Crossing To The Dark Side...

Well ya'll know how I feel about books if you've been following this blog very long.  I love them.  Love to read, love to see them, love to smell them.  I have lots of books.  Lots and lots.

And I swore I would never, ever, ever, ever get a Kindle and read an electronic book.  It was just a bizarre concept in my eyes.

So then I turned 21 (since my sister just turned 29 (again) I can only be 21, right?    For  my 'big --0 birthday' in December my sister and niece teamed up to destroy my vow of no kindling.  They gave me my very own little Kindle.   I don't really think that was their motive, but there you have it. 

And I was delighted.   I would never ever ever ever buy one for myself (really) but hey, how could I say no to a GIFT.  So the minute I got home I forced myself to turn it on and download my info and start reading.  Well... maybe it didn't happen that fast, but the truth isn't too far from that. 

See the really big exciting thing is that you can get books free--or very low cost.  I'm a picky reader.  There are things I like and things I don't.  Usually if it's a 'popular to the masses' book I don't even bother anymore because I find them dull.  With the Kindle I can hop and shop around, try many, many authors and books on a myriad of subjects.

There was a problem though.  I hated holding that slim little gadget in my hands.  It was awkward and certainly did not feel right.  Then there was the issue of reading at night after I got into bed.  Once upon a time I could read all night, but now, I'm lucky if I last a half hour....and I don't nod off gracefully.  I (usually) end up dozing off and invariably throw the book up in the air, or occasionally let it slide off the bed to the floor.  Real books don't break....Kindles do, so I was uneasy about that.

It probably would have been easier to buy a Kindle cover, but hey, that would be too simple (and expensive), so I thought and thought and decided to make one. First I tried to hollow out an old blank journal book and that took forever and was awful looking.  For take two I found an old leather look vinyl Journal cover (that you could slide the paper tablets into), which was absolutely the perfect size.  It also had a slide in tab flap you could close it with.  I removed the paper, bought some small black elastic, rummaged around and found a nice piece of gold colored corduroy and some fabric glue and was ready to assemble.  It actually went together pretty smooth and when I was done, I had a thin nice looking case for my Kindle.  It looks homemade when you look close, but it's durable and I like it.   I slipped the Kindle into the four pieces of elastic on the corners and there it has stayed since.  Now I have the feel of a book when I'm reading and the Kindle is protected from 'the elements' of day to day life. (cats)

As I've mentioned I love the fact of having unlimited access to various authors and books.  Plus it is easy to slip it in my purse and carry with me.   I  have the paper white (I think that is right) version so it is like reading a book and not a computer screen, and I really appreciate that.  There is also the anticipation of finding a 'new' author that I will really love. 

And that thing stays charged up forever, unlike the usual three hours for the laptop.  I mean days and days. 

There are some things I don't like about it as well.  I still find it awkward to read--because even though it has a percentage read bar it still isn't like holding a book and visually being able to see how much is left of the book--always an exciting thing.  I still struggle with this aspect of it and the small page size bothers me.

My biggest dislike though is that there are allot of people out there who really really should not be publishing their work.  They are considered 'indie publishers'.   Some really can't write --even if they have a great idea--but many of them just need a good proofreader and don't even bother to have that done.  Some of them are truly atrocious.  I'm not a terrible stickler for everything being all proper sentence structure, but it does bother me to see misspelled words and improper usage of words.   I also get royally ticked off if they haven't done their research or they lose the continuity of key story lines and end up contradicting themselves.  And you really can't decide much based on reviews.  Sometimes I'm wondering if we are reading the same stuff.   At times it can be hard to wade through the 100s of books listed to find something that appeals.   Many authors let you read a sample though and I've started doing that before deciding to spend time on reading the whole thing.  I've deleted many --but hey, easy come easy go.

I'll never give up my books.   I still like the visual and the feel of 'real' books, but the Kindle has become a handy little tool in my voracious book reading habit.

Thanks T & T for dragging me kicking and screaming into the 'modern' world.


  

The Neighbors Are Back.....

Well, it's for sure now, Spring is  here.  You can't really go by the weather, what with it jumping back and forth from hot summer day to cold winter night temperatures.  The surest sign Spring has sprung is that the summer neighbors have moved back.   I have mixed feelings.

They moved back in Saturday morning, in their typical rowdy fashion.   I like having the place to myself, and would be happy to never have neighbors.  It takes some adjustment to get used to these guys again. 

For one thing they are a big family-- often having knock down drag out fights all over the place.  They can be just downright rude at times.  Their toiletry habits aren't very nice either--and that is all I'll say about that.  They aren't very noisy, but they don't work so they are always hanging around.  

I guess the worst thing about them is that they are nosy.  Very nosy.  And their place is just across the fence from my side yard.   They tease the dogs and it's a struggle to keep them from barking at them all the time.   When I sit on my deck, there they are---they'll come up and hang out just over the fence and there is no privacy.   Everything I do seems to fascinate them, and I've even caught them looking in my windows!   It can get old. 

Yes, I've talked to them about it---but it falls on deaf ears.   So much for the peaceful days of winter.  They've been coming back every summer for years and years now,  so you'd think I'd be used to them by now.  

