H is for Harry

by Carol6 Comments
I can think of a few fictional Harrys. Harry Potter, of course, Dirty Harry, Harry Devlin, Harry Bosch, but today's character is just plain old Harry. Title: Harry on the Rocks Author: Susan Meddaugh Category: Picture Book Published: April 28, 2003 by HMH Books for Young Readers Rating: 3½ out of 5 stars Add: Goodreads Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository An afternoon boating excursion goes terribly awry when Harry drops his oars and the tide takes him and his little yellow boat out to sea. A storm washes him ashore on an island with nothing but sand and rocks and one windblown tree. Hungry, Harry hopes to eat an egg he finds amid the rocks, but after warming in the sun, the egg doesn’t cook—it hatches! So instead of dinner, Harry finds a friend. But just what is the little, quickly growing, colorful, winged, and lizardlike creature? Harry’s in for more than one surprise as he discovers the true nature of the bizzard’s identity and the friendship they share This is one...
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G is for Giveaway

by Carol5 Comments
I have a book review scheduled for today, A Comedy of Erinn by Celia Bonaduce. The main characters are Erin and Jude and Massimo. Not a single G in sight. Not even at Valley Forge where a memorable scene takes place. So, I'm going with Giveaway. Read to the end for details. Title: A Comedy of Erinn Author: Celia Bonaduce Category: Contemporary Romance Published: September 19, 2013 by Kensington Rating: 3½ out of 5 stars Add: Goodreads Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository Erinn Wolf needs to reinvent herself. A once celebrated playwright turned photographer, she's almost broke, a little lonely, and tired of her sister's constant worry. When a job on a reality TV show falls into her lap, she's thrilled to be making a paycheck--and when a hot Italian actor named Massimo rents her guesthouse, she's certain her life is getting a romantic subplot. But with the director, brash, gorgeous young Jude, dogging her every step, she can't help but look at herself through his lens--and wonder if...
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F is for Forty

by Carol21 Comments
I turn 40 this year. On the one hand, it's not a big deal, on the other it's a little hard to believe. I thought I'd take a quick look back to '74 and then to the year I graduated high school, 1993. 1974 World Series Champions: Oakland Athletics Average cost of a new house: $34,900.00 Movies: · The Sting · The Exorcist · Papillon · Herbie Rides Again · Blazing Saddles · The Great Gatsby · Serpico · Death Wish · The Godfather, Part II (I've seen this and the one below) · Murder on the Orient Express On TV: (I think I've seen all of these except Chico and the Man, thanks to reruns.)) 1. All in the Family (CBS) 2. Sanford and Son (NBC) 3. Chico and the Man (NBC) 4. The Jeffersons (CBS) 5. M*A*S*H (CBS) 6. Rhoda (CBS) 7. Good Times (CBS) 8. The Waltons (CBS) 9. Maude (CBS) 10. Hawaii Five-O (CBS) Music: 1. The Way We Were - Memories, Barbra Streisand 2. Seasons In the Sun, Terry Jacks 3. Love's Theme, Love Unlimited Orchestra 4. Come and Get Your Love, Redbone 5. Dancing Machine, The...
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E is for Eldorado

by Carol12 Comments
The other day Amber mentioned the poem "Eldorado." All I could remember of it was the "land of Eldorado." I didn't even know it was by Edgar Allan Poe. Eldorado Gaily bedight, A gallant knight, In sunshine and in shadow, Had journeyed long, Singing a song, In search of Eldorado. But he grew old- This knight so bold- And o'er his heart a shadow Fell as he found No spot of ground That looked like Eldorado. And, as his strength Failed him at length, He met a pilgrim shadow- "Shadow," said he, "Where can it be- This land of Eldorado?" "Over the Mountains Of the Moon, Down the Valley of the Shadow, Ride, boldly ride," The shade replied- "If you seek for Eldorado!" It's kind of sad, isn't it? The knight spends his whole life searching for the legendary city of gold only to be told that it can't be found until after death. And a quick thanks to the folks who left comments on D yesterday: Jaimie Ramsey Barbara from Everyday Wonders R. Scott Amsbaguh Taylor from Taylor Tyler Talks Carol - my mom who knows all the trouble we...
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D is for Dog

by Carol18 Comments
We have one dog, Scrappy. He's about 7, now. He's friendly, cute, and a little on the dumb side. He's also a bit - high maintenance. He had knee surgery when he was about a year old, has a bit of hip dysplasia, and tends toward ear infections. The first couple of years we had him, he had trouble with allergies that made his eyes swell up. He's also always had trouble with hot spots, places that he would lick until all the hair was gone and they were red and raw. We tried lots of things, sprays, powder, prednisone pills, shots. It all worked for a little while, but eventually we got to the point where once we got rid of one hot spot he would start on another. It was driving him, and us, crazy. My mom had heard radio commercials for Dinovite for years, and she mentioned it to us. Now, I assumed it was a scam and at $75...
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Thursday’s Tale: C is for Cinderella

by Carol7 Comments
C is for Cinderella, at the suggestion of Naida from ...the bookworm... . "Cinderella" is one of those fairy tales that we all know or at least think we do. It's also a story that's been told in countless countries in countless ways. I've read several versions over the years. The one I'm most familiar with was written by Charles Perrault around 1697. His story includes the evil stepmother, the fairy godmother, the pumpkin and animals being turned into the coach and servants, the glass slippers. The father is alive, just not present in the story. These fairy tale fathers and their lack of any kind of backbone is astonishing. How he could let his only child, the daughter of his dead wife, be abused in his own household, given the most menial chores, be lower than a servant? I've also read Grimm's version, which is entirely different, not the story I knew. Cinderellas' mother dies and on her deathbed she promises, "Dear child, remain pious...
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