Thursday, June 26, 2008

I'm back!!! Miss me?

I'm home! And, man, am I glad to be back. Dealing with my sister was a bit like this, unfortunately:

I'm the meek one defending herself on the bottom, there. But, I sneaked in some decent reading time between cleaning and boxing, watched loads of Gomer Pyle and a few movies, enjoyed viewing the wildlife that flitted past my mother's bay window and had quite a few nice walks around the old neighborhood. I'm still reading the two books I mentioned in my last post, At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon and Human Voices by Penelope Fitzgerald -- almost finished with Human Voices. I believe I'll go backward on reviews, once I've got my equilibrium back. I brought home a nice little pile of books and will try to photograph some for future posts.

For the return drive from Oklahoma, I purchased an audio to help pass the time: Journey to the Center of the Earth (unabridged) by Jules Verne. I like Jules Verne but the scientific portions of his books can be rather dry, so I chose that audio based primarily on the description of the reader. And, wow, good choice. I will look for more audio books read by Simon Prebble for future drives. I didn't realize there was a new movie version of this one till I saw the rocking fine cover with Brendan Fraser looking all manly and gorgeous. This is the photo on the cover, although I can only find an image of the soundtrack, not the audio book:

Admittedly, that terrific cover grabbed me like crazy.

I'm just beginning to blog-hop and wow, you guys have been posting like crazy! It's really thrilling to be back to visiting blogs (and to not have to order food or drinks for internet time, although I must add that the Burger King staff in Ponca City, OK is an extraordinarily friendly and courteous bunch). A mere two books arrived while I was away:

Entropy by Anthony Lawrence Gordon and
Housekeeping Vs. The Dirt by Nick Hornby

I'll dive into Entropy, as soon as I finish Human Voices. Hope everyone is having a fabulous summer!

Bookfool, extremely happy to be home

36 comments:

  1. I missed you bunches!!! Glad you're back!!

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  2. Hi Suzi!

    Thanks, I missed you, too! :)

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  3. I missed you! And aren't sisters fun sometimes? lol

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  4. I'm glad you're back home safely.
    Older sister or younger sister?

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  5. I missed you for sure. Welcome back!

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  6. Glad you are back safe and sound!! We've missed having you around!

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  7. And we are extremely happy to have you home! Yes, you were missed!!

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  8. Of course we missed you! Welcome back! :)

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  9. I am SO GLAD you are home. Missed you bunches and bunches. :)

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  10. Eva,

    Thanks! It's good to be back and I can't wait to get back to reading your blog! :)

    I only have the one sister and I'm afraid she's gone sour. Maybe if we hosed her down and put her in a cooler climate she'd sweeten up. ;)

    Bybee,

    Thanks muchly. Older sister, still very much entrenched in the Bossy Big Sis role, poor thing. Maybe it's just too painful to face growing up. LOL

    Hi Nikki!

    Thanks, I missed you, too! I'm going to go blog-hopping in a minute. I'm positively giddy with expectation. :)

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  11. Stephanie,

    Thanks! I missed you, too! Can't wait to get some major blog-hopping accomplished. :)

    Les,

    Thank you muchly. I brought home a couple of Nebraska books that look like they're right up your alley. I thought about you! :)

    Nat,

    Thanks, I missed you, too! I'll have to dash over to see what you've read and photographed, today. :)

    Heather,

    Thank you! I missed seeing the little ones and was quite surprised to see the zoo animals rather than those cheeky smiling faces. The gorilla looks more like me than your kids. Har. Missed you, too!

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  12. Your sister sounds like she could be besties with my brother.

    I'm glad you're back.

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  13. Cupcake,

    That's why we have to go out and find our own brothers and sisters, sometimes. Look out, I've just adopted you. Hi, sis! :)

    Thanks, it's good to be back. I hope you feel better soon!!!

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  14. I have one sister too: a younger one. Fortunately, she hasn't gone sour, but she's insanely stressed out, and she, um, doesn't handle stress well. It doesn't help that my mom always thinks she's in the right, lol! All in all, while I love her, and we talk on the phone regularly, I'm not too sad we live in different states right now. ;)

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  15. Eva,

    That's exactly what's happening with my sister. Her 18-year-old daughter just moved out of the house (apparently, she signed a lease to share a home with friends without warning her parents) and my sister isn't handling the stress well. But, geez, she doesn't have to take it out on me. I'm such a sweetheart. LOL

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  16. Yay!!! She's back! Strike up the band! Start the parade! The Bookfool is back!

    In case you couldn't tell...

    We've missed you around the joint.

    cjh

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  17. maybe your sister and my grandmother should meet ;). . .
    Great Fraser pic for sure - I find him irresistible, and now I'll have to read that book so I can see the film.
    Glad you're back.

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  18. CJ,

    Thanks, you had me laughing, here! I needed that!! I missed you, too. It's great to be back! :)

    Andi,

    You think they'd kill each other? I have to tell you I was soooo proud of myself for never blowing up at my sister. She was downright obnoxious. I may mention one of her snide remarks in a post, actually. What she said to me would set off a few bloggers and I'd kind of like to see the response. LOL

    Fraser is hunkalicious, isn't he? I haven't finished the audio -- gotta do that and see the movie. Wish we could see it together. We could have a mutual drool-fest. :)

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  19. Nancyroo! Brendan is looking very lovely in that pic. I think I'd really like to lick his arms. Is that wrong?

