Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Thursday 31 December 2015

Happy New Year Everyone

Here's to 2016 and 366 (leap year!) new chances to get it right!


My 2015 Reading Year in Review

Well ...
I thought I was going to be able to sneak in one more review for 2015 but "fiscal year end" for both work and another organization have eaten into my time a little too much.  I hate when real life gets in the the way of reading  :-(

So ...
The only thing left to post is my 2015 in review as far as reading goes.  Thanks to GoodReads for doing all the hard work.




















Thursday 24 December 2015

Merry Christmas Everyone!


My Christmas wish for everyone ...

May Christmas find you seated around the table, together with your beloved family and cherished friends.  May you find the food better, the environment quieter, the cost much less, and the pleasure much more than anything else you might have planned do that night.


May what you see in the mirror delight you, and what others see in you delight them.  May someone love you enough to forgive your faults, be blind to your blemishes, and tell the world about your virtues.



May you get a clean bill of health from your dentist, your cardiologist, your

gastro-enterologist, your urologist, your proctologist, your podiatrist, your oncologist, your psychiatrist, your plumber and the income tax department.



May your hair, your teeth, your face-lift, your abs and your stocks not fall; and may your blood pressure, your triglycerides, your cholesterol, your white blood count and your mortgage rates or rent not rise.



May the telemarketers wait to make their sales calls until you finish dinner, may the commercials on TV not be louder than the program you have been watching, and may your checkbook and your budget balance – and include generous amounts for charity

and books!



May you remember to say “I love you” at least once a day to your spouse/significant other, your child, your parents, your siblings; but not your secretary, your boss, your nurse, your masseuse, your hairdresser or your tennis instructor.



And may we live in a world at peace and with the ability to feel awe in every sunrise and sunset, every flower’s unfolding petals, every baby’s smile, every lover’s kiss, and every wonderful, astonishing miraculous beat of our heart.



Author Unknown 

(minor additions by me)


May you have the Merriest of Christmas’ and

nothing but health, happiness and prosperity in 2016.



Wednesday 23 December 2015

The Walking Dead: Invasion - A Review


THE WALKING DEAD: INVASION by Robert Kirkman and Jay Bonansinga

When we last left our group of Woodbury survivors in “Descent” they had just moved everyone left after the governor’s rampage underground.  They made the ancient tunnels and mine shafts habitable and safe.  However, they knew they could not stay down there forever because living underground was taking it’s toll on the senior citizens and children in Lilly Caul’s group.  Lily wants Woodbury back but it is still infested with the herd of walkers that drove them underground in the first place.

Deep in the “hinterlands” Reverend Gerlitz is very busy rebuilding his group of followers and he has come up with a diabolical new weapon to take revenge on not only the walkers roaming about but on Lilly and her group as well.

Which group will come up victorious is this (reputedly) final confrontation.

I had this audio book on hold at the library and it became available shortly after the “Walking Dead” midseason finale aired, so I could continue to get my “walker fix” for a little while longer.  Although not the best book in the series I did enjoy this installment in the series and I think any fan of the television show would enjoy the books as well.  Of course, there is no shortage of “gruesome” in these books and I think the only authors who can match George R.R. Martin for his ruthlessness in killing off favorite characters is the team of Kirkman and Bonansinga.  What else can I say about this book?  I enjoyed it and it is what it is … a book about a zombie apocalypse … that for some strange reason I find entertaining.

If you have read the other books and are a fan of the series then I highly recommend these books.  Although there is some overlap between these books and the television series you won’t hear too many familiar names.  If you are thinking about reading the books I would highly suggest starting with “The Road to Woodbury”. 

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

ROBERT KIRKMAN (from www.thewalkingdead.com)

In addition to his work as a writer and executive producer on The Walking Dead, Robert Kirkman is also a successful creator of independent comics. Kirkman created and continues to write the long-running Image Comics title The Walking Dead, on which the show is based, and the comics have been gaining popularity throughout its run. He also writes the acclaimed and equally long-running super-hero comic Invincible, which he created with Cory Walker, and the all-ages comic Super Dinosaur, which he created with Jason Howard.


THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE says, “Jay Bonansinga has quickly and firmly established himself as one of the most imaginative writers of thrillers. His twisting narratives, with their in-your-face glimpses of violence, are set in an unstable, almost psychotic universe that makes the work of many of his contemporaries look rather tame.”

Jay also proudly wears the hat of indie filmmaker: his music videos have been seen on The Nashville Network and Public Television, and his short film CITY OF MEN was awarded the prestigious silver plaque at the Chicago International Film Festival. The holder of a master’s degree in film from Columbia College Chicago, Jay currently resides in Evanston, Illinois. He is also a visiting professor at Northwestern University in their Creative Writing for the Media program, as well as the Graduate Writing Program at DePaul University.

