes out with the next book. I thought it was engaging and I've recommended it to everyone I know and they've had the same reaction.
Posted by Cameron at October 22, 2003 11:45 PM
I started reading his books because I've read all his mother's books. I was amazed at his talent. I read "The Snow Garden" in one day. I was completely floored. Snaps to Christopher Rice.
Posted by Whitney at November 11, 2003 12:22 PM
This book bought out feelings...what has humanity done to itself?? Glorious reading.
Posted by Cynthia at March 6, 2004 02:54 AM
I am reading The Snow Garden and it is a awesome read i cant put it down. I love how Christopher hints at the characters secrets i dont want to put it down i cant wait to finish kudos CR
Posted by Wes at June 4, 2004 02:52 AM
well i wanna read this book, because i just finished his first book, A Density of Souls, and i enjoyed it. well hope the next one is as good.
Posted by Sara at April 11, 2006 06:23 PM
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Crossing Over
I have gone totally crazy with this whole BookCrossing thing. In the last few days I have bought thirteen books to release or start bookrings/rays with. You can see what I've registered here.
If you like any of the rings or rays that I've started, go sign up and I'll add you to the list. 
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I know it's a terrible excuse, but I wish I had more time to read. I used to read 3 to 5 books a month, now I'm lucky to read 3 to 5 books a year! I like your choices, your a girl of mystery, detective and poker books! :)
Posted by Susan at August 23, 2003 08:14 AM
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Lucky in Love?
Well, I must be lucky in love, because I am having the shittiest card luck! I can't win a hand over at Pogo in gin and I just got outdrawn on like a motherfucker to finish in fourth place (one out of the money, mind you) in a poker tournament. Argh!
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oh no, I think it's better to be lucky at love. lol
Posted by Martie at August 22, 2003 01:00 AM
I envy you even playing in online card games. I am not grown up enough yet to trust myself with that.
Posted by Cis at August 24, 2003 08:16 AM
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Flowers from the Moon and Other Lunacies by Robert Bloch
Flowers from the Moon and Other Lunacies by Robert Bloch: the first posthumous collection of his work since Bloch died in 1994. These stories are from the late 1930s through the early 1960s. Many of them have not been anthologized before, so this is a chance to see one of the masters of the genre from his early days.
I've always enjoyed Robert Bloch's work (he's probably best well-known for being the author of Psycho and the story Yours Truly, Jack the Ripper) and was delighted to get this anthology of his early work. For the most part, I enjoyed the stories, though some of them seemed fairly obvious in their ending. Seventy years ago, though, I bet they really packed a punch.
I would definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good short story both for the excellent writing and the novelty of seeing older stories that influenced many of today's writers.
My particular favorites from this collection included Death is an Elephant, Question of Identity, Death Has Five Guesses, The Bottomless Pool, Flowers From the Moon, He Waits Beneath the Sea, Be Yourself, Black Bargain, A Bottle of Gin, Soul Proprietor, Satan's Phonograph, The Man Who Told the Truth, and The Night They Crashed the Party.
(Finished on August 20, 2003 for Zuly’s Reading Room.)
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Ugh
For the last few days I've been fighting the worst headaches. It's hitting me right now with renewed vigor. Why, oh why, must I suffer from headaches? Blah!
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Hope you're feeling better today!
Posted by Sue at August 20, 2003 07:18 AM
don't fight 'em... force yourself to relax, and they'll go away.
oh yeah, way easier said than done.
how about a "Hope you feel better soon. No, sooner."
Posted by mikey at August 20, 2003 05:41 PM
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My First Bookring
Inspired by all the bookrings/rays that I've joined at BookCrossing, I've decided to start my very first bookring for Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper -- Case Closed by Patricia Cornwell.
If you'd like to read this book, all you need to do is sign up and send me a PM (the link's on my bookshelf) about it.
I've already had six people sign up, so come join in the fun!
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that is an awesome idea! I think anything that encourages people to read and share what they read to be a fabulous idea.
Posted by munin at August 19, 2003 08:04 PM
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Splintered Bones by Carolyn Haines
Splintered Bones by Carolyn Haines: the third book in the Mystery from the Mississippi Delta series and the best one yet.
