KatieKrug Reads in 2016 - Part 8

(This picture screams SPRING! to me)

Hello Old Friends and Welcome New Ones!

About me: I'm a New York transplant living in Dallas, TX with my husband and two cats and a dog. The cats are his; the dog is ours. He (the dog, not the husband) is a black lab mix named Louis and may just be The World's Best Dog. I work in association management, currently at a membership association for engineers and other professionals in the upstream energy industry. In my spare time, I enjoy traveling (my job usually takes me to interesting places but, sadly, my only overseas trip in 2016 will be to Dubai), snark, participating in shenanigans, and drinking wine. I have over 3000 unread books on my shelves and Kindle and a very understanding husband.

I have been a 75er since 2011. This year, I plan to participate in the American Author Challenge and the Nonfiction Challenge, as well as a few of the challenges in the Category Challenge group, where I will also be maintaining a thread. A few of my goals for the year are to read more of the Pulitzer winners on my shelves, to read more global lit, and to be more selective in my reading - both in what I pick up and in giving myself permission to put things back down if they are not engaging me.

Cheers!



This is often my view :) Not sure why it looks like the hand is making a rude gesture, though. I would *never* do such a thing.

CURRENTLY READING
(Audio) (Kindle - year-long project)

BOOKS COMPLETED in MAY
32. Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer (audio)
33. The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
34. The Woman in Blue by Elly Griffiths
35. Jane Steele by Lyndsay Faye (audio)
36. Songs for the Missing by Stewart O'Nan
37. Not My Father's Son by Alan Cumming (audio)
-- The Postman by David Brin (DNF)
-- And After Many Days by Jowhor Ile (DNF - but it was good and I'll try again some time)
-- Hidden River by Adrian McKinty (audio) (DNF)
38. The Devil in Denim by Melanie Scott

BOOKS COMPLETED in APRIL
20. Seduction in Death by J.D. Robb
21. The Quest: Energy, Security, and the Remaking of the Modern World by Daniel Yergin (audio)
22. Rubbernecker by Belinda Bauer
23. The Love Letters of Phyllis McGinley by Phyllis McGinley
24. Nine Parts of Desire by Geraldine Brooks
25. Sky Bridge by Laura Pritchett
26. The Secrets of Sir Richard Kenworthy by Julia Quinn (audio)
27. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie
28. The Perfect Storm by Sebastian Junger (audio)
29. The Mermaid's Sister by Carrie Ann Noble (audio)
30. Hatchet by Gary Paulsen (audio)
31. The Travelers by Chris Pavone

BOOKS COMPLETED in MARCH
15. 40 Love by Madeleine Wickham (audio)
16. Nobody's Fool by Richard Russo
17. The Winter Girl by Matt Marinovich
18. The Age of Grief by Jane Smiley
19. The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street by Helene Hanff

BOOKS COMPLETED in FEBRUARY
7. American Meteor by Norman Lock
8. How to Speak Dragonese by Cressida Cowell (audio)
9. A Night Like This by Julia Quinn
10. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad (audio)
11. Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King (audio)
12. The Sum of All Kisses by Julia Quinn (audio)
13. Cold Earth by Sarah Moss
14. Among the Missing by Morag Joss (audio)

BOOKS COMPLETED in JANUARY
1. Breathing Lessons by Anne Tyler
2. The Year of Reading Dangerously by Andy Miller (audio)
3. Kamchatka by Marcelo Figueras
4. The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henriquez (audio)
-- Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh (DNF)
5. Chill Factor by Sandra Brown
-- Secret Sisters by Jayne Ann Krentz (DNF)
6. The Girl in the Blue Beret by Bobbie Ann Mason (audio)

Ratings: I've stolen my star scale from Ellen and slightly modified it.

5 stars = I connected with this book in a special way. It may not be perfect, but it was perfect for me.
4.5 = A great read, among my favorites of the year.
4 = A good read and one that I recommend; truly enjoyable and/or worthy.
3.5 = Pretty good, with a few things done very well.
3 = I don't hate myself for reading this.
2.5 = Average, and life is too short to read average works.
2 = A bit below average. A waste of time.

Anything worse I probably didn't finish and so wouldn't get a rating.

Monthly priorities (in order):

1) 100 pages in the Penguin History of the World
2) American Author Challenge
3) Nonfiction Challenge
4) GeoCAT Challenge

This is a reminder to myself so that I don't become overwhelmed with various group reads, challenges, monthly themes, etc.

Post away, friends!

Ooh new thread! Hope your conference is going well.

Happy new thread, Katie. Happy May Day.

I am much more conscious of my movement, or lack of it, since I got my FitBit. Today, it did need to be charged, and I forgot I didn't have it on and mowed the lawn. :(

Happy New Thread, Katie!

Got the Fitbit request -- we're now friends. Happy stepping :)

It's official. I am the only LTer without a FitBit! Although I do have my personal trainer, aka DH, who gets me out to walk the dog with him every morning. I'm glad your birthday dinner wasn't rained out, Katie. My husband was unloading a trailer at the airport when it shut down because of the forecast and thunderheads. He said they got finished in record time!

Great topper, Katie! Screams spring to me, too! Our gorgeous weather has arrived. Patio opened up as of yesterday; spent a good part of today on my chaise. Love love love.

>7 charl08: - Hi Charlotte! Things are going fine. Conference opens tomorrow and everything is set!

>8 BLBera: - I know what you mean, Beth. I just walked a couple of laps outside around my hotel after dinner :)

>9 kidzdoc: - Thanks, Darryl!

>10 RebaRelishesReading: - Super, Reba! Thanks!

>11 Donna828: - Donna, and here I thought *I* was the last one to get a FitBit! I've had my old JAwbone for a while, but it didn't even have Bluetooth, so I had to plug it into my phone to get a progress report. Now I just tap the display and see the date and time, steps, calories burned, active time, and battery life. I LOVE it! (I got the Alta, FYI. It doesn't record stairs climbed, but that's fine....)

>12 lit_chick: - Nancy, I want to come hang out on your patio! I'll bring the wine....

>1 katiekrug: Katie, I recently started to go through my LT library and note which books I own. I thought I had 1,000, actually it is over 2,000 and growing. It is nice to know that you have quite a few books as well. Do you think we will ever read them all?

Happy new thread Katie.

I am in very good company with you ladies. I have a couple of thousand "books" on Kindle which I may never get to since I pick it up and charge it ever so rarely. So I am only keeping a record these days of my physical books to read.

Being a stats anorak as of today my predicament is:

Physical books on the shelves (floor, top of wardrobe, etc) 3,807
Pages in those books - 1,335,868

So if I read 150 books a year I have a little over 25 years of reading ahead without buying anything else and I cannot see that happening. Whether I finish all my unread books is very much in God's hands!

