Louise Penny in Pittsburgh

by Carol6 Comments
Louise Penny is one of my favorite authors and my mom and I were thrilled to see her speak in Pittsburgh last week. She was there as part of Authors on Tour, a collaborative effort between the Pittsburgh Arts and Lectures series and the Carnegie Library. Penny spoke for about 40 minutes and then did a question and answer session. She was funny and charming and really has a great stage presence. She talked about what made her want to write and about how long it took to put away her fear and just do it. And then the job of actually finishing the book and getting it published. She also mentioned that the "kernel" of each is a poem that she keeps on a sticky at her writing area. I haven't read The Nature of the Beast, her newest, yet, but the poem that goes along with it is from Yeats: "And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,...
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R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril X

by Carol2 Comments
This year, I'm participating in tthe R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril X (RIP-X) reading event hosted by The Estella Society. It runs from September 1st through October 31st and involves reading books and watching movies and TV shows from the following categories: mystery, suspense, thriller, dark fantasy, gothic, horror, and supernatural. The rules are simple… 1. Have fun reading (and watching). 2. Share that fun with others. There are several reading levels called Perils involved in this event. Check out the master post for full details. My chosen Perils are below. Peril the First involves reading a minimum of four books that fit within the previously mentioned categories. I know I plan on reading/listening to The Nature of the Beast by Louise Penny and Candy Corn Murder by Leslie Meier. I'm not sure what else. Books I've read: The Nature of the Beast by Louise Penny The Visitant by Megan Chance The Quick by Lauren Owen Candy Corn Murder by Leslie Meier Peril of the Short Story clearly involves reading short stories. I...
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Readers’ Workouts – 9/1

by Carol3 Comments
So, here are my steps for the week. I hit my goal for the week overall. Here's my current plan (which I'm not following at all). I did sign up for the race, now we'll just have to see if I actually run it or chicken out. CT stands for cross-training, SS stands for stretching or strength-training. My week: Wednesday - 30 mins of weights, crunches, etc Thursday - 50 crunches, 10 girly push-ups. 10.39 miles. Monday - 6-7 miles (I apparently stopped my tracker mid-way through, so I'm not sure on the exact mileage.) I'm down 9.8 lbs from 5/19. I usually listen to a book while I'm running or walking. This week I'm listening to First Impressions by Charlie Levitt. How was your week? Readers’ Workouts is hosted by Joy at Joy’s Book Blog. Thanks!...
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Thursday’s Tale: The Dragon King’s Daughter

by Carol5 Comments
As I was searching for last week's story, I ran across another story that I thought I'd share today. "The Dragon King's Daughter" is a parable that appears in the twelfth chapter of the Lotus Sutra, one of the most influential of the of Buddhist scriptures. I know very little about Buddhism, but according to the internet, many believe the Lotus Sutra contains the ultimate and complete teaching of the Buddha. There was once a daughter of Sagara (“Ocean”), one of the great Dragon Kings who lived at the bottom of the sea. When the Buddha was teaching on Vulture Peak, Bodhisattva Chishaku stood up and said, "It took eons of practicing austerities and accumulating wisdom for even our own Shakyamuni Buddha to realize awakening. Is it possible for anyone to quickly attain Buddhahood?" To this Manjusri Bodhisattva said, "With the Awakened One’s permission, let me tell you about the Dragon King’s daughter. She is just eight years old, highly intelligent, and well-versed in Buddha-dharma. In...
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Readers’ Workouts – 8/25

by Carol4 Comments
So, here are my steps for the week. I hit my goal for the week overall. Here's my current plan. CT stands for cross-training, SS stands for stretching or strength-training. My week: Tuesday - 30 mins of weights, crunches, etc Wednesday - 1 hr on the elliptical Thursday - 20 mins of weights (I was going to go running, but we had to deal with plumbing issues) Sunday- 7.3 miles Monday- 50 crunches, 10 girly push-ups. Tried to take the dog for a walk, but he wasn't interested. I've gained a couple pounds in the last few weeks. I need to watch what I'm eating more and remember that running doesn't mean I can eat as many cookies as I want. I'm down 9.8 lbs from 5/19. I usually listen to a book while I'm running or walking. This week I finished Malice by Keigo Higashino and started First Impressions by Charlie Levitt. How was your week? Readers’ Workouts is hosted by Joy at Joy’s Book Blog. Thanks!...
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A Hot Glue Gun Mess by Mr. Kate

by Carol2 Comments
Maybe I'm too old or maybe I'm just not cool enough, but A Hot Glue Gun Mess didn't really inspire me. There are a couple of cute projects that I may try, like the heels with bows or the mercury glass vase, but I really don't need a feather crown or pom-pom cushion. The photos are all well-done and the layout is nice. It's kind of a memoir meets DIY book. The book is full of short stories from Kate's privileged life, each followed by a craft project that may or may not be related. Most of her stories are from her childhood/teen/college years and though some were amusing, eventually I just didn't care. She drops names and shares more than I really want to know. Actually, I quit reading them and just looked at the pretty pictures. I enjoy crafts and there are a few here I'd like to try.  Maybe I'll just photocopy those pages and send this book...
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