What Was Lost Was Found

About eight months ago I received a gift card for local booksellers in the Bay Area as part the holiday bonus my employers gave to the staff. I promptly lost it.

I searched many places where I keep my plastic and many others where I might have put it for safe-keeping. Never did I think to look in the place where I happened to look today.

I pay my bills electronically for the most part. Most are automatic payments to my debit card or my Visa. The one check I write a month is for rent. So a book of checks might last me a long time. It just so happened I wrote September's rent on the last check in my current book today. I removed the stub from my checkbook cover only to see the back of a plastic card hidden beneath it. I wrestled it out and flipped it over.

It was the booksellers gift card from last December. I hope it's still valid! Now, whatever shall I buy?

I Hate Birds

My apartment manager was going to be power-washing the parking places Saturday morning and needed our cars out by 10am. Fine with me. That's when I run errands.

I went to the library and then decided to get my car washed to extend the time I would be away from home in case he got done before I got back. After some shopping at TJs and then at the farmers' market, I returned but he wasn't finished and wouldn't be for awhile. So I parked on the street.

When I went out to my car on Sunday, I was greeted with white crap on my car including the hugest bird dropping I'd ever seen right in the middle of my windshield. Lovely. I guess I parked directly beneath a favorite pooping place. I wouldn't have cared so much but for the car-washing the day before. Stupid birds.

BART Book: Luck in the Shadows

Luck in the Shadows
Lynn Flewelling, 1996
first in the Nightrunner series
Lynn's Author Page at sff.net

Who can resist the story of an orphaned boy rescued from certain death by a mysterious stranger with an even more mysterious past who takes him on as an apprentice and teaches him the ways of his mysterious occupation? Add in a kindly old wizard, a good-natured sidekick with a loving family and danger around every corner and you get a book for the ages. Anyone remember The Belgariad? Well, Luck sure reminded me of it an awful lot. And that has to be one of my favorite stories of all time.

Alec of Kerry, the son of a woodsman, found himself in a bit of difficulty when he was captured while minding his own business. When a passing bard was also thrown into his dungeon cell, his life was changed forever. Seregil, a bard sometimes, a lord sometimes and a lot of other things some other times, recognized something in Alec and took him along when he escaped from the far northern castle. When they ran afoul of angry marines and then later some really really bad black magic, Alec returned the favor and saved Seregil's life taking him home to be healed by the wizard Nysander.

I enjoyed this book throughly and can't wait to get the other two books in the series to see what other trouble these two boys can get themselves and their friends into.

Favorite part: when Nysander performs the innate nature spell on Alec
Least favorite part: that necromancers never die, you have to divide up the body parts so they don't recombine, ugh

Next BART Book: The Art of Detection by Laurie R. King
Previous BART Book: Shark Island by Joan Druett

Books on the Shelf:
Virgin Earth, Philippa Gregory
Out of Circulation, Jo Dereske
Books on Hold:
Dark Tort, Diane Mott Davidson
Final Notice, Jo Dereske
Miss Zukas and the Raven's Dance, Jo Dereske
Stalking Darkness, Lynn Flewelling
Traitor's Moon, Lynn Flewelling
Proven Guilty, Jim Butcher

BART Book: Shark Island

Shark Island
Joan Druett, 2006
second in the Wiki Coffin series
Joan's website

In this second Wiki adventure on the open seas with the U.S. Exploring Expedition, the New Zealander is sent, along with his friend and captain, George Rochester, and others, to check out reports of pirates along the Brazilian coastline at Shark Island.

There they encounter a sealing ship that is damaged and taking on water at an alarming rate. The captain of the sealer is subsequently murdered and Wiki takes on the task of investigating when it appears one of his navy colleagues is a likely suspect. A face from Wiki's past, stories of hidden treasure and another murder, this time of a navy man, combine to make Shark Island intriguing and entertaining.

I could've used a diagram or two during the descriptions of repairing the ship. A lot of the terminology and methods went right over my head. Maybe I should've checked Wikipedia (ha ha).

