Category ArchiveUncategorized
Uncategorized 01 Jun 2009 07:26 pm
Currently Reading, TS Spivet
AND LOVING IT. I am only a few chapters in, and I love his voice. It is fabulous. If it keeps up at this pace I will be laughing and loving my way through the entire book.
More information at the website, The Selected Works of T.S. Spivet
Here is a full description for the link phobic:
“When twelve-year-old genius cartographer T.S. Spivet receives an unexpected phone call from the Smithsonian announcing he has won the prestigious Baird Award, life as normal—if you consider mapping family dinner table conversation normal—is interrupted and a wild cross-country adventure begins, taking T.S. from his family ranch just north of Divide, Montana, to the museum’s hallowed halls.
T.S. sets out alone, leaving before dawn with a plan to hop a freight train and hobo east. Once aboard, his adventures step into high gear and he meticulously maps, charts, and illustrates his exploits, documenting mythical wormholes in the Midwest, the urban phenomenon of “rims,” and the pleasures of McDonald’s, among other things. We come to see the world through T.S.’s eyes and in his thorough investigation of the outside world he also reveals himself.
As he travels away from the ranch and his family we learn how the journey also brings him closer to home. A secret family history found within his luggage tells the story of T.S.’s ancestors and their long-ago passage west, offering profound insight into the family he left behind and his role within it. As T.S. reads he discovers the sometimes shadowy boundary between fact and fiction and realizes that, for all his analytical rigor, the world around him is a mystery.
All that he has learned is tested when he arrives at the capital to claim his prize and is welcomed into science’s inner circle. For all its shine, fame seems more highly valued than ideas in this new world and friends are hard to find.
T.S.’s trip begins at the Copper Top Ranch and the last known place he stands is Washington, D.C., but his journey’s movement is far harder to track: How do you map the delicate lessons learned about family and self? How do you depict how it feels to first venture out on your own? Is there a definitive way to communicate the ebbs and tides of heartbreak, loss, loneliness, love? These are the questions that strike at the core of this very special debut.”
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Uncategorized 03 May 2009 08:35 am
Twitter!
So are you on Twitter?
I am!
@gracefulshrimp
(www.twitter.com/gracefulshrimp)
and Joost is too! I have blogged on Joost in the past (head over to www.joost.com to see all their new gadgetry) and they have their own twitter account! @joost_com
anyways, that is all for now! Catch you on the flip side.
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Uncategorized 22 Apr 2009 08:15 am
AMAZING Dog!
Head over to this Yahoo news story about a dog who fell overboard and was assumed drowned for four months before he was found.
From the article.
A pet dog that fell overboard in rough seas off Australia has been reunited with its owners after surviving alone on an island for four months, reports said.
Sophie Tucker, apparently named after a late US entertainer, fell overboard as Jan Griffith and her family sailed through choppy waters off the northeast Queensland coast in November.
The dog was believed to have drowned and Griffith said the family was devastated.
But out of sight of the family, Sophie Tucker was swimming doggedly and finally made it to St Bees Island, five nautical miles away.
Wow right?!?
Sophie Tucker is an Australian Cattle dog, a breed known for their smarts. She has certainly proved that!
What has your pooch done that was amazing?
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Uncategorized 15 Apr 2009 08:26 am
Awesome Piano
I wanted to show you an awesome online game..plaything…fun time. I don’t know how to describe this. Beyond, it’s an online piano! My cousin Evie told me about it, and I am so glad she did!
Head on over and give it a try.
I think it is really fun. What do you think?
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Uncategorized 10 Apr 2009 08:00 am
Crochet Jealousy
I crochet a little. Not a lot. Nothing too hard, but I try. Yeah. I am embarrassed by my scarves when I compare it to Gege’s Crochet work. Yeah. wow.
So first, go there and look at all the cool stuff she has on her website. Pretty awesome right?
LOOK AT THIS BLANKET. Yeah. wow.
Like I said.
Crochet Jealousy.
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Uncategorized 13 Mar 2009 06:21 pm
An elephant and her friend.
If you don’t crack a tear watching that, I just don’t know.
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Uncategorized 11 Mar 2009 11:23 pm
I am a WINNER!!!
Now, I don’t usually win contests and the like. If there is one entry, and that is me, usually there is a freak incident and someone else wins.
NOT TODAY!!!!
(by today I mean yesterday since it is now after midnight and I am still rolling with excitement).