Nice new thread Katie!!! And congrats on the Fitbit! I am loving mine. We just bought my Dad one for his birthday; I have to call him tomorrow to help get it synched with his phone. Have fun and be fit!

>16 PaulCranswick: It's called job security. : )

Happy new one, Katie!

Morning, Katie! Happy new thread! Getting into the hammock is always easier than getting out - ever noticed that?!

Happy Shiny New Thread, Katie!

>15 Whisper1: - Linda, I'''m not sure reading them all is the point :) It's the security of *having* them....

>16 PaulCranswick: - It's a good problem to have, Paul.

>17 Berly: - Kim, I was pleasantly surprised with how easy it was to get set up. Hope your dad enjoys having one!

>18 scaifea: - Thanks, Amber.

>19 Crazymamie: - To be honest, Mamie, I usually have trouble with both ;-) But *being* in the hammock is worth it! I wish I actually had a hammock. My favorite one is at my family's house on Cape Cod - it's hung between two big pine trees, and the mix of pine scent with the salty sea breeze is heavenly....

>20 EBT1002: - Thanks, Ellen. It's been a busy day so far...

So far, I've coordinated the official greetings for the US Ambassadors to the UAE and Saudi Arabia and delegations from the French and Italian consulates. Still have a Korean delegation, and then tomorrow is Egypt, Indonesia, and China. In between, I'm herding cats and answering questions. Good times. My feet and my head hurt, and I'm looking forward to a couple of glasses of wine tonight!

Wow! It sounds very impressive, Katie. I hope the rest of your day goes well and that you get that wine.

Happy New Thread!
>23 katiekrug: That's a busy day- you've earned your wine!

Happy new thread, Katie. It sounds like you are busy - are you getting lots of steps in?

Morning, Katie! Did you get your wine?

>23 katiekrug: Yikes. Surely there must be wine...

Happy new thread, Katie! Sounds like an intense conference. Hopefully you get some good down time at the end of every day. :)

Let there be much wine! And not whine!

Morning, Katie! What the good doctor said. Hoping your Wednesday is happy.

>24 BLBera: - I did get the wine, Beth :) All is good.

>25 mstrust: - I thought so, Jennifer!

>26 Familyhistorian: - I'm getting a decent amount of steps, but not overly so. There is a lot of standing around and waiting....

>27 Crazymamie: - I did! Happy Katie!

>28 charl08: - Luckily, Charlotte, I brought wine with me :)

>29 MickyFine: - Thanks, Micky. Went to a baseball game last night - I couldn't pass up seats in the second row behind the home team dugout! So I'm dragging a bit today, but plan to spend a quiet evening tonight with my book...

>30 drneutron: - Well, there are both, Jim, but the wine alleviates the whine... :)

>31 Crazymamie: - Thanks, Mamie. I expect a bit of a quiet day today, so maybe I can catch up on a few threads...

Wine is an essential!

Or bourbon?

Re: All the discourse on numbers of books owned...

Morning, Katie! We have made it to Thursday!!

And now it is FRIDAY!!!

Wishing you a wonderful weekend Katie on a week when I have actually reduced, for once, my TBR mountain.

Morning, Katie!

Happy Friday, Katie. I hope you have a great weekend.

>34 ronincats: - Amen to that, Roni!

>35 ffortsa: - I'm not much of a hard liquor girl, Judy, but sometimes needs must ;-)

>36 weird_O: - Exactly, Bill!

>37 Crazymamie: - Hooray for Thursday, Mamie, which was the last day of my conference!

>38 Berly: - TGIF, Kim!

>39 PaulCranswick: - Good job, Paul.

>40 Crazymamie: - Nice moves, Mamie :)

>41 BLBera: - Thank you, Beth. I hope so, too :)

Easy drive up from Houston today, and I'm back at home. Hooray!

I have to be up early for a 5K tomorrow, but other than that, I plan to spend most of the day just relaxing... And napping. I definitely see a nap in my future...

I am now 10 books behind in reviews, so I'll be experimenting with some short-form reviews :)

Nine Parts of Desire: The Hidden World of Islamic Women by Geraldine Brooks
4.5 stars

A fascinating look at the lives of Muslim women in the Middle East, especially Egypt, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. I wish she'd write an updated foreword or end note to it, as I'm sure much has changed in the two decades or so since she wrote it - changes for both the better and the worse, I imagine. Having visited the region many times, I appreciated getting more insight into this correctly termed "hidden world" and will make my next visit in September with a deeper understanding of the culture, religion, and foundation of both.

Sky Bridge by Laura Pritchett
3.5 stars

There were flashes of the later brilliance Pritchett exhibits in Hell's Bottom, Colorado but overall, this was obviously a first novel - overwritten in parts, with unbelievable characterizations, and Very Important Messages delivered with the subtlety of a jackhammer. Don't make this your first Pritchett, as you might never return to her, and she definitely deserves more readers. Just maybe not of this book.

ETA: Also, I hate the cover. SPecifically, I hate the small inset picture. That lock in the shape of a heart is so obvious and unsubtle - emblematic of my issues with the book, I think!

The Secrets of Sir Richard Kenworthy by Julia Quinn
3 stars

The fourth in a quartet by a favorite author, this was the weakest of the lot and hinged too much on a ridiculous scheme that would never work.

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie
3.5 stars

Probably because I knew this novel was known for a twist, I figured it out pretty early. But props to Ms. Christie for making me second- and third-guess myself along the way, even if I ended up being right in the end.

The Perfect Storm by Sebastian Junger
3 stars

Surprisingly, I found this one to be pretty meh. It dragged on a lot, and maybe that was the fault of the narrator of the audio. The secondary stories (i.e. not the story of the Andrea Gale) were, for the most part, more interesting to me, and I wish there had been more about those.

The Mermaid's Sister by Carrie Ann Noble
4 stars

A charming fairty-tale influenced fantasy of a girl becoming a mermaid, and her sister's efforts to get her to the ocean before she dies. The audiobook was read by Kate Rudd, who did a wonderful job. A more fantastical novel in the vein of Sarah Addison Allen or Alice Hoffman.

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
3.5 stars

A young adult survival story with a few too many coincidences and lucky breaks for this practical-minded adult to get past. No doubt an excellent read for the intended audience.

The Travelers by Chris Pavone
4 stars

A fun, well-paced international spy thriller that moves relentlessly between Europe and the US, with a reluctant "spy" at the center of a mysterious conspiracy.

Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
4 stars

A fascinating account of Chris "Alexander Supertramp" McCandless who walked into the Alaskan wilderness in the spring of 1992 and died of starvation approximately 100 days later. Krakauer interweaves Chris' story, the stories of other well-known adventuring loners, and his own story of time spent in the wilds of Alaska. He creates a surprisingly complete picture from the small amount of information and sources available to him, and presents a complex portrait of a young man who was idealistic and naive, arrogant and self-conscious, and brave in the face of hardship but frightened of personal connections. Some internetting after I finished listening to the book revealed that there was yet more to the story and that people were still drawn to it. I know I won't forget it any time soon.