Favorite part: Wiki's stick
Least favorite part: burnt parrot

Next BART Book: Luck in the Shadows by Lynn Flewelling
Previous BART Book: Dead in Vineyard Sand by Philip R. Craig

Books on the Shelf:
The Art of Detection, Laurie R. King
Virgin Earth, Philippa Gregory
Out of Circulation, Jo Dereske

Senior Dental Moment

I knew I had a dentist appointment on Thursday for a cleaning and exam but when I checked my my calendar at work earlier this week it just said I was to leave at 3pm but not what time the actual appointment was. Good thing they called on Wednesday confirming the time (3:30pm). That was my first senior moment.

So on Thursday I left the office right about at 3pm even tho' I knew it wasn't going to take me that long to walk up the hill to the dentist's office. I had finished the book I was reading on the way in to work that morning so I stopped at Borders (it's on the way) to see if anything caught my eye. I figured if I had to sit for any length of time in the waiting room I'd want a book.

Obviously it'd been awhile since I'd been in this Borders. They'd moved the new paperbacks table somewhere I couldn't find it so I headed upstairs to the sci-fi section only to discover that it had been moved too. I finally found it and then walked around trying to remember the author's name who I knew had a new book out. I was seriously having another senior moment.

I finally found Jim Butcher's Dresden Files and grabbed one thinking it was the new one and that I'd not read it yet. I paid the outrageous price (has it been that long since I bought a paperback? the library's seriously spoiled me!) and walked the rest of the way up the hill to the dentist.

I walked in the lobby and realized I had no idea what floor I needed to go to. I'd only been there a couple times when I was getting my crown about a month and a half ago. And checking the directory wasn't going to help me because I couldn't even remember the dentist's name! Yes, I was having a senior day all around. But I knew the floor was somewhere in the 20s but not the 24th which was where my former dentist has his office.

So I took the elevator up to the 22nd floor but that wasn't it. I checked a couple more floors still not finding it and none of the names on the floor directories were ringing any bells. My watch was saying I was going to be late if I didn't figure something out soon and my bladder was saying it needed some attention too which made me remember when I had used the restroom the last time I was there. The men's and women's rooms are on alternate floors and my dentist's floor has a men's room. I had had to go up one flight on my previous visit.

So I went up to the top floor (the 26th) and walked down the stairs checking the floors that had men's rooms. Finallly I found my dentist's office on the 20th floor. Whew!

After getting the key for the restroom and taking care of my bladder, I sat the waiting room for a few minutes reading my new book and wondering why it seemed so familiar. Yes, I had already read it!

BART Book: Dead in Vineyard Sand

Dead in Vineyard Sand
Philip R. Craig, 2006
latest in the J.W. Jackson Martha's Vineyard series
www.philiprcraig.com

Former Boston cop J.W. Jackson isn't supposed to get involved in any murder investigations in his laid-back life on Martha's Vineyard but when he's persuaded to play a round of golf and discovers a body in a sand trap he just can't help himself. Especially since he had an altercation with the deceased in the fish market not long before and with a possible sighting of his banged-up old pick-up he quickly becomes everyone's favorite suspect. Where does J.W. and this latest murder fit in the controversy between golfers, cyclists and long-time island residents? He's never shy about telling you his opinions which is a great reason to read these mysteries.

But it's not all murder and mayhem. There's plenty of Vineyard fun in the sun -- swimming, clamming and sunning with his wife and family. While he's not investigating or thinking about the case, he's planning and building a rope bridge off the backyard treehouse with his two kids who, along with J.W., are big Tarzan fans. I only wish the author had included a diagram so we could see how it was constructed.

Favorite part: I always love it when J.W. goes to the library, and I adore any scene with his kids.
Least favorite part: What's not to like about the Vineyard series? This book is just more of the same.

Next BART Book: Shark Island by Joan Druett
Previous Book: Danse Macabre by Laurell K. Hamilton

Books on the Shelf:
The Art of Detection, Laurie R. King
Magic or Madness, Justine Larbalestier
Luck in the Shadows, Lynn Flewelling
Site Unseen, Dana Cameron
Virgin Earth, Philippa Gregory
Out of Circulation, Jo Dereske

Chaise Book: Danse Macabre

Danse Macabre
Laurell K. Hamilton, 2006
latest in the Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, series
www.laurellkhamilton.org

Wow. This book was a non-stop personal adventure for Anita. She's still dealing with the ardeur and since she's in two triumverates (Jean-Claude/Richard, Nathaniel/Damian) any power she takes from those guys takes away power from herself so she has to find someone else she can feed from until the ardeur cools down (so to speak).

