Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Unputdownable, but not like a colicky baby

Confession: Vicki is a friend of mine, so you could say I am biased. However, if I didn't think this was a fantastic book and well worth the recommendation, I'd just say "oh, the cover on this book is nice, isn't it?" But I read it when it was still just an infant, a mere twinkle in its mother's eyes, and I can tell you it is a great story. If you don't believe me, I have a friend (Hi Claire!) who started reading the first few chapters for free and was instantly hooked, as she breathlessly related to me at a party recently. So if you have an e-reader (and why wouldn't you, they're the best invention since sticky-notes or chocolate croissants) go and grab one while the price is right. Vicki is smart and funny and her voice shines through in this book.

                                                                                     
The Taken
Here's the big news:

THE TAKEN – out just one month – has been temporarily reduced to $2.99 in e-format. You can get it at Barnes & Noble and Amazon, but that price will pass with the end of July, so don’t wait — and, please, tell your friends. They can read the book and buy themselves an additional frappa-something to enjoy with it.

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

New Digs

Sorry I've been MIA but we moved from our suburban home of 24 years in the West Island into a rambling old flat in Montreal. I'm slowly adjusting to life in the city, as is Buddy who put up a fuss when we left him alone for a few hours so we could eat outdoors and people watch on Rue St. Catherine. We're still knee deep (well, chest deep) in boxes and it will take a while to figure out where everything goes but we'll get there. Doug is happy happy happy as he now has a five minute walk to his office instead of an early morning commute through construction zones and bumper to bumper traffic. Now he strolls along a tree lined street, past Dawson College, the former Mother House of the Congrégation de Notre-Dame.

I have no idea where I'm going to get groceries or where the post office is or even where to haul my garbage, but I'll go exploring when I get our new digs sorted out. This place is old, built in 1928.  It has a working fireplace (in theory only, since we're in the midst of a heatwave so I'm not testing it) and high ceilings and it overlooks a lovely garden belonging to the squash club next door. All the beauty of flowers with none of the work!

Just wanted to let you know where I was. A whole different set of photos will be happenin' from now on.

But first, another box to unload, another cupboard to fill.

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

This is something I would do

Anyone who knows me well, knows that this is something I would do.

I wouldn't want to do it, but I would feel compelled to do it.

Like scratching an itch.

Or peeling a piece of dangling wallpaper.

Or finding a piece of chalk and an empty chalkboard.

Or coughing in a huge art gallery in London because the acoustics were so awesome that you just had to see if the echo was worth the dirty looks you would get from the patrons. (Totally worth it.)


For examples of the greatest inappropriate test answers from young children, go here.