Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie

by Carol8 Comments
I had wanted to read Murder on the Orient Express again before watching the movie, and was lucky enough to win a copy in a Goodreads giveaway. This is at least the third time I've read it, but it's one of those ones that I wish I could re-read for the first time. The solution is so perfect, but also so memorable. Poirot is one of my favorite all-time detective and this particular mystery showcases his reasoning skills. The setting is perfect, a group of people are trapped in a train stuck in the snow, and clearly there is a killer on board. There is no access to people's records, no way to check on their true identities, not contact with the outside world at all. I'll grant you he manages to make some leaps in his deductions, but that's part of his charm. It's by no means a fair mystery, the reader can't solve it, but I do love how...
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Thursdays Tale: The Three Snake Leaves

by Carol4 Comments
I found a Grimm story I hadn't read before today. A poor young man left his home with his father's blessing, as his father could no longer support him, and went to war for a King. He was brave in battle, rallying the troops when all seemed lost, and defeating the enemy. When the King heard that he owed the victory to him alone, he raised him above all the others, gave him great treasures, and made him the first in the kingdom. The King had a daughter who was very beautiful, but she was also very strange. She had made a vow to take no one as her husband who did not promise to let himself be buried alive with her if she died first. On her side she would do the same, and if he died first, would go down to the grave with him. This strange oath had up to this time frightened away all suitors, but the young...
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My Favorite . . Thing About My Job

by Carol8 Comments
My Favorite.. is a weekly meme hosted by Maureen’s Books. In this meme we share every week something we love with each other. Because let’s face it.. The world can be a dark place and it’s time to share something positive. For more info: My Favorite Meme. My actual job, how I make money, is pretty boring. I'm an insurance agent at an independent insurance agency. It's a convenient job for me, I literally live a five minute walk away, even though I usually drive so I can go out to lunch or to take the deposit to the bank. I work nice hours: 9-5 on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and 10-2 on Tuesday and Thursday, and it's pretty flexible, so if I need to run out and pick Amber up or take the day off to drive my mom to an appointment it's not a big deal. Most of our clients are nice, I can only think of one real...
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Reader’s Workouts – 9/26

by Carol6 Comments
I didn't make my step goal this week, but I had a pretty active weekend, so I think I'm okay with that. The weather's been hot and the dog just hasn't felt like taking walks. We'll go like 20 steps and he'll just stop and won't move until we turn around to go back home.   This week's activities: Wednesday- Pilates Thursday - Pilates Friday - Bowling Saturday - Catch for Cancer Sunday - Does cornhole count? The “Catch for Cancer” was fun, even if we didn't break the world record. I'm not sure how short we were of the number. Meal ideas for next week: Curried Chicken and butternut squash Roast chicken with carrots Beef stir fry Chicken and mushroom soup Lamb patties My lettuce wraps from last week turned out really yummy. https://www.instagram.com/p/BZPXQxtgWDx/?taken-by=carolsnotebook Year Fitness Goals: - Lose weight. Goal - Lose 26 lbs. (Currently at -11.2) - Run 2 5ks, 1 10K and 1 half. Completed - 1 10K; 1 5K - Hit my weekly step goal (56,000 steps) for 48 weeks. Weeks completed: 29 How was your week?...
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Bookish (and not so bookish) Thoughts

by Carol6 Comments
Bookish and Not So Bookish Thoughts is a weekly blogging event hosted by Bookishly Boisterous. It allows book bloggers (and non-book bloggers) to write about pretty much anything, bookish or otherwise (i.e. share exciting plans for the weekend, rants on things encountered during the week, etc.) Head over to her blog to link-up. 1. It was a busy week this week and the fact that David had a cold for most of it didn't help. I may have given him the cold, but where it takes me 2-3 days to get over it, it takes him a full week. 2. David and I went bowling on Friday evening. The high school football game was away and I didn't feel like making the drive. We each won two games, but I had the high score for the night, 147. 3. We participated in the AHN Catch for Cancer on Saturday morning. It was to raise awareness of the importance of prostate screenings. It was also...
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