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
3.5 stars

I somehow missed this book when I was growing up, so didn't get to experience it as a child. That is probably why, while I enjoyed it, I didn't find it as enthralling or magical as so many others here, whose opinions I respect and often share. It was fun and funny, and I can see how a child would find it enthrallingly clever. I will be recommending it to my nieces and nephew.

And I'm ALL CAUGHT UP (at least on reviews - I have thousand of unread posts to read :-/ )!

Great reviews, Katie. I think I dodged bullets this time.

>56 BLBera: - Guess I'll have to try harder, Beth ;-)

Holy busy reading, Batman! I loved Stars Go Blue and checked out my library for Hell's Bottom Colorado and Sky Bridge: it only has the first, so the 3.5* first-novel rating you've awarded makes me glad that I'll at least get to read Hell's Bottom Colorado.

Morning, Katie! That string of book reviews is mighty impressive! Well done, you! And Happy Saturday!

Congratulations! That was quite a catch-up. Well done.

Well, at least you are caught up somewhere!! Nice mini reviews. You like The Mermaid's Sister a little more than I did. I was annoyed by her constant denial of her love for you-know-who. But other than that, I liked it. Into the Wild is so sad. Nine Parts sounds really good, especially since I know so little about this world. Agatha is always a winner. Great reading and nice job on the reviews! And Happy Saturday.

>58 lit_chick: - HB,CO is soooo good, Nancy! I think you'll love it!

>59 Crazymamie: - Happy Saturday, Mamie! And thanks for the FitBit cheering :) As soon as I figure out how to do that, I'll send some your way!

>60 RebaRelishesReading: - It had to be done, Reba. It makes me itchy not to comment on every book I read. I really need to get over it :-P

>61 Berly: - Thanks, Kim! Happy Saturday to you, too. And I agree with you on The Mermaid's Sister - that did get a little tiresome....

5K completed and breakfast consumed. Think we are going to the movies this afternoon, after which, maybe I'll get a nap!

Hi Katie! Welcome back. Those reviews are great, and now you're all caught up :-) I had a tiny nap, but with the kitchen timer set, so I didn't over-nap. Cruel but necessary.

Just stopping by and waving. Hope you have fun at the movies.

Hi Katie. I am slowly making my way through the threads and getting caught up with everything for the past month. # threads later, I am finally caught up. You had quite the April, what with a ill-fated LT getaway, the Wayne's cat dying, the near involvement in a car accident - I hate those kind of close calls - and poor Louie needed the 'cone of shame' to keep him from licking the sore spot. On a positive note, well done on hitting your second weight loss and healthier lifestyle mini-goal! Congrats!

I had a good chuckle at all the great responses to the band name question you posted on thread #7! Those were awesome!

Belated Happy Birthday wishes, Katie!

Leonard is an adorable cat! Love his big, all seeing eyes! How are all of your fur kids adjusting to one another?

Love your short form reviews!

Congrats on your 5K. You are turning into a running machine.

Oh, and I hope you got your nap.

>63 katiekrug: Nice job on the 5k! I just ran 5k for the first time in quite a while the day before yesterday. I've never run a race, though. I'm kind of interested in doing it, even though I'm slow, because it seems like pretty much everyone runs better when they do one. Maybe one day.

>14 katiekrug: Pretty sure you're not missing anything with the flights of stairs counting. Mine doesn't even seem to count them properly. There are two flights of stairs going in to my gym and the Fitbit only ever counts 1. I always felt robbed until I quit caring about stairs...

Hooray for the 5K! Well done.

>64 susanj67: - Susan, I've had to stop napping in bed because hours will go by... I now limit myself to naps on the couch which tend to be much shorter.

>65 charl08: - Thanks, Charlotte. We saw 'Keanu' and it was pretty funny :)

>66 lkernagh: - Hi Lori! Good to "see" you! the animals are kind of adjusting, mostly by ignoring each other, with an occasional hiss-filled run-in... But no blood has been shed, so I guess that's good!

>67 BLBera: - Not quite a running machine, Beth, as I still mostly walk. But this was probably the easiest one I've done, thanks to my more regular workouts. I never did get the nap... maybe today?

>68 ursula: - Ursula, I still mostly walk the 5Ks, but I do some intervals of jogging, and, at least around here, no one seems to care how fast or slow you are. The one yesterday was in support of brain cancer research (my cousin's wife's father died of brain cancer, so we have a team in his memory) and people were just glad to be there in fellowship for a good cause.

>69 nittnut: - Jenn, so many people have said that the stairs don't seem to be counted accurately - it's a big reason I wasn't concerned not having that feature. I am loving the Alta!

After the movie yesterday afternoon, we had a couple of cocktails on a nice patio and decided it was too perfect an evening to waste at home :) So I texted our great friends Bill and Molly and we went out to a wine bar with great food, and whiled away a few hours. The weather was beautiful, and there was live music on the "lawn" (it's a mixed-used development with a lot of green space and restaurants situated around a kind of central grassy area), and it was just about a perfect night. I love it when spontaneous decisions end up being just what one needs.

Reading Update:

I am listening to Jane Steele by Lyndsay Faye, which is fantastic - just as Roberta promised! And in print, I've got the newest Ruth Galloway mystery - The Woman in Blue by Elly Griffiths - going. Once that's finished, I'll start on Songs for the Missing by Stewart O'Nan for my RL book group...

Ooh - I can't wait to get The Woman in Blue - any early impressions?

I'm about 75 pages in, and it's pretty good!

I think Leonard is finally calming down a bit - at least he sits still long enough for a decent photo...

Aw! I love his coloring!

I can't wait! I'm first in line at the library.

Leonard looks quite relaxed, Katie, and I love his colouring, too. Way to go on another 5K. You rock!

>77 Crazymamie: - He is very handsome, Mamie, isn't he?

>78 BLBera: - Beth, I'm now about halfway through and I am liking it more than the previous one.

>79 lit_chick: - Thanks, Nancy!

He really is, Katie! So elegant looking.

>76 katiekrug: Your fur boy is handsome!

>81 Crazymamie: - He may be elegant looking, but he's a total spaz... He runs through the house super fast, slides on the tile and hardwood floors and bangs into walls, doors, and furniture. It's hilarious :)

>82 thornton37814: - Thanks, Lori!

Congrats on finishing your 5K, Katie. That upped your steps for the week! Probably needed after spending so long at the conference.

Your furboy actually looks quite elegant. Isn't it funny how they can spaz out - kind of endearing too.

Morning, Katie! Leonard is a spaz?! Now I like him even more - Mercy does that too when the mood strikes her, and it is amazing how much noise one small cat can make when that happens.

