Category Archives: Reading

Reading, Those Cats

In which Chaos goes to the vet

53 Comments

So what are the major differences between Shelfari, GoodReads, and LibraryThing? I have accounts on all of them, but if I’m going to do a “book thing” like that, I need to pick just one.

This lolcat pic gets me giggling every time. This one leaves me feeling vaguely guilty, even though I’ve never tried washing either cat. Of course, since I took Chaos to the vet last night for his shots… (Click the picture below for a close-up of feline suspicion.)

“Hmm… Mom is acting awfully weird. Something’s up.” -Chaos

His suspicions were confirmed when I put on his collar.

“No good can come of this collar business. I’ll just tell you right now that I don’t approve of whatever you have in mind, Mom.” -Chaos

“Woe! I thought this was a kitty bed!” -Chaos

Chaos’s distressed caterwauling attracted the attention of PJ, the new counter kitten at the vet – he had to hop down and see what was wrong. Chaos growled at him for his troubles… but I don’t think PJ’s holding a grudge (in fact, I’m not sure PJ has more than two or three brain cells, but he sure is cute!).

“I knew no good could come of her putting that collar on me. Sometimes it sucks to always be right.” -Chaos

“Vengeance WILL be mine. Remember that, Mom.” -Chaos

Randonymity, Reading, Viewing

More evidence of that sink kitty thing

40 Comments

Damn, I didn’t realize that Friday was Singles’ Awareness Day. For a good read on the subject of singleness, check out “Exploring Relationships with the Single Weirdo” over at lifehack.org.

The new issue of Yarnival, as edited by Miss T, is now available!

Reading Update
The Three Incestuous Sisters and The Adventuress by Audrey Niffenegger. If you’re looking for something in the vein of Niffenegger’s The Time Traveler’s Wife, you won’t find it in these visual “novels.” Niffenegger writes that when she tries to explain The Three Incestuous Sisters, she tells people “to imagine a silent film made from Japanese prints, a melodrama of sibling rivalry, a silent opera that features women with very long hair and a flying green boy.” Of the second non-visual novel she’s working on, the biographical blurb in the back of The Adventuress notes that “she’s a very slow writer, easily distracted by her cats and the lure of libraries and airplanes.”
Howling Moon: A Tale of the Sazi by C. T. Adams and Cathy Clamp. I started out getting very involved in this tale of a werejaguar and a pack of werewolves, but I think the story was drawn out too much for the amount of story there was to tell.
Relative Magic by Tanya Huff. I admit to not reading all of the stories in this collection of Tanya Huff’s short fiction. Frankly, her “high fantasy” works don’t interest me (no one’s “high fantasy” or “sword & sorcery” seems to interest me anymore – I’m all about contemporary fantasy now), so I stuck to the more contemporary tales.

Viewing Update
Into the Wild. I own the Eddie Vedder soundtrack, so when a friend I haven’t seen in a while suggested catching the film at the Riverview Theater ($3.00) Friday night (after catching up over a glass of hard cider at the Riverview Cafe and Wine Bar), I decided I should do so. The movie is gorgeous, the story thought-provoking and ultimately, to me, very tragic.

Mayhem Update
Can you see the cat in this picture? (Um, yeah, I might have a few books and cds…)

Need some help?

This time, she’s lying on about 10 pairs of wet wool socks…

Contests, Reading, Those Cats, Viewing

In which Mayhem is revealed to be a sink kitty, part 1

45 Comments

Deb’s celebrating her second blogiversary with a contest! Leave her a comment by February 15 and you could win some goodies – she promises it won’t be anything that’s been in the secret kitty lair.

Kmkat has a photo that sums up the weekend experience in our part of the Upper Midwest. Is it any wonder that I stayed in and hibernated yesterday?!

Remember my experiment with responding to comments in the comments, triggered by Chappysmom’s post? One of the authors of the article that inspired Chappysmom has written about his experience participating in our conversations.

Over the weekend, I had a lot of trouble with the email address that my comments are sent to – no idea if things will be better today. I will respond to comment emails when they arrive… whenever that may be. Don’t worry if it isn’t in as timely a fashion as usual. Thanks!