They do hunt coyotes though, so I often feel better about the sheep during the summer.  However they do the same with the deer so it makes it tough for the deer to rearrange their grazing habits. 

But I do have to say....I'd rather have these gals for neighbors any day than most people!  Even if they are nosy. 

Dear Mailbox Stealer

I just wanted to thank your for stealing my mailbox. I hope you give it a good home. You didn't know it when you were doing your dastardly deed, but you were saving it from a crushing end.

A mere three days after you stole it, many mailboxes were crushed and killed as a Serial Mailbox Smasher went on a five mile smashing spree during the dark of night. There is no doubt my pretty green mailbox would have been one of the mangled, if you had not so kindly stolen it.

Mailboxes in all stages of crushed and mangled metal and plastic lined the road for miles, their lids helplessly dangling open.

The Serial Smashers started just a few miles east of here and proceeded to my folk's mailbox, where they caved in the whole side of theirs. As if that was not enough, they grabbed the dumpster and threw it and the trash out into the road. Then they proceeded four more miles north, leaving very few mailboxes unscathed, before their taste for destruction was sated.

Whomever they are, they have struck different areas of the county with impunity, leaving miles of mailboxes destroyed in their wake. The law hasn't yet been able to catch them at it.

However, Serial Mailbox Smashers don't take into consideration that people like my folks, might have a 60+ year old mailbox. That box was made back when things were made real and tough. A jack on the inside helped to pop it back out again, and it only carries a small scar on the side. It will be retired now, since it is an antique and has a 'family history', and because the world is full of jerks.

Note to Mailbox Thieves and Serial Mailbox Smashers--I'm in no hurry to put up a new mailbox. And when I do? It will be an old junker for awhile. Steal that if you must. Eventually there will be a new shiny mailbox, but maybe it'll be lined with well casing (smash that!), and the post will be set in concrete and maybe have some other secret things to keep it firmly planted in the ground. Oh yeah.

In the meantime, Mailbox Stealer? While I appreciate your thoughtfulness in removing my Box from harms way, I'd really like my Box back. It's special to me, and it needs medication.

Alien Eyes

Could it be an Alien watching from just outside the window? Or is it merely a bizarre reflection amongst the snow flakes?

Deep socketed, slanted, dark orbs. Typical Alien eyes.

Oh, wait, that's just Sage. Think about it though. He is a rather complicated tortured little being. Hmmmm... (And, yes, I was about to get smacked in this picture.)

Can anybody tell I got the the first three seasons of X-files on DVD for Christmas? The possibilities are endless --according to them there are Aliens everywhere! This could sure explain allot. That strange co-worker? Uhm hum....

For years and years, I've had visions in the night (okay, dreams), about the things that live in my walls. Apparently there is a whole colony of people-things in there. They've made sleeping restfully very difficult. They've always been prone to watching me, and accusing me of not completing 'something' (I never can remember what it is, but I do know it's complicated and involved). This leaves me with the feeling of not quite ever getting everything done. Always that nagging thought, that I forgot something important. Sometimes when I awaken abruptly at night, knowing I didn't complete 'the task', I get mad, and tell them off (in my mind), "I don't care!" I silently rant, "I didn't sign up for this anyway!", then I flop over and go back to sleep. However, ever since Christmas these wall people have taken on a decidedly sinister air. Now they watch, and record and monitor everything. They are up to no good and it's exhausting. The paranoia runs deep. I'm sure it has nothing to do with watching the X-files just before going to bed.....Nothing....

Wait...what was that I saw out of the corner of my eye, running through the house? Maybe Sage....but no, Sage is laying on my legs.....!

O r bs and Other Weirdness

One night, after another violent downpour, it cleared off, and I went outside. The moon was surrounded by weather rings, looking like a round rainbow. My little camera can't ever handle the moon, but I keep trying to capture it.

The play of light from the moon and moisture in the air, gave a mystical streets of-London- Jack- the-Ripper quality to the night scene. I decided to try and capture the feel of it on the camera. Click. What in tarnation is that? The screen of the camera was filled with amorphous shapes, looking like so much frost on a window pane. I snapped another. Huh. Same thing. Convinced now my camera was on its last snap, I went inside, and took a picture of the recliner. Well, that picture was nice and clear and, well, useless.
I finally deduced that I had actually caught, in action, a rare picture of the elusive 'heavy humidity and moisture in the air'. I mean we aren't often 100 percent humidity for nothing.

Either that or I was in the middle of a council meeting of g h o s t ly o r b-ish like not of this world...uh.. things. From what I can ascertain if you are a serious g h o s t stalker you can tell allot about the netherworlds from what is not in a picture you take. Yep. I swear.

Then again, don't get too excited--those larger white objects in the background are just sheets, hanging on the fence, doing their job of protecting the clematis from sheep lips.

Woooooo......

(Note.... keywords have been cleverly disguised with spaces, so as not to draw in o r b and Casper h u n t e r s. It's a long story.....)

I'm Fine Really......

I just need someone to follow along behind me. Fortunately I hadn't turned the coffee maker on when I inadvertently substituted the plastic coffee canister for the glass carafe. Yep, no problems here..... Now, wheres that coffee?