...but I'm excited for the readathon now.

Maybe I should go to the beginning?  This is going to be all over the place, probably, so be patient with me.  

1. Work Shenanigans Update:  As it turns out, several of us found that their schedules had been "mysteriously" changed on Sunday.  A co-worker told me (after the fact) that she had confronted the culprit and they, of course, said that my co-worker had to be mistaken because her schedule was in the system.  Well thank goodness she remembered to print her schedule, which shows the date you printed it, and she PROVED that her schedule had indeed been altered.  And we found that the hard copy of the schedule that is posted in the office at the beginning of every week showed her original hours and not the altered hours.  So of course the culprit back peddled and said that it was some glitch with the system, or that someone else must have done it.  Bull. Crap.  So to combat her lies, all of us employees involved have decided to remember to print our schedules the last day we work and on Saturdays, just to prove that there are shenanigans afoot if the issue arises again.  It's sad that we have to do this, but it is what it is.

2. Yesterday, instead of relaxing and planning my TBR list for Dewey's I took my daughter to register for college.  It made me nostalgic for school, and I started contemplating going back to school to finish my degree--which is INSANITY!  Who the hell in their right mind wants to go back to school on top of working and doing mom/wife stuff?  Eh, the jury's still out.  If I did it I would only take one or two classes at a time and just pay out of pocket instead of trying to do a full course load and having to deal with financial aid and whatnot.  The whole experience made me proud and sad.  I didn't think she would go to college at all because she's the one obsessed with not spending money and worried about debt, but she's decided to at least go for an Associate's degree and then go from there.  It makes me sad because she's my youngest.  Where has the time gone?!  She was just my hyperactive babygirl who did circles around the coffee table and climb all over the furniture.  She's also the child most likely to move away from home and never call or visit. *sigh*

3. Today hubby and I went to the Chadds Ford Winery to pick up (late) our two free bottles that is a bonus of being a wine club member.  On the way there we stopped at a cute little diner and had the prettiest omelets we've ever seen.  I'm not joking, these things were beautiful!  They were tasty too.  They also informed us that if we come in for lunch or dinner after visiting the wonder, we can bring a bottle of wine in to drink with our meal.  How cool is that?!  I think more places are starting to allow BYOB.  Anyway, with the wine club membership you and a guest can have a free tasting any time we come to the winery.  Who wants to take a 40 minute drive and not have a tasting?!  Not this girl.  I did it by myself as hubby didn't want to sit around afterward to make sure he was okay to drive.  You obviously only get a small taste (maybe an ounce) for every wine you sample, but he's a super duper lightweight, so...   We've only become wine drinkers over the last few years and we used to stick to dessert wines.  Now we're expanding our horizons.  I'm finding that I enjoy some, and only some, dry wines now.  It's a fun place.  The staff are super friendly and welcoming and never make you feel stupid for not being a wine connoisseur.  They have events all year long and you can bring a picnic basket with you if you want to make a day of it.

4. Now that I'm home, I've tidied up my room and reading spaces for tomorrow, I've pulled out my snack options and I'm working on my TBR.  I'm ready to get the weekend started!

Hope everyone has a stellar weekend!

Readers block.  Is there such a thing?  I think so, because I am experiencing it.  No matter how hard I try or how far I search, the books that keep me interested are far and few between.  Why?  Is it me?  Is it the choices I have to pick from?  I have my favorites and I strive to find more books like what I know I like, but I can't seem to find many of them. (I have to say, the last books I loved were Maris Black's KAGE 1 & 2).  I love m/m.  I used to be an avid fan of m/f historical romances.  In fact, it's all I read for years.  But my horizons have been broadened since then. I know what I like now, but I can't seem to very often find what I desire in a m/m romance.

When I first began reading the m/m romance genre I couldn't get enough.  It seemed like the books that hooked me and had me forever addicted to this genre were numerous and I devoured them.  I would read for hours at a time.  Several of my fave authors either hardly ever release books anymore or write mostly m/f now.

Also, it looks like the books I desire to read are not what is "popular" anymore.  I want the angst.  I want to cry because one m/c is cold and heartless (or so it seems), only to find out he is afraid to show his feelings, and has realistic reasons for feeling that way.  I want my other m/c to cry about it and get angry.  I want that 'harlequin' feel that seems to be lost to me.  Only I want it in m/m.

I love one m/c to be smaller and a bit effeminant while the other is big, dominant, Alpha.  And the top.  Am I old fashioned?  Not really.  I just know what my kinks are.