Reading Update
The Royal Treatment, The Royal Pain, and The Royal Mess by Mary Janice Davidson. The premise is that the US never purchased Alaska; instead, it’s an independent monarchy. The result is more trashy fun from Minneapolis author Davidson.
The Polysyllabic Spree by Nick Hornby. (“A hilarious and true account of one man’s struggle with the monthly tide of the books he’s bought and the books he’s been meaning to read.”) This line from one of Hornby’s essays about his reading really summarizes an important aspect of my own reading: “A couple of months ago, I became depressed by the realization that I’d forgotten pretty much everything I’ve ever read. I have, however, bounced back: I am now cheered by the realization that if I’ve forgotten everything I’ve ever read, then I can read some of my favorite books again as if for the first time.” Exactly my strategy!
Songbook by Nick Hornby (with included 11-song cd). The short essays in this book all revolve around songs that have been important to Hornby, ranging from Led Zeppelin to Rufus Wainwright.

Viewing Update
24-Hour Party People. This film is about the Manchester music scene from the mid-1970s through the late 1990s, focusing on Tony Wilson and Factory Records and featuring Joy Division/New Order, the Happy Mondays, and more.

“What? Lots of kitties like to hang out in sinks.” -Mayhem

“The wet sweater that I found draining in here just makes the sink extra comfy!” -Mayhem

“…zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…” -Mayhem

Contests, Reading, Viewing

In which I ‘fess up to not spending all of Sunday in my PJs

35 Comments

Sarah-Hope is celebrating her blogiversary by holding the First Annual What If Knits Save-the-Cats (and Other Animals) Blogiversary Raffle – by donating to any one of an assortment of animal rescue organizations by February 14, you’ll be entered in a prize raffle. First prize is a gorgeous Swallowtail Shawl!

Reading Update
My Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon edited by P.N. Elrod. I didn’t enjoy this collection as much as My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding, but there is nice Harry Dresden story by Jim Butcher.
Long Hot Summoning (The Keeper’s Chronicles #3) by Tanya Huff. Much better than the second book, plus it has a completely fabulous fifth line on page 161.
The Book of Old Houses by Sarah Graves. The latest in the Home Repair is Homicide series, this book continues a thread started in the previous book (Trap Door). I’ve loved the rest of the series, but the last two books have only been “meh.”

Viewing Update
Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix. Whoa. Talk about breakneck speed – if you haven’t read/listened to the books, you won’t have any clue what’s going on!
Grosse Pointe Blank. Black comedy starring John Cusack as hitman Marty Blank, back in town for his high school reunion. I can’t believe I don’t already own the soundtrack for this one.
High Fidelity. What can I say? I was in a John Cusack mood this weekend. 🙂 Another good soundtrack, although very different than that of Grosse Pointe Blank.

‘Tis true, ’tis true… although I spent all day Saturday in my PJs, I actually got dressed and left the house on Super International Pajama Day! What can I say? It was sunny and warmer than it’s been and I just needed to get out and go for a walk. I did get back into PJs as soon as I got home.

“For shame, Mom! I spent all day in my pajamas. What, you’ve never heard of the cat’s pajamas?” – Mayhem

Contests, Reading, Tales of the Neighborhood

4Paws gives cause to pause…

33 Comments

Last week, I mentioned that Maryse was collecting afghan squares for an afghan for Elisa’s dad. Now Maryse is having a contest – anyone who sends her an afghan square by February 14 will be included in a prize drawing!

Ha – you think Chaos and May have had it bad with the bibs?! They shouldn’t complain – they could be wearing petal bibs.

Well, my experiment on Friday got a little out of hand, but it was a lot of fun – thanks to everyone who participated in the discussion! I’m definitely sticking with email responses to comments, but I will try to remember to also respond in the comments when appropriate.

Reading Update
Summon the Keeper by Tanya Huff. Hard to beat the tagline: “They were supposed to be saving the world, not running a B&B where Hell was one of the guests…”
The Second Summoning (The Keeper’s Chronicles #2) by Tanya Huff. Still a good read, but not as over-the-top good as Summon the Keeper.
Gate of Darkness, Circle of Light by Tanya Huff. More well-written urban fantasy (set in Toronto) from Canadian Tanya Huff.
Sorcery and the Single Girl by Mindy Klasky. Librarian and novice witch Jane Madison returns in another enjoyable novel of paranormal chick lit.

