Carol's Notebook – Page 545

Teaser from The Shimmer

April 26, 2011April 25, 2011 by Carol12 Comments

"It calls them, and I quote, 'the mysterious Rostov lights.'" "What the hell are those?" "All it says is 'colored balls of light in a field.' Along with the old movie set from Birthright, they're the big local attraction." (Tuesday Teaser from The Shimmer by David Morrell)...

Spring’s Serenity Read-a-Thon

April 25, 2011April 30, 2011 by Carol3 Comments

Michelle is hosting a week-long spring read-a-thon at The True Book Addict. I think it's the perfect excuse for me to spend my spare time reading this week. It looks like it's going to be pretty rainy anyway.First up is The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan and The Shimmer by David Morrell (audio). Oh, and The Seven Songs of Merlin by T. A. Barron, which I'm reading with my daughter.I'll probably just post books I finish here as the week goes by.Finished:The Shimmer by David Morrell...

Short Story Monday: “Still Life (A Sexagesimal Fairy Tale)” by Ian Tregillis

April 25, 2011April 25, 2011 by Carol3 Comments

I was in tears through the second half of "Still Life (A Sexagesimal Fairy Tale)" by Ian Tregillis, available to read online at Apex magazine. This fantasy story takes place in a town that exists outside of time. It had slipped into the chasm between tick and tock, to land in its own instantaneous eternity. And so its residents occupied their endless moment with pageants and festivals and reveled in century-long masques, filled forever with decadent delights. They picnicked in the botanical gardens, made love in scented boudoirs, danced through their eternal twilight. And they disregarded the fog that shrouded their city with soft grey light. And Time didn't care. Time left the city alone, except for one woman, the woman Time loves. But because Time cared for her, adored her, she was the only person in the town to age. She was also unique in that she was a clockmaker, although her timepieces were not always conventional. She is the only...

Happy Easter!

April 24, 2011April 21, 2011 by Carol11 Comments

Stushi's Art Christ the Lord Is Risen Today Text: Charles Wesley, 1707-1788 Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia! Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia! Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia! Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia! Love's redeeming work is done, Alleluia! Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia! Death in vain forbids him rise, Alleluia! Christ has opened paradise, Alleluia! Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia! Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia! Once he died our souls to save, Alleluia! Where's thy victory, boasting grave? Alleluia! Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia! Following our exalted Head, Alleluia! Made like him, like him we rise, Alleluia! Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia! Hail the Lord of earth and heaven, Alleluia! Praise to thee by both be given, Alleluia! Thee we greet triumphant now, Alleluia! Hail the Resurrection, thou, Alleluia! King of glory, soul of bliss, Alleluia! Everlasting life is this, Alleluia! Thee to know, thy power to prove,...

Five Things I Love To Do (but haven’t lately)

April 23, 2011April 21, 2011 by Carol16 Comments

I enjoy doing a lot of things, but some of my favorite things I haven't done in over a year. Go on a real vacation Work on my scrapbooks See a movie by myself Sleep 'til after noon Take a cruise Okay, I've never actually been on a cruise, but I bet I'd love it. And we have a vacation planned for June. I actually do the things I love on a regular basis. I play the piano, read, take pictures, write, visit museums, zoos, amusement parks, go to baseball games, eat spaghetti, spend time with family and friends. We find time to do the things we enjoy. What about you? What's something you love to do that you haven't gotten to in the last year?...

Her Plea (flash fiction)

April 22, 2011April 21, 2011 by Carol6 Comments

Image: Christophe Vacher Her Plea by Carol 370 words The sheets felt cool and luxurious against her skin as she laid her arm across the empty space beside her. So, he had woken and left her already. Not surprising. She knew he had planned on working this morning at first light, the growing season began today, but still she missed him. Today, she would hold back her clouds, allow the farmers to plant their crops without rain falling on their backs. She looked down and saw a young woman praying in her temple. Concentrating, she heard the girl’s plea. “Talai, please. Here is my gift.” She laid down a loaf of fresh bread, the hearty aroma rising to Talai’s suite. “I beg you for help. My husband, Benjamin, went out ten days and he hasn’t returned, please send him back to me. Without him, I will die. Just tell me what I need to do and I will do it. Anything.” Tears streamed down the girl’s...