Virginia

Yes, thank you!

I accidentally hit the enter button before finishing my "Topic." Ugh. I was wondering if anyone has read the Wildwood series by Colin Meloy? I started the first book but misplaced it. It is an American children's fantasy which is actually set in San Francisco. Its unlike other books that I've read in that it is actually set IN America. http://www.amazon.com/Wildwood-Chronicles-Book-I/dp/0062024701/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1436561393&sr=1-1&keywords=wildwood http://www.amazon.com/Under-Wildwood-Chronicles-Book-II/dp/0062024736/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1436561393&sr=1-2&keywords=wildwood http://www.amazon.com/Wildwood-Imperium-Chronicles-Book-III/dp/0062024760/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1436561393&sr=1-3&keywords=wildwood For fans of The Chronicles of Narnia comes the first book in the Wildwood Chronicles, the New York Times bestselling fantasy adventure series by Colin Meloy, lead singer of the Decemberists, and Carson Ellis, acclaimed illustrator of The Mysterious Benedict Society. In Wildwood, Prue and her friend Curtis uncover a secret world in the midst of violent upheaval—a world full of warring creatures, peaceable mystics, and powerful figures with the darkest intentions. And what begins as a rescue mission becomes something much greater as the two friends find themselves entwined in a struggle for the very freedom of this wilderness. A wilderness the locals call Wildwood. Wildwood captivates readers with the wonder and thrill of a secret world within the landscape of a modern city. It feels at once firmly steeped in the classics of children's literature and completely fresh at the same time. The story is told from multiple points of view, and the book features more than eighty illustrations, including six full-color plates, making this an absolutely gorgeous object. Supports the Common Core State Standards

RIP to Omar Shariff! I loved his work.

Very hot (5th level of hades hot) today. It's also been a bit surreal. My state has FINALLY furled the Confederate flag and taken it to its new home in the Confederate Relics Museum, where it can be worshiped. Streets were blocked off for hours this morning. Another weekend alone, sigh. Guess I'll spend it doing some closet reorganizing. I really need to update my wardrobe and get several bits and pieces. Now's as good a time as any. I've also got a few lists to make for projects and shopping that needs to be done between now and September. And of course, there will be reading. Honestly, its the reading that's keeping me sane right now, lol!

The state of South Carolina voted to take down that accursed Confederate flag from atop our State House. After the Civil War, Robert E. Lee said it was time to take the flag down and put it away. During the Civil Rights movement, some yahoo thought it was a good idea to put it back up because they were against desegregation. Many Southerners claim the rebel flag is about "heritage" and "pride in our history." Well here's the question, WHY would you want to honor something that represents oppression, terror, despair and death to over half the state's population? I honestly don't care about it being in someones yard or even their business, it makes it easier for me to know where NOT to enter as a visitor or customer. But where it does NOT belong is atop a STATE building. I don't want my tax dollars paying for its upkeep. Its a slap in the face. What many don't realize is that the Confederate flag to African Americans is what the swastika is to Jews. If you wouldn't fly the swastika because of its history, why fly that rebel flag? I'm so glad my state has decided to reenter the Union, so to speak. This is a step in the right direction to healing and hopefully some steps towards unity. I do expect a fallout from this abrupt change in our state's history but nothing comes without some kind of pain. The Klu Klux Klan plan a rally next week. I don't know that this is a good thing but they have the right to protest. Many members of the house of representatives were actually threatened by these kinds of groups to not vote to take it down. That should have been a wake up call.

Yesterday was the day from hade's. The power company accidentally cut the power lines in the downtown area where I work. Traffic lights were nonworking for HOURS. My building is one of those "smart" building so of course NOTHING wanted to work. I had to go pick up about $1,000 worth of alcohol for the company and after getting to the office, I realized I wasn't going to be able to enter the garage as the arms would not go up or down so we couldn't get in OR out. Maintenance had to manually dismantle the arms so we could leave or enter. I had to park in our client parking spot then go in the building to locate my intern so he could help me unload. We get all these flimsy boxes loaded onto a dolly, go down a ramp, swipe our security card to open the door only to find out that the doors were NOT going to open. It was about 100' degrees outside and we couldn't leave the beverages unattended. I contacted our receptionist who informed maintenance who were ineffective. We were out there on that little bridge almost 40 minutes. I located a maintenance worker so I could borrow a dolly. The one we had was piled high with boxes of booze and tonic water and it was hard work getting it to the place we were, trying to move it again would have been thumbing our nose at fate. I had to walk back down to get it as the elevators were out of service, go back UP the stairs, reload my dolly then we both had to push these dollies down the garage incline for 4 levels. All of this nonsense ate up about 2 hours. As we finally get to the lower level we have to wait on someone to open the gate or we'd have to push these dollies around the block where a homeless shelter is, I'm never that crazy. As soon as we are about to go in the gate, a paralegal rushes out to me saying she needs a document sent to one of our state offices post haste. As a trade off, I have HER get the cart back into the building, onto our floor and unloaded. The doors were still inoperable so we had to leave out the front entrance. I usually don't mind this, in fact, its my favorite place to walk, except there is a momma bird who stupidly built her nest in a potted tree right at the doors. Now whenever we walk out, we run the risk of getting dive bombed by the bird. I'm all for technology but when we relinquish our ability to open a door, I begin to think like Neo from the Matrix. Technology will be the end of us. Today was SO much better! I went home last night and took some pm meds so I could sleep as I was aching all over. I even slept a little later this morning so yay me!!

The secret garden books assess back but they upped the price.

In 2005 Bill Cosby admitted to drugging women and having sex with them. The deposition from a made back then was part of the agreement in a case 2005 lawsuit.

I'm a Weasely!

I did five hours of Orange, Mint and Honey by Carleen Brice. I couldn't put it down!