We find ourselves again in Zinnia, Mississippi at Dahlia House, home of Sarah Booth Delaney, falled Daddy's Girl. Sarah Booth doesn't have a husband (the horror!). However, she does have a thriving private investigator business and a red tic hound called Sweetie Pie and a ghost from her great-great-grandmother's time to keep her company along with quite a cast of friends.
In this book, Sarah Booth needs to find out who really killed the husband of one of her old friends, Lee McBride. Was it Lee's daughter, Kip? Was it Lee herself (after all, she did confess)? Was it the handsome trainer Bud? The suspects are many since Kemper, the husband, was a real bastard and deserved to die.
I just love these books and devour them as soon as I get them. The people are so wonderful (how could you not love Jitty, Tinkie, Cece, and Harold?) and the book just so Southern. It makes me wish that I liked Jack Daniels and had a porch to sit on while sipping it. I really do highly recommend these books to lovers of both mysteries and the South. I just can't wait for the next one to come out in paperback.
(Finished on August 18, 2003 for Zuly’s Reading Room.)
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Updating
I spent most of today updating my BookCrossing bookshelf to reflect the multitude of bookrings/rays I've joined. I must be insane to be on so many lists!
I also updated my To Be Read list over at BiblioBlog. I've come to the conclusion that if I quit my job and did nothing but read twenty hours a day, I still could never read all the books that I wanted to.
It was good going through my list, though. I found some books that I had forgotten about and plan on moving up my list of what to read next. I've still got to update my DVD list, but at least my books are a bit more orderly back here (read stacked in boxes), so that ought to make Steven happy. Ah, to have a library with floor to ceiling bookshelves. That would be heaven!
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Yep. I'm the same way...there just isn't enough time to read all that I want to read. I'll just keep plugging away at it, though. Congrats on the new bookring! I hope it is successful. I'm 2 away from reading Portrait in another bookring. I hope I get it soon. It sounds like a very interesting book.
Posted by Rayne at August 19, 2003 06:23 PM
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To the Nines by Janet Evanovich
To the Nines by Janet Evanovich: the tenth in the Stephanie Plum series (you have to count Visions of Sugar Plums as part of the series).
If you're not familiar with who Stephanie Plum is, the answer is that she's probably New Jersey's least inept bounty hunter. She regularly blows up cars, her captures always include some element of mayhem, and she has some serious man issues in her life. She's also endearing, funny, tough, and a delight to read every time.
To the Nines finds Stephanie on the trail of Samuel Singh who's skipped out on a work visa. The clues to where he might be are few and far between and usually end up with someone getting killed. Stephanie's manged to pick up another psycho stalker as well. She's got to try and figure out how all these strange clues add up before this becomes her last job.
After I finished this book, I thought how "typically Plum" it was. I also thought how typical is not a bad thing when it comes to a Plum book. There was lots of love and sex with Joe. Ranger made quite a few appearances, so the sexual tension was pretty heavy throughout the book. Lula, a ho in a former life, was there in spandex and sequins, loud and lovable as always. Stephanie's family even managed to get more unbalanced.
These books are always good fun and the characters are wonderful. If you haven't read this series, I would recommend them as a great way to pass some time.
(Finished on August 15, 2003 for Zuly’s Reading Room.)
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I am so with you on this series. I ~love~ the Stephanie Plum books. I have gotten kicked out of bed more than once for laughing out loud when reading them. I just hate that I have to wait a year for the next one!
Posted by Jenn at August 15, 2003 08:03 AM
These are definitely my favorite books. I got a friend to start reading them, and she has finished the first 7 in about 3 weeks!
Posted by Adelle at August 17, 2003 08:36 PM
I humbly submit my books for fans of Janet's who have run out of her books!
The Butcher of Beverly Hills: A Screwball Mystery Featuring Kerry and Terry McAfee
The Mangler of Malibu Canyon: A Screwball, etc.
They've been called "hilarious," "delightful," a "breath of fresh air from a very funny writer."
Reviews and sample chapters at my website. Hope you'll check it out.
Yours in laughter,
www.jennifercolt.com
Posted by J Colt at December 2, 2003 05:50 PM
i really like the plum books and i like ranger and joe but i hope she ends up with joe it just seems like they fit. She also has known him longer.
I hope there are many more books coming.
Posted by jane at November 26, 2004 10:35 PM
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Happy Birthday, Cis!
