Wonderful Wordy Wednesday

Happy day after election day. As I finish this post I have no idea who has won, just happy all of the ads are going away! I spent most of Tuesday reading and bird watching out in my back yard. First day of Project Feeder Watch for me for the year. 

Some of the local state assembly and senate races have been reported. I am not staying up late to watch the results. I did watch some of the national results, but it all becomes rather repetitious after a while.

I voted last week, so didn't have to go out in the rain. Although it wasn't as wet and windy as they originally predicted. It was also rather warm for this time of year, temps in the 60s.

My TBR is down to 109 books. Amazing. First I have become more selective on what I add, scrubbed a few and have been reading a bit more too. I can read slower in some ways and enjoy it more. 

The Hidden Language of Cats: How They Have Us At Meow - author did her doctorate on the interaction of domestic cats. How cats react to each other and how they react to humans. Included are lovely line drawings of cats. Most of this I knew but she also had some interesting insights.

American Gun: The True Story of the AR-15, interesting reading from the development of the gun by one man, Eugene Stoner, to its numerous uses in mass shootings. The first part of the book is on the development of the gun mainly to sell to the US military for its killing power. Second part of the book is how it has been used by private citizens in mass shootings.

The Times written by a New York Times reporter, the books looks at the changing of the guard at the newspaper over a period of forty years. Changes in editors, the transition from purely paper edition, to a combination of paper and digital. Also some of the controversies that happened such as the plagiarism of Jayson Blair; the coverage that has won them multiple Pulitzer Prizes on various topics including the Challenger aftermath; and September 11 (for which they won seven Pulitzer Prizes). 

 Happy Reading

Dona Nobis Pacem -Blog 4 Peace

 

Mini-ManCat Monday will return next week.

Wonderful Wordy Wednesday

Happy Halloween Eve! The weather is looking good for trick or treating tomorrow. Last year we had snow! Record warm temperatures the past two days, but tomorrow will be cooler and more normal.

Election is less than a week away and I for one can't wait for all of it to be over. Most of my mail is election related.

Hitchcock's Blondes interwoven stories of the famed director and many of the women who were his leading ladies. Grace Kelly, Janet Leigh, Ingrid Bergman, Kim Novak, Tippi Hedren are just a few of the more well known actors to portray characters in Hitchcock's films. Relating of the women's lives as well as the making of the movies.

The Burning of the World relates the physical, psychological and political impact of the Great Fire of Chicago in 1871. How the city was affected and how this impacted its future. Folklore blames Mrs. O'Leary and her cow, but the fire was at the end of a long, hot dry spell and the fire was only contained after several days because it rained. Of note the large fire in Peshtigo, Wisconsin also occurred at the same time.

Hunting the Falcon a detailed book on the relationship between Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. Almost too detailed for me! If you are into this story it might be worth it to you. 

Happy Reading.

Mini-ManCat Monday

 If a dog jumps in your lap, it is because he is fond of you; but if a cat does the same thing, it is because your lap is warmer. - Alfred North Whitehead 

Yep, gotta love the warms! Mum's lap is warm, plus the crow-shay makes it warm too. Then I have my hammick over the heaty vent and also my heated cat cup. 

 Me on mum's lap with the latest crow-shay. Supposed to be a few warm days this week, so mum still has her shorty pants on with her warm footy socks.

Next weekend mum will find the hour in the clock she hid months ago. She took a pic of the sun coming over the house across the street. It is now doing this after mum gets up for the day. Usually the sun is up afore mum gets out of her sleepy spot. 

Hollow-weenie is this week too. Mum said it will be nice enuf she can sit outside to give away candy. Unlike last year when it SNOWED! That means I can stay inside and be safe.

Sports Report

The Pack - they snatched a victory at the last minute again this week. Same guy, the kicker won it. They beat the Jag-u-ars in sunny Florida. Next week they play the Lion guys at Lambeau!

Plus bits of baseyball, crashcar and Bucky Badger feetsball. Plus mum doing outside stuff. 

Next week is Miss Mimi's Blog Blast for Peace. Mum has our Peace Globe ready! Plus you gotta go vote next week too. Vote for the cat people side!

Have a happy week, the election stuff will stop soon.

Wonderful Wordy Wednesday

Had a few more really nice weather days. Warm but windy. I was able to get the lawn mower out and chew up the leaves yesterday. Need to actually mow the grass in the back.  

Doing my best to avoid the political chaos on TV. I record my usual TV shows, then when I watch them I can fast forward through the ads. The other night I got through 5 hours of shows in just over 3 hours. The only thing I watch live is sports.

While I took over the accumulated blankets I am working on the new stash for next year. The first one is done and the second one is about a third done. I'm not the only one who does crafts for donation. I had lunch with a friend the other day who knits scarves for the homeless in her community. I even passed some of my extra yarn to her.