Just finished this, what a GREAT read! http://www.amazon.com/Orange-Mint-Honey-Carleen-Brice/dp/0345499069/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1436199712&sr=8-5&keywords=mint+orange+and+honey “A wonderful, jazzy, exciting read.” –Nikki Giovanni, author of Acolytes Broke and burned-out from grad school, Shay Dixon does the unthinkable after receiving a “vision” from her de facto spiritual adviser, blues singer Nina Simone. She phones Nona, the mother she had all but written off, asking if she can come home for a while. When Shay was growing up, Nona was either drunk, hungover, or out with her latest low-life guy. So Shay barely recognizes the new Nona, now sober and with a positive outlook on life, a love of gardening, and a toddler named Sunny. Though reconciliation seems a hard proposition for Shay, something unmistakable is taking root inside her, waiting to blossom like the morning glories opening up in Nona’s garden sanctuary. Soon Shay finds herself facing exciting possibilities and even her first real romantic relationship. But when an unexpected crisis hits, even the wise words and soulful melodies of Nina Simone may not be enough for solace. Shay begins to realize that, like orange mint and honey, sometimes life tastes better when bitter is followed by sweet.

I had a fairly busy 4th of July weekend. My mom drove down from Virginia and then we drove to Georgia to pick up my grandkids. It was a 2.5 hour drive, not to bad. About 10 minutes from home the baby decided that she didn't like the milk INSIDE of her, so she brought it on the outside. Lovely. Called hubby (who made a surprise visit) and had him run bath water. Once we arrived, we handed the kids over to him so we could run out and pick up some necessities for the little ones. Got home and finished bathing all of them, got them fed and let them play for a few hours before tossing them into bed. Hubby left out just after 12 am. I spent the next 3 hours trying to convince my ll month old namesake that there really WASN'T a party going on and that everyone else was asleep. Honestly, I don't think she cared. In the end, I put her in her play pen, let her party/fuss until she fell asleep. I think she outlasted me. Saturday was spent getting more things for the kids as mom was taking the three boys back to Virginia with her. The parents have yet to master the art of packing even when given two weeks notice. I'll just start back to keeping things at my house. Sunday we parted ways, mom and the boys to Virginia and me and the baby girls back to Georgia. I made the lonely ride back to South Carolina. DS was preparing to go visit his other grandmom so it was just me and the dog. It'll be just me and the dog for the rest of the week. Lots of people from work are on vacation, including my boss. I feel pretty good that he felt confident enough to take it with me only being here just two months. But honestly, it feel like I've been here so much longer, but not in a bad way. I feel like I fit in. His absence means I've got a lot more to do. We have two interns and one left early to take her puppy to the vet and the other just called to say his truck was broken into so he'd be late. I don't feel panicky though. Its just one of those days when you find you're the only one there who can get stuff done. Have a great day/night/morning!

The United States Supreme Court has legalized gay marriage nationwide.

I'm watching a movie called Charlotte Forten, a Black Philadelphian woman who moved to the Sea Islands to teach school to the newly freed Slaves.

Enya, everyone loves Enya!

Thanks Gaia! I completely understand. As much as I love my coloring book I can't spend too much time on it, I do a little and stop. I have yet to complete a picture but it's just nice to know that when I am ready, it will be there! I've been introducing them to my coworkers at the law firm I work at. One of the partners was so intrigued that he said he's going to go get one for himself, lol!

Looks like we'll be doing triple digits with no real chance of rain for the next two weeks. Its really weird experiencing summer in a city. The heat is more palpable and fierce. We're we moved from we dealt with humidity but we were also surrounded by water and nice breezes. Here the heat bounces off the pavements and asphalt and you feel cooked (well done). One thing about living were we do and working were we work is that while its business attire, our attire includes sleeveless dresses and low/flat sandals! No one looks down at you because your not in heels and suits.

I'm still working on Miss Jane Pittman and Gone With the Wind and I've added an Elizabeth George mystery to the mix..

I am in no mood to get into a theological discussion Sousa. I stated what I believe to be true based off MY experiences. You chose to disagree. Fine. We will disagree. Everything is not a debate nor does it need to be debated. Thank you frankie, our posts crossed and I typed while you were posting yours.

We have different religious experiences. I was raised a Baptist. I stand by what I said.

It is your right to disagree. Having spent my life in churches and in prayer circles, I can attest to what I know, not what I've read or what a book tells me.

Very true ian! When people are praying (no matter the faith) they are exposing their true selves, making themselves open and vulnerable. People not only pray for themselves but for others. I wouldn't be surprised if they prayed FOR him. He may have even held hands with them in prayer. In Black churches we hold hands whenever we can during prayer because scripture tells us to touch in agreement. This kid was EVIL. Sadly I found myself knowing family of one of the victims. We attended university together. In a state this size, its always amazing to run across people that you know or friends/family that they know. Blood lines run deep here. I've been reading the news and commentaries and its baffling that even when this creature SAID he killed because they were Black and he wanted to create a "civil war" people still seem to think Blacks are making it a race issue. Um, he SAID he killed because they were Black. Fox News (i.e. Faux NOTNews) want to pass this off as a crime against Christianity. I guess, if it makes them feel better.

My country has lost its mind. When you can no longer go into a church for bible study and prayer (in the United States) without getting killed we have reached a new low. Reading comments from the news stories shows that people choose to be blind to injustice, that Black Americans play the "race card." That Black lives are worthless. These are the same people that say they see no color. Give me an honest racist over a silent, lying hypocrite any day. http://abcnews.go.com/US/police-release-photos-south-carolina-church-shooting-suspect/story?id=31851054

Its now 100'f. I went outside and it was 99, by the time I came back in the building (10 min later) it was 100.