Kentucky people

[shelleyd2008]

I have a few books that I have been meaning to read, but with school (taking online college courses...UGH!), and my kid, and all my critters, I just don't find the time to read anything for pleasure. But here's my list of to-read's:

Dean Koontz---------Odd Hours (partway through that one)
James Van Praagh--Ghosts among us (kinda into spooks hehe)
Jude Deveraux-------Return to Summerhouse
" " " "-------Secrets
Stephen King--------Duma Key

Obviously, I like a variety in my reading. There isn't really any specific genre of books that I don't like, but I don't get into non-fiction too much. That is saved for studies.

I guess the Van Praagh could be considered non-fiction, if you believe in that stuff.

Oh yes, and Thank God for the rain!! I think our yard and pastures are a lost cause, but it might help. Most of my babies were hiding in their tractors when we got home, and good thing it wasn't raining too bad then, cause I forgot about my baby guineas in the yard, just in their cage, with no cover!! They weren't too wet, and I put them up on the porch, and turned their light on for them. I also turned the silkies and japs' light on, and they were all cuddled up, till they got the chill outta their bones! Then they were right back out there. That is, until it started raining pretty good, then they went in and stayed in. I also threw some scratch down for the 'bigger' chickens, cause it's supposed to help them stay warm. I figured they'd need it, after getting wet.

I have heard that you can tell how long it's gonna rain, by the behaviors of chickens. I think it's if they are out in the rain, then it's gonna rain a long time, and if they are in the coop, or whatever shelter they have, then it's gonna stop soon. It may be flip flopped, idk, but makes more sense the other way!

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

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We'll have to talk about spooks when I stop by friday

Peace -
Meri

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

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What courses are you taking?

I'm taking a course, too, through the internet/mail - it's a writing course. I have it on hold right now, though, because we got so busy this summer, then my stepdad had cancer surgery, and now my mom is in the hospital - I got so much to think about it is hard to write assignments, sometimes.

I have to make a decision by the end of November if I'm gonna extend my "leave" or if I'm going to go back at it. I've always wanted to be an author, so I figured this course could teach me something. It is harder than I thought it would be, LOL. Not that I mind that, I'm glad it is challenging, it is simply finding time to do the assignments that messes me up lately.

This course is for writing children's books, I would have preferred the writing for adults course, but I didn't realize I could take one (through the same place) until after I had already paid for the children's course, LOL. The childrens writing, I believe, is harder than writing for adults - kids can be so specific about what ya have to include in a story, etc...

I do write a monthly column for an online magazine. It is more like I write on here, though, very informal type stuff. I'm not paid for it, LOL but it'll look good on a resume' someday to say I've had the job.

I also have a novel I started a few years ago (maybe 5 years, LOL) which is 2/3 done. With moving over 500 miles, and the last couple of years preparing for it, I haven't done a thing with it for a couple of years. I was thinking about it last night, I may mix it up and re-work the entire thing.

I've written a children's story before - sort of a short novel. I didn't write it for being published, my oldest son and I worked on it together, started a second book of the series and stopped - that one I am saving for the course I am taking, the second book, I mean. The book is aimed at teens - not little kids. I basically wrote it for my kids and my nieces and nephews. It's a fantasy book, with a little history thrown in for good measure

I am thinking after I learn a few more things in this course, maybe re-working the first teen book (since it is already done) and trying to get it published, maybe.

I wasn't sure about letting the chickens out today, it is so cold and wet, but they were lined up at the door when I went to feed them,

so I let them decide. They all came out, hopefully if it starts to pour rain again, they'll go back inside for a bit to keep warm.

Then I got this PM from Bluedog420 - he has cochin chicks, and I am wondering how much of a fit my husband would have if I drove all that way to get some. But then, I only wanted 2 of those donkeys - he is the one who talked me into 4 of them - so if he can spend that kind of money on donkeys, I ought to be able to buy cochins, dontcha think?

It is a long way to go, though, just for chickens.

Hmm.... maybe if Cindy is going that way sometime soon she can pick them up for me, and I can pick them up from her when I come to swap chickens soon.

hint hint.....

