Fun Stuff
Random topics that don't fit in other categories.
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Have a Smart Phone? Use the Barcode Scanner App to Take Living Outside the Stacks with You on the Go!
Do you have a smart phone? Have you noticed that little barcode reader app in the App Store? Well, I did and, honestly, I had no idea what I’d use it for but I downloaded it anyway. Hey, I figured it’s free so give it a try and if I hate it ~ no harm, no foul. I heart it! It’s probably one of my most played with apps. I use it when I’m shopping and I can’t find the price on something, scan it with the barcode reader and voilá there’s the price. Or if I run across a book and I want to find out information about it,…
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I’ve Been Busy Performing My Civic Duty
Guess who had jury duty?! I did! I did! Ok, now let me explain something to you. I have wanted jury duty since forever. Ok, maybe not since forever but at least since I became hooked on the Law and Order franchise. So when I received my summons a few weeks back, I actually squealed with delight. Reality is nothing like television. On Monday morning I reported to the Luzerne County Courthouse at 8:30, filled out a basic questionnaire and then waited. And waited. And waited. I’m so glad that someone told me to take along some reading material otherwise I would have been bored to tears. On a side…
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RIP: Elvis the Hamster
This has been a tough week for my children. This morning, Elvis the Hamster passed away, eight days after we lost his friend, Koda the Hamster. Miss 13 and Miss 14 were concerned that Elvis not be alone when he took his final breath, so I sat with him when they couldn’t be there and Squeekerz, our Jack Russell Terrier and Chihuahua mix, sat with him the rest of the time. Elvis was definitely the friendlier of the two hamsters, he loved to be held and talked to. In fact, if you walked past his cage, he would immediately stop whatever he was doing and run over to the door,…
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Coffee Talk: Racism, Lies and Other Crimes
Watch the latest video at video.foxnews.com When I first heard the story of Bethany Storro, I was shocked and saddened that someone would do something so awful to this woman. In fact, I even discussed my outrage on my Facebook page. I mean, seriously, why would one woman throw acid at another woman and destroy her face? Storro said that a strange woman ~ “African American with black hair pulled into a pig tail” ~ threw acid into her face after asking if she wanted a drink. For a random attack, it seemed so personal. Then came the reports that the whole story may be a hoax and that the…
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Shopping in NEPA: KB’s Coffee House
I’ve lived in the Back Mountain for 13 years now and in that time I’ve started taking the beauty of this place for granted. This is a small community where everyone pretty much knows everyone and small town values are still upheld. I love that small town feel, especially when I’m looking for a place to just hang out and relax. I’m a coffee drinker. Big time. In fact, I used to drive a little over 10 miles just to get a cup of joe from one of those big name places but I wanted to find a place close to home, you know a place where everybody knows my name.…
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Koda’s Vigil
Today Miss 14 came into the living room, her eyes brimming with tears, “Mom, something’s wrong with Koda! He isn’t moving.” I jumped up from the sofa and ran into her room, followed by my husband and, sure enough, there was Koda, lying on the floor of his cage. Not moving. My husband and I peered into the cage, breaths held, praying the hamster was still alive. After a few minutes, I called it. Koda hadn’t moved in the 5 minutes we stood staring at him. Then we saw him inhale and exhale deeply. That was all. He didn’t move, he didn’t open his eyes, he just inhaled and exhaled…
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Wordless Wednesday: Variegated Lemon Thyme
For more Wordless Wednesday, check out 5 Minutes for Mom…
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Online Book Club: The Handmaid’s Tale
A few weeks ago I joined an online book discussion group hosted by Trish at Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin’? The actual discussion takes place at Classic Reads Book Club and the discussions are truly awesome. We’re reading The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, this is one of my favorite books. I read it in high school and again in college. I’ve even referenced it in papers when I took women’s history/studies courses. Honestly, the topics for discussion are endless: women, fertility, religious freedom, tolerance, politics, marriage, children, etc. If you’ve never read this book, I’d highly recommend it. I’ve tried to read other Margaret Atwood’s but I just didn’t get…
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Music Review: Chamber Music Society by Esperanza Spalding
Chamber Music is a form of classical music that is written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber. The term “chamber” implies privacy and intimacy, therefore, “chamber music” has been described as the “music of friends.” And by the time you finish listening to this CD you will feel as if you have been accepted into a society of friends. Which is appropriate, since I was introduced to the music of Esperanza Spalding through the ravings of an old high school friend. Backed by pianist Leo Genovese and drummer Terri Lynne Carrington, bassist Esperanza Spalding’s vocals blend so seamlessly with the instruments…
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Tony Preparing for the Race
Every now and then I write about Tony and his racing and how much I enjoy riding in the car with him. I don’t ride often but when I do, it’s crazy fun. Imagine whipping around the orange cones in a big ol’ parking lot, tires squealing, smoke and exhaust filling the air…. Woot! Tony does what they call “cone killing” with the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA). I haven’t been able to get video of him racing yet, but I did catch him setting up for tomorrow’s race…