To this end, she and Jean-Claude are "interviewing" possible candidates being offered by visiting Masters of the City while they're in town for a performance of the vampire ballet corps. Anita's not too happy about having to increase her stable but she doesn't have much choice. The sons of a siren and werelions from Chicago are among the possibilities.

Add in a pregnancy scare, dealing with her inner lioness and a visit with the Mother of Darkness and this book had enough stuff going on for several months, much less the few days the book spans. Don't expect a resolution of any ongoing storylines; not much is decided so we're left hanging on for the next book which LKH is writing right now (Edward's in it! Woo hoo!)

Favorite part: the scene in the hospital when they get the results of her pregnancy test
Least favorite part: the ballet, that Adonis guy scared me

Next BART Book: Dead in Vineyard Sand by Philip R. Craig
Previous BART Book: Miss Zukas and the Stroke of Death by Jo Dereske

Books on the Shelf:
Shark Island, Joan Druett
The Art of Detection, Laurie R. King
Magic or Madness, Justine Larbalestier
Luck in the Shadows, Lynn Flewelling
Site Unseen, Dana Cameron
Virgin Earth, Philippa Gregory
Out of Circulation, Jo Dereske

Words I've Looked Up Recently

ersatz: (of a product) made or used as a substitute, typically an inferior one, for something else

alacrity: brisk and cheerful readiness

dram: a small drink of whiskey or other spirits (often used in humorous imitation of Scottish speech)

theobromine: chemistry: a bitter, volatile compound obtained from cacao seeds. It is an alkaloid resembling caffeine in its physiological effects

viscid: glutinous; sticky

puissant: archaic or poetic/literary: having great power or influence.

assiduity: constant or close attention to what one is doing

redolent: strongly reminiscent or suggestive of (something), poetic/literary: strongly smelling of something

BART Book: Miss Zukas and the Stroke of Death

Miss Zukas and the Stroke of Death
Jo Dereske, 1995
third in the Miss Zukas library mysteries
www.jodereske.com

Miss Helma Zukas has very definite opinions on a lot of things. When her new boss, the past-her-bloom flower-child Ms. Moon (or Moonbeam), was passing out a box of orange slips with dates for her new brain-child, "Camp-Out in a Book," Miss Zukas refused at first to take one because "she never considered committing herself to the unknown." She was smart to be wary because she certainly would not have wanted to spend the night in the library with an unruly passel of ten-year-olds. In fact, she accepted, albeit reluctantly, the offer to be on the library's team for the annual Snow to Surf relay race which just happened to be on the same day as the date on her orange slip. Moonbean had to cover that night's sleep-over. Hee hee.

Her father had introduced her as a young girl to the joys of M&Ms but she ate only the plain ones, slipping one under her tongue. "Helma had never tried a peanut M&M." She took her food out of the fridge and let it sit on the countertop to come to room temperature. "Helma Zukas disliked overly hot or overly cold foods." She chose not wear sunglasses when she went canoeing down the river. She didn't like how they "altered the color of the world."

One of my favorite ongoing quirks of Miss Zukas is that she refuses to acknowledge that the stray cat she paid a vet's bill for is her cat. She calls it Boy Cat Zukas because that's what the vet's office called it and she makes sure he never gets in her apartment. But she somehow bought kitty treats at the grocery store just because they were on sale. Hmm. Not your cat, eh, Miss Zukas?

Favorite part: the descriptions of canoeing down the river, just beautiful
Least favorite part: can't think of one

Next BART Book: Danse Macabre by Laurell K. Hamilton
(I may actually read this one at home as it might a little too sexy to read in public.)
Previous BART Book: Black Powder War by Naomi Novik

Books on the Shelf:
Shark Island, Joan Druett
The Art of Detection, Laurie R. King
Magic or Madness, Justine Larbalestier
Luck in the Shadows, Lynn Flewelling
Site Unseen, Dana Cameron
Virgin Earth, Philippa Gregory
Out of Circulation, Jo Dereske
Dead in Vineyard Sand, Philip R. Craig

The Ants Crawl In

Do I win because I kill all the ants that get in? Or do the ants win because they just find another way in while I'm at work or sleeping?