LOL

Peace -
Meri

 

[shelleyd2008]

Well, I am going for my AA in accounting. I have only taken one block so far, which is 2 classes, but so far so good. I am now in the second block, which is a bit tougher, but doesn't seem too bad, just a lot more reading than the first ones were. It is supposed to be a 2 year course, but since they 'piggy-back' them, it should be done in 18-19 months. As soon as one block is done, the next classes start the very next day.
I should be able to get a decent job with the AA, but I plan on going on to get my BA at least, probably my masters as well. Mine are through the University of Phoenix; totally online stuff.
I used to write quite a bit, when I was in high school. I had also started writing a novel, which I let my english teacher read (what I had at the time anyway). I have somehow, over the years, lost the part that i had, which really sucks. I had a good 200 pages done of it. Guess it just bummed me out; I've never tried to start writing it again.

Good luck with the chickies, I'm sure you'll find a way to get them.

I too thought about not letting my chickens out, but they were going nuts when I went out there. They're so used to going out, all I have to do is open the door, and out they come. They don't even care that I am standing right there! I did leave the light on for the silkies and japs, so they could go get warmed up if they got chilled. I didn't take my guinea keets out in the yard like usual though. They just have to hang out on the porch for the day.

They sure love that scratch grain though! All my chickens come running now, when I go outside. They would probably mob me if I didn't give it to them!

 

[Smartie_Pants]

Since you all are discussing books, I thought I'd drop in and contribute. I am a book-a-holic. Some of my favs are:

Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz (can't wait to read the whole series!)

Water For Elephants by Sarah Gruen. This one was awesome, and I thought I wouldn't like it but it was great.

Deception Point by Dan Brown (very action packed with lots of twists and turns. The plot is super interesting and unusal yet believable.)

The Bone Garden by Tess Gerritson (takes a strong stomach in parts but very interesting.)

 

[shelleyd2008]

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I am currently 'trying' to read the newest book in the 'Odd Thomas' series-Odd Hours. I liked the other books very much. I am a big fan of Dean Koontz. There was another series of his that included seize the night, that I liked as well. I don't think I have heard of the others you mentioned, but I am the typr that I like to stick with authors that I know. I will have to look into those, though!

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

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What is the Bone Garden about (or I could go look it up, LOL) ? (I have a very strong stomach,

It takes a LOT to make me turn my head and whimper)

I've read Dan Brown before, that first one he did, about Mary Magdalene.
I had a copy of Odd Thomas - somehow it got lost in the move before I could ever read it, LOL I'll have to get another copy.

Peace -
Meri

 

[Smartie_Pants]

In the Bone Garden, a woman who is divorced bought an old run down house and was out in the yard trying to make a garden out of weeds and rocky dirt. She dug up a skeleton that was from the 1800's. The majority of the book is told during that time. Oliver Wendell Holmes and a couple of his young medical school buddies get wrapped up in a big mystery. A killer dressed like the grim reaper is killing people all over the west side and all the victims are connected to a student, Norris, and a 17 year old girl whose sister died in childbirth. It seems like a simple killer mystery, but all the twists in it make it really special. I never saw half of what happened coming.

The rest of the book is present day and the woman who discovered the skeleton finds one of her new neighbors likes her. She gets connected to an really old man who was related to the woman who owned the house last and both of them go through all of her things to discover letters and documents that tell the story of the West End Reaper.

I say you need a strong stomach because:

1. Norris is forced by Harvard to dig up dead bodies for them to stay in school.

2. They do anantomy lab on those and the extracting of the intestines and everything is pretty graphically detailed.

3. In one part, one of the boys cuts his hand while disecting and it gets infected. They have to cut his hand off, and back then there was no anestisia, so its pretty graphic too.

Things like that usually don't bother me, but the way the author described everything (she is a doctor in real life) made my stomach flip in places.

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

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Is that one of those that they do on the TV Show "Bones"? The book has her pic or something on the cover (the woman Bones is based on writes the books, I think).

I like the tv show, probably will like the book.

Peace -
Meri

 

[cthrash1]

Okay chknlvnfam here is Coco and also a vid of him fetching...Let me know if you can't see the vid, it worked for me... Cindy