Thursday, November 13, 2008

Too gloomy for wahoos and finished a terrific book

Maybe I'll wahoo on Friday. Or, maybe I'll wait till next week, but I will definitely share some photos with you because it's pretty and photogenic outside, even if I feel like a total gloomy guts. It was fun getting a break from our piercing sunshine at first, but today is Day 3 of heavy overcast. Here's a shot of the leaves across the street, after yesterday's storm knocked them down. It was really quite lovely, after the storm ended, in spite of heavy cloud cover:

It's very possible that I'll never be able to live in the Pacific Northwest. My pale eyes and fair skin don't like bright sunlight, but I can't seem to function without it, after a few days. This next one looks like leaves in a river, but no . . . sadly, it's our back porch after the rain. You can see we had a pretty good downpour.


Down the street, a neighborhood dog (a very nice little guy; he's all over the place -- we have no leash laws, here) took advantage of an overturned trashcan and had a little feast along with some shredding fun:

Book-wise:

I just finished reading Baby Shark's High Plains Redemption by Robert Fate and it is just the most ridiculously fun book. Look for a very positive review of this one, hopefully by tomorrow. It's a crime novel with two private investigators -- Otis and Kristin (aka "Baby Shark") -- who are sent to fetch the girlfriend of an outlaw named Travis Horner from Oklahoma but end up getting chased by killers throughout southern Oklahoma and northern Texas.

Those of you who know me well are probably laughing about the name Travis Horner combined with Oklahoma. No, no, no relation!! He's a baaaaaad man. He is also fictional . . . and thank goodness for that.

I'm going to keep reading and re-reading Grit for the Oyster, for a while, so don't be surprised if it stays in my sidebar for weeks, possibly months. I wasn't kidding when I said it's uplifting. It just can't make the clouds go away. But, hey, it has a sunny cover. Maybe I should meditate on that cover, this afternoon.

Next up will be Two Brothers: One North, One South. I'm scheduled to review that one for a book tour, next week, and since it's a Civil War book I'm naturally very excited to finally have a reason to crack this one open -- it's been waiting for at least a month. I also plan to read Flight to St. Antony by Tony Blackman, an aviation mystery. I'm not a big mystery reader, but the atypical appeals to me in mysteries and I love all things aviation. Also, the author mentioned that his pilot hero has to ditch his plane in the Atlantic. Well, that did it.

I'm off to pick up kiddo, since it was supposed to rain and I'm over-protective. Normally, the kiddo is driving himself to school, now. Boy, that makes me feel old.

*Update* - I just read the prologue of Flight to St. Antony and I had it wrong. The "hero", aka protagonist, is an aviation expert and insurance investigator who must figure out what went wrong and why the plane had to ditch; few people survive the accident. The prologue describes the preparation and escape from the plane and it is intense. I didn't even notice when the kiddo walked up to the car. Usually, once the bell rings at his school, I can't focus to read with all those laughing teens walking past, if that tells you anything about how gripping that first bit turned out.

Hope everyone is having a terrific day! Happy reading!

Bookfool, who will work really hard on being chipper, next time

26 comments:

  1. Anonymous1:29 PM

    Sorry to hear you've got the blahs. This is our 3rd day of dreariness, too.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous1:39 PM

    Is gloomy-guts your version or is my remembering it as gloomy-GUS just wrong? anyway, that struck me funny.

    Cheer up!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Bermudaonion,

    It doesn't take long for the cloud cover to become tiresome when you're used to sunshine, does it? Thanks! Here's hoping the sun shines, tomorrow. :)

    Care,

    Uhhh, ummm. I think you're right, it's probably Gloomy Gus for Gus the Ghost -- or maybe it was just an alliteration thing? I really don't know. I've been saying "gloomy guts" for years. It's like the game of telephone. I must have messed it up, at some point. At least you got a smile out of my error!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'm not very wahooey either. I have the flu.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I totally understand. It's been so gloomy here, too! And the rain started today to add to the muck. I need sunshine!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Woohoo! Oklahoma AND northern Texas! I'm sure I have a relative in there somewhere. Dad's side. Crazy people. lol

    Sorry to hear the cloud cover has you bogged down. I'll trade ya! We had heavy clouds and thuderstorms Monday-Wednesday, and I said to mom yesterday afternoon, "Crap, the sun is coming out." She laughed. I think I'm part vampire.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Chris,

    Oh, no! I hope you feel better, soon!!!

    Breeni,

    Well, the sun is just now emerging and I'm questioning my judgment. I really do get tired of sunshine, but I'm a mess without it. LOL I hope your cloud cover doesn't last long. "Mucky" is exactly how it was starting to look and feel, here.

    Andi,

    I think your relatives were all in the billiard hall, placing bets when Kristin played against the bad guy. ;)

    Well, you can't trade me -- the sun is coming out. Wait, no, there it goes. All right, switch!! Hurry, hurry. It'll probably be back to sunny in 5 minutes or so. Seriously, I do like cloud cover -- what photographers call "cloudy bright" (perfect portrait weather) is my favorite because it's not too sunny and not too dark. Your mother is such fun. But, just in case . . . if I ever see blood dripping from the corner of your mouth, I'm going to give you a wide berth.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous5:21 PM

    I have the opposite problem. It doesn't take long for cloudless blue skies to seem unbearably repressive when they stay unrelentingly blue. Clearly I need to move farther north.