Today is the birthday of the always lovely and oh-so-talented Cis, so go and give her some birthday lovin'. Happy birthday, girl!
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Smoke and Mirrors by Neil Gaiman
Smoke and Mirrors by Neil Gaiman: when I was in high school I read the most amazing short story ever that was about a murdered angel. It was in this great little anthology that I somehow misplaced and was never able to find again. About five years ago I came across the short story again in one of the ever-excellent Years Best Fantasy and Horror collections. Over the years the story has stayed with me, though never the name or the author. Imagine my delight when, while coming to the end of this amazing collection, I find it contained within.
Neil Gaiman has always been a favorite of mine through both his short stories and his novels (especially American Gods), so I can't describe how happy it made me that he wrote one of the best short stories that I have ever read (the title, by the way, is Murder Mysteries).
I simply can not recommend Gaiman, especially this collection, highly enough. Everything that he writes is pure magic. There's heartbreak, there's happiness, there's sorrow, and there's joy, but the most important this is that his stories always ring true.
Pick this up as soon as you can. It is not to be missed. Forgive me if this review seems a bit disjointed, but I am so excited that the title of that missing anthology was mentioned and I have been able to find it again.
Favorite stories of mine from this collection are Chivalry, The Price, Don't Ask Jack, The Goldfish Pool and Other Stories, Queen of Knives, Shoggoth's Old Peculiar, Bay Wolf, Mouse, Desert Wind, Babycakes, the aforementioned Murder Mysteries, and Snow, Glass, Apples.
(Finished on August 14, 2003 for Zuly’s Reading Room.)
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I'm reading American Gods right now - my first Gaiman. The premise is fantastic and it really sucked me in quickly. But I'm halfway through and finding the novelty of the idea wearing thin, and struggling to get past the hump. I hope it gets better from here.
I also purchased Neverwhere last weekend, so eventually I'll get to that. It looks like a quick read.
Posted by Jeff Coon at August 14, 2003 08:46 AM
the only gaiman book I have yet to read! nice review, I think i'll pick it up soon!
Posted by craig at August 14, 2003 05:42 PM
First one I read was Neverwhere and I loved it. I also picked up the BBC series on DVD. Have since read American Gods and Good Omens, both excellent.
Posted by john at August 15, 2003 04:07 PM
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Burn It Success
The Burn It - Summer Edition swap really seems to be quite a success! I don't make it mandatory that you send me a thank you/finder's fee CD, but since I've received over twenty CDs, my guess is that most people sent theirs out. Here's a list of all the people that I've gotten CDs from already (* means they were in one of the two groups I was in):
Thank you all so much! The next swap should be coming up towards the end of October, so keep an eye out for notices!
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you're welcome!! Hope you enjoy the carefully hand-selected hot-sexy tunes! :)
Posted by dawn eileen at August 13, 2003 10:39 PM
i hope you liked your cd :)
Posted by ruthie at August 13, 2003 11:45 PM
I hope you liked the CD. :) I had so much fun making the CD labels. :)
Posted by Mandie at August 14, 2003 09:23 AM
I'm glad you liked em...
Posted by KB at August 14, 2003 07:01 PM
hrm. you didn't receive mine? that's not good. let me know, and i can send another copy. i'm still short one from my group, but i'd better check and make sure everyone else got mine too.
Posted by kimmie at August 15, 2003 02:35 PM
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How to be Good by Nick Hornby
How to be Good by Nick Hornby: Hornby is one of my friend's favorite writers, so when I found this at a half price book store I picked it up. I'm certainly glad I did.
Apparently, this is one of Hornby's more depressing and less fun books, but I found myself enthralled nonetheless. Katie, a GP who likes to think of herself as a good person despite having an affair, is married to David, the Angriest Man in Holloway (that's actually the title of the column he writes).
Pretty soon into the book, David has a spiritual experience and decides to live his life the right way, the good way. He talks his neighbors into housing homeless children, he plans on how to redistribute wealth to those in need, he even talks his children into giving their toys away to those less fortunate.
The real story is Katie's struggle with how this makes her feel. Sure, she's against homelessness and for helping others, but why do all these good works make her hate David even more than she did? What he's doing is good - why's it driving her insane?
I was fascinated with how this book was going to end and what was going to happen to the people involved. It's definitely not a cheery, light-hearted book at all, but I enjoyed it anyway. Hornby's got a very easy to read style and his characters are very much real. Good book and highly recommended.