I was shocked to get home this evening and find but one ant to smush. This morning when I went over to my kitchen sink they were streaming in through a crack between the window and its frame. My apartment is just not weather-tight; there are so many places for those tiny insects to get in. I've tried various things to plug up that window but I haven't found anything that works. It really bugs me. I like being able to open that window so I don't want to seal it closed.

I have to say my sink and counter area is the cleanest it's been in awhile. I figure if I leave no food for the ants maybe they'll get the idea and leave.

BART Book: Black Powder War

Black Powder War
Naomi Novik, 2006
third in the Temeraire series
www.temeraire.org

Temeraire, the Celestial dragon, and his captain Wil Laurence have left China and receive orders to collect three eggs in Turkey and return home to England. Instead of taking the more familiar sea route, they hire a guide and travel overland from Macao. They encounter difficulties and dangerous situations along the way but the most interesting is their interaction with a group (covert?) of feral dragons in the mountains. Novik's poignant description of this "uncivilized" society rings true as they have a mismash of personalities—some abrasive, some adorable—and a leader and followers, the same in any place anywhere.

Temeraire continues to push forward his fervent beliefs in a more equal role for dragons in society which were only made stronger by his experiences with his relatives in China. And Laurence, being a voice of reason, tries to bring Temeraire back down to earth (so to speak) with the realities of the current attitudes toward dragons' rights and how, in these times of war, there is little hope of huge change any time soon.

I can't wait to read more in this series to see how far Novik will take her analogy of human rights and slavery in respect to the role of dragons in her fascinating universe.

Favorite part: the hatching of one of the eggs
Least favorite part: the unending battle scenes, they're just not my thing

Next BART Book: Miss Zukas and the Stroke of Death by Jo Dereske
Books on the Shelf:
Shark Island, Joan Druett
The Art of Detection, Laurie R. King
Danse Macabre, Laurell K. Hamilton
Magic or Madness, Justine Larbalestier
Luck in the Shadows, Lynn Flewelling
Site Unseen, Dana Cameron
Virgin Earth, Philippa Gregory
Quidditch Through the Ages, JK Rowling
Out of Circulation, Jo Dereske
Dead in Vineyard Sand, Philip R. Craig

BIRTW on Hiatus

Books I've Read This Week is going on hiatus until I can successfully report that I have indeed read more than one book in a week. I'm concentrating on other things right now which are taking up my time leaving only BART rides for books. I'll report on BART Books in irregular postings as I finish them.

I hope you've enjoyed BIRTW over the last few months as I have enjoyed writing it. Its time may yet come again. Happy Reading!

Scripting Proudly

One of my co-workers left me a list of fixes she needed for the database I'm developing for her group and when I read it the first time I didn't think I'd be able to figure out one of the things she wanted. She wanted the database to search to see if when a new person or organization is entered whether they already existed in the database.

I was able to write a script that finds the combined first and last names or organization name and if there are more than one record in the found set, you get a message saying that you've entered a duplicate name. I was quite proud and excited. Now we'll see if it works when they try to use that script for real.

I Feel the Earth Move

Just had another earthquake. This one felt a lot different than the last few I've felt. Instead of a shortish hard jerk, this one rumbled a bit then got stronger then tapered off. All of that in a just a few seconds.

My TV is the best indicator of an earthquake. It must not be very tightly secured to its base because it creaks quite loudly. I would've thought that my hanging lamp would've moved more than it did. It's still swinging but only just slightly.

I hope my heartbeat calms down soon. I might have to have a cup of tea.

Update: The USGS is saying that it was a 4.4 centered near Santa Rosa, which is quite a ways away from me. I should watch the news tonight and see if there was any damage up that way.

For Lunch Today

I'm finally getting to eat lunch at 2:30! Our IT Manager is leaving in a few weeks so today we had an interview at 1pm for a replacement. But I forgot to eat beforehand so I ran down here afterwards only to get a call from my boss saying can we discuss where we are with the hiring process. That took over a half hour!

So here's what I'm having (finally!): Milton's 100% whole wheat bread (2 slices, toasted), mayo (organic), yellow tomato (organic), peppered turkey breast, salad greens (organic). It sure is tasty! Oh, and I'm drinking milk (non-fat) and might have a nectarine for dessert.