Surreality Update
I apologize in advance for the blurry pictures you are about to view. Dim lighting and no tripod conspired to create a more surreal effect than I’d planned… Yesterday I happened to be in Calhoun Square before it opened and noticed 4Paws Boutique (no website that I found), which is a store for “the pampered pet.” I’d say!

“But did she bring any goodies home for us?! Nope. Hmph.” -Chaos

Don’t you think he’d be grateful that I didn’t bring him home a leopard print cat jacket with pink trim?!

Contests, Reading

She looks so innocent…

46 Comments

Wendy’s having a contest – before 4 pm EST, January 22, send her an email guessing how the pictured sock was knit, and you could win a skein of Wollmeise.

Nikki is having a contest to celebrate her blogiversary, 200th post, and new WordPress blog! Simply leave her a comment by January 24 and you could win a fibery prize.

Dotty and Gladys are celebrating their blogiversary with a contest, too. To participate, leave them a comment with a link to a rectangular stole pattern by midnight PST, January 31.

Reading Update
Kitty and the Silver Bullet by Carrie Vaughn. Radio personality and werewolf Kitty returns for another solid installment in this series.
Crime Seen: A Pyschic Eye Mystery by Victoria Laurie. Psychic Abby Cooper is back in another light’n’fluffy mystery.
Back to the Bedroom by Janet Evanovich. These old, reissued romances from Evanovich are trite and boring and not recommended (even though there are four black kittens at the end of the book).
Cybermancy by Kelly McCullough. This is the sequel to Webmage, which I recently read and enjoyed. Decent writing and a heck of a premise that mixes cyberpunk with Greek mythology make this a series I’ll continue reading. I think McCullough’s influences include Jim Butcher’s series about wizard Harry Dresden and Roger Zelazney’s Amber series (particularly Corwin).
Wolf Moon by Charles de Lint. This is an old one (1988) and definitely not as skillful or involving as more recent works. It isn’t Lint’s trademark urban fantasy, but it does put a nice twist on some some fantasy archetypes.
Promises To Keep by Charles de Lint. This Jilly Coppercorn story seemed awfully familiar to me – maybe just because it’s described as a prequel to Widdershins?
Old Man Crow by Charles de Lint. Is Joey Creel “a man dreaming he’s a crow, or crow dreaming he’s a man”?
Paste Magazine #39. Many thanks to Margene for turning me on to this magazine! Each issue comes with a sampler cd – what’s not to love about that?

Mayhem (literally) Update
Mayhem had a busy weekend. Saturday she extricated the FM antenna from its supposedly safe perch, then gnawed about six inches off of it (I don’t think she ingested any, fortunately). Sunday I woke up to the sound of her tipping over a heavy oak kitchen chair onto the tile floor and cracking the floor… Maybe she really does have cabin fever!

“Quit telling tales, Mom!” -Mayhem

“I can’t believe you’d fib about me like that. I can’t even look at you.” -Mayhem

“I am so disappointed in you. Obviously, if such things had even happened, the big kitty would’ve done them!” -Mayhem

Contests, Randonymity, Reading, Viewing

Twitterpated Tuesday

31 Comments

Cheryl’s decided to plan out her gift knitting for the year in order to both use stash yarn and not drive herself crazy with deadline knitting, so she’s starting Project Sanity. She’s looking for a cool button for Project Sanity – if you create one and email it to her by midnight EST, January 25, your button could win you a yarny prize.

Hey, things weren’t so bad for Chaos in his bib yesterday – Jeanne’s cats got stuck wearing preemie hats… (Hmm, come to think of it, it was Jeanne’s inspiration that led to Chaos’s modeling a strawberry hat nearly two years ago.)

Woo-hoo! I won a Golden Spork Award (Crafting/Creative category) for the second year in a row! Thanks, Tink! I am honored indeed.

