Sunday Mississippi Mud Pie - Sort of a messy thing, actually

I'd take a photo of the Mississippi mud pie in my fridge but it's half-eaten and kind of gooey-looking, so you get the closest thing I could find:

Just try looking for images of that stuff. No two seem to look alike. Wild.

So . . . how on earth does Mississippi mud pie relate to reading? Well . . . maybe not so much reading as life. It's been a messy couple of weeks for us. But, first, let's talk books.

I've fallen way behind on reviews and DNF posts, lately, and I love the way Brittanie regularly updates her blog with a list of books she's read but still needs to review, etc. Hopefully, she won't mind if I do something similar.

Recently abandoned:

The Postmistress by Sarah Blake

Chosen: The Lost Diaries of Queen Esther by Ginger Garrett

Live Big!: 10 Life Coaching Tips for Living Large, Passionate Dreams by Katie Brazelton

Do not ask me why the spacing gods have messed with this section -- I just don't get it. I will write separate DNF posts on these three books, primarily because one is a tour book and if I write a post with an even number of book reviews, it'll throw off your inner balance. I wouldn't want to do that to you. No, no. Not me. Not ever.

Finished and need to review:

The House With a Clock in Its Walls by John Bellairs
The Founding by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
She's So Dead to Us by Kieran Scott (I'll review this one at the first of May)
I'll Mature When I'm Dead by Dave Barry (also a May release)
Storylines by Croft & Pilavachi
Rumor Has It by Jill Mansell
Winging It by Jenny Gardiner
College in a Nutskull by Anders Hendriksson

Wow, that's a big list. Very seldom do I fall more than 2 book reviews behind, so that kind of shows you how crazy my life has been, lately. I'll do my best to catch up. Remind me to work on brevity. That should help.

Currently reading:

The Lunatic Express by Carl Hoffman - I am really enjoying this book! It's a travelogue written by a man who regularly works as a travel writer. After mulling what he could do to shake himself out a mid-life crisis, he decided to visit places where people use really dangerous modes of transportation because they have no choice in order to experience travel the way most of the world does it -- not for fun, but by necessity. I love to read about people doing things I'm too chicken to attempt, myself.

Dead End Gene Pool by Wendy Burden - I took this out of the sidebar because I'm focusing on The Lunatic Express and realized I don't need to have Dead-End Gene Pool finished till mid-May (oops, calendar faux pas). Whenever I get the chance, though, I will continue to pick it up and read a little. Another memoir, this time by a descendant of the Vanderbilts with a great sense of humor.

The Secret Lives of People in Love by Simon Van Booy - Yes, again! 4th time. I will tease you a bit, here. I picked up The Secret Lives of People in Love and began reading it after finishing a book that made me very, very angry. I knew Simon would help me recover, so to speak. I'll be reviewing the unnamed book, this week (don't want you to just see "angry" with "Bookfool" and a title, without an explanation included).

I've had to spend some time pondering how to review the unnamed book without jumping all over the author because I just don't think any author deserves the full force of my wrath -- and, I'm sure there are people who would enjoy reading the book. But, when I closed it, I was so upset that I couldn't think of a single positive thing to say. Former blogger Kookie has helped me to gain some perspective. The review will be generally negative but I'll mention who I think might enjoy it. Simon's writing, of course, has also helped me to calm down and see reason (and think of soothing things like rolling hills with sheep).

About to start reading:

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan - for a buddy review with Kailana! John Green!!! Buddy review!!! Squeeeee!

Just purchased:

Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev - because I felt like it.

And, why has Bookfool's life been like a Mississippi Mud Pie?

Everything in this blankety-blank house seems to be breaking. First, the dryer kicked the bucket -- abruptly, so that we had no warning and were left without a dryer for two weeks. Our gorgeous, cherry-red dryer arrived and we began washing . . . and the pipes started to back up. So, we've literally had to stand beside the washer and turn it off when the glug-glug noise begins and the water starts bubbling up. So far, husband has attempted three different pipe-clearing options. And, the washer has also been kind of acting funny so we're not sure but there may have to be a cherry-red washer in our future. What the heck. It's just money. Who needs to eat? Oh, and did I mention that we were in the process of repainting the kitchen to prepare for reflooring it (because the last flooring was a disaster) when the dryer sidelined us? And, the garbage disposal seems to have a broken tooth? [silent scream]

Whining ceases, here.

Enough about my life. I will try very diligently to remain focused, get some reviews and DNF posts written and not weigh you down with my whining for the rest of the week. Slap me down if I fail, please. Hope everyone has had a great weekend!!!! I mean it!!! Tell me what's wonderful in your life. I could use an upper.

Insomniac's Digest: Because when you can't sleep, you might as well do something useful or at least do something, period

Photo came from this insomnia site.

Ramblings of an insomniac:

11:21 PM - Not bad, but it feels ridiculously late and I'm wired. Both son and I have maddening but limited cases of hives. There must be something in the air. Mold, maybe? All that rain can cause evil things to grow. Evil things that itch.

11:22 PM - I'm going to tell you about all the books I'm reading, now. I hope this doesn't keep you awake unless you need to be awake and doesn't put you to sleep unless you're having a bout of insomnia, too.