I bought a pair of men’s riding pants from www.EquestrianCollections.com (thats plural) for my brother. I got on their email list, and while I don’t have the disposable income to buy as much of the riding clothes as I’d like, I still wanted to stay up on the trends and sales.
One day in the email was an entry for a contest. It was for larger riders to talk about their riding and showing clothes. The grand prize was a $250 gift certificate to the site. OH! The things I could get for $250!
So I entered. I talked about how it is hard to find riding pants higher than a 34 inch. And how women are not all bigger in the SAME PLACES. Some are top heavy, some are bottom heavy, yeah, it varies.
I sent off a picture of me and Wyatt from a show 2 years ago (I had updated my showing clothes since then which I included information about in the entry)… (actually I think I included 3 pictures, for variety), and off I went. Did not really think about it again.
This was the picture I submitted:
Secondary photos included:
and
Generally showing that even without necessarily good-fitting clothes, I had a great time.
So yeah, I got a call today. I AM THE WINNER!!!
So head over to http://www.equestriancollections.com/ and look on the front page. Does that photo look familiar?
oh yeah. So today was a VERY excellent day 
The description from their website about their plus-sized clothing:
About 1824 Plus Sizes
1824 was created over 10 years ago to bring equestrian riding apparel to the plus sized woman rider. Up to that point, women had to shop the men’s department to find products that would fit.
1824 was an instant success from its launch, bringing equestrian apparel in sizes 18-24 for schooling and showing English style. With it too came the No Bounce Guaranteed sports bra, which you can find on Equestrian Collections under the brand name of Enell.
Thank you to all our manufacturers who work with us to bring you this collection – TuffRider, Wellington, EQ Rider, Irideon, Enell, Moving Comfort and RJ Classics to name just a few.
So a BIG thank you to Equestrian Collections.com. I am definitely a thankful and happy winner, and will continue to be a happy shopper!!!!
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Uncategorized 09 Mar 2009 06:41 am
Lara Adrian’s Breed
So I was a little wary of this book. But Lara Adrian is a New Hampshire writer, and I thought I would give it a try. Support your local authors, etc. etc…
Yeah, glad I did!
It was racy and hot and fun and a little bit nerve wracking! Yeah, pretty much everything you would want in a Vampire romance adventure
The men were “manly” without being ridiculous and the women weren’t these pathetic wusses who freak out in danger.
So go over to Lara Adrian.com and give it a look-see. Fans of JR Ward would definitely like it (which is why Katherine and I decided to read it. Because Katherine LOVES JR Ward and she did the blurb on the cover).
REVIEWS
“KISS OF MIDNIGHT is dark, edgy and passionate, an irresistible vampire romance.” –Chicago Tribune
“Sexy, smart and compelling, KISS OF MIDNIGHT has it all–and it works!” –Fresh Fiction
“I loved this book! The romance is hot and the vampire slaying action is fast-paced and exciting . . . an original addition to the paranormal romance pantheon. If you are a vampire romance fan you really don’t want to miss this!” –LoveVampires.com (5 Stars)
“KISS OF MIDNIGHT is everything I wanted it to be and then some! [The story] grabbed me by the heart and held on tight.” –Romance Junkies (5 Star/Blue Ribbon)
“I loved this book . . . I recommend to anyone who is on the hunt for a really great paranormal with sizzling sex, a hotter than hot hero, and a wonderful heroine.” –She Who Loves Romance blog
“Lara Adrian debuts her vampire series with a spectacular bang . . . Be warned, you will be craving the next one as much as I do. The fans of J.R. Ward and Sherrilyn Kenyon will not want to miss out on this exciting series.” –Coffee Time Romance (5 Cups)
Check out Kiss of Midnight (#1 in the Midnight Breed series), and be prepared to get an addiction! I know I will be ordering ALL the rest of her books when I go to work tomorrow!
And remember, your local independent bookshop will be more than happy to order, if they don’t already have them in stock!
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Uncategorized 21 Jan 2009 11:35 pm
Rattie Raffle
I have a friend who runs a Rat rescue. She is a great person who does great things for a little mammal who may be considered… overlooked. Here is the information.
The HVRR Winter Raffle will be running from December 1st, 2008 to January 31st, 2009! Winners will be announced February 1st, 2009.
For more info on HVRR and to see the ratties that will benefit from this raffle, please visit HVRR’s Petfinder page.
Current prizes, with more TBA as the raffle is going on, include:
[1] Large Martin’s Rat Playpen from Becki H.
[1] Powder-coated Martin’s Rat Cubbyhole (R-660) cage donated by Martin’s Cages.