Reading Update
Holidays Are Hell by Kim Harrison, Lynsay Sands, Marjorie M. Liu, and Vicki Pettersson. If you’re a fan of Harrison’s Rachel Morgan series, this collection contains a story about Rachel as a teenager. If you’re a fan of Pettersson’s Zodiac series, this collection contains a story about the mysterious Zoe Archer, mother of Joanna Archer.
Creation in Death by J.D. Robb. The latest Eve Dallas and Roarke mystery – same dependable stuff. Mmm… Roarke…
Key of Knowledge and Key of Valor by Nora Roberts. Books two and three in the Key Trilogy were enjoyable, if rather predictable.
Girl’s Guide to Witchcraft by Mindy Klasky. What’s not to like about a chick lit novel with this opening line: “They don’t teach witchcraft in library school.”
Spring Break and Wedding Bell Blues by Charlotte Douglas. I’m continuing to read and enjoy this low-key series about Florida ex-cop and PI Maggie Skerritt.
Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs. I much enjoyed the newest Mercy Thompson novel – and not a vampire to be found, CarrieK! Briggs is a skilled writer of paranormal fiction, and I’m already looking forward to the next book. Now, if only the cover illustrator would read the books and realize that Mercy only has one tattoo…

Viewing Update
The Importance of Being Earnest This exceedingly silly movie based on Oscar Wilde’s play has an exceptional cast, including Colin Firth, Judi Dench, and Rupert Everett.

“Neener neener, big kitty! Do I look dumb enough to stick around when the bibs come out?!” -Mayhem

Alongs, Knitting, Reading

Sometimes geeking can be woeful

31 Comments

Don’t forget about Super International Pajama Day, coming up on February 3!

Many thanks to Jeanne and pao for assisting me with some blog woes over the weekend! The blog seems to be working fine again – whew! (I do admit to pestering Jeanne with the Yarn Harlot’s famous words: “Blog broken. Make blog go?”)

Also, in an effort to reduce comment spam, I’ve turned off commenting for posts more than 60 days old. Hopefully this doesn’t inconvenience anyone. 🙂

Reading Update
Heart of Stone: The Negotiator Trilogy, Book 1 by C. E. Murphy. This is the start of a new series by Murphy, and it was a very good read. Legal Aid lawyer Margrit Knight discovers that there’s more going on in NYC than she would ever have realized. This book has a dragon, a djinn, two selkies, a whack of gargoyles, and one vampire. (It’s ok, CarrieK – it’s definitely not a vampire novel. You’ll be ok. I promise.)
Web Mage by Kelly McCullough. This is an interesting premise – imagine that there’s also an mweb (magic web) in addition to the regular stuff on the internet… Sorceror and relative of the Fates Ravirn is just trying to get through the University of Minnesota’s CompSci program, so how did his life get so complicated?
Holidays Are Murder: A Maggie Skerritt Mystery by Charlotte Douglas. I continue to enjoy this low-key series about Pelican Bay, Florida, police detective Maggie and her former (police) partner, Bill. Since this series is published by a division of Harlequin, you may find them in the romance section instead of mysteries…
Key of Light by Nora Robert. This first book in the Key Trilogy was pretty good. Three modern women must solve an ancient puzzle while an evil sorceror attempts to thwart their efforts.
Hex Marks the Spot: Bewitching Mystery, Book 3 by Madelyn Alt. Maggie learns about Amish hexes when a local Amish craftsmen is found murdered.

Knitting Update
My black Velvet Touch “Scrunchable Scarf” continues to grow – and continues to be too unexciting to photograph. It is extremely soft and I’m quite happy with it.

*zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…* -Chaos

“Wha……..?” -May

Contests, Reading

I wonder how they defined “literacy”?

32 Comments

I hope everyone had a good start to the new year!

After several years of second place, Minneapolis has been rated America’s Most Literate City! St. Paul jumped from fifth to third.

MissT is editing the February issue of Yarnival and is looking for your submissions.

Ann and Kay are holding The Grandma Mabel Memorial Recipe Box Show and Tell Contest. You have until noon EST, January 4, to flash your recipe boxes and maybe win a prize!

Scout’s encouraging people to donate some money to help a dog in Maine who was seriously injured by someone snowmobiling illegally on the owner’s property. If you donate by January 4, you’ll be entered in a drawing for some goodies from Scout.