    Glad you're back! I may be staying in Jackson on Wednesday night on my way back to TX. Wheee! Know of any motels that take dogs? lol

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  20. Andiloo,

    I don't know about the licking thing -- maybe you were a puppy in a former life. I just want to go with him up the wall and fall a tiny bit, so he'll pick me up. Knight in shining muscles thing, ya know. LOL

    I've only stayed in Jackson once, during an ice storm -- the Fairfield Inn. Probably not a dog place. Hubby says he doesn't know of any. Will you be coming through on I-20? If so, there are some nice hotels just off the interstate in Pearl. Don't stay in south Jackson; it's scuzzy. Clinton is also great. Or, if you want to put Daisy in my garage and stay in Vicksburg, that would be fine. My house is a complete disaster or I'd invite you to flop here. Shoot, even the yard is embarrassing. Hubby does not weed. Sigh.

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  21. Hey Nancy! :) What a cute Birdy pick :) Glad to hear that you're back home safe. Luckily there's not too much to catch up on my blog...I've been away too. I've heard very mixed things from critics about the Journey to the Center of the Earth movie, though I don't pay much attention to critics. I'm sure I'll end up seeing it eventually! Glad to have you back!

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  22. I don't have a sister, and I pretty much consider that a good thing. I missed you, too, like everyone said, so aren't you glad to be back with us?!

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  23. Anonymous11:24 PM

    I noticed people were blogging like crazy too. Glad you're back! Nice sibling pic there. Hornby book title is faboo.

    Wow. I cannot form sentences.

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  24. What great news, Book! When is our first family reunion??

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  25. Oooh, which books? Inquiring minds want to know! :)

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  26. It's so good to have you home again, Nancy!

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  27. Hey Chris!

    Thanks! It's good to see you! :) I noticed you haven't posted much, but it looks like you have very good reason. Sometimes you have to put other things before the blogging.

    I haven't heard anything at all about the movie and didn't know there was a new version till I saw the audio! But, I like Brendan Fraser and I've always liked the story. I prefer friends' opinions over critics, so please tell me what you think, if you see it!

    Bellezza,

    I used to hope that someday my sister and I would have a pleasant adult relationship, but I guess it's just not going to happen. C'est la vie. I'm fine without her. I've just got to get through this mess of dividing things and then we can get back to normal.

    Thanks, yes, I missed you guys like crazy! I'm so glad to be back! Also, my computer chair is a lot more comfy than the BK benches. LOL

    Carrie,

    I don't think that photo accurately portrays the sinister sister. Maybe a badger attacking a sweet little birdy would be better. Hornby is fab, period.

    Your sentences are fine. It's just morning in California. LOL

    Cupcake,

    I think it will have to be next year, but how about someplace nice like Vancouver, Hawaii, Italy, the Swiss Alps, or maybe a castle in Scotland? Carrie is another of my adopted sisters. We can all meet up and have a good time seeing the sights and talking books. I may even take up drinking. Sound good?

    Les,

    The Nebraska books are:

    Letters of a Woman Homesteader by Elinore Pruitt Stewart
    Nebraska Moments: Glimpses of Nebraska's Past by Donald R. Hickey, and
    Nebraska Folklore by Louise Pound

    All three of those are published by the University of Nebraska Press. There are a couple of books about the pioneers which probably also have some Nebraska stories, by other publishers. Sound fun?

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  28. Hi Wendy!

    Thanks!! It's great to be back!!!! :)

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  29. Anonymous3:25 PM

    "Dealing with my sister was a bit like this, unfortunately..."

    ROTFL!!! Love it!

    Glad you made it home!!

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  30. Hi J. Kaye!

    I'm glad you got a laugh out of that! It was a wee bit miserable. I'm glad to be back! :)

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  31. I've heard of the first book, but not the other two.

    My favorite Nebraska writers are Willa Cather and Bess Streeter Aldrich.

    Enjoy!

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  32. Thanks for the recs. I'll try Pearl for sure!

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  33. Sorry about the sisterly crap. Don't have one myself...always wanted one. But my brother and I have always gotten along so well that I think being grateful for what I have instead of bemoaning what I don't is the better route for me to choose. In fact that's always the better route, isn't it?

    Anyway, I'm so glad you're home safe and sound! You've been missed!

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  34. Les,

    I read the first one, this weekend, and it was absolutely wonderful! Elinore Stewart was a hoot -- funny and outgoing, upbeat and extremely hard-working. I'd love to be like her. Definitely look for a copy if you don't have that one.

    I adore Willa Cather. Bess Streeter Aldrich may have a story in the Reader's Digest Pioneer stories that I brought back. The name is familiar, but I know I've never read anything at all by her.

    Andi,

    I wish you a safe journey! I think it's Pearl that has a Bass Pro Shop. I love Bass Pro. My husband thinks that's hilarious. :)

    Debi,

    A couple of friends nudged me to clear the air, so I called my sister and we had a nice talk. Wahoo for that! Yes, definitely, I think you have to hold on to the positive and just let go of what you can't have. Although, honestly, you can find your own sisters to "adopt". :)

    Thank you! I'm just about to try to get going on my backlog of reviews. Ohmygosh. I threw my back out this weekend and read three books, so now I'm even farther behind. Yikes!

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  35. Great to see you back! I admit I cracked up over your pic - I don't have any siblings but I think I could use that same pic to describe some of my moments with my mom! ha,ha.. We love 'em but sometimes it's crazy isn't it?

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  36. Iliana,

    I had plenty of moments like that with my mom, too. Yeah, loving someone doesn't mean it's all fun and games. LOL Fortunately, the last weeks and months that I spent time with her were quite pleasant (thank goodness)!

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