ABOUT THE NARRATOR (www.fredberman.net)

Age & Hometown: 39 (“but in meerkat years, that’s 25!”); Manhasset, Long Island

Current Role: Entertaining Broadway audiences as the hysterical meerkat Timon in Disney's long-running hit The Lion King.

A Familiar Voice: An accomplished voiceover actor on more than 50 audio books, Berman says the key is not to impersonate or put on voices. “I cast the book in my mind,” he explains. “I say, ‘Who is this person?’ So, in my head, Judi Dench is playing this role. I don’t want to do an impersonation of Judi Dench, but I am channeling her in that moment. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t.” Berman's audio work ranges from children’s books to what he calls “fantasy romance novels”—and sometimes both in the same day. “One time, I went from the most ridiculously depressing book, The Painted Bird, about a kid wandering through the forests of Poland after World War II, to a romance book where I voiced the sexiest Greek man alive who always wears leather pants and no shirt in softcore porn scenes.”

When pressed to choose between acting and music, Berman responds, “I love them both, but I have to be honest: There is nothing in the world like playing drums in a rock-and-roll band at a live concert.

Tuesday 22 December 2015

Christmas Carol Game - Answers

Here's the answers to the Christmas Carol Game I posted yesterday.  We played it at our meeting and it elicited the appropriate laughter, moans and groans so I'm going to consider it a success.

Answers:


1.  Hoping not to visit the dentist during the holidays.
ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS MY TWO FRONT TEETH

2.  Spanish Christmas Classic 
FELIZ NAVIDAD

3.  Shut up when it’s dark outside. 
SILENT NIGHT

4.  A water horse is on my wish list. 
I WANT A HIPPOPOTAMUS FOR CHRISTMAS

5.  Small city in the Middle East. 
O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM

6.  Tiny male percussionist. 
LITTLE DRUMMER BOY

7.  Wife is witnessed cheating on husband with Christmas icon. 
I SAW MOMMY KISSING SANTA CLAUS

8.  Nureyev namesake quadruped with a fortuitous birth defect. 

RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER

9.  Excuse me?  What was that sound? 
DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR?

10. The opposite of Black Easter. 
WHITE CHRISTMAS

11. Royal trio from the Far East we be! 
WE THREE KINGS OF ORIENT ARE

12. Ms. Channing or Ms. Burnett of the chimes. 
CAROL OF THE BELLS

13. Pealing clappers. 
JINGLE BELLS

14. Also a song by Three Dog Night.
JOY TO THE WORLD

15. German coniferous yuletide symbol. 
O TANNENBAUM  (OH CHRISTMAS TREE)

16. December 14th to December 25th. 

THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

17. Decorating passageways with the floor of a ship. 
DECK THE HALLS

18. The color of Elvis Presley’s shoes on December 25th. 
BLUE CHRISTMAS

19. Chilly balls of frozen precipitation wearing a top hat. 
FROSTY THE SNOWMAN

20. Family matriarch in tragic accident on Christmas Eve. 
GRANDMA GOT RUN OVER BY A REINDEER

21. The expected vision of the season is starting to happen. 
IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS

22. It looks like there will be nary an item for me in my stocking or under the tree. 
I’M GETTING’ NUTTIN’ FOR CHRISTMAS

23. Stonehenge surrounding the pine scented Christmas symbol. 
ROCKING AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE

24. Steeple noisemakers – not golden. 
SILVER BELLS

25. St. Nick will be arriving in your habitat. 
SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN


Monday 21 December 2015

In Other Words ... A Christmas Game


Wanna be my "Christmas game idea" focus group?


I’ve mentioned before that I am the group leader of a local TOPS chapter, so for the last several weeks we’ve been discussing how to survive holiday functions and the monumental amounts of food that are involved with any sort of celebration.  Tonight is our last meeting of 2015 so I thought it would be fun to have a games night complete with prizes.  Yes, yes … we are a small group of adults … but who doesn’t like to go home with a little something?

I saw a game online quite some time ago that I thought would be fun to play but of course when I went to look for it again I couldn't find the website (memo to self: Bookmark!).  So I decided to make up my own version ... I'm calling it "In Other Words" ... simply, well known Christmas carol titles explain in "other words".

So back to being my Christmas game guinea pigs focus group … and if you tell me the whole idea really sucks … then my group will have to fall back on word scrambles and bingo.


IN OTHER WORDS – THE GAME 
Can you figure out these 25 well known Christmas Carols when they are described in other words?

For example:



"Evidence of moth munching after sundown"

would translate into ...

O HOLY NIGHT

Get it?

Don’t worry, there are no obscure carols such as “Six White Boomers” – although come to think of it – THAT would have made an awesome bonus question!


DISCLAIMER:
SORRY … there are no prizes for the guinea pigs focus group.


Wanna play?