11:23 PM - To Serve Them All My Days by R. F. Delderfield - a fictional, classic chunkster about a man who returns to England severely shell-shocked after 3 years of service in WWI (life in the French trenches = misery) and becomes a teacher at a remote boys' school as therapy. Oh, man, am I ever loving this book. You should read this book. I'll review it in about the year 2014, at the rate I'm going, but still . . . you should read it.

11:25 PM - Milky Way Marmalade by Michael DiCerto - A humorous sci-fi tale about a hunter of meaty delicacies who plans to retire until he's offered a chance to make money by capturing the Wisest Substance in the Universe: a gelatinous, pillow-shaped blob known as L'Orange. He decides to save it, instead (according to the cover -- I haven't quite reached that point). So far, this one falls into my Loads Of Fun category. We'll mention the rock 'n roll references later.

11:30 PM - The Interrogative Mood by Padgett Powell - Don't hate me if I haven't read your book, yet, and I shoved this one to the head of the queue, okay? It's just that it's skinny and it looked really, really interesting. Also, apparently I was magnetically attracted to it. I can't locate the magnets at either end, but trust me . . . they are there. I can feel the tug.

Kiddo had to do abdominal exercises poolside, today, because he can't swim for a day or two after his cortisone shot. So I alternated between timing his leg lifts and reading aloud from The Interrogative Mood. It's written entirely in questions and it is . . . humble opinion, here . . . a bit of quirky brilliance. We laughed a lot. I want to laugh more, so I'll keep reading.

11:38 PM - The Treasures of Venice by Loucinda McGary - A romance (gasp!) that takes place in two separate time periods in Venice. Samantha is caught up in an adventure involving a handsome Irish rogue, his kidnapped sister, and some valuable jewels. There's a connection between the historical lovebirds of 1485 and the contemporary couple, but I'm too tired to explain it. This book was sent to me by mistake. I love this kind of error; Bookfool needed something a little light and atypical to toss into the mix.

11:41 PM - $20 Per Gallon by Christopher Steiner - A nicely researched forecast of how our lives will change in America as the remaining gas supply dwindles and prices sharply rise. Fascinating stuff. All those airplanes parked in the desert! Will we end up sailing the Atlantic if we're in the mood for a European jaunt? Will there be a modern Jamaica Inn, where people go rushing off to salvage the goods of ships wrecked on the craggy shore? I don't know, but I'm enjoying the book. And, those were just my questions. Steiner hasn't mentioned sailing or shipwrecks, just FYI. He did mention planes parked in the desert.

11:44 PM - The Unlikely Disciple by Kevin Roose - Brown University student Kevin Roose decided to go undercover at a Christian university (Jerry Falwell's) in order to write about it. I haven't gotten far on this one because I keep burying it, but what I'm getting from it, so far, is a "They're human like us," vibe. I'm anxious to read more. I should possibly attach a neon flag to this book.

11:52 PM - Went on a mental tangent that intersected with a heavy, anomolous brain fog.

11:53 PM - The Mosaic Bible from Tyndale House - You should read yesterday's post; I don't want to describe it, again. And, then come back later in the week because I'm going to have a drawing. One lucky person will win a certificate redeemable for a copy of The Mosaic Bible. I have to ask whether or not it can be redeemed from any place on the planet, though. So, bear with me.

11:55 PM - Aha! Benadryl is beginning to take effect. I prefer oral to topical for hives, don't you? Especially at night, when you're all goggle-eyed and need sleep because somebody is going to come to your house to measure your room for carpet installation and they're planning to call between the Ridiculously Ungodly Hours of 7-9 AM. Too, too early for this gal. Waaay too early.

11:57 PM - Giving up. Think I'll review a couple of children's books, tomorrow. The cat and I always have such fun reviewing children's books.

12:03 PM - Editing your blog posts is obviously time-consuming. I am really going to stop, now. This moment. I'm not going to say another word. Not one. Okay, maybe one or two.

Good night.

She whose eyes were wide, whose stacks are likely to be featured in a horror film and whose cat has given up on her, quietly retreating to a dark spot to meditate.

Can't write, can't read, can't sleep but my cat still loves me

Okay, that's not an entirely accurate title, but it's close -- the cat definitely loves me.

I've got three reviews to write. Instead, I just keep staring at the screen. I pick up books and admire them but the words are not processing . . . unless they're really flowy. You know flowy, right? I did finish one book, because of the lovely, breezy, flowy writing. I can actually sleep a little. It's not good, solid sleep if you know what I mean, although I really kind of enjoyed last night's dream about adopting an orange cat and naming it "Cheeto". Tomorrow might be better. Sunday might be fabulous. The cat loves it when I lie around being useless and brainless, so I know I'll have company if I give up on everything and rest. Tonight, I'm going to soak in the tub and hope for sleep.

Incidentally, I found the above image by doing a Google image search and it was uncredited, so if anyone knows the source please inform me. I hate to post someone's artwork without asking. But, it's just so darned cute, isn't it? I did finish a book, this morning (only because I was near the end): Word Gets Around by Lisa Wingate. It made me laugh; it made me cry. I loved it.

I'll try writing, again, tomorrow. Nighty-night bloggers!