>84 Familyhistorian: - Meg, my steps are pretty dismal lately. Hard to rack them up sitting at a desk 9 hours a day... But I'm making progress!

>85 Crazymamie: - Total spaz, Mamie. He also falls off the back of the sofa frequently when he tries to turn onto his back for belly rubs :)

Belated hapy new thread Katie and congratulations on getting caught up with your reviews! I am, er, definitely not caught up with mine...

Leonard is looking very handsome and I love the fabric he's sitting on. It's as if he knew that would show him off to good advantage :-)

>86 katiekrug: So funny! Endearing creature!

He may be elegant looking, but he's a total spaz... He runs through the house super fast, slides on the tile and hardwood floors and bangs into walls, doors, and furniture. It's hilarious :) ... LOL! I needed the morning chuckle. Thank you, Leonard.

Leonard sounds like fun as well as being very glamorous looking. :-)

Hmm ... sounds to me like someone who didn't used to like cats is starting to like cats. That Leonard must be quite a charmer!

>87 souloftherose: - Heather! So nice to "see" you! Leonard is lying on our bedspread in that photo. It is about to be retired, so I'll have to get another photo of him. He matches the new one, too. I like things to be color-coordinated ;-)

>88 Crazymamie: - He really is, Mamie...

>89 lit_chick: - I'll pass along your thanks to him, Nancy :)

>90 charl08: - He is fun, when he's not being infuriating...

>91 lauralkeet: - Yeah, yeah, yeah... :) He is pretty charming!

Spazzy cats are my favourites. Glad to hear Leonard's settling in. :D

>86 katiekrug: I know, Katie. I am chained to a desk all day too. My step count would be worse but we started a walking group at work after all that news about sitting being the new smoking. We usually walk two 15 minute breaks - it helps.

>93 MickyFine: - He's pretty adorable, Micky :)

>94 Familyhistorian: - Yep, I'm trying to do laps around the floor in between meetings. I don't get many breaks I can count on, unfortunately!

I did not realize you started a new thread, Katie! Happy New Thread, KAK!

I loved Into the Wild.

I picked up Jane Steele at Northshire. Are you enjoying it?

Looks like I am going to see Richard Russo on Friday. How cool is that?

>96 msf59: - Hi Mark! Into the Wild was very good. Not quite as good as Into Thin Air but that's a tough mark to beat! Jane Steele is a lot of fun - I'm really enjoying it. And ohmigod! So jealous you're going to see Richard Russo. I saw him years ago in DC, and he was very engaging. Enjoy!

I agree with you about Into Thin Air. A hard one to beat.

Good news about Jane Steele.

I called our local bookstore, just yesterday, and ordered Everybody's Fool and I am 13th in line. I thought it would be much much higher.

Now, I NEED to bookhorn in Nobody's Fool.

>98 msf59: What you're going to see Richard Russo, Mark. You are having a great spring seeing authors! Nobody's Fool is a good one, right Katie?

>99 Familyhistorian: - Yep, I LOVED Nobody's Fool, Meg. I'm a little trepidatious about reading the sequel and haven't decided if I will or not...

>100 katiekrug: I forgot about the sequel. I am not sure that I want to change the memory that I have of Sully.

Exactly!

Another fan here of Into Thin Air. Fantastic read!

Morning, Katie!

>103 lit_chick: - I keep trying to get my husband to read it, with no luck so far. I think I"ll probably re-read it in the future...

>104 Crazymamie: - Morning, Mamie!

Reminds me I need to order Everybody's Fool...

My DIL informed me that Terry Gross interviewed Richard Russo a few days ago, and provided this link to the first part of it.

http://www.npr.org/2016/05/09/477314264/richard-russo-returns-to-north-bath-ny-i...

>106 RebaRelishesReading: - Order it and read it right away, Reba, so you can tell me if I should read it or not!

>107 weird_O: - Ooh, thanks for that, Bill! I will give it a listen when I'm not at work...

Hi, Katie! Did you listen to BOTNS today? Ann raved about Everybody's Fool. She thought it was even better than Nobody's Fool, which she read, a couple months ago. High praise. She also mentioned, that it wasn't necessary to have read the first one but I am going to do just that. It is how I roll...

>107 weird_O:, >109 msf59: Between Fresh Air and BOTNS and LT I am getting mighty intrigued by the two Russo books. Of course I would have to read them in order, even though Ann said it wasn't necessary. So who knows when I'll get to them, but I loved Empire Falls so am sure I'd love these as well.

>109 msf59: - Mark, I glanced at the BOTNS synopsis email (I don't listen to it, as I sometimes find Ann and Michael a bit insufferable (can I say that?) ) and saw that Ann recommended Everybody's Fool. I'll wait to see what my trusted sources - like you! - have to say about it :)

>110 lauralkeet: - Laura, I think you'd really like Nobody's Fool.

This came in the mail today:


(The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd, Penguin Drop Caps edition)

Amber has completed her set and shamed me into making progress on mine :) I have A-K and R, Y, and Z, so a little less than half to go!

I read and liked Nobody's Fool but it was a long time ago. May have to wait for Everybody's Fool for a while until we get to Chautauqua and get some things under control there.

>112 katiekrug: Gorgeous cover Katie. I wonder if they will publish another series with a different artist?

Morning, Katie! I only have A in that set because it is Pride and Prejudice, but I LOVE the size of those books and the bright colors - especially the colors on the edges of the page because it is just so different.

>113 RebaRelishesReading: - Well, I'm in no hurry to read it, Reba, so no pressure from me :)

>114 charl08: - That would be interesting, Charlotte. After I finish collecting the Drop Caps, I'll go back to collecting those nice clothbound Penguin classics... It's a sickness, I tell you!

>115 Crazymamie: - I love the colored page edges, too, Mamie! I was just showing The Wayne that last night :)

I hope he was suitably impressed.

Erm, not really. He just doesn't understand *smh*...

>111 katiekrug: This made me chuckle. What is it about Ann & Michael that bugs you? I just don't want to become insufferable. Or is it too late?

Grins...

>112 katiekrug: Sweet!!

>112 katiekrug: Oooh, I kinda love that I'm a book-buying bad influence...

>119 msf59: - No, Mark, you are not insufferable! LOL.

Ann and Michael just seem a little smug and self-satisfied sometimes, and frankly, I find a lot of their comments on books to lack depth. But then again, they aren't book critics or whatever. *shrug* They just kind of annoy me, I guess...

>120 scaifea: - Indeed, you pusher you.

>121 katiekrug: Whew! Dodged that bullet. LOL. I may even agree with you a bit on that observation, but they don't really bug me much and I have been turned on to many fine books because of them.

Hope you are having a smooth Friday, KAK!

Hey Katie. Have a good weekend!

Have a weekend, why don't you. We are.

