Life and Things
This has been a pretty quiet week, for the most part. The ‘day’ job did offer some passing amusement when a random dude called me around 3am, and started asking me rather personal questions. I guess he missed the ‘Pacifica Beach Hotel. This is Aislynn…’ bit when I answered, because he thought I was some chick named Kimberly. Then he told me my accent turned him on. And that he thought I was 20-something. Thanks, creepy random dude. I’m flattered. Haha. I’m quite the bit older than that.
My stuff started coming in to assemble my Litsy booktote box. If you’ve never been to Litsy, you should! Books! Bookworms! Cool postal boxes! Awesome reading challenges! New book friends!
Anyway, the tote came, and I really wanna keep it 😶 Heh. I’m still waiting on some of the books to stuff inside it, but I have my bookish goodies ready.
Health is… interesting. I’m down to 186 lbs, according to my home scales. I’m somewhat skeptical, but I go back to the nutritionist Monday, and will get an accurate weight. Most sweet stuff makes me sick now, unless it’s small quantities. I crave hummus and carrots more than sweets. I’ve found a sparkling water I can drink. It’s a brand called Yerbae, and there are several flavours. I’ve been walking lots, and I need new sandals. I know… I should use tennis shoes, but they overheat me.
Despite continued good changes, my neuropathy is unimproved, and even seems to be worse. I’m sure it’s worse because that happens from time to time, where it gets bad all the time for no discernable reason rather than from the dietary changes. It leaves me fuzzy-headed, and the pain is about an 8, all the time, unless I take massive amounts of gabapentin. I just deal, cuz I’m used to it, but pain is exhausting even when you can mostly ignore it.
Lesson here, kids- don’t get sick, and don’t get old. 😆
Books read, reviewed, and posted/scheduled this past week
Road of the Lost by Aidan Russell, 3½*
Alone by Cyn Balog, 4*
Fierce Fighters: Predators by Paul Beck & Lee Martin, 4*
Favourite Read of the Week
“This must-read for lovers of Stephen King’s The Shining will leave readers breathless as Seda and her family find themselves at the mercy of a murderer in an isolated and snowbound hotel. Get ready for what Kirkus calls “A bloody, wonderfully creepy scare ride.”
When her mom inherits an old, crumbling mansion, Seda’s almost excited to spend the summer there. The grounds are beautiful and it’s fun to explore the sprawling house with its creepy rooms and secret passages. Except now her mom wants to renovate, rather than sell the estate—which means they’re not going back to the city…or Seda’s friends and school.
As the days grow shorter, Seda is filled with dread. They’re about to be cut off from the outside world, and she’s not sure she can handle the solitude or the darkness it brings out in her.
Then a group of teens get stranded near the mansion during a blizzard. Seda has no choice but to offer them shelter, even though she knows danger lurks in the dilapidated mansion—and in herself. And as the snow continues to fall, what Seda fears most is about to become her reality…”
Current Read
The Boy in the Suitcase by Lene Kaaberbol & Agnete Friis
“Nina Borg, a Red Cross nurse, wife, and mother of two, is a compulsive do-gooder who can’t say no when someone asks for help—even when she knows better. When her estranged friend Karin leaves her a key to a public locker in the Copenhagen train station, Nina gets suckered into her most dangerous project yet. Inside the locker is a suitcase, and inside the suitcase is a three-year-old boy: naked and drugged, but alive.
Is the boy a victim of child trafficking? Can he be turned over to authorities, or will they only return him to whoever sold him? When Karin is discovered brutally murdered, Nina realizes that her life and the boy’s are in jeopardy, too. In an increasingly desperate trek across Denmark, Nina tries to figure out who the boy is, where he belongs, and who exactly is trying to hunt him down.”
Next Up (maybe)
Age of Swords by Michael J Sullivan
Damn Fine Story by Chuck Wendig, NG
Gauntlet Fall by Maddy Edwards, Oct 20, Xpresso
The Everett Exorcism by Lincoln Cole, Oct 24, Independent
Your Crossroads, Your Choice by EP Apicello. ASAP
The Cottingley Secret by Hazel Gaynor CBR
Besieged by Kevin Hearne CBR
Dragon Teeth by Michael Crichton. CBR
Book Haul
Several e-galleys. Favourites include:
Treknology by Ethan Siegel
“The name Star Trek conjures images of faster-than-light spacecraft, holographic crew members, and phasers set to stun. Some of these incredible devices may still be far from our reach, but others have made the leap from science fiction to science fact—and now you can learn the science and engineering of what makes them tick.
Treknology looks at over twenty-five iconic inventions from the complete history of the Star Trek television and film universe. Author Ethan Siegel explores and profiles these dazzling technologies and their role in Star Trek, the science behind how they work, and how close we are to achieving them in the real world today.
This stunning collection is packed with 150 superb film and television stills, prop photography, and scientific diagrams to pull you into another world. Brace yourself for a detailed look at the inner workings of Star Trek’s computing capabilities, communications equipment, medical devices, and awe-inspiring ships. This book is one that no fan of Star Trek, or future tech, will want to miss.”
His Royal Whiskers by Sam Gayton
“A young alchemist and a giant cat stage a meow-tiny to take down an evil czar in this charming middle grade adventure.
Something bad has happened to Prince Alexander, the only heir to the mighty Petrossian Empire.
Something worse than kidnapping.
Something worse than murder.
Somehow, the Prince has been miraculously transformed into a fluffy kitten—and a large one, at that. Giant, in fact. Dinosaur-sized.
Why has this terrible catastrophe happened? Who are the boy and girl brewing secret potions down in the palace kitchens? And how are they possibly going to avoid getting their heads chopped off?”
Nemo Rising by C Courtney Joyner
“An exciting sequel to the Captain Nemo adventures enjoyed by millions in Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.
Sea monsters are sinking ships up and down the Atlantic Coast. Enraged that his navy is helpless against this onslaught and facing a possible World War as a result, President Ulysses S. Grant is forced to ask for assistance from the notorious Captain Nemo, in Federal prison for war crimes and scheduled for execution.
Grant returns Nemo’s submarine, the infamous Victorian Steampunk marvel Nautilus, and promises a full Presidential pardon if Nemo hunts down and destroys the source of the attacks. Accompanied by the beautiful niece of Grant’s chief advisor, Nemo sets off under the sea in search of answers. Unfortunately, the enemy may be closer than they realize…”