[1] Set of hammocks (standard, pocket, tube, cube, triangle, burrow, double decker, snuggle sack, peek-a-boo, patchwork tube, corner, envelope) AND a bonding pouch donated by Scubbs of Chelsey’s Cozies.
[1] Set of hammocks donated by Penguinsane of Varicolored Hammocks.
[1] Set of one 6x6x6 Cube and one Corner Retreat donated by Wonderrodent of Wonderrodent Cubes.
[1] Set of four fleece-lined hammocks (two pocket, two tubes) donated by Danielle C./maysflower.
[1] Set of two Hawaiian Delights edible toys donated by Dewi.
[1] Set of toys (Polly Wanna Pinata bird toy, Polly Wanna Hanging Bird Toy, and Calypso Creations hanging toy) donated by Dewi.
[1] Red Sony Walkman 4 GB MP3 player donated by dreamofthephoenix and Kita.
[1] Pampered Chef Decorator Bottle Set and Pampered Chef Dots Bowl Trio donated by Lori S./PnutLuv.
[1] Giant Rainbow Run Around Ball (best used as a bed!) donated by Pat R./millmouse.
[1] Rattie Good-Luck Charm donated by KatnRat.
[1] $25 gift certificate donated by TheCraftyRat.com.
[1] $25 gift certificate donated by Drs Foster & Smith.
[1] Set of two Star Dome Homes donated by undergunfire of Amy’s Star Dome Homes.
[1] Eight-piece fleece hammock set (two standard hammocks, two tunnels, two Hide and Squish hammocks, and two Warmers) by The Rat Shack.
[1] Set of three hammocks (Honeycomb, Party Pontoon, Jacuzzi) donated by Mainely Rat Rescue. Winner picks sizes and fabric choices (sample pictures here).
[1] Dumbo rat pendant donated by Dreameyce Studios.
[1] Pembroke Welsh Corgi “frog dog” pin donated by Dreameyce Studios.
[1] Three Cardigan Welsh Corgis pin/ornament combo donated by Dreameyce Studios.
[1] Set of two double decker hammock and one 50″ washable play tunnel donated by Critter Creations.
[1] $20 Petsmart Giftcard donated by Carrieboberrie.
[1] Set of six notecards of this lovely print donated by Wanda O’Connor.
[1] $25 Gift Card to 1800PetSupplies.com donated by Branwen R.
[1] $25 Gift Card to Gaia Online donated by Branwen R.
[1] Christmas elf rat – approx 2′ high, ceramic figure – donated by Branwen R.
[1] “Primitive Rat Art” piece donated by Branwen R.
[1] Furryville Mouse family donated by Branwen R.
[1] Set of Rat Holiday Items: Mary Engelbreit Musical Snow Globe (We Wish You A Merry Christmas) “Rattie” asleep in a teacup, Xmas Rattie Plush, and pair of small brass rat decorations (approx 2″ high) donated by Branwen R.
[1] Set of one sterling silver rat pin and rat charm necklace donated by Branwen R.
[1] Custom 5X7 watercolor portrait (rat or other critter) – 1 critter, simple background as shown in the examples, donated by Leonakitty.
[4] Fondini collection stainless steel women’s watches donated by Schrute.
[1] Set of Brazilian agate stone bookends donated by Schrute.
[1] $50 Visa Gift Card donated by Joanne B., Chloe, Nigel, and Quinn.
[7] Sets of Handmade Jewelry (necklace + matching earrings) donated by Nellorat.
[1] Set of Five Pairs of Handmade Silver-tone Earrings donated by Nellorat.
[1] Set of Five Pairs of Handmade Gold-tone Earrings donated by Nellorat.
[1] Set of Eight Handmade Ear Cuffs donated by Nellorat.
[1] Set of Seven Handmade Beaded Decorative Rat Collars donated by Nellorat.
Tickets are $1 each and they may be purchased for one or multiple items. Tickets will be assigned electronically and drawn for each item with the use of a random number generator at the conclusion of the raffle. Any questions, please email huronvalleyrats@gmail.com
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Information &Uncategorized 16 Dec 2008 10:37 pm
New Hampshire Fire and Missing Dog
A Plaistow New Hampshire family’s home burned down this week, with near total destruction, and if that wasn’t enough, one of their dogs ran away from the boarding kennel, was hit by a car, and hasn’t been seen since. Here is the website but there is more info on the blog page.
PLEASE keep your eye out for that pooch if you live in the area. I cannot imagine what those people are going through. Please think good thoughts for them.
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