I also love BDSM when it's done well and with intelligence.  I don't want an author to write BDSM just because it's popluar but because he/she understands that world and how it makes the participants feel.  I want emotions, angst, misunderstandings (again, done well and with a heavy dose of realism).  Don't give me PWP with too much sex.  But DO give me sex.  And enough with the insta-love.  Give me depth, show me how they fall in love.  Don't just TELL me they do.  I want their conversations, their insecurities.  The tender moments only true lovers experience.  Give me a love story I want to come back to.  Characters that pull my heart strings and make me believe in love.  I want to hate that the book is coming to an end.  Curse the fact that I have to wait for a sequel.  I just want that FEELING.  I've missed it so badly.

So please, I welcome suggestions and recommendations.  (I also LOVE sci-fi m/m romance.)

Rabbit posted a playlist a week or so ago that got me in the mood to make my own. It's my own writing playlist (minus a few hundred tracks—this highlights the artists); it's a little dark but that's probably not a shocker to anyone that follows me. Tracks 9-11 might be pushing it for the average music lover and perhaps, to those brave enough to listen, fortunate that I cut a large portion of that style of music from the list. I also tried to keep the explicitness to a minimum for maximum enjoyment by all. :P

I've already adjusted my BookLikes theme to a Halloween colour scheme, this is because I am leaving tomorrow and won't be around to adjust it for the holiday. Speaking of themes... I know I mentioned many moons ago that I was working on my next BookLikes theme. I stopped work on that theme when I found out I was going to be out of town for an extended time (and also because of distractions). I figured I would wait until I got back in case there were any bug reports.

So, this theme won't be available until the end of the year. I've all the structure for it laid out, it just needs some additional finishing touches to the style sheet. Below is a screenshot, it will have a sticky menu and collapsible 'about' section for your avatar, personal note, widgets and current reads. It'll also have two options for viewing the blog; pagination (already available) and infinite scroll (like on the dashboard).

On to why I won't be around. I'll be out from September 22 - November 14 to work on my manuscript and also for some music magic. While not doing those things, I plan to keep on reading. I've selected the following books to go with me and I'll have reviews up for these when I get back.

        


So, happy reading to all and I'll miss you guys. I'm especially saddened that I will be away during my favourite holiday and missing everyones Halloween inspired reads. I can't wait to get back to read all those!

I had the pleasure of attending this concert yesterday - sound garden and nine inch nails. Sound Garden played all their hits, so I was pleased with that since I haven't kept up with their music since the mid-90s. NiN played everything I wanted from their new stuff and well, I love all their old stuff, so... it was perfect. I kept myself together for the entire show until the encore (video above); it was very moving with everyone singing along.

They played the same venue I saw them at in 2009, that concert was epic! Jane's Addiction!!! Very thankful to NiN for touring with these bands since, if they were on their own tour, I probably would never have seen them (not because I don't think they are amazing, but because the crowds are generally different).

Status Update

I will be going offline from September 22nd - November 14th. No Internet at all! Less distractions will hopefully lead to a much more productive experience working on my manuscript and on some music related things.

As for reading, I've mostly just been reading stuff that I've read before. While I was sick I read Cleopatra VII: Daughter of the Nile, Egypt, 57 B.C. by Kristiana Gregory because it is short and easy for an addled brain to handle. I'm not sure I will review it. Maybe.

Right now I am re-reading The Bhagavad Gita which I tend to read whenever I notice that my temperament is breaking down. I'm not a religious person so most of that stuff I treat as mythology and the rest I take as self-help to better my attitude about whatever is bringing me down. Sometimes I just need a reminder to detach and discard any and all expectations.

I'm planning on reading Artful by Peter David before I take off. So I'm also re-reading Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens before I get to that.

Yep, that's about it. I hope everyone is having a fantastic week/weekend, especially when it comes to the books you all are reading. :D

I've been a bit under the weather these last two weeks which is why I haven't posted in a while. I had great fun at the concert and convention, but I guess I shouldn't have been too surprised to have come down with something after so much exposure to so many people.

I finished reading Bay's End by Edward Lorn during that hectic weekend, the book was great! So, I don't really have any worries about losing the highlights of what I read and writing up a review to do it justice. My face is still really stuffed up and my sinus/migraines are really doing a number on my ability to write or even just looking at my monitor. I am feeling loads better though, so I hope to get my review up by this weekend.

For the remainder of the week I plan to just sit in a dark room with cold towels wrapped around my face. Ah, so exciting! ;)