I think some are easier than others but in no order of difficulty …

1.  Hoping not to visit the dentist during the holidays.

2.  Spanish Christmas Classic

3.  Shut up when it’s dark outside.

4.  A water horse is on my wish list.

5.  Small city in the Middle East.

6.  Tiny male percussionist.

7.  Wife is witnessed cheating on husband with Christmas icon.

8.  Nureyev namesake quadruped with a fortuitous birth defect.

9.  Excuse me?  What was that sound?

10. The opposite of Black Easter.

11. Royal trio from the Far East we be!

12. Ms. Channing or Ms. Burnett of the chimes.

13. Pealing clappers.

14. Also a song by Three Dog Night.

15. German coniferous yuletide symbol.

16. December 14th to December 25th.

17. The floor of a ship used to decorate passageways.

18. The color of Elvis Presley’s shoes on December 25th.

19. Chilly balls of frozen precipitation wearing a top hat.

20. Family matriarch in tragic accident on Christmas Eve.

21. The expected vision of the season is starting to happen.

22. It looks like there will be nary an item for me in my stocking or under the tree.

23. Stonehenge surrounding the pine scented Christmas symbol.

24. Steeple noisemakers – not golden.

25. St. Nick will be arriving in your habitat.



 I know what you are all thinking ...
 If anyone is interested I’ll post the answers tomorrow.

Today's Mail ...

This just arrived.  I knew it was on it's way but didn't expect it so soon.

Thanks Read it Forward!


Sunday Christmas Baking - Round DONE!

All that's left now is to make the cake for dessert at Christmas dinner.  I'm always the "dessert bringer".  Secretly, I think it's because it is so much easier to bring veggies, a salad, or a side dish than dessert.  You see, I'm still trying to figure out how this works?  When one of my daughters is hosting the holiday dinner the "host" does the turkey and the rest becomes pot-luck. When it's my turn to host I get to prepare everything and they show up with empty tupperware for leftovers.  (Oh yes, I imposed that rule a long time ago ... you want to take leftovers home?  Bring your own containers 'cause I've had to replenish my supply too often).

So this Sunday the task was Cinnamon Palmiers, Pistachio Pinwheels, Monkey Bars (nothing to do with Christmas but they were a special request) and my Chocolate Baklava.  I found the Baklava recipe quite some time ago and it has definitely become a family fave at Christmas and Easter.



I managed to package everything all up (sorry for the blurry pic ... I really need to remember to put my glasses on when use the camera).  I couldn't resist - I had to put "Naughty" and "Nice" stickers on the containers.






All that's left now is the delivering ...



The munching ...



And, hopefully - no cookie regrets or hangovers!




Thursday 17 December 2015

Sunday Christmas Baking - Round 3

Well, you've got to be tired of hearing it (feel free to tell me to stop whining in the comments), but I'm behind again in my posts.  There are these silly folks around that actually expect me to do social things around Christmas time ... go figure?

Anyway - since I started these baking posts I figured I might as well continue on with the latest batch of baking.

This Sunday it included "Chocolate Peanut Butter (filled) Snowballs".  I don't know what happened but I ran out of filling before I ran out of dough so the few cookies on the bottom are simply "Left-over Dough Butter Cookies" with a few sprinkles on top ... they must have been all right because they disappeared quickly enough.




Then, for the first time I attempted "Cherry Chocolate Rugalah".  They turned out well, but I had to get the hang of rolling them properly and the first batch turned out too big.  No worries, they'll go on the dessert table instead of into the gift packages.



My son-in-law loves "Pineapple Kipfel".  They are a kinda-sorta butter dough filled with pineapple.  His Oma used to make them for him every Christmas (as did my mother when I was growing up).  When his Oma passed away I took over making them for him so he wouldn't miss out.  It was a bit of a challenge since I didn't have a recipe to go by.  Consequently there were a few hit and miss years until I finally figured it out to get the taste and texture right.  This year's batch looks like the best ones and it's the recipe I'll stick to from now on.



I live in a little house and although the kitchen is a fair size it has VERY LIMITED counter space, so since it was a disaster zone anyway and I had some bananas that were a couple of hours away from being zombie bananas I decided to make some "Banana Pistachio Muffins" (okay - they are supposed to be Banana Walnut Muffins but I ran out of walnuts and had some pistachios left over so I improvised).


And lest you think I was kidding about the kitchen being a disaster zone ...


BUT ... I did clean up!!


AND ... I managed to get the tree up.


Saturday I am going to make two small batches of cookies that do not freeze well (so cannot be made too far in advance) and on Sunday I am going to make my Chocolate Baklava.  It is the costliest thing on my list of home made gifts and only a select few (by request) get a small container - the rest is for the dessert table at our family and friends Christmas dinner.

Then they'll all get packaged up ready for delivery throughout the week.  No doubt next year I'll again decide that it's too much work ... and probably do it all over again anyway!