>122 msf59: I kinda agree with the observation too. I tend to like Ann's picks more than Michael's (which is more about preferred genres than anything else), but there has occasionally been a highly recommended book that on further examination I decide just isn't for me. So they are an interesting source of recs and book chat, but LT is #1!!

>125 lauralkeet: I am with you there , Laura! 100%!!

Good to see you liked The Travelers - I've got that one on my shelf. I've enjoyed his earlier books.

The Hubster and I listened to the audio of Into the Wild a few years ago. Fascinating book.

Leonard the Spaz sounds like an awesome cat.

Hi Katie, I hope you have a great weekend lined up. I love the book in >112 katiekrug:! I think Amber is a great "pusher" as that set is going to be outstanding!

>122 msf59: - I'm glad we can still be friends, Mark!

>123 charl08: - Thanks, Charlotte! Back at ya :)

>124 weird_O: - Sounds like a plan, Bill. I think I'll indulge...

>125 lauralkeet: - We're #1! We're #1!

>127 SuziQoregon: - I'm looking forward to eventually getting to Pavone's other books, Juli. And Leonard is pretty great. For a cat ;-)

>128 DeltaQueen50: - Judy, so far the weekend is shaping up into a good one... Hope yours is, too!

Last night, The Wayne and I went out for a delicious Japanese meal and then saw a performance of "The Intergalactic Nemesis, Book 1: Target Earth." It's billed as a "live action graphic novel" and performed like a radio drama from the 1930s. There are voice actors, a sound effects person, and the graphic novel panels are projected onto a giant screen. There is also a guy providing a live musical score on a piano throughout the whole thing. It was pretty cool and a lot of fun.

Here's a clip from when theya ppeared on Conan O'Brien and the official "trailer" of the show: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YaRauLyqb8.

I am looking forward to seeing the film adaptation of Lady Susan when it arrives here, but I find it thoroughly confusing that they changed the title to 'Love and Friendship,' which is the title of another Austen work (albeit with "friendship" spelled wrong). Fine if you want to change the title for the movie, but why take a title associated with another work by the same author?!!?

>131 katiekrug: Oh, that live action graphic novel sounds right up our alley, Katie. Please send it to Chicago.

I LOVED Lady Susan the book, and it sounds like they've done a great job with the movie. Like you, I don't understand the title switch to a different one of her works (also a very funny one).

>113 RebaRelishesReading: That looks like a lot of fun.

The trailer looks funny. I'm hoping they didn't put the best jokes in it though, and saved some for the film itself!

You've been going to the most interesting sounding films/plays, etc. lately.

>131 katiekrug: That looks interesting, Katie. The voice actors look like they're having fun.

>133 jnwelch: - You can find the tour schedule online, Joe. You'd love the show!

I still have yet to read Love and Freindship....

>134 mstrust: - I think you might be referring to >131 katiekrug:... And it was fun!

>135 charl08: - A review I saw of the film indicates it's pretty faithful to the book, and I remember chrotling through the whole thing, so I have high hopes :)

>136 BLBera: - Beth, I used to b*tch about Dallas having nothing to do and being a cultural wasteland, but lo and behold, when I actually started looking and paying attention, there's all sorts of cool stuff going on!

>137 Familyhistorian: - Meg, you could tell during the whole performance they were ALL having fun, including the sound effects person!

Last night, we went out for margaritas with friends and then back to their house for dinner (spaghetti and meatballs, caesar salad, garlic bread, and Boston cream pie!). It was a bit later of a night than I had wanted, because I have book group today and haven't finished the book. Oh well... I'm off to read a chunk, though I know there is no way I'll finish it in time.

*wave*

>140 nittnut: - Hi Jenn :)

The Woman in Blue by Elly Griffiths
4 stars

I liked this more than the past couple of entries in this series. The information on Catholic and Anglican devotional spaces and pilgrimage sites was interesting, and Ruth continues to be a frustrating and endearing character. Recommended for fans of the series.

Jane Steele by Lyndsay Faye
4.5 stars

What fun! Not a re-telling of Jane Eyre but a historical novel inspired by it, this is a lushly written, action-packed romp through the life of 24-year old Jane Steele, a murderess 5 times over. Occasionally veering into the melodramatic (probably by design), Faye is obviously having fun with her subject and the time period. It's Gothic and bawdy while also being thoughtful in how much and how little it draws from its inspiration.

Songs for the Missing by Stewart O'Nan
5 stars

I would read a phone book written by Stewart O'Nan. He knows just the perfect detail to include to immediately draw the reader in and identify with his characters and their experiences. This novel is about the aftermath of the disappearance of an 18-year old girl. The different ways in which her parents, and her sister, and her friends cope with her absence and the mystery surrounding it, are illustrated in vignettes told from various perspectives. What I loved was how the characters were all distinct and how O'Nan gave them each their own story but ultimately brought them all to the same place, as if acknowledging the importance of the paths we take, as opposed to the destination we come to.

>144 katiekrug: I've read this one four years ago and I'm full agreed with your review.

>45 katiekrug: Oooh, I wanna read that
>48 katiekrug: Oooh, I should have already read that
>53 katiekrug: Oooh, I have a copy of that (anyone want it?)
>112 katiekrug: Oooh, Penguin Drop caps editions! *swoon*

Ok, I'm caught up :)

Katie! You got me with the Griffiths, the Faye and the O'Nan! Off to check to see if my library has the latter two. I have the Griffiths waiting in line. First I have to read a couple that have holds and are due back earlier.

Happy Monday.

Morning, Katie! I just used one of my gift cards to purchase the Faye, since you and Roberta both loved it. And I have added the O'Nan to your Dirty Dozen - "He knows just the perfect detail to include to immediately draw the reader in and identify with his characters and their experiences." Totally agree!

Morning, Katie! Lots of fine titles here. I've never read O'Nan, so I'll have to look for one at the library. Any one you suggest I start with?

It looks like my last trip to Dallas will be the last one the company pays for, since they've eliminated my job and I am now officially retired. But I hope to get down to see my friend Carlos sometime soon. I'll let you know when I'll be around, and maybe we can have that meetup we missed. And you can show me all the fun parts of Dallas.

>145 Ameise1: - Great minds, Barbara!

>146 LovingLit: - Good job on getting caught up, Megan :)

>147 BLBera: - A trifecta! I'm on a roll, Beth!

>148 Crazymamie: - Mamie, I think you will also love the Faye. And I just don't think anyone can go wrong with O'Nan. I really wish more people would read him. Maybe Mark will include him in a future AAC (I lobbied for him for this year, to no avail...)

Your spazzy cat reminds me of my uncle's cat Hughie. He was a big black cat with piercing green eyes. He was really mellow, but every night about 8:30, he would come tearing down the (wood) stairs with a wild look in his eye, do a mad circuit or two around the room with no consideration for any human obstacles, and then settle down in a chair next to my uncle. Weird, but true, and a sight to see.