(Finished on August 12, 2003 for Zuly’s Reading Room.)
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Ouch!
Somehow I've managed to get a crick in my neck that's just about making it impossible to turn my head to the left. Talk about fun! I think I'll play a bit more gin over at Pogo and call it a night.
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Cricks suck. And often it is hard to tell where it came from. Feel better.
Posted by Rori at August 12, 2003 02:08 AM
I hear pogo cures many ailments!
Posted by :: jozjozjoz :: at August 12, 2003 02:29 AM
oh! i looooooove pogo!!! :D hope your neck is better!
Posted by azure at August 12, 2003 02:00 PM
ewwww i totally understand. happened to me once and so i went to the chiro. it helped some..... though he tried to keep making me come back for more "adjustments."
Posted by The Sarcastic Journalist at August 13, 2003 08:10 PM
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Bookrings and Bookrays
You may remember last week when I mentioned that I found out that BookCrossing has a forum for bookrings, bookrays, and bookboxes, making it cheap and easy to get new books to read.
Today I went and updated my BookCrossing bookshelf so that you can see which rings/rays that I've joined. Most of these rings/rays are still open, so if you see anything that you want to read, you should be able to join the list too.
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Farewell, Gregory
I was shocked to learn that Gregory Hines died yesterday. He was only 57. What a great loss.
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Wow. How sad, and he was so young...
Posted by Christine at August 10, 2003 05:08 PM
that is so sad. i remeber seeing him dance, he was just amazing.
Posted by munin at August 10, 2003 07:08 PM
That is sad... I think I mostly remember him from maybe his more obscure roles like his stint on Will and Grace and Amazing Stories.
Posted by kim at August 10, 2003 10:07 PM
A little mentioned movie of his from the 80s, "Taps", I thought was quite good.
Posted by Chloe at August 13, 2003 12:07 PM
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We're Off
We're off to have dinner somewhere (still undecided) and maybe find a local game to visit. Everyone have a nice Saturday night!
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Happy Anniversary to Us!
Today marks the one year anniversary of the day that Steven and I adopted Bella kitty from Christine.
I can't believe it's been a year already! Thankfully she's been potty trained in that time except for the occasional "my box isn't pristine, so I'm going to pee on the floor" incident. She's a wonderful cat and I love having her in our little family. Happy anniversary to all of us!
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yay, Bella Kitty! Happy Anniversary!
Posted by mikey at August 8, 2003 03:52 PM
YAY! What a pretty kitty!
*HUGS*
Posted by :: jozjozjoz :: at August 8, 2003 03:59 PM
What a beautiful kitty!!! Happy anniversary!
Posted by teresa at August 8, 2003 08:40 PM
I'm so glad that things worked out with Bella! She's such a pretty cat. Congrats on the one year mark.
Posted by Lisa-grrl at August 9, 2003 10:34 AM
Happy anniversary to everyone! I started reading your blog right about the time you got Bella. :)
Posted by Marie at August 9, 2003 02:08 PM
She is such a beautiful kitty - I still miss Bella, but I am SO happy she has such a wonderful home where she is so loved!
Posted by Christine at August 9, 2003 06:27 PM
Aww what a cute kitty as well as Steven. 
Posted by Martie at August 11, 2003 09:44 PM
Hi! I'm sorry to bother you, but my cat is quite grumpy after her shots today and so I was doing searches to see if this way normal and your Bella mad-after-shots-experience from February popped up.
I just wanted to say thanks for mentioning it as I was getting quite worried.. :)
Posted by Amy at September 4, 2003 04:41 PM
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Hanging Out
Russell and two members of his band - John, their singer and guitar player, and Greg, another guitar player - have been over tonight just hanging out, drinking, playing guitar, and singing. (You can see all the pictures Russell's been taking with my camera phone over at Neurotic Fishbowl Moblog. Some are quite silly.)
I can tell it's been good for Russell to have all of us around and I could listen to John sing for days on end.
I won another $50 playing poker too, so it's definitely been a nice evening. Shame it's not Friday and I can't be drinking and sleeping in tomorrow too!
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Red by Jack Ketchum
Red by Jack Ketchum: justice is meted out by a wronged pet owner in this novel. |