    The book sounds good! I am so swamped I could just crawl under my desk and slash my wrists.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Carrie,

    Really, the sunshine drives me crazy, too. Maybe I just can't be pleased.

    The book is excellent. I'm working on my review, right now. Please do not slash your wrists, although it's okay if you want to climb under the desk.

    ReplyDelete
  10. It has been gloomy and icky here too. I am sick of it although it makes working inside better all day. I had an interview for an adjunct teaching position Wednesday morning but I am not too hopeful. Wednesday was a crazy day made worse by the weather. I might write about it on my blog but thinking about it makes me more tired than I already am. lol I heard it is going to be cold this weekend. I think it is about time even though I enjoy the summer too. :)

    P.S. I am going to die. Somehow I ended up with 6 blog tours next week. The rest of the year is going to be slow though. I need to finish lots of challenges so that is good. :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Brittanie,

    What did you think of that storm, yesterday? I was at home and heard the wind chimes (which, you know, is kind of rare), so I looked out and it looked like hurricane weather. Wild. I was glad it didn't last long.

    I wish you luck on the possible job. Will send prayers. I hate summer, but I'm not good with heat. I like the cold. This has been a startlingly cold fall, hasn't it? And, so pretty.

    OMG, 6 blog tours!!! I'm sending "hang in there" vibes!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I love that second picture - such a cool shot!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thank you, Fyrefly!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I know how you feel, I've been grumpy lately, too. But wow, those pictures are gorgeous. I hope you feel better soon.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Nikki,

    Thanks. I'm sorry you've been grumpy, too. I'm planning to check email and then spend a day reading and doing housework in the hopes that'll improve my mood. Hugs to you.

    ReplyDelete
  16. As I began reading your post, about your being tired of the gloomy weather after three days, I instantly thought of how you wouldn't fair well in the Pacific Northwest and then not too long after, you said that very thing. :-)

    You update made me chuckle. I love it when a book pulls me in so well.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Wendy,

    That's funny! Yeah, I don't think rainy climates are for me. It's raining, again, and the word "blecch" comes to mind. LOL

    Isn't that the greatest? I loved that prologue. The mystery is a bit slower, but I'm enjoying it, so far.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Anonymous3:44 AM

    Awesome 1st pic! OMG rains at this time?! :D

    and whatta a cute dog :)

    And i totally understand that u need a break :)

    i love this book which u have talked abt :)

    ReplyDelete
  19. Why so blue, Bookfool? I can't live without sun either--HAVE to have it. Today it is perfectly sunny outside but really cold (in the 40s!!). Can't wait to hear what you think of Two Brothers. I might pick that one up for my dad for Christmas (A Canadian who is obsessed with the civil war...go figure).

    ReplyDelete
  20. Veens,

    Thank you! Yes, it rained off and on for 4 days. The sun is out, today. Wahoo!

    It's a cute dog, but a bit of a pain. :)

    You're interested in the aviation mystery? It's good, so far -- not as exciting as the first scene, but still good.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Trish,

    I get so tired of the sun, but apparently I can't do without it. LOL It's bright and shiny--totally back to normal, today.

    So far, I'm not thrilled with Two Brothers. I'm finding it a little . . . stilted, I guess. But, I've only read one chapter. I had a couple of short books that I whipped through, yesterday and this morning. I think my review has to be up by Thursday, so watch for that. Canadian Civil War buff, eh? That's funny!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Eh is right! Laura and I went to a book signing for Bedlam South a few weeks ago and Grisham remarked that it seems that only Southerners are really interested in the Civil War (I think they had just gotten to Dallas via NYC?). I got a signed copy for my dad (he was thrilled!), and kindly mentioned to Grisham that apparently there are some Canucks who are interested in it also. ;P

    ReplyDelete
  23. I ALWAYS enjoy your picture posts! It's ok to have a gloomy day now and again! I enjoy overcast days, but I know they can tend to make people feel a bit gloomy when they stick around for several days in a row. I hope they sun is back out in your neck of the woods!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Trish,

    Maybe only Southerners come out for the signings of Civil War books. That's an interesting remark. I know it's not really the case; there are plenty of people in northern states who are Civil War addicts. CJ's brother was one of them and they're from way north in Michigan. I hope your dad enjoys Bedlam South!

    Laura,

    Thank you! Yep, I'm one of those people who yearn for overcast but then am reminded that 2-3 days is about my limit. The sun did come out, today, at least for a while. Hubby and I went to the zoo and just as we were walking to the car, the clouds rolled in. Good timing. I think it's supposed to be sunny, tomorrow. Hope so -- it's going to be a housework day and I'm much better about housework when the sun shines. :)

    ReplyDelete
  25. You take such awesome pictures, Bookfool. Like the rain streaked new header (talk about a blog's new look being pretty: I think you and I change equally often!) I also like the leaves in this post.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Bellezza,

    Thank you! Yes, I do believe we have frequent header changes in common. It's like a change of scenery.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for visiting my blog! I use comment moderation because apparently my blog is a spam magnet. Don't worry. If you're not a robot, your comment will eventually show up and I will respond, with a few exceptions. If a comment smacks of advertising, contains a dubious link or is offensive, it will be deleted. I love to hear from real people! I'm a really chatty gal and I love your comments!