Reading Update
The Day Will Come: A Stella Crown Mystery by Judy Clemens. Meh. I read the whole thing, but never got very invested in dairy farmer and Harley rider Stella’s story. No interest in reading more of these.
Pelican Bay: A Maggie Skerritt Mystery by Charlotte Douglas. Former debutante Maggie Skerritt is a police detective in a small town on Florida’s Gulf Coast. This was a good read and I’ll definitely read more in this series.
Dance of the Gods and Valley of Silence (Books 2 and 3 of the Circle Trilogy) by Nora Roberts. More sword’n’sorcery’n’vampires – this was a darn good trilogy.
Drunk, Divorced & Covered in Cat Hair: The True-Life Misadventures of a 30-Something Who Learned to Knit After He Split by Laurie Perry, aka Crazy Aunt Purl. Just like reading her blog, only more serious and with no funny cat pictures. I might have to knit that cat tube…
The Yarn Lover’s Guide to Hand Dyeing: Beautiful Color and Simple Knits by Linda LaBelle. Overall, this is probably the best dyeing book I have; however, it definitely has its limitations. I think more interviews, and giving those interviews more substance, would have significantly strengthened the book. So would spending much more time and space on the techniques and much less time and space on the simple patterns.

Thank You Updates
I won two contests! On the left below are goodies from Ali – two yummy skeins of alpaca, a box of chocolate-covered popcorn “coal,” and some gluten-free snack bars (well, ok, the snack bars are at work – I won’t even pretend that they’re under Chaos). On the left is a lovely skein of yarn from Jen. Thanks to both of you!

*sniff sniff sniff* -Chaos and Mayhem

MamaTulip sent me a very fun box of goodies – a lovely purple mug with black cats on it, candles, metal cat and glass ball ornaments, an excellent cd, and a nice wooden cat sculpture. Thank you, MamaT!

*sniff sniff sniff* -Mayhem and Chaos

“Hey, big kitty – I think we got a new kitty in the house! Now I’m not the smallest kitty anymore!” -Mayhem

“I hate to break it to you, May, but that kitty isn’t exactly alive…” -Chaos

“Hmph. I knew that, big kitty. I was just kidding. Moving right along… Mom, why am I lying by an empty mug? This is boring.” -Mayhem

Randonymity, Reading

Please, sir, may I have S’Mores?

26 Comments

Debby has a really nice post about how you can help out animal shelters and rescue organizations in your city.

Hopefully the City of Minneapolis has finally plowed our alley so I can make it to work this morning. It’s a good thing I took yesterday off, because I couldn’t have made it in to work! I spent a quiet and relaxing day recuperating from the festivities (Christmas Eve at my brother and SIL’s, then Christmas Day at Jeanne and Michael’s) and looking forward to this weekend’s festivities.

Reading Update
Karma Girl by Jennifer Estep. The book before Hot Mama – amusing chick lit about superheroes.
The Wednesday Night Witches by Lee Nichols. Three friends on a Maine island discover that they have witchy powers.
Morrigan’s Cross: Book One of the Circle Trilogy by Nora Roberts. This is a well-written sword’n’sorcery’n’vampire novel, set in twelth-century and modern day Ireland. I’m already waiting for the rest of the trilogy to be available at my library. I liked this much better than Divine Evil.
Killer Insight: A Psychic Eye Mystery by Victoria Laurie. I continue to be surprised by the whole “niche mystery” phenomenon!
A Bite to Remember: Argeneau Vampires, Book 5 by Lynsay Sands. Romance/mystery/vampires – this book has it all and is actually a decent read. Unsurprisingly, I haven’t read the previous four books yet.
Territory by Emma Bull. Besides making boisterous Celtic music as part of The Flash Girls, Emma Bull writes some damned good urban fantasy – her novel War for the Oaks is one of my favorites (and not just because parts of it takes place in my neighborhood!). In Territory, Bull heads back to Tombstone, Arizona, in the days of the Earps and Doc Holliday and adds a bit of sorcery to liven things up.

Holiday Cuteness
WendyG sent me the cutest knitting S’Mores ornament! Thanks, Wendy!

*sniff sniff sniff* -Chaos

*sniff sniff sniff* -Mayhem

“Well, big kitty – what do you think?” -Mayhem

“This is a tricky one, May. It looks like food, but it sure doesn’t smell like food.” -Chaos

“May, why don’t you take a little taste, just to see what’s up?” -Chaos

“Are you sure I won’t break a fang on this very unyarny yarn?!” -Mayhem

“Help! Help!” -Marshmallow Snowman

The ornament was quickly rescued!