Morning, Katie! You are doing some fine stepping! You and Susan have left me in your dust.

>151 nittnut: - Jenn, my sister had a cat like that growing up! You could set your watch to her freak-out at 7pm :)

>152 Crazymamie: - Thanks, Mamie. I'm trying... Yesterday was a good day, and today is shaping up to be one, as well. Just got back from the gym :)

Way to go! I need to get back in the groove.

Popping in to say Hello, check out your good reviews, and catch up!

Some of the books you're reading are ones that I picked up at ALA Midwinter in January and STILL haven't read -- shame on me...

Need to address this sooner rather than later. Sigh.

So glad you loved Jane Steele. I will try to get that one into a very busy rotation. The O'Nan sounds excellent too and I am not familiar with that one. Your job is done...

>154 Crazymamie: - Mamie, I am clinging to the groove by my fingernails... I just want to sleep in!

>155 Thebookdiva: - Hi Abby! Thanks for stopping in. I am so behind on so many threads.....

>156 Chatterbox: - I think you'd like the Griffiths, Suz. I felt like it was kind of a return to form to her earlier works. I'd be interested in your thoughts. And I can't decide if I think you'd like the Faye....

>157 msf59: - Mark, the audio of Jane Steele is excellent, but I think you have a hard copy - which I'm sure will be just as good! And O'Nan can do no wrong by me, it seems. I'm so glad I still have a lot of his stuff to read!

>158 katiekrug:, Well, I've GOT the Faye, and it was free, ergo...

Morning, Katie! Hang on, Sister! You are inspiring me, so I hope those fingernails hold out.

LOL! Thanks, Mamie. I went to the track at the junior high by our house and did a few laps before I got caught in the rain...

It's supposed to rain here, too, but not until this afternoon. I'm not sure the weather has read the forecast, though.

"I'm not sure the weather has read the forecast, though."

Ha! I like that.

*grin*

Catching up Katie. I need to get back to the Elly Griffiths series at some point and Jane Steele sounds fun. Happy Wednesday!

I'm intrigued by Jane Steele, too, Katie. Our daughter and I are big fans of Jane Eyre.

I started my first Stewart O'Nan, Last Night at the Lobster. The exquisite warbling about his books won me over.

>164 Crazymamie: - You have such a way with words, my friend!

>165 souloftherose: - Hi Heather!! The Griffiths series bogged down a bit for me over the past 2 or 3, but I liked this latest one a lot.

>166 jnwelch: - Joe, I hope you LOVE Last Night at the Lobster as much as I do. It's just a perfect little gem, with a "plot" that shouldn't be compelling but is, thanks to wonderfully drawn characters.

Ran across this indoor hammocky installation.



ETA: Could be perilous climbing from that ladder into the hammock. And climbing from the hammock to the ladder. Maybe not for old guys (like me)...

>167 katiekrug: "Brevity is the soul of wit."

Love the book shelf but the hammockithing...not so much

>168 weird_O: - Oh, how fun!

>169 Crazymamie: - Indeed.

>170 RebaRelishesReading: - I love hammocks, but getting out of one that high would make me a little nervous....

>168 weird_O: Very nice!

>172 kidzdoc: - Hi Darryl

>173 katiekrug: Hi, Katie! Is it Pimms time yet?

Just cruising through ...

>112 katiekrug: I like the idea of that series so much, but I remember looking at the list and thinking there were a number of them I wouldn't want to own and it would just be weird to have missing letters.

>168 weird_O: I like it, but there's just nothing to lean against or cozy up to. You see how that guy looks sort of awkwardly perched. It needs to be closer to the walls so you can have big pillows to really lean against, or to hang more so you have something supporting you.

>174 kidzdoc: - I keep trying to tell you, it's ALWAYS time for Pimms ;-)

>175 ursula: - Yeah, I think that's why I lost steam with collecting them - but now I'm committed :-P

>160 Crazymamie: I applaud you from afar! The groove has kicked me out. Not happening today. Hoping for tomorrow!

I thought of you, Katie, recently when I was reading Me Before You. There is a plot point in which the main character drinks many Pimm's Cups and gets unexpectedly drunk because she doesn't know it has alcohol in it. She's lower class and Pimm's is only for fancy people! It made me laugh.

>177 Berly: - Hi Kim!

>178 norabelle414: - That Pimm's can be the devil... Which reminds me, I haven't had any in a while...

I've just read Mothering Sunday where the main character is an author smitten with Conrad. I thought of you.

I saw in the supermarket last week that Pimms had new flavours on the shelves. I was a bit horrified.

Morning, Katie!

>180 charl08: - Ha! Thanks, Charlotte. I just got my copy of Mothering Sunday in the mail last week. And eeeewwwww to flavored Pimm's.........

>181 Crazymamie: - Morning, Mamie!

Have a Pimm's, Katie.

I wasn't familiar with the alphabet books, and I think I will try to ignore them. Series like that are like drugs; once you start, you have to continue, whether you want to or not.

The hammock looks scary to me.

Hi Beth! Oof, a Pimm's sounds great right about now, and it's not even 10am. It's going to be *that* kind of day, I think :(

Yes, stay away from the Drop Caps - I love the fronts, but the spines annoy me, and I can't very well shelve them with the covers displayed, so it's now just a matter of finishing what I started...

Ok, no hammock for you!

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

This wonderful book is currently on sale for Kindle (US) for 99 cents! It's a wonderful novel of turn of the century New York City, and I loved, loved, LOVED it when I read it, lo these many years ago (at least a dozen, I think!).



Here's the link: https://www.amazon.com/Dreamland-Kevin-Baker-ebook/dp/B000FC11II?ie=UTF8&_bb....

You can thank me later :)

>175 ursula: I agree with you, Ursula. An interesting proposition, but not for me.

Sweet Thursday, KAK! I will have to remember to purchase Dreamland when I get home. Sounds like a winner.

>185 katiekrug: Well, I just ordered it, didn't even check to see what it's about! That's how much I trust your book judgement!

>187 msf59: - Hope you remembered, Mark!

>188 Dianekeenoy: - I think you'll like it Diane! It's very engrossing....

Re-posted from Facebook:

I may be slightly obsessed - came home from a 3 glasses of wine happy "hour" at 9:30 and decided to go for a walk, because I hate being out of the top 3 on my FitBit friends leaderboard :-P

>185 katiekrug: Dreamland turns out to be available as an ebook at the library! I loved your walk story, Katie :-) Currently you're number 2 on my leaderboard but I'm only about 900 steps behind you.

Morning, Katie! Slightly obsessed is good - welcome to our world.

>191 susanj67: -Excellent, Susan! I think you'd like Dreamland.

I did a neighborhood walk this morning, after over-sleeping a bit, but it completed my self-imposed challenge to walk/go to the gym every morning for an entire work week :)

>192 Crazymamie: - Ha! Thanks, Mamie.