A Paris Mystery - really didn't get into this one. Charlotte (Charlie) James is an Aussie in 1938 Paris. Working as a reporter for the British newpaper The Times, she is working to establish connections with British expats including Lord and Lady Ashworth. The Ashworth's hold a blow out party for the summer solstice. This year a murder is included.

A Traitor in Whitehall Evelyne is recruited to work in the typist pool in the War Rooms during World War II. Her real task is to help ferret out the mole that is channeling secrets to Germany.

Requiem for a Mouse the latest Cat in the Stacks book. Charlie has some part time help in the archive and she is also working part time at the bistro. She was a bit of a loner but something or someone spooked her. She is killed in a hit and run. Why did someone want her killed? Why are people suddenly interested in Charlie's archive?

In Light of All Darkness very interesting book. Author relates the true incident of the Polly Klaas abduction, murder and aftermath. Reads more like a novel and the author is the daughter-in-law of the main FBI agent in charge of the investigation. She had cooperation and access to material that most authors might not have gotten. It also outlines changes the FBI and others made to handle child kidnapping and interviewing child witnesses.

Interesting that now waiting rooms at the doctor or dentist no longer have magazines to read. They went away during the pandemic and haven't returned. Places realized how much money was spent on subscriptions!

 

Let's elect a librarian as president or at least someone who reads books!

Happy Reading.

Mini-ManCat Monday

If you yell at a cat, you're the one who is making a fool of yourself. - Unknown 

Just an FYI, me and mum have discovered over the past few weeks that we can't leave comments on Blogger blog. Tried several things and nothing seems to work. 

Yes, we visit, we just can't tell you so or how much we like things or want to cellybrate special days with you.  

We did see lots of tocks pics yesterday and we loves you for paying tribute to Angel Derby on what would have been his 21st purrthday!

Lots of sunny weather lately, so napping in the sun in the front window, snuggling with mum while she does her crow-shay and even nice enuf to have open windows yesterday. 

Mum hauled all of her blankies away last Thursday so others can have something warm to snuggle under. Here is the back seat of mum's metal monster, all full of blankies.

Four piles, six blankies deep in each pile.
 

Sports Report

The Pack - managed to grab victory from the jaws of defeat yesterday. They got a new kicker and he came through!

Mum also watched lots of basey ball, crashcar and even the F1 race. Although mum doesn't watch entire races, she fast forwards through most of the stuff and just watches the interesting parts. 

Hope the nice weather continues. I like having open windows. Have a wonderful week.

Tock-Tober

 Mum sorta amember this day for Angel Derby. We still miss him lots. 

My mini Tocks!

Wonderful Wordy Wednesday

Less than three weeks from the US election day. If you are eligible voter in the US, please make plans and time to vote and have your vote counted. 

I for one can't wait until the onslaught of ads go away. We have a senate seat up for election along with some state legislative offices up for vote. I record my TV shows, then I can fast forward through the ads. Also means I am reading more to stay off the TV. Well, except for sports, got to watch that stuff live. Wisconsin is one of the swing states so ads, candidate visits etc. never ends.

More fall like weather has arrived. I have the furnace on and with a programmable thermostat it only runs if the house gets cooler than what I feel comfortable at. I don't keep the house that warm, I do put on long sleeves, pants and heavier clothes. 

Working on getting flower beds cut down and hauled off to the compost pile. Two loads done, six to eight loads to go!

Drawn Testimony author is a court room artist and has worked for over 40 years as such. It is a profession that is freelance and she has been hired to cover many of the major trials of the past 40 years. Gives insight into how and why she draws the principals, the limited artistic freedom she has to get vital moments of trials. Book includes some color pictures as well as numerous black and white reproductions.

Passionate Mothers, Powerful Sons is a dual biography of Jennie Jerome Churchill and Sara Delano Roosevelt, mother's of Winston Churchill and Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Both were born in 1854 as US citizens Jennie's life was intertwined with the British aristocracy, Sara was settled into the upper class in the US. Interesting contrast of the two women, their relationships with their spouses, money and children.

The Six in 1978 NASA selected a new batch of astronauts, including six women. Women who were highly educated, also wives and mothers. All would fly in at least one shuttle mission. One, Judith Resnik, would lose her life in the Challenger explosion.

Madly, Deeply are actor Alan Rickman's diaries over the years. I first remember seeing him act in Sense and Sensibility and loved his voice. Other major roles, in Love Actually and as Professor Snape in the Harry Potter movies. This was more of a skim the text looking for items of interest, making of movies. A look at his life, but not a memoir.

Scattershot is a memoir / autobiography of Bernie Taupin. Best known as the lyricist to many of Elton John's songs. Bernie admits in the intro that he does not have a linear mind which for me made it hard to read as I do have a linear mind. Much more than his music and relationship with Elton. 

Happy Reading.