I was stupidly excited after my walk this morning when I was first on my leaderboard (by a hair) :)

I am trying to work up the enthusiasm to book my flights to Dubai for 12 fun-filled days in September (not really, it's for work - a Board meeting followed by our annual meeting). I think I've settled on not flying direct (14+ hours there and 16 hours back!) but rather breaking it up by going via Heathrow. That way, I can also get miles on American and BA, though I really hate the planes BA tends to use for their London-Middle East routes. (I was on one to Abu Dhabi when the smell of smoke pervaded the cabin and the flight attendants were rushing around in slightly panicked mode. I thought we were going to have to make an emergency landing in Iraq, as we were flying over it at the time! We made it to AD but were met on the runway by seemingly dozens of emergency vehicles - it was not my favorite flying experience...

I was considering spending a few days in London on the way back so Susan and I could go stepping together :) But I know I'll be so exhausted that I'll just want to sleep for several days straight after the meetings.

>194 katiekrug: Oh, boo! Come to London! If you're not feeling up to stepping, we can just book shop :-)

>195 susanj67: - I'll be there the following summer (after Board meeting in Scotland), likely with The Wayne in tow!

I have lots of books I "should" be reading, but I've just walked the dog and taken a lovely cool shower, and I think I need to curl up in my freshly made bed with a good trashy romance novel...

Night, all!

>197 katiekrug: Reminds me to get off the computer and take a bath in order to face another day here. Will be part work, part LT and part cinema as my two daughters and I will mosey on down to the mall to catch a movie later. Kyran wouldn't be seen dead hanging with his uncool dad and Hani has gone off to Johor for a school reunion.

Have a lovely weekend, Katie.

>194 katiekrug: I prefer flying no longer than about 10-11 hours. I know having a layover adds a significant amount of time to getting to or from somewhere, but I'll take that tradeoff so that I don't have to be stuck in a plane the whole time. Of course there are routes where you just can't avoid those long flights (over the Pacific) but I've never done one of those.

Sleep well!!

Morning, Katie! How was the trashy romance?

>198 PaulCranswick: - We may go see a movie this weekend, too. I want to see 'The Nice Guys' with Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling. It's getting good reviews over here.

>199 ursula: - I've flown to Asia and back several times. The first couple were to Beijing and Bangkok respectively, both times via Tokyo, and it was ok. The stop helps. My favorite trips were LA or SanFran to Hong Kong in Cathay Pacific business class. Absolute bliss. I didn't want those flights to end :) If I could fly business class to Dubai on Emirates, I would jump at it, as it's supposed to be amazing, but alas, it's not to be...

>200 Berly: - I did, Kim! Over 9 hours (with one wakeup to let the dog out) and it was awesome :)

>201 Crazymamie: - I got about 15 pages in before I crashed, Mamie. But it's a sports romance (my favorite!) so I expect it will be good company this weekend.

Morning, Katie! It is absolutely gorgeous here today - the humidity has gone!!

I am hoping that the trashy sports romance is a football one. I miss football. *sigh*

Happy Sunday, Katie! I wasn't too far behind here thankfully! I love going to the movies, you'll have to let us know how 'The Nice Guys' is.

Hey Katie. I travelled to Australia standard and I would love to do that journey business or first. To be able to lie down and sleep would be heaven!

I went to see the new X men movie and all the trailers were for action films. Your choice looks good from the poster alone though. I did say to my friend I would have been quite happy watching Michael Fassbender in check shirt and jeans in a Polish metal working factory for the whole film but she seemed to think I had missed the point.

>203 Crazymamie: - Lucky you with no humidity! It's a bit damp here, despite the sun... I miss football, too! The sports romance is baseball focused, so no fix there.

>204 Thebookdiva: - Hi Abby! Not sure we'll get to the movies this weekend after all. Last night, we ended up going to dinner with my cousin and his wife and 2-year old Abby :)

>205 charl08: - The X-Men movie officially opens here next Friday, but my husband has a ticket to see it Thursday night and is *very* excited. Did you enjoy it?

I've been spoiled by a few trips in business class with the newer "herringbone" seating pattern and lie-flat seats. You can really sleep well on those. The more traditional business class arrangement is way better than economy/coach/standard but not nearly as comfortable as the new configurations, which also avoid having people have to crawl over each other to get to the loo :)

It was OK. Not enough Fassbender and only minimal Jackman.

Hi Katie - I just finished The Woman in Blue and liked it. I love Ruth.

>202 katiekrug: Well, if I had the opportunity to fly business class I'm sure it would be much better. :) I have only done that once, California to New York - we got bumped up for some long-forgotten reason. Other than that, I'm always with the schlubs in coach. ;)

>185 katiekrug: Ahem. Thank you.

>190 katiekrug: I am helping you out. Not a good FitBit week over here. I'll be back though. *evil grin*

>207 charl08: - I'll let him know, though I expect he'll be more interested in the female roles ;-)

>208 BLBera: - Glad you liked it, Beth! I like Ruth, too, but I have a crush on Harry...

>209 ursula: - I've only gotten to do it occasionally for work, but boy, did it ruin me for coach, which I used to be fine with. Heh.

>210 nittnut: - I just posted in Mamie's FitBit group (have you joined that? You should!) that it was the only thing that got me out of bed on this very dark and rainy morning :)

I started listening to The Life We Bury which I got in some Audible sale or another. And I can tell it's going to be a WINNAH! As Mark would say, expect much warbling :D

>202 katiekrug: I saw the trailers for Nice Guys when watching Bad Neighbors, Katie. It looks a hoot.

Morning, Katie!

>213 PaulCranswick:- I hope to see it soon, Paul.

>214 Crazymamie: - Afternoon, Mamie!

Hello KAK! I'm glad you enjoyed Jane Steele and yes it was purposely a bit melodramatic.

>168 weird_O: I love the hammock by the shelving....but please, Im going to need a whole lotta cushions too please :)
I love high ceilings and mezzanine floors, the hammock might be a cheaper way for me to actually achieve something like this in my lifetime!

>190 katiekrug: ha! Excellent. Drinking while walking though? That doesn't count ;)

Looking forward to your warbling thoughts on The Life We Bury. Sounds good.

>216 luvamystery65: - Hi Ro! Can't thank you enough for the powerful nudge on Jane Steele. Such fun!

>217 LovingLit: - Oooh, drinking *while* walking... New Olympic sport, maybe?

>218 msf59: - Count on it, Mark. It's great!

I was roaming around, FB, while watching the Cubs beat the Cardinals and saw that BOTNS, will be wrapping it up, the end of next month. They will mention it on tomorrow's podcast. I know you have some issues with them but I will miss the show and I am so impressed with, what they have created.

Yeah, I just saw that. Hasn't seemed like their hearts have really been in it over hte past year or so... Best to end on a high note, probably.

Trying to juggle their familiy life and their jobs, must be a task too. They will leave a nice footprint.

>220 msf59:, >221 katiekrug: Last night I noticed the episode was available. I read the title and saw mention that they would be making an announcement, and figured that's what it was. To be honest, when they announced their last Booktopia I thought that might be a signal they were getting tired (which they admitted on this episode). And I wondered how they would manage when they no longer had Booktopia author talks to fill gaps when their lives were busy. 8 years is a loooong time to do a weekly show. They were definitely pioneers in the field, podcasting before podcasting was cool. They will be recommending other podcasts in an upcoming episode, so I'm looking forward to trying something new.

>222 msf59: - For sure, Mark.

>223 lauralkeet: - I didn't realize they were such podcasting pioneers, Laura. I can't imagine doing something like that for so long... At least now there are lots of great bookish podcasts out there!

This time next week, I'll be here:


(Hotel Alyeska in Girdwood, AK)

Well, I"ll be holed up in meeting rooms inside, but maybe I'll catch a glimpse of the mountains... :) Actually, a colleague and I are planning a little hike for our last day, when our meetings should be over by about 3pm. Considering sunset is after 11pm, we should have enough time!

I post this as a reminder to myself that as bad as all the preparation can be, I do get to go to some wonderful places.

>225 katiekrug: Nice. The holed-up part is unfortunate, but you do go to some wonderful places.

My first thought upon looking at the caption was: what, snow-covered mountains in ARKANSAS??? Then I realized that my state abbreviations were a little off. We stopped in at that hotel a couple of years ago when visiting our son who was flying for an Alaskan airline. It is gorgeous, and a great time of year to be there with all the daylight. Try to get outside a bit!

>226 jnwelch: - I am looking forward to the little bits of time I'll have to myself to escape the meetings :)

>227 vivians: - LOL, Vivian! I always have to stop and mentally double-check my A-state abbreviations... I'll tell you all about my ALaska "adventure" when I see you the following week in NY!!

>225 katiekrug: Good morning, Katie! My company has an affiliation with Alyeska. Are you a timeshare owner or just visiting the hotel? It is a cool place for sure.

>229 brodiew2: - Hi Brodie! I'm just going there for a work meeting.

>225 katiekrug: Exciting! I've always wanted to go to Alaska. We'll be in totally different places next week - you in Alaska and me in far southern Italy. Looks like our weather will be similar though, oddly enough. :)

I like the look of your Alaska base. Hope your walks come off. Do you get a tour guide or self guided? It looks like a beautiful part of the world, I'd like to see it.

>225 katiekrug: So pretty! I'm another who has always wanted to visit Alaska. I'm sending you wishes that you get more free time than expected!

>231 ursula: - Odd that the weather will be similar!

>232 charl08: - They are self-guided hikes. Apparently, there's a large network of hiking and biking trails in the area, some of which start/end at the hotel.

>233 mstrust: - Thanks! I hope so, too, but it rarely happens :) Still, the alternative is not going at all, so I'll count my blessings...

Yes, you definitely get to go to some beautiful places, Katie!

How exciting, Katie! I sure hope you do get to spend some times outdoors, but remember to keep your eyes peeled for this guy:

>225 katiekrug: Whoa. WHOA.
...
*Tries to figure out how to smuggle an Amber-sized suitcase into Katie's luggage*

>225 katiekrug: Any way you can bring me along to the Hotel Alyeska? I could sleep on the floor and I promise to be very quiet. I LOVE Alaska and hope to return there one of these days.

Morning, Katie! I did the same thing Vivian did and originally thought Arkansas. Ha!

Beautiful photos, Katie. I'll be in Alaska in August.

>235 lit_chick: - Yes, indeedy, Nancy. I need to be better about remembering it :)

>236 DeltaQueen50: - Aww, look at the fluffy, wuffy teddy bear! I'm sure he'd love to be friends... Heh. I would like to see a moose. "Moose" was my first word as a baby, so I have a soft spot for them :)

>237 scaifea: - Well, I do get two free checked bags, so if you don't mind riding in the cargo hold.....

>238 msf59: - Mark, could I bring you as my enforcer? The hotel has been, um, challenging to work with and it's causing me a lot of stress... Maybe you could knock some heads together for me...?

>239 Crazymamie: - Yeah, I would not be that happy about going to Arkansas :-P

>240 BLBera: - It's funny three of us are going this summer. What a coinkeedink! Too bad not at the same time for an epic meet-up.

Today is supposed to be my last day in the office, but as I mentioned above, the hotel is driving me bonkers in how slow they are to respond to everything, so I have a feeling I'll be in on my Friday off. Which is doubly annoying because Monday is Memorial Day, but I'll be traveling that day, so having Friday off meant I still got a long weekend, but now it's not looking good :( Woe is me.

>243 katiekrug: aww, well that sucks! Hope you enjoy your weekend anyway, Katie.

#firstworldproblems

>242 katiekrug: I have been working out, so maybe I could get in good enough shape to be your "enforcer". It would sure be worth it. Grins...

>241 katiekrug: Huh. Well, I hear it can get kinda chilly in the cargo area, but I live in WI, so I should be seasoned for it, don't you think?

Morning, Katie! I can tell that Susan's corporate tracking is in effect - she went zooming past me this morning. All I saw was a brief flash of color. And there was a whooshing sound with a slight disturbance of the air around me. I was still in my jammies.

>246 msf59: - You'd be more than welcome, Mark! Nobody at these meetings is very bookish, so I could also use your excellent company and conversation!

>247 scaifea: - I'm sure the cargo hold is balmy compared to WI in winter!

>248 Crazymamie: - I had a TERRIBLE FitBit day yesterday. I think I had a grand total of 3500 steps for the day :( But I got a ton of work done, and this morning, I had a nice long walk on the treadmill.

Susan is a machine.

Susan is a machine Right. Agreed. So how can we bring her down? *blinks*

Sorry about your terrible Fitbit day yesterday. May the Fitbit forces be with you today - sounds like you are off to a good start.

>Hi ladies! So, what's new with you? Oh. I see. Mamie, that flash of colour you saw must have been my new Skechers, which totally clashed with my outfit. Fortunately I'm not the Duchess of Cambridge, so no-one is looking at me. I have now walked to work three days in a row! And the dictatorship team leadership is going well. Former office roomie asked me to oversee one of his newsletters next week when he's away, and I said only if his steps were up to date (he was two days behind and this is day three) and now they are!

I also thought AK was Arkansas, and also wondered about the mountains ;-). I hope you got your Friday off, Katie.

>250 Crazymamie: - Steal her Skechers?

>251 susanj67: - Oh, hi, Susan! Fancy meeting you here... :) Got half my Friday